“Born in Thiruvidaimaruthur (Tanjore District) on October 3rd 1945, in a family of 8 as the 5th child and the last of the 3 girls, she was the first woman graduate of our family. Her dad Balakrishnan Thayagarajan was a headmaster (History Major) himself but she was the first woman graduate not only in this family, but in the extended family too (both parent’s sides). She was one among the 1st set of students of the Government College, Kumbakonam and she finished her BA History in the year 1976.
She worked as a teacher in Saraswathy Patasala, Kumbakonam till her wedding in 1976.
She has the natural skills required for a teacher – knowledgeable with a clear, loud voice and the ability to do smart talk and guide/convince, she was a successful teacher. She also was good at extra curricular activities like singing and dancing. Post marriage and kids (2 girl kids both of whom are software engineers) she was working in Chennai as a teacher (MCTM Chidambaram Chettiyar School, Purasawakam & Dhanakodi Middle School Chintatripet).
During her stint as teacher in these schools, on the encouragement from her husband Swaminathan, she went on to do MA & B.Ed. She also put to use her other skills and served as a music/dance teacher in her school and has organized many stage shows/plays and she retired from Dhankodi Middle School in the year 2003.
She lives in Purasawalkam, Chennai as a happily retired teacher, proud mother of 2 software engineers and proud grandmother of 2 school going grandsons who live in Dubai.”
Contributor: Priya Swaminathan (daughter)
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