/ 

MESSAGE 
DR. A. BESANT C. RAJ 
Chairman-Madras Christian College Association 
and Board of Directors 
~When I think of Dr. C. T. Krishnamachari, my illustrious professor, the 
image I have is that of an erudite scholar with in-depth knowledge of Indian 
and Western philosophy. He could also effortlessly sail into psychology and 
even the physical sciences! He ~was also endowed with a powerful delivery. 
Even more impressive was his simplicity and humility, in spite of his erudition. 
As students, we used to listen to him in rapt attention, spellbound. Since passing 
out of MCC in 1954, I have had the privilege of studying in other great 
educational institutions like 11M, Ahmedabad and the world renowned Harvard 
Business School of Harvard University. Even in these great institutions, 
I did not meet a scholar and teacher like Dr. C. T.K. 

'---_Madras Christian College Magazine 2007-2008 

55 

C. T. K. Chari (1909-1993) Centenary Tribute 
K. Ramakrishna Rao 
Foundation for Research on the Nature of Man, Durham, N.C., U.S.A. 
rofessor C . .T.K. Chari 'was the most evidence for the paranormal popularized in the~ 
	Prominent 	among 	contemporary does not withstand close scientific scrutiny. 
. Indian philosophers who paid close attention 

to psi (parapsychological) phenomena, An erudite 
scholar with an incisive mind, Chari published 
extensively on extremely diverse topics, such as 
logic, linguistics, information theory, mathematics, 
quantum physics, philosophy of mind, and, of 
course, psi research. His encyclopedic mind grasped 
highly abstruse subjects with extraordinary ease and 
his phenomenal memory retained everything heard 
or known. Several years ago a friend in U.S., who 
was amazed at the long string of references contained 
in all of Chari's papers, jokingly asked me if I knew 
how 'big Chari's card cabinet that contained these 
references was. When I met Chari I was even more 
amazed to note that he did not need to consult his 
cards. He reeled off from memory literally dozens 
of names of authors, titles, and sometimes even the 
publishers in the course of one interview I had with 
him. Similarly, when I attended one of his lectures I 

found him speak with great fluency, without any specious presents '" (p.515). 
notes, again referring to at least as many people as 

we usually find in his published papers. Widely 
respected for his scholarship, simplicity and strength 
of character, Chari will be missed, not only by scores 
of his . students and admirers in India but also by many 
others outside India. In his absence parapsychology 
has lost one of its profound thinkers. 
1,., 
While he was known primarily for his informed and 
analytical comments on a host of parapsychological 
issues, ranging from reincarnation to quantum 
theories of psi, Chari's early interests included field 
studies and empirical data collection (Chari, 1959). 
The results, however, were largely negative, 
confirming once again that the widespread anecdotal 
3.	
Among the parapsychological phenomena, it was
precognition that fascinated Chari most. His-first 
article in a psychical research journal was on
precognition (Chari, 1951). In this article he took
issue with C.W.K. Mundle, who had raised -the 
question of whether precognition could be explained 
by a combination of PK and non-precognitive ESP 
Chari had grave misgivings about the notion that time
is ordered linearly with postulated 'betweenness 
among instants. "I venture to suggest," Chari wrote: 
"that in working out a theory of precognition .the' 
conception of a time the instants of which are all
linearly ordered may have to be abandoned" (Chari 
1951, p.S10). Chari had more sympathy [I for
Saltmarsh's concept of a specious present. He felt 
that spontaneous cases of the precognition type "lend 
support to the hypothesis that telepathic interaction 
occurs between 'subliminal selves' with 'extended 
Quantum physics was another of Chari's major 
interests. He dealt with the perplexities of quantum 
mechanics in a paper he> published in the 
Philosophical Quarterly (Chari, 1953). His first 
paper in the Journal of Parapsychology dealt 
with quantum physics and parapsychology (Chari, 
1956). In this paper Chari examined the 
suggestions of Pascal Jordan and Henry Marginal 
that quantum mechanics may provide fruitful 
models for understanding psi phenomena, and he 
concluded that quantum mechanics does not offer 
"much interpretative aid to parapsychology". The 
issues about 'time', 'precognition' and 
"intervention" raised by parapsychological data, he 
56 
Madras Christian College ~\IaJ!a.:-jne 2007-2008 
P

