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Indian principal retires after 35-year stint in Sharjah school

Dubai - He has taught and disciplined several hundred students

 During his 35-year teaching career, K.R. Radhakrishnan Nair has seen thousands of students climb up the ladder of success. And that is what gives Nair a sense of satisfaction as he retired from the Sharjah Indian School (SIS), the largest Indian school in the emirate, as the principal on Tuesday.
RK sir, as he is fondly called by his students and colleagues, joined the Sharjah Indian School as an English teacher on November 16, 1981, and since then served the school in different capacities - teacher, head master, vice-principal and principal.
He has taught and disciplined several hundred students during his three and half decade-long stint with the school.
Although technology and teaching methodology have undergone a sea change over the years, "a teacher remains the second parent of a student and parent remains the first teacher of a student", vows Nair.
"When I joined the Indian School Sharjah there were only 521 students, now the school has more than 9,000 students in two of its branches. It is time to retire and lead a peaceful life back home. My wife Nirmala too has lived with me in Sharjah for 35 years," Nair told Khaleej Times.
"I've always felt joy and pride when I see our alumni come back with their children seeking admission in SIS, indicating the confidence and love that they have for the school," he said. "A human being is an asset who needs to be cherished, nurtured and developed with tenderness and care, coupled with dynamism," he said, adding that he feels proud to be stepping down from a school that has been getting 100 per cent success in CBSE X and XII examinations under his guidance.
SIS has witnessed a steady growth from 1981 onwards and Nair was always part of the growth story. He is the one who has helped the growth of the Indian community school from less than 200 students and 13 teachers to around 8,600 students and over 450 teachers now.
"The new principal Promod Mahajan has joined from Maharashtra Lodha Group of Schools," said Biju Soman, general secretary Indian Association Sharjah, which is running the school.
"He was to retire five years ago but since he was a great principal, he retained the position for five terms. Now that he has crossed 65 and gave a letter to the committee for retirement, we have accepted it," Soman added.
The shift system at SIS to accommodate more students was Nair's suggestion and the number of students almost doubled without any additional investment for new class rooms and teachers, a parent Madhavan Padi, said.
sathish@khaleejtimes.com