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To the alma mater, with love
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The SSLC batch of 1964 of Rajalakshmi Mills High School came together after 42 years to pitch in for their school
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It was during the meeting that we realised that the bond of friendship that existed on March 22, 1964, when all the classmates made a trip to Palani and other areas, is still intact Selvaraj
The last time they met, they were all starry-eyed teenagers ready to take on life!
And when they met again, the young beauties had paled to doting grandmothers and a bunch of greying, balding men tried to whip up the zest of those schoolboys yet again. They are the students of Rajalakshmi Mills High School — the SSLC batch of 1963-64.
But, unlike the regular alumni meet and get-togethers, these schoolmates chose to come together after a gap of 42 long years.
Rekindling bonds
It was for the sake of their alma mater, to rekindle old friendships, to re-live old promises and memories that these students met again.
And they owed it to the enthusiasm and tenacity of two of their batch mates, R. Selvaraj and M. Loganathan, who made it possible.
For, the task on hand was tough.
To track down the details and contact of 83 classmates, most of whom were faded and unclear specks in the class photograph taken four decades ago.
Mammoth task
"It took us six months to get the details of everyone. We began the work in September 2005 and by April 15 this year, we were through," says Loganathan.
"We relied on friends and relatives and of the 83 batch mates and were able to trace over 60. We also realised that 15 of them were no more," adds Selvaraj.
While some of the old friends were still scattered in and around Coimbatore, there were those who came down as far as from Oman, Bangalore and Chennai.
And there were also who were visiting their kids in the United Kingdom and the United States and could not make it for the day-long meeting.
Bridging time
On D-day, 48 of them along with 13 teachers and families attended the function.
"It was during the meeting that we realised that the bond of friendship that existed on March 22, 1964, when all the classmates made a trip to Palani and other areas, is still intact," says Selvaraj.
Apart from the sake of old friends, it was the condition of the alma mater that prompted Selvaraj and Loganathan to get everyone together.
It has been tough times for the Rajalakshmi Mills High School for a while now and the school will also be celebrating its golden jubilee next year.
"We collected over Rs. one lakh and handed it over to 87-year-old E. Venkatesa Naidu, our then head master, who donated it to the school administration," says Selvaraj.
Time to give back
He says the purpose of their get-together was to create awareness on the need to "contribute liberally" for the welfare of a school that marked the beginning of many a glorious career.
The gesture of these old students has sure touched a chord among their teachers.
As Time had made sure that the teachers and the students all looked the same, R. Ranganathan, retired teacher, says this gesture was sure unique!
ANIMA BALAKRISHNAN
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