Thank You Is Not Enough

To begin with let me first introduce myself. I am a miniscule part of a noble profession that exists to impart knowledge, with the aim of making a difference in the life of people around you. If it is still not clear, let me define it in very simple words – I am a Teacher.

My curriculum vitae says that I have done – B.A. Hons. (English), followed by a Post – Graduate Diploma in Corporate Communication & Event Management, I also possess the much coveted degree of MBA (Marketing & IT). My students often ask me, “Ma’am you are pretty well qualified, what made you join this profession?” Some of them even ask, “Did you not get placed elsewhere?” or “Is it because of the recession that you are here?”

To all these questions I have said that, “Oh!! I always wanted to be one”. Yes, I always wanted to be one, but we want many things in life. In Marketing they say that it’s actually the NEED and not just the want that makes the difference. And my graduation days made me realize that I NEED to be a part of this noble profession that Touches Life of People.

This realization sank into me when my life was touched so deeply by my Teachers at Shyama Prasad Mukherjee College (The College from where I did my B.A. Hons. (English))

I have always loved all my teachers but the attachment with teachers at SPM was one like never before. It was like a family. And it will be forever. Madhu Ma’am, Pamela Ma’am (we called them twin sisters), Alka Ma’am, Kamal Ma’am, Shashi Ma’am(names we always took together), Neeta Ma’am, Punita Ma’am, Geeta Ma’am, Shashi Khanna Ma’am, Usha Ma’am, Kusum Ma’am, Johnson Ma’am…. and all of them…. I had never in my life seen a bunch of Angels together, until I became part of The S.P.M. Family. All of them great at heart, mind, thought, action and soul. They were an embodiment of magnanimity. They had the capacity to show us the world beyond the lines given in the novel.

They taught us not just, how Maggie Tulliver was caught up in the shackles of male dominated society, or how “Ghashiram Kotwal” is still a part of our society or how “Through the Looking Glass” apart from being a work of Children’s Literature is also a Political Satire. This was just a small part of their gospel. They gave us something greater. They instilled in us “Strength of Character”. By the end of three years they ascribed to us every attribute that is required to become a noble protagonist for any novel.

The traits of “Strength of Character” include – always being kind to others, being patient, understanding things in a context and not just singularly, respect all thoughts because life is not just 3-D, there are many more dimensions to it, there are several ways of looking at the same thing – so appreciate everybody’s opinion, freedom of thought, freedom of action without hurting anyone.

Famine of words will dawn upon if I continue to write what I got from my Teachers. To encapsulate everything – they made us better human – beings.

This inspired in me a feeling that I should relay this torch of humanness further. The mantle of benevolence that my Teachers have given me I should pass it on further. That is when I decided to become a Teacher.

My dear Teachers I Thank You for everything you have given me. I am not, and can never be, as good and you are, but I’ll always try and be behind you.

- Geetanjali

P.S. – whenever I used to write something I used to mail it to Madhu Ma’am first. Sorry for writing this so late ma’am…. I miss you…..

“Mother of the pure unclouded brow & dreaming eyes of wonder,
Though time be fleet & I and thou are half – a – life – asunder,
Dearest Madhu Ma’am you are a great wonder,
Ma’am you are our sweet little Alice and we are your Black & White Kittens”

These lines were dedicated to our Dear Madhu Ma’am by our English (Hons.) batch, 2001 – 2004. The tears that flew down her eyes when we read out this title for her are still fresh in my mind.