Kerala CM credits school for communication skills that led to Harvard lectures

Keralam CM V.D. Satheesan takes a trip down memory lane at alumni meet

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan credited Panangad High School for teaching him fundamental communication skills that later enabled him to deliver lectures at prestigious international venues, including Harvard University.

Addressing an alumni meeting at his alma mater, Satheesan said the Malayalam-medium school gave him a strong foundation in English grammar that proved invaluable throughout his career. "Standing here today, I'm at a loss for words. It was the teachers here who encouraged me to read and learn," he said.

Overcoming early insecurities

The Chief Minister recalled feeling an inferiority complex when he joined SH College after completing his schooling at Panangad High School. He found other students speaking English more fluently than him initially.

"However, after listening to them keenly, I realised that they were making many grammatical errors, while our teachers here had taught us grammar thoroughly. That gave me the confidence to speak in English," Satheesan explained.

He said it was at Panangad High School that he "learned to speak" and acquired the confidence to deliver speeches in English later in his career.

Kerala High Court judge Devan Ramachandran inaugurated the alumni meet. The event was attended by Ministers N. Samsudheen, Roji M. John, V.E Abdul Gafoor, Hibi Eden, MP, and Deputy Speaker Shanimol Osman, among others.

Source: The Hindu