“Teaching” is a dignified profession. My family has been into teaching from I don’t know how many generations. My grandfather was a head master in one of the reputed schools in Srinagar. So everyone in my family knows the nobleness of this profession. I don’t know if it still stands noble in the modern world. But for me it’s still noble, pure and selfless deed. I still remember most of my teachers in school n college; I feel so lucky to have had good mentors throughout my life.
As a kid, I used to teach my younger brother. He is the naughtiest kid I have ever seen till date. It was a trick to keep him glued to the books, as he had millions of excuses for not studying. I remember so many of his excuses for not sitting down with books…… “Hey, I’m thirsty, I have to use the washroom, I lost my pencil, I can’t find my book, I’m hungry, and….” my God he could go on and on with his excuses. He could do anything and everything to escape his ordeal with books. I loved studying so I hated his attitude towards studies. And with dad in Srinagar I had more than 10 reasons to help him or make him study, so I had to torment him. But at the same time, he loved studying when I was the one teaching. I used to read out to him. Make up stories so that he could remember. Cook up some experiments to show him how things work. Though we were poles apart, we always had interactive study sessions. I guess I’m good with kids only because I was dealing with a very naughty kid from childhood.
When I started working, I had seen a bunch of young kids working in small hotels/dabhas, shops, as workers everywhere. And I used to wonder what happened to the law, as far as I remember we had some law for no child labor. It actually rips my heart when I see small kids working. Making tea with their small hands, such small and tiny hands….. It’s such a pitiful sight. These hands should have had an opportunity to learn and grow. But alas! They have a hard way of learning. It certainly is a difficult way of learning, a battle for their survival, a race to feed the countless mouths at home………. It is sad, in fact very sad to see the world around, with all these disparities.
But the question is what can we do???? So many things to do I guess…monetary help, donations, fund NGO’s……but whenever I think about it, all I feel is whether it actually goes into the benefit to the needy people or does it just go into someone else’s pocket…. I don’t know the answer, but I don’t think there is a better answer to it. Consider our situation - we pay taxes ever year. Do our savings, file taxes, tax returns and what not, but do we get perfect roads… I think you already know the answer…..which is NO!!!
A year back, I started teaching some under-privileged kids during the weekends. It is surely a privilege to teach the under-privileged……. as it gives me an utmost satisfaction. It’s a feeling that I can’t describe, it’s just amazing. I don’t think there can be a bigger gift that you can give yourself.
I see a magnificent spark in their twinkling eyes. Strange eyes they have….. full of hope but at the same time you can also see some hopelessness. May be these little kids wonder, as to why they don’t have a life worth living. I teach 3 kids, one kid in K.G., one girl in class 5 and the eldest one in class 6. The variation is just awesome. You may not believe if I tell you that these kids are smarter for their age. And on top of that they are very good in grasping, understanding and very hardworking. It’s very exciting to teach such kids, who have a desire to learn. I love teaching them, its fun in some ways. I teach maths in hindi as some are in a marathi medium. I am actually learning a lot of hindi myself ;). Believe me it’s fun, luckily I can connect to these kids as I understand and can speak some marathi. But when I see the hardships they are going through it’s just too over-whelming.
I am not a philosopher, nor do I plan to revolutionize the world. I am just doing my bit…….….. so should you. Guys don’t wait for an opportunity to knock on your door…. Just go and find one. :)
