Illuminating my path so far

A good teacher is one who can reach out even to the dumbest of students and for anyone out there who is not a natural born genius, a teacher plays an important role in shaping who you are. In my life I have seen ten such people who are listed in the order in which I saw them. I am not comparing one with another as I know that it would be the same as asking if the left or the right eye is more important.

The first one is the first teacher I ever had. To me, the first impression was really good. She was a teacher who knew what it meant to be headstrong. I called her a ‘rowdy’ and I still do yet you can't imagine a kinder person. It is not a complaint but a compliment for she knew how to be confident. She was different to my mother in one way. She feared nothing and had what we call ‘dhill’ in huge amounts. She could talk the right way and get what she wanted anyday. All she taught me were rhymes and stories but apparently from what I remember now, I learnt a lot more

My first two teachers shared the same first name. The first is the confident teacher I mention above but the next was the exact opposite. I don’t think she even knows how to be angry. I have seen only her smile and that is all I remember of her. Her speech itself was like a song and she taught me letters and my first words. I still remember how I was pushed forward to perform on my fancy dress contest. I lost fear of the audience on that day and it is good that I did.

The next teacher came after a while. The first thing I remember when I think of her is the comical but funny phrase ‘ Arey mama’. She did not share my mother tongue this one. I remember her by the eyeliner that she wore. It was after taking her class that I could pronounce words. If today I am even a little good in speech I guess I owe it to her.

Then came the next one in a little while. She commanded the English language as though it was her slave. She had the trademark streak of white hair in her head and I was scared when she came to handle moral science for me the first time. When she began the class I knew that I had nothing to fear and a lot to awe. Today I am a guy writing poems and trying to write short stories and novels. The seed to all that I suppose was laid by her. She spoke and still speaks flawlessly in every language that she likes and has what we guys call ‘a professional approach’ written all over her.

Years passed and in my second school, I had a history teacher. People called her rocket. I wondered why. She spoke quickly, walked briskly, valued papers in a jiffy and got angry in no time but beyond all that I saw her thirst to see every student of hers achieve something. She wanted me to become a collector and I suppose I will let her down. I might end up in the IT field but I will never forget the three years of history class that she handled for me.

Moving to a new city was painful. Being picked on by a teacher was scary but when you realize that the person picks on you so that you come out of your shell and shine, life becomes good. I still remember the ‘if you smile when you listen to chemistry, it is not nice’ that she says with pun intended. Never has the class been without a laugh when she said this and due to her command in the subject and her knack in explaining, I never had difficulty in chemistry.

Physics is an awesome subject. When you have someone who can take no nonsense and yet handle the subject with absolute command, you have a dictator of a teacher. But she wasn’t so. She handled the subject so slowly and steadily. Today I regret why she does not work in a college but if she had done that, I would not have had the luck of being in her class. It only lasted a year but I finally loved physics as a subject and started to study it.

Math was some I was quick at but not accurate. My board exam year was when I got a new math teacher. As opposed to any teacher in my past, she told me I am obligated to score a centum. I regret to say that I failed her but I learnt from her that we are nothing without practice. I have never scored a centum in a major test but I will always try to do it just due to what this teacher told me.

The next one is my relative and handled lab classes for my. To be a teacher is a thing, to be applauded by students is something but to be applauded by every student is true awesomeness. She is not my mother but she told me that I am like her son. I am proud of what she said and more than proud that I am related to her. She is the strongest hearted person I know and from her, I learnt that you cannot please everyone but all you need to do is your work. I learnt this as I was her student and so did the so many who told me this very thing.

The next was my physics teacher in college. All my teachers know that I ask doubts and when I ask doubts, I rain the teacher with them. In this man, I saw only a smile when he answered my questions. At the end of three years in college, he is the only teacher I want to remember.

There are many more teachers who helped me. However this is thanks to everyone who has taught me and a special thanks to the ten. I only hope that I can attend one more of your classes

Q

Two friends

Art of friends is the name of my blog. A friend is anyone whose company you cherish. Here are two great friends I came across.

People are used to hearing grandma’s tales. To me however it was grandpa’s tales. My grandmothers, both were so intent on pleasing me with the tastiest dishes on the planet. The tales I heard from my grandfathers were the first proper bedtime tales.
I start with the maternal grandpa. I still remember his ‘Vaathapi jeernaapi’ story as though it happened yesterday. His life has not been a bed of roses but he has always found time for me. Right from the time in my childhood when he brought me snacks in a small packet during his weekend visits, to the time when he settled a feud with his brother just because I said so, he has seen me as an equal. I admire that. In an era where elders see squat in the opinion of youngsters, he has always valued my words. I write today, poems and stories in English and Tamil. If it were due to genes then I guess that I got it from him. I can never write the way he does with such skill and expertise but I can try hard to be atleast half as good. I only hope that he listens to me and quits on beetel leaves too. He has always been the first one to avoid arguments and one of the first in his generation to treat a son and a daughter equally. He has been a good and a really patient father and a really encouraging and motivating grandfather.

