Sitting before her TV set, Janki Ganesh, 74, was happy to see her ex-student becoming the 18th individual taking oath as Maharashtra's 27th chief minister. She reminisced about the "calm, quiet" student who always showed grace under pressure.
Ganesh taught Devendra Fadnavis history in Stds VII and IX at Saraswati School in Shankar Nagar. She told dna, "Devendra was very quiet. He was never a group leader or a house leader in the class, but I remember him as a calm student. In his school days, other students used to tease him for being overweight, but he never retaliated."
Fadnavis passed his secondary school exams in 1985, but he stayed in touch with his teacher well into his adulthood. "When he became Nagpur's mayor, he used to come to our home every week and have a chat with us," she added.
Fadnavis completed his higher secondary school certificate (HSC) in science from Dharampeth Science College, after which he did his five-year law course from Nagpur university. There, he won a gold medal for his knowledge of Hindu Law and was also chosen as the best debater at the state level. He has an MBA and a diploma in project management, both from DSU University in Berlin.
His bright educational career notwithstanding, he always kept in touch with his school, say his teachers, adding that he makes it a point to visit his alma mater every year and always sponsors the education of poor students.
S Prabhuraman, the current principal of Saraswati School, said, "I am not Devendra's teacher, but have enjoyed a rapport with him for 20 years now. He visits us every year. Once he is free, I and my 4,000 students would love to felicitate him. We are really proud of the fact that he is our student."
Another of his schoolteachers, Vimala Jagdishan, 63, said while Fadnavis was a mayor, his close aide's son was punished for misconduct and suspended for a week. "Devendra called me and inquired about the issue. When I explained the situation to him, he understood and didn't take the issue forward."
She added, "As a powerful politician, he could have pressured us, but he didn't say anything."
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