A Surprise for Mr Kanda !

Last Saturday, Mr Kanda received a wonderful surprise....A former student of him found our blog and contacted him. He saw our post entitled "Surprise, Surprise, Surprise" posted by Sien Chi on 16 July 2008 and left a comment there.

Rajen Daniel was Mr Kanda's student in 1963. His sister was also taught by Mr Kanda and he also has two other brothers who went to BPES. The younger brother is Roy Daniel from our class of 1970.

Rajen Daniel is currently a doctor, living in Boston. He left a comment on the post as follows:

"I am very eager to contact Mr. Kandasamy and other school teachers at BPES.
The only teacher I am in touch is Mr John.
I am very grateful to my teachers who instilled a sense of value in our lives.

Daniel"

Visit To Mr Kanda's House on 1 Nov 2008

1st November, a day that I had been looking forward to had finally arrived. Planned months before, this was the day that some of us BPES-ians Class of 70 had earmarked to visit Mr Kanda at his home in Johor Baru.

Leaving my house at 7.30am, under a sudden downpour, I had this feeling of boyish excitement and a tinge of apprehension. Excited, because I was going to see my ex classmates, my teachers Mr Chow and Mr Kanda, after 38 years, when we parted as PSLE graduates. Apprehension, because I really did not know what to expect or how to react.

I reached the meeting point, Kranji MRT Station, at 9am. Moving around the station, I soon realized that I was the first person there. It was only when a voice, I distinctly recognized from the past, called out my name did I realize that I was not the early bird. Mr Chow was there earlier than me and spotted me checking out the place. Yes, he sounds and does look like the same Pri 5 and 6 form teacher of mine, packaged with a bit more flesh around the tummy, white hair plus the wrinkles that father time has bestowed on him. I was happy to see him and felt special that he could still remember me after all those years. Soon the rest of the gang, Sien Chi, Bala, Janet, Kim Chuan and Way Seng arrived. Bon Hian had prearranged to meet us at Mr Kanda’s house in the late morning. It was a feeling of joy that I can’t ever recall having felt all my half a century of life. We set off in 2 cars driven by Bala and Sien Chi.

A slight jam at the Woodlands custom did not dampen our spirits. Soon enough we were outside Mr Kanda’s house, which looked grand situated among a few rundown, burgled, bare skeleton of houses. Mr Kanda with his big smile together with his wife and son gave us a hearty welcome. Yes, after all these years, I was so happy to see the one teacher who actually carried me home when I was twelve due to sprained ankle.

Mrs Kanda, proudly brought out the Deepavali Goodies and yes, they tasted as good as they looked. Sitting in the hall, we took turns to spill out our experiences, stories and recollections of those wonderful years that we had all experienced at BPES. Of course, the one who took centrestage occupying most of the talking was none other than Sien Chi. Hmmm, I can’t recall if he was like that back then. Mr Kanda also highlighted the lawlessness in his neighbourhood which has seen “self proclaimed owners” who turn up in broad daylight at houses left unoccupied over a period of time and strip the houses of anything that is of value such as iron gate, railings, doors, windows etc.

Mr Kanda and his son, proudly showed us the replica car models which were displayed in the many glass cabinets. His collectables numbering in the hundreds, were the end product of his passion for cars since his “young days’ at BPES. Like father like son, the saying goes as his son also followed in his footsteps in not only becoming a teacher but also in his hobby of collecting models of spaceships. Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Star Wars, Babylon 5 and other figurines etc were carefully placed in an unused room securely padlocked. In my view, there is more treasure here than what the thieves made off looting from the unoccupied houses.

Bon Hian made it to the house eventually around 11.30am, after indulging in a game of golf in one of those golf courses in Johore. Bala introduced me to Bon as another of Kanda’s son. Looking perplexed but accepting the intro, Bon shook my hand. It was laughter all around when he was given the real scenario. So much to share and in so little time.

It was now time for lunch and Mr Kanda brought us to an Indian Restaurant. Mrs Kanda, Sien Chi and myself were the only ones to use hands to eat from the banana leaf lunch feast. After all the reminiscing of years gone by, it was a fitting end filling up our stomach with the sumptuous Indian food.

It was with handshakes and warm hugs that we parted. The genuine hospitality and warmth we had experienced was indeed an experience not to be forgotten. I am really glad that I had this wonderful opportunity to catch up with not only my schoolmates of old but also having had the occasion graced by the presence of the teachers.

- Seezer Paulose

P.S

As we were about to leave, we noticed that Kanda's car was sliding towards the deep drain in trying to move off, as he had parked on the slippery grass patch beside the road.

Without hesitation, the 4 of us, able-bodied young 50-year-olds (Sien Chi, Way Seng, Kim Chuan and yours truly) helped pushed his car onto the road surface and saw him drove off before making our own way home to Singapore.

