Tamil Nadu - Madurai   

Youths after Collector seeking autograph

Obliging:Madurai Collector U. Sagayam signing autograph for two youngsters at Mattuthavani Integrated Bus stand in Madurai on Saturday.

MADURAI: It was pleasant surprise for two youths from Aruppukottai, R. Saravana Raja and K. Gopikrishnan, to see their ‘manaseega guru'. And they did not want their chance meeting to go waste. They followed him hurriedly; jostled through the small crowd and intercepted him at the right place. All this was to get his autograph.

And their ‘guru' was neither one among the ‘men in blue' nor a star from the tinsel town. But, the Madurai district Collector, U. Sagayam.

Raja, a diploma holder and his friend, Gopikrishnan, were overwhelmed on seeing Mr. Sagayam at Mattuthavani Integrated Bus stand when the Collector was on an inspection on Saturday.

After getting closer to him, both of them extended small pieces of white paper seeking his autograph. The Collector politely refused saying he was not a ‘big' person to sign autographs.

But, the two youths were not convinced. One of them said that he was their role model, and another said they were attracted by his honesty. They insisted upon the Collector sign on the papers. With a small crowd around him and the youths not relenting, the Collector had to yield.

As he signed the papers, the youths were quick to fall on his feet seeking his blessings. The Collector patted on their back saying, “Be honest in your life,” and went on with his work.

Gopikrishnan was so ecstatic that his eyes were filled with tears. First thing they did on reaching Aruppukottai was getting the papers laminated.

Both of them had read about the Collector's activities during the recently concluded Assembly Elections.

“He (Gopi) called his friends in Singapore to share his joy,” said Raja. Raja said he was attracted by the honesty and duty consciousness of Mr. Sagayam. “He is very bold. I wonder there is such an officer in this age,” he said.

Gopikrishnan said he had read in magazines about Mr. Sagayam's good work for tribal people a few years back while he was in Singapore. “We always wanted to meet him. This was a God-sent opportunity,” he said.

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