argued, are inconsistent with any current physical 
formulation. He reiterated the same view in a later 
article (Chari, 1972) by saying that "all attempts to 
crack the riddles of psychical research by relying 
on quantum mechanics are, for the present, 
premature and hazardous" (p.203). In another paper, 
Chari (1978) wrote an extensive critique of Walker's 
quantum-mechanical theory of consciousness. 
In an earlier article Chari (1966) discussed the 
relevance of information-theoretic approaches to 
ESP. While noting six ways it: which information 
theory can be , useful tool for psi research, Chari 
despaired at its inability to shed any light on 
recognition. According to him, the metaphysically 
noncommittal attitude of communication theory to 
the mind-body problem is its supreme advantage. 
Chari speculated that ESP may be analogous to 
'moral sense', 'sense of humor' or 'religiosity', 
which is extremely sensitive to psychological 
variables. "ESP," he wrote, "may indeed involve 
neurophysiological correlates, but these may not 
serve to explain its modus oprandi. ESP may be a 
direct (non-inferential) knowledge of certain 
contemporary or non-contemporary (past or future) 
states in the world, attained without the operation 
of any sense organ or physiological mechanism" 
(1966,p.539). 
In a 1974 paper Chari argued that the challenge of 
psi calls for a new physics and a new biology. He 
insisted that "there is no known physicalistic theory 
which covers, even in principle, the manifold aspects 
of psi" (Chari, 1974, p.l ). Therefore, "instead of 
asking whether present-day physics can contribute 
to a new understanding of psi, it may be more 
profitable for us to ask whether psi can hint at some 
reinterpretation of present-day physical theory" 
(p.5).Pointing out that the issues raised by 
parapsychological data go beyond the reductionism 
vs. non-reductionism debate, Chari suggests that 
"parapsychology has to do with problems which are 
more fundamental and far-reaching than the much 
debated 'body-mind' identity .... (Chari, 1974, p. 10). 

Chari shared Rhine's Views on the question of 
survival. He wrote (1974,p.1O):-" It is fallacious 
to represent ESP and survival as necessarily 
exclusive and rival hypotheses, even though it 
is true that most survival data could 17e 
comfortably accommodated by a rightly- 
conceived ESP functioning in the life-setting. 
Survival, if it is not a solipsistic dream-state, 
presupposes a very comprehensive ESP It is 
safe to say that until explicit solutions to the 
more compelling problems of 'psi physics' and 
'psi biology' have been spelled out, the problem 
of human survival cannot be posed effectively 
for science and philosophy, let alone solved. 
We need, as Rhine  has said with prophetic 
wisdom, a science of the total man. 
The issues relating to the survival of human 
personality after death and reincarnation were of 
special interest to Chari. I know he had many 
questions about the reported cases suggestive of 
reincarnation. I persuaded him to write a 
comprehensive article detailing his ideas and 
concerns on research in this area. He agreed to do 
such an article. It is unfortunate that he passed away 
without giving us his final thought on this important 
subject. I believe, however, that the following 
sentences from his article in Wolman's Handbook- 
of Parapsychology indicate the direction of his 
thinking (Chari, 1977, p.818): 
"Reincarnation, if it occurs on anything like a 
major scale, is a thinly disguised Lamarckism. 
The hypothesis demands that the habits, the 
memories, and even the scars on the bodies, 
which were acquired by individuals in 
historically earlier times, are transmitted to 
later generation by their 'surviving egos' being 
reborn in large numbers. There seems no way, 
either in modern molecular biology or in 
quantum mechanical versions of it, of allowing 
reincarnating egos to influence genetic 
information systems . directly". 

Madras Christian College Magazine 2007-2008 

57 

4.	
5.	
Chari was a man who had much to offer. He did 
publish extensively and his writing will continue to 
inspire many of us. He would have inspired even 
more had he been involved in mutual dialogue and 
face-to-face meetings. Even though he was never 
too shy to speak out his mind, Chari seemed to have 
preferred to be a recluse. He declined numerous 
invitations to international conferences and visits 
to other countries. This I suspect, had more to do 
. with his reluctance to travel rather than the 
professed reasons of his health. 
Chari stands tall among Indian intellectuals. His 
interests were broad. His involvement was intense. 
His scholarship was deep. His mind was sharp. 
As a person he was simple, kind, and unassuming. 
There are not many like him. His absence will be 
felt not only by his immediate family; students, and 
'<; 
colleagues but also by numerous others in India and 
elsewhere who share his optimism that psi, when it 
"won general acceptance and attained a stature of 
its own, would reduce much of the older 
. metaphysics of mankind to crude and dubious 
speculation conducted without adequate data" 
(Chari, 1974, p.ll). 

