Four of the senior professors and HODs retired on May 31st. 

Professors Dr. Perumal/Civil, Dr.  P.K.Jayadev/Mech, Dr. Natarajan/Physical  Education and Dr. Anbalagan/English retired from service after each of them having put more than 30+ years of service ( my mind calculates that as around 120 collective years) in teaching. 

The Principal and the office had organised a common farewell to them in the afternoon. Encomiums were paid by the principal who recalled with fondness the services offered by each, their characteristic touches to their work, her collaboration with them as another HOD and as principal. 

Other speakers came up to laud them and felicitate them on this last day of their service. 

Prof.Perumal always reminded me of the quiet and calm waters of a deep lake. With nary a ripple, he carried out his work, made sure that his department and students benefitted the most from their tryst with GCE and no one even knew that such significant changes were being made. I listened to him as he recounted some of the happy and the not so happy moments of his stint as a professor in different colleges. The HOD's crown sure is one of thorns.

Prof. P.K.Jayadev, colourful and dynamic as ever, was forthright, frank and made everyone laugh with him as he spoke about the challenges he has faced. I shall always associate him with the democratic manner in which he dealt with students. Whatever they wanted, he only had three questions - Why do you want it, Will it be useful, Is it a short term need or a long term one. Once his questions were answered, he gave them the freedom and rejoiced so visibly in their happiness when it was used properly.

Prof.Natarajan, the single man army for a very very long time nurtured the department and hundreds of sportspeople through the years. His students tell me that his colourful words of encouragement were a favourite with all teams from all over the state and he usually had a group gathered just to hear them...and the fatherly care and firmness he showed with the students made him their favourite teacher in the college, I hear. 

Prof.Anbalagan, an excellent speaker, thinker and philosopher has been a wonderful teacher and a humane and thoughtful HOD. I have benefitted most from his nuggets of wisdom, his experience and the academic freedom that he gave in the department.

It's a little sad that good teachers who still have a few more years of good work left in them retire. But then, the world has always seen this happen over the eons - the old order changeth, yielding place to the new. So it shall be with technical education, sad though it is. These stalwarts will be remembered for their contributions to the growth of the institution.