Pensioner’s passion helps alma mater, school children

After retiring as an office superintendent from the Southern Railway in 2001, the first task N Subramanian undertook was to reach out to his old school at Kuruvimalai village in Tiruvannamalai district. “When I went there, the school looked just the way it was when I had left it, decades ago. I was heartbroken. What I am today is because of this school. I decided to do something for the children there,” he said. He took it as a mission and got in touch with his schoolmates and bought benches for his alma mater. He donated kits comprising Tirukkural, dictionary and atlas to students. According to him, Tirukkural will put children on the right path and the dictionary and the Atlas will improve their knowledge.

From then on he began to set aside a portion of his pension to buy these and more for children of government schools in villages like Vanakkambadi, Pelasur, Ramapalayam and Polur (all in North Arcot district). He has also helped schools to fix broken furniture, get them almirahs, benches and educational charts. Subramanian also reaches out to Corporation schools in the city. He has set up a corpus fund of Rs 12, 000 for three schools to maintain furniture and for related works. He has donated educational kits to the Adi Dravida Welfare School in Virugambakkam and some of the Chennai High Schools in Koyambedu, Arumbakkam and Virugambakkam.  

Fondly known as thatha, this retired Southern Railway employee is a popular figure in villages in North Arcot district. “Even today, village children get a feel of books only when in Class 1. Prior to this, they just learn to identify objects around them in anganwadis. So, these kits will improve their knowledge,” he feels. Last year, he spent between Rs 60,000 and Rs 70,000 from his pension for school children. “Many children who began at the grassroots are now well placed in their careers. I want at least a couple of them to return to their school and help in some way, as it would make a world of difference,” he adds. 

His cause is fully supported by his wife and children (sons and a daughter), who are happy to encourage him in his philanthropic deeds. While not visiting schools, Subramanian spends time with his grandchildren, familiarising them with learning charts and the numerous books in his home library.