Professor C.T.K 
The source 0 f a gem's splendour is its sparkle 
and the gem-cutter bestows it with facets of fine 
cut and polish. It is they that make it precious. 
An individual is a mystery and probing the inmost 
soul is next to impossibility. Nevertheless he or 
she becomes transparent through facets of self- 
manifestation. The more there are the fuller the 
manifestation and the individual then becomes most 
precious. They seldom pass out in obscurity and 
they leave behind an eternal aura of sweet 
humanity. This analogy befits our beloved former 
Professor and Head of the Department of 
Philosophy, Dr. C.T. Krishnamachari. As a junior 
fellow teacher in college, in another department, I 
wish to share a few facets of the great man I have 
attempted to identify. 
A Rich and Full Life 
Very few live their lives to the full, but those who 
do more than justify their eventful tenure. Some 
stretch their potential a little, others a little more, 
but some don't, as they commit to the grave their 
talents unused. The victorious zest of a tireless 
worker, the restless pursuit of an explorer, the avid 
thirst for knowledge of a studious scholar and the 
time's tasking of a burdened family person are 
some attributes of those who possess life to the 
full and enrich its tenure. 
58 

Madras Christian College Magazine 2007-2008 

Krishnamachari, the Complete Man 
Rev. Dr.Francis Soundararaj 
Former Principal of MCC and Head, Department of English 

6.	
Madras Christian College Magazine 2007-2008 

Professor C.T. Krishnamachari is universally 
acknowledged as one who lived his life to the full. 
His self-surrender to his chosen calling as a teacher- 
scholar (few combine teaching and scholarship so 
admirably as our professor did) was only too 
apparent to anyone who knew him. h is not, 
however, the exasperated hot pursuit of work, with 
little application of mind, that ."Workaholics" are 
guilty of, but the living ecstasy of the doing of it, 
the enjoyment of doing, so to say, that made 
Professor Chari’s life both rich and full. Being no 
recluse or highbrow, as most philosophers of less 
than his stature affect to be, his self-abandon to 
ordinary human fellowship was disarming indeed, 
and he had no inhibition in mingling with the scholar 
and shy and withdrawn student, the pompous, the 
sly and the naughty - the brilliance of his wit gave 
each one according to merit! It is the polarity of 
such a buoyant nature that constitutes the 
unforgettable, variegated mosaic of a rare person. 
Sobriety and hilarity, rhetoric and reflection, light 
banter and serious exhortation and affection and 
admonition more than attest to the zest with which 
he lived his full life. 
Not a Lackey to Time's Enticements 
Very few find success without bending one way or 
the other to the whiffs and whims of Time's 
enticements. If you asked Socrates, he would say 

that those who entice success on its own terms do 
not deserve the honorific 'educated person'. No, 
they are panderers of Time with hardly any self- 
worth. Enumerating the qualities of a truly 
educated man - judging situations and managing 
them aright, being honourable to all persons, being 
as reasonable with the associates as is humanly 
possible and holding pleasure of misfortune with 
equanimity being some - Socrates goes on to 
mention the most important virtue of all: "Most 
important of all, those who are not spoiled by 
their successes, who do not desert their true 
selves, but hOid their ground steadfastly as wise 
and sober minded men, rejoicing no more in the 
good things that have come to them through 
chance than in those which through their nature 
and intelligence are theirs since birth. Those 
who have a character which is in accord, not 
with one of these things, but with all of them, 
these are educated-possessed Qf all virtues" 
(ibid.pp.27-28). 
Endowed with such intelligence andsuch a bent 
of mind from birth, Dr. Chari's scholarship was 
not determined by fads of the times although his 
intellectual achievements in his own chosen field 
of philosophy were without parallel, at least in our 
country. He parted company with others when he 
chose the unbeaten track of para-psychology in 
which he excelled all the rest. He mastered the 
59 

