I was in a queue waiting for my turn. The
slow movement of queue and my position made it clear that it would take longer
than was expected. I had little choice but to play with my mobile. I opened
facebook, started scrolling down. At
one post I found vitriolic comments written abusing a community and response equally disgusting. I immediately shifted to my timeline. It is always
pleasing for here I meet my well wishers, my friends, mostly my students. I
find likes and lovely comments to my profile picture, birthday wishes, and
comments on links of my blog and many more. Just going through it is a kind
of reunion for me. It reminds me of quote of Khalil Gibran which I like very
much, “Remembrance is a form of meeting”. Every student there finds place in my heart
for the simple reason that every like or nice comment is a pleasing reminder
that students-teacher relationship is surviving test of time.
Now a day’s everybody talks about professional
approach and attitude. Student teacher relations cannot remain isolated from
it. I don’t hold any grudge against professional approach but probably I belong
to little old school of thought. I prefer emotional attachment than
professional approach when it comes to my relations with students. I am a
professional, my job is teaching and I am paid for it, a professional approach
as simple as this and true but it doesn't put me in comfort zone. Being a
teacher means not restricted to this, I always wanted to go beyond this. I have
always strived for this, struggled as well in attaining this goal. Haven’t met
with grand success but have done reasonably well. And yes I want to better my
record. This is an area of emotional bonding, caring and feeling for their
welfare. Not that I was immensely successful but the bonds that survived test
of time keep my spirit high. When on the roller coaster ride of time machine physical
changes are inevitable. Still when comes a comment on profile picture that no
change sir all these years it’s so natural to be happy about but more than that
what is satisfying is the survival of the old bond. If my profile picture
becomes a bridge between the present and the past when we shared time the
feeling is wonderful. This is the reason why every like matters for me. The hint
of survival of emotional bonds, the sense of being still connected is reason enough to
be happy.
On my timeline I landed on a photograph, a
farewell scene, I standing with Vikram, Shiraz, Amitava and Pankaj. It was a
pleasing experience. To be honest I looked better for then I was 8-9 kg lesser
and second my boys with me. Few days before I posted the photograph on my
timeline I had a call from US. It was of Shiraz. We immediately melted into
past. We were talking after many days. We haven’t met for years. But the time
and distance had failed to affect the warmth. It was same. Common topics
department, debaters club … all erupted one by one. We relived the past and
shared the future. It was farewell time coincidently so I mentioned to him the
photo with Vikram , Amitava and Pankaj. He informed me that they were same, the
way I knew them. Yes changes there were but along periphery only, the core
remained intact. Time failed to stir the depth. The boys around me, the farewell,
all came back to me. It was refreshed in my memory, nice boys now turned
gentlemen no longer around me but the photo gave me a sense of being
connected. It also reminded me of the tradition of passing the candle. The
Electronics Dept. had this tradition. It was started by seniors of that batch.
At the end of the farewell all final year students light the candles and
pass to juniors and they all put them in corridor of auditorium. It was
wonderful.
As expected the photo immediately attracted
attention and likes and comments came along. In the post I did mention that one
of the changes that time had brought was that the candle passing was replaced
by DJ and the senior-junior burn the dance floor not the candle. Along with
some nostalgic comments immediately came the comment that the candle passing
should not have stopped. The regret was endorsed by few more. It was
understandable. The tradition had a uniqueness and emotional bearing. Ours was
the only department with such tradition augmenting the pride the electronics
students always had that innovative ideas in college often were initiated in
their den. I was aware of this but had no clue whether it really was the case
or just was part of usual inter-departmental competition and rivalry. Now at
the end DJ explodes. All the students dance to the tune of music being played. The
auditorium is filled with light flashes, deafening music and vibrating and
shaking bodies. All just enjoy, sweat it out there. When the stop is enforced
all come out body dipped in sweat and thirsty. That is it.
But that tradition was fantastic. At
the end of the last speech by either student or a faculty everything would
stop. Music, speeches all come to an end. The first candle would be lit and the
other candles join the first. All the final year students would then be joined
by juniors. Atmosphere would then be choked with emotions. Yes that
overpowering feeling of leaving and passing the tradition of departmental pride could be seen in the candle light. Finally coming out and putting the candles
in the corridor together. It was an end that offered beginning. I still believe that is the best way to end farewell
as it strengthens the emotional bonds that develop in the college. Time will
always play the role of separator but even a small remembrance can help us
relive the golden days.
The professional approach and
attitude has replaced building relations. The first one is a razor sharp
approach of give and take, a belief that everything comes at a cost which one
must be ready to pay and get what is aspired. No place for emotions and
relations apart from professional. True it may be in the corporate world but
not at home. And in college also otherwise it turns into corporate world devoid
of emotions. It’s an old school of
thought I probably belong to.
Time and distance often play havoc in
human relations. A photograph of Shiraz, Vikram, Amitava and Pankaj holding
candles and posing with me has frozen me in time with them. Whenever I watch it
I feel the same attachment and warmth that I shared with my students. It I hope will defy time and distance. Passing
the candle was a small emotional act but its light survived for many years. Its
warmth can still be experienced.
Though it’s a candle in the wind it challenges the onslaught of time…
And hence must be passed… Though it’s a candle in the wind it challenges the onslaught of time…
