Malathi Mohan - A walk down the memory lane

 A walk down the memory lane

Malathi Mohan

When and where did it all begin? This is a question that often pops up in the mind of many hospitality professionals in India. We are talking about the first baby steps of Catering education in India.

One name that automatically comes up during this discussion is Dr. Thangam Philips. She was and is still referred to as ‘Mother of Catering Education’.  She was an alumna of Women's Christian College, Madras, where I studied and worked later. I first met her in 1962, when we were sent for internship to Bombay during my post graduate course in Institution Management. She was the Principal of ICTAN, as it was known then. Dr Philips wanted me to work in Bombay.

The College was housed in ex-army barracks and had an aura of old world about it. Mr. and Mrs. Belfield Smith, who helped to bring Hotel education to our country, were frequent visitors. I worked for one year from 1964 to '65 as a lecturer teaching Nutrition and Basic Sciences and moved on when I got married.

I had relocated to Madras as it was known then and was recruited as lecturer in 1966 in the Madras Catering College as it was popularly called then. This was three years after it had opened its doors and the college was still in infancy. Those were the days when qualified personnel to teach hospitality were not readily available, hence, people employed in related organizations were recruited to teach. In the areas of sciences. Quite often, young women out of Home Science Colleges were employed.  

The world has changed a lot since then and today’s students in IHM’s have qualified teachers and upgraded infrastructure. However, skills are still best learnt from experienced people who have worked in those specific areas.

I do remember with pride some of my colleagues at that time. Principal, Mr Kuppuswamy, Mr Rajan, Office Manager, Mrs Amelita Mullens, HOD and later Principal. Other faculty members were, Mrs Varalakshmi, Mrs. Uma, Mrs. Prema, Mr. Sambandamurthy, Mr George Mr Earnest, Mr Jacob and Mr Sarode.

I also remember Mrs Nagamani, our Principal who sadly lost her life in an air crash and Dr. Eva Sunderrajan who was Principal for a short time were my friends from WCC.

Having been in the teaching field, I apologize that I do not remember names of students whom i taught unless they connected with me later. Abaswaram Ramji and his wife Shobha come to my mind as their romance started in the college. Murali was a very helpful young man and as also his brother Sudhakar. Fernandez joined them both and they used to help me at my restaurant in Bangalore. Eipe worked as a manager in the restaurant for a while. Madhava was later a faculty at the Hyderabad College.

While I was working in the college, my son Shyam was born. I used to joke that he might perhaps one day  join IHM. He must have been influenced by that remark as he joined and completed the 3 years diploma in 1988. He has made a successful career after that as a Manager with Oberoi Hotels, CEO of Essar Group Companies involved in Property Management, Travel, Corporate Aviation and Agriculture Divisions, then President and MD of Griffith Foods India and Middle East. He founded his own company, Tier 1 Network. As he gets ready for his class reunion, I have fond memories of his friends, Chats, Anand, Vernon, Ralph, Radhika, Sadhana, Bipin were some who visited us and are still close family friends.

ICTAN has now become more specifically IHMCTAN. Students from here are now globally employed and are bringing laurels to the country. The most important laudable fact is that the education that one secures at IHM is not limited in scope and size. Today, there are varied venues into which you can fit with your personality, skills, interests, and abilities. The opportunities are myriad, and you need to recognize and grab them while the going is good.

My love and respect for this institution and all people who have been a part of its growth, will be forever.

Mrs Malathi Mohan, was a lecturer at IHM Taramani from 1966 to 1969