- Bon

Eight of our friends visited Mr and Mrs Kanda on 1 November, during the Deepavali week....

Mr Kanda's son, Uresh was there too.

A sumptuous lunch at an Indian restaurant.

Mr Kanda's passion in sports cars.........

Uresh has his own passion.......

Mr Kanda looking fit and healthy at 74 and Ai Lay, still pretty at 50...

Joycelyn Ong Poh Gek with Mrs Kanda, whom he wooed from BPES, 7 years 7 months and 7 days younger than him. In the bible 777 is God's favorite number. And she dotes on him and keep him young and alert.

Joycelyn surprises Ai Lay with a Oreo Cheese Cake for her Big 5-O which was yesterday on 31st Jul 2008

Ai Lay wanted her cake with chilli

The birthday girl

The Slueth detectives who kept tracking Mr Kanda down.

Bon eat snake and drove to Causeway Point Jack's Place to meet his favourite teacher and gave him the "To Sir with Love" book
Booking was for 9, but only the faithful 4 showed up.

White moustache on dark skin and black moustache on brown skin. Mrs Kanda thought Bon Hian was older than her hubby and Malay. Please advise him to use sunblock for golf!
I don't look so fat on this pic,- thanks to Janet's skills and special camera effect

Happy birthday jungle played over the PA for Ai Lay.

The Fair Aunties (Ladies until 2007)

Surprise! Surprise! Surprise!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 14 Jul 2008 23:35:21 -0700
From: noreply-comment@blogger.com
To: snoople@msn.com
Subject: [Bukit Panjang English School Class of 1970] New comment on Mr Kanda We Want to Hear From You.

Dev has left a new comment on your post "Mr Kanda We Want to Hear From You":

Hi Guys,

Just came across your blog by accident. The Mr Kanda that you are refering to is in fact my uncle. He still lives in JB but no longer in the house in Jalan Mariammah. His contact number is as follows 07-3332479. He will deffinately love to hear from all of you. God bless. Dev. from KL



Posted by Dev to Bukit Panjang English School Class of 1970 at July 15, 2008 2:35 PM

Letter To Mr Kanda Returned

On 26 May 2008, I sent a registered letter to Mr Kanda in Johor Bahru. The letter was returned on 16 June 2008.........................




Hi

Just for info, the registered letter which I sent to Mr Kanda on 26 May has been returned intact, today. Reason given was 'RumahTutup/not in.??

Regards
AiLay
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Rumah tutup means "house closed' in Malay, essentially meaning no longer in existence.

At least we know we tried our level best. Hope he is alright and well if still around.

Rgds,
Bon  

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Looks like we have reached the end of the road..

Janet

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What Mr Kanda Wrote In The Magazine

Do you remember the Photo of Mr Kanda with an article written by him flashed on the screen last night? Most of you may not have had the chance to read what was written by him. So I am reproducing it here for you:

"I wish to express my thanks to the principal and the editorial committee for inviting me to write this article for your souvenir magazine.

As I reminisce about the years spent at BPPS, I feel terribly nostalgic. I joined the staff in 1954. At that time, there were three schools functioning in one building under different principals. The schools were Bukit Panjang English School,Bukit Panjang Afternoon School and Bukit Panjang Malay School. The wooden classroom furniture was in terrible condition. The classrooms were crowded and there were no fans. Fans were installed in 1976.

We did not have the modern sanitation. Instead there was the old bucket system. An old man used to come in daily to clean the buckets. Everybody in the School "sensed" this old man's presence without actually seeing him.

At that time, the quardrangle was covered with gravel. The assembly sessions during the afternoon resembled a sandstorm. The quardrangle was cemented when Mr Felix Choo became the principal in 1960. It costs the school $1310!

Mr Choo was succeeded by Mr C.B. Jesudason in 1962. He retired in early 1970. It was during this time that we experienced a terrible flood in February 1967. The quardrangle and the school field looked like a huge reservoir. All the teachers and pupils stayed back on the upper floor until the flood receded at about 11pm

One of the greatest fears of parents and teachers alike was the pupils having to cross the road in front of the school as there was no overhead bridge at that time. It was constructed only in 1976. During the sixties, the teachers had to perform the duty of patrol attendants - a rather nerve-wrecking task! Later this job was given to paid road patrol attendant. We had some rather interesting characters employed as attendants. One of them was an irascible old man. Another was a rather weak old lady who was succeeded by a robust fellow who claimed to be a magician. He used to disappear on certain duty days!.

In my 35 years as a teacher, the greatest joy was teaching the children of my former pupils. I retired in May 1989 with mixed feelings. I was happy that I could now spend my time reading all the 'penny dreadfuls" that i had accumulated over the years and sad at the thought of parting from my colleagues and pupils.

In conclusion, I wish the new school even further achievements in the years to come."

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.