Adieu Muthanna sir.

Dateline 30 Jan 

Krishna Kumar Muthanna sir was my House Master in Prasad House, when I joined Sainik School in class VII in Jan 1968. Short in stature, he was a handsome man and was always immaculately dressed. 

A couple of years later, he became an NCC officer in the Air Force wing. Initially, he'd problems on the parade ground during drill instructions. Where he used to fumble was while coming to a halt during marching! He didn't seem to get the right step to order a halt.

In the House, he used to look after us and he and his wife, the very beautiful Gauri Muthanna took it upon them to look after us, especially the newcomers. The couple did not have any children, and treated us as their own!

In my class, there were many who came from Malayalam medium schools and making conversations in English was a tall order but this requirement was emphasised by the Matrons.

To help such cadets, Muthanna sir agreed to speak in Malayalam to those cadets. A few mornings after that, my friend Josekutty Thomas wanted to report sick and had approached the House Master. Their conversation went off something like this.

  Josekutty :          "Sir, enikku MI Roomil pokanam".

  Muthanna sir :     "Enthaanu problem?"

  Josekutty:           "Chumayaanu sir."

  Muthanna sir :    "Evideya Chuma".

Gauri Muthanna had passed into the mist of time a few years before. They'd settled down in Mysore and he had taken on the role of an Educationist.

Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready by a quarter to 10.

A quiet Wednesday. The maid was at work.