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.

The late Bro. Paul Nizier FMS |
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.)
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