Met my teacher

http://davesgarden.com/forums/fp.php?pid=1678479
I told a little story there. About a month after this article was published, lo and behold, I met the teacher on the street one evening and introduced myself as his old student. Had taken his address then. Yesterday, I visited his house. He's 82, but active. I showed him the article and he read it without reading glasses. His eyes filled with tears and it was so moving to see him wipe off those couple of drops - he was moved because it is rare for students visiting a teacher's home, leave alone remember them. It touched his heart. I offered my respects in the traditional manner - touching his feet, prostrating. While doing this, he blessed me. I took his wishes in my autograph book and also on the paper below the article. We remembered the old days - he called it 'golden days'. He was so modest that, compared to his teachers, he was not even 1% of the quality! Imagine the standard. In fact, the generation we were in saw the fading away of that generation of quality teachers esp. in that school. We were lucky that way. he has agreed to visit my home sometime - it is just a mile away. I left after having coffee prepared by his wife. He still gives the picture of a typical Mysorean school master. Simple living, high thinking.

Dinu

That is an awesome story. It must have been so exciting to meet him after so many years. I look forward to hearing more from you.

Great story there my friend. Almost brought tears to my own eyes.

Oh, Dinu, what a treat and what an honor!

Dinu, this was such a very touching story. How wonderful that must have been to see him after so many years. That was awesome to read about the respect given to him in the traditional manner. A very heart warming story. Thanks for sharing. ... elaine

The typical school master - esp. in olden days - is portrayed as a poor man, knowledgeable, salaried just enough to meet the food and shelter aspects... I was not surprised to see him in this frame even now. They were not greedy to amass money.... like they do now - taking private tutions [illegally] and earning thousands! Teachers were teachers in those days. It's such a noble profession. The teachers of today [in general] are putting that to shame - commercialization is getting the better of them. They were so sincere in seeing to it that the students learnt what was taught. Discipline was instilled not with the whip, but in the way it should be. Teachers forget their students as it is impossible to remember even a few - they come and go. But for the students, the teacher is something unforgettable.

Jim,
I forgot to mention that to see him wiping tears did make my eyes also to moisten - I normally have emotions in control, but that moment it slipped a bit.

He has told about another old teacher's whereabouts and I'm going to find him sometime. He said he has turned religious now - he used to take English to our class. His explanations was animated and we liked his way. He told about those who have since expired. It seems he too studied in that old school which was a reputed one.

This is the school where I studied from my 8th to 10th.

Dinu

Dinu, what a lovely story and a handsome school. Thanks for sharing.
Sidney

All of us have got ten years older since I posted this!!
@sugarweed, @lO1, lots of things have taken in our lives since. My teacher must be 92 now and I am still wanting to meet him again. I hear he is alive. At that time, digital cameras had not arrived. If I meet, I'll surely be taking a picture of him.