Shri. S Natarajan, an educationist and recipient of the DTEA Diamond Jubilee Award, has served the Madrasi School (called MEA Higher Secondary School and later DTEA Senior Secondary School) in New Delhi for 36 years. Over these years, he has been on the faculty at Lodhi Estate, Mandir Marg, and Laxmibai Nagar schools, and has headed the Pusa Road, R.K. Puram and Janakpuri schools from their inception. Appointed to the Courses Committee of the CBSE, Shri. Natarajan was also a Paper Setter and Head Examiner for Class X and Class XII CBSE examinations (Delhi Board and All-India Board) for 10 years and trained prospective examiners country-wide. He has contributed to the NCERT and Ministry of Education in various capacities including Paper Setter and Examiner for the All-India Merit Scholarship examination and as Resource Person for orientation of teachers to implement National Policy on Education.
Author of the textbook – Practical English Grammar and Composition, Shri. Natarajan holds master’s degrees in English Literature, Political Science, and Education, in addition to his specialization in Mathematics. After his final tenure as Principal of the Janakpuri school for over 10 years, he took voluntary retirement in 1992. He is settled with his wife in Dwarka, New Delhi.
Memories of Madrasi School 
As a former student of RKPuram MEA and later Lodhi Road DTEA- 1973 I would like to place on record my sincere and heartfelt gratitude to every staff member. The school has played a key role ( have gone on to be a doctor & a teacher i think the school can be reasonably proud of !!) as it should and gave me the opportunity to learn my mother tongue which i would have missed had it not been for it being mandatory. Thank you sir. I wish such models of school education were more prevalent in these times too.Very inspiring story indeed.
Hello Sir,
I wanted to know if you were teaching English in Lakshmibai Nagar from around 1971 onwards. It would be wonderful, if that indeed is the case.
Sir Natarajan (both of us share the same first name), taught and which I never forgot:
a. Never call a woman as a woman. She is always a Lady. For instance, it is never a woman Prime Minister, it is always, a Lady Prime Minister.
b. I learnt the word, cajole, in his class as he cajoled the class into using an appropriate word that means gentle persuasion coupled with a little bit of “something”. Though he cajoled us, the word was given out by a class mate of mine, Gayatri.
c. He told us to keep a journal of all the tough words that we across and to write the meanings of them.
Your writing is like poem in prose. Thanks very much, for teaching us so many things.
Sir,
Thanks for writing this…it brought back memories of school days. Reading the school pledge gave me goose bumps!
I was a student of the Lodhi Road school between 1978 and 1981. Mr. Natarajan was my English teacher. It was a delight to attend his classes. I still remember his teaching of “Pride and Prejudice.”
Mythili
Respected Sir,
I am M.K.SUBRAMANIAN. I belong to the 1960 batch in the science stream at Lodhi colony. (you will not find me in the group photo- why? – I shall explain some other time!).
This is to thank you for the articles you have written which I have read with interest. At 65 it was not merely a nostalgic experience – but much more! “To remember is to relive”, it is said. How true!
Now I can even recall vividly learning mathematics under you though for a short period.
Mathematics is ‘easy’ when the initiation on the subject is ‘welldone’.Along with you, I also recall to mind other techers from our school on the subect – Sunderasan Sir,’T.R’ and principal K. Suryanarayan sir himself!
Once again, I thank you, Sir.
I know you will not remember me as I was a mediocre student. But there has been a profound effect on me. All the teachers of the school have inflenced me positively. So, that explains why even I did meet with some modest success in life.
Namaskars.
mksubramanian
Dear Sir,
I want to thank you for this blog and for reminding my family and friends of the value DTEA schools have added to our life, community and nation.
If I could be of any help, plesae reach out to me at the email address ravindran dot gg at gmail dot com
Sincerely,
Ravindran
this article by Mr. Natarajan, was interesting and nostalgic. I was one of the first batch student of Janakpuri Tamil Association school (JTA School) in 1973 having joined 4th standard then. The school was housed in 19A Block C2B. The owner of the flat Shri Padmanabhan was one of the founders of this school. He along with some of prominent members of JTA, including my father Shri SR Vijayaraghavan (Retired Senior Scientist, CSIR) were instrumental in acquiring land for the school, in the year 1975. It was a stupendous achievement in such a short period of time. The initial building was made of wood and asbestos and it used to look like log house of some western hollywood movie. An ideal setting for an action film. In summer, we used to feel like inside a baking oven and in winter, we nearly froze during first four periods. I also belong to last batch to pass out of the school in 1980 under JTA banner. My humble and sincere request to Shri Natarajanji, that the efforts of JTA leaders cannot be undermined in creating the school in first place besides procuring a land. Thank you.
