V. Thirumalai Nambi, 97, retired additional superintendent of police, Crime Branch, CID, TN Police, passed away on November 16.
He was in service from 1949 to 1985. He served under illustrious police chiefs of TN which included F V Arul, Mohandas, R. Natraj and V R Lakshmi Narayanan.
He served as Asst. Commissioner of Police, Chennai South for a short span before moving to CID. He led teams that solved landmark cases like the airport bomb blast, apprehended a notorious masked men robber gang, disarmed some LTTE militants and tracked Naxal elements to Chandrapur / Maharashtra leading to their arrest.
He was awarded the CM’s police medal and President’s medal for his meritorious service. He was recognised as an honest and upright police officer during his career.
“My father was a long-time resident of Mylapore – from 1965, except from 1980 to 1989 when he served in other places in Tamil Nadu. My mother, T Rukmani, was a great source of support in all his endeavours and shared his values,” says Kausalya, his daughter.
Born in Thirukkurungudi in Tirunelveli district, Nambi spent his school years at Nanguneri. His father Vanamamalai, went on to become the 27th Jeeyar of Vanamamalai Mutt.
Thirukkurungudi Nambi temple was his favourite, adds Kausalya.
Nambi did BA English from Madura College, Madurai and joined the police at Aamathur in present day Virudhunagar district.
“In 1963 or 1964, my father was travelling from Karur, where he was posted, to Chennai by bus. It was attacked by a mob agitating against Hindi imposition. My father successfully negotiated and ensured the safety of the entire bus passengers. In 1955, he saved 200 people during floods at Aamathur with the help of one assistant,” recalls Kausalya.
He resided in R. A. Puram since 2000.
He is survived by a daughter, V Kausalya and two sons, T. Ramanujam and T. Sreedhar. Another daughter, Dr. T Yashoda passed away in 2017. She was a MD (Gen Med) and worked in Stanley Hospital.
Nambi’s maternal uncle was a monk at Ramakrishna Mutt, Mylapore and attained siddhi there.
The family resides at 9C, Amar Apartments, 7th Main Road, R. A. Puram. Ph: 9840647274/ 9952977893/ 9884423267
