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Teacher's Day: 'His voice still echoes in my ears'

Last updated on: September 5, 2011 18:59 IST

What's the best advice you received from your teacher? Illustration: Dominic Xavier

Recently we asked you, our readers, to share with us the best advice you received from your teacher. Here are some of the responses we got!

Nalini Kudalkar writes in:

From playschool to Class X teachers are role models, shaping up a child's future. In my school too, we had faculty members who molded us into good human beings One particular teacher was Mrs Sayyed, who taught us one very important thing in life -- every good deed leads to God! Also, kindness to one and all equally and sympathy towards animals is the pathway to heaven. Till today, I follow this advice in every way and have been blessed by it!

From Pradip Rasse:

I will not write a big essay on what we owe teachers, but a few lines which I am revealing to the world for the first time, as my own learning.

I remember clearly the first day of my Class XI English tuition. There were 20 of us and Shri Kashyape was our teacher. He spoke to us and offered me a glimpse of 'how to take decisions on one's own'. He said that a certain pupil's father had met him the previous day and asked him several questions pertaining to his son's future -- what was he to do? What should he decide?

During the course of his talk, I realised it was my father who had met him. But Shri Kashyape stated, "Now grown-ups, you must take your own decisions." He emphasised this, giving us some easy to understand examples.

This was a worthy lesson I received from him. Today, both my sons make decisions on their own and seldom ask for guidance. And I don't regret it at all.

Why shouldn't I salute Shri Kashyape?

Says Deepa A L:

I graduated from St Xaviers College for Women in Aluva, Kerala. There, my accountancy lecturer was Mrs Mary Varghese.

During my final year, I was elected to the students' union. When I conveyed this happy news to Mary Miss, she said, "Well, you deserved it. Congratulations. Now just stand for the post with the ideals and ethics attached to it."

It had a profound meaning, because I didn't weigh my own plus points. She has and is a constant support for me in my life. She said that even if you encounter failure, regard it as another valuable lesson you've learnt.

I did my schooling from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Eroor and Girinagar, Ernakulam, Kerala. My informatics teacher was Mrs Susmitha S Shenoy.

In Class XII, I was awarded the Best Character Award among students across South India. It was unbelieveble, because back then I was not sure of my potential either.

But Susmitha Miss saw the innate qualities and recommended solely my name. She has always prompted me to do whatever you wish, but with full confidence and determination in yourself and God.

My uncle S Sankara Narayanan has only asked me to pursue what the mind says. If you think, if you dream, then you can DEFINITELY do it. He has never ever forced me to anything and has also boosted my energy when it was exhausted.

And my grandmother, Mrs S Thankam was, is and always will be the sole factor behind the progress in my life in every possible way.

I am and will always be grateful to the Almighty for introducing me to these wonderful people.

And finally, we have Sarnath Kannan's experience:

"First learn to be a servant. Then you can become the master."

The voice of Venkatesan Sir from Neyveli Jawahar School still echoes in my ears although 17 years have passed since then. I had walked away from an inter-school quiz competition after my school team could not accommodate me as promised earlier. Earlier, in the quarter-finals session, I had given away my place to a junior on the premise that I would be given a place in the finals. For some reason, they could not accommodate me in the final. I felt very bitter and let down and just walked away from there instead of taking a seat in the audience. I had a strong conviction that I was right in doing so.

The next day morning, after the prayer session, Venkatesan Sir walked to me and simply said, "Learn to be a servant; Then you can become a master." He did not even wait to listen my side of the story. Venkatesan Sir was the most softspoken, gentle teacher around and it really hurt to have earned a bad name with him.

Seventeen years have passed. I have gone through a circle of ups and downs in life...and, I still remember those words and the depth of meaning they carry.

Venkatesan Sir, I am not sure if you will read this or not. But I simply can't forget those words and how much depth of meaning they carried. Thanks much!