Radha Thiagarajan belonged to one of the most influential industrial families of Madurai. If the gender ratio on the campuses of Thiagarajar group of institutions is not skewered today, it is because of her efforts. She encouraged girls to enrol into undergraduate courses and it is because of her that the strength of girl students stands at 49 per cent today.
Radha Thiagarajan was much more than just the wife of textile tycoon and educationist Karumuttu Thiagarajan Chettiar.
She led such a busy life that in the years after her last public assignment as the Vice-Chancellor of Alagappa University, she chose to live quietly, spending most of her time with her family and periodically visiting the Rishikesh ashram.
Despite her tireless work for gender equality and girl’s education and empowerment, Radha remained an enigma till her death. Though she met and charmed people with her intelligence and warmth, she had a mysterious authority about her. She rarely gave interviews because like her husband, she believed there was no need to talk about something that you have done. “The value of your achievement diminishes then,” she would say.
Few knew what she was as a person. Her family members -- son, daughter-in-law, daughter and grandchildren, all of whom fondly called her “Mummy” -- share what it was like living with her. The family also plans to release her biography on her first death anniversary on 27th March.
Her son, Karumuttu T Kannan, remembers his mother as a disciplinarian: “My sister and I would sit at our respective study desks on either side of her, while she supervised our homework. She ensured our daily routine was followed with clockwork precision.”
“But she would sign our report cards without actually looking at the marks,” reminisces daughter Lakhsmi Murugesan. “Once I asked her why and she said to me, ‘I do not believe in pushing. You have to realise on your own whether you need to work hard and score more marks to move up in life.” Though they had no uniform, Radha Thiagarajan insisted her kids wear white to school. And whether it was appearing on time to the dinner table or attending Gita classes, rules were sacrosanct.
But the grandchildren remember a different Radha. Kannan’s son Hari Thiagarajan, says: “I was six years old and my grandmother was more than 60, when we went on a family trip to Disneyland. But she was so full of energy, stamina and joy. She became a child like us. My grandmother may have been strict, but her love was unconditional. I found it very easy to connect with her, there was never any generation gap.”
Radha came to Tamil Nadu as a bride from Kerala in 1951. But her love for Tamil drove her to learn the language in the 60s. She later went on to do her PhD. on Thiruvasagam, one of the 12 Thirumurai (holy scriptures).
There was plenty to be learnt by just observing her, says Uma Kannan, Radha’s daughter-in-law. Uma remembers, “Her house was always full of life and people, buzzing with activity, seminars, meetings and discourses.”
All those who were close to Radha say she disliked vanity and flamboyance. She was straightforward about what she wanted and at the same time she was sensitive to others. And she was meticulous about her correspondence. Whether it was an invitation for a wedding, housewarming or a public function, she would personally respond. No letter or invitation went unanswered. She would hand-write her response and have it typed.
She had a fantastic memory remembering names of old employees and their family members and would always enquire about their well being.
Radha believed and advised her daughter who turned into an entrepreneur, that to be a woman: “Patience and perseverance are essential elements in one’s journey; there will be challenges and setbacks.”
“Positive attitude should be a decision not choice,” is what she often said.
Remembering Radha
- She established the Arulmigu Palaniandavar Women’s Polytechnic, Palani in 1981, when she was the chairperson of the Dandayuthapaniswami Temple.
- She was member of the first committee constituted by MGR government in 1982 to set up an exclusive university for women, which was eventually established as Mother Teresa University in Kodaikanal.
-She was the first VC of Alagappa University, Karaikudi, in 1985, where she served two consecutive terms till 1991.
- She launched the first Women’s Studies Centre in Tamil Nadu at Alagappa University and several skill development training programmes for rural women .
- She established the centre for Women’s Study and Rural Technology (CWSRT) at Kottaiyur, Sivagangai District, for rural womenfolk for their effective participation in development.
- She was the president emeritus of Thiagarajar College of Engineering and Thigarajar College
Grandsons remember
“No matter how busy my grandmother was, she always had time for me. She would painstakingly answer my questions and recount interesting stories to drive home real life values. From her, I learnt what true hospitality is all about. She always treated guests with care and looked after the smallest details personally. She treated every one with greatest respect. It's a quality that I admire and always wish to imbibe."
-- M. Thiagarajan, Chairman, Paramount Mills (P) Ltd.,
“Each time when I went on a tour, she would see me off with 10 rupees on a betel leaf and a betel nut. The last time when I took leave of her before I left on a business trip abroad, she had tears in her eyes and a smile on her face that seem to say I may not last till your return. She did not. But I still feel her presence.
-- Hari Kannan, Executive Director, Thiagarajar Mills.
“I shared a guru shishya relationship with my mother. I do not remember ever arguing with her. Once she told me she likes losers because losing made them stronger and humble. Once when I was in school, I was upset about our opponents stealing our play for a competition. My mother heard me complaining to my friend about this. She explained competitions built team spirit. She asked me to enact Abu Ben Adam’s famous poem that conveyed the message of true love which is free of jealousy and hatred and is the greatest quality of any child. We won the first prize.
- Lakshmi Murugesan, Chairperson, Paramount Textiles Mills
(As a run up to the International Women’s Day on March 8, Metro Plus will run a series of articles on leading women of Madurai who have contributed to different fields).
