From Steven Chan Weng Choy

The late Professor S Ganakumaran, an illustrious son of St Paul’s Institution (SPI) in Seremban and a leading light of Malaysia’s English language teaching fraternity, will be remembered for his significant contributions to education in the country.

His death on Feb 18 at the age of 62 shocked many past and present students, teachers, colleagues and friends who had benefited greatly from their association with him on various fronts.

Ganakumaran was an outstanding LaSallian and a notable pillar of his alma mater.

He was the board chairman of SPI primary school, a board member of SPI secondary and also the vice-president of the Old Paulians’ Association (OPA) for four terms from 2011.

An educationist, Ganakumaran contributed significantly to education in Malaysia and was a respected personality in the English language teaching fraternity.

Ganakumaran, who was from the Class of 1975, was a good example of a true Paulian and LaSallian who demonstrated his love for education with utmost commitment and dedication.

He was active and supportive of the OPA, having played a pivotal role in organising the association’s annual dinner and other related events.

He worked tirelessly with OPA treasurer, Lai See Ming on the “OPA Annuals” (magazine) to ensure that it was given a new look every year with stirring content.

Ganakumaran believed that the concept of the annual OPA event struck a meaningful chord with past students.

He once told me that “since we are volunteers and have put ourselves forward, we must commit by giving our best to OPA. We cannot afford complacency if we are committed to serve”.

His message should be the ethos of all serving management committee members.

He has always been an asset to OPA and even though he was no longer with the committee in 2019, he was ready to lend a helping hand whenever OPA needed his assistance.

Ganakumaran was instrumental in initiating “The Outstanding Paulian Award” in 2015, a recognition accorded to exceptional Paulians who have made invaluable contributions to the alma mater as well as in society.

The first recipient of this award was Brother Felix Donahue followed by Archbishop Julian Leow, Lai See Ming and David Wee Toh Kiong.

Ganakumaran was a candidate for the award in 2020 but the occasion had to be cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He also represented the OPA as the organising chairman of the 7th Malaysian LaSallian Educators Conference in 2018.

Under his leadership and in collaboration with both the primary and secondary schools, the three-day event saw the participation of 152 delegates from LaSallian schools, school boards, alumni associations and parent-teacher associations from Peninsula Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak.

Last year, he was to have delivered his keynote address for the eighth edition of the conference, to be organised by St George Institution in Taiping, but it did not materialise due to the pandemic.

Undoubtedly, there is more that this standout son of SPI could have done and contributed for his alma mater and society.

He was a true Paulian, and a proud LaSallian who lived by the motto: “Once a Paulian, always a Paulian in heart, mind and soul”.

His untimely demise has left a vacuum in the Paulian and LaSallian fraternity that will remain unfilled for a very long time.

Ganakumaran lived the Paulian spirit. He will be missed by all of us and his good work and contributions will be remembered for a very long time.

Steven Chan Weng Choy is president of the Old Paulians’ Association.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.