"சேஷாதிரி"யெனும் சிம்மசொப்பனம்

Looking back, sometimes we get scared of few personalities, while to me Sheshadri, (who handled Genetics course) was one such personality. I had a very unique, mixed experience with him.

I guess, during second year, we fought with BE-Ag group, and some-how, I was badly involved (that beer bottle Bom was my design/execution). Sheshadri, being the warden, have fully understood that I was one of the activists. Hence he had a very bad opinion about me (obviously). Not really sure, why he sent me out of the class twice for no real reason, which made me to get anger on him. During the practical exam, he called one-by-one for viva, while I was anticipating he would trouble me. As expected, instead of questioning, he started sarcastically, "I know all about you, I can make you to get D grade, you don't deserve to study.". I got shooted-up, why this man connects personal into grades, and replied, "*Sir, you can NOT give me D*.". He yelled at me, "Do you want to challenge me ?". I said, "Sir, D is possible only if I submit the paper" and I left the hall, without submitting. I got F grade in both the genetics course exams later.

Years later, I joined Genetic course (purely by luck!). In genetics department, research guide (chairman) gets alloted based on merit (of both student as well as Professor), where in each professor picks a student. Due to the lowest OGPA in B.Sc, nobody picked me. When the final chance came to Sheshadri, when asked, he denied to pick me as student, hence I was alloted to the year coordinator as chairman. Whenever, Sheshadri comes for student presentation, I get discomfort, almost avoided talking/meeting him for 6 years, despite of same department. Simultaneously, my highest transformation happened during this time, however my dislike Sheshadri remained the same.

At the time of Ph.D completion, one day I was asked me to attend Sheshadri's retirement function and take video of entire function, which I could not resist. It was an evening, so many people (students/professors/utility group) assembled. Every one praised Sheshadri as a great personality, while I was roaming around capturing video of people. At the end, Sheshadri started speaking and I stood in a corner and started focusing the podium with Sheshadri at the focal point, seeing him through the view finder.

File:Sheshadri.png

He started thanking various people for 20 min and continued his experience with students, "..I always had a passion of teaching, and more than teaching, I have a passion for learning and I believe learning is a continuous process. I am currently attending a computer language course and 've already completed two courses". Audience (including me) surprised. He continued, "...I might have scolded, punished several students in my career. Its all for their good, But I would like to mention about one student, who continues to surprise me. He is the one I thought 'd never come up in life, but the same is turned an inspiration even for me to pursue courses at this age". He stopped and said, "he is in this hall.., holding the video camera. .. Please come to the stage". All the audience, turned back, looked and said, "go to stage...!" I realized that was myself. On the stage, he talked about my transformation (censored here) in the stage and wished me.

With the same shock, I came back to department and met Vaidyanathan(my chairman), while he smiled and said, "Sheshadri called you on stage, is it? I know you don't like Sheshadri, but in the last 5 years, he comes to me enquirers only about you; your progress; gives suggestions in your research work; more than his students work, he used discuss your work with me; in fact he has been your virtual mentor, without your knowledge. Do not hate a teacher!" he stopped.

I came out of room and sat in the DNA steps (on the side of RI building, there is a helical steps) very calm. Learnt something precious. அன்றிலிருந்து, சேஷாத்திரி எனக்கு ஒரு ஆசானாக தெரியவில்லை, மாறாக ஒரு *குரு* - வாகவே தெரிகிறார். TNAU -ல், நான் நானாக *படித்தேனென்பதைவிட, பலரால் செதுக்கப்பட்டேனென்பதே உண்மை*.