A teacher Indeed

“Teaching is a calling too. And I've always thought that teachers in their way are holy - angels leading their flocks out of the darkness.” ― Jeannette Walls

He had sent me a message seeking my blessings on the occasion of ‘Guru Purnima’. There were a few missed calls too. Having taken up a part time job of teaching the undergraduates and graduates in a local college, I had changed the sound profile to the silent mode. Guru Purnima  is an Indian festival dedicated to spiritual and academic teachers. This festival traditionally celebrated by Hindus and Buddhists, to thank their teachers. It is marked by ritualistic respect to the Guru, Guru Puja. The word Guru is derived from two words, 'Gu' and 'Ru'. The Sanskrit root "Gu" means darkness or ignorance. "Ru" denotes the remover of that darkness. Therefore one who removes darkness of our ignorance is a Guru. Gurus are believed by many to be the most necessary part of lives. On this day, disciples offer puja (worship) or pay respect to their Guru (Spiritual Guide). It falls on the day of full moon,Purnima, in the month of Ashadh (June–July) of the Shaka Samvat, Indian national calendar and Hindu calendar. (wikipedia).

I recalled the time when he was a young boy. He was unwavering but he looked out for acknowledgement and an endorsement. I loved all the children in his class as they were from the first day. I was their class teacher for two whole years making me thoroughly familiar with their temperaments. They were naughty, diligent and most helpful, but he rose above others in sincerity. He had an aspiration to learn. Any teaching of mine would be looked upon with zeal and ended with an utmost dedication. I left the school to teach at another school closer to my son’s school after a couple of years. The children wept and felt lost, but to this day they have been in touch. They have all done well in life according to their potentials, and have turned into great friends.

He grew along with others, yet he wanted my opinion regarding the college he should opt for while pursuing his studies. He loved his studies, and yearned to carve a niche in the field of education. He had an inborn gene for teaching which within no time  turned him into a better teacher than me while managing his higher studies. When we moved to the new home my furniture needed a coat of varnish for a new gleam. The carpenter who had completed the rest of the work was away at his village. He volunteered and got the whole work done by sending a person known. I thanked him profusely as he had saved us from surplus squander of time. He was a self-assured young man now who now had a news of his accomplishment each time we met or spoke. It was never more gratifying for me as I felt I had fulfilled my role in helping a student seek out an identity  of his own in achieving his goal.

 He was the happiest when he published his research paper. It was even earlier than mine. Now when we discussed, our talks would revolve at the research level. Though our specialisations differed, he shared a lot of information which helped me. I wondered how our roles had got interchanged. I looked up to him for learning more and he always had a word of encouragement for me just as I had for him in his childhood. I needed his support for the simple reason  that I had decided to continue my studies very late in life. Somewhere I looked at him in awe as he began his studies and teaching students as early as six in the morning. I admired him for that and somewhere felt proud to have taught him, may be it was only for a few years. Today when the call did not materialise, he sent a message seeking my blessings on Guru Purnima. I wanted to know about him as for the past few months I was busy in my own world, he was quick to ask about me and told me that he had qualified his qualifying exam standing second in the college and had got enrolled at the University for higher studies. I knew he had paved his way to success and now needed no acknowledgement while somewhere his inspiration and zeal to progress in life had dispelled the darkness of my apprehensions making him my Guru. On this Guru Purnima I dedicate this writing to him and hope this writing turns into an impetus to all the youngsters in truly fulfilling a Guru’s aspiration by being and doing their best to the society.

 “Those who educate children well are more to be honored than they who produce them; for these only gave them life, those the art of living well.” ― Aristotle