7.	
Madras Christian College Magazine 2007-2008 
8.	
. occult system with its sophisticated emanations 
much to the surprise, and even bewilderment, of 
his colleagues. That made him interested in the 
poetry ofW.B. Yeats and other similar writers. 
His renaissance-like spirit of free inquiry tolerated 
no barriers to his intellectual exploration. He read 
widely and deeply, but never desultorily. He could 
stand up before specialist audiences and hold his 
own in many areas of knowledge. Art, literature, 
mathematics, psychology, science, the poetry of 
Vivekananda, Milton and W.B. Yeats, Greek 
Tragedy and many other subjects received free and 
felicitous handling by his scholarship. And that was 
the secret of his endless invitations to almost all 
the departments on the campus where audiences 
were electrified by his wit, rhetoric and brilliance. 
The Most Popular Teacher 
Professor Chari was the most popular among 
. students. Invariably he was invited by them to judge 
debates and oratorical contests in the Anderson 
Hall and other halls of residence. On occasions 
like those all ears were open to enjoy listening to 
the rhapsody of words, iaterspersed with wit and 
humour, never ever disappointing the host 
association. Words flew out of his lips uninhibited 
that provided succulent auditory fare to audiences 
of sorts. He was also one of the most popular 
teachers in his own department. His teaching of 
the subject of logic has become legendary. He 
practised simple pedagogy in the traditional way. 
His illustrative and explanatory teaching of the 
subject, his familiar examples that helped the slow 
learner to comprehend and solve deductive and 
inductive fallacies and, most of all, the helpful notes 
he dictated at the end made him stand out as an 
unpretentious teacher. The undergraduate was his 
utmost concern as he or she was to Dr. Macphail 
60 

too. On the other hand, the highest intellectual 
challenges he offered to those who pursued 
research under him - there were many who came 
from overseas - were well known. 
An Outstanding Humanist 
A unique facet of Professor Chari was his essential 
humanism. His humanism radiated in family 
circles, faculty coteries, visiting friends and among 
all the rest. The relationships he had built on and 
off campus are cherished till this day. I am given 
to understand that the philosopher's humanism was 
first nurtured during his long sojourn in an Indian 
joint family. There is hardly any other institution 
than the Indian family, especially the Joint Family, 
that can bend, beat and mould individual 
sensibilities, often redeemed to a life of resilience 
-that great value ultimately affirmed at all costs. 
Professor Chari's intense humanism may be 
attributed to the mellowness he may have gained 
- I may be wrong - from his family. It was a 
family of three eminent men living in the same 
home. Mr. C.T. Venugopal, who later became an 
Accountant General, was susceptible to Christian 
influence and he became a Christian convert. He 
is still known for his passionate faith in Christianity 
through his book, Witness to Christ. Dr. C.T. 
Rajagopal, an eminent mathematician later became 
the Director of Ramanujam Institute. Mrs. 
Rajagopal and the rest lived together for long. 
Temperaments could have run high, as it would be 
expected, where high-strung individuals with 
independent views and idiosyncrasies live together. 
The outcome of it all was, the avowed bachelor 
that our Professor was, chose to marry ultimately. 
Thanks to the resilience and fond love that emerged, 
Professor Chari's was the happiest family. As 
husband, brother, father, and cousin Dr., Chari 

9.	
Madras Christian College Magazine 2007-2008 
became an exemplar of family humanism. The 
care he bestowed upon his wife and the unceasing 
attention he gave to the upbringing and education 
of his only darling daughter, Nirmala, were superb. 
His son-in-law joined to make the family home a 
little haven indeed. 
Professor Chari easily won hearts among 
colleagues at all levels with his winsome geniality. 
, 
It manifested itself in different ways according to 
the degree of intimacy. At one extreme was the 
light banter into which he spontaneously fell in the 
company of his intimate pals. At the other extreme 
was Professor Chari's disarming humility with 
which he related to junior colleagues. At that time 
the level of conversation was marked by academic 
interest and genuine personal respect. He loved 
good teachers and meticulous workers. Whatever 
the rank or position of an individual did not matter 
to him, but the person did. I often enjoyed 
interacting with him mostly on some text or the 
other I had taught Nirmala - he knew what and 
how things were done- in her class and one had to 
be always on guard to defend what one did or failed 
to do. That day he complimented me on a dramatic 
nuance I had shared with my students while 
teaching Milton's Samson Agonistes. My lecture 
was about the Greek motif of the Chorus used in 
the verse drama. I explained how the choral 
singers were equally divided into two "semi- 
choruses" and how those on the right side of the 
stage moved centre singing in chorus while those 
on the left similarly moved with an antiphonal 
choral song. When the two semi choruses 
converged in the centre, together the chorus sang 
about a point of dramatic significance by way of 
comment on the action just concluded on stage. I 
was caught unawares on the theme by Professor 
Chari and feared closer scrutiny by a giant who 

