REMINISCENCES OF THE PAST
REMINISCENCES OF THE PAST During 2001-2002, I met an elderly person (native of Arcot) in his late 80s at Miskeen Sha Masjid in Arcot. He narrated two events related to Melvisharam. The first event he shared was from his childhood when he participated in the inauguration of the Melvisharam Government Hospital. The ceremony was graced by the presence of the Madras Governor, his wife, the North Arcot District Collector, Nawab C. Abdul Hakeem Sahib (the donor), and other dignitaries. He vividly recalled that the Government hospital's newly constructed building was ceremoniously secured with a golden lock, and Abdul Hakeem Sahib presented the governor with a golden key to unlock it. Both the key and lock were gifts from Abdul Hakeem Sahib to the Governor. The second incident he narrated involved the striking of lightning on the Usmanpet mosque. He expressed shock at the news and mentioned that, as a child, his...