To my Teachers, With Love

Childhood is often likened to clay. Most important person who acts like an clay idol maker is our Teacher. Even in our scriptures, teachers are equaled to gods-Acharya devo bhava. Indeed teachers have a great role to play in our lives. They can make or break our lives. I remember my teachers today.

I am not "successful" for the world. May be, less than 1000 people even know that I exist. Perfect. But I am student of life and can distinguish between good and bad. That for me is good enough. And I owe a lot of this to my formative years and hence to my teachers.

Mrs. Devika and Sister. Catherine were my LKG and UKG teachers at St. Michaels, Dandeli. All through, I have been blessed to be my teacher's pet. I was good academically- among top 2 in the class- and naughty too. I still remember Mrs. Devika in splits narrating an incident of me hitting a girl's face with a duster and then emptying the dustbin on that girl, to my mother. My mother full of nerves.

Mrs. Cecilia and Mrs. Fernandez were my teachers who taught me to read and write texts in English and ever since English remains my dearest language. The beautiful stories of 'Beauty and Beast' and 'George Washington and Cherry Tree' narrated by Mrs. Cecilia are still fresh in my mind.

The motivation that I received from Mr. Devaraj and Mr. Killedar at KLE's Nipani when I was out-of-form is tremendous. They convinced me to bring myself into my work. Their work was not just restricted to my academics, but sports and cultural events. The role I played of a Post Master and my fumble in a skit at school Annual Day brings a sweet smile even as I type this. I remember my English teacher, Anita, who would even share her umbrella with me and my brother when we didn't had one.

Mrs. Kavita (Science and Math), Mrs. Renuka(Biology), Mrs. Pujar (Social Science and Kannada), Ms. Mary Diaz (English), Ms. Zai (Math), Late. Mrs. Rane(English), Ms. Deepa Pai and my tuition teacher- Geeta Raj were instrumental in making a shy and confident-less boy, that I was, to an assertive school topper. Ms. Deepa Pai's wiping my tears when I was chastised for playfully forging our Principal's signature, Ms. Diaz's inspirational words, Mrs. Rane's last words with me- asking me to take SSLC exams confidently as our school's reputation depended on me, Ms. Zai's blooming face when I had finally overtaken the former school topper, Mrs. Kavita's praise during the event to felicitate me and Mrs. Renuka's gently touching my cheeks to congratulate me on my SSLC results... what can I do to bring those magical moments back... It brings goosebumps when I relive them.

Oh man! What a life it has been! I am sure all of us have such endearing memories of our teachers. I bow low to my teachers.