Shri. S Natarajan, an educationist and recipient of the DTEA Diamond Jubilee Award
Dear Sir
The academicians of your calibre are rare now and country is paying price of that. Had there been motivating and inspiring teacheres like you there would have never been dropouts. Actually, I have never been your student but I met you long back at Dept of Chemistry, DU,probably in year 1985 when you used to pick up your daughter Meena Natarajan. I was also working for my PhD degree under supervision of Prof. Gaur, during those days. Actually, I was layman type student that time as I had come from a poor village family of western UP. I have undergone your article, it is a life line for educationists. So by the way where is Meena Natarajan these days.
Today I just happened to browse the web for latest additions on the DTEA Alumini and got the opportunity of going thru the eight or so articles written By Shri S Natarajan ex principal of Janakpuri Br of the MEA schoools.
I passed out of Lodi Road school in 1967 and while being in 6th class and was in Karol Bagh branch which was in tents.I remember well that Shri Natarajan joined as the Head of the Karol Bagh Br. I also happen to be nephew of retired teacher KV Vimala who resides in JanakPuri.
After reading all the articles of Shri Natarajan I felt and had a very refreshing and Nostalgic tour of the MEA History from the 60s to the turn of the millineum.
Shri Natarajan has written about every thing in such a class and style of his own and each and every incident he has mentioned has been true facts without any doctoring any way.
Though I knew some facts about the past of our School like PHS Iyer and so on the articles written by Shri Natarajan took me on a very enjoyable tour of the MEA’s life history .
Thank you Sir So much that I feel like meeting you right this moment. Pl leave your personal email or contact numbers in your articles so that we can try to meet you in person when we are in Delhi.
Presently I am in Delhi and a reitred Sr Bank Manager and subsequently a practising Astrologer including teaching the subject for dessimation of the divine knowledge.
I am ready to offer free consultation to any of the MEA /DTEA Alumini and I also seek your blessings for everything in the remaining years of my life.
Thank you once again with fond and respectful regards from Ravikumar
9448701301, rkiyer23450@gmail.com
Respected Natarajan Sir,
In a hurry my earlier reply or comments contain lots of grammer mistakes which please ignore and pardon me.
Secondly I have by sheer exitement mentioned that I am in Delhi whcih is wrong. I am presently in Bangalore.
The memorablia and interest with which I read all the eight articles made me feel I am in Delhi. That made me mention Delhi as my present stay.
Nothing more for now.
Very happy to see this web site. This link was sent to me by my brother-in-law Ravi Kumar (comment above). Would like to read your book on English grammar. I am a freelance writer, writing for various websites, in particular to Triond. Your mention of ‘Madrasi’ school brings me a smile I can’t stop. The name was changed to DTEA in 1968, I think, which happens to be the year I passed out of Lodhi Estate branch of the same school.
http://triond.com/users/Uma+Shankari
This is Murali Sundaram s/o of O.S.Sundaram, I wish, I could have continued after the 10th under your guidance. Unfortunately we never had +2. Neverthless, I have, some of the best moments in Janakpuri DTEA school.
It is a very touching Article. Sir.
Most Respected Natarajan sir,
I have read more than 10 times, what you have recorded about the DTEA schools in general and JTA in particular. It was a very wonderful experience. I have my own doubts JTA would not have come to its present state but for the efforts you have taken. I showed the write up to my son who is 20 years old and he was dumb folded and said we cannot get teachers like this in today’s world.
I never had an opportunity to study in schools where you have worked and taught. I am from Moti Bagh. I was taught by veterans like M. Sivaramakrishnan sir, (English), Balakrishna Iyer (Economics), K.S.Gupta (Commerce and accountancy)
I am very proud of my ALMA MATER. It is the DTEA and its teachers showed me the world guided me and set direction to my life. I still remember the personal interactions I had with my Principal Sivaramakrishnan sir about how to prepare for our 3 year HSC exams. I owe all success to my teachers.
Dear Natarajan
I just typed Madrasi Higher secondary School and behold there it is! What pleasant surprise.
I belong to the 1960 branch science stream. I do not remeber you honestl. Few few people I do remember. The principal Mr. Surayanarayanan, T Rajagolpalan, Rajaraman, Parathasarty, Mythili, Das – sanskrit, Chopra – Drawing and Ganju (affectionately) – English, Mr. Gooch (affectionaletely) _Physics. The foundations laid by all there teachers lead me to take the Ph.D degree in engineering from IIT Kanpur.
