'We are given salary only to teach and not to cheat...'

22 August 1994 | Guru tattva

#memoriesfromdiaries 💕

[Musings from more than a quarter century ago!]

A teenager’s little musings ✍🏻

Since chilly weather persisted today, we didn’t have PT this morning as well!

Woke up at 5.30 am, and we were asked to be ready for our morning prayer and assembly at 6.30 am.

I went for my elixir of life – coffee - first thing in the morning!

My personal diary entry, 22 August 1994 - part 1

Then after reading the day’s newspaper, went to class, placed our books on our respective tables, and came back in time for the General Assembly.

Well, the General Assembly is a regular feature on Mondays, where the HM gives us instructions and important announcements as well.

From my personal diary entry, 22 Aug 1994 - Part 2

During our Chemistry Practicals, Master taught us on the preparation of salts and tabulation. Since we had a free period, I took a kutty little nap in class today.

Our Zoology Master in particular, usually gives us valuable advice, for which we regarded him very highly.

From my personal diary entry, 22 Aug, 1994 

On this particular day, he highlighted the importance of text books in our class.

Text books have the capability to beget creative, critical thinking in you; whereas guides sound the death-knell to your creativity quotient that’s latent within you,

he used to tell us very often!

Today, he had this to say - [and I quote from my diary]

If anybody has an abundance of money, let him give it to me rather than wasting them on buying guides.

Money is precious. I know how much your parents suffer for this money. Some even force themselves into extra work for money.

Some boys go to shop or market and buy a dozen guides.

Many guide-writers come to me asking me to recommend their guide.

But I refused them.

I want all of you to become a guide for yourself. 

But if there are reference books, I’d gladly appreciate.

We are given salary only to teach and not to cheat.

Else, you can join some tutorial colleges for 3 – 4 hours a day, which are advertised on the trains.

Physics Master met us in the next hour, and started the third lesson.

He said,

Only when two people are concentrating, the teaching will flow smoothly, as in the case of the battery & wire, he said.

He also added on an ironic vein,

People bring the exact change of Rs. 10.25 paise for their Cinema show, while they pull out a 100 Rupee note for a 70 paise ticket in the PTC buses.

He compared himself and other teachers like him to bullocks, symbolically connoting to mean that, a teacher has the sweet burden and responsibility of carrying along all their students with them!

And then he spoke on inertia as an inability to do work!

Coming back,

Evenings were for antakshari, when we all sat in a sweet circle in the garden, and sang aloud to our heart’s content!

Night, played three games of chess with Girish – lost 1, won – 2!

PS: For a similar staff antakshari - a very adventurous & memorable one @ MCC, [Dept of English] you may want to read this past post of ours, HERE!