knew Greek thought only too well. However, there 
ensued an edifying conversation on Greek 
philo ophy and Greek tragedy and I felt flattered 
when he expressed his wish to know more about 
the sources I had consulted. The humanism of Dr. 
Chari was outgoing and embraced all without any 
discrimination whatsoever. 
A Rationalist 
Professor C. T. Krishnamachari was a rationalist 
who rose above the confines of non-rationalist 
prejudices, rituals, ceremonials and other practices. 
His heterogeneity and modernist approaches may 
have caused some uneasy moments to his friends 
and family as when the last rites had to he waived 
according. to his wish. His commonsense prevailed 
to supplemeas his great humanism. 
A great man of myriad facets he was known for 
his greatness more on other shores than on our 
campus. It was Dr. Macphail, Principal of Madras 
Christian College, who was surprised by his 
reputation in the academic circles of the United 
States of America. The mysterious ethos of MCC 
owes not a little to the wisdom, character, integrity 
, and endearing qualities of many dedicated scholars, 
teachers, alumni and leaders of the past. Professor 
C.T. Krishnamachari has earned a permanent place 
in such a galaxy of great men. The facets that 
sparkle and proclaim the complete man have 
bequeathed to the MCC family the gem of priceless 
value in the person of Professor C. T. 
Krishnamachari. 
(1 thank Dr. S. Mathivanan for inviting me to 
write this article and Professor v.s. 
Venkataramanan for his helpful suggestions). 
61 

10.	
My Acquaintance with Dr. C. T. Krishnamachari 
Dr. S. Mathivanan 
Faculty, Department of Philosophy 
We at the Philosophy Department pay our homage to the memory and services of Dr. C. T. 
Krishnamachari, former Professor and Head of Philosophy and Psychology Department. On his 
centenary we bow our heads in reverence for the, fame and glory, respect and recognition he 
accorded to our department. 
First Meeting 
Dr. C. T. Krishnamachari retired in 1974 after putting in thirty four years of yeoman's service. I 
had been admitted into the M.A. Philosophy course in 1975. His character and charisma was still 
permeating the portals of our college. By his wit and wisdom he was able to draw students and 
faculty of other departments too to listen to his extempore lectures he delivered with élan. My 
seniors were singing his glory. No wonder I was yearning for a chance to meet him.' 
That evening with tremendous trepidation I walked to his residence and met the glowing Professor. 
He was in his sixty seventh year. Fair, lean and lanky, Dr. Chari was wearing a black framed 
spectacle with penetrating eyes, long ears and sharp nose, clean shaven with salt and pepper hair 
parted in the middle adorned with a light coloured shirt without collar and with a sparkling white 
dhoti. Feeling at home at his warmth and smile, I sat gingerly opposite to him on the edge of the 
seat. Before I could even open my mouth and inform the reason for the visit, he hurled a series of 
questions and extracting specific answers with his own interceptions.' 
At last with a brave heart, I requested Dr. Chari to inaugurate the Philosophy Association of that 
academic year. After flashing a smile, he replied, "I have been talking to the students for more than 
thirty years. You go to Madras University and invite Dr. V.A. Devasenapathy." He and his father 
were students of Rev. Dr. Hogg"." I walked back with mixed feelings. The second time I met him 
was in 1979 as Asst. Professor of Philosophy. Professor Chari called me by name and opened the 
door. He introduced me to his beloved wife Mrs. Mythili. I was overwhelmed with joy. During the 
course of the conversation, he checked whether I knew the heads of all the departments by name. 
Madras Christian College was the venue for the Indian Philosophical Congress in December 1979.5 
Delegates from all over India had converged at Tambaram. 
Prof. Chari delivered a special lecture in the evening. The entire delegates stayed back that day to 
listen to the excellent, enchanting, erudite, extempore lecture of Chari. The delegates were packed 
like sardines into the Anderson Hall. With a silence where you could hear a pin drop the entire 
audience stood mesmerized by his speech. The subject matter of his speech went above my head. 
He spoke on Philosophy and Science and in the process established an interface between current 
scientific research and philosophical models. While doing so he called by name several scientists 

