The nation celebrates September 5 as Teachers’ Day to honour teachers’ contribution towards the society. Coincidentally, it is the birthday of well-known scholar, diplomat and former President Dr Sarvapali Radhakrishnan, who was a teacher and staunch believer in qualitative education. A teacher does not necessarily mean a professional attached to an educational institution; it can be anyone who can guide people in the right direction. Sunday POST brings a few inspiring stories from youngsters who have shared how teachers have changed the course of their life.
Anindya Sourav Das, a sailor with Indian Navy from Bhadrak talked about his mother whom he considers his teacher and tells us how she has shaped his life.
Anindya says, “A teacher is not someone who teaches how to read, write or learn things. Textbooks are important, but I think the most important lesson a person has to learn is perseverance. My mother was a lecturer in English. I lost my father when I was three, so I grew up as a short-tempered and problematic child. I was also troublesome at school. It was all fun and games in the beginning, but after a while, everything became serious. I wasn’t getting any help or guidance from my peers and I became despondent. When I wanted to join the Indian Navy everyone ridiculed me for I was skinny and undisciplined.
“People suggested that I was meant for 9 to 5 job and then came a time when I started assessing myself and lost confidence in my abilities. Witnessing my condition, my mother once asked me one thing, ‘Do you really love the career?’. I replied, ‘I don’t know.’ Hearing my answer, she sat down reading a book. She didn’t say a word. After sometime she said, ‘I lost my husband and I didn’t have enough time to mourn. I didn’t have time to love you because I had to take care of the home and workplace simultaneously. I couldn’t teach you anything because I never needed to.’ I remember what she said that night and I quote, ‘To follow a dream requires a strong commitment and passion to pursue it. The credit for your success or failure in this world can be attributed to none other than you.’ I have never looked back after that. It was insanely difficult at times. But I think I made out pretty well,” adds Anindya.
Harshi Gupta, a professional from Berhampur, talked about her boxing coach Roshan Lal who taught her that one should never lose hope no matter what the circumstances are.
“When I was in Class IX, I used to take boxing lessons. There I met Roshan Sir who not only taught me the nitty-gritty about boxing but also gave me practical wisdom which I am applying in every situation of my life. I consider myself blessed that I met a person like him who showed me a different way of looking at things in life. There are times, when I don’t know what to do and then his teaching comes into being,” adds Harshi.
Goutam Panda, who is currently preparing for civil services examination, reveals how his English teacher had helped him get the command over the language.
“In my school, our English teacher Kishore Das simplified Shakespearean language for me. My command over the language is all because of him. He has not only helped me in studies, but also took personal interest to ensure that I developed a love for the lessons for which I will be grateful to him. One day, my bicycle was stolen and I did not know what to do. While I was worrying about how to face my parents, Kishore Sir came to my rescue. He came up to me and gifted me a new bicycle,” he says.
Goutam recollects many incidents in which his teachers had helped him. He claims, his teachers had a profound influence in shaping up his personality right from his early days at school.
Talking about his teacher Kishore Das, Goutam says, “He is an amazing personality. Although a strict disciplinarian, he was a lovable teacher too. He encouraged creativity in students. I remember he taught us letter writing. I developed writing poetry as a hobby mainly because of his inspiration. He was very generous to the core. I wasn’t the guy when it came to public speaking. He was the one who transformed a reticent guy like me into a public speaker.”
Shabiha Nur Khatoon, OP