This is an article that was supposed to be sent to a newspaper to be published….(so did the person featuring in the article think,while he was being interviewed…. little did he suspect that it could be his students playing a prank on him…!)
I had never met Mr.Ravi ever before,and my friends- his students,roped me in to play a prank on him…! I posed as a journalist from THE HINDU a news daily..and fixed an appointment with him to interview him and a few of his students for the TAKE TWO section of the paper!! He took the bait…and there i was in a few days,interviewing him…I was actually surprised that i convinced him as a journalist!
To cut a long story short…This is the article i finally wrote (This happened close to four years ago…)! It goes like this..
The very thought of a teacher brings to mind, an elderly citizen,wearing glasses and sporting a paunch. But,one look at this teacher and you’ll know about your misconceptions. Mr. Ravi Shankar is how he is known…
It is very difficult to find a teacher,who knows,at least on a rough scale,the grasping power and capacity of every student. A teacher who understands his students needs,and handles students by looking from their perspective..In spite of all this he says “I’m still learning”
“Examinations nowadays are considered a mere ticket into the world,and education has become examination oriented,the student mugs up facts and procedures from the examination point of view and the joy of learning is killed”, said Mr.Ravi.
His students describe him as friendly,understanding,inspiring, and most of all, a wonderful teacher…When asked about it, he says “Mr.Ananthan” has been his source of inspiration and role model.
Arti and Shruti,two of his students are all praise about him. ” He is the only teacher who would call up your home and clear your doubts” they chime in…What lacks in most classrooms is the teacher’s enthusiasm,but Mr.Ravi’s students don’t have anything to complain about- “He is one among us” they say!
When asked about the present student-teacher relationship,he said it is in serious need of improvement. A teacher should know what his/her students expect from him/her,and that will work wonders!
In a nutshell,Mr.Ravi Shankar (Ravi sir) is a very enigmatic person,totally understanding,a wonderful teacher,and….A Great Bakra (Bonk!!! Sorry Ravi Sir )
I must say he was a great sport to let me attend his classes after all this truly a one of a kind teacher