My paternal grandpa is a child by heart. I remember the time when we used to play cricket and he used to bowl to me with high energy and a wide smile. His stories that often used the words ‘andhaala…..’ were a joy to hear. I heard the story of sivaji ganesan’s all time classic ‘manohara’ from him and trust me, he narrated it even better. He does sincerely a puja everyday and that is something to admire. He walks as fast as I jog and never tires of it. We share the fear of syringes and trust me, syringes are scary. My dad always says that his father was a damn good one and he has played the role of a grandfather in the same damn good way. Something I can never forget is the way he plays carom. I am the only one in my family to have beaten him in a contest fair and square but it was just the once. I haven’t been able to repeat the feat. According to me, no one can ever truly beat him at his best for m. I see his creativity when he decorates the ‘golu’ during Navarathri and his inquisitiveness when he competes with me in video games.
I have had two wonderful friends. I don’t know how many have friends in their grandfathers but trust me when I say that it is awesome
Q

Sulk if you want to live, percept if you want to win

In today’s world, it’s hard to find decent people. The irony is that the people coming under decent are hard core losers. Said a wise and learned man that if you are upright, loyal, true and virtuous you deserve to be screwed.

One of the closest examples that illustrate this is gold. 24 carat gold can be seen and marveled but it can never be used. So the good people are requested to please sulk. The important point to remember is that I do not advocate people to loose themselves, practice blasphemy and curse every thing under the sun.

Ever heard of that thing called perception? Well perception only can save you. Or rather the psychologists call it attitude. One needs to know that the world is hostile. It will knock you down if you bow to it. All one needs to do is never give up if you feel you are right. If your heart feels something is right, nothing else matters. History has shown us the victory of such people. Remember Socrates? Does the name Galileo ring a bell?

Sometimes you may be right and go on in your path but you will have to adjust to the situation. Again we take Socrates and Galileo. Socrates stood uptight valiantly but I feel that it is stupidity. Wasn’t he force fed poison? Galileo on the other hand stood like a devout catholic in front of the church but he pursued his own goals and we see him as one of the most important reasons that science is as it is today.

The advantage of situation in which you are forced to sulk is the fact that you can convert it to your ally if you are able to percept well. For instance, if you hate a teacher, what is the point in neglecting the subject? The teacher is least affected if you neglect the subject. Try to master the subject. You end up correcting the teacher in his mistakes making a fool of him in front of others and also getting a fine score.

The problem with perception is that it even more difficult than inception but once you get hold of it you can do it pretty easily. Just as Di Caprio says in inception that ‘ an idea is like a seed ‘ let me say that ‘ perception is a key ‘, a key to unlock your way to the path of success.

The point I try to stress out here is the fact that I want you to convert all the negative energy of sulking as fuel for your thirst to achieve. This is like rocket fuel and it boosts you up because you focus all your anger, frustration and spite not to destroy yourself but to improve yourself. Think about this. If you need any help Q is there for you.

Never give up on anything you feel to be right
Q

The Cry of the Untold

Pains, cries, moans and defeats is all that has been me all this while
I have gone through so many thinks, walked many a mile
But all over this globe I have seen none who has even swept me
Maybe it is because no one in this world can ever be you

I truly wish that I kneel in front of you burning all my negatives
And that you bring out the love that is hidden inside you dear olives
You can run but you cannot hide, I ran but love found me
You never ran but so beautifully you disguised the love for me

But love is no stream my dear, it is an ocean and you like a kid
Just ignore the fact that it oozes out of you every second you bid
You cannot love anyone the way you are in love with me
Nor can you recreate the moments you are and will share with me

The closeness? The fondling? The cajoling? Is that all a lie
Do you need more concrete evidence to say you can’t create a lie
I know I am not worth you cause I am no prince or handsome
But I know beyond doubt that I can keep you happier than anyone

Love finds you and no one can deny that cause it is written
And it is indeed written for us which is why we bond my kitten
You can be stupid and avoid me for reasons that are not true
But nothing will ever stop me from continuing my love

And if you think time will divert me or that another man will
You truly know nothing about my iron clad strong will
I will not leave you for any reason because you have my heart
And you cannot give it back to me because it will kill us both

I will wait for you my darling till ‘death do us apart’
Or rather till death does me away rather than being with you

Open your eyes my darling
Q