AN ALUMNA - 1943-'45 - REMINESCES ...

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A Message for Sam George

Reminiscences from Rani Siromoney nee Baliah, a student of the intermediate class ( Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry) way back in 1943-45.

I am deeply concerned about the happenings in my alma-mater, the renowned American College where I spent two of my formative years and pray to God that normalcy will be restored amicably and the college gets back it’s past glory.
It was a class of 100 students and we were 4 shy girls sitting in a corner. Among the students who joined the intermediate class, I had scored 457 marks and was second, the first by a boy who scored 467. For this reason, I was awarded a Government scholarship which continued till I completed my Mathematics (Hons.) degree at the Madras Christian College, Tambaram , to which I’m still attached as professor Emeritus in the Department of Computer Science. The principal then was the gandhian, Prof Ranjitham, later followed by Profs Savarirayan and MA Thangaraj, all very eminent people- the latter two I had the fortune to be associated with, in MCC again. . The professors who taught me Mathematics were, Prof .Devasahayam, Prof T Natarajan and Prof AAGnanadoss - the great musician who later taught me, and was my colleague in MCC.
I even remember the subjects they taught- Geometry by Devasahayam which was so interesting that I loved solving “riders” -it’s a pity that geometry is removed from the school and college curriculum, since it gives a student the power to reason out- instead young students are encouraged to memorize- we Indians are known for our memory but it shouldn’t be at the cost of other valuable qualities. The good foundation I had in the American College has served me well and today (79 years old) I’m invited all over for national and International conferences to deliver ”Invited Talks”. This is on a recent topic of research “ DNA Computing” and I’m well known for my expertise in Formal Languages and Automata a branch of Theoretical Computer Science, which is taught as a core course in all engineering colleges now.. I have written my biography mainly to praise and thank God for all His mercies and the foundation I had in OCPM High School and the American College.
A few incidents flash across my memory. It was 1945-46 when the freedom stuggle was at it’s height. All the students went on strike. We the four girls didn’t know anything about it since we used to take a back road to the James hall where our classes were held. In the whole college, we were the 4 girls sitting in class and soon the fury of the mob was turned against us and the entire college started marching towards our class. Our Prof, I think it was Devasahayam, who quickly went and locked the iron- gate in the steps leading to our class. As an anticlimax, one of our classmates wanted us to attend the mass protest meeting and meekly we followed him and sat through!
Another personal memory: My sister Sakunthala was very fair, taking after my father and I very dark taking after my mother- and for one or two years we lived with my parents near the college and used to walk over- the boys used to amaavaasaiyuo pournamiyum coming! .- the English translation does not bring out the meaning so well- the new moon and full moon are coming.. My sister and I used to attend the evening chapel service where the Physics professor Edwin Moses was the organist