From Sunday morning, the brats of the 1980s and 90s trooped into Railway Mixed Higher Secondary School for a reunion of the 1980-2001 batch students.
P. Vijayalakshmi Murugaboopathy, the then Physical Training teacher, wanted to honour the outstanding athletes and sports persons of that era - a time when Railway school excelled in all forms of sports and games.
Master Ramasamy, adored by all students, traced the history of the school and how it was a much sought after institution of the who's who of Madurai then.
Because of the large number of anglo-Indian teachers, the students' English was flawless.
Echoing his observation, K. Gopal, said that on seeing his achievements as an entrepreneur in Chennai, when people talk to him they gasp on hearing that he was a Madurai native.
"I am proud that I am from Madurai and that I studied in Railway school which made me a well-rounded personality," he said.
Benny George from Riyadh said that one missed the colonial building and the leafy atmosphere of the good old 80s.
R. Mohan, Office Superintendent (Traffic), said it used to be said that railway school students were born with hockey sticks.
But the school groomed the students in many sports and games, besides studies.
Ms. Vijayalakshmi was instrumental in getting awards in the national and all-India inter railway school meets for 18 consecutive years.
Many of the old students were emotional on seeing their favourite teachers at their alma mater.
The teachers - Ganesan, Coral Fernandez, Vatsala, Rani, Suryanarayanan, Vijayalakshmi, Janagavalli, Perumal, lab attender Selvaraj - also enjoyed the merry making of their old brats.
Biji Rajan and Kalpana Raghavan compered the programme.
Divisional Railway Manager Neenu Ittyerah was the chief guest.
Divisional Personnel Officer and school correspondent Kannan was present.
