SUPER STAR TEACHER

Busy schedule for teachers and students during exams, but a bit relaxed princi!! Reflecting over my professional journey, I remember a fascinating story that I read sometime back from a book by Debashis  Chatterjee. 

A Guru had two students, Govind and Gopal( don’t remember which names Mr.Chaterjee used in the story! So I am using my own, anyway it won’t matter as long as the moral is drawn!! ). The Guru knew that Govind was a promising teacher. He advised him to teach a few students. Govind did a great job and got better ratings than his Guru from his students. He didn’t realise that the Guru had given him quick learners. The guru praised the accomplishment of Govind but added that Gopal was a gifted teacher and better than him. Disappointed Govind asked the Guru, what made him to say that Gopal was better. The Guru was thoughtful for a moment, then gave a tough task to Govind and Gopal. Both were asked to teach  three illiterates in the city- a cobbler, a potter and a carpenter. Three months time was given to both.

Govind thought it was rather an easy task. When he can teach brilliant minds what was a big deal in teaching ordinary illiterates. His enthusiasm slowly started vanishing when he failed to convince any of them. He got the reply from all the three that they have got enough education and literacy they needed to run their business!! After a month he returned to the Guru. The Guru consoled him saying even Gopal could not convince them and teach a single word .Govind raised a question, “ if Gopal also could not do it, as you yourself accept now, how do you say he is better than me?”

The Guru smiled and said, “ when Gopal realised that he could not teach them, he didn’t return like you did. He stayed there for full three months. When he came back he was an excellent carpenter, potter and cobbler. He utilised the time to learn new things. He has that exceptional quality to learn from even illiterates. His passion for learning makes him better than you.”

What an inspirational story!! Still lingering in my mind. This extent of curiosity to learn from every corner without hesitation makes a gifted teacher, SUPER STAR TEACHER