Book Reviews - Chalk dust and nostalgia

by Satish Purohit

Having been a teacher for over 15 years, I can relate to many of the stories recounted in this book. They brought to mind all of those hours spend in classrooms cooped in with over 25 restless teenagers. Memories, among others, of an inadequate air-conditioner valiantly battling humid Mumbai summers. Many names come to mind and some faces too. Occasionally, I bump into my students and the meetings are always joyful. Some send friend requests on facebook. One student has become a teacher himself and makes it a point to call me once in a while.

This book has ‘101inspirational stories from great teachers and appreciative students’ who have treasured the lessons they learnt during the school years. It reminds one of the great responsibility that society places on teachers and how much they change the lives of their students.

The stories illustrate how one creates a teacherly persona as soon as one enters the class. This is done because one fears that there are students who would disrupt the discipline if one is too lenient. However, there are magical moments when cracks develop in one’s carefully guarded shell and the teacher manages to touch a student’s heart. Such moments stay with a teacher.

My favourite story in the book is story number 87. A former student from a creative writing class reminds his teacher who is feeling low of the person she was years ago. He reminds her of her lessons on living and how it had helped her students live better, fuller lives. He recounts her joy on witnessing the melting of ice on her window pane. The student becomes the teacher and suddenly the clouds part and there is light. The teacher understands.