Tribute to my school teachers

I owe you everything! - http://risingkashmir.com/news/i-owe-you-everything

This piece is an attribute and a tribute to my school teachers to honour their contributions during my ten years of schooling at a public owned high school the Government High School Kanipora, Kulgam. Those ten years of learning with a diversity of teachers carved a strong relationship between the teacher and the taught.  The first recollection about this school are the old and draggled class rooms with clay plastered cracked walls, an easel and a blackboard, an old cloth saturated with chalk dust, a single wiggling teacher’s chair (often with sunkseat) and rough and dust-covered coir floor mats (would always tamper the uniform at buttocks)was the ultimate infrastructure available albeit academic competence and pedagogy of able teachers finely carved the school to be remembered as the cherished almamater. At the same time it is painful to remember those few inexplicable teachers who never loved their teaching nor cared to imbibe good practices and behaviour amongst the students.

Having spent a decade in this school from primary through middle to secondary education, for me the foundation, the preparatory, the nurturing and the knowledge gaining happened under the same roof. Those days were not only of innocence and tenderness, but of cheerfulness, and more importantly the treasured ones full of memories that can’t be transcribed here in a column of paper. Most a gain in the school was to receive knowledge and education through the hands of dedicated and persuasive teachers. Undoubtedly, some teachers therein were best instructors and mentors who taught their pupils as an act of teaching to their own blood. Besides righteous in imparting knowledge, few of them were always elegantly attired not less than crimson-robed Harvard professors, i must say they were role models in many aspects. Although blackboard was the only medium to impart education, our teachers ardent and glowing writings on the black board with white charts although was a black and white combination, those writings and explanations were enough to fill the colours of true success in a student’s life. They were a true reflection to know that a teacher builds individuals, societies and nations.

Continuing my contemplation and reflection of schooling and school teachers, perhaps I may fail in my duties to perfectly express and fetch those golden words to describe the caliber of my school teachers and their pedagogy.  I wish to include and describe my every teacher of the school in this letter of tribute but I am limited by space. Nevertheless, the names included here and the names I have not mentione dare decorated with a same tribute and honour. Master Moti Lal Nazand Master Makhan Lal Marhata (who happened to be the headmasters in succession) besides being caliber teachers were always dressed in neat and fragrant clothes and were known for their disciplined administration, leadership and love with students. Both were regular visitors to classes to enquire about student grievances and teaching practices of teachers. Master Badrinatha silver- tongued teacher taught us English at a very crucial juncture at 6th standard- the stage when we started learning and reading English as a subject. His art was innovative that enabled us to read and write the English letters, words and sentences in a quick time. Master Mohammad Sidiq Sheikh also taught us English at this juncture. He was unique in his own way to make us comfortable to read and write a new subject about which we knew nothing for the initial five years of schooling. He would keep his hand on our chest to feel the heart beat when we were asked to pronounce English words and sentences that was all new to us(not less than climbing a mountain ) as we had just got used to English. When Master Sidiq Sahab instructed how to pronounce and write certain English words for the first time for example which, knowledge, breeze, etc., the then level of stress and anxiety is still reverberating in me but his consistent approach aptly made us to learn requisite level of pronunciation and how to use a four line notebook to write uppercase and lower case English letters (which basically was learnt till the 6th standard). Truth is that I did not even remember the English alphabets from A to Z in a proper sequence till the 6th standard. Master Mohammad Shafi Dar (the youngest of the teachers in the school) taught us a good Science and inculcated good learning habits amongst us. He always insisted on practice and revision and was so keen to make it sure that whatever we studied in the class, we remember it properly before it is the turn for the new topic next day.

Master Ghulam Mohiuddin Bhat taught us English in 10th at a very crucial juncture when we had to appear in the board exams which during those times included syllabus of 9th also, it was indeed a tough exam when hardly one or two will pass out of a whole class in the school. Passing matric was a real achievement if even in 3rd division. His teaching methodologies and art relied on his well-maintained dairy. He stressed on building vocabulary, letter writing, precise making and short essay writing for which he often dedicated a specific time of the class. Master Nazir Ahmad Aadil (my father) besides known for good teaching practices in the school was very well recognised for his tolerant approach towards a healthy teacher-student relationship, discipline and commitment to engage socially with the students, to inculcate good student ethics, value education, societal service and moral principles amongst his pupi and these qualities did not end within the boundary walls of the school but continued at home and in the society too.

In the early years of our schooling in primary stage, Master Ghulam Hassan Sheikhwas a keen teacher to inculcate in us the habit of practicing the writings on wooden slat (tablet) known as Takhti in Urdu and Mashik in Kashmiri (a wooden slat written with a pen made from Reed (a unique type of plant) using a special type of grey clay solution made in water). It is a remote thing to know for a today’s student as this practice is a history now. Out of his pocket he used to offer us prizes in the denomination of Rs. 5, 3 and 2 for 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions respectively for best Mashik writing as a moral support and encouragement to write better. His commitment at improving our writing skills was indeed an example in itself. Fortunately, I was the regular winner of first prize which I preferably spent to purchase favourite coconut biscuits and toffees from famous Habba Kaka’s shop nearer to the school.

Tail piece: The influence of a good teacher can never be erased and an ideal teacher student relationship is a mutual respect and gratitude based on attitude and ethics governing this bond. I owe and attribute everything to school teachers who were genuinely passionate about what they taught and wish them a happy teacher’s day and heavenly rewards to the departed souls. For a thankful student to remember a teacher is a bliss and a reward in itself.