A Tribute to My Teachers

Changing the Lives of Learners

Educators are wizards creating magic in the lives of their learners. A Japanese philosopher and educator Daisaku Ikeda mentions “Education is a process of stimulating and awakening people from the very core of their being, enabling them to unlock and develop the power within them to create happiness. For this, passion is key.” I have been fortunate to meet some really passionate teachers who have intentionally or unintentionally created a ripple effect of change within me and helped me to build my own personality. As Mikhail Bakhtin propounded “ the dialogic nature of the self… simultaneously coexists with “others” (Bakhtin 1981; Holquist 2002 as cited in Hatano, 2009, p. 166). Meaning that “the voice of an individual is situated in, and never separated from, the multiple voices of others” (Hatao, 2009, p.166). It’s just time to celebrate and express gratitude for the voices that influenced me and the examples and efforts of these amazing educators, who usually go unsung and forgotten.

First, I express my gratitude to my first teachers – my mom, dad, and uncle. Home is always the first and constant arena for learning and influence for me. My personality as adventurous, musical, and spiritual has developed with the strength, resilience, sincerity, and love my parents have showcased and I was very fortunate to open into the world of dancing, romance with nature and poems, and education through the care and motherly love of my uncle, fondly called Sir Tshering by many students across the world.

My primary school St. Mary’s School, Pradhan Nagar was one of the most wonderful memories of growing up with amazingly intelligent classmates and teachers. My high school had a major impact on the way I have become. The heart of social service, respect for the elderly, volunteering, and my love for nature and a sense of community was a gift of my ‘Daughters of the Cross’ Sisters and St. Joseph’s School, Matigara’s teachers, staff didi’s and bhaiyas. I can’t mention enough the deep impact that Sister Jacinta had on my life. She was there with me throughout school life and what I remember of her is her deep care, compassion, and most importantly approachability. I have deep respect and admiration for the joyous energy she has. Even today, anyone who has connected to her can’t deny the powerbomb of friendly, happy, and uplifting powerbomb she is. She made me and honed my capabilities as a leader. I was so loyal to her that when she left school, I refused to accept the next Principal of my school. My next Principal Sister Catherine, though we had a rocky start, also became a confidant and a strong support system, especially when I spiraled downward due to massive issues at home. Only she and a few teachers observed and investigated to know what was wrong, and supported me during the most difficult phase of my life.

An incident had driven me into a neurological and depressive phase but these teachers understood me and made efforts to help me grow emotionally and spiritually. Late Mrs Thapa was one teacher I troubled the most but her love and compassion were so much that she remained in a family till the end of her life with me and my mom.
Mrs Kakati, through her compassion and care, guided me to find answers. I am sure she will be happy to know that I am pursuing research on the topics that she initiated in my young impressive mind. Sir Suraj Pradhan and Sir Devicharan were people who really helped me to understand and remove my fears of science and maths. My Hindi teacher Sir Singh’s lesson to never be ashamed to seek knowledge and make mistakes was a very important lesson that released me from the pressure of just competing while Mrs Lajo truly brought out the spirit to never give up. Mrs. Bhattachary’s kindness, Sir Pal’s sincere passion, Miss Dolly’s strict yet loving personality, and Mrs. Banerjee’s smiles helped me enjoy the beyond studies activities, from which I learned so much more. These are just a few of the many teachers I have to thank and be grateful for.

It’s interesting that from my kindergarten days, the only things that I really remember are the songs and with emotions teachers connected to me, complimented me, or treated me badly. I don’t remember so much of the studies but I remember the way I was taught. So strong are human sensitivities that I could sense the teacher’s connection to me, care and concern, or even biases or judgments. So impressionable are the minds and hearts of children that the smallest emotions, care, compassion, and love can motivate them or otherwise completely destroy their confidence. Jason Goulah, a pioneering and award-winning Soka Studies and transformative education scholar and educator, breaks down a Japanese Educator Tsunesaburo Makiguchi’s Haiku on the role of teachers as “You, chrysanthemum grower, are a servant of chrysanthemums!’. Goulah explains the importance of the proper attitude of teachers in dealing with learners and mentions:

In order to grow beautiful chrysanthemums, we must understand exactly what we’re dealing with just as in order to understand the education of human beings, we must understand that we’re dealing with human beings and the potential growth of human beings. For Makiguchi, such an attitude is at the heart of both effective schooling and the broader effort at reconstructing education… (Goulah, 2015, p. 257)

I have been exposed to so many kinds of education systems and I have come to believe what philosophers like Dewey, Pestalozi, Makiguchi, and his successors Josei Toda and Daisku Ikeda have to say about the goal of education should be the happiness of the learner. The role of educators, thus is very critical because they become the voices that influence the character, life, and goals of the learners. As Ikeda mentions:

“Education must be based on the fundamental rhythm of life itself―the wish to grow, to extend oneself, to break out of one’s shell. It must seek to place people on the track to self-improvement. It cannot be authoritarian; it must seek to enhance a person’s progress with his agreement and to his satisfaction.” (Ikeda, n.d.)

I also realized that learning should and will never stop is that anyone at any age with the right heart can be your teacher, guide, and mentor. My current Sensei meaning teacher in Japanese is my younger brother, who has started a school called DIG International in Sapporo, Japan based on value-creating education that focuses on the happiness and potential of the learners. He is an excellent educator, who is helping transform lives of young learners. My best friend Zlata who is teaching me to overcome my fears of open water swimming and driving. She focuses on my capability, fears and challenges me to progress at my own pace through simple yet powerful guidance. Learning helps release regrets.

Such is the influence of great teachers that they themselves don’t realize how much they have done for the learner. Two such humble and strong mentors in my life are Tripura Kashyap, lovingly T, and my dear Meenakshi Pahuja Maam. I have written about their motherly love earlier but I can’t be grateful enough. T is family now as we enjoyed Japan together.

But today, my heroin is Meenakshi Maam, as we celebrate her Birthday and Teacher’s Day. Through thick and thin in my tumultuous college life in a big city, culture, study standards, biases, judgments, and home storms, she stood by me and gave me the courage to become a strong woman. She fought for me with seniors and juniors, insiders and outsiders alike, and gave me immense strength. I have come to realize. Such is her compassion and deep connection she even attended my dad’s funeral and shared such details that I was surprised that she, who meets thousands of students, remembered me and my family so well. She is an example and inspiration I want to emulate.

Happy Teacher’s Day to All, who have become my voices, influences, and my personality. Ikeda mentions “Knowledge alone does not produce wisdom. Transforming knowledge into wisdom requires input from the heart” ( (Ikeda, n.d.) I am determined to learn from your examples to support my students as an educator.