KUALA LUMPUR: Revered educator Datuk Seri N.S. Selvamany died this morning, from what was believed to have been lung failure.
His death was confirmed by Perak Economic Advisory Council chairman Datuk Seri Mohd Annuar Zaini.
Selvamany was 93.
Originally from Batu Gajah, Selvamany taught economics at SMK Anderson in Ipoh for 20 years.
Later on he became a principal in two schools in Perak.
Many Andersonians, including Annuar, would remember Selvamany with smiles on their faces.
"To you sir, we owe a great debt, you were blessed with three biological children, but you have treated us as your children too.
"To you sir, our very fond memories and love, thank you for taking and treating all of us, your students from various religious and ethnic backgrounds as your children," Annuar said.
Amongs his list of successful students include Gua Musang member of Parliament Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, former chief secretary to the government Tun Ahmad Sarji, former Chief Justice Tun Eusoff Chin and former Singapore Chief Justice Chan Sek Keong.
Selvamany's dedication to educating young minds earned him the national "Tokoh Guru" award in 1997. Prior to that, he received the state "Tokoh Guru" award in 1996.
He was also conferred with an honorary doctorate in Education by Universiti Malaya.
Selvamany once attended school with the late Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah, and in 2012, the latter launched a biography about his former schoolmate, written by Dr Rokiah Talib, a former professor at UM's Anthropology and Sociology department.
Sultan Azlan Shah and Selvamany were students at the Batu Gajah Government English School. The school was later renamed to Sekolah Sultan Yussuf.
The school was founded by Selvamany's grandfather Malaiperumal Pillay in 1907.