Journey from Darkness to Light

'Good morning, sir, I am one of your students. I am calling you today, especially today to inform you how special you are to me. It is because of you I could proudly stand among other friends. You are the bulb that glowed and dispelled the darkness of my life. I could see wonderful things happening, saddest moments dying out, unimaginable inventions and occurrences that make me wish for the boon of immortality. I could discern good from bad….' He added many things to the list of his success stories which I find it difficult to recount here lest I may be misunderstood for exaggerating the crux of the matters. Anyway, it was one of my old students whom I taught while he was in class VIII. He was sharp and intelligent. However, he used to engage himself in something which would make his own friends and school authority skeptic. School authority and discipline committee decided to suspend him several times on account of his unpredictable behavior. I, being his class teacher and trusted person, had to act on his behalf to convince authority in the staff meetings and defend against the decision to suspend him. I could save him so many times from getting suspended. Suspension for him would mean numerous problems for having to call his parents all the way from Samdrup Jongkhar to pick him up from school and reach him back after the completion of his suspension period. Another unfortunate thing that aggravated his problem was that his father was paralytic patient who depended on wheelchair to move even within the house. His mother was only solace to his father. Rest of the brother and sisters were innocent. Preventing him from getting suspension meant preventing him from making his parents feel sorry for him. However my intention of protecting him was not, in any way, because he was from a handicapped family but because I knew how good he was at heart and the innate potential of great man that was lodged in him. 

When I was with him I never had the feeling that he knew what I had done for him. But from his call I came to learn that he knew more than what I could thoughtfully do for him. He called me to thank me for that and to wish 'Happy Teachers' Day, May 2, 2014'. He concluded his trembling words by saying 'please, forgive me for being late in expressing my gratitude'. 

When I calculated the time mentally, it took one whole decade for him to express what he felt about me. He might have spoken that, I believe, after having contemplated deeply. It could be genuine and pure. Experience and years might have enabled him to realize the person who made inexpressible differences in his life. I accepted his expression by responding 'thank you, Mr., you have added colors to my life and profession. Should I have opportunity of next birth, I would love to continue teaching just for students like you'. Many students, as we observe, are reserved, even if their hearts are filled with feelings of gratitude, they hesitate to express it. In essence, I like to express that recognition of teachers' effort does not come automatically. It does not waste either. Though not eons, it definitely takes time. Somehow, somewhere and in some state, I have seen gratitude or praise for teachers being lodged in our students. Teachers, I believe, irrespective of what happens, have to relentlessly work for the benefit of students as expected and as oath of allegiance administered prior to taking placement orders.

However, I must say that not being able to recognize what good others have done is one example of stagnation of our mind. It is also an instance of the thought process having reached standstill. In that state, let alone thinking good of others, one will not be able to think good of oneself even. It is a mere survival. It is a burden to self, parents and country. What difference do we make from other animals then? We take pride in saying that we are different from other animals. Is this pride rational? If what we belief has to be true, I believe, we must make our thought process dynamic, act rationally, aspire to ascend new heights, and crave to move from darkness to light.

     

Schools, therefore, has to act as training grounds to refine an unrefined minds, sharpen the blunt ones, let discover an undiscovered skills, and make equal an unequal. Parents with hope and expectations send their children to schools, high officials look at schools for quality of educational programs, and government invests in schools for quality workforce and citizenships.  It becomes the solemn duty of schools to prepare the people who initially come innocent, incoherent, and oblivious of what is going around the world to remain awake from slumber and make them aware of surrounding environment. The school personnel, students and anybody associated with schools must have broad outlook, equip themselves with different skills, prepare to learn and adopt new programs, must prepare not to let anything become stagnant and stale. Any new idea that enables change must be grasped and implemented. We must express love for new innovations. Schools must function in collaboration with the ministry, parents and community. 

Schools, from any angle must be seen as a source of light. It must glow and its radiant reach every nook and corner of the world. Various indispensable programs that enable schools to shine, inclusive of teachers, students, equipments, plans and programs, relationship with ministries, relationship with parents and community must exceed our mind's reach. The working web among teachers and between teacher and student must be strong so that we can achieve what we could not. Schools must surprise others. Stagnation must not find its place. Through use of ICT, introduction of 21st Century Teaching Strategies, focusing on common vision, working documents, perfect students discipline, unity among the inmates - anything that causes stagnation in the mind, system, and progress must be drilled out creating vent for dynamism in various forms to flow in. 

It is often easier said than done. Journeys, as always, towards brightness can be uncertain, unsafe, can be like travelling through rough tempest, or whirling of white papers in the whirlpool of winds, but let us cling on to small knot of determination and commitment which is not impossible, and pray that the waves of turmoil end and sun of peace shine. 

Baylling HSS will stand firm against all odds and run ahead of time in 2015. My prayer to Almighty is to grant my students and school family members the boon of good health, creative and scientific brains, positive outlook, patriotic feelings, and to enable them to see their dreams, in whatever form it may be if it is to benefit self and country, come true! 

Happy New Year, 2015 to all our supporters, well-wishers and all readers!