Pathanamthitta: As monsoon rains poured down on Pathanamthitta, a hopeful student reached out to District Collector S. Prem Krishnan with a rather creative request: "Please declare a holiday due to heavy rain. Considering the weather conditions in Pathanamthitta and the efforts of every child, a day off would be appreciated." The message, sent via social media, was written in highly flawed Malayalam — and it caught the Collector's attention for reasons beyond just the plea for a break.

Clearly amused but maintaining his composure, the Collector offered a gentle yet pointed reply: "There’s no holiday today. Please attend school regularly, and especially don’t miss your Malayalam class. Thank you."

Known for his active engagement with the public on social media, Collector Krishnan often receives a flood of leave requests from students whenever it rains. This time, however, the sheer volume and the quality of the language prompted a firm but humorous reminder about the importance of learning Malayalam properly.

While students may continue their seasonal campaign for rain-day holidays, it’s safe to say that the Collector remains steadfast — rain or shine — in encouraging regular attendance and linguistic discipline.