KUALA LUMPUR: For most people, “good morning” is just a routine greeting. For Sri Kantharao Sani Babu, it was an opportunity to brighten someone’s day.
Over 37 years at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Sri became far more than an auxiliary cop. Affectionately known as “Uncle Sri”, he remains a familiar and much-loved figure to generations of students and staff – someone who was always ready with a smile and helping hand.
His dedication earned him a heartfelt tribute from the university on social media upon his retirement in May, with many recalling how his cheerful greetings always lifted their spirits.
For Sri, the friendships built over the decades remain his greatest reward. Some students and staff would invite him for a drink, while others simply made it a point to say hello – even if it meant stopping their car by the roadside.
“If they hadn’t seen me for a long time, they would come looking for me,” he told FMT Lifestyle happily.
Sri joined UPM, then known as Universiti Pertanian Malaysia, in 1989 as a security guard. In 2014, he and several colleagues trained as auxiliary cops, giving them greater authority to safeguard the sprawling campus.
His duties ranged from manning guardposts to directing traffic and patrolling the campus. But what truly set him apart was not the work itself – it was the way he treated people.
His philosophy was simple: firmness and compassion could go hand in hand. When students broke the rules, such as riding motorcycles without a helmet, Sri took action.
But he would also offer advice, an approach that earned him respect rather than fear.
To Sri, understanding young people was just as important as enforcing the rules. He believes changing times call for a different approach to guiding the younger generation.
“When we do that, the next time they are tempted to break the rules, they will think, ‘Uncle has been good to us. We shouldn’t disappoint him’,” said the father of three.
His approachable nature also meant students often turned to him for help. Once, a female student sought his assistance after a fellow student repeatedly disturbed her despite knowing she had a boyfriend.
Sri stepped in and spoke to the young man. Later, when her younger sister enrolled at UPM, she introduced her to Sri, hoping he would look out for her too.
On another occasion, a PhD student approached him after struggling to find volunteers to help with her research. Without hesitation, Sri spent about four hours assisting her.
“I may never earn a PhD myself, but if I can help someone else do it, that is enough for me,” he said.
Sri also remembers moments of heartbreak – from an associate professor losing a project in a campus fire the night before it was due to be submitted, to comforting a student grieving the loss of her boyfriend in an accident.
UPM, to him, was more than just a workplace. “The university was like a family,” he added with a smile.
Indeed, some students would return after semester breaks with gifts from their hometowns, while others invited him to their weddings.
And his dedication did not go unnoticed: in 2018, UPM honoured him with an award in appreciation of his service.
After nearly four decades on campus, Sri decided to retire so he could focus on his health and spend more time with his family.
Naturally, his final day was an emotional one, with many students stopping by to thank him and bid him goodbye.
As he begins a new chapter in life, there is one hope he holds close. “I hope that whenever I return to campus, people will still remember me.”
Even in retirement, Sri keeps in touch with many former students and continues to send them the greeting that became synonymous with him over the years: “Good morning.”
