I have never been any teacher's pet. Nor, have I had a favourite teacher. But, I think of Mr.PSC on every 'Teachers' Day'. I'll tell you why......
It was a wintry morning in the Bangalore of the early nineties...... For an average Bangalorean like me, it was a Herculean task to get up from the cosy confines of my bed, get ready and travel 8-10 kms. for the Soil Mechanics class at 7.30 a.m.!
On that day, to my horror, none of my classmates had made it! The teacher was missing too. Because I had met students from other classes, I knew I hadn't turned up for class on a holiday!!
Just as I was thinking of ways to spend a lonely hour, old Mr.PSC walked in.
Mr.PSC : What?! Only one student?!
Me : (Foolish smiles)
Mr.PSC : How can I take a class for just one student? You can go to the library.
And, he turned away.... The next minute, he turned back!
Mr.PSC : Wait! You have come for the class. I'll be doing you an injustice if I don't
take the class. Get in....
The next hour was a pretty awkward one for me - a combination of trying to pay attention amidst prayers that no questions would be asked! Mr.PSC, however, didn't seem to mind teaching an almost empty class, because he carried on as usual.
Well, the hour ended and the years have rolled by.......
During a recent discussion on Facebook, I noticed that most of us on our high- school group page could recollect most of our teachers and some anecdotes - after more than 25 years! It reminded me of something I had read somewhere.... Everyone remembers teachers - not methods and techniques.
As September 5th of every year is the chosen day for all of us to acknowledge their contribution to our lives.... Thanks, and best regards to all the teachers out there!
It was a wintry morning in the Bangalore of the early nineties...... For an average Bangalorean like me, it was a Herculean task to get up from the cosy confines of my bed, get ready and travel 8-10 kms. for the Soil Mechanics class at 7.30 a.m.!
On that day, to my horror, none of my classmates had made it! The teacher was missing too. Because I had met students from other classes, I knew I hadn't turned up for class on a holiday!!
Just as I was thinking of ways to spend a lonely hour, old Mr.PSC walked in.
Mr.PSC : What?! Only one student?!
Me : (Foolish smiles)
Mr.PSC : How can I take a class for just one student? You can go to the library.
And, he turned away.... The next minute, he turned back!
Mr.PSC : Wait! You have come for the class. I'll be doing you an injustice if I don't
take the class. Get in....
The next hour was a pretty awkward one for me - a combination of trying to pay attention amidst prayers that no questions would be asked! Mr.PSC, however, didn't seem to mind teaching an almost empty class, because he carried on as usual.
Well, the hour ended and the years have rolled by.......
During a recent discussion on Facebook, I noticed that most of us on our high- school group page could recollect most of our teachers and some anecdotes - after more than 25 years! It reminded me of something I had read somewhere.... Everyone remembers teachers - not methods and techniques.
As September 5th of every year is the chosen day for all of us to acknowledge their contribution to our lives.... Thanks, and best regards to all the teachers out there!
The survival of the Lone Warrior!
ReplyDeleteHahaha.... after combating with the bearing capacity of pure cohesive soil or some such thing......
Delete