A Teacher’s Teachers Day!

A  Teacher’s Teachers Day!

Confessions of a humanities cum communicative teacher

I do not know where to begin and locate myself. Might be in a trishanku phase or a transition phase. Perhaps! It all happened as unanticipated as an Ockhi cyclone or Kerala floods.  A few innocent looking people entered my life as an out of syllabus- oh, yeah, 99INAC. Literally, I am in a serene land flooded with that one coinage from all nook and cranny: ‘Ma’am’ (No, I don’t enjoy at all). A handful months have passed like a smooth breeze and there came that auspicious ‘Teachers Day’. As usual, I wished teachers day to all my teachers who did mould the present me. Above all, my wishes for all loving and caring teachers who called me ‘my dear Aparna’, my dearest Aparna, my darling, Good Heavens , well done, impossible Aparna, crazy, vocal, talented and what not. I did not forget to wish my present HoD Sir. I proceeded my trip to A212 after sipping my usual tea. I did not have the mood to enjoy breakfast and present myself in a Sari. Although Electrical beauties asked whether we are coming in Sari and joining them in and with their plan, we/I did not want to spoil our plan of ‘Sari day’ on behalf of Ruth’s chechi’s farewell (might be the farewell Lalithechi and me bestow in our own ‘Chomskey Chomskey’ way). 

As I had to go through a few websites and check my progress in the course I am doing, I made myself busy. As usual, my VIVO muse was alive with ‘Raid’ songs and Lal meri Mast K/Qalandar. Here comes somebody calling me Aparna. I got up from the chair at once. Infact, I was disturbed from the thrill of the tickling lyrics. It was no one other than my HoD, Guha Sir. He shook hands with me uttering a sentence : Thank you Aparna. You are the first one to wish me. This is your first teachers day? With all humility, I said- Yes, Sir. But my first batch cadets are not here. They have gone for the camp. Here came a stentorian message saying- oh, Why to worry? You can go and take my classes. I have two classes today in 101. I immediately said- Sir, I have a class in 98L where I will be teaching till this week only due to the new WTP arrangements. That is the third hour and I have no issues in taking the last two hours too. He said ‘Ok’ and left. I was engrossed in teachers day thoughts and expecting replies from those path makers who did touch my life. Time flew somehow and I had to reach class without taking my usual quota of tea. I entered A514 classroom and a few voices said ‘Hai Ma’am’. Many have gone for their ‘stand easy’ time. My beccha, Mukul Ranjan (I call him beccha) was busy checking a few things in you tube. In fact, he suggested a few of his favourite Punjabi songs for me to watch. I was really trying to spot Rishivant Vel as he is the one who greets me the first in the typical warm way of 98 INAC L- the electrifying batch for me always and in all ways. By the way, I had forgotten that deal of learning Wijekoon’s full name. I could not do just because I kept that book with his name written at Jaipur. As I inferred from other chivalrous topchops about missing cool cadets, I became crystal clear that Chirag Gulati and RJ Singh will join only after a short while. How will I flag off the day without having the glance of my ever smiling and glee Gulati.? So, I thought I will open the website of Information and Public Relations Department and show my recently published article. Mukul started checking the progress of download.  Within no time, our heart throb and charm of 98L, Gulati entered with RJ bhai. Oh, what a happiness in their talk? I tried to destroy that happiness asking their mid -term scores. Still, they were ok and one optimistic cadet deliberated- It’s ok, ma’am. We will pass in the end term exam and go for full DLTGH. I could not resist myself from appreciating that determined mindset. With an overwhelming spirit, I told them that I am also wishing only the same to happen for all of them. To divert everyone’s attention from all these silly serious talk, Gulati made everyone recollect September 5 (I mean today) as the teachers day. With losing his chivalrous disposition, glamorous Gulati came forward and expressed his wishes : Ma’am, on behalf of all of us, I wish you a Happy Teachers Day. I don’t have chocolate to give you. Will you eat this bun?( not bun, it’s their sandwich from the downstairs’ snack wallas). Was I in short of words? I told Gulati with all my affection – you are hungrier than me. Please do have it and I will be happy if you eat. This kind of affection can only be served by 98 L and nobody else. I was so curious to know about their teachers day. The answer came within seconds that they don’t have teachers day and teachers too. Eeh, why so? They clarified the fact that they have only instructors. I could not make any sense and I had to ask the difference between a teacher and an instructor. My beccha was already ready with an answer, I presume. He threw light into my query saying ‘an instructor teaches lessons for a fixed time and a teacher teaches lessons for a life time’. A very cute answer as cute as my Mukul beccha. But I was really hesitant to ask my position and where do they place me? I got this batch as a teacher/instructor a few months back and I have seen them a handful times only. But the spark ignited by them in my days with them is absolutely fabulous. From teachers day, we skipped to Asian Games, liberty/outing plans and finally ended up in Kerala floods. Gulati has given me a vivid picture of the diving adventures and rescue operation and the role of Operation Madad(Thank you, dear). Other machos were busy watching the flood videos. In between, I had to divert my attention to Avasthi and Sanchit and the ‘rare emotional connect’ they share ( Avasthi, if Sanchit has not spoken, you make me speak on that matter ok? Let it be a secret with three of us for the time being). It was almost time and Shubham Verma has approved ‘yes,Ma’am.time up’. Oh, I forgot to tell you.The E- magazine was downloaded and I have already asked them to read my article and comment. Above all, visit the tourist spot on which I have penned a small article. I was ready to leave the class but my beccha was not willing to leave the PC. I might be coming for one more class (might be substitution classes later.Who knows?) in 98L. I accept with all my heart that I had a very different feel and energy from the beginning to the end of interaction beginning with utmost affectionate Vel, calm Manish, vocal Abhinash, shy Locchab( Lockup bro), naughty Deepak, cute Rawat, active Avasthi, funny RJ Singh, simple Sanchit, sleepy Sreenivas, Mayur Vihar’s charming Tushar Mehrotra, super Shubham verma, story boy Abdaal. Although I taught 99batch for long, 98 L, you guys treat me like the way you know me for ages. I am always humbled by your humility and the way you ask queries. As a humanities and communicative teacher, I earnestly believe that 98batch has that spark of compassion here, there and everywhere within them. I really wish I could teach this batch till the end of their term. I will terribly miss this batch. You guys really did treat me like a human being with all your human gestures. (Hope 99INAC won’t take any offence in my revelation. Truth to be told and bold. But they will be having the unique honour in my career graph as my first students. I am not sure about the title they attribute- teacher/instructor? No expectations and hence, no disappointments. Yeah, this is one thing I learnt from my cabin poster.It speaks volumes right?) Finally, I learnt Wijekoon’s name- Wijekoon Herath Mudiyanselage Lekamle Wajira Madhuranga Bandara Wijekoon. ( I guess this is right, Wijekoon?) Wish you all a bright future and I am glad to be a  part of 98INAC L for a short stint of my INA life. As promised, I will keep in touch via all possible ways ( you must learn to remain in touch without app chats. Gulati- plan the trip someday after your POP. I would love to join only then, Avasthi. I really missed Vel on my last days in A514). My prayers and good wishes for the eclectic batch and the electrifying impact they created on me. Stay Blessed!

