The very mention of this name presents a very strict, ferocious person on my memory screen. The way she stared at us sent shivers down our spine. She was highly committed towards her job and took it upon herself to discipline her students. She could not take any nonsense from us. Anything and everything could irritate her. Flashy ear studs or hangings, glass bangles, big bindis, colourful ribbons were all forbidden items. If she spotted any girl sporting any of these, she would call them close and help them remove each and every item then and there. She would call them 'Chalta-phirta Meenabazaar' ( Mobile fancy shop ).
She didn't want the girls to get distracted with these things.She would ridicule the system of child marriages and if some girl got married, she would insist that they should not apply Sindoor and come to school. She hated the sight of girls with unruly or uncombed hair. She would pull their hair and blast them then and there.She would also warn us sternly against buying eatables from the roadside vendors outside the school premises.
She had zero tolerance to girls making noise in the class. One entry scream of 'Band karo ye chapar chapar' would ensure pin drop silence during the entire class.She took social sciences for us and would explain various social issues in a very detailed, interesting manner.Once some girls at the back giggled and she threw the wooden duster at them Thankfully, nobody was hurt! The day we got back our test papers would be hilarious for some and dreadful for others. First, she would read out the most absurd answers and honour them in the class by calling 'Budhua bakrol' no. one, two and so on. She would beat them mercilessly. The children would never go home and complain to the parents because they would be thrashed at home also!
By the end of the beating session, the entire class would sit in utter stillness. Then the other side of the teacher would emerge. She would be all sugar and honey to girls who would have performed well. She would pat them, pamper them and praise them like anything. Once, when she was in a very good mood, I was at the receiving end.She called me close to her and wrote 'Very good' on my cheeks with red ink.
As we grew we understood that underneath the rough and tough exterior there was a lot of love and concern for her students.She wanted them to be disciplined and hard working. She would get very friend with children and inquire about their parents and family.She would be very concerned and kind if any child fell sick or got hurt.
She didn't want the girls to get distracted with these things.She would ridicule the system of child marriages and if some girl got married, she would insist that they should not apply Sindoor and come to school. She hated the sight of girls with unruly or uncombed hair. She would pull their hair and blast them then and there.She would also warn us sternly against buying eatables from the roadside vendors outside the school premises.
She had zero tolerance to girls making noise in the class. One entry scream of 'Band karo ye chapar chapar' would ensure pin drop silence during the entire class.She took social sciences for us and would explain various social issues in a very detailed, interesting manner.Once some girls at the back giggled and she threw the wooden duster at them Thankfully, nobody was hurt! The day we got back our test papers would be hilarious for some and dreadful for others. First, she would read out the most absurd answers and honour them in the class by calling 'Budhua bakrol' no. one, two and so on. She would beat them mercilessly. The children would never go home and complain to the parents because they would be thrashed at home also!
By the end of the beating session, the entire class would sit in utter stillness. Then the other side of the teacher would emerge. She would be all sugar and honey to girls who would have performed well. She would pat them, pamper them and praise them like anything. Once, when she was in a very good mood, I was at the receiving end.She called me close to her and wrote 'Very good' on my cheeks with red ink.
As we grew we understood that underneath the rough and tough exterior there was a lot of love and concern for her students.She wanted them to be disciplined and hard working. She would get very friend with children and inquire about their parents and family.She would be very concerned and kind if any child fell sick or got hurt.
