English Literature – Teacher’s Day Special – The Last Day – Shri Suraj Kumar Singh - साहित्य एवं कला विमर्श

Teacher’s Day Special

Shri Suraj Kumar Singh

THE LAST DAY

It was the morning of 31^st August. The black clouds that rained throughout the dawn retreated and gave way to the sunny weather and cotton-like clouds. Radio channels were playing devotional songs and bhajans. My father was sitting on his favourite chair with an expressionless face; which means I couldn’t figure out if he was happy or sad or stressed. It was going to be the last day of his school services as a teacher of Chemistry subject. Thirty nine years of selfless service towards future-building, society- reformation and nation-building was to end in a least dramatic way.

Some of his behaviours that morning were quite unusual for me. Every morning he used to watch news headlines on his favourite news channel but that day he stay put. Quiet and calm. I asked if I can switch on the television and switch that favourite news channel of his but he turned me down. I felt that an abrupt separation from a duty he performed for thirty nine years could be harder than I imagined. I still wanted to express my solidarity but I knew no way to do that for a man who has worked with so many people for so long. All my efforts went in vain. So I sat near him and played ‘I will be around’ by Spinners and ‘Take my breath away’ by Berlin on my phone. Seeing him smile few moments later was one of the best feeling ever.

Mum came from the kitchen and we all talked to each other. Time flied like a rocket and dad realised that he is getting late so he began to hustle up to reach the school on time. Since a great deal of time was already wasted, I offered to drop him. He happily agreed.

Later that evening I came to pick him up. I tried to make a phone call and inform him that I have arrived but he had switched his phone off. I waited outside the school gate for an hour but saw no soul coming out of the school’s premise. I felt eerie and thought that what if dad failed to control his emotions and broke down. He would need me in that case. Shall I go inside and check him myself. But I also realised that if he hasn’t then my presence might break him down. I decided to wait outside. Few minutes later dad called me and asked to come. I heard his voice and felt that his tone was pretty normal. That was a positive sign for me. I drove his car inside the school premise through the main gate. While parking I found my ex- Biology teacher Mr. Gupta knocking on the window. I immediately opened the gate and came out to greet him. He was very happy to see me and he asked me to follow him. I followed him into the staff room without questioning. I was surprised to see that the farewell ceremony was not over yet. I saw dad sitting beside the Vice Principal wearing a fabulous blue suit. I was also invited to say something and I had many things to say but couldn’t gather enough courage to speak before those who taught me years ago. Yes! I along with my classmates was given a farewell at the same school, by these same teachers years ago on finishing my twelfth board. In fact, we were the first 12^th batch of Kendriya Vidyalaya Hinoo’s second shift. So I respectfully turned down the offer.

I must admit that I have seen many people retire from their offices but I had never seen that kind of respect and love being showered by the colleagues of a superannuating employee. To my amazement many junior fellows touched his feet and an informal guard of honour was also given by his junior, Mazumdar ji (the same person who gifted dad that costly suit and requested him to wear it during the ceremony) who is called and admired by everyone as ‘dada’. The presents and tributes given to dad that day by his students, colleagues and the school administration almost filled dad’s small car.

This is the kind of respect every teacher in the world should be given. It is disappointing to live with the fact that we live in a society where teachers are least respected. They face apathy and ill-treatment everyday and pretty often we come across news like teachers are being deprived of their pension or post-retirement benefits due to intentional delay or inefficiency of the pensioner’s welfare offices in various departments. This Teacher’s Day, let’s take a vow that no superannuated school teacher, government or private, shall remain impoverished due to society’s apathy as every teacher deserves to lead a dignified life. Don’t forget your retired teachers when you achieve success. Go and meet them. Know the difficulties of their lives and ascertain their health. If possible, help them to stand on their own feet again. Remember, that they spent their entire life for you.