Generous Teachers

    People take up various professions or jobs to earn a living. This income is essential. Some of these professions are held in high regard by society, and teaching is one of them. In the teaching profession, the relationship between students and teachers is an extremely important factor. Since teachers are always older than their students, they carry a greater responsibility. Here are two incidents of teachers who fulfilled that responsibility beautifully.

                    (Shri. Lalitdada Pathak)

This happened sometime between 1968 and 1970. Lalit Pathak, a student who had come from Nandurbar to Dhule to study at the Teachers' Training College, sat down one night to write in his diary. He was furious that day. In his anger, he wrote in his diary, "If I had a knife, I would have stabbed Principal Patil." What had caused him to write such a thing? That day, some students at the training college had mocked an elderly man in shabby clothes who was walking down the street. Principal H. S. Patil, known for his strict discipline, launched an inquiry, trying to find out who had mocked the man. But no student admitted to it. So Patil sir called all the students together and scolded them harshly. Lalit was among them.

Lalit's father had been a freedom fighter, active in the Gandhian movement, and had even been imprisoned during the 1942 agitation while still a student himself. Lalit, too, was a mild-mannered, quiet student. But he was furious that the principal had scolded him for no fault of his own, and it was in that fit of anger that he wrote those words. A few days later, on the occasion of some event, Patil sir asked, "Which of you keep a diary?" Lalit raised his hand. Patil sir said, "Let me read your diary." Lalit replied, "You'll get angry after reading what I've written, and you'll punish me." But Patil sir promised him, "I won't do any such thing." So Lalit handed over his diary. Patil sir read it — including, of course, the line about the knife. But he kept his word. He understood Lalit with affection and explained things to him gently. This same Lalitdada Pathak later became a teacher himself, serving for many years at schools run by the Nandurbar education society, in both Nandurbar and Dhule. As a big-hearted teacher, Lalitdada Pathak became immensely popular among his students. His conduct, his words, and his personality left a lasting mark on the lives of many students.

(Shri Baban Potdar speaking at the retirement function of Jagtap Sir at M.E.S. Boys' School, Pune — that's me in the background, wearing a mask 🙂)

This happened about 50 years ago. The Diwali holidays had just ended. Nana Jagtap, a teacher at the school in Masur village in Karad taluka, Satara district, walked into a ninth-grade classroom. The mid-term exams had taken place before the holidays, and Nana handed back everyone's checked answer sheets. He answered the students' doubts and questions. Then Nana said, "Where is Baban?" Baban stood up. Nana called him to the front. Since Baban was short, he was asked to stand up on the bench. The other students wondered what Nana was about to do, and Baban himself felt a flutter of nervousness. Nana began, "You were asked to write a character sketch in the exam. Baban wrote a character sketch of me. He wrote about the things he likes about me, but he also wrote about what bothers him. He wrote it exactly the way I had taught you to write a character sketch. Well done, Baban!" Saying this, Nana embraced Baban affectionately and said, "Baban, you will grow up to be a fine writer." This same Baban Potdar later became a celebrated writer, producing a wealth of work — stories, novels, and film screenplays.

In both these incidents, the teachers took the trouble to truly understand their students. Both students had, in their own way, pointed out a flaw or mistake in their teacher. But these large-hearted teachers didn't take it to heart — instead, they offered encouragement.

Sudhir Gade, Pune

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