Gerald D'Cunha

Pic.: Anima D'Cunha “D on’t allow your teacher to think for you, plan for you, take risks for you,” I was telling my CPT (Entrance for CA) students, last morning, “Let your teacher only give you a broad framework, inspire thirst in you, motivate you to succeed…. But, you do the real work… you discover the new ways of solving the problems… you develop a scientific mind, a creative mind… Please, stop depending desperately on your teacher… Please don’t expect readymade solutions… I don’t want you to come out as third-rate Chartered Accountants.” Well, this kind of long monologue comes to me at the drop of a hat… Nothing can substitute discovery… being on your own. Nothing can substitute a childlike, awe-struck mind… Nothing can make us self-confident as robustly as self-trust and self-responsibility can… “You find out,” yes, this is one of the gunshots I fire at my students very regularly, whether they love me for it or hate me… “You will understand it now or ...

An hour ago, a young girl – a twelfth-standard student of mine - was on line. She had ‘a doubt’ and she wanted me to help her... I did that over the phone. But, madam’s Pandora Box opened and doubts started popping out one after another… till I gently said to her this: “Madam, enough now. This way, you will go nowhere; in fact, I am doing more harm to you… I have taught you for two full years – in eleventh as well as twelfth – I have revised your chapters twice, held so many tests… and, still you seem to cling on to me. Stop that now… Trust in your abilities, take a few risks… and explore on your own. That’s the only way you can feel confident. In no other way, ma’am. Please do that, right away.” I hung the phone! Tomorrow will be the exam. I really do not know if she understood what I have said… There was a choice before me: to keep helping her with her doubts till her Pandora Box would be empty. But, just after three or four doubts, I stro...