President Ram Nath Kovind alights from dais to touch feet of his 92-year-old teacher

KANPUR: In a heart-warming gesture, President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday came down from the

dais

and touched the feet of his 92-year-old teacher Pyare Lal Verma before hundreds of students and a galaxy of teachers at a function at BNSD Shiksha Niketan School in the city on Monday.


Verma had taught President Kovind at BNSD Inter College in 1960s, teachers recalled.


As soon as the President was told that his teacher Pyare Lal could not climb up to the dais due to ill health, he himself went down, touched his feet and sought his blessings. He, thereafter, felicitated the teacher. Before Verma, the President had felicitated his two other teachers - 86-year-old Triloki Nath Tandon and 92-year-old Hari Ram Kapoor - who had taught him maths and accounts, respectively.

He said he was honoured to felicitate his teachers and get their blessings after a long time.

Beginning his address, the President paid tributes to the CRPF jawans martyred in the Pulwama terror attack.

"I was a student of BNSD Inter College and used to sit on the back bench often to escape the questions asked by teachers. In the night, I used to study under street lamp. In summers, I and other students went to Brijendra Swarup Park to study under the shadow of big trees," he said recalling his school days. Kovind urged the students to think, act and live life positively.

"It is a misconception that good education means good job. A good person would always pay back to the society through his deeds. One should always think of contributing to the society," he said.

The President hoped that the BNSD chain of educational institutions, run by Brahmavart Sanatan Dharm Mahamandal, would continue their rich tradition.

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