We are proud to present, the Captain of the “Hawks”, 1970, an athlete who was a challenge to the otherwise well-known heroes of the track and field events. Completing his high school together with core of this group, Siva graduated from the renowned Loyola College, Chennai majoring in World History. Later, Siva joined Southern Industries at Ambattur and as a Manager, he was a power to be reckoned with, in the Industry level, dealing with IOC, BPC, LUCAS TVS, SOUTHERN RAILWAY, etc.

From the school days, Siva had a fascination for rifle shooting, thanks to his father’s Defence background. As a member of the Rifle Club of Chennai, he would grace the hallowed precincts of this prestigious club for regular practice sessions, which made him the marksman that he is.

A casual chat with him revealed the fact that he is not only a marksman, but also a living miracle. Looking back now, he laughs at the predicament he went through in 1982, after a very tragic accident in Kilpauk. Riding a two-wheeler, he was accidentally pierced by an extruding rod from an overladen lorry and dragged by this speeding truck with the truck driver unaware of the “trailer” behind him. The people around screamed at the driver to stop, so as to detach the “unauthorized cargo”. But by then serious damage was done to Siva. His abdomen was cut across, with much of his internal organs ripped out. Siva has a chuckle now when he nonchalantly says that he could see his morning’s breakfast, not from vomiting I assure you.

Bleeding profusely, “the sub-divided” Siva was taken to the nearest “Guest Hospital” by a couple quick thinking auto drivers which is perhaps the reason that Siva is with us today. These quick thinking humble auto rickshaw drivers, realizing that Siva would not have the time for an ambulance to arrive, grabbed a plank and placing the plank between the two autos, they hoisted the limp barely conscious Siva onto the board and drove in parallel formation to the nearest Guest Hospital where the medical fraternity present at that moment were quick to write him off and gave him a lease of life for only a few hours. A coincidence was that one Mr Isphahani lived across from the Guest Hospital.

Mr Isphahani, a lifelong member of The Madras / Chennai Rifle Club, had been instrumental in stirring Siva’s love and dedication to the sport of rifle shooting. Mr Isphahani, witnessing the commotion, went across and recognizing Siva, demanded that the best possible treatment had to be administered to Siva and contacted Siva’s dad. Upon examination in the ICU, the doctors found out that apart from the gaping gash in the abdomen and the lacerations on the intestines, the pelvic girdle had split into two. However, in true St Mary’s spirit, with his last gasp of semi consciousness, Siva pleaded with the medical staff to contact Dr Raj Kumar, his brother, at the Apollo Hospital.

Thanks to his dad commanding his elder brother, Dr Raj Kumara, our alumni of the class of 1967, swiftly responded to the summons of his brother. The situation was reviewed again together with an emeritus specialist from UK. This specialist, together with his dedicated team, undertook the entire surgical procedure, giving word to Siva’s family that he would ensure that Siva would walk back home normally. God’s miraculous hand began to guide the surgical team and they could patch up the gashes and put the pelvic girdle together, after hours of marathon tinkering, nay, surgery. Imagine re-connecting the tissues, nerves, pelvic bone and much more, Siva lived up to the motto of St. Mary’s – “Viriliter Agè”. He recovered after a 3-month sojourn in the ICU (does it stand for “I see You” God?!?) and another few months of physiotherapy. Siva, by God’s mercy and grace, could annul the earlier verdict given by the first “bunch” of “doctors”. He was soon on his feet and back to his work and marching to the Rifle Club also. Siva went on to win many state level awards in rifle shooting and the trophies he won, ceremoniously adorn his dwelling place now in Pallavaram.

He continues to be associated with the Rifle Club as a Technical Official, being vested with the responsibility of overseeing many competitions and umpiring such events at the All-India level. He is blessed with a daughter and a son, who are both black-belts in Karate. Thirty eight years now after the re-birth, Siva has no symptoms of the tragic accident or any of the complications of the gruelling surgery. He is hale & hearty now, living life to the fullest as a beaming and doting grandpa to a charming nine-month old granddaughter!

As narrated by the Marksman In a chat with our Ace Photo Shooter Owen Lobo and ML Johnson