Chennai
As Jayakumar reached the school to attend the function, the students welcomed him with cheers and waved their hands. This attracted the Minister, who enthusiastically went to speak to the children who were sitting near the stage. But what was meant to be an informal interaction almost derailed the event, nearly leaving him with an embarrassment – or worse.
After welcoming him with a standing ovation, some of the children shook Jayakumar’s hands. Soon, more students joined to be close to the VIP. At one point, while the enthusiastic students were milling around, the Minister almost got pushed over, and nearly fell. But he managed to restore his balance before that happened.
By then, realising that the situation was going out of control, some teachers stepped in to bring him to the stage. Though he seems to have taken this lightly, the officials who accompanied him and school authorities were visibly tensed till the function was over.
After the programme, an official told the school management that as they cannot stop the Minister, the school should have ensured that students were not over-excited. Visiting a school, they seem to have learnt, may not always be a child’s play and could result in a slipped disc.
— R Sathyanarayana, Chennai
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