The Right Chord

During my brief stint as a teacher back in 1982, my assignment was to teach English and Moral Science to students up to class-v. It was both interesting and frustrating for me as the tender ones used to ask too many questions, quite natural for their age. Each day added something new and fresh to my life's experience. One episode is still fresh in my memory -Apurva (name changed) reading in class- iv was quite an intelligent boy yet did not score much in the academics. He was good at sports and other co curricular activities. He was unmindful in the classes and carried blank face when interrogated.

In one of my moral science classes I was teaching - "How craving for more leads to nil score", as usual Apurva was engrossed in his own world and was not paying attention to what was taught. I summoned him and asked what was being taught, as usual he drew a blank and my irritation took a burst. My shrill voice filled the surround sound, he was made to stand near the black board as a token of punishment. As time elapsed and the bells rang, he drew nearer and almost whispered in my ears - "Teacher.. teacher, I do not follow what you teach, why don't you elaborate using a prop for our easy understanding and assimilation". The next day, I was ready with a prop- an onion. When I kept it on the table I saw many pointed fingers, wondering eyes. A good amount of discussion followed as to how it was to be used. I called Apurva to stand near me, hold the onion in his hand and do the needful when asked to so. He nodded and followed my order. My story for the moral science class was- "Too much craving yields nothing". As I went ahead with the story and supplemented with anecdotes, I asked him to peel gently the onion one layer, then another. The feat went on till the last leg of the story. There was only one layer of onion left to be peeled. There I stopped and inquired whether the entire class was clear as regards morale of the story. Everyone nodded in silence. There seemed not an iota of doubt. All were seemingly happy having understood the quintessence. I delivered to my utter satisfaction that day. The lesson I taught was a lesson for me too. Thereafter, I made it a point to carry on my teachings with illustrations.

                        All my students are grown up by now, have risen in their respective career rung. As I meet them occasionally in the city I dwell and call my own, they profess that, I hold a special place in their hearts as the most illustrative madam,and I gently whisper to myself .. thanks Apurva for being the eye opener.