Every experience on the campus has made my life worthwhile. Be it NSS College, Dhanuvachapuram, where I did my pre-degree, Mahatma Gandhi (MG) College or University College, where I did my graduation and post graduation in Malayalam.
Coming from a financially weak family, life was never easy. I couldn’t afford to buy textbooks and many other essential study material. Every day I walked barefoot some 12 km to reach my college at Dhanuvachapuram. I joined the NCC because then I could wear boots.
Though I was passionate about reading and writing, I took the second group, because I liked zoology as a school student, thanks to wonderful classes by Thankam teacher. That was a time when I devoted a lot of time to pursue my interests in music and drama, both on and off the campus. I had a ganamela troupe, with myself as the lead singer and three accompanists. We used to get Rs. 15 as remuneration for our programmes. I used to act in plays and also write songs and compose them.
After pre-degree, I wanted to come to Thiruvananthapuram and study Malayalam at M.G. College. But my father, Velayudhan Pillai, wanted me to become a doctor and so I took admission for zoology. However, I shifted to Malayalam, without informing my father. I was encouraged to do so by Kumbalathu Santhakumari teacher who taught me Malayalam for pre-degree. Stalwart M.P. Achuthan Nair was the head of the department and the great M.P. Manmadhan, the Principal. A teacher whom I fondly remember even today is A.R. Gopala Pillai.
My teachers were so proficient and dedicated that even though I didn’t have textbooks for many subjects, attending their classes were more than enough. I was not an outstanding student but life opened certain doors for me.
In those days, Thiruvananthapuram was not known for its political figures or cine artistes. It was the college Principals who towered above them all. Such was the cultural landscape of the city, where education and academics were placed on a higher pedestal. I am proud to be a former student of M.G. College.
The year that I passed out of M.G. College was when Manmadhan sir resigned after the college syndicate annulled his decision to rusticate certain students involved in protests. Can we imagine such a situation now?
Following Achuthan Nair sir’s advice, I joined University College for my post-graduation in Malayalam. University College was an experience in itself. There was N. Krishnapillai who was like the sun, and the planets who moved around him were ONV Kurup, M. Krishnan Nair, Thirunelloor Karunakaran, Anandakuttan, K.M. Daniel, K. Retnamma, Sulochana Nair ... There were my Sanskrit teachers, Puthoor Balakrishnan Nair, Ayilam Balakrishnan Nair and M. S. Menon who instilled in me great reverence for the language. Sometimes I used to sit in the English classes of G. Kumara Pillai because such was the aura of that teacher.
My world was confined to my college, my books, the room where I stayed and hospital ward taking care of my ailing mother. And if at all I got spare time, I would sit in the class and sing good old Malayalam film songs or some of the poems I had written. I was never involved with any political party in spite of the vibrant political atmosphere there. I used to be active in literary activities and the best part was that I always used to get books as prizes.
I passed out in 1972, the same year that Krishnapillai retired. I was part of the group that took the initiative to get his portrait painted. At the farewell meeting at VJT Hall, I was the one who carried the portrait to the venue! I felt blessed.
If the college was an ocean of knowledge with its impressive lineage, illustrious teachers and alumni, I took pride in the fact that I could become a droplet in that ocean.
Fact file
Author of the iconic poem, Naranathu Bhranthan , poet V. Madhusoodanan Nair, had a brief stint as journalist before he joined St Xavier’s College in the capital city where he worked till he retired in 2004. In fact, he had turned down a post in a government college and chose to work at the college. “Fr. George Aikara, the Principal of the college, was an inspiring figure. He is the reason why I wanted to work there though many people had criticised my decision.”
(A column to commemorate the platinum jubilee of the University of Kerala. Eminent teachers and people from different walks of life talk about their student days in various colleges under the University.)
