Thomas Isaac posts touching tribute to Sujatha teacher
KOCHI: Finance Minister T M Thomas Isaac paid a perfect tribute to poet, teacher and travel writer B Sujatha Devi, who passed away on Saturday. In a Facebook post, Isaac highlighted various environmental campaigns that Sujatha teacher had led from the front. Edited excerpts from Isaac’s post...There are some trees at the Ernakulam Collectorate that remind me about Sujatha teacher’s struggles for environment conservation. In the 1970s, Sujatha teacher and the students of Majaraja’s College joined hands to fight against the decision to fell trees at MG Road in Kochi. That protest forced authorities to transplant the trees with the help of the Navy to the Collectorate.
Poet Sugathakumari is well known for the environmental conservation movement she led from the front. But her sister Sujatha teacher was also part of such movements, starting from the Silent Valley movement. In the ‘70s, such a movement came as a surprise for the public.The professor brought students together and participated in the Silent Valley movement. At that time, professors taking part in such a public movement was rare. Sujatha teacher took part in many awareness programmes. During breaks at college, she used to take classes for students who were interested in environmental matters.
The High Court issued a stay order favouring the conservation of the Silent Valley after Sujatha teacher’s husband P Gopalakrishnan Nair argued in court.Sujatha teacher was keenly interested in studying about the environment. She often travelled alone to forests and unknown places to understand nature. Such trips helped her pen a book on nature.
I was able to meet Sujatha teacher when I visited Sugathakumari’s residence to pen a poem as part of the Budget presentation this year. We discussed various topics during the visit. From that conversation, it was clear she had in-depth knowledge about various subjects. I condole Sujatha teacher’s demise and hope Sugathakumari will manage to overcome the sad moment.