My first memory of Johar didi goes back to the years when I was in class Six. She taught us maths then. Since she appeared to be very strict we were all scared of her and maintained our distance from her. Gradually, we developed a liking for mathematics mainly because of her unique way of teaching. She told us to learn tables in Hindi in a rhythmic manner which I remember even to this day. She asked us to practice tables even as we played games in the ground.Even before we realized, we had learnt the tables from 1 to 20 by heart!
Didi was the no nonsense kind of a person and she would not like to hear excuses for the work not done or half-done.So we learnt to be regular in our work. Her soft nature surfaced whenever we did well in our tests or asked doubts. She would not mind explaining the sums again and again till it became clear to us. It was a pleasure to watch her laughing and joking with her colleagues. As we got used to her, our fear was replaced by respect.
In class 8, she took Mathematics and chemistry ( Rasayan Shastra) for us.I always longed to be in her good books and therefore studied very hard. Once, after our exams she gave us maths paper in which I had scored 93%. When I checked the marks, the total was only 83%. For a while, I wondered what to do but then I went to her and got the marks reduced.She appreciated my honesty and said, "Honesty always pays".
My rank in the class had fallen lower and I was quite upset. In the afternoon, Didi gave us the chemistry paper in which I had scored only 87%. When I checked the paper, I found the total lesser by 10 marks. Again I approached her and she increased my marks saying with a smile,"Didn't I say honesty always pays?"
This memory of her and this valuable teaching about honesty has stayed with me over the past three and half decades. My joy knew no bounds when I got to speak to her after so many years.She not only remembered me but also my sister and friends. Well into her seventies, she proclaimed with pride that she remembers each of her students and the year of their passing out to.She has been coaching generations of students for competitive exams. She simply said,"I teach even now..........whoever comes home with a doubt in maths or science subjects, I clarify their doubts........even now my mind is very sharp beta! I agree with you didi with lot of pride, regard and love. Waiting to meet you in person and seek your blessings......
Didi was the no nonsense kind of a person and she would not like to hear excuses for the work not done or half-done.So we learnt to be regular in our work. Her soft nature surfaced whenever we did well in our tests or asked doubts. She would not mind explaining the sums again and again till it became clear to us. It was a pleasure to watch her laughing and joking with her colleagues. As we got used to her, our fear was replaced by respect.
In class 8, she took Mathematics and chemistry ( Rasayan Shastra) for us.I always longed to be in her good books and therefore studied very hard. Once, after our exams she gave us maths paper in which I had scored 93%. When I checked the marks, the total was only 83%. For a while, I wondered what to do but then I went to her and got the marks reduced.She appreciated my honesty and said, "Honesty always pays".
My rank in the class had fallen lower and I was quite upset. In the afternoon, Didi gave us the chemistry paper in which I had scored only 87%. When I checked the paper, I found the total lesser by 10 marks. Again I approached her and she increased my marks saying with a smile,"Didn't I say honesty always pays?"
This memory of her and this valuable teaching about honesty has stayed with me over the past three and half decades. My joy knew no bounds when I got to speak to her after so many years.She not only remembered me but also my sister and friends. Well into her seventies, she proclaimed with pride that she remembers each of her students and the year of their passing out to.She has been coaching generations of students for competitive exams. She simply said,"I teach even now..........whoever comes home with a doubt in maths or science subjects, I clarify their doubts........even now my mind is very sharp beta! I agree with you didi with lot of pride, regard and love. Waiting to meet you in person and seek your blessings......
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