My Teacher

"Children, what do you want to be like- a mountain or a river?" Asked Sr. Mary, our Moral Science teacher. Immediately about twenty-five arms shot up beckoning impatiently trying to catch her attention. Sr. Mary gave all of them a chance to speak one by one.

In the third row, sitting beside Shubh,was a shy and nervous looking girl whose both hands were clutched at her skirt. After Shubh finished speaking , Sr.Mary said, "Dharmdi, why didn't you raise your hand? Is the question so difficult?" The whole class burst out laughing. Sr.Mary gestured them to be quiet and turned to her, waiting for her answer. Dharmdi starting fidgeting, saying nothing. Tears trickled down her cheeks as words choked in her throat with fear and nervousness. Unable to look at her teacher's face, she bowed her head down looking at her shoes, as fresh tears blurred her vision.

Sr. Mary exclaimed exasperatedly, "Okay Dharmdi just sit down." She then continued asking rest of the class until the bell rang.

The girl, Dharmdi, is no one else, but me.

This is just a glimpse of what an under confident nervous wreck I was till the age of thirteen. Academically I was just about okay, but was lacking tremendously in self confidence, thus missing out on extra-curricular activities. Performing on stage was..... just out of question.

I still remember the first day our music teacher, Gopi sir came to our class. He was in his early fifties with a gentle disposition, exuding great warmth. He told the class that he wanted three students for playing trumpet. Again all hands were up, except mine.

He said," I will demonstrate a few notes and then one by one you all come here and do the same." Unable to contain their excitement, students were almost falling on each other going crazy with anticipation.

One by one, they all went up to him and tried their best. I was the last one left and he called me too. He looked at me trying to fathom the fearful confusion and said,"You try now. Go ahead, this is the first time and you are allowed to make as many mistakes as you can." His gentle coaxing had a miraculous effect on me and I mustered up the courage to actually blow the air trying to press the right keys. I could almost hear a knot inside me snap open. I was one of the three students chosen as the permanent trumpet players of the school band.

What followed was a revelation for me. Under his gentle guidance and warm understanding, I gained tremendous confidence.

Much later, after marriage I surprised everyone by gradually participating in plays, singing and acting....on stage.... in front of hundreds of people.

I started writing articles, poems and plays. I also learnt to play the piano, my favourite musical instrument.

But the credit for all this goes to my Gopi sir for having faith in me and showing my real self to me. I salute him for helping me discover myself.