Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo

Reinforcing my faith

Our summer holidays had already begun and since I needed money, I had opted to work as a coolie, along with other labourers hired for the job. I had lost my father while I was still in Class VI and my mother had taken up the responsibility of looking after my eight brothers and sisters.

It was the month of May and really hot. The labourers were digging and I was given the job of removing the mud dug out. I worked hard through the month. After the work was over, I went to the office of my head master, Father Leo Dayagarh, a Belgium priest, to claim Rs 12 as my wage. I do not remember what rates were fixed, all that I can recollect was I needed the money to buy myself an umbrella, which could be bought for Rs 7 or Rs 8 and the balance I needed for other necessary items.

The headmaster after paying my wages asked me to be seated. He then told me how happy he was to see me work so hard along with the other coolies.

“You will be successful in life. If you want to become a priest, you would become a good priest,” he had told me. That was the turning point in my life. Before his death, my father had promised that he would do everything to support my education. He had also told me that even if I wanted to join priesthood, he would not have any objection. Father Leo Dayagarh’s words helped to reinforce what my father had said. Though I also remember I had got a sound beating from the same man in Class VI for the pranks I played!

Cardinal Telesphore P. Toppo

Bachendri Pal, mountaineer

Off to school, eagerly!

Bachendri Pal, whose name does not need any introduction, still remembers her teacher who inculcated the discipline, courage and determination in her, which ultimately led her to achieve the impossible.

Pal says that her life was moved by one teacher, Satya Prakash Joshi, who is still an inspiration in her life. Joshi used to teach Pal at her native village Nakuri in Uttaranchal when she was in the Class VIII. He was very strict and disciplined, while very encouraging at the same time. “We were so inspired by him, that we would eagerly wait each day to go to school the next day. We used to wash our salwars and keep it under the pillow to get the ironed effect so that we could rush to school without any delay!” she says. Recently she had a very emotional reunion with him at a marriage party at her village, after a gap of 25 to 30 years.

Bachendri Pal, mountaineer

Priya Dubey, superintendent of police, GRP

He welcomed suggestions

If one talks about an ideal teacher who moulds the career of a student, the name of Pradeep Kumar, a professor of political thought at Chandigarh University, first comes to the mind. He was one of the best teachers I had,” she says.

“Kumar was good at building healthy relationship between the teacher and student. He knew each student individually by name,” Dubey recalls.

“The students did not find any difficulty in communicating with him on the subject as well on other issues. He would work hard on the students in trying to help them improve. Kumar always welcomed suggestions from the students’, unlike the present day teachers of the university,” Priya pointed out.

“After passing out from the university, I was in touch with him. Now due to unscheduled duty hours, it is difficult to recall Kumar often,” says Dubey.

Priya Dubey, superintendent of police, GRP

Father Casimir Raj, Director, XLRI School of Management

He motivated me to reach the top

a role reversal of sorts, Father Casimir Raj returns to his student days in Loyola College, Chennai, to remember his lecturer Seshan, his inspiration to be an academician. “When I joined B.Com, I did not even know the ABCs of the subjects. Mr Seshan coached me in a such a way that I stood first in class within three months,” he says.

“Those were the 1960s, when students felt quite casual towards college. To pass a three-year degree, we just had to pass one exam, for which we crammed just a couple of months earlier. Seshan was a very strict teacher and dedicated himself to change this attitude of ours in a very interesting manner. I remember he would conduct quizzes and apply tactics that are used today in the Management schools to enhance a students mind.” Many years later, Casimir Raj paid his favourite teacher a fitting tribute. A special scholarship was dedicated in the name of Seshan towards deserving students.

Father Casimir Raj, Director, XLRI School of Management

Arjun Munda, chief minister

He took pains to make things simple

For me, it’s really a difficult task to single out any particular teacher. I have learnt different things from different teachers. But still, it was B. D. Singh, my science teacher, who taught me at the government managed Harijan High School at Bhalubasa in Jamshedpur, for whom I have a great respect and love.

