Do memories fade away with age? “No,” says the nonagenarian K. Sankaran Nair, who was born in 1924. Soon after Sankaran Nair completed his studies in 1944, he joined as a demonstrator in the Department of Physics in University College, Thiruvananthapuram. It was then that he joined as an officer in the University Officers’ Training Corps and the National Cadet Corps. In May 1953, he was detailed to undergo a refresher-training course in the NCC at the Madras Regimental Centre (MRC) at Wellington, the Nilgiris. “My colleague Lt. Viswanathan Nair was the only other NCC officer from [erstwhile] Travancore. However, we formed part of a contingent of about 15 NCC officers from different colleges of South India such as Mysore and the former Madras Province. We were attached to the MRC and was accommodated at the Officer’s Mess there,” Nair recalls.
Sri Chithira Thirunal, the then Rajapramukh of Travancore-Cochin, was an honorary Colonel of the Madras Regiment. In May, the royal family of Travancore was staying in the Nilgiris for their summer sojourn and they were invited to a lunch at the Officers’ Mess. Lt. Viswanathan Nair and Sankaran Nair were quite excited about the occasion. When the Rajapramukh arrived, the officers were introduced to the chief guest. “We were introduced, one by one to the Rajapramukh. Astonishingly, the Rajapramukh immediately recognised the officers from Travancore. He greeted us with the remark, ‘Oh, you are both here!’’’’ recalls Nair.
Next came a photography session with the royal guests. But when the guests assembled before the camera, they realised that the number of chairs arranged was inadequate to accommodate the senior officers and women who were present. People rushed in different directions to get more chairs. As the uneasy situation got prolonged, the Rajapramukh waited for a few moments with a faint smile. Then, in his clear ringing voice, he called out, ‘ Col. Syed! I suggest that we gentlemen sit on the ground and allow the ladies occupy the chairs .’ Before anyone could apologise or make alternate suggestions, the Rajapramukh seated himself on the red carpet. Within two minutes, the senior officers were all sitting on the floor, cross-legged, on either side of the Rajapramukh.
The Wellington station photographer captured that memorable moment. The Rajapramukh was literally sitting at the feet of his mother, Maharani Sethu Parvathy Bayi. At one end of the row, seated on the ground, with his constant companion the ‘Rollei Flex’ camera beside him, was Col. Goda Varma Raja.
For the past 60 years, Sankaran Nair has treasured this valuable photograph. “I occupy a very insignificant corner in the photograph, yet I am in the company of three of the most influential personalities associated with Travancore history,” says Sankaran Nair.
(This write-up is based on an interview with K. Sankaran Nair, former professor of Physics)
[The author is a conservation architect and history buff]
