Tiruchendurai's Dronacharya

Circa 1968

A fresh Chemistry Graduate working as a part-time teacher in Sengattupatti (near Thuriayur) was challenged by the visiting DEO. The DEO lost the argument and like all losers, resorts to the easiest of defenses “you are not a trained teacher (meaning you don’t have a Bachelor Degree in Teaching)”. The fiery young man replied “Teachers are born -not made” – his take on John Dryden’s

But Genius must be born-
and never can be taught.

and resigned on the spot.

Well! What better introduction I can give to my most adorable teacher and the FIRST REBEL of our family “Shri.T.M.Theagarajan (TMT)” under “Heroes of Jeeyapuram”. I have not come across a teacher who took to that noble profession willingly and enjoyed every moment of it.


(Thiru T.M.Theagarajan, Photo courtesy: TMT sir's orkut album )

A dreaded cricketer with a Malinga- like sling bowling action who could win the single wicket tournament conducted by Trichy District Cricket Association at the age of 35, a respected NCC first officer who has attended military training camps, a cricket umpire from the districts who went on to officiate Ranji Trophy Semis and who just missed making it to the internationals due to the familiar Indian politicking, a remarkable teacher adored by thousands of students, a music lover with a difference and above all a good human being committed to blood donation for the last 20 years, Shri.TMT is a multi-faceted personality par excellence.

TMT the Cricketer

I have seen some of playing mates describe the matches. Armed with an Anjaneyar photograph in the pocket R Mani would get upset if TMT does not take a wicket of the first ball in any inter-village matches!

Playing for St.Joseph’s college Trichy, TMT opened the bowling when Kalyana Sundaram(Kali) who later opened the bowling for Tamil Nadu was in the XI. Such was his stature. God always keeps some questions unanswered and why TMT, despite being the most successful bowler in the entire district was never picked up to represent the Trichy District being one of them. With his infinite passion for cricket few hurdles could stop TMT; he took to umpiring and became a respected umpire in the state, soon.

But the teacher in him was craving for more. He began taking classes for umpiring and at one time Trichy had the maximum qualified umpires in the state. His classes were always well-attended, thought-provoking. Having attended the classes myself, even today, I can tell the LBW rules as per the then ICC rules, broken up into 4 main points and the 5th point with (a) and (b). The examples given were practical and the learning process was immensely attractive to the students.

As a natural teacher TMT always got it right when it came to identifying talents. I vividly remember when he came back from Pudukottai after officiating the City XI Vs Combined Districts XI (under-15). “I saw a leg spinner by name Sivaramakrishnan. Take it from me , he is in the national team within a year”. L.Siva was picked for the famous Ranji semis against Delhi at chepauk (Manindar Singh debuted for Delhi!). A real riot of a match it was in all senses ,L.Siva was immediately picked for the WI tour. (Ofcourse, L.Siva who should have become a Shane Warne till date remains cricket’s ultimate conundrum).Same was with Chandrakant pandit whom he saw playing in the nets during the TDCA 25th year Invitation tournament.

When AP Rajasekhar went overboard on appealing, the crowd roared in support of TMT, the umpire! It was like Dickie Bird or a David Sheppard at Lords!

TMT the English Teacher

When TMT joined ER High School expectations ran high as some serious benchmarks had already been set by his illustrious elder brother Shri.T.M.Sreenivasan (TMS). TMT set his own style , a style that Winston Churchill’s Harrow’s teacher would be proud of. It is a path breaking idea even today as it identified the weakness of Tamil medium students in English and provided the winning solution that thousands of Tamil medium students would vouch for. The rules were simple
1. You are not supposed to think in the exam hall but to write
2. Writing without errors is more than important than exhibition of verbose writing and flexing your linguistic muscles.
3. At the age of 15 nothing works like monotonous training and you bloody well go through it!


( T.M.Theagarajan and his brother T.M.Srinivasan )

When I was in X std I thought I had a hidden Keats in me, but soon TMT made me realize that Keats never took the Tamil Nadu State Board X std exam. I had some friends in Tamil Medium and speaking to them later after many years, I fully understood what that rigorous training meant to them and how it mattered to their success.

Thanks to my friend Saravanan (sharjah), these days I have developed a passion for English poetry.. But looking back I understand that it was his narration for the poem “Toys” for Bhavani padhippagam notes that provided the seed. His quoting Colly Cibber’s Blind Boy every time had brought tears. We did share some interesting thoughts on the poem “Everest” and particularly the lines “Beyond the last campfire with faith in god as guide”

Even today I regret that he never had a chance to teach Neville Cardus’s “Cricket” to students that was part of 12th Standard English then. It would have been a dream when someone with a passion for Cricket, English and Teaching, teaches you a lesson on cricket.


TMT the science teacher

In a school with great fund constraints, science experiments were considered superfluous and labs, luxurious. But everyone who studied under TMT even for a month would remember a class room experiment. No one else understood the value of practical classroom experiments than TMT. Perhaps his only failure could be me, who, despite the best of his efforts, could not manage science and settled for commerce during +2 and ended up as a CA.

I have not met a single student of TMT who doubted his unfailing commitment to the student community. Speaking to him few days back I asked “Chittappa , what do you consider as your single big achievement?” .Techno-savvy TMT joked “ I don’t have an Orkut Hate-TMT group and I think it is an achievement”

TMT did not believe in furthering his academic qualifications. Once I commented that as his failure. He answered me “as long as the student does not feel that it is TMT Ph.D teaching and not TMT B.Sc, the qualifications mean nothing”. That is his way of maintaining the focus on teaching.

He shared the examiner’s viewpoint with the students and that cut the rough edges of many a student’s preparation.

TMT the students’ teacher

There were many instances where students who studied in other classes but approached him for any type of help whether be counseling for career, scholarships, financial help. He took them up as personal tasks and got the deserving student what they wanted. Behind the strict disciplinarian with an imposing veerappan-sque moustache there was always remained an approachable and caring teacher.

Good teachers today…

They dwindled. Sir, sad sight to see!

Sir William Wordworth – the Last of the flock

TMT will remain the last of the flock. Everytime I read “The Happy Waarior” I always think of him…”A constant influence and a peculiar grace”.

I had a friend, philosopher and guide in him and we share many things in common, be it the affection and love to my grandfather Dr.Seshagiri Sastry, the adoration for MGR, the passion towards cinema & carnatic music and above all the love towards Tiruchendurai.

TMT sir, Always your fan first, nephew next

T.R.Sankar
The naughty boy of the 80s.
Currently at Doha,Qatar
Sankar.tr (at) gmail (dot) com