Gerald D'Cunha

I n my F.Y. B. Com, when I dreamt of becoming a teacher, I had just crossed 17. All that had happened was, that, sitting there in our packed classroom and watching and adoring my own teacher, Prof. B.S.Raman, I had desperately desired to be only that – a good teacher and good writer. Because, my teacher was a damn good teacher and an author. Well, during the three years of my degree college, even though Raman Sir taught our class every day, I hadn’t spoken to him, one-on-one… I had only adored and dreamt of becoming like him. Whatever we deeply like, we attract… Yes, the ancient ‘Law of Attraction’ was silently doing its work in me… I had to simply surrender to that Law! Today, after some forty-four years of teaching, if you ask me, “Do you still want to teach?”, I will jump and shout – ‘YES’! If you ask me, “What do you want to be in your next life?” I will jump and shout, again - “A teacher, and nothing else!” Everyday, we teachers scream and shout at our studen...

Y es, today is Teachers’ Day. One of the earliest greetings I had received was from Sunitha, a dear student of mine some 30 years ago. She had forwarded this popular quote to wish me: “TEACHING: THE PROFESSION THAT CREATES ALL OTHER PROFESSIONS.” It was early in the morning… and, imagine: who wouldn’t feel flattered and pumped, when someone, from hundreds of miles afar and scores of full-moons later, puts into your head, “Hello, this world exists because of your profession.”? Well, that’s exactly what went into my head early   this morning… That, we teachers are the ones who give birth to all other professions…   Teaching is, therefore, the mother of all professions… And, I am the father! Let me be serious. Teaching is one of the most empowering professions in this world.   However, teachers are not found in classrooms alone. In fact, we find some of the finest teachers outside our school and tuition premises. Our parents and gran...

Pic.: Pradeep Nanda R est assured, we teachers will never keep our mouths shut. And, rest assured, that it is for a very good and very noble reason…. In my case, rest. also, assured, that I won’t stop ‘preaching', either! Teachers are our friends, guides and philosophers… motivators,  mentors… the ones who don’t lose faith in us… the ones who don’t give up on us… the ones who see our tomorrows much before we do… Our teachers are our cheerleaders… our best well-wishers… But, then, our teachers are, often, too strict, too critical, too mean… Aren’t they? I had, in my life, the sweetest as well as the hardest teachers, both… The teachers who seemed least interested except in their monthly salary and the teachers who did not care for their monthly salary and went out of their way to help us, shape us and inspire us… And, I don’t think such mix – such reality - has changed or will ever change… W hy is a teacher so hard or harsh at times… even...

Pic.: Chetna Shetty L ate last night, Amit, who was my student, some twelve years ago, had shared an inspiring post on FB. Amit has a wicked sense of humor, and regularly writes with his tongue firmly in cheeks, either about cricket or about politics... but, never ever without making you laugh... So, last night, when I first sighted the post he had shared, I read ‘Rahul Dravid’, and assumed in my mind, that it would be something to laugh at before you went off to bed... Well, it wasn't something to laugh at; it was something to give you goose-bumps as you went off to sleep! Here it is... as it was: “When I’m requested to speak to youngsters, I like talking about this phase of my life and liken it to the fascinating plant: The Chinese Bamboo. You can take a Chinese Bamboo seed and plant it in the ground, water and nurture the seed for an entire year and not even see a single sprout! In fact, you’ll not see a sprout for five years! But suddenly, a tiny shoot...

“I can’t become angry with you, today,” I said to Abhinav. He had wished me, along with others in the class, “Happy Teachers’ Day, sir!” Yes, it was my early-morning first-batch… and, it was a Teachers’ Day. I had to be a lot gentle with my students… a lot patient. As I was teaching, I saw Abhinav limping. He had not done his homework, while others had. Looking at his struggle, I, finally, broke my resolution… “Can you see Abhinav, by not doing your homework, what you have done to your   confidence?” I asked Abhinav, showing my annoyance, “All that it would have taken for you, may be, some thirty minutes to complete that homework.” “Sorry sir,” Abhinav responded meekly,  “I will not repeat this mistake.” I was pleased with the sincere promise my student had made. “I am happy Abhinav that you have owned up,” I said, “It only takes making and keeping a small silent-promise to oneself.” My heart w...