Coffee With Mi

Mi, I toast you with a tumbler of freshly brewed kaapi!

Guru Devo Bhava

Guru Devo Bhava

Happy Teacher’s Day, Mi! I have such happy memories of Teachers’ Day celebrations – both as a student and the short time I substituted as a teacher at your school for three months when Emy went on study leave. What brings a smile to my face is how you used to plan what to wear, the special lunch you carried and the loads of flowers and gifts you brought back home! How your students just adored you!

Guru Devo Bhava

Guru Brahma Gurur Vishnu
Guru Devo Maheshwaraha
Guru Saakshat Para Brahma
Tasmai Sree Gurave Namaha

It means:

Guru is verily the representative of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. He creates, sustains knowledge and destroys the weeds of ignorance. I salute such a Guru.

I fondly remember how you were my class teacher in Class II. On one particular day, you had gone to the staff room to get something and naturally, the moment you left the class, there was pandemonium. I wonder what made us do that! I had a sheet of paper I was dying to tear into bits, which I did and nicely coinciding with your return, I blew the pieces in the air. The next thing I knew you were tweaking my ear and then made me stand in front of the class. I found it all amusing and kept giggling, as little girls will do, with their hands over their mouths and then, disgusted, you told me to go to my bench and sit down.

How I wish I had photos of my primary school teachers! Especially Mrs.Kumud! Sigh. Mi, I love that we both studied in the same school and that your teacher was mine, too! Even more heart-warming is the fact that she went on to be my guardian during that year I was away from home and was in a hostel. Oh, how well she treated me.

I remember that moment we phoned Little Flowers after we arrived in Bombay in 1997 and spoke to Rosey Miss, who was my class teacher in Std.III. What joy!

I have always been very lucky with my teachers – and had a special bond with them. Being a good student and a sincere one may have had something to do with it, but I think I was able to shine mainly because you were a teacher, Mi. I am glad Vidur has the same divine respect for his teachers.

Truly…

A teacher
Takes a hand
Opens a mind
Touches a heart
Shapes the future

Here are seven teachers that shaped my life.

I’ve captioned each of the photos. They include:

  1. Mrs.Baria  – who made us believe we were all champs
  2. Mrs.Gardiner  – who made learning Math a breeze
  3. Mrs.Norma  – who was stingy with marks but generous with encouragement
  4. Mrs.Fredericks – who convinced us that perfection was possible
  5. Mrs.Nagalakshmi Murthy (Vidur’s music teacher who is 80, and a great inspiration to us with her fantastic energy)
  6. Dr. B Sury – whose family, students and colleagues adore him.
  7. And of course, the greatest of all, YOU, Mi.  My Mother, My Teacher, My Best Friend. I need more than a lifetime to sing your praises.

 

7 things I’ve learned from my Mother, my teacher, my guru

  1. I won’t wait for others to take the first step. I will be proactive.
  2. If it is to be, it’s up to me. I will act responsibly.
  3. If not me, who? If not now, when? Forget that “someday” thinking
  4. Let me take a shot at it. Be adventurous. Shine.
  5. I will not pass the buck. I will not play the blame game
  6. You can count on me. Yes, you can!
  7. I can. I will. I must.

Happy Teacher’s Day!

guru devo bhava

 

 

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Vidya Sury

Writer, Editor, Blogger, Influencer. I blog/create content for businesses and edit manuscripts for authors and publishers. On my blogs, I write about all the things I enjoy in life: parenting, personal development, health and wellness, books, food, travel, gratitude, mindfulness, happiness. In my free time I play with my dust bunnies and show my diabetes who's boss.

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14 thoughts on “Guru Devo Bhava”

  3. Hey Vidya! Teachers ROCK! Your mom in particular. And Dr. Sury in particular. 🙂 Thanks for the post.

    1. 🙂 So nice to have you drop by, Bharath! I was particularly thinking of you while writing this post. I still remember how excited Mom was, reminiscing after she met you! 🙂 Teachers Rock. And may we please add you to that list!

  4. How lovely. For a brief time my mom had taught in my school and though she was not my class teacher or taught me any subjects in school, she was still very strict and made appropriate distance from me when in school.She would treat me like everyone else. This post reminded me of that time,

    Thanks Vidya.

  5. S vidya thats a great tribute and the mother is the first teacher and a teacher always and if she by profession too is a teacher it is sone pe suhaga .you make me go down memory lane no matter what I am having to do on hand
    great
    love
    gita

  7. Greetings Vidya,

    What a superb and thoughtful post. Indeed, I started recalling all the teachers that impacted my life. Instilled in not only lessons in the class room, but lessons in life.

    I recall one teacher in high school in the tenth grade when I was in Vancouver. Dr. Singh taught English and was resented by many of us for his curse demeanour and the huge amount of homework he gave us.

    One lesson, Dr. Singh, collapsed to the floor. A number of us fifteen year old students rushed to his aid. Another student used the class telephone to call the nurse. He had a heart attack.

    Upon his return to teaching about two months later, Dr. Singh, with tears in his eyes, thanked us. He became kinder and thoughtful. And we got less homework.

    My dear friend, you note the teachers that shaped your life. Indeed, the greatest teacher, your beloved mother.

    Be well, Vidya.

    In kindness,

    Gary and yes indeed, Penny the dog! 🙂

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