[Respected Mother of the chairperson, Mrs. G. Madhavan and grandmother of Dr. Rajeev Kishen, Founder Secretary].
Ms. Elavalli Saraswathi Devi was born in the Kollam district of Kerala in the year 1921.
She completed her schooling at Victoria Girls’ School, Thrissur and then continued her education at Maharaja’s College in Ernakulam where she got involved in the ‘Quit India’ political movement at the call of Gandhiji. The college authorities were not happy with this and suspended her for her involvement in the ‘Quit India’ movement.
As such she left Ernakulam and joined Samurin’s College at Calicut where she completed her degree in Physics and Maths [B.Sc] and then did her B.Ed. She was probably one of the very few women to have studied beyond the primary or middle school in the 1940’s -1950’s. Dr. Chandran, her nephew in his condolence message remarks: Quote “To put my aunty’s achievement in the right historical context, her status at that point in time in rural Kerala can be compared to Indira Gandhi becoming the 1st woman Prime Minister of India in the 1980’s”Unquote.
She got married and moved to Malaysia with her husband K. Narayanan Nair. She worked as a Senior Science teacher and Head of the Science department in a convent in Malacca till her retirement. She passed away peacefully on the 30th of September 2013 leaving behind her three daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, their respective wives, great grandchildren, a host of relatives, friends, students and loved ones to mourn her loss.
She was an intellectual who had both a passion and a penchant for literature. She participated without ‘FEAR OR FURY’ in debates, read a lot of Malayalam literature and poems and gave her critic’s point of view on books. She, in turn, wrote and contributed effectively.
She was actively concerned in the welfare of women, their place in society and inspired them not to forget their own Kerala culture wherever they were. As a Gandhian, she dressed very simply, wore no ‘make-up’, never decked herself in ornaments of gold and never indulged in gossip. Truly, she was an elegant lady who lived simple and thought high. We will forever treasure her selfless love and high family values.
As the privileged daughter after several sons, she was much loved and admired by all for her helpful nature. Her natural wisdom was much sought for as good advice by many before they ventured into any enterprise.
She touched many lives in her teaching career. To her students, she always remained their mentor, guide, and a ‘MOTHER’ in many ways. The student community at her funeral stood as a true testimony to this.
The tribute to this great lady would be incomplete without the mention of her vision, inspiration and contribution towards Rinku Nursery and New Millennium School. It comes as no surprise that the Sree Saraswathi Trust is named in honour of her and that she was the CHOSEN ONE to inaugurate the New Millennium School building in the year 2002.
The members of the Sree Saraswathi Trust, the Rinku family and the
New Millennium School family will truly MISS her!
‘May her Soul rest in peace’
Narrated by her youngest brother E. K Nair and other family members:
edited by her daughter Mrs. G. Madhavan [Chairperson]
OBITUARY
A principled, selfless, self made woman of substance, who touched many lives in
her long innings of 92 years, she left a mark wherever she went.
She was full of life and gave generously to enrich the lives of others.
Her love for all was UNCONDICTIONAL.
Education was her soul and her family her source of strength.
Mrs. Nair may have left us but the values she lived by, the clarity of her thoughts
and the strength of her convictions will forever remain with us.
May her soul rest in peace.
Without Her Vision, we would have no dreams or direction.
Without Her Inspiration, we would have had no guidance.
Without Her Legacy of conviction and truth, we wouldn’t be who we are.
And today, we pay tribute to the legend behind our success story.
Those we love dearly never really leave us
They walk beside us every day
Penned by her beloved daughters
