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SHAKESPEARE ALIVE IN THANJAVUR By S.Anantha Rao, M.A.,M.Ed., a Septuagenarian & ( Retd) P.G Asst & a Guest Lecturer in English

William Shakespeare, the bard of Avon and the well-renowned playwright and actor was well remembered in the historic town of Thanjavur, Tamilnadu,India, when some of his plays were acted upon in a local public theatre and in the halls of schools and colleges by veterans in the faculty of teaching during 1930’s and 1940’s in British regime and during 1960’s in independent India. How great Shakespeare is in visualizing the everlasting nature of his plays when he speaks: “….. How many ages hence Shall this our lofty scene be acted over In states unborn and accents yet unknown” Thank God when Britishers left India, they left Shakespeare behind for us. The two veteran headmasters of Kalyanasundaram High School, Mr.T.Rajam Ayyangar, B.A.,L.T and Mr.K.M. Sundaram Ayyar,B.A.,L.T took the credit of popularizing Shakespeare’s plays in Thanjavur. Mr.T.Rajam Ayyangar whos was the second headmaster of the school put on board Shakespeare’s “ Two Gentlemen of Verona” in 1914 and : The Winter’s Tale in 1915 involving the old boys for acting. Mr.K.M.Sundaram, as a student of Bishop Hebber College, Trichy donned the role of Desdemona in Shakespeare’s Othello. The principal of the college, Mr.Allen Gardinar is said to have expressed his unbounded appreciation of his student, K.M.S’s acting. Later, as headmaster of Kalyana sundaram High School,Mr.K.M.Sundaram staged plays such as “ Romeo and Juliet”,” Twelfth Night”, “ The Winter’s Tale”, “ Coriolanus”, “ Othello”. And “ The Merchant of Venice” on the occasions of the school Day Celebration year after year. Mr.K.M.S., besides himself playing the role of Romeo, Malvolio, Leontes, Coriolanus, lago and Shylock in those plays, involved a good number of teachers and old boys to act with him. In the case of K.M.S, it was character acting, Principal’s like Allen Gardiner and Saranathan and other eminent persons such as collector Chettur, I.C.S., Asst.Collector Lizardo was his Co- actor in the play “ Othello” enacted as per the desire of Collector Chettur to raise funds for flood- relief at that time. Mr.Lizardo also helped the K.H.School in the acquisition of a vast area of about 5 acres for its playground very adjacent to school. It is no vain boast to say that even today it silently trumpets to the world how acting of Shakespeare play has won for the school a good playground. The Old Boy’s Association of the School took an active part in dramas under the guidance and coaching of K.M.S.

Of The two teachers, Mr.Srinivasa Ayyar, B.A.,L.T., and Mr. Ramasesha Sastri who used to play lady characters , Mr.Srinivasa Ayyar came to be called lady Srinivasa Ayyer during his life time. So, Captivating was his role as Hermione in “ The Winter’s Tale” and his gait was more lady-like even afterwards in his normal life.

In the decade of 1960’s a small group of graudates and undergraduates founded a literary association named as “Bharati Club” of which as a graduate teacher, I, became the founder- Secretary and thus happened to come in to contact with Mr.K.M.S who had settled down in Tanjore after his final retirement from service as Headmaster. Under his able guidance and training, we put on board Shakespear’s plays such as Cymbeline(1962), The Winter’s Tale ( 1964), Romeo and Juliet (1965) , Twelfth Night ( 1966 ) , The Merchant of Venice ( 1968). These plays were enacted at a public theatre. Twelfth Night was repeated in the same year at the Auditorium of Rajah Serfoji College, as desired by the then principal Capt.T.Murugaiyan. I Played the role of Imogen, Hermione, Juliet , Viola and Portia those times. My acting as Portia received very good acclamation from all quarters, particularly from one Rev.Timothy J.Mark, a Londoner and the then presbyter of C.S.A Church here. Apart from the joy derived in acting, the actors felt that their knowledge of English was enriched and by which almost all of those young actors rose to top position in their walks of life. Unfortunately our literary Association became defunct in 1970’s for obvious reasons. Needless to say that Mr.K.M.S was the chief source of inspiration for me and I gained rich experience in acting Shakespeare plays and hence as a teacher I am able to impart the same skill to my pupils. Befitting my age, I took up the role of Shylock to play in the stage.K.H.School which is my Alma Mater celebrated its centenary in 1991 when the old boy’s Association put on board “ The Borrowing Scene” and the Trial Scene” from the Merchant of Venice. I also coached the students to act then select scenes from the Winter’s tale. When the school celebrated its Platinum jubilee in 1967 the boys enacted the Trial scene from the Merchant of Venice under my coaching. The same scene was put up at T.U.K Arts College in 2009 along with college students and again with the students of K.H.S School in 2011. The British Council Division at Madras while acknowledging my literary activities in their letter dated 11th March 1992, have conveyed their appreciation for my role as shylock acted in 1991. If it is not construed something as too personal, I may say here that a boy, Daniel by name played the role of Portia in the Trial Scene acted in 1969 at Blake High School, Tanjore where I was a B.T. teacher. He got spot- selection at an interview for the medical course for reciting Portia’s Speech. He is a prosperous doctor today, owning a hospital at Mayiladuthurai. In consideration of the aforesaid theatrical experiences, it can be said that Shakespeare who is at rest in his Tomb at Stratford is as much alive in Thanjavur as and when his plays, in full or in part, are put on board. Dead though in body, O, Shakespeare … In our hearts, thou art immortal /

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/return-of-shakespeare/article3171207.ece

(in the service of literary art I, can be contacted on my mbl :9489355370)