Teacher's Day - 05th September, 2021

After a long gap thought of sharing my memories on my Teachers. 

The first teacher whom I remember was the teacher in my fifth standard. That time I was studying in R.C. Middle School, Melur, Madurai district. I did not understand the English lesson which was taught in the class. So I went to her home in the evening to get my doubts cleared as I could not wait till the next working day as the next day was a Sunday. She was so happy that her student came to her house seeking clarification, cleared my doubts well and mentioned it in the class also the next day. 

The next set of teachers I remember was in American College Higher Secondary School, Tallakulam, Madurai where I did my schooling from eighth standard to plus two. Tamil teacher Mr. Natarajan Sir who used to sing Tamil poems in the class with raaga and give the meaning, another Tamil teacher Mr. Jayaram Gandhi Sir, I just used to listen to his teachings attentively in the class and no more further revisions are needed at home. He used to teach the lessons corelating the current affairs and political happenings with the subject, so the lessons become interesting and go very well in the minds of the students. I still remember these two Tamil teachers. Another teacher whom I cannot forget was Mr. Ramasamy Sir, who taught Mathematics. He used to teach so well, giving step by step explanations. I scored 93 marks in 10th standard public exam in Mathematics and that followed in plus two also just because of him only. A big salutation to him. Another Mr. Ramasamy Sir was there who used to take English subject. He was the one responsible for the change in spelling of my name from Das to Doss. Once there was a letter writing homework given to us. As usual, I wrote my name in from address as P. Kalidas, but he corrected it as Doss and said that it is the correct spelling. So, from that day onwards, my name became Kalidoss from Kalidas. Such an obedient student !!!

Next teacher whom I just cannot forget was Mr. Marthandan Thomas Sir. He used to take Chemistry in plus one and he was the class teacher too. Though I scored good marks in 10th standard, I found it very very difficult in 11th standard (plus one), because it was English medium and I was a Tamil medium student for the previous 10 years. The first monthly test came and I wrote something on the test papers. The day came when all teachers distributed the corrected mark sheets. No wonder, I had failed in all subjects and single digit marks out of 200 marks. Mr. Marthandan Thomas Sir also distributed Chemistry papers. I had scored zero (0) marks in that test and he told me that he gave grace quarter mark for fifty and two marks out of 200. He also told me that next time you must get good marks and any doubts I can go to him any time. But the problem was in understanding the subjects and writing in English, because all subjects were taught in English only. To overcome this, I made a plan. I borrowed Tamil medium books from my cousin who got married then after her plus one. I compared my English medium books and they were direct translation and it was laddu for me!! I put in hard work reading English medium books and Tamil medium books for their translation. Subsequently, I started scoring good marks in the following tests and it was a complete transformation from a Tamil medium boy to an English medium veteran. The realization made where I was standing in the class in studies and the motivation I got from Mr. Marthandan Thomas Sir at the beginning of the year were very important. He was such a nice and pleasant personality. He used to come to school in his Yezdi bike, the moment we hear his bike sound everyone would rush to the class and it would become quiet. Later on I came to know that he became the Head Master of the school and retired from service. Mr. Kalaimani Sir (Botony), Mr. Ramdas Sir (Zoology), Mr. Edison Sir (Physics) also helped in shaping me in my school days.

College life was another unforgettable one, I need to write a separate article for that.  During those three years period in BBA Department, Thiagarajar College, Madurai, we got unforgettable memories. Still we cherish our memories in our meets. We had very good teachers there also. Mr. Ranganathan (HOD), Mr. Arunachalam, Mr. R. Srinivasa Gopalan (popularly known as RSG Sir) and many visiting faculties. There were learnings as well as fun also, in the class and outside the class. All of them were very knowledgeable and helpful. 

After my college days, I used to attend coaching classes wherever it is free of cost for writing competitive exams. One such class was conducted by TAMBRAS (Tamil Nadu Brahmin Association) for English in Thiru Nagar, Madurai. I got a brilliant teacher who taught me English from the basics starting from the structure of the sentence to entire grammar. Whatever little proper English I know and speak today is because of him only. Unforgettable teacher but unfortunately I do not remember his name now. But I remember him coming in Veshti, Jibba, Vibhudhi in his full forehead and mouth full of betel leaves and seeval with an ever smiling face. A big pranam and namaskar to him. 

Department of Management Studies, Madurai Kamaraj University - where I studied MBA played a big role in shaping my thinking and personality. Dr. G.P. Rao (HOD), Dr. U.S. Rao, Dr. U.R. Rao (visiting faculty), Dr. Kathiresan and many more faculties played a vital role in developing the knowledge and the personality of the students. Dr. G.P. Rao who is the founder HOD of the department used to make everyone think in a different perspective. His classes will be attended by all students and thought provoking. 

We receive knowledge and wisdom from teachers, people and things we come across in every walk of our life.

There are 24 gurus as narrated in one episode of The Uddhava Geetha which is given below. 

"selected by my keen sense, from whom acquiring wisdom freely, I wander in the world…. The earth, air/breeze, sky, fire, the sun, pigeon, python, sea, moth, elephant, ant, fish, Pingala the courtesan, arrow-maker, infant/playful boy, the moon, honeybee, deer, bird of prey, maiden, serpent, spider, caterpillar and water are my twenty four preceptors.

So, let us learn and respect every TEACHER / GURU who we come across and remember on this TEACHER'S DAY.

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