TEACHER WORTH “DO KAURI”

 

 

When I was in school, mathematics troubled me. Dad’s colleagues took pains to help me learn the subject. I would go to their homes and get tutored and shall ever remain grateful. We were the “on-desk generation” and not the online one.

 

Those days, tuition was not appreciated because students were charged money. Later, private tuitions and coaching centers came up. Now it is an organized industry. These days coaching has become a must to crack competitive exams. However, its commercialization doesn’t gel with me. Kota is an example.

 

It was time to prepare for the NDA written exam. Our school teachers made sure that subjects were drummed into our heads. They would sit till the wee hours of the morning teaching us. That was their professionalism. They worked double harder than us, for us.

 

Now comes the preparation for SSB. The atmosphere and curriculum of the school helped us prepare for the coveted test. Ex-students would guide us. Still, not all classmates made it to NDA, but they excelled in their professions. We too went to a SSB coaching academy. That training stood us in good stead.

 

We joined NDA. There we were under the eagle eyes of instructors from the Armed Forces and civilians. The teachers we Ex-NDAs cannot forget are our Drill and PT ustads. We used to ‘sham’, but their dedication was unbeatable.

 

When we came to IMA Dehradun, we understood how a Drill Ustad came into existence. We saw their tough selection process. Our respect for them grew many folds.

 

Our para-jump instructors; what smart and fit ustads they used to be. For them exiting an aircraft used to be like getting out of the main door. The confidence they ingrained in us to take that leap, one can never forget.

 

What I mean to say is that all the teachers put their hearts and souls into bringing out the best in their students. Teachers deserve a salute for their devotion and commitment to their profession.

 

During my career, I happened to become an instructor. My students were Colonels down to Captains. To attain an instructor’s grading, the amount of hard work one had to put in is only known to those who stood behind a dais and faced an educated audience. Preparation and knowledge were the key.

 

In the battalion too, one had to conduct classes for various “cadres.” Those days, we had black boards and not smart boards/star boards. One had to write everything by hand and explain to the class, be it a Sepoy/NCO/JCO or an Officer. If no one slept in your class; the lesson was driven home. If people were excited to listen to your lecture, the attendance spoke volumes.

 

Come Covid. The whole teaching world changed. Teaching transformed from physical to virtual. I am still of the old school of thought but ask the students and teachers, how hard both work online all thanks to the internet.

 

Students now have e-libraries, Aunty Google, and uncle Chat GPT can give almost every answer. You tube is like their cousin. Name a problem and we have hundreds of videos available. Now AI does it all.

 

What triggered this article was when I heard a very senior news anchor calling you tube teachers as “Do Kauri Ka” and words to that effect. It hurt me deep inside. Whatever be the intention behind her rant, political or personal, she deserves to say sorry on the same platform to all those she has offended. Not done madam.

 

Typically, it reflects on your own upbringing and respect for your teachers. You may not like a medium but the yeoman’s work these online teachers are doing, some pro bono and some at a paltry sum, making careers of thousands of poor students, calls for a standing ovation. I hope no one refused to accept your child in their institute for you to show them in such a bad light.

 

Madam, you can lecture us on anything and everything. You have a commanding voice and the confidence of conducting a show infront of so many cameras, that doesn’t mean you don’t prepare for what you are going to present. You have a research team but teachers do the research themselves. Teachers dig deep so that complicated matters become simple for weak students. Madam, you have no right to show teachers down. If you have scores to settle, do it personally and not on a public platform. Speaks very poorly of you and your channel. No more Aaj Tak for me henceforth.

 

The least you can do is to apologise to the teachers you refer to and their entire student community who see them as demi-Gods. Think about your teachers and gurus. Were they worth “Do Kauri” too?  I wonder!!!!!!

 

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/srcJDbpl9EY Do have a look, courtesy YouTube.

 

JAI HIND

© ® NOEL ELLIS