A happy news for all wellwishers of GHSS Peringottukara
PRATHISH.P.D
Headmaster.
9567408409
LETTER OF Mr. RAMNKUTTY
ramankuttym@gmail.com
Year 1934.
M.Ramankutty, Madathil House, Pullu, Alapad P.O Trichur District joins preparatory class in Peringottokara Sircar High school after a successful course of 4 years in Pullu aided Primary School
Preparatory class was inserted between fourth class and First Form (as the fifth class was then called) to enable the malayalam medium primary school students to get acclamatised with the English education wich started in Vth class (First Form) in High Schools in the erstwhile Cochin State. The sixth form or SSLC examination was conducted by Madras University with texts prescribed and question papers set by them.
My three elder brothers had also had education from High School Peringottukara although the 2nd from the top stoppeld with 3rd form. The first in the list of four brothers M.Krishnan stood first in the State in English in the SSLC exam and was a Medal for this achievement.
We , the last two brothers had simultaneous study period my elder brother being one class ahead of me. He is M Appukuttan who passed in first class in 1939 SSLC. We both had schiolarships from 1st form to Vi th form though I could manage only a half fee scholarship from IVth to VI th the last 3 years.
We had Mr.Ramakrishna Iyer as class teacher in Preparatory class. His first class I remmember vivildly even now . He gave the English word Mother for amma in Malayalam and asked each one us to get up and repeat the word Moher, which most of us did nervously . But one big surprise and shock for most of us was in stoe. When the turn for repeating the word Mother came to Chennankutty,, failed student from the previous year, he boldly shot and said " M O T H E R, mother" and triumphantly sat down with a condescending look at all of us in the class. We were struck with awe and admiration at the knowledgeable Chennankutty. After the class, Chennankutty was besieged with his classmates seeking friendship with him. But alas, suffice it to say, as the classes progressed, this charisma of Chennankutty died down and he faded away from our memory.
Mr.Dharmaraja Iyer who vociferously conducted the 1st class accross the courtyard from our lpreparatory class, was an interesting personaliity. His continous shouts to the bundles of mirth, to keep the tiny tots from spilling into the courtyard, "go to your place","less noice " accompanied by strikes of his cane on the table was very interesting. His frequent calls for the aid of the class monior KALYANI, in keeping some sort of discipline in the class was well appreciated. Dharmu had a side business on the sly. He prepared coffee in the class room during the lunch interval and supplied fo all the teachers who had been surviving with some packed food brought from home. Most of them belonged to the Iyer community and had meals in the morning and Dharmu's coffee was quite welcome, on payment of course. I remember that along the years, Dharmarraja Iyer had named his class monior KALYANI though the school register had otherl names. And these Kalyanis helped our Dharmu by gathering firewood for the coffee making and was earned the gratitude of Dharmu.
During the period I was in the School, very famous and competent teachers adorned the faculty. To start with we had Menokaimal Vasudevan Unnithan as Malayalam Pundit, who was a well known figure in the literary field , who wrote among others, the Novel, Mugdharagam in two volumes which was a beautilful translation of the famour novel THE WRECK by Sri Ravindranatha Tagore. Those were days of translation, and our school library had a good stock of them, books authored by Sarat Chandra Chatterjee, Bankim Chandra Upodhyaya. I had, with under cover collaborlation of school clerk, one Mr.Nambiyar , access to these and other English Novels, like IVNHOE and other classils. I confess that such access had helped me ivery much.
We had also Mr.Ullattil Sankarankutty Nair, the author of CHITHRASLABHA SANDESAM a famous Sandesa kavya in the steps of Mayura Sandesam of Raja Raja Varma, all following the classis Megha Sandesa of Kalidasan.
I had chosen Sanskrit as my second language as a family tradition as all brothers before me had taken Sanskrit. I could not say, the passage through sanskrit classes was very smooth. Our Sanskrit Pandit Mr.Sreedharan Namboothiri, was strict disciplinarian and would want each one of us , to know the prose order, delension of each and every word. My friend Balakrishnan sone of a Police constable in Anthikad police station was absolutely non plusesd in the ocean of nama linga, avyaya, parasmaipaid and almanaikpadi etc etc and bore the brunt of the wrath of Namboothiri Pandit. This Pandit had a novel way of meeting out punishment to erring ones. He brought a small pile of sand taken from the courtyard and kept at the corner of the table in open view of all the students and when an error occurred in the declention , he called the student to his side , took a pinch of sand from the pile, and screwed the flesh on his thigh till the recepient howled at a high decibel. Often blood smears were seen on the clothes of the recepient. Balakrishnan, the whipping boy would have happily shifted to Malayalam class , but for much more aggressive punishment threated by his father, who was an ardent follower of Sanskrit, the reasons for which, poor Balakrishnan had no idea. Mr. Namboothiri mellowed a little before his retirement and we had covertly celebrated his departure though we dutifully attended the send off function and speakers therein eulogised Mr.Namboothiri.
