Thank You Mr Kandasamy!

Looking back into my primary school days brought fond memories, tears, joy, fear & laughter..

For one thing, I will always remember the soft side of Mr Kanda ( his kindness & generosity), despite his strict outward appearance as a discipline master.

Mr Kanda was our Prefect master. One day, when we were in primary six, he stomped into our class, and called me out. I was told to follow him. I was fearful and confused, wondering what have I done wrong . And he was walking towards the principal's office!! Upon reaching the principal's office, he lifted me onto the bench which was outside the office ( the bench was too high for me) and instructed me to sit there. He then went into the office and came out with a first-aid box. Thereafter he removed the dressing on my injured knee, cleaned my wound & applied some medicine. He then told me to see him should I injure myself again, and never to use my traditional methods of treatment. Then he sent me back to class. I was so touched.

You see...I came from a not-so-well-to-do family. Whenever we had injuries, my dad would pound some herbs & apply onto our wounds. Once, I fell and had bruises on my knee. Being naive & ignorant, I will let the dogs licked on the wounds, believing that it will help in the recovery. At times, I will pound some leaves together with some chicken "pooh" and apply onto my wound..Yuks!!


It so happened that just after that incident, we had to write a composition (can't remember the topic). So I wrote all these traditional remedy in the English composition. Mr Kanda must have been shocked after reading my compo that he had stomped straight into the class and got me out to the principal's office & help me changed the dressings. Subsequently for the following few days, he continued to dress my wounds till it healed.

There was also another occasion when we were writing about our hobbies for English composition (again?!). I wrote that I like to collect stamps. But as my family did not receive many letters, I had very few stamps.

One day, Mr Kanda called me, and discreetly gave me a bundle of stamps..WOW!! There were so many and mostly were from Ceylon. I was so elated! Stamps from other countries were a rare commodity at that time! And he continued to give me a few more times. He also gave to other students as well, if I am not mistaken, Iris was also one of the beneficiaries..;)

At times, before the bell rang for class recess, Mr Kanda would ask me to buy some curry puffs from the school tuckshop for him. Other times, I helped collect or return the students exercise books.. Doing "chores" and running errands for teachers at that age made us feel great and important.

Somehow, all these did help to build up my self esteem and confidence. I have had my teachers to thank for - Mr Kanda, Mr Chow, Ms Chong, Ms Goh, Ms Heng and Ms Sharifah..

While writing these, I reminisce about my childhood days in BPES, those gestures still touch my heart, bring tears of gratefulness. My teachers have a great part to play in molding me into what I am today!

I wish we could locate Mr Kanda, and I really want to thank him again from the bottom of my heart for the kindness he had extended to me.