Happy Teacher's Day

I was 16 years old, when my school planned to take us to the Rashtrapati Bhavan to meet the then President-Dr. Abdul Kalam. Excited by meeting some-one as great as him for the first time many of us were carrying sheets of paper on which we could take his autograph. I remember managing to grab a seat for myself in the front row so that I could get a better view of Dr. Kalam as he began to talk. After the regular round of introduction to my school and its larger aims, my teachers decided to leave the floor open for questions. So the questions from most of us were “How has your journey been so far?” “How do you see India 20 years from now?” etc. Then Dr. Kalam, decided he needed to ask some questions to the bright minds of the future. So he started pointing at people and asked “What do you want to become in life?” Most said Doctor, lawyer, engineer…blah…blah…. When I was asked, (listen to this!), I said “ I intend to become an entrepreneur and in turn want to contribute to India’s growth story.” How diplomatic and perfect an answer could that be? Huh… After a while Dr, Kalam responded saying “How is it that none of you mentioned that you want to become teachers? Is it that bad a profession? I myself have been a teacher and I so enjoy engaging with young minds like you” That question he posed did hit me then.

My mother still considers the teaching profession to be the best. “After all”, she says “It doesn’t require late shifts, which enables you to have enough time for yourself and your family, unlike other professions” Hmm…true, but yet how many of us actually decide to take up a teacher’s job as our first carrier option? Quite a handful I guess. Well, honestly, I think I can afford to leave that discussion for some other day, for some other post. Today, I want to write my heart out. Today I feel like thanking all those people who have been instrumental in giving direction to my goals and provided me with a platform to explore newer avenues. My parents are definitely my first teachers, but today, I would like to dedicate this space to those other few, whom we only recollect during this day of 5 September each year.


Ms Radhika Khanna: If I have been ever able to understand will, determination and passion for anything, it is from you. Be it the festivals you organized f or us in college or the enthusiasm with which you have driven the Journalism Department of Kamala Nehru College to scale new highs! Or, simply going out of the way to in trying to help me out when I was actually confused about my career choices. I must admit you have helped me be more confident of my decisions.

Ms. Anubha Yadav: If there is some-thing called a critical eye, you’ve helped me open it. You have pushed me into doing things which I thought I was never good at, but which have paved the way for my informed choices today. As a teacher, I believe it is pertinent to acknowledge talent in a student and hone it. YOU have done that for me.

Ms. Rina Mandal: Though I may not have interacted with you as much in my three years in college, as I do today, YOU are from whom I’ve learnt to be vocal about one’s opinions irrespective of what the world thinks. I can’t thank you enough for going out of the way and researching on the topic of my first film. Your constant encouragement of reading has stayed with me ever since.

Prof. Rajiv Lochan: Well unlike my other teachers whom I have taken a while to understand, you have, whom I have been the most open with ever since your first lecture. Your ability to look beyond academic qualifications in a student and to recognize the potential each student is capable of is what I appreciate the most. Sir, you have been so imperative in making me realize my strengths, my weaknesses and accordingly guided me into working my way out from it. Had it not been for you I wouldn’t have been able to cleanse myself off, all the negative energies that I am otherwise confronted with all the time. Your capability to mould yourself as per the requirement of each student is what fascinates me the most. Its almost like saying I am experiencing and sharing as much as I am learning in each of your classes. The creative vibrancy and the freedom which you allow your students to work on are what I firmly consider as significant in an individual’s growth process.

These mentors apart I am privileged to have been blessed by other teachers like Ms Seema, Mr. Aggarwal, Ms Vijaya, Ms Uma Rane, Ms Lata, Mr. Bhopal Singh, The late Mrs Batra, Ms Renu, Mr. Sohail Akbar Ms Gargi Sen and Dr. Sabharwal. The only reason I fail to write at length about them is because I have lost touch with some and with the others I’ve never really struck a personal rapport! A FACT I truly REGRET. I also cannot miss out on all my primary school teachers, the names of most I seem to have forgotten. But teachers who have contributed in building a certain kind of Universe for me which today I am proud to say I belong to.


I could sense the affection with which some of them spoke as I called them up today. I must say I was pleased to hear them respond. This was the biggest gift that I as a student could have ever given them. The fact that they are remembered and looked upon years after passing out from that educational institution is what gives them a highJ. I personally am not of the opinion that there is only once in a year that 5 September comes. For me, each moment spent with all those quoted above has been nothing less than a covert celebration. However, considering we so often tend to give a miss to the one’s who have really helped shape our lives, I thought today would be the right day to express my tribute to each one of you. I am confident that at each stage of my life I am bound to come across many more like you. I sincerely wish my association with each one of you strengthens and grows with each passing year.


Thank you all for being there!