CHARM OF BEING A TEACHER

THE CHARMS OF TEACHING

Back in school, we used to admire some of our teachers, adore some and cook names for yet others.

In Nursery, when I entered the school to be introduced to my first ever formal instructor, she became my guardian angel- ma’m would make me eat my lunch, see to it that I slept in the half time, that I boarded the school bus safely, made sure that I learnt all my alphabets and even sooth me when I came weeping to school the first day. I called her Aruna ma’m and thought see looked like a Barbie. Then I was put to another class and in the arms of another caring fairy. Gradually we had different teachers for different subjects. If Papa said a sum was to be done with a certain method, I would argue sentimentally that my Sir had told it the other way round. If Mummy advised to apply Boroline in winters, I would say my Ma’m has told to rub Vaseline. Such is the aura of teachers on school kids. Such is the respect, the love, the status, the greatness that they associate with their sirs and madams.

This never fades away though it takes other directions. Keeping nick names for them like Kaddu, Colgate et al is a treat that all secondary schoolers engage in.

The irony however is , that though we all think so highly of the Guru and as a kid might say that we wish to be one when we grow up, but when the time comes for choosing careers, hardly any one thinks of taking it up. Doing B.Ed is the in thing these days. Teaching is thought to be the most suited profession for females owing to their innumerous household responsibilities. But there is another reason for ladies being the best teachers. The compassion and the tenderness needed to be an empathetic and loving mentor comes naturally to the fairer sex. Anyway we are not here to advocate feminist spheres but to share the joys that being teachers has provided to our lives.

I entered this profession amidst a lot of resistance from my family and friends as it is a less paying job and paradoxically the grounds of vidya and their workers are not looked up with respects of the past. You are jeopardizing your career, this is a regressive move etc etc is all that I got to hear. But do I regret my decision?
Not at all. The reasons? Well, it is a wonderful job. The joys and the charms are incomparable. Tendering little kids is unparalleled but taking the grown up ones to the right directions is no less thrilling. The kicks which you get answering curious questions in the class, the love that you feel when a teenager sheepishly touches your feet, the emotions that overpower you when an appreciative smile is thrown your way are are ,…. Well, I am choked out of words.

There are enough gems in this profession to make you rich. The salary - less they say - is just an added advantage. The cherry on the cake is to see your students of today become respected citizens of tomorrow. The values that a teacher can inculcate in his students makes him feel immensely powerful. Be a teacher and feel the power, the strength, the thrill the joy, the charm…it is a WAO profession.

SERVING THY NATION

LET'S PLAY OUR PART

We are Indians and we are proud to be so. This is what we all say and even believe. But what do we do to actually feel good about the nation we live in? Watch patriotic movies, sing Desh Bhakti songs, paint our faces in tricolour when India is winning against Australia, cheer when Bharat goes to Olympics, buy tickets for Rang De Basanti, clap when some one hums ‘Ye Desh hai Veer Jawano Ka’ and ..and … what else do we do?
Well let’s see; we throw mungfali shells and orange peels on the street from the bus window, spit on the road as we walk past, feel proud that our jeans is a foreign brand, wish to celebrate our honeymoons abroad, flaunt our English pronunciation, put Kundis on our electricity meters, search for a jack if we are appearing for an interview, evade taxes, show wrong incomes, get fake birth certificates made, and never miss a chance to utter in a derogatory manner: ‘ye India hai’.
Whenever I hear my peers say ‘Is Desh ka kuchh nahi ho sakta’ I get a feeling to ask, what have you done to make things happen. And at times I do ask and the responses I get have more or less been the same always. People have arguments like what can I do. I can’t change the whole system. It is all a nexus. Everyone is corrupt etc etc. I have often wondered and sifted out the mettle in such opinions. If I can’t fight the system is it best to be a part of it? If I can’t see any one getting a fair selection is it justified to offer bribes for my work as well? If three people are corrupt is it fine to make the count to four? If the road is dirty do I get all rights to add to that pile of crap? If some one in the exam is cheating will I get the satisfaction by following the example?
All this makes me wonder what happened to the moral science lessons we were taught in Class IV! What went wrong with the ideologies that our parents tried to instill in their kids! It seems that somewhere while trying to fend for ourselves, while attempting to earn a living, lead a life, make a name, get our due in the society, we have left our nation behind. We criticize our government, the authorities and our nation and even feel proud of the process. We put the blame on others and feel glad that ah I am not a part of it. It’s time we question ourselves and ask do I actually not share the blame for all this?
When I sat back and enjoyed the Chhuti that meant me to go out and vote, did I not become a part in election of the bad government? When I carelessly dropped my toffee wrapper on the ground did I not add to the garbage?
If we all ponder over and refrain from these little day today natural behaviors we may actually be serving our country without even joining the defense forces. This New Year let our resolution be for our nation. And my Hindustan does not ask of any great sacrifices from you. Vote, use the dustbin, no bribes, no ingenuine favors, sincerity in work, fair payment of bills - Just good thoughts and nice behaviors would make our nation proud of us