I remember the first morning assembly of my teaching life so vividly because:
One, it was after such along time that I was (again) going to be a part of one. The early morning sun slowly warming up the walls of the building in the shelter of which 1200 students were lined up at an arm's length from every side. Waiting for what was a routine for them but today, an event for me. Probably because after I stepped out of the the school for the last time as as student, I had subconsciously let go all the possibilities of entering an morning assembly again in life and hence the memories thereof. But here I was. The Goddess of Black Pearls had decided that I have so many Black Pearls to collect as a Teacher who will be looking away from the broad rosy daylight into the beautiful, scintillating eyes of hundreds of humans in making.
Two, I was still in the process of realization of the fact that I am 'actually' a Teacher now. Being a Teacher was never a career goal for me. Or even an option. I was here after a sequence of events. But it was happening. I was going to be able to influence the curious budding minds like no one ever can. A teacher's words are the statements that no one can refute. As kids we never accepted anything but what a Teacher had said, as the universal truth. Never did it occurred to our imagination that a Teacher is also as human and can also be as prone to err. This perspective of a Teacher during my school days had made me listen to them rather carefully leading me to be a person I am now. They still keep on guiding us as mentors hidden inside us. And my managers as mentors from the outside! :-) This moment of my induction into the Teaching discipline had acted as a memory agent and inscribed the day well in my head. Allocating a few neurons to preserve it. :-)
Three, it was first time in my life that I was attending a school assembly from the other side of the fence. As a Student, the life of a Teacher was sort of comparable to of a celebrity who has all the luxuries. Luxury of not having to do Homework. Luxury of taking tests, luxury of awarding 'Good', 'V Good' and 'A+' on notebooks. Luxury of letting the tired Students relax for a while. Luxury of announcing roll call. Luxury of having Lunch warmed in the Oven. However this luxury used to be delegated to the Class Monitors in case the Teacher was not coming for some reason. The luxury of skipping the rounds of the Playground when arriving late to the School.
The staffroom discussions used to be a mystery and the odd number of registers and notebooks that they used to inscribe something on very carefully seemed to be the scriptures where they are writing some secret notes that only a Teacher knows how to. And now this first day I was about to enter this world of the Teachers and will be viewing it from their side, the other side of the fence. As a teacher. The thought itself was enough. Just like the anticipation that you have before you let go the Clutch on your first ever car ride!
As it was a routine for the students, the hundreds of little humans knew when to recite what. The assembly began with the holy Gayatri Mantra. 1200 mouths reciting in unison...
"Aum Bhur Bhuvah Swah, Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi, Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat"
I did not knew the meaning of above lines that were pronounced over and over a few times. But the chorus of so many voices gave the chant a heavenly echo that reverberated across the still building imbibing the whole moment into a spiritual aura. I never experienced such a moment during my student life while attending thousands of those morning assemblies!
That first day will always last in my memory as a cherished Black Pearl.
Thank you Pearls!
One, it was after such along time that I was (again) going to be a part of one. The early morning sun slowly warming up the walls of the building in the shelter of which 1200 students were lined up at an arm's length from every side. Waiting for what was a routine for them but today, an event for me. Probably because after I stepped out of the the school for the last time as as student, I had subconsciously let go all the possibilities of entering an morning assembly again in life and hence the memories thereof. But here I was. The Goddess of Black Pearls had decided that I have so many Black Pearls to collect as a Teacher who will be looking away from the broad rosy daylight into the beautiful, scintillating eyes of hundreds of humans in making.
Two, I was still in the process of realization of the fact that I am 'actually' a Teacher now. Being a Teacher was never a career goal for me. Or even an option. I was here after a sequence of events. But it was happening. I was going to be able to influence the curious budding minds like no one ever can. A teacher's words are the statements that no one can refute. As kids we never accepted anything but what a Teacher had said, as the universal truth. Never did it occurred to our imagination that a Teacher is also as human and can also be as prone to err. This perspective of a Teacher during my school days had made me listen to them rather carefully leading me to be a person I am now. They still keep on guiding us as mentors hidden inside us. And my managers as mentors from the outside! :-) This moment of my induction into the Teaching discipline had acted as a memory agent and inscribed the day well in my head. Allocating a few neurons to preserve it. :-)
Three, it was first time in my life that I was attending a school assembly from the other side of the fence. As a Student, the life of a Teacher was sort of comparable to of a celebrity who has all the luxuries. Luxury of not having to do Homework. Luxury of taking tests, luxury of awarding 'Good', 'V Good' and 'A+' on notebooks. Luxury of letting the tired Students relax for a while. Luxury of announcing roll call. Luxury of having Lunch warmed in the Oven. However this luxury used to be delegated to the Class Monitors in case the Teacher was not coming for some reason. The luxury of skipping the rounds of the Playground when arriving late to the School.
The staffroom discussions used to be a mystery and the odd number of registers and notebooks that they used to inscribe something on very carefully seemed to be the scriptures where they are writing some secret notes that only a Teacher knows how to. And now this first day I was about to enter this world of the Teachers and will be viewing it from their side, the other side of the fence. As a teacher. The thought itself was enough. Just like the anticipation that you have before you let go the Clutch on your first ever car ride!
As it was a routine for the students, the hundreds of little humans knew when to recite what. The assembly began with the holy Gayatri Mantra. 1200 mouths reciting in unison...
"Aum Bhur Bhuvah Swah, Tat Savitur Varenyam
Bhargo Devasya Dhimahi, Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat"
I did not knew the meaning of above lines that were pronounced over and over a few times. But the chorus of so many voices gave the chant a heavenly echo that reverberated across the still building imbibing the whole moment into a spiritual aura. I never experienced such a moment during my student life while attending thousands of those morning assemblies!
That first day will always last in my memory as a cherished Black Pearl.
Thank you Pearls!
I was reminded of Shakespeare's 'All the world's a stage'. Indeed, we experience different things when it comes to role-reversal. And we have new things to learn at each stage. It is this variety that makes life all the more interesting. We discover with each passing day a new 'me' within ourselves. That's how the cycle of life goes on...thanks for sharing such a wonderful post with a nostalgic touch!
ReplyDeleteThank you for such wonderful remarks. That is very encouraging.
ReplyDeletehello bhaiya today m feeling that i made a big mistake by coming so late to ur blog it was really something very touching,though we had so many talks about your teaching time but this was something that made me aware of each feeling of yours that you had at that time.its wonderful.
ReplyDeleteJust opposite to manisha, im not feeling guilty of opening this mail or blog after long time instead I know May be this is the right time when i need to know such a wonderful truth and experience of ur life.
ReplyDeleteIts really touching and more than that it gives us a lesson too that we always feel bad about others coz we see only the one side of any situation,person.etc.if we just try to see from the others point of view, then may be we ll not feel that much bad about anything.......
thanks a lot for sharing it or in my words, Im thankful to GOD that he has choosen as a madium to teach me something , quite real abt LIFE.
Hey nice post :)youre a teacher the one makes engineers, doctors and al the top guns of this world :) Im really happy that u take so much of interest in ur profession..ur students r indeed lucky, All the very best to u and thanks for coming to my blog..do come again!!
ReplyDeleteA nice post.God bless.
ReplyDelete