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Thursday, May 28, 2020

Straight from the heart

As the days of lockdown continue to move at a snail's pace the world has changed a lot. Now nearing three months the period of hibernation is endlessly extending. After, the initial small victory in keeping the numbers of those who have fallen victims low, it now appears to be a long battle. This post is not about what one sees, hears, reads and battles every day but about those who made a difference in my life.

More than three years back I got associated with some NGOs in my desire to teach the children from the economically weaker background. After several years in the corporate world and with the Navy before that, one front associated with teaching which was close to my heart was still to be conquered. I got associated with children who lived minimalist lives but had hearts of gold. Their conversations, their problems, their simple hearts won me over. Every child was special and had a volcano of talent waiting to erupt at the first opportunity. These children shared their stories and not everyone was academically bright but the sincerity was unquestioned. I could almost feel what went through their minds when I explained to them the answers to their questions. Whether it was Mathematics, English, Science or Social Studies, etc they heard with rapt attention and I would try to make things simple for them, Initially, the task of teaching these subjects in the vernacular was a huge challenge but with time I came to grips and could teach them with newfound ease.  They were in all the age groups from 6 to 17 years old.

Gradually, I took on the task of teaching in the bigger schools where there were organised classes and big classrooms. It was a novel experience after a gap of more than three decades when I was once an instructor at the Naval College of Electrical Engineering at Jamnagar. Teaching the under trainees at the academy to men in uniform was a different ball game compared to the inquisitive teenagers who would also indulge in pranks in the class. As I stepped into the corridor scores of children would come and touch my feet which were an experience, that cannot be put in words. Long back I had read an essay by Charles Lamb who wrote, "poor man's smoky cabins are not always the porticoes of moral philosophy".  Here I found the children being raised in such an environment, had better moral values than children of public schools who mock at their teachers and also have a crass behaviour. In every class, I taught the girl students outshone the boys.  Children from senior classes would often surround me during the lunch hour to know of the ways of entering the Indian Armed Forces. The greatest delight was to make a presentation to them one day at the request of the principal to motivate them for joining the Armed Forces with various modes of entry

Almost my entire day was spent in such schools till the schools closed for the annual examinations but have not reopened since. The raging pandemic has disrupted the lives. Every day, when I hear of migrants returning to their families my heart shudders at the thought of some of the kids or their families having fallen a prey! They are the ones who have suffered the most during the ongoing calamity and I only hope that their lives have not been ripped apart.  I now long to return to the school which gave more joy than anything else in the world. It would be the greatest pleasure to find that they have come out unscathed from the ongoing crisis

9 comments:

  1. Oh so passionate you are and I feel for you. I am hoping this will all end soon!

    Hang in there and please keep teaching. World needs teacher's like you!

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  2. Thanks for that very kind comment Ramya! BTW coming from the dance teacher means a lot:) Looking forward to connect with the kids once the worst is over.

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  3. This pandemic has deprived us of so many things that we saw as mundane and now realise how special they were.

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    1. Could not agree more, Purba!Thanks for reading

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  4. I have always been in awe of people who can teach and who have the passion for it.... I wish I could... Is what everytime I am left thinking. I hope and all my wishes with you for being able to get back to your noble work...hope the wait is over soon!

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    1. Many thanks for reading, Ira! Pursuing what one feels for genuinely is very gratifying:) It was nice to know about your inclination for similar pursuits:)

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  5. Wow, its so nice to read about you teaching children. Hang in there Rahul, the world needs more teachers like you, atleast the children do!

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    1. Many thanks Rachna for reading. Grateful for your kind words

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