When a teacher enters the class swiftly, with a bunch of chalks and nothing else, students would actually be scared of the length of the lecture, especially if they have to study internal combustion engine, metals and their ores, agricultural practices or human reproductive system. But, trust me, everyone in our class looked forward to learn Science everyday. The Ma'am used to just carry those chalks, but one could not miss noticing the limitless confidence that she oozed, the eternal tranquility in her facial expressions, the unknown gravity in her method of explaining concept and the carelessness with which she just intertwined her hairlocks to make a long braid. Every student's stare was fixed at her, paying complete attention to the point of the matter. Everything in this world seemed trivial except the chapter you were being taught. If the topic was Space, everyone in the class wanted to be a Space scientist and if she described microbes, you wish to do a detailed course in it. Her description of biological magnification, greenhouse effect, carbon and its compounds and almost all the topics are still afresh in the pages of memory. I remember her each time I elucidate scientific facts and concepts to my kids.
While science in itself is intriguing and interesting, the way Sudha ma'am projected it has definitely gone a long way in turning a large proportion of our classmates into Engineers, Doctors and Scientists.
Her illustration of cell, atom and structure of eye are still intact in my mind. We understood that neither the finesse in the drawing nor the colors mattered. It is just important to explain the diagrams through proper outline and labelling. This gave wings to students like me who were really bad at drawing and dreaded being laughed at for the figure of simple digestive system.
As the pupils who just entered the teens, the Class 9 were notorious for their mischief. When the whole staff was alarmed by the quantum of immatured maturity we were portraying and it's impact on our attitude and behavior, Sudha ma'am just made us understand how young and small we were when compared to the world outside. These few minutes of simple yet introspective clarification was enough to put those entire lot of wavering minds back on track.
Neither the speed with which she walked nor the warmth with which she struck a friendly chord with every other person changed over the years. Being the student who lived just behind the school and having a bird's eye view of few classrooms and the staffroom from my home, I never leave a chance to watch her teach a lesson to Class 10 students or evaluate the answer sheets while sitting in a comfortable position with her left palm rested on her left leg, even now....twenty three years after my schooling is done.
As a senior teacher, she was such an eminent educator. It gives me goosebumps to just imagine what all she would have done after she was made the Principal of the school. A recognition of this magnitude is an apt way of admiring her knowledge and guidance and honoring her skill and service.
It brings me tears of gratitude and happiness to just say how proud we are to be your students, Sudha Ma'am....
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