I still remember trigonmetry, Eucleadian Geometry, Algebra. Hall and Knight, Loney, Hall and Stevens. These treasures I acquired in the school, I have passed on to three generations. The rgour in Maths was very good.
I was a good student – sadly I did not get encouragement from the Principal, may be I miss understood him. Parathasarathy, Mythily teacher and many other were very supportive.
I am very happy that the school is one of the best in the country.
Several times I have dreamt being int the corrodors of the school.
If I come to Delhi, I would like to meet you and give a lecture to the students.
J.Venkataramana
Though I am not the student of Sir or the Madrasi or DTEA school. I take the privilege of being associated with the author as a disciple/friend. Though not studied under him, learnt so many things during the time he spent at Indian Bank, Janakpuri (where I served as a Branch Manager). He inspired me like anything and still continue to learn/know many things through him. shivakumar
Dear Mr Natarajan sir,
My name is. Usha (N. Usha) in those days. I was your student in Mandir Marg for two years( classes 6 and 7 in the year 56, 57 ) and then again in Lodi Estate ( 59-62)!
I was amazed and very moved to read about all that you have done for the students of DTEA. You were one of the best Math teachers I have ever had and I am so thrilled to read that you have remained an inspiration to your students.
I live in the US now. I am also a grandmother! I have not forgotten my years at the School and I still owe anything I achieved due to all that you and other teachers gave as a strong foundation. I actually remember more it learnt from my schooldays than at the University!
My Pranams and thanks to you and I wish you and your family all the best in Life.
Usha Padmanabhan
I was in the Lodhi Road branch and graduated in the second 10+2 batch in 1980. Natarajan Sir taught us “Elective English” in the XIth and XIIth standards. I was perhaps one of two students from the two science sections who took “Elective English” (as opposed to the somewhat easier “Core English” which the other science students took). I loved Mr. Natarajan’s teaching. I especially remember the book by Fred Hoyle (“Black Cloud”) which was part of the syllabus, and for some strange reason I remember the poem “Lochinvar” (Walter Scott) which Mr. Natarajan read beautifully.
Despite the gruelling CBSE final exams and the IIT entrance exams, I did well in the elective english class (topping the school) and I owe my passion for that class to Mr. Natarajan.
There are many names that Natarajan Sir mentions. Mr. Hari Om taught me mathematics, Ms Garg (chemistry), Mr Darshan Kumar (physics), and Mr. Agrawal (engineering drawing). I don’t think that I ever enjoyed school as much as in those last two years (XI and XII, 1978-1980).
I remember you sir, for your great civility and kindness. You were always a gentle teacher, always so kind, always with a smile on your face. We never heard a harsh word from you, and we never heard you raise your voice in anger. You were always gentle. Over all these years, that is my memory of you. When I read your blog I smiled, and I remembered you with love and affection. I also realized that I missed you and all those wonderful teachers, and those wonderful years when I was young. I was but a lad. Out of your caring and loving teaching, all of us came into our own. We are what we are because of the efforts you made for us. For this we will be forever indebted to you, and we will always love you.
Thank you for your years of selfless and hard service. I can never repay you for what you have done for us. I can only hope to be like you. You see, I too went on to become a teacher, at a University.
To the teacher I hold in high esteem:
My name is Rajendran. I graduated from Mandir Marg Branch (Science) in 1965. A few other students of my batch who may be better remembered were Raghu Subramanian, P Bharathan, M Saraswathi, R Subramanian, N shankar et al. You taught mathematics in my 10th class. That marked one of the turning points in my life. From a mediocre student, I got catapulted to an above average level. In fact, I got distinction in mathematics in the HS examination.
I chanced to come across a web link to the DTEA students of 1965 which brought me in touch with some of my associates nearly 50 years ago. Just spoke with N Shankar who was kind enough to email me a group photo of the 1965 graduating students. You are also in that photo, which prompted me to google DTEA resulting in discovering this blog. The floodgates of memory opened. I could clearly imagine your smiling, yet firm attitude in running the class. I still remember the white shirt-white pant combination that was frequently worn by you.
Thanks for your blogs which not only details your, well deserved, accomplishments but also educates me (and others) of the history of the great institution. It was a time when great teachers like you, Sri Suryanarayanan, Sri Rajaraman, Sri Subramanian and others ran educational institutions. Those memories will always be cherished.
After working in New Delhi until mid-1988, I immigrated to the USA. Currently, I live in Tulsa, Oklahoma. When you again visit your children in this country, please let me know with your local phone number. I will call you. My email ID: rakamaka@gmail.com
With respects.
Rajendran