There is a dearth in Fiji of the type and calibre of educationists such as the late Mr Jai Narayan, says Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum delivered a eulogy at a memorial service for Mr Narayan at the Jai Narayan College hall in Suva, which was attended by hundreds of mourners from Fiji and abroad.

He said the gathering was not only a commemoration, but also a celebration of Mr Narayan’s life.

“The level of education, the level of being able to apply the practical aspects of education and trying to forge new ways, thinking outside the box. The teaching techniques adopted, he looked outside the jurisdiction, he looked outside Fiji to see what would be appropriate for us,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Education Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum delivers his eulogy during the funeral service of the late Jai Narayan on September 28, 2018. Photo: Simione Haravanua

He shared a personal experience with Mr Narayan in 1991 when the acting Prime Minister took a small boy who used to sell vegetables around Suva to the then Indian College to try and gain admission for him to sit for his Form Four exam in Term Three.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said when he took the boy to the school the teachers refused to admit him, saying he had missed the first two terms of the school year and would bring down the school’s pass rate.

He said that during the exchange at the school office, Mr Narayan came out and asked what the issue was about.

After the issue was explained to him, Mr Narayan looked at the boy and asked if he would be able to pass his exam and the boy nodded in agreement.

The boy went on to pass his exam, received a scholarship the following year and went on to study at Dudley High School and is now in Canada.

“If Mr Jai Narayan had not come out of his room to accept or allow the boy to sit for his form four exam he probably would still be selling vegetables on the streets of Suva,” he said.

“That is one of the many stories that can be told about Mr Narayan and how he helped individual people.”

Students of Jai Narayan College paying their last respects to the late Jai Narayan on
September 28,2018.
Photo: Simione Haravanua

The acting prime minister said Mr Narayan’s contribution to the Fiji Higher Education Commission changed many things in Fiji.

He added that the one way that Mr Narayan could be honoured was for people to continue his legacy.

“The best way that we can show that we appreciate his legacy, his hard work, his dedication, his energy and his enthusiasm, his ability to think outside the box is if we continue with what he started,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

“The fact that today we have free education allows us to carry on that legacy.”

Family and friends pay their last
respects to the late Jai Narayan on
September 28,2018.
Photo: Simione Haravanua

Members of the
public during the
funeral service of the late Jai Narayan on
September 28,2018.
Photo: Simione
Haravanua

Edited by Epineri Vula

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