He has since retired from the school few years back. Soft-spoken and mild-natured, I had never seen him scold anyone, leave alone hit. For many of us, science was a difficult subject, but he was so patient that he took great pains to make things lucid. He would ensure that each one understood what he was teaching. Only after that he would go to the next chapter.

One day I casually asked him why he had taken up teaching, when he could have opted for some other lucrative profession. He looked at me for some time before he smiled and replied. He told me that he is involved in making products (students) who can play a meaningful role in society. And unlike in other professions, the products could come back to meet him. That gave him the greatest satisfaction. Frankly, I was so moved by what he had told me that I still remember it. He used to encourage us to read. Not only science books, all kinds of books. Although, I have not met him for a long time, I have plans to meet him in the coming days. I have asked my staff to find out where exactly in Jamshedpur Singh is now staying.

Arjun Munda, chief minister

Dr T. Kumar, director, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad

A giver, an inspiration

I come from a very small village called Khaira in Katihar district of Bihar.
We used to stay in a hostel but the school authorities did not charge any fees for it.
A senior mathematics and Hindi teacher of the school, Rajendra Prasad Singh, used to take care of us for more than 16 to 18 hours each day, trying to inspire us with a vision for life.
He would teach us for four hours every evening till 9 pm, and again be back at 3.30 in the morning!
I can’t imagine a teacher of his calibre and dedication in the present times.

Dr T. Kumar, director, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad

Bhaskar Bhattacharya, Director-general of mines safety, Dhanbad

He inspired me to recognise my priorities in life.

It’s because of my mathematics teacher, B.D Shah, at Don Bosco, Shillong, I am what I am today.
Being the youngest among six brothers, I was a pampered child, till he entered my life and taught me to recognise my prorities in life.
Till Class VII, I had just managed to scrape through, but “Shah Sir” changed the direction of things.
After that I never looked back and went on to top every exam and excell in my studies.
He was a great motivator and turning factor in my life and career. Years have passed but I still adore him and cannot praise him enough.

Bhaskar Bhattacharya, director-general of mines safety, Dhanbad

Partho Bhattacharya, CMD of Bharat Coking Coal Limited

He taught me ways to solve problems

My favourite teacher was Professor T.C. Roy of Jadavpur University, Calcutta.
Although a physics teacher, Roy taught us mathematics, too, and made it all so poetic!
The mathematical problems were solved like stanzas from romantic verses and that is something I will always remember.
His way of teaching still inspires me in the way I solve my problems in life and those in my profession, as well.
He is undoubtedly my favourite.

Partho Bhattacharya, CMD of Bharat Coking Coal Limited

 

Principal ways

I can still remember Dharadhar Thakur, headmaster of Koderma Middle School.

One day, I failed to do my homework. Punishment for not doing the homework was severe in those days, in 1959 to be exact.

Expectedly, he caned me.

Thereafter, I refused to go to school. Thakurji came to my house, and persuaded me to rejoin. I was touched by the way he made me sit beside me.

I make it a point to visit him whenever I am in Koderma, my hometown.

Anil Kumar Sinha, advocate general, Jharkhand High Court

Strict and straight

Miss C. Berger, a spinster, was our class teacher in Class VIII at St Patrick’s School Asansol (Bengal).

Her ramrod straight posture and devotion had both inspired and terrified generations.
But now we realise that she was largely responsible for proper careers of many wayward students like me.

Raj Kumar Mallick, Senior SP Ranchi

My mother, the best

Though there have been several teachers who influenced me, if I have to name one, it would definitely be my mother, Snehlata Agarwal, who was a professor of Physics at Ranchi Women’s College.

Her dedication and sincerity towards teaching was awe inspiring. She would, till late night, help us with our problems, which later helped me get though IIT, Delhi, and then the IAS. I lost her last year, but for me she would always remain the best and favourite teacher ever.

Vandana Dadel, MD Aiada

Inspiring focus

The one name that comes to my mind is S.P. Sinha, our mathematics and science teacher at KMPM School in Jamshedpur. No matter what people around him were doing, he would remain engaged in work. I had the chance of meeting him about 15 days back. The moment I saw him, I rushed to touch his feet. Till today, I have never forgotten his cooperation and dedication.

