my first written piece for siib

A tribute to GURUJI who never taught but inspired.

It was summer vacations when my father took me to meet shri K.R Pant a 70-year-old teacher who dedicated his life teaching youths in rural area of the kumoun hills. After retirement, he taught kids in his home.

He told me to come daily morning so that he can help me out to improve my handwriting and mathematics. Initially I felt low because the time clashed with my summer cartoon series of DD-1. With heavy heart, I reached his home first day. He was waiting for me and started lessons with a small story of numbers and its importance in once life. From next day I started feeling friendly with him although we had roughly 60 years age gap. Teaching was his passion and he taught who all seek knowledge from him without any favour or returns. His philosophy of teaching was teaching while playing as that point of time the child is most receptive. Therefore, I started taking ball and chess and we use to play them after taking break from studies.

Guruji was the pious name by which i addressed him. He was so friendly in teaching that i eagerly waited every morning to study from him. There we used to play and study simultaneously. He taught course as well as shared the vast knowledge and experience, which he had, in form of short stories and anecdotes. Then we used to take lunch together and after a taking, a small post lunch nap i used to depart home.

In a span of 25 days was well versed with mathematics fundamentals although my hand writing still needed improvement ,also simultaneously i developed a habit of reading short stories , a habit i still have is due to him. A nice bond was developed between us as he treated me as a friend.

Happy and jolly days passed and vacations were over and classes were resumed. It however did not end our friendship and i used to meet him whenever there were vacations. A bond got developed between us. Later in senior classes his son taught me chemistry, he was also an exceptional teacher. However, all my memories are attached with guruji who never taught me but played with me to teach lessons.

In this teachers day i owe a sincere gratitude to guruji whose memories i still cherish and enjoy. Hope so I meet

people like him in every walks of life who never taught but inspired.