Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 18, 2008
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Online edition of India's National Newspaper Monday, Feb 18, 2008 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version |
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Tamil Nadu
— A 100-metre dash medal at 89. He is a typical example of what has become an axiom in England- Waterloo was won in the playing fields of Eton. This man has been on the playing field from dawn to dusk for more than six decades. A legendary Physical Education Teacher (PET) with illustrious wards. “I am still in service and am 89 years young” says the man whose faculties have withstood the ravages of time, memory phenomenal and articulation perfect. “One-day cricket has killed the sanctity of cricket,” he opines and laments that TV and computer have weaned children away from the playing fields. “The casualty is not only camaraderie that playing fields are expected to develop but also discipline without which no country can progress,” he asserts. Not only does he exude the old world charm and values but also does inspire anyone who talks to him through his sheer simplicity and faith in what is good for the society as a whole. He is S. Siddappaji. A well-known footballer , who represented Bellary United Football Club in 1942, he is one of the disciples of H.C. Buck, the founder of the YMCA College of Physical Education in Chennai. “Those days it is the only college of that kind for India, Burma and Celylon,” he tells G. Satyamurty. After 12 years of Government school service, he was chosen by N. Chinnasamy Naidu, the legendary head master of the Mani’s Higher Secondary School, Coimbatore, to be the first PET of the institution. On seeing his dedication, the management gave him a piece of land close to the school to construct a house. “I am proud to point out that Vice-Admiral Suresh Bangra and Air Marshal Sharad Y. Savoor were my wards.” He could reel off a number of names of national renown like Rajendran in athletics, Shanmugham in hockey, and Sathyaraj in heavy weight boxing, discuss and shotput as his products. “For 14 continuous years my school topped the district base ball chart and we have contributed to national basket ball team as well.Sushilkumar, Sunilkumar, Sreevatsan and Murali represented India in basketball.” Though he retired from Mani’s HSS in 1978, he proudly says “I am still in service” and has been sought after by various schools. Currently, he is in Bharathi Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Coimbatore. Hailing from Karnataka, he entered Tamil Nadu in the early 1940s after short stint at the Hindu Mahajana High School, Salem, and made Coimbatore his home extending service in the playing fields of schools for the past 66 years. “I am the follower of D. Santiago, the Father of Sports.” The only PET, without social status, who was promoted as Company Commander of Home Guards, was also an eminent NCC officer. He goes into inconsolable pain as he responds to the questions on decline in physical education. “Parents think that becoming engineer or doctor is the be-all and end-all of education. Institutions want cent per cent results. Thus, children are forced to think of scoring high marks. Hence, playgrounds are empty. In such a situation how will sports improve?” Even in Chennai, well known for football that used to see crazy crowds, now there is hardly anybody to patronize it. “Football is a game which provides exercise not only to all parts of the body but also the mind as well.” Mr. Siddappaji is extremely hurt to point out that even the Education Department has blundered by relaxing the rules for establishing schools without adequate space for play grounds. He is averse to going to gym as “over-exercise without proper guidance” might result in fits. He insists on every child, even if it were to be in the First to Third Standard, under his custody , to run at least 200 metres before starting the day. “Playing fields inculcate in you discipline which will go a long way in one’s life. But it is dead and gone. Besides, sports meets are festivals for everybody. They have no barriers of caste, creed or race. There is a sense of equality breeding camaraderie. Unfortunately, discipline is absent in most of the schools leading to lack of character,” he laments. Being a PET needs four qualities- devotion, dedication, discipline and determination. Mr. Siddappaji is now the district champion in Coimbatore District Masters’ Athletic Association events and also South Zone champion in 100 and 200 metres sprint and long jump. His only regret is that he could not participate in the national championships for masters held in the north due to cold weather.
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