Pedagogue Par Excellence

Reminiscences of Bro. Paul Nizier FMS:

by W. T. A. Leslie Fernando

The birth anniversary of Bro. Paul Nizier FMS, the Pedagogue Par Excellence falls on February 5. He was born at Moratuwa on February 5, 1907.

An embodiment of virtues, values and discipline enunciated by Marist Brothers, he passed away on December 8, 1999 at the ripe old age of 92. For his birth anniversary this year I would like to present the memories of my close association with Bro. Paul Nizier.

When the Free Education Scheme was implemented in 1945, Maris Stella College, Negombo was a prestigious fee-levying school and there were moves to continue it as a private institution.

However, the legendary Bro. Anthony, the then Director of the College decided to enter it to the free education stream to enable the poor students in Negombo and the vicinity to reap the benefits of higher education.

At that time Bro. Paul Nizier was the head of the primary section in Maris Stella. He endorsed the decision of Bro. Anthony and opened up new classes for the primary in temporary sheds to accommodate the influx of increasing students seeking admission to the institution.

I entered Maris Stella in 1947 and I could vividly remember the day Bro. Paul Nizier admitted me to the primary. I went to the interview with an uncle of mine. Bro. Paul Nizier asked me to read a passage from an English book and then to find the way to the end of a jigsaw puzzle. I read the passage with some difficulty but solved the puzzle without any problem.

At that time my father Warnakulasuriya Santiago Fernando was the leader of the LSSP in Negombo. When Bro. Paul Nizier perused my baptisimal certificate, he inquired from my uncle, whether my father was the LSSP politician. He answered in the affirmative. Nevertheless Bro. Paul Nizier had no hesitation to admit me to Marist Stella. He enrolled me to a 6th year class.

We found that Bro. Paul Nizier was a popular principal in the primary section who endeared himself to pupils and parents alike. He received everybody with a smile and dealt with all with a broad outlook, and understanding. He guided and moulded thousands of Maristonians in their formative years to become good citizens.

Imbibed

Bro. Paul Nizier himself took some classes in the primary and imbibed students with knowledge of everything that is best in life. He taught practical subjects like nature, hygiene, general science and general knowledge. Students longed for his periods in classes. He made an urge among students to seek knowledge.

Bro. Paul Nizier inculcated discipline among students not by the rod but by his sterling qualities of mind and heart. He had such lovable qualities that no student could disobey or say `no’ to him. Students were taken up by his honesty, sincerity and good example.

Bro. Paul Nizier was concerned with the behaviour of students not only in the class but outside the school as well. With his vast knowledge of human relationship, he trained the students how to get on in society. I could still remember how he instructed us to cheer not only for our camp in sports but to the achievements of the opposing side as well.

I never shined as a student in the primary in Maris Stella. Although I was among the first five in examinations, I was never considered an outstanding student. I tried to take part in some athletic events but got knocked off in heats being the last or one before the last. Nevertheless Bro. Paul Nizier always bolstered me.

Now and then he picked me up to recite the litany at novenas. Once our literature master was on leave and there was no teacher available to act for him. Although I was not the monitor in the class Bro. Paul Nizier entrusted me to take the lesson. I imitated the teacher and read the passages from the textbook for others to repeat.

Towards the end of the period Bro. Paul Nizier had been watching us without our knowledge. Later he congratulated me and commended other students for their attention and good behaviour.

When I was in the collegiate section, Bro. Paul Nizier addressed the students on Switzerland after a sojourn abroad. At the end of his speech, he remarked that students who would be future leaders should try to develop Sri Lanka like Switzerland. And looking straight at me, he remarked “One of the future Ministers is seated among you.” But his forecast never materialised. After flirting with politics for some time, I found myself a misfit in the field and joined the Judiciary.

When Bro. Conran, the principal of Maris Stella went abroad for a holiday in 1952, Bro. Paul Nizier acted for him. One day as our class teacher was on leave Bro. Paul Nizier took a lesson. At the end of it he inquired from every student what he aspired to be. All the students except I mentioned that they wanted to be doctors, engineers, lawyers, accountants and so on. That was a `B’ form.

In my case I could not think beyond becoming a teacher. My father and my uncles were all teachers. That was the limit to my world as well. So I said that I wanted to be a teacher. Bro. Paul Nizier wished all success and remarked “One day the boy who wants to become a teacher would be above all of you.” This time his prophecy came true. All except I gave up studies after the Senior form.

