Saturday, January 24, 2009

Sir, This is for you!!!




( Sir passed away..on Dusshera, 28.09.2009)

We love you..

That is all i want to say..on behalf of all the students you taught.

Personally, there are so many things i want to tell you. For instance, you'll remain my favourite teacher for ever ever. Because you were one teacher who loved teaching, who loved all children like his own, who cared for every child individually.Because you taught me, nothing is impossible once you set your heart to it. Because you taught me i was special. But how did you forget that sir?How did you forget that you are special too? For all of us- for every student whose life you touched in your very special way..

I still remember sir, when everyone wanted to take some time from your busy schedules, to take private tutions, you made time for all of them..i remember how much you loved me, because you came to teach me at home. sometimes as late as ten thirty in the night, on a bicycle, holding an umbrella on a rainy day, taking so much of pain, waking me up and making me study..not because i ever asked you..but because you just loved me..and you just took it on yourself as a responsibility..

I remember you as a "master" in the true sense because there wasn't a subject you couldn't teach with confidence and elan..i remember, all your classes were fun and maths, chemistry, physics just were your favourite playthings and all social sciences your favourite playmates. i remember all that because every time anyone had a doubt, there was one teacher with the solution: Mishra sir, the pan eating, ever smiling, loving Surendra Mishra Sir.

Oh sir, why didn't you tell us you were so sick? i blame myself the most..I was here, in Keonjhar and you had been suffering silently.. I should have known you wouldn't say anything to anyone..you are too proud for it.. i should have gone and talked to you.

And it feels horrible to see your pillar of strength begin to crumble.. it feels like the worst injustice to hear that voice break up and cry like a small baby, who helped us through our baby steps and helped us grow.

Sir, we are all here with you..to support you, to stand by you. We will not let you crumble. We will see you through this sickness and wait for you to come back. Last time you had a stroke, you came back from your paralysis and started doing the thing you have always loved-teaching. You came back like a true fighter that you've taught us to become. And we all know you'll come back this time too.

There's another batch waiting for you sir.



Get well and come back soon.

Thursday, January 1, 2009

Hush New Year!!!!

Another day of my life..and the world ushered in another year with the euphoria and optimism associated only with human race.

Are the "Happy New Year"s really important? Was it happy, the year that was? Or the years that have so swiftly and stealthily passed me by. I do not remember any of those which did not start with atleast a few crackers going off and people screaming and shouting the "Happy New Year" into my ears. I also do not remember how many of those have been really happy. On an afterthought, most of them look rosy and the last one just the worst of the abberations. Or maybe i'm just being the cynic i have become.

I'll remember the last year for so many things. Not the least because the world was rocked by the worst scandals on the economic front, not the least because Obama became the face of hope internationally. Also not because i laughed secretly when "Bush and the Shoe" remained the headlines for days bringing to expose the hidden desire of every country.

Not the least because when we were loosing ourselves in the euphoria of shining markets and glittery sensex, the bubble burst and brought us back to reality of an India that still had 70 % of it living in villages, who still had not had a decent or even an indecent education. Also not because our country still is last century in its health care. Not even because politics has suddely become the economics, geography and chemistry of the globe. Not also because i felt totally squeamish that it took a terrorist attack at the five star locations to awaken patrotism and not the Bhopal tragedy or the blatant corruption, or the lack of education or livelihood options. But yeah, at this time of cheer and hope, let's conviniently forget that all.

Why not ponder over the chemistry within and outside. For example the left and the "who is right" . Or with the "Big Brother America". Oops. Wrong subject again. The Geography , perhaps? Of maps of Kashmir- The chinese, the Indian, the Pakistani or the Big B's. Oh!! Not that too?

Last year i thought the year would be great, i had started on the right foot. But in India you start your initiatives with the left foot. So that probably spoilt it.

No, I'm not very proud of the year that was. Not very hopeful of the year that's just come in through the door. I always write a motto for myself on the forst page of my diary: The last year's said, " Make a difference, be the change and Lead by example.." And that was much before Obama's change song became the world's anthem..i really don't know if i kept up to that motto..Yes, i made a lot of "differences"..i have somehow changed from the girl i was to a woman, i'm not..and god forbid anyone ever follows me..i've set all the wrong examples!!!

And this year, the first date of my diary stares at me from its blank page..

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!!

The last Year: R.I.P.