College Days – nettur

After passing Intermediate examination, Damodaran moved to Madras to continue his studies.

The institution selected by him was the Madras Christian College (MCC). MCC was the premier educational hub in those days, which attracted students from all over South India. Eminent alumini include Dr. Sarveppally Radhakrishnan, Sir R. K. Shanmukham Chetty, John Mathai, T. T. Krishnamachari, S. Satyamurti, K. Kelappan, K.P.Kesava Menon, E. Ikkanda Warrier, Sardar K. M. Panikkar, etc, Many of Damodaran’s contemporaries later became leaders in the Independence movement, and the camaraderie developed among them during those days continued throughout their lives.

Madras Christian College during Thirties

He graduated from the College with Physics as the main subject. In the college, he was a natural leader and continued the student movement activities during his school days at MCC as well.

He was the first elected Student Union President of Madras Christian College (1935) and had won many intercollegiate debates and contests. He was a natural leader and had organized many events and meetings. Despite his small city origin, he could leave his imprint on the student community in Madras, which included the cream of the youth of South India, who hailed mostly from large cities and largely from aristocratic and affluent backgrounds. He was initiated to the fields of journalism and literature during his days there.

THE FIRST ELECTED STUDENTS’ UNION CHAIRMAN OF THE MADRAS CHRISTIAN COLLEGE DELIVERING THE INAUGURAL SPEECH (1935)