Avinash Prasad, VP, IR Tata Steel

My guide

Dr D. Chandra, the prominent professor of coal geology of Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, was the teacher who inspired me the most. It was under him I did my Phd, and he taught me how to develop confidence and prove myself at every stage of life.

Amalendu Sinha, director, Central Mining & Research Institute (CMRI)

A father first

My father Murari Lal Sharma has inspired me the most. Although a renowned mathematician, he treated me as a friend, one who always stood by me, understood my limitations, and helped me overcome them. He taught me to be optimistic always.

Hema S. Mohan, principal, Delhi Public School, Bokaro

He would give toffees

Mother Xavier was to the department of English at St Xavier’s College what a mother is to a home. One moment she would be looking stern, but it won’t be long before the smile was back. She was very methodical. Students came to rely on her so badly, that she would often have to teach the plays and poems meant to be taught by the others. She was a perfect counterpoint to Father G.P. Lawlor, head of department of English. If ever a person fitted the description of an absent- minded professor, it was him. He would move to and fro from his department room, looking for his keys, which were safely lodged in his pockets! If ever a teacher is to be remembered for his sense of humour, it’s this Irish priest. If he saw them yawning in class, he would pull out some toffees and distribute them!

Arun Kumar Thakur, reader, English Department, Ranchi College

Taught me balance

He firmly holds that his headmaster, Father Alosius Rebo, played a key role in shaping up his personality. Tripathy studied at St Joseph’s High School in Allahabad. “The career I chose does not require a genius, but one ought to have a balanced personality. My headmaster played a crucial role in shaping my personality,” he says.

Sudhir Tripathy, energy secretary

Getting it right

His name was Kalyan Rai Chowdhry, an economics professor at St Stephen ’s, Delhi. He taught me to worship work. He never consulted a text book while teaching, and yet he never ever went wrong. Then there was my Hindi teacher at St Xavier’s, Bokaro, U. K. Shukla. He forced me to improve my handwriting, which later turned to be a boon.

Anil Palta, district inspector-general, coal belt

The lady at Patiala

I believe it was years ago, in my nursery class at Patiala, that I met one of the gentlest of teachers. Her patience around petulant toddlers, her strict yet diligent lessons, sunny demeanour are the clearest memories of my childhood. The lady used to say that it is better to remember someone because of h/her deeds than by their name. I agree.

Dr Baljeet Singh, SP, Dhanbad

Guiding lights

Though, I think life has taught me the greatest lessons and has been my biggest teacher, I must add that my parents have been the two guiding beacons to lead me through my lessons.

Ajay Shukla, divisional railway manager, Dhanbad

A legend of sorts

Whenever anyone mentions Teachers’ Day, memories of Father G.P. Lawlor flood in. To put it simply, Father Lawlor was a legend. He was head of department (English) at St Xavier’s College, Ranchi.

I remember the first day he took our class, we had questioned his abilities silently. He was eccentric, as often he would stop speaking midway in a class, contemplate and then start a lecture some minutes later.

I met him last in 1986. He walked into my Doranda house. When I asked him where he was, he said with a twinkle: “Bhoot bhagake aa raha hoon.” (I am coming after chasing away a ghost).

He was probably at some village dealing with local superstitious issue, I never really asked him. But, this much I knew that our Father Lawlor would be away on several occasions to help others, especially the rural folks. Witty and an able teacher, above all a great human being.

R.R. Prasad, director-general, Home Guard

Thanks to you...

I am what I am today because of what you gave me; knowledge, a sense of courage to face the world.

On this day, if I could, I would offer my gratitude to Late Dr Pabitra Kumar Sengupta. A doctor by profession, he began teaching after retirement. He did so because of his respect for the profession as well as the pleasure he derived from the company of young people.

Some teachers may be masters at their subjects, but only a handful are masters of values and emotions.Dr Sengupta was one of them.

Dr Debjani Roy, lecturer, Nirmala College