SRI Rajangam

My father, Sri. Rajangam, did not come from a very affluent family but was very bright.He was my maternal g.mother's first cousin. Once when my g.parents came to the village they met him and my g.father was very much impressed by his intelligence and looks[my father was a very handsome man!] He got his eldest daughter Lakshmi, my mother, engaged to him and took the responsibility of educating him in the Guindy ENG. COLLEGE. My parents got married when my father was in the 2nd yr. [ENG]He passed out with flying colours and got posted as Asst. Mechanical. Engineer in the S.I.RLYS.As he was the only one who was well placed in the family he had to shoulder the responsibility of of his family lending a helping hand to his sibblings in time of need like educating their sons and getting their daughters married.He could do it because of my mother's support. My father loved to dabble with things and invent new things. He designed a cycle rickshaw for us to go to school. Actually it used to look much better than the ones we now have. But my sister and Iused to feel very shy to go in it and felt as though everyone was pointing to our vehicle and saying something as no such thing existed those days!My mother used to use electrical kitchen appliances such as churner for making butter , water heater and cooker designed by my father. This was some 65 yrs back.He couldn't patent any of these as he was a Company Rly employee.. His British bosses appreciated his integrity and hard work and he was the first Indian to be posted as DY. CHEIF. MECH. ENGINEER[WORKS]-WORKS MANAGER for the Rly. Workshop at Golden Rock.His name was selected to head the Chitharanjan Locomotive Workshop. But unfortunately he developed Cancer and died during that period at the age of 44..He was a little short tempered but my mother used to say that it was probably because of the burden he had to shoulder at such a young age.He was a strict but loving father .Istrongly feel that it is becuse of the compassion my parents had for the others is the reason that we, their 4 children are in a good position now. We'll always cherish his memories.

 Saroja krishnamurthy