Former railwayman Ignatius Muthu celebrates a century of simple living

A look at the life of centenarian A Ignatius Muthu, who made news recently as Southern Railway’s oldest former employee in Tiruchi Railway Division

A creased and much-taped Indian railway map of 1956; black and white photographs; service discharge booklet; ID cards and a yellowing bunch of notes on how to handle explosives. These are just some of the mementoes that help visitors navigate the life of A. Ignatius Muthu, the 100-year-old former cabin assistant station master who made news recently as the oldest former employee in Tiruchi Railway Division.

His modest abode in Kalpalayam, Samayapuram that he shares with his wife Marie Antoinette, 94, reflects his simplicity. “Having spent 34 years as a railway staffer, my father has always lived close to the station. He always walked to work, and the only vehicle he used was a Hercules bicycle until he was in his 60s,” says his elder son I. Simon Arokiaraj, who is his parents’ chief caregiver, and lives close by.

Going down memory lane with the centenarian throws up some unusual stories. “My family is from Varaganeri, Tiruchi. I was born on July 22, 1922 and I studied up to SSLC. I joined the Royal Indian Air Force (RIAF) in 1943, and worked as a mechanic in the Armaments section,” says Muthu. Though it was nerve-wracking to handle bombs and other explosive devices, it was also a thrilling time of his life, he says.

“I was sent to Secunderabad, Lahore (in undivided India) and Ambala for training. The British officers who supervised our work were very friendly and treated us on a par with other RIAF staff. We were stationed in Cox’s Bazaar near Chittagong for a while during World War II,” recounts Muthu.

He quit the RIAF to take care of his parents in 1946, having completed precisely, as his discharge certificate says, three years, four months and three days in service.