The Maulana

As a matter of fact, our personalities are developed and influenced by numerous factors knowingly or unknowingly. During the socialization process, our parents and teachers play most important roles. Our saint poets have placed the teacher, the Guru, at higher pedestal than even the God. There cannot be two opinions about this fact that the teacher is the person who shapes us for the bigger role in one’s personal and professional life too. The traits are developed many a times even without one’s realizing the non- invasive nature of the observations made by the impressable young minds.

In my professional career as a Tax administrator I had been known as a tough person and at a later stage, I realized that somewhere it was the influence of my teacher in Junior college when I was studying in class 6th to 8th. Thereafter, I started posting regular tributes to this teacher of mine in social media on every Guru Poornima.

Yes, the name of my teacher was Maulana Tehsin and besides teaching me geography he was also our class teacher for all the three standards. I know I could never meet him after completion of my High School in 1969 but am sure in whichever world he is, he must be happy about this remembrance as to how without direct efforts someone was moulded by his characteristics. Maulana Tehsin was austere in his dressing- a simple kurta and Paijama with locally made chappals were his summer attire and a woolen jacket would get added in winter season of the small town of UP.

Maulana saab was a strict disciplinarian and if he caught any student doing mischief in his class he will call the person out and make him MURGA near the drawing Board of the class. The trouble for this Murga did not get over by the bell announcing end of that particular period but extended to all his classrooms wherever Maulana had to teach for the rest of the day. This mobile MURGA will be taken by Maulana Saab and made proper MURGA in all the rooms. If the MURGA was found in improper posture, a brick was kept on his back for balancing act. Falling of brick invited stick- beating too. One can imagine the fate of the student caught by the Maulana in the first lecture of the day. Maulana saab was regular in warning his students, “Maulana agar kisi ko pakad leta h toh fir din bhar chhorta nahin”

Once while contemplating my approach to my job as a Customs official around a decade back , it dawned upon me that it was the indirect influence of my teacher Maulana Tehsin that I never budged from the stated position taking action against the delinquent and had also started using words similar to Maulana saab to my close friends in service… “ Sharma jab kisi ko pakad leta h toh chhorta nahin!”

I had been following my Guru even today in my retired life and sometime feel how certain observations become a trait in life.

THANKS MY IDEAL MAULANA TEHSIN. MAY GOD KEEP YOU BLESSED WHEREVER YOU ARE.