After I left Maris Stella, I kept on corresponding with Bro. Paul Nizier. He watched the progress of my studies both at the University and the Law College. In secondary classes at Maris Stella, now and then I was the first in class at examinations. Bro. Paul Nizier had the wrong notion that I was always the first in class.

When I was the President of the Law College Catholic Association, in 1969 we published the annual of the society called `Veritas’ (The Truth). I posted a complimentary copy to Bro. Paul Nizier as well. While acknowledging the magazine he appreciated my contributions there and reminded me that St. Thomas Aquinas was the patron Saint of scholars.

At Maris Stella I was known as `Leslie Fernando.’ I was amazed to realise that he had kept a track of my other names as well. It was from Bro. Paul Nizier I learned that the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas has been changed from March 7 to January 28.

Bro. Paul Nizier was happy that I married from a family who had been benefactors of the Catholic Church and attended our Wedding Mass at Wennappuwa in 1973. He appreciated my joining the Judiciary. When I became a District Judge, he wrote to me that the premises of the Marist Brothers’ House at Bandarawela abuts that of the District Judge and suggested me to get the next transfer to Bandarawela.

I did get Bandarawela in 1987 and served as the District Judge there till 1989. What a lovely time we had at Bandarawela with Bro. Paul Nizier as our immediate neighbour! On Tuesdays and Wednesdays we walked to St. Anthony’s Church with Bro. Paul Nizier for novenas to st. Anthony and Our Lady of Perpetual Help. On the way back we had tea at our place and enjoyed his company till dusk.

On the other days of the week my wife and I went for walks in the evening. On our return Bro. Paul Nizier was awaiting for us with chairs arranged in front of Marist Brothers’ House with refreshments. Sitting on the hillock, we enjoyed the panorama of the fascinating surroundings. We discussed all about Negombo, Marist Brothers, kings and cabbages till we could see `Udarata Menike’ passing through Bandarawela. It was a wonderful sight to see the train with lights on going through the hills.

Towards the end of 1988, the turmoil in the country surfaced in Bandarawela too and I had a trying time as a Judge. At times I had to act for the Magistrate and go for murder inquests. There were some leaflets, posters exhibited around the residences and there were some demonstrations too demanding certain orders over some deaths. I never yielded to threats and gave orders according to my conscience.

Spent

There was a time that it was not safe for me to stay the nights at the District Judge’s bungalow. I never sought Police protection as that would be inviting attention and they might have attacked for weapons as well. Bro. Paul Nizier invited me to stay with him and I spent the nights at Marist Brothers’ House.

My wife and the domestic aid stayed nights with the family of the Divisional Engineer in his bungalow. When Bro. Paul Nizier invited me to stay with him I explained him that by accommodating me, his own life would be in danger. But he brushed aside the risk saying that at Marist Brothers’ House, there was the Blessed Sacrament and both would be safe.

Although I had no such confidence of divine intervention on such occasions staying with Bro. Paul Nizier at that hour was a great consolation for me. Bro. Paul Nizier was a tower of strength to me on those traumatic days.In 1989, Bro. Paul Nizier left Bandarawela and took up residence at Our Lady’s Hermitage, Tudella.

At the end of that year, I too got a transfer as the District Judge, Avissawella. When we came down home, my wife and I visited Bro. Paul Nizier without fail. When I retired from the Judiciary too now and then we called on him.

When we visited Bro. Paul Nizier for the last time, he was very feeble. At that time he was collecting testimonials to initiate the process of canonisation of Bro. Anthony as a Saint and I too obliged him. In my testimonial I emphasised that like Christ the Master, Bro. Anthony too opted for the poor, when he opened the doors of Maris Stella for free eduction. Bro. Paul Nizier commended it saying no one else had thought of that aspect of the career of Bro.Anthony.

Bro. Paul Nizier passed away within a couple of weeks on December 8, 1999. My wife and I were there at the grave-side when his body was interred at the general cemetery, Negombo which is only about half a mile from our place. I feel that after staying all over the country Bro. Paul Nizier is resting in peace close to us. He has only gone before us and are we to meet again in another world.

(The writer is a former High Court Judge and Vice President of the Newman Society Alumini Association.)