 I stepped my foot out of A514 and it is time for my walkathon race to B109. I ran in the lightning’s speed to catch hold of a glass of tea. But to my utter dismay, chechis were ready to catch hold of their return bus. When I reached the tunnel corner near B320, I met the chai bhayya and he informed that only cold coffee is left. After all, it’s coffee, (yeah, my tea’s brother) and let it be cold for the day. I had it in two sips and made my journey to B109 section. Sleeping kids as usual were not willing to get rid of the embrace of sleep goddess.  The moment I asked them the query on exam marks, almost everyone got up. But when informed them my helplessness in this matter, many felt like sleeping again. As I had noted a few points, remarks and reviews of all the papers and the answers I have gone through, I explained those. Although the answer scripts were in a mess, they did not have any problem in locating themselves when I named the book review and imaginary conversation. Oh, my Good Lord! Everybody started asking me- Ma’am, how much did I get? How is my score, ma’am? I had to convince them that I have no role in that act and I have a role only in evaluating a few answers. But I assured and ensured that everyone scored good marks as far as I know.As I really want them to perform extremely well in the end term exam, I pointed out the mistakes. Moreover, I always have a guilty feeling that I have nothing to do with their inter personal communication. All I can do is the negligible duties and few stuffs like this comprising their doubt clearance. The lion share torchies of the entire academy is sleeping in this class. Still, I have immense faith that they will perform well in their exams to come. While informing them about the random substitution (Had I known this, I should have brought my PC), the phrase ‘teachers day’ accidentally skipped out of my mouth. Patak told- Ma’am, Happy Teachers Day. We forgot it is teachers day. Then I heard a chorus wishing the day for me. I have already informed that there is a change in the last hour and I will be taking the Physics hour too. Many said- Ok Ma’am, with a smile. The class was all set for the inter personal communication and the nuances in presenting it in an examination format. Many were captured by exam thoughts where as many others were captured by the dozy mood. I aksed Akarshan and a few others to get up and even scared that I will ask the Physics teacher to come and engage if they don’t get up. I have seen almost all faces awake and enlightened within no time. Albeit my lovely Abhishek Pitale (a bit unwell today) has occupied the last bench with Akshay, he tried to awake his tired self to his maximum ( I deeply appreciate your zeal to know what I was blabbering in the class, dear).Oh, How did I not mention Manthravadi and his art of writing ‘inter personal communication’? The discussion has gone for long and in between they shared the mark of other subjects too. Somewhere I had a doubt and I asked the young boys- of all these two terms you have spent in this academy, whom do you evaluate as a teacher? Who is that teacher (somebody who really touched your life with some lessons, some new views). It is a matter of profound regret to know from the class that they never had any teachers here. They added that this is a place just to teach and get marks in paper. I did not know how to respond. As promised, I did leave them a little early because their Engineering paper was not willing to leaving them without their darshan. Let me make them happy atleast by making them see some paper early.

