An exemplary teacher

On August 31, 2001 Master ji arrived for his teaching job 15 minutes early, as was his habit since joining the department. He spent the entire day teaching his students in a routine manner, with nothing particularly unusual happening at the school.

However, at 3:45 pm, all the students were gathered on the grounds of Government Middle School Bonakote. Master ji took this opportunity to deliver a short speech to the students, advising them to follow the path of righteousness in their future endeavours.

At 4:00 pm, Master ji, along with other staff members, left the school to return home without any fanfare. Before leaving, Master ji handed over Rs 4,000 to the headmaster, requesting that the money be used to purchase books for the school library.

This was the final day for Master ji in the department of education after 40 years of dedicated service. He bid farewell to his career in education, leaving behind countless memories and an enduring legacy of excellence in teaching.

Master ji felt a sense of contentment as he left the school that day. He had no regrets, as throughout his 40-year career in education, he preached less and performed exceptionally well. His actions spoke louder than words, leaving a lasting impact on both students and teachers. His peaceful expression was a reflection of a life well-lived in service to others.

On May 15, a group of highly qualified educators gathered in the decorated office of a government institution. The purpose of their meeting, the third of its kind, was to reach a consensus on how to "honour" the "distinguished" services of their sir before his superannuation at the end of August.

The meeting stretched for two hours, while eager students sat in their classrooms, awaiting the "knowledge" that was to be imparted by these "pillars of the nation." Meanwhile, he was being invited by numerous educational institutions, where he was garlanded and treated with big parties. The students, undoubtedly influenced by the prevailing atmosphere, greeted the boss with fervent applause and standing ovations. After an in-depth discussion in a subsequent meeting, the educators unanimously agreed to honor the Sir in a fitting manner. They were divided into four groups based on their pay-bands, and each educator was requested to contribute an amount of 5000, 3000, 2000, or 1000 rupees accordingly. Although there were a few feeble voices of disagreement, they chose not to express their sentiments openly and their concerns dissipated into thin air.

Meanwhile, Sir himself was preoccupied with arranging a grand feast at his home. Together with his family members, they spent many midnight hours compiling a list of invitees, navigating through agreements and disagreements.

On August 31, 2020 the institution transformed into a wedding hall. Students and staff resembled guests partaking in a matrimonial celebration. The atmosphere buzzed with excitement and activity. The students and staff were dressed in their best attire, resembling guests at a grand wedding ceremony. The program commenced at 11 am with the recitation of the Holy Quran, followed by a variety of performances such as music, dance, naat, rouf and Qawwali.

The atmosphere was lively, and everyone appeared to enjoy the day's festivities. After the initial performances, students and staff members delivered speeches praising the extraordinary contributions of the educator. The commendations continued to pour in from various esteemed guests, who presented gifts and showered flower petals while celebrating the accomplishments of the school's exceptional leader.

His face beamed with pride while listening to the barrage of praises and tributes of his colleagues and students. At 5 pm, the students left for their homes. The staff and guests gathered to taste the feast. Afterwards, the guests formed a caravan of cars and accompanied Sir to his residence. Upon arrival, men and women lined up in two rows, eagerly awaiting Sir's arrival along with the guests. The reception was reminiscent of a grand wedding. Once inside, another splendid feast awaited the guests, who enjoyed the delicious food in a celebratory manner.

These two real events point towards a significant shift in our school culture. In present times, the retirements of educators and transfers of individual teachers are celebrated with grandeur. However, merely a decade ago, such events were deemed routine. On retirement, employees would often reflect upon their flaws and shortcomings. Some teachers even voluntarily deposited substantial amounts into the government coffers as a means of appeasing their conscience. Sadly, nowadays, celebrations have become common for achievements at the cost of the students' time.

What legacy present day educators are leaving behind? This is a million dollar question!

Javaid Jawad, HOI,GMS Onagam, is the recipient of the Best Teacher Award at UT level