Santha ‌ Madam

Today is teachers’ day
i salute all my gurus.
When we think of our teachers,
lot of faces rush to our memory.
I too look back and
have lot of teachers in my mind now
One among them stands out and
I want to tell you all about the one
who stands out in my rating
(even after 37 long years )
She is Santha madam, my class teacher
for 8th, 9th, and 10th
She needs a detailed introduction
She was employed in Govt high school as teacher and
was a post graduate in physics
On those days the students from nearby
primary schools sought
admission in the govt high school
when they finished their 7th standard.
I too joined the school when
I finished my 7th
in a primary school
On the very first day in the new school
santha madam entered into our hearts
In the first period she asked us
to introduce ourselves.
When the first boy stood up
for self introduction
she started introducing him
“he is Ravi, studied so far
in the village primary school.
He is from a middle class family
his brother Raju studied here and
was a brilliant student
his father is engaged in agriculture
Ravi is a good singer and will
sing a song for us now”
This was a different experience
for all of us
She had collected the details of all
the 40+students in her class
Teacher was very strict,
but was loved by all of us from our heart
She was very good in the art of teaching
But that does not make her my favorite
She used to enquire about the students who were
not present for two /three days together
She would visit their houses
and if found to be sick,
would take them to the doctor.
She would come to the class in the
lunch break and ensure that
all have brought lunch.
She helped lot of students for their
higher studies and for getting employment
She used to have lot of visitors just before
the onam holidays,
most of them her former students.
They would present books to her as token of gratitude.
She would donate those books to the school library
She took special interest to see that
we all read at least two books in a month.
Andrews was a champion runner,
but behind his success there was the
effort of teacher
who helped him to undergo training
in a sports academy.
I can go on listing her good qualities
She never behaved rudely
she stood/remains still like a MOTHER!

On those days there used to be
lot of strike by students,
which affected the academic year
But she made good the loss by
taking extra classes on holidays.

Before signing off I would tell
one more incident, which is
green in my memory
This happened when I was in the 10th
Teacher was taking class on a holiday.
When the class started Ravi
requested the teacher
to wind up the class by 2.30.pm
so that we could watch a movie in
the near by theatre.
Nearly 3/4th of the students
in class seconded Ravi
Teacher said “OK”

We all were shouting and
enjoying in side the theatre
During the interval we all knew
that teacher also has come to watch
the movie with the balance students!

You mean a lot,
You'll never know how much,
For you helped
To change the world
Through every life you touched.
You sparked the creativity
In the students whom you taught,
And helped them strive for goals
That could not be bought,
You are such a special teacher
That no words can truly tell