Then comes Mr.Pisharodi, truly a man iof the masses. He introduced us into the wonderful world of literature. He told us of Uddannasastrgal, Kakkasseri Bhattathiri and beautiful enjoyable anecdotes about the poems and poets of the past and present. Mr Pilsharodi was not overconcerned about Vibhakti, gave us questions and their answers and in between led us slowly in the Vyakaranam, Alankaram areas just as a picnic journey and many of us enjoyed it. Many slokas outside the texts became known to us . Glory to Mr. Pishradi and his ilk
We had the redoubtable Mr.P>H Rama Iyer who was capable of handling any subject and N.S.Subramania Iyer who was a post graduate . A great man with a great fund of knowledge. The only defect we noticed his tendency of calling the erring student and slapping him on his face. My frilend Kuamaran overcame this condition when he covered his cheek with both his hand before the slap ceme. Mr.Iyer asked Kumaran why he is covering his cheek when he came to the table. Kumaran non challantly replied that he was trying to prevent the oncoming slap landing on his cheek. Mr.Iyer was bemused and stopped this unhealthy practice much to the merriment of the class.
We had Mr.Venkigtakrishna Iyer, our maths teacher, who , much to our dismay, knew everything byheart. Theroms, Riders, formulas etc just flowed from his mouth without even a glilmpse to the text book. Most of us had our mouths wide open during the class. We had Kavunni Kartha agailn a master of all subjects and preferred to sit with us in the class rather than occupy his chair..
We had Mr.C C Mathew and Oxford University Post Graduate as our Head Master in the beginnig when I joined Peringottukara. Fully dressed in coat suit and tie, entire school felll silent when he came to the school and took round through the verandas of the class rooms. The sound his shoes striking the tiled floor sent a shifer through the classes. He was such a displinarian. Then came Sri Appu Iyer, N S Plarameswara Iyerl.
Mss V.K.Dakshayani amma, the first gradate from harijan community, joined our school on first appointment as teacher. It is history that the teacher latered entered politics and was an MLA iln Cochin Legislative Assembly.
We had sportsmen of value, Veeravu a hope step and jump medalist, Sreedharan a pillar in our volley ball team.team leaders like Pulilckal Bhaskaran , Cheloor Nraryaan Kutty from Anthikad, Cherthedeth Balan and Manoharan from Thriprayar, Paul George from Nadakkalan family, Karanchira etc etc.
Memory is failing at this age of 89 yrs. Ihis msg has been long. I have written what came to my mind now. I know a lot more is to be written. Later , if there is a chance. Bye for the present. Ramankutty ;M.
The history of our school since 1934 is clearly visible now.One of our old student has sent a note to me which I felt very valuable at this moment.
I am tying to trace our long 120 year old history.I am sure by seeing this other old students of this school will also try to write their memories.I welcome all old students to write your memories to ghssperingottukara@gmail.com.
Thanking you,
PRATHISH.P.D
Headmaster.
9567408409
LETTER OF Mr. RAMNKUTTY
ramankuttym@gmail.com
Year 1934.
M.Ramankutty, Madathil House, Pullu, Alapad P.O Trichur District joins preparatory class in Peringottokara Sircar High school after a successful course of 4 years in Pullu aided Primary School
Preparatory class was inserted between fourth class and First Form (as the fifth class was then called) to enable the malayalam medium primary school students to get acclamatised with the English education wich started in Vth class (First Form) in High Schools in the erstwhile Cochin State. The sixth form or SSLC examination was conducted by Madras University with texts prescribed and question papers set by them.
My three elder brothers had also had education from High School Peringottukara although the 2nd from the top stoppeld with 3rd form. The first in the list of four brothers M.Krishnan stood first in the State in English in the SSLC exam and was a Medal for this achievement.
We , the last two brothers had simultaneous study period my elder brother being one class ahead of me. He is M Appukuttan who passed in first class in 1939 SSLC. We both had schiolarships from 1st form to Vi th form though I could manage only a half fee scholarship from IVth to VI th the last 3 years.
We had Mr.Ramakrishna Iyer as class teacher in Preparatory class. His first class I remmember vivildly even now . He gave the English word Mother for amma in Malayalam and asked each one us to get up and repeat the word Moher, which most of us did nervously . But one big surprise and shock for most of us was in stoe. When the turn for repeating the word Mother came to Chennankutty,, failed student from the previous year, he boldly shot and said " M O T H E R, mother" and triumphantly sat down with a condescending look at all of us in the class. We were struck with awe and admiration at the knowledgeable Chennankutty. After the class, Chennankutty was besieged with his classmates seeking friendship with him. But alas, suffice it to say, as the classes progressed, this charisma of Chennankutty died down and he faded away from our memory.
Mr.Dharmaraja Iyer who vociferously conducted the 1st class accross the courtyard from our lpreparatory class, was an interesting personaliity. His continous shouts to the bundles of mirth, to keep the tiny tots from spilling into the courtyard, "go to your place","less noice " accompanied by strikes of his cane on the table was very interesting. His frequent calls for the aid of the class monior KALYANI, in keeping some sort of discipline in the class was well appreciated. Dharmu had a side business on the sly. He prepared coffee in the class room during the lunch interval and supplied fo all the teachers who had been surviving with some packed food brought from home. Most of them belonged to the Iyer community and had meals in the morning and Dharmu's coffee was quite welcome, on payment of course. I remember that along the years, Dharmarraja Iyer had named his class monior KALYANI though the school register had otherl names. And these Kalyanis helped our Dharmu by gathering firewood for the coffee making and was earned the gratitude of Dharmu.
