Teachers who shaped us

Like every year, this Teacher’s Day, I cherish the memory of two teachers from my high school in Durgapur, who shaped me, left an indelible mark on me, who remain in my heart even after 35+ years:

·????? Mrs. Bhaskaran, my mathematics teacher

·????? Mrs. Srivastava, my Hindi teacher

I got punished often; I was made to kneel down outside the class by Mrs. Bhaskaran, as I would miss doing my homework. I also remember the extra effort she made to teach me geometry (I used to struggle with theorems). And her pride when I scored 98% in mathematics in Class VIII.

I can close my eyes and be transported back to Mrs. Srivastava’s class – narrating the poem ‘Keikeyi ka anutap’ or repentance of Keikeyi once Ram leaves the palace, King Dashrath dies and her son Bharat disowns her. I was a science student and least interested in Hindi or literature. She showed me the role of literature in one's life.

Over last few decades, I have tried to locate both the teachers and their whereabouts, but to no avail. They are my favorite teachers, not because they were easy or friendly, in contrast they were strict disciplinarians and didn’t hesitate to use the stick (not literal). They are my favorite teachers because they:

• championed the long-term good of the students, not caring if the students hated them in the short run
• knew how to make complex subjects simple, easy to understand, inspire students to learn
• were impartial, in fact, they would spend more time with students who were lagging behind
• believed in the potential of the students, even when no one else did, including the student himself / herself
• Never ever gave up on a student

Who were your favorite school teachers? And why?

#happyteachersday