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Students and/or Colleagues
Department of Statistics

Let me begin this write up with my humble pranams to my gurus in the department

I did my pre-university course, B.Sc and M.Sc (Statistics) at Madras Christian College (1970-76). Now I am working as a statistician in a research institute. When I sit back and let my thoughts wander back to early 70's, I feel my entire system getting recharged. The main force behind it is a great soul Dr. Gift Siromoney. I am sure all his students would experience the same feeling. He possessed the unique ability to kindle the spirit of enthusiasm in others.

I would like to recall just one incident and pay my profound gratitude to Dr. G.S. and the Department of Statistics. I had just completed my M.Sc. and was hunting for a suitable job. One fine evening I received a call from Dr G.S., asking me to meet him. When I met him  the next morning, he had a sealed envelope in his hand with a neatly typed address. He told me that he had received a letter from an officer, Indian Council of Medical Research, seeking a panel of M.Sc candidates for selection of a 'Statistical Assistant' in a leprosy project. The words that he uttered next, really touched my heart. He said, "I am not giving a panel of names but just your name so that you will be selected for the post". Saying this, he handed over the envelope and asked me to deliver it personally to the officer at Chengelpattu. Till date, I don't know what he had written in that letter, but that letter did some magic. The officer who received the letter developed an 'instant' love for me and went out of the way to appoint me. I have now grown up to a position of Senior Research Officer, but the seed of my career was sown by Dr G.S. and nurtured by him during my early years in ICMR. It is really unfortunate that he is not around us to see the department founded by him beaming with radiance and celebrating the Silver Jubilee.

My sincere greetings to Dr J P V and his team. I wish the function a grand success.

Ramakrishnan R. (B.Sc and M.Sc. 1971-76)
Currently: Research Officer, IRMS, Chennai.

From the Souvenir of Department of Statistics, Silver Jubilee, 1995.

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