Guru

Today is teacher's day,the birthday of our ex-President Dr. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan.

I think anybody can be our Guru,anybody who teaches us some lesson -even our own life by circumstances it gives rise to as also by showing us examples as we traverse this journey.

While in school,I was influenced by my teachers- namely the English teacher.She was just perfect to sum up all.She taught us with a passion & today whatever I am able to write is all due to her efforts as a teacher.I met her later, when she was the Principal of the school where my kid studied but that was too brief.She had the same enthusiasm for her job even on the verge of retirement.I was quite embarrassed by my kids antics in front of her but she was delighted to meet me & my kid after a long hiatus.I hope to visit her sometimes later when I travel to the metro wherein she resides now.

In college, for my graduation ,I had another teacher who would be amused at my clumsiness in practicals of chemistry but she was rather fond of me.But I disappointed her by just managing a first class. She had thought that I was slated for a higher score.I met her years later at the beach & she was happy to see me with my family. I even met her kids & she looked the same - full of affection.

At the law college,most of the lecturers were only teachers for part of the time.The rest of the time ,they were busy in the courts.But they still managed to inspire us.I had joined coaching for public services exams with one lecturer who was a solicitor also.He was an institution in himself.He taught us taxation & was superb in his subject.Also,he was up to something new & interesting in his classes.I never cleared the public services exams but managed to complete my law.I met him recently & he made tea for me ! Really,that moment -I will cherish for ever.He was kind enough to advice me,"Please never go in for a job just because they are paying well.Think of the people you will be working with."As,I asked for his mobile number,he said,"I never keep a mobile.People call you on the mobile at their convenience which may be inconvenient for us."
I do intend keeping in touch with my gurus till I can.This is so as I think,we all need Gurus to lead us in life.

I am certain,I will meet more people who will be teachers in my life hereafter even though it was never meant to be in that typical guru-shishya parampara.I would like to add a couplet of Kabir on the need for Gurus,"Guru gobind dou khade,kake laagun paay,balihari guru aapne jo Gobind diyo bataye" -Kabir sings"When Guru & God are both there,whose feet should I touch ( first)-the feet of the  Guru, as he ( she ) only made me aware of God."This paean is the ultimate on the prime position of Guru in our lives.

Sacrifice.

The Lalgarh episode took me down the memory lane.

I had just completed Law College & I was appearing for some competitive exams.
I would often go & study in my neighbour's home as our house was quite small.My neighbour was a senior lawyer who was a member of a communist party.He would leave for court & I had the house to myself to study.

He would often advise me that I should attend courts also instead of only studying for exams.His idea was only studying was boring & attending courts would give mean overview of the judicial system.Often,I would complain that I was taking so much pains to get a decent job & how things were easy for qualified people in the days gone by.Once,he chided me & said,"Do you call this sacrifice ?"I was stunned & he continued,"Sacrifice is giving up everything for a cause.In the jungles,where Naxalites are operating,when the police raid their hideouts,the Naxalites leave their wives & children so that they can continue working for the cause.Even women leave their kids in the cradles in the jungle whereever they are & flee."I was too stunned to react.I was told that Naxalites were fighting for land & for hunger & I believe,even now,the causes which drives them to fight the State are the same.

I do not approve of the violence used by them to achieve their purpose but the fact that even now,they continue to fight for land is a signal to the nation to address their issues.If as a nation,we want them to embrace non -violence,we must distribute the our assets voluntarily among the have nots.

This has also taught me that I was striving only for myself unlike them who were serving a greater purpose.