Groomed in homespun values

Accent on quality education, a clean environment and a sense of brotherhood ... these are the hallmarks of the Ramakrishna Mission Students' Home, an institution that marches ahead with confidence. R. GANAPATHI takes a trip down memory lane.

DING! - DING Ding!......... and the peal continued for a good three minutes. That was the wake-up call for the 200-odd boys who lived with me in the Ramakrishna Mission Students' Home in 1941, to be exact. It was a "gurukulam" par excellence with no caste distinction and very ably administered by the headmaster, N. Subramania Iyer or Anna, as he was endearingly called. A slim man of medium height and fair complexion, clad in white khadi and forehead smeared with vibhuti, Anna always looked bright and fresh. He had a great love for his wards and involved himself in all the activities of the Home.

I vividly remember every day at dinner time, he would be walking up and down the verandah adjoining the dining hall, from the time food was served to the chanting of the Bhagavad Gita, till dinner was over. With Anna around, the atmosphere was homely and we felt secure. I still remember the love with which he gave oil-bath to the junior boys on Deepavali morning!

At Uthiramerur, the village where the Home was shifted temporarily during the evacuation days in early 1942, we came in greater contact with Anna. He taught us yoga and swimming. In addition to academics, Anna used to tell us stories from the Vedas and Puranas, talk about Gandhiji and our freedom movement. He was far ahead of his time. We learnt from him good habits, the evils of sin and virtues like discipline, self-reliance, and fear of God. He knew every student personally.

Years after I finished my tenure in the Indian Navy and settled down in Madras, my wife and I visited Anna at his house (the teachers were given quarters opposite the Home) and he recognised me even after 40 years! He rattled off the names of my classmates and even told me about some of them who were staying in Madras!

With the morning bell, sharp at 4.55 a.m., the boys would up wake and rush unwillingly downstairs to the Assembly Hall where Ranga Iyengar, the Assistant Headmaster, a strict disciplinarian, would take the muster from each class leader. The sleepy nodding heads would be fully awakened on hearing Ranga Iyengar's stern voice!

There were only six classes viz. Form I to Form VI (equivalent to classes VI and upwards today), each with about 30 boys.

After chanting "Tvameva Matha Cha Pitha Tvameva....", the boys would disperse. Later, the boys would assemble to perform Sandhyavandanam (being compulsory), followed by Veda classes and then the much-awaited breakfast.

By 8 a.m., the boys would be ready for school. They would fall in line class-wise and march off to the adjoining school building (the present Vivekananda College) and assemble in the prayer hall. Classes would start sharp at 8:15 a.m., with five sessions of 45 minutes each. Lunch break at 12:15 p.m. was always welcome, as there were no classroom instructions in the afternoons.

Manual training session would commence at 2 p.m. which included practical classes on weaving, carpentry and canework. Gardening was taught from 4 to 5 p.m. followed by a snack break. Thereafter, the boys would play games like football, hockey, ring-tennis or baseball.

The evening session would start again with Sandhyavandanam, moral class or a task on current affairs by a swamiji from the Ramakrishna Math and then we would assemble in the Prayer Hall. Dinner would be served at 7:15 p.m. Study time was from 8 to 9.30 p.m., when the warden would be present to supervise and help the boys in their studies.

Twice a week, there would be PT instead of Veda class. Selected boys would attend music classes weekly twice in the evening instead of moral lessons.

Weekends were welcome because there was no school, though all the boys would be on "cleaning" duty in the morning and we undertook this activity with pride.

Also, Sunday was the traditional oil-bath day. But the dreary ritual was more tolerable than consuming the bitter neem paste. Boys would often run away and hide themselves but would be soon caught by the seniors on duty to administer the much hated dose!

The care and dedication shown by the Home for its young residents was amazing.

At 3 p.m., the boys would be allowed to go out with an out-pass and return by 6.30 p.m. Visitors were also allowed during this time to meet the children.

There was a medical ward with a few beds for the sick. A senior boy would be on duty in the ward after working hours to attend to the patients. A doctor (it was Dr. Chander from Luz during 1940s) used to conduct check-ups on Saturday mornings and was available on call for any emergency.

Once a month, on Pournami day, the boys were taken to the Math in Mylapore for puja. Thus, the disciplined routine was strictly followed and helped the boys develop a healthy mind and body.

A committee of selected students with a master and headed by Anna handled the day-to-day administration of the Home. This gave the boys a sense of responsibility.

In the Home, there was quality education, good food, clean environment and sense of togetherness. The teachers were always around with the boys at work, play and during meal times. Though the teachers were strict, they were quite affectionate with the boys and the boys, in turn, loved and respected the teachers. The boys were from poor families and from different places outside Madras. They would soon get rid of their homesickness due to the homely atmosphere. It was like being a part of one big family. I am certain that everyone who had passed through the portals of the Ramakrishna Mission Students Home would have done extremely well in life and would be feeling grateful for his stay here!

Recently, I visited the Home and the Swamiji incharge was pleased to meet an old boy who left the Home 60 years ago! He gave me a lot of his time briefing me on the Home's activities. I was overwhelmed by his total devotion and dedication, which reminded me of Anna. I was happy to note that the lofty ideals of Anna were being faithfully followed. I also spent some time with a few students and found them to be happy and contented with life in the Home. The atmosphere was not any different from what it used to be six decades ago.

I returned with a great satisfaction that despite the changes for the worse ravaging the student world, the Home has withstood the test of time and is peacefully marching forward in its mission.

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