Russell Nicolas was born and grew up in Pudupet. He retired as Colonel from the Indian Army. And he studied from Std. One to Six since 1952 in St. Anthony's.
Today, he and his wife live in an independent house in Chennai's Neelankarai, with birds, garden and some quiet for company.
This is the Russel story in two parts.
The school years. Life in Pudupet. But both interweave in this story.
His dad was in the Royal Artillery. The Three Field Battery based in Pallavaram. Russell says his grand-dad had roots in Russia, worked in the Railways in Arakkonam and the grandma was a Mangalorean.
His mother was a nurse, worked at General Hospital.
How did the Nicholas family grow roots in Pudupet?
Grandma was also a nurse, working at the Opthalmic Hospital on Marshall's Road in Egmore and so Pudupet came to be home.
Home first was on 1st Street.
Pudupet was full of Anglo Indians and Christians since the 19th century. Russell recalls the Dubiers and Collins, the Bents and Pereiras and Fletchers.
Most worked in the Railways, ICF…
Small houses, many tiled.
There was no power supply in many houses till the late 1950s. Kerosene lamps in use. No phones, no radios.
Russell still owns three kerosene oil laps to remind himself and others who care of the good old days.
This is the Nicholas family.
Paul was eldest, worked for Glaxo and a good musician.
Russell came second.
Ian Nicholas was third and champ athlete. He bagged the Best Athlete title when St Anthony's held its first annual Sports Meet at Rajarathinam Stadium owned by Madras Police. He was a banker ( Indian Bank) and is settled in Bangalore.
Amber was fourth. Settled in Bangalore.
Heather was the fifth and last, did a secretarial course after schooling at St. Anthony's and is now in Canada.
Russell spent a few years schooling at St. Anthony's, 1952 onwards.
Memories of school early days -
Major Pereira owned the property where Std.1 / KG classes were ( in that plot where now stands a multi-storied building of a private company).
There was a wire and plants fence: no masonry wall all around the school.
Senior girls who attended the Secretarial course stayed in the campus hostel.
Ms Rosy Dubier was a senior teacher from Pudupet.
Ms Rosario taught in Std II and III.
Ms Neaves taught in mid-classes.
His great memories?
His senior was athlete Jothiraman.
Most evenings, sports minded boys of Pudupet went to the Pudupet Maidan; a vast open, grassy space where in one corner garbage of the area was dumped.
The police and senior athletes would get coached there. T A Krishnamurthy was a well known coach for seniors. Later, A J De Souza came here and coached the juniors. Don Bosco Athletics Club (DBAC) was started and juniors like Russell were members.
Rajarathiram Stadium was launched in 1954 (?) and famed athletics coach Ken Bosen and Olympian Jesse Owens were chief guests.
Russell says boys played football and hockey too on this ground.
Memories of School:
Almost 70% were Anglos and Christians among students. Mother Anthony was then the Headmistress, Irish. There were some 20 Irish nuns, some retired and in the convent.
School had many cultural events, concerts.
Russell left St Anthony's after Std.6, joined St Mary's AI School, was Best Athlete in City Schools in 1964, champion in 400 mts and 800 mts, joined Loyola College, did his BA (Eco.), was Best College Athlete in 1966 and won the Mr Madras body building contest in 1972.
Then he joined Indian Army after training at OTA, St Thomas Mount, Madras, was in artillery like his dad, a gunner, served in some prominent regiments, saw action in the China, Pakistan and Kargil wars, besides the militancy operations in Punjab and retired in 2001 after 30 years of service. As Colonel.
He served in private positions, settled some 20 years ago in Neelankarai on the ECR, Chennai when it was desolate, ran around to get water lines and good streets for this colony and keeps fit to this day.
Call him at 92832 43016.
