Coutinho with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Picture by Suman Tamang

Darjeeling, Sept. 10: He left the career of a marine engineer to teach at his alma mater.

Such stories are rare, but Manuel Coutinho lives to epitomise the profession. He has not only taught several generations of North Point students, but has also rekindled the passion for musical plays in the hills.

Born in 1937, Coutinho is still remembered for getting three double promotions during his school days. On completing school, he had secured admission to IIT Kharagpur and a number of other engineering colleges.

“I had decided to become a marine engineer and got myself enrolled at Marine Engineering College at Behala in Calcutta,” he said.

His life, however, changed when he came back to his hometown on a vacation. “Since I was a good student during my school days, I was asked if I could help the students at North Point. I fell in love with teaching and have carried on since then,” he says with a smile.

Officially Coutinho taught English and elocution. He, however, also found time to coach the North Point cricket team and the Loreto College table tennis team from 1966. Such was his dedication to the profession that when he retired from his position in 1998, it was revealed that he had taken three days’ leave in his 38 years of service.

The teacher, however, is best known for reviving the tradition of musical plays in his school. The trend was later followed by his students in other hill institutions.

“I must have directed more than 17 plays in North Point,” he said.

According to him, all plays are destined to be successful if one puts in hard work. Ten Little Indians, which was staged in the school, King and I and My Fair Lady top the list of favourite plays for the teacher.

After he retired from North Point, Coutinho was immediately taken on the staff of Mount Hermon School, where he continues to teach English and direct plays.

In 2003, he was awarded by Rotary Club, Darjeeling, and recently on August 18, the North Point Alumni Association (Calcutta Chapter) felicitated him with the Lifetime Achievement Award.