GUNTUR: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu turned student at the Gurupujotstavam celebrations here Friday. He made use of the occasion to honour and felicitate his school teachers P Lakshmana Reddy and Muni Krishna Reddy who had worked at the Chandragiri High School.
Chandrababu may be the CM but on Teachers’ Day, he once again went back in time to be a student in the presence of his septuagenarian teachers, who were glad to see their pupil at the helm of affairs in the State.
“He was socially very active from early days. When the school in his village Naravaripalle needed repairs, he would collect funds from people. As he grew up, he slowly entered politics,” recalled P Lakshmana Reddy, who taught English and Social science to Babu. While the initial comment of Lakshmana Reddy appeared formal, what cheered not just the CM but also the 15,000-odd audience of teachers and students was his description of Chandrababu as ‘Andagadu’ (handsome young man).
“He was tall and very handsome. That coupled with his political acumen made NTR give his daughter in marriage to him,” recalled teacher. Lakshmana Reddy also brought smiles when he described the Chief Minister as the ‘last bencher’ - not because of lack of interest in studies but because of his height.
Though he was ‘average’ in studies as he was into several activities, what endeared Naidu to his teachers was his humility and respect, reminisced Babu’s science teacher Muni Krishna Reddy.
Chandrababu, who appeared cheerful, responded and recollected his school days.
“My teachers might appear soft now, but they were a ‘terror’ to us back then. I used to be afraid of them,” recalled Chandrababu without. “While Lakshmana Reddy Sir was serious, Muni Krishna Reddy Sir was affable and used to make complex subjects easily comprehensible,” added the Chief Minister. Besides felicitating and thanking his teachers, he urged today’s teachers to inspire students in a such way that they remember them even after 50 years, as he had remembered his teachers.