When I look back on my years as a school boy, I remember a
teacher who left an indelible impression on my mind for various reasons. He
taught Mathematics, was energetic, strict and determined to see that no pupil
was ever left behind in the subject.
He was empathetic, motivational, original and caring. Period
after period, he went about his task methodically. For him, teaching was
definitely a passion. While I did not excel in the subject, what he taught me,
stayed with me, and today, when I look back 40 odd years later , it was
probably he who unknowingly motivated me to become a teacher.
The year was 1968 but the memories are vivid. I was in St
Joseph’s Allahabad .
We called him UNCLE JOE – he was a master, guide, father
figure, math whiz, tutor and an orphan.
Being brought up by a single parent myself I guess I was
drawn to him . Having not done well in the subject my mother asked me to
approach him for private tuition, which I did rather hesitatingly as I knew my
mother could hardly afford it .
I also asked him how much he would charge. He asked me to
start tuition and informed me that he would talk about charges later. He never
did .
Day after day and month after month, me and a few others
like me were knocking at his door at 5. 30 am . Being a bachelor, his room was
always untidy with newspapers strewn around – he was a voracious reader .
He would clear the table by sweeping everything on to the
floor and for an hour we would be immersed in sums . Whether adding,
subtracting, dividing or multiplying – from the top, the bottom , side
ways , on paper or in his head , the answer were always correct .
Algebra, Arithmetic and Geometry began making sense all of a
sudden and he managed to clear concepts like no other teacher had ever done .
The year went by and I managed to pass with good marks.
When I went to show him my report card , he congratulated me
- I then asked him about his charges .
He smiled and said ‘ No charge Michael ‘ Just pray for me .
Uncle Joe died a few years later –he had been ill and no one
knew it - he was only 40 . May his soul rest in peace.
His life was gentle, and the elements mixed so well in him
that Nature might stand up and say to all the world, “This was a man.”
Thank you Sir
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