Mr N O Devasia, passed away on 5 November 2021. May his soul rest in peace.

N.O, as he was popularly known, served St Berchmans College for over three decades, in the capacity of hostel boy, library staff, office staff and retired as Administrative Assistant in 2009. There after he joined Yuva Deepti College, now Media Village group of Institutions, and was in charge of the office until a year back, when ill health prevented him from attending the office.

I am narrating below an incident, N.O himself shared with me. An incident which would have made S B miss a covetable award.

Rev Dr George Madathilparambil, the Principal (1991-96), had given instructions that anyone other than those for official matters should not be let into the Principal’s room. This was to avoid meeting those with recommendations during the admission season. One morning a lady came to the college and asked permission to meet the Principal. The attender at the Principal’s office refused to let her in, even after her insistence. The lady walked away quite angry and dejected. N.O, then an office staff was observing the happening from a distance. The way the lady carried herself made N.O think that she was on an official visit to the Principal. So he followed her down the steps and stopped her before she left the campus. She said that she was from the Education Department send to check on the credentials of the documents sent by the college, to be considered for the R Sankar award. N.O asked pardon for the act of the attender and took her to the Principal. Rest is history. In 1996 S B College secured the first R Sankar award for the Best Special Grade Private College in the State of Kerala. S B bagged the award in the next year, 1997 as well.

This single incident brings to the fore N.O’s commitment, sincerity, responsibility and belonging to St Berchmans College. The S B fraternity pay homage and tributes to Mr N O Devasia.

S B is S B on account of everyone who have passed through its portals – faculty, administrative staff, support staff and students, and not only on account of those at the helm, Principals, Managers and Patrons.

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