LifeMoments

The Teacher is also a Mentor

I was a member of the Akanksha Foundation’s School Project team (www.akanksha.org) from June 2004 – Dec 2005. My primary task was to set up the formal school intervention in the Supari Tank English Primary School situated in Mumbai (Bombay), India.

The school caters to children from neighbouring slum and ghettos. Those years have provided me with strong linkages and relationships with the urban poor.

I felt that the intervention should take outside the civic school system which was corrupted in more ways than one. If only we could start a private bilingual school in the community ! But that was outside the scope of the project and I moved on to work outside the non-profit sector.

But relationships and linkages draw me back to the children. I received a phone call inviting me to meet at the school on a holiday. And it so happened that I reached last Saturday to meet 3 of my old friends. These kids represent the changing migrant population in the city. Shintu is from West-Bengal, Pankaj and Naresh are from Nepal. All study in class 3. Pankaj and Shintu are older to the level but had to start in class 1 because they came from vernacular schools in their villages.

We met at the Supari Tank playground. It brought back nostalgic memories. It was here that we had formed a group of eager kids who met after school to study and play. The school would not allow us in the premises after school hours and so we would discreetly meet in the playground. The school principal found out much later but then just let the matter go after a stern warning of indemnifying herself from any responsibility. Akanksha had sanctioned a small budget for snacks and the school watchman’s wife would make a meal for the kids.

A football team was formed and these youngsters from class 1 - 3 wore their uniform proudly. Only recently they won the Akanksha junior football tournament. It warms the heart and brings tears of joy.

On alternate days, they would study with a teacher. The football coach, Kishore Patel, doubled as a Math and English instructor. With no place to sit, the playground became a kinetic structure and the kids learnt to be resilient.

The kids saw their adults in a positive role model. They received the care and love and reciprocated equally. There was a special bonding amongst us. I would sit at a distance on the park bench like a gardener watching over his nursery.

I had planned to be with these 3 musketeers till noon. As an ice-breaker, I suggested some ice-cream as it was already quite hot. But the kids said, take us to Juhu ( a popular tourist beach and seafront). Children bring about such spontaneity. So off we trooped to Juhu. It was noon and the sun shone at its zenith. A meal of Chinese stir fry and ice-cream milk shakes made us as good as new and we headed back to school.

(Left to right) Shintu, Naresh and Pankaj

On the way back, a murmur began to grow loud. Shintu wanted a bicycle but could not afford one. I tried to pacify him by pointing out that it would easily cost more than a thousand. He said it would cost only Rs. 300. But his parents could not buy it from him.

When we reached Bandra, we parked the car at a safe place and spotted a roadside cycle repair shop. We inquired for a used cycle. He showed us one and said it would cost Rs. 1000. He would repair it, add new tyres etc etc.. We were about to walk away when he called out and said take it for Rs. 400 in its present state. Alright he said, I’ll fix the puncture and oil it.

There was some money left from the picnic allowance my wife, Harita, had given me. I checked and found I had just Rs. 400 ! God bless her. OK, let’s buy the cycle. The kids supervised the fixing of the cycle while I waited in the shade. Then we worked out where the cycle would be parked, who would keep the key. It was to be shared by all. But Shintu would park it at his home. Everyone agreed. Taking care of a bicycle was a responsibility.

Shintu’s day was made.

This brings me to the topic of being a teacher. Besides having other roles, the teacher is also a mentor. Someone who is an anchor; a support through ones life passage. Facilitating the seizing of a moment, giving it intention and realising it into action - that's the little contribution a mentor makes. There are some very special moments in a human being’s life. Coming to school, discovering the world around, growing up, graduation, marriage, becoming a parent …. These are Life Moments.

In many cases, especially in small towns and communities, the teacher represented continuity and a Constancy.

I am a mentor to these kids. Maybe they still consider me to be also their teacher through life. I am privileged to share some of these Life Moments in their life. Maybe one day I will celebrate and witness with Shintu his graduation, his marriage and maybe even the birth of his first child...

As my mentoree, it is he who has enriched my life by allowing me to share some of his special moments. The bicycle and the memory of this day will live eternally in our lives.

This was also my LifeMoment, as much as as it was his.