62 

Madras Christian College Magazine 2007-2008 

and science heads of the departments present regarding the relevance of his talk to their fields. At the 
end of the speech he was given such a thunderous applause that I have never heard emanating from 
the Anderson Hall since then. 

History of the Philosophy Department 
After my appointment, I was keen to know the history of the department. I broached this subject to Dr. 
Ch. G.S.S. Sreenivasa Rao, my Professor and Head, who had succeeded Dr. Chari. Rev. Dr. Hogg 
was the only name familiar because of Dr. Chari. Dr. Rao encouraged me to do research about the 
origin and development of the philosophy department. Burying deep into the Archives of our college 
library, I started perusing the college magazines and college notes right from 1840. It was a memorable 
experience wherein I was immersed in the glorious, sacrificing pioneering educational achievement of 
our college. In this respect, Dr. Chari was able to provide the missing links regarding the chronological 
succession of heads after Rev. Dr. Hogg. He not only gleaned the names but also provided interesting 
and useful information about them. Rev. Samuel J. Theodore succeeded Dr. Hogg in 1938. He was 
also the first and last vice-principal of the college who was helping Dr. Hogg during 1930-36. His 
successor Rev. John F. Butler was a 'nice soul'. There would be commotion in his class room whereas 
his successor Major. S. Parthasarathy was a 'terror' to his students. Major S. Parthasarathy was the 
student of Rev. Dr. S. Skinner, Meston and Hogg who were also Principals of Madras Christian College. 
Dr. Chari was Major Parthasarathy's student and guided his Ph.D. He was succeeded by his class 
mate Dr. S.P. Adinarayan in 1943. From 1950-1957 Dr. S.P Adinarayan served as Bursar. Dr. Chari 
succeeded him in 1957. 
Old Students 
In 1986 the department decided to celebrate the birth centenary of its most accomplished alumnus, 
Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, the President of India, in1988. Apart from the Philosopher-President the 
department was interested to know about the names of other outstanding old students to be published 
ih the birth centenary volume. As usual Dr. Chari came to our help and came out with the names of his 
students. Prof. Chari had a flair for his student's achievements and remembered them very well, He 
would always reel out a list of students dear to him. One name that would invariably crop up would be 
Besant Raj. On several occasions he spoke with pride about his student Besant C. Raj who after 
finishing his undergraduate course in philosophy went on to acquire degrees in Indian Institute of 
Management, Ahmedabad and at Harvard Business School of Harvard University. The list printed in 
the commemorative volume was entirely given by Prof. Chari at the drop of a hat." 
Academic Errand 
Prof. Chari was at ease in my company. On that day he suddenly broke his conversation and went to 
his study room and brought several books which contained his seminal writings. He also furnished me 
a list of fourteen books on 'Genetics' for reading with a rider 'any book published after 1980's.7 
Madras Christian College Magazine 2007-2008 
63 

