Sadden by the news of demise of a man I looked upon as an humble human being shaping numerous young lives over years... Our beloved school principal Father Joseph Madhuravely... May your soul rest in peace.
I have lots of remembrances of Father Joseph Madhuravely from my childhood days & some of those have shaped a person I am today. Only regret I hold today is that I had a long time wish to meet him in person, as a grown up, thank him for all his guidance & scolding of course but as its said, You always loose a diamond when you are busy collecting stones.
He patted me after someone's comment on I shouldn't take medicines after I secured 100 out of 100 in mathematics & told me most important lesson of my life (I learned - do what your soul desires & not what anyone else wishes or expects...)
After missing three consecutive morning assembly sessions, when I meet him along with my besty, he listen to reasons & signed 'calender' with a single line (I learned - being late is not issue, being undisciplined is)
I always spoke 'Gujarati' as mode of communications & being in English Medium, its not less than heinous crime. Once discussing to a non-Gujarati teacher in Gujarati, Father was amazed on my uniqueness of convincing her, later that day, standing at fish pond he told me what he observed (I learned - focus on communication itself rather than modes...)
I did lots of things in school which might not be ethically or morally correct, but I also did lot of other good things which a normal person would never dare to perform, specially at that age. When I got caught for doing something which I thought correct but morally a wrong act, I was punished to the severest, but then when at times I wished to explain the motives for my acts, only person who gave a patience hearing was him (I learned - admit mistake if you have slightest doubt on truth...)
In journey called life, we come across lots of people who believe in themselves, but very rarely we come across people who believe in others. I was lucky to meet one person, Father Joseph Madhuravely, who not only played very important part in shaping my future but lots of other St. Marian's.
Will miss you forever Father, May your soul rest in peace.
