Bangalore Stories. More memories from Nehru Nagar, Sheshadripuram.

 It is amazing how Nehru Nagar keeps cropping up. Srikanth remembered a few well known residents! Mohandas Pai grew up on the other side of our duplex bungalow. I have yet to meet him as a grown up! Capt. M.G.Vijayasarathy, International cricket umpire, player and also deputy commandant in NCC lived in the next bungalow! We kids were in total awe of  uncle Vijayasarathy! N.G. Ayyangar who founded MEI, also stayed in Nehru Nagar before moving to Malleswaram. (Covered in my earlier blog.)

Then my friend Shivu, whose parents lived right opposite Vijayasarathy, sent  news paper cuttings about his father, Rudrapatna.T.Ramachandra. His father retired as Director Inspection, D.G.S.D. We see from his brief bio-data, he excelled in his studies. Interestingly he was a contemporary of K.C.Reddy, first C.M. of the Mysore State and H.V.R. Iengar who retired as Governor of R.B.I and other notables!   

I do remember Shivu's father well. But being in my teens, didn't have any conversations with him. I wish I had. Amazing how after retirement, he lead such a simple life. Unsung hero of those days  

R.T. Ramachadra 

Shivshankar after learning about the Maritime Heritage Museum in Cochin began  corresponding with Cochin Port Trust about his desire to personally hand over rare pictures and documents to the Museum his father had preserved!  It took a while but the final outcome was very satisfying. There was a formal function,  press coverage and news was published the next day! Shivu acknowledges the help received in his efforts!

The long awaited letter from Cochin Port Trust!

Sir,

I am directed to refer to your email dt.18.1.2018 addressed to Chairman, Cochin Port Trust and to inform that the handing over of old photographs and documents shall be arranged on 12.2.2018 at 11 AM at the Maritime Heritage Museum of Cochin Port Trust in Willingdon Island. For further co-ordination in this regard you may contact Shri.Jijo Thomas,Dy.Secretary (Ph:9847049029, email:cochinporttrust.pr@gmail.com) 

A press release by the Cochin Port Trust: 

Rare old pictures of Cochin handed over to  Maritime Heritage Museum

 About  25 rare old pictures on the making of port of Cochin, particularly of construction of the rail-road bridges to Willingdon Island, were handed over to Cochin Port Maritime Heritage Museum at a function held at the Museum today. The photographs and some old writings on the making of the Port were handed over by Shri.R. Shivshankar, son of Late R.T. Ramachandra who was the Resident Engineer in charge of bridge works for Cochin Harbour during 1936-40.  The photographs and other documents were received by Shri A V Ramana, Deputy Chairman, Cochin Port Trust.

Speaking on the occasion, Shri A.V. Ramana recollected the contributions made by R.T.Ramachandra in providing the much needed rail-road connectivity to Willingdon Island as the Resident Engineer in the team of Sir Robert Bristow who created the modern port of Cochin. Of these, the Venduruthy Rail-Road Bridge and Mattanchery (old) bridge remain as engineering marvels even today. He also recounted the writings on R T Ramachandra  as a great philanthropic, who used to keep a portion of his income to educate the children in his village. He was like a lighted candle which has the ability to spread light to many more candles.  He has lit the candles of knowledge in lot of children, which is a rare act of benevolence.

Shri. Shivashankar remembers his father as the only Indian Engineer in the team of Sir Robert Bristow assigned with executive charge of bridges in Cochin. It was an engineering fete for the fact that underwater concrete pillars were raised for the first time of this magnitude in South India. He fondly remembers the farewell comments offered by Sir Robert Bristow who documented R.T. Ramachandra as a person of exemplary conduct and exceptional combination of theoretical and practical ability.

Shri. Goutam Gupta, Traffic Manager, Cochin Port Trust and Smt. C. Premakumari, Secretary (i/c) also spoke on the occasion. 

Shivu wrote us and added a Thank you note!

Dear all

I just got back from my Cochin India trip

 I don't know what to say, for one day in my life felt that I was a  VIP, press release and photographers clicking, genuine emotional speeches by top management. I was overwhelmed, if I had known the details ahead of time I would have been prepared for big event, it was a big surprise. Icing on the cake was the immediate press release while I was still there, hotel cook came running to say my pic is the news paper.

 I worked hard from 2005 hoping some day my father would be honored, who from the poorest family you can think of, became an authority on bridges in those days. I was deeply moved  by the event.  I was taken round Cochin, visiting of our Guru Adi Shankara's birth place and a boat ride showing all the bridges. THE BEST DAYS OF MY LIFE, thank you Cochin Port Trust.

 All this would not have happened without Mr Martin of The Hindu News Paper directing me; who to contact and how to go about it etc.  Mr Paul Antony who recognized my fathers work and of course   Mrs Gowri Nair, Mr JiJo, Mr Ravindran, and Mr. A.V Ramanna for arranging the flawless event,

 including my body guard  Mr. Linson James who was with me every moment of my 2 days .

THANK YOU ALL FOR FULL FILLING MY LIFE LONG DREAM

With warm regards

Sincerely yours

R.ShivaShankar
19414 Everton Place
Land O Lakes, Fl 34638. USA
Ph 813 909 8235
Mob : 561 676 0409

A photo of 1940 taken at Cochin  during the farewell of RTR