Photographs: Wiki Commons
We bring you readers' stories about their favourite, most inspirational teachers.
We invited you to share special experiences about your best-loved teachers with us to celebrate Teacher's Day on September 5. Here as we present the last batch of reponses we received, we would like to thank our readers for sharing with us their touching tributes and memories.
First up Arup Ghosh shares this touching story of his teacher:
Ganesh Babu was my teacher when I was in primary school. Being a kid, I had no idea or yardstick to measure how good a teacher he was but he was definitely one of the greatest human beings. He personally knew the name of each student and their places of residence. He knew the parents of most of the students.
When he taught us the alphabets and numbers in English and vernacular he would show us the style to write them and make sure that everyone wrote in the proper manner. He was a perfectionist and we never saw him growing tired of teaching. He was always available and willing to share his knowledge.
Though I was a child of 5, I could feel that he was extremely poor. It was evident from his dress itself. He had probably only one pair of dhoti and shirt. I never saw him bring a tiffin either. Later I came to know that he had no money to purchase even a cup of tea worth only a paisa and used to starve half the days of a week due to extreme poverty. But that never made a dent in his attitude toward his pupils that he nourished like his own children.
The salary was so little then and the teachers used to get their salaries after a gap of six months or more. But he was rich in his heart and I never saw him unhappy. He was extremely cordial and warm. If anyone of the students was absent for more than a day, he would invariably go to his home and enquire of his well-being but did never accept a cup of tea, if offered.
In the secondary level I became very busy with my studies. But whenever we used to meet in the streets we used to exchange pleasantries. He would enquire about my studies and my parents. I lost track of him when I went to college and then began my career. In the meantime Ganesh Babu retired with almost no terminal benefits.
Almost after a gap of 15-20 years, one evening when I went to a nearby market I saw Sir walking down the street. He was old and infirm. He wore a very thick glasses and was unshaven. His dress was torn and extremely shabby. He then stopped near a fast food shop and was watching the snacks in the showcase. He turned back and saw me. He did not recognise me. He wrapped my hands with his and said, "Sir, I have not had any food for a couple of days, will you offer me any? I am neither a beggar nor a thief. I have no money."
I was in a state of nothingness and discovered tears were dropping from my eyes uncontrollably. My vision was blurred. I stooped and touched his feet. "Sir, I was your student some 30 years back and gave him my name. He recognised me instantly and asked my whereabouts. He was happy as a child to know that I was well placed in my career.
"Arup, I am hungry no more, I am so happy that you recognised me and touched my feet. Long live my boy." I forcefully took him to my home and offered him some food. I did not dare offer him any money lest he be hurt. I requested him to come to my home whenever he was in need. He smiled and nodded. But he never came back nor did we ever meet again.
He has left for his heavenly abode long back but till date I cherish the beautiful bond of a teacher and his student.
Here Shailesh Sharma shares memories of his teacher:
Teachers or better call them parents away from home. Although we come across many teachers in life, who all try to make you a good and successful person there are some that you remember your whole life and others you forget. On Teacher's Day, I tried to understand why a few teachers leave a long-lasting impact on one's life. The reasons vary from person to person. One of them is their teaching style.
Whenever the word teacher comes up, the picture that came to my mind is of my maths teacher. He used to come up with new mathematical challanges all the time. Sometimes, when we could solve those difficult sums, it felt like getting into IIT! I still remember in class X, he set a term paper and told us that whoever could score 40 marks in it would be capable of scoring 100 in the board exam. I got 36 in that and later on 95 in the board exams.
I'll always remember you Mr Rathi. Thanks for making maths my favourite subject for life.
V Mallikarjuna Rao remembers his teacher who was the epitome of dedication:
I hail from Rajahmundry (East Godavari District), Andhra Pradesh and had studied in Govt Boys' High School, Innispet, Rajahmundry. Though every teacher in that school was dedicated to his/her duty, Sri Koteswara Rao garu was extraordinary in his duties and 100-per cent self-disciplined.
During his 35 years of service in the teaching profession, he had never taken any leave for the initial 18 years continuously. Later, he had to avail of the leave because of an eye operation which could not be avoided. This in itself was the first sign of his dedication.
He was never late to school even for a minute. He would always wear white pants and white shirt and there would never be a spot on his dress, behaviour, way of dealing with his colleagues and the way of making a student understand, especially English and mathematics.
During his service as a teacher, he had maintained a book-bank in the school by which books from rich students are collected (with the consent of parents) free of cost, once the boy passes out of one class and enters the higher class and after the books are bound and well-covered, the same are presented to junior students who cannot afford new books. These books are presented to the student by the donor himself (senior student), thus teaching students not only mutal cooperation and encouraging a helping nature towards the needy, but also improves love, affection and respect towards seniors and fellow classmates.
When Republic Day or Independence Day would approach, there was a practice of taking up a small contribution from students to paint the classrooms or decorate them with colour flags made by the students themselves. During these occasions, he would take personal interest, guide students and conduct competitions in making decorations, the winners would be rewarded. With this, students learned the spirit of teamwork and its collective result.
He would maintain a beautiful garden within the school premises with the active participation of the students. Is a vetetable plant was ripe, the vegetables were sold on an auction basis after school hours and the proceeds would be presented to the grower of that plant (or even a group) to the applause of the other students and teachers. Here he taught the importance of gardening and competition for a common good cause.
Since Rajahmundry is situated on the banks of the River Godavari, almost once in a year or two years, the lower slum areas of the town would be filled with water during the rains forcing the residents to vacate their homes. In those circumstances, our beloved Sri Koteswara Rao master would encourage students to help the affected people, to shift their families and belongings.
Sir used to teach English & Mathematics for secondary classes. One day prior to the start of vacation, he would visit the lower classes and would share guidance along with a little homework for the holidays. The homework books were to be kept on his table on the first day of the next academic year. If any student turned up without the homework, he would be punished only to make him understand the utility of time.
No student failed any exam during his entire service. If any English lesson or a story or even some mathematical theory, is not learnt by a student within 48 hours of its completion, he would be asked to sit late hours at school on the third day. The parents would be informed and it would be arranged to drop the student home safely once he learned the topic. Sometimes he would be criticised politely by others, but his reply would be "My duty is to make the student understand both the letter and spirit, but not to punish him in any way."
He was awarded by Rotary Club, Rajahmundry Jaycees' Club, Lions' Club, the Bright Award, AP Governor's award to name a few, apart from the highest award that is given to teachers, the President of India's "Best Teacher Award" on September 5, 1996 at New Delhi's Vigyan Bhavan received from the late Dr Shankar Dayal Sharma. On this occasion, it was my privilege to be present.
Till recently, whenever I went to my hometown, I would visit him. Unfortunately, on November 15, 2009 he breathed his last. The town of Rajahmundry, the Govt Boys' High School and the entire student community miss him a lot. May his soul rest in peace.
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