'Dear Nambiar Sir'; CM V D Satheesan remembers beloved teacher on Teachers’ Day

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has paid an emotional tribute to his beloved teacher, K.M.D. Nambiar, recalling how the teacher encouraged and guided him during his school days.

In a letter addressed to his former teacher, Satheesan recalled an incident from his ninth-grade days when Nambiar Sir reprimanded him for reading a novel while sitting on the back bench during class.

“Dear Nambiar Sir,

My eyes fill with tears as I write this. I believe you can see this from heaven. Do you remember scolding me when you saw me reading a novel from the back bench in Class 9?

‘It is a serious mistake to ignore me when I am teaching with all my effort. You should come to the staff room at 4 pm,’ you said angrily that day.

Fearing that you might punish me, I went to the staff room at the appointed time. But there you were, cleaning the shelves in the school library. When you saw me, you said: ‘This is the library here. The books you need are here. If you want any good books, just tell me and we can buy them. You should take them home and read. Don’t read them while sitting in class.’ I cried there that day.

I still remember how you later took me to district and state-level school youth festivals for elocution and essay competitions, spending money from your own pocket. Even yesterday, while attending a training class at the Indian Institute of Management in Kozhikode, I thought of you for a moment.

With tears in my eyes, I bow at your feet on this Teachers’ Day. Teachers like you continue to inspire and guide generations like ours even today. They are the ones who help create better generations for the future. On this day, I extend my heartfelt greetings to all teachers.

Yours,
V.D. Satheesan”