Prof. Chari as a trend setting parapsychologist expressed his anguish at the innate weakness of Hindu 
culture's preference to hagiology, a literature dealing exclusively with the lives and legends of saints 
and their power to perform miracles. He wished to study their behavior scientifically instead of deifying 
them. In this regard I was able to procure couple of books on contemporary saints with a detailed 
account of their miracles performed in India and abroad in front of dignitaries and reported by the 
mass media. He was pleased as punch to receive the books and informed me that he would use them 
in his research paper" He also had a similar view with regard to the political behavior of pedestrian 
and powerful individuals. He emphasized the importance of socio-psychological analysis of great 
reformers as absolutely necessary in order to understand the complex and contradictory behavior of 
men and women." 
~ 
Family 
The Chari's were blessed with one and only daughter Nirmala. He shared with a twinkle in his eye 
that he was expected to conduct the marriage of his doting daughter to Shri. Ramanujan in accordance 
with the Vaishnavaite tradition and custom. He had the greatest love and appreciation for his son-in- 
law as a person and as a professional. "Many came to see me in this avatar" was the recondite 
remark by him. He had two lovely grand daughters, Lavanya and Sukanya. He pointed out the fairy 
tale paintings on the entrance door he had done to please his grand daughters. 10 
Last Wish 
The demise of Smt. K. Mythili his beloved life partner, who was more than his better half in 1992, had 
been a great psychological blow to him. Nevertheless he was enjoying his silent and solitary life in his 
home doing his research and frequented by his family members and visitors. Even though he was hale 
and hearty, he expressed his desire more than once to breathe his last during sleep. On an auspicious 
day, the great Prof. Chari passed away in his sleep in 1993. II His daughter lamented the fact that her 
uncles lived longer lives and expected her father would do the same. 
Mrs. Nirmala Ramanujan donated most of the collection of her father's books on philosophy to the 
Department of Philosophy. She asked me to choose my own. I preferred the note' books of Dr. Chari 
in Western Philosophy, Philosophy of Science and Parapsychology written in his own immaculate 
swirling handwriting. Dr Chari also would copy down the entire articles published in the Journals, 
giving me the added pleasure of reading the articles that Chari had written in his own handwriting. 
I consider myself immensely fortunate for having known this intellectual genius and for his having 
spent his quality time with such an insignificant person as I am. I thank God almighty for providing me 
an opportunity to study in Madras Christian College. Dr. C.T.K. Chari "was a gem among scholars, a 
king among teachers and Socrates amidst his students"! 

64 

Madras Christian College Magazine 2007-2008 

1.	In August 1976, as the Chairman of Philosophy Association. Dr. Sreenivas Rao who succeeded him 
gave me his address 'Cloister' #15 Vyasar Street East Tambaram. 
2. "What is your name?" 
, Mathivanan 
'Unusual name' 
Where did you complete your schooling? 
At Madras Christian College School 
• 
When? 
During 1965 - 1969 
Oh! Dr. Radhakrishnan was the President then 
College? 
Loyola, English Literature; Rev. Fr. Jerome DSouza's last batch 1,972-75 
What is your father? 
Director K Somu. directed many of Sivaji Ganesan'sblack and white films including Sampoorna Ramayana 
Really! I have seen that film. It had two intervals. 
(Dr. Chari liked to see puranic and mythological films as I came to know later) 
11.	Director, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Advanced Study in Philosophy, University of Madras. 
12.	Dr. Chari inculcated the interest to know more about the department. 
13.	With the permission of Principal Dr. Mitra G. Augustine, Rev. J.T.K. Daniel, warden of Bishop Heber Hall 
who was doing his doctoral research in philosophy under the guidance of Dr. R. Balasubramanian who 
succeeded Dr. V.A. Devasenapathi as the Director helped MCC to host the philosophy congress in 1979. 
14.	Dr. Miss. Pamela Devraj, his student and later his colleague was handling classes 	at the Arts block. 
~ 
Her soprano voice disturbed Principal Chandran D.S.Devanesan to such an extent that he shunted all the 
philosophy classes to Bishop Heber Hall in 1969. 
7.	Dr. Dayanandan of Botany Department helped me in this regard. 
8. Report on St. Ramalingam in "Thesophist" 
"Golden Lay"
/ "Light ofPanrimalai" 
9. Paranormal Religious Thanthology,1992. 
10.	Lavanya, his eldest granddaughter, studied Statistics in our college as per his wish and is settled in U.S. 
Sukanya his second granddaughter studied Physics like her illustrious grandfather in our college. At 
present she is working in the British High Commission, Chennai. 
11.	J an 5 1993. Vaikunta Ekadesi, when the gates of heaven are open. 
Dr. Sreenivasa Rao was away at New Delhi to attend a Conference. The students of philosophy department 
went on a solemn march to the former Head of the Department's residence and- paid the last respect by 
placing a wreath. 

Madras Christian College Magazine 2007-2008 

65