Teachers have always been the architects of a nation. Under their direct supervision, a nation is shaped. A teacher must be pure and sacred. If they cannot ignite an idealistic flame, there is no reason to be attracted to them. Teachers are being treated very badly in the present times. This bad or ill treatment of teachers did not accumulate in the minds of ordinary students in a single day. However, insulting teachers is not desirable.
I was in the third grade at that time. Nilmoni Dhan was the only teacher in our school. He used to manage five classes. It still amazes me today. It is difficult to imagine how difficult it is to manage the children of uneducated families in a remote area school, unless one has experienced it firsthand. Compared to others, I was a good child. Let me give you an example of one of my mischievous acts.
I used to brush my teeth with burnt charcoal every morning only out of fear of my mother’s beating and go to the madrasa. After returning from the madrasa and having breakfast, I would go to school on holiday. That too, not out of my own will, but out of fear of my mother’s maid. My peers at that time would come out of the madrasa and get into fights among themselves. Pointless fights. I had to be busy with something. No one of my age would come to fight with me for a reasonable reason. I never had a tolerant mentality. I believed in the principle of three for one.
Hanging out was way more fun than studying in school. We’d play cops and robbers all the time. The only reasons I went to school were for the foreign milk and the roasted corn. Those were rare treats. After a token amount of studying, I’d toss my books out the window and rush off to the jungle, searching for bird nests. I’d call all the kids in the neighborhood to join me, but they only came because they were afraid of my mom. Our main target was the tailorbird’s nest.
Once we found a tailorbird’s nest, protecting it became our team’s top priority. No one was allowed near the banyan tree jungle. Our guard duty ended once the eggs hatched. We also used to climb up the bamboo groves to look for stork nests. If we found any chicks, we’d bring them home. We’d cook them into a delicious stew. I didn’t realize it then, but it was basically chicken soup.
A single teacher managed to keep our wild bunch in check. There were many kids, and most of them had filthy mouths. If they misbehaved in class, they’d shower the teacher with insults like a thunderstorm. Being so young, first, second, or third graders were naturally ignorant. The teacher would forgive their offenses. The next day, the teachers would cradle them in their arms and shower them with affection.
You wouldn’t find a teacher like that even if you searched high and low with a telescope these days. If a student says anything remotely negative about a teacher, the teacher immediately starts seeing the student as an adversary. Patience is completely absent among teachers. They themselves are constantly restless. They no longer love the profession of teaching. They are merely fulfilling their duties or earning a living. A significant portion of them are doing household chores while sitting in school.
I’m fortunate that I didn’t encounter such teachers during my primary school years. My primary school teachers were like heavenly beings. Mr. Ahmed Ali and Mr. Mohan were true artisans of character building. Their boundless love and affection nurtured our delicate sensibilities. We learned the path to becoming good human beings.
They showed us examples of humanity right before our eyes. Their influence on our young minds was permanent. We were enriched by their honesty and compassionate ideals. Towards the end of my primary school, I met Mr. Taleb Ali. His strictness was necessary at that time. Almost all of our classmates dropped out. Only two of us passed the fifth grade. The third and fourth grades were very crucial periods. Mr. Taleb Ali kept us on track during this time.
We, two friends, have been following our teacher’s guidance since the fourth grade. Our bond has grown beyond friendship, becoming like brothers. Our families, both from humble backgrounds, have grown closer. While many children from affluent families have given up on their studies, my friend has risen to a high position in our democratic nation. Our teachers were the ones whose ideals were worth cherishing. Such teachers are sorely needed in today’s society. Why can’t we find teachers like them? I had a strong desire to become a teacher and tried, but it didn’t work out.
Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to get involved in education-related work. Yet, I continue to cherish the ideals of those teachers. Inspired by them, I’ve established two kindergartens. Despite facing repeated setbacks from negative elements in society, I will continue to try whenever I have the time and opportunity, Inshallah. I will return to you with more tributes to teachers. If my small effort can touch the heart of even one teacher, I will consider myself successful. For now, I must take my leave.
