AKSHI AND MEENA Nayar Sar But look who is coming, crooning a song, to entertain you in the first period on your first day at St Thomas High. Ramakrishnan Nayar, the Malayalam teacher, whose fame and notoriety precede him wherever he goes. His fame derives from his poems and short stories that are innovative in style and structure. Going against the grain of the dominant ornate literary tradition steeped in myths and legends, he deals with themes from the daily lives of ordinary people in a language that is bare but elegant. Even primary school children are familiar with his pieces, which appear regularly in a number of Malayalam dailies and weeklies. His notoriety has its roots in his relationship with women. If he is not teaching or writing, then it means that he is either pursuing women or women are pursuing him. And whether he is the subject or object, he gets a bad name and, what is worse, a bad press. Nayar Sar -- as he is generally known -- has walked in with the self-assurance of a popular politician or film star and taken up a position behind the table and chair. He lets his gaze travel from the face of the first girl at the front desk to that of the last boy at the rearmost desk. There is total stillness. The outside world has ceased to exist. Nayar Sar seems pleased with the new class. Silently he joins the palms of his hands in front of his chest in greeting. He is the only one among the teachers to make this gesture. (One of his non-literary innovations). The students respond silently but warmly.
Posted on: Sat, 24 Aug 2013 08:11:38 +0000
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