A True Leader

Tanish is a student of the 12th standard. He loves dancing, acting, singing and playing Guitar. He keeps himself busy throughout his day. Apart from studies, he manages all his hobby classes intact and never misses any of them. When he talks about his academic results after the end of term-I, he scored 82% and he was quite satisfied with his performance.

But his mother was unhappy after seeing his results. She wanted him to excel in his academics. She started her inquiry by calling her friends about their children performance. Out of many when one of her friends quoted that she is feeling proud of her daughter who has scored 95%, she could not control her wrath. 

She immediately rang up to the dancing institute where Tanish was taking his dancing class. She told the instructor to relieve Tanish. This boy was bit nervous. His mother hardly bothered about his hobby classes. On receiving the call from home, all kinds of evil thoughts began to float in his mind. He rushed to reach home as quickly as possible.

When he reached home, he was panting for breath. His mother slapped him and started shouting at his negligence that he had shown towards his studies. She made him count the total money that she had spent on him for his schooling as well as paying to tuition teachers for his tutorial classes.

Tanish did not speak anything and kept listening to his mother. After an hour, when the family assembled for dinner, Tanish greeted his father and said that there is a surprise that he wished to share. His father was excited to know, so he asked to reveal the fact. Then, Tanish said that he has secured the highest percentage in his class. His teacher had congratulated him and told him to keep up the spirit high. 

Also, Tanish was chosen to represent his school in the mega-play event which was supposedly organized by a renowned Art School. In this competition over 50 schools were participating. He Art’s teacher was pretty sure that Tanish is an all-rounder. He can definitely lead his team and at least be the top ten lists.

When his mother heard this conversation, she felt sorry for her son. She repented at her mistake. After dinner, she went into his room and asked why didn’t he say all these to her when she was scolding him?

The boy smiled and said, Maa, you were very angry. You were not ready to listen to anything from me. If I would have said all these to you at that time, you might think it another way. But I do know, the scores can be much better so I promise to work harder and to fulfill your dreams.

There is Tanish in every family. Though his experiences could not be humongous yet he can be more sensible than many adults. You don’t mature by your age rather by learning through day-to-day activities. Each and every day, different instances of your life will teach you something new. Often have seen adults offending and proving their superiority based on their age and experience.

You need to remember, your experience is of huge significance for your personal and professional life, but these experiences can hardly matter to others. Even if you empathize, the pain that the bearer has cannot be foregone.

As a parent, you have certain dreams and when you fail to achieve them, you make them as the dream of your child. The child who did not dream the same thing, if he is asked to struggle and achieve the same, will he be able to do justice to his parents or to himself?

This question remains unaddressed many times.

Students with great caliber and potential, will still be observed toiling and struggling while making their career successful. All those who had the liberty to taste rejection, discouragement and had met failure in their life, do learn quicker than the one blessed with the golden spoon.

Tanish, I believed was a leader. He knew what to do and how to handle things in his life. He was an expert in managing work-life balance. He handled stress efficiently. Even when the situation was not in his favor, he kept himself calm.

Looking at the leadership quality that Tanish had, I started asking a question to myself, whether a leader is born or is made?

I leave it to the readers to answer this question…If they are the born leaders or have got certain training to enhance their leadership skills, in order to lead and be a leader.

Revolution - A Dream As A Teacher

5th September 2015, the day started with a buzz on my mobile. Shagun, a student of mine had sent a lovely message. Thanking me for the efforts put in order to enhance her knowledge and skills. A quick glimpse of 2007 flashed in my memory, recalling the classes and the students I taught along with Shagun.

I remembered my first day as a School Teacher at Hyderabad way back in 1999. My first set of students who enjoyed talking and sharing their miseries with me. The games that I learned by playing along with them. How can I forget those days? My students were my real time teachers, who made me learn the new thing every day through my experiences. Though I was strong in my knowledge but my students taught me that ignorance can't be bliss, to gain knowledge same practice of teaching with every buddy can fail. They taught me, how the needs of the students’ community differ, etc.

My students’ community, whom I consider as my mentor, still remembers those names: Neeraj, Girish, Ramakrishna, Bindupriya. The list is enormous and the things that I have learned from them are priceless. They made me a better person, a teacher, and a trainer.

My 16 years of experience into teaching and training was always delightful. I believe the challenges that I have encountered by being in this professional kept me on my toes always. It helped me to endure patience, the art of empathizing and listening to others patiently. 

Instead of counting the bounties, let me pen down today my dream as a Teacher. I represent that state of India from where the world embraced wisdom, peace, and meditation. But today, when I move across in the interior regions of this state i.e. Bihar, my heart laments viewing at the situation of the schools. I believe that the knowledge imparted by the teachers to their students should help them to stand strong, steadfast even in difficult situations. It should teach the students to learn the art of leading life as a successful human being.

The dedication shown by the teachers compared to yesteryears and present day will prove that as teachers we are only imparting syllabus that is to be covered for the examinations or to get graded for. The true education is missing from present day schools. It can be any school be reputed or a newly established one. The significance of school teaching is dwindling.

The question is, whom do we blame? Is it the education system, the board or the society?

Well, even I don’t have an appropriate answer for this question but certainly I will blame myself as a Teacher. I need to do justice to my students who firmly believe in the knowledge that I impart to them, will certainly help in caricaturing better future.

I recall the journey from 2011 to 2013, to over 100 odd schools in Bihar in over 8 districts, it made me realize that the methodology that is applied by government schools is outdated and the private or trust governed schools are more into making money and strengthening their financial position in the society.

I met the Principals of few good schools. They were on the same page. They knew the drawback of their school but still their arms were tied and lips stitched by the management of the school.  They agreed to the point that Schools in Bihar, particularly the well-established and renowned ones were into the education business. 

The quota pertained to Economically Weaker Section is only meant on the records. Religiously, very few school management thinks of reaching and catering to the needy people.

The month of May 2012, in the district of Begusarai, I still recall my visit to a government school. The condition of the school building was dilapidated yet the zeal of the teacher to teach was so high, even in the worst situation, he managed to conduct his class of 48 students under one single roof head. The students were of different grades. They were engaged into different subjects by the same teacher. He went on hopping from one group to the other, teaching them their portion of the subject that was to be taught for that day.

After five hours of struggle with a single break of 15 minutes, the teacher was low at his physical energy but nowhere there was an ounce reduction in his passion. I was shocked to see that after the tiring teaching session, he had to help his wife in serving the mid-day meal which is offered to every student on school working days. There was no one to assist him except his wife.

And this was not the case with only one school. I witnessed this in many schools where the teachers were really dedicated and were toiling hard to make the future of their students better.

These teachers have inspired me and have put a dream in my open eyes, to serve those who need the service utmost.

I wish to open a School in the remote areas of Bihar with all latest equipment and technology. Where knowledge will be free, and where education will not be just a source of earning huge return on investment.

A school where students will learn by doing, they will get education for better life and to form a better society. I don’t know, when this dream of mine will come true but the support that I have from my students, will always motivate me to work hard and put my best foot forward every day with the goal of setting ‘THE SCHOOL’.