Town Higher Secondary School

Kumbakonam, Town Higher Secondary School's Front View.

Town Higher Secondary School is a school in Kumbakonam, a town in the Thanjavur district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

History

This school was founded as a Primary school on 14 April 1864 by Mr. Martin, a retired head constable at the Bhavath Padithurai Mandapam.^[1] Many persons like Sri. Ragunathaswami Rao, Rao Bhagadhur T. Gopal Rao and Sri. Gopu Subburaya Chettiar played a pivotal role in the growth of the school.^[2] Chairman of Kumbakonam Municipality Shri. P. Thambusamy Mudaliar offered his plantain grove of 1,00,800 square feet land for the school, at a low price ^[3] The foundation stone for the main building was laid by Sri. Porter on 29 December 1881.

In 1885, the two houses in which the school had functioned were sold at the cost of Rs. 10,500/- In 1887, a committee that consisted Sri. P. Thambusamy Mudaliar, Sri. A.C. Narayana Iyer and Sri. V. Krishna Iyer was formed to supervise the construction of the school building. Taking a school which was in Pondicherry as a model, this school was constructed in 1891 at the cost of Rs. 58,000/- In 1892, the building was opened by Dr. Duncan, Director of School Education.

This institution has never been run by a single man right from its inception. It has been run by a few elite people of the town. It is an aided institution of the Government of Tamil Nadu. The motto of this school is 'TRUTH, HONOUR, SERVICE AND SACRIFICE'.^[4]

This school was upgraded as Higher Secondary school on 14.07.1978. Sri. K. BALADANDAYUTHAPANI, B.A., B.L. is the Secretary/Correspondent of the school and Mrs. R. VIJAYA, M.Sc., M.Ed., is the first woman Headmistress in the history of THSS.

The school releases a bimonthly magazine HARMONY to develop the writing skills of the students in English.

On the dates of 27,28 and 29.01.2014, this school celebrated its 150th year.

Notable alumni

• Srinivasa Ramanujan, mathematician ^[5]
• T.T. KRISHNAMACHARIAR, the former finance minister of India ^[6]
• Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman, famous mridangam player. He received Padma Vibhushan and doctorate awards.^[7]
• Shiv Nadar, founder and chairman of HCL Technologies ^[8]
• SRI. KASTHURI RENGA IYENGAR, the pioneer editor and proprietor of 'The Hindu'
• Mr.N. KAMAKODI, CEO of City Union Bank

Ramanujan was a student of the school in 1898, and it was here that he came across a book titled Synopsis of Elementary Results in Pure Mathematics written by G S Carr. Influenced by the book, he began working on mathematics on his own, summing geometric and arithmetic series, says a write up on Ramanujan by Tata Institute of Fundamental Research.^[9]

Many of the old students have paid back in kind to the school by donating money towards renovation of buildings, providing computers and other modern equipment for the school. Shiv Nadar has provided computers, an LCD projector and other accessories worth Rs 60 lakh to the school. Many of the old students have paid back in kind to the school by donating money towards renovation of buildings, providing computers and other modern equipment for the school. Shiv Nadar has provided computers, an LCD projector and other accessories worth Rs 60 lakh to the school.^[10]

References

External links

• THSS Old Student Association