 Wafting in untold thoughts, I just made my steps to step to A212. Thoughts started pouring into me like an incessant rainfall- Oh, not even a single teacher? For a moment I thought- is there no difference at least between a Humanities and Technical teacher?Oh, rules and roles might be different here and who knows? If I have become something, learnt something, it is only because of the wonderful teachers who really did walk into my life (beyond the barriers of classroom, exam paper, attendance). I am cocksure that I am so proud of my teachers and I am all because of them. I hope there will come a day my teachers feel so proud of me as much as I feel proud that I have made them proud in the way I wish to make them proud of me. But as a teacher? I am not in a position to give me a position right now. I have not even seen any of my very own 99INAC batch. I will be an instructor atleast and I don’t expect a teacher coinage( But Principal Sir has rightly said ‘whatever you invest for the cadets during your teaching life, you will receive the dividends not now but in future for sure’. So, let’s wait and watch and I am afraid of even dreaming anything)… I don’t know what more to say. Many a time, I feel this academy is too much for anatomy ( I mean physical appearance. I am happy with my malnourished appearance though) and I feel a kind of ultra-inferiority complex and alienated feelings, many things make me forward. They are my teachers who share a very special space in life and I have to keep going at least for them (my family too) to prove the spectacular expectations they have already pinned on me. I was lost in thoughts and I transgressed my temper via listening to KV baby’s song on behalf of ‘Hindi Pakvada’. I felt like sleeping after reaching ORA. As I had to engage myself with Karthik, Avani and their mom, I changed my plan. When I left them, reached room and tried to sleep, I peeped into my VIVO and checked the mail- hihihi! Prof. Mohan Ramanan Sir( My then Dean of (HCU)Hyderabad Central University) has replied within hours all the way from Texas despite all his busy schedule. Thank you, so much Sir for the wishes. Your words did touch me, Sir .Let me cite a few-  ‘Be yourself and be focused. Everything will be well. God Bless You’. What more do I need when I have teachers like my ever dearest Madam Sindhu Menon( I can write pages on you for the pages you have written in my life, my one and only Sindhu ma’am), My research guide Bhumika ma’am( I am glad that you really miss me and thanks a lot for expressing that verbally with gestures. Finally, from impossible, I have become possible to you, ma’am), My Aiyar madam ( my current Dean of Central University of Rajasthan for the way she cares and scares me. Love you for all the scoldings, affection and above all, the motherly treatment), Anirudhan Sir (present Principal of my Sree Narayana Women’s College- the bedrock of my days with English began a fine morning from that humane land), Baiju Sir( My Journalism Faculty at Trivandrum Press Club and who later turned out to be a father figure for me (my local Guardian at Delhi for almost two years), my Beena Madam ( as affectionate to me like her own daughter  and somebody who never taught me anywhere with any books but she is that one body who keeps on showing green signals to go ahead with all my crazy steps and pranks).. And the list goes on. Last but not the least , the fortune teller of my life – my one and only Alok Sir (Thanks for being the absolutely adorable slice in my life’s rainbow. My sister’s faculty for five years but who was the real student/friend? A point worth asking. You did not reply for my message wish. I am still waiting, Alok ji. Please make me calm and pleasant. You have a mastery in that, Sir)…… 

 

Over the years, when I look back, I feel a sense of satisfaction that a normal student like me had a great relationship with the teachers who know to fill the students’ vacuum with the elixir of life. But as a teacher? I do not know. The ‘ma’am’ coinage I am suffocated by these days is just like a ‘gaali’ right? I have no answer. I have answer for one thing that I will be mentally strong to face the worst in the days to come. As most of the colleagues have experience in teaching, they keep on saying that they got better treatment outside. Oh, I am the poor and unlucky chap without any better and bitter treatment? A teachers day where you didn’t even see your first batch of students. I am speechless for a while. So, I made myself comfortable by playing that very confidence boosting song ‘ ente sooryan udichuyarnnu vaanilaake niram pakarnnu…. Chirakinayi njan kaatthirippu…. Varna chirakinayi njan kaatthirippu’ written by my College teacher (my role of anchor started with her Audio CD release function by Kaithprom Damodaran Nambuthiri mash. A memorable start for Girija miss and a memory for the people who remember me with that shrill voice).Here in this mighty land of warriors, my Job is a substitute for any and many (Jobs are as (invisible and negligible as the common salt I guess). Thankfully, I have not come across many or any to be my substitute. I enjoy that weird variety and spice of life( a specimen sort of ) to the fullest. The phoenix in me from the smouldering ashes accepts all these as the sailing steps for a mighty flight. The worst experiences are always the best teachers. In that way, I am thankful and obliged to lot many people and things here. Still, I believe in Slyvia Plath: I am, I am, I am… The ‘Alchemist’ in me keeps on echoing ‘I want to continue being crazy; living my life the way I dream it, and not the way the other people want it to be’. Hence, I move on with all my countless flaws and immature maturity. Yearning for the next teachers day with an ardent hope that I will become a student once more soon … May be overseas… What future unfolds is yet to be told…. Hence, my confessions too.