All those who know me may be wondering what an engineer has got to do with teaching....yep i could think of no other way to spend my vacation in some useful way....
It all started with a friend of mine suggesting me to go in for teaching business rather than wasting my vacation..it wasnt my first time when iwas facing a bunch of young guns..i had previous xperience...but teaching in a coaching class was something new..the first day was cool i was teaching the most disciplined section i had ever seen..all geeky fellows,no element of humor or masti within dem...i was lik "ok!fine alli have to do over here is teach"from what i learnt is dat dey had a horrendous english and their spellings were not from this world..i realised i had a lot of work to do...this was standard ninth that i am talking about,thenext day iwas lik asked to adjust for a prof absent and teach sixth standard students.and when i heard sixth i was lik "sixth!!!!!!?????an engineer teaching standard sixth,it was like really very substandard for me..dat was mebbe becoz i felt dat i know too much dan dem.half heartedly i entered their class ..d moment i entered der class i heard something lik a song in chorus"goodmorning teacher,v r glad to meet u teacher,than you for teaching us teacher"and dis song made my heads turn around to see three tiny tots who hardly reach my waistline singing aloud.wat i felt amusing was in the last 17 years i was never too glad to see my teachers entering the class and above all i just thanked them for giving me a good nap.i was happy and i felt my teachers would also hav been happy had i been a bit genuine in my feelings(i was genuine about my boredom thing though).now this lot was full on masti types,too cute for sight.i started teachng dem...dey r hardly 3in number.out of this three i would call one child "Y",the other "x",the other "z".the "Z"
belonged to the malnutritioned lot,wen i got to know him better i felt he was better than me in all aspects ;he was an abacus state level topper,i could belive that without a single doubt seeing his physical structure.now this "y" had a charming face and i immediately fell in love with the enthusiasm of this young tot.now i immediately bonded with dis swwt little child becoz there was something i could relate with him..our childhood.v both spent it in baby sitting centres and the maturity could be seen in him.this sweet child is too matured for his age..i was startled to go through his daily routine which started with the boring coaching classes(in his words),tabla classes,school ,back to baby sitting and den to home.his bag was so heavy that even i could not pullup ..and he had many more extracurricular activitites..iw as wondering how this "y"managed all d stuff all alone.i always crib about being too busy but what i learnt from him is enjoy whatever you do.these three tiny tots are the reason that i am stillwith that hopeless classes.when you hear "y"talking i was mesmerised.he told me on the first day,first lecture"madam i want to study,be acomputer engineer,i want to be someone big"ismiled at his thought.i just told him humbly"me too an engineer"to which he announced to the other two "madam apni dost hai,jo kuch bolna hai bindas bolo"it was like he was the gang head.and dis "y"is such a chatter box that other two have to wait the entire lecture to express their individual superiorities."x"is a rotund fellow too cute with delicious cheeks that tempt me every moment.the first lecture i had pulled his cheeks n number of times and he was too honest to get up respectfullya nd called me to say"madam ,it pains".without waiting for my response he began studying.i learn something from him too-"speak up if u are right".its been one month now and i am teaching the tiny infact d cuties who exihibit oodles of energy and every time iasked "x" about his daily routine he would always say"Mami(aunty)ne yeh banay ,wo banaya etc.."i just asked him finally "where is your mum?""why does your aunt cook for u always?"to which he innocently said "my mum and dad are in dadar"to which i asked "y?????"he said with innocence "my dad and mum are handicapped,my dad works in naval dock and mum in post office"to which i asked shockingly"handicapped?????"he said "they are dumb and deaf"myheart melted downi just felt like hugging him.i had so many questions to ask them,"how do you comunicate?do they come and meet you"he said airily"i communicate with them in a sign language,dey come to meet me every vacation".that one incident touched me a lot.i learnt something from him- to be haapy with whatever i have and rejoice it.i had been there to teach them.i became a friend for them and i think instead of me teaching them they taught me many things in life i.e-i had a feeling my parents left me alone in childhood when i needed them the most,but "y"changed ma opinion and he showed me that you are not the only person who has been through this am also one.but the difference is am enjoying it and you hav been cribbing allyour life."x" was a like a mirror. he reflected the hardships of life he has gone already.just imagine we learn talking form our parents and all that he might hav heard is silence during his learning days.
whenevr i face a problem in ma life i think of"x" and i feel my problem is not a problem at all.
this experience of teaching them has changed ma life and whenver i tell dem am goin to leave this class soon dey say in chorus "madam chod do,humko aapke ghar pe lo tuitions"they are the reason i am der.today i dont feel yuck! to teach standard sixth and i have learnt the lower the standard you teach the more classy and inteligent faces you meet.i am sure these young guns are going to make it big someday.its a once in a lifetime experience.am lucky to hav such students and am looking forward to learn more lessons from them
