A Cottage in Swami Hills- 9. Mouli sir

A Cottage in Swami Hills*  

9. Mouli Sir

Mouli Sir moved to the adjacent house as a tenant with his mother around 1965. He was a B.Sc Chemistry graduate from Kumbakonam Government Arts College. He worked in Leo Phenyle, run by his uncle in Melakkaveri, as a chemist and was very enthusiastic about increasing its sale in the region surrounding Tiruchi where a new boiler plant had come up at that time. Incidentally, this was the BHEL where I worked for about six years after my M.E. 

Mouli sir could be seen at 6 A.M in the front portion of his house (Thinnai) reading "The Hindu". he started to his work at 8 A.M. Our interactions mostly started at 5 P.M in the evening. Gangadharan (brother of Mrs. Swarna Nagarajan, Nurse) Chandramohan (srividya Press) and a couple of others joined in the conversation with Mouli sir. I was too young to be accepted by them as a member of the group and so my participation was limited when this group was there. 

I was introduced to Hindi songs by Mouli sir. he used to listen to Binaca Geet Mala in his transistor radio and he asked me to listen to Rafi's songs. He was crazy about books. Every week, he bought English books and I used to take some books on loan from him.  Mouli sir spent on books an amount disproportionate to his income. Sometimes, he overshot his budget earmarked for household expenses and made up for the shortfall by selling some paper and books at the end of the month. 

I remember reading "My Fair Lady" (the film version) at that time. I also used to read books which were, according to my Uncle, more of  "western". ( eg "The Last of Mohicans" by James Fennimore Copper). 

    

He did not see many Tamil movies. But, he saw the Morning shows on sundays which invariably were either English or Hindi movies. He knew Hindi and could converse well in Hindi. I do not think he had fascination for seeing Tamil movies. He relied on the reviews of Tamil movies as given by the duo gangadharan and Chandramohan. (Chandramohan's brother joined IBM later and became known to my uncle Mr Ravi). 

 Mouli sir did not come inside our house at all. I think he avoided it. however, our talk went on for hours with myself standing near the partition wall with himself pacing up and down on the other side. Sometimes, my grandfather lost his patience in trying to locate me only to find me absorbed in conversation near the partition wall. 

When my cousin (sister) came from Trichy, she requested me to show Mouli sir to her as I was speaking so much about him enthusiastically in my conversations. I agreed to her request and as soon as he came from the office and joined the group waiting outside, I took her out and showed him. she could not suppress her laughter and went running inside our house. she said "but he is so small". 

yes, I forgot to tell you. Mouli sir was very short measuring about 4 feet in height -almost looking like a dwarf. It never appeared such a big thing in my eyes but probably it was a significant thing for others.       

  

Later Mouli sir got married and became a Guru in the Ayyappa poojas.  When the house was sold by "Kallur" people, apparently he shifted for a better life.

When I think of Mouli sir I recall what Valluvar said 

உருவு காணு எள்ளாமை வேண்டும்  உருள் பெருந்தேர்க்கு

அச்சாணி அன்னார் உடைத்து.

( Do not  underestimate people by their external appearance.  The big chariot which rolls down the street is doing so because of the small pin in its wheels. Similarly the people who appear small in stature may be key to the society).

* Cottage in swami hills refers to the house in which we lived in Kumbakonam. This phrase was used once by my grandfather when I asked him that as some  people go in summer to Kodaikanal and Ooty where they have a cottage whether we would also be able to go and stay like them one day. My grandfather replied that he already has a cottage near swami Hills (swamimalai) and he referred to his house as the cottage.