During the period I was in the School, very famous and competent teachers adorned the faculty. To start with we had Menokaimal Vasudevan Unnithan as Malayalam Pundit, who was a well known figure in the literary field , who wrote among others, the Novel, Mugdharagam in two volumes which was a beautilful translation of the famour novel THE WRECK by Sri Ravindranatha Tagore. Those were days of translation, and our school library had a good stock of them, books authored by Sarat Chandra Chatterjee, Bankim Chandra Upodhyaya. I had, with under cover collaborlation of school clerk, one Mr.Nambiyar , access to these and other English Novels, like IVNHOE and other classils. I confess that such access had helped me ivery much.
We had also Mr.Ullattil Sankarankutty Nair, the author of CHITHRASLABHA SANDESAM a famous Sandesa kavya in the steps of Mayura Sandesam of Raja Raja Varma, all following the classis Megha Sandesa of Kalidasan.
I had chosen Sanskrit as my second language as a family tradition as all brothers before me had taken Sanskrit. I could not say, the passage through sanskrit classes was very smooth. Our Sanskrit Pandit Mr.Sreedharan Namboothiri, was strict disciplinarian and would want each one of us , to know the prose order, delension of each and every word. My friend Balakrishnan sone of a Police constable in Anthikad police station was absolutely non plusesd in the ocean of nama linga, avyaya, parasmaipaid and almanaikpadi etc etc and bore the brunt of the wrath of Namboothiri Pandit. This Pandit had a novel way of meeting out punishment to erring ones. He brought a small pile of sand taken from the courtyard and kept at the corner of the table in open view of all the students and when an error occurred in the declention , he called the student to his side , took a pinch of sand from the pile, and screwed the flesh on his thigh till the recepient howled at a high decibel. Often blood smears were seen on the clothes of the recepient. Balakrishnan, the whipping boy would have happily shifted to Malayalam class , but for much more aggressive punishment threated by his father, who was an ardent follower of Sanskrit, the reasons for which, poor Balakrishnan had no idea. Mr. Namboothiri mellowed a little before his retirement and we had covertly celebrated his departure though we dutifully attended the send off function and speakers therein eulogised Mr.Namboothiri.
Then comes Mr.Pisharodi, truly a man iof the masses. He introduced us into the wonderful world of literature. He told us of Uddannasastrgal, Kakkasseri Bhattathiri and beautiful enjoyable anecdotes about the poems and poets of the past and present. Mr Pilsharodi was not overconcerned about Vibhakti, gave us questions and their answers and in between led us slowly in the Vyakaranam, Alankaram areas just as a picnic journey and many of us enjoyed it. Many slokas outside the texts became known to us . Glory to Mr. Pishradi and his ilk
We had the redoubtable Mr.P>H Rama Iyer who was capable of handling any subject and N.S.Subramania Iyer who was a post graduate . A great man with a great fund of knowledge. The only defect we noticed his tendency of calling the erring student and slapping him on his face. My frilend Kuamaran overcame this condition when he covered his cheek with both his hand before the slap ceme. Mr.Iyer asked Kumaran why he is covering his cheek when he came to the table. Kumaran non challantly replied that he was trying to prevent the oncoming slap landing on his cheek. Mr.Iyer was bemused and stopped this unhealthy practice much to the merriment of the class.
We had Mr.Venkigtakrishna Iyer, our maths teacher, who , much to our dismay, knew everything byheart. Theroms, Riders, formulas etc just flowed from his mouth without even a glilmpse to the text book. Most of us had our mouths wide open during the class. We had Kavunni Kartha agailn a master of all subjects and preferred to sit with us in the class rather than occupy his chair..
We had Mr.C C Mathew and Oxford University Post Graduate as our Head Master in the beginnig when I joined Peringottukara. Fully dressed in coat suit and tie, entire school felll silent when he came to the school and took round through the verandas of the class rooms. The sound his shoes striking the tiled floor sent a shifer through the classes. He was such a displinarian. Then came Sri Appu Iyer, N S Plarameswara Iyerl.
Mss V.K.Dakshayani amma, the first gradate from harijan community, joined our school on first appointment as teacher. It is history that the teacher latered entered politics and was an MLA iln Cochin Legislative Assembly.
We had sportsmen of value, Veeravu a hope step and jump medalist, Sreedharan a pillar in our volley ball team.team leaders like Pulilckal Bhaskaran , Cheloor Nraryaan Kutty from Anthikad, Cherthedeth Balan and Manoharan from Thriprayar, Paul George from Nadakkalan family, Karanchira etc etc.
Memory is failing at this age of 89 yrs. Ihis msg has been long. I have written what came to my mind now. I know a lot more is to be written. Later , if there is a chance. Bye for the present. Ramankutty ;M.
