The drive, as usual, was exhilarating and I'd gone on a slight detour from the main track, to pick up my mom and my younger sister. In the process, I was privileged to see the school in which the latter teaches.
During my half - an - hour's stay in the school, what struck me most was the ambiance prevalent within the compound. The buildings encasing the offices, the staff rooms and the class rooms were aesthetically built to merge with the undulating, hilly terrain and were adequately complemented by the tall green Asokas and quite a few fruit bearing trees bearing thick foliage! The Principal, the Headmistress and a few of the teachers with whom I was able to interact with, exuded dedication and had the good upbringing of the children uppermost in their minds. As we drove out of the majestic school compound, I said a silent prayer for the school's glorious future and was particularly happy that my sister was a much liked member of the dedicated team of staff members.
In the course of the day, I 'd also got the opportunity to meet with a wide cross section of people and hear their views on a variety of issues. Many of them remembered the efforts of my grandfather and a few, even narrated incidents and their experiences with him that were 'game changers' in their lives! There was this anecdote that highlights his personality and I reproduce it below.
He had gone to Kochi in connection with the review of the performance of certain libraries and give them their annual grant. By the time, he'd finished his work he'd missed the last train. Since he did not wish to use public money on hotel charges for himself, he prevailed upon his assistant who was accompanying him on tour, to spend the night on the small mound of sand kept for construction purposes in front of the railway station!
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