Chennai: As the nation mourned the demise of former Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, her school, which played a significant role in laying her personality, was not to be left behind.
We bring to you the place, where the foundation of Jayalalithaa's personality was laid down i.e. her school, Bishop Cotton Girls' School.
Bishop Cotton Girls' School, from where Jayalalithaa did her schooling, remembers its alumna.
Expressing her condolence, the school's principal, Lavanya Mithran said, "Tamil Nadu has lost an iconic leader. We paid tribute to her in the school's morning assembly."
"I feel proud of her that she being a girl, reached the level of Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu," the principal said while appreciating Jayalalithaa's zeal for hardwork and for achieving her goals.
"I feel privileged to have attended her two oath taking ceremonies as her guest," she added.
Studying in the school for six years from 1952-58, Jayalalithaa was not only an outstanding student, but an excellent athlete as well.
"She was good at extra-curricular activities also. We also came to know, that she was a good athlete as well."
Drawing inspiration from the late chief minister, a student said, "Since she was a lady and a chief minister, she is an inspiration for us."
"I want to become like her. She, being a lady reached the level of chief minister, which is a big thing. She is the most famous chief minister in India," said another student.
Hinting at Jayalalithaa's kind nature, the student said, "She has always helped the poor and the ones suffering."
The school students said they were ardent fans of deceased chief minister and said all of them aspire to become like her.
"I like her a lot and I want to be like her when I grow up. I am feeling very sad that she has passed away on my birthday. I pray to God that her soul rests in peace," said another student.
Although she has left us, but she will always remain in our hearts for the kind of person she was. This is not merely a dialogue, but the belief of Jayalalithaa's alma mater.
