15th July 2009 - The Scindia School

Qila Quotes | Staff | 13 Qila Quotes | Literary Section |14VOL 4 | July 2009Footprints On My HeartTo Sir With Love...It isn’t easy to bid goodbyes to anyone, especially if it happens to be yourPrincipal, colleague, local guardian and a friend. All kinds of thoughts rush toyour mind from respect to awe; from love to fear and from doubts to confidence.Personal experiences and professional experiences cloud your mind and onedoes not know what to write. So best is not to bid adieu! It’s safer than to writethis article for him. I can recall memories of him as a friend and my guardianhere, than as a Principal! Absurd though it may sound but that’s the reality- perhaps the person gradually faded behind the Principal’s chair over thesenine years. I think it’s a good quality and only he can do it with such finesse.My memory of Mr. Tewari goes back to May 1996 when I’d spotted him forthe first time in a lobby of Hotel Claridges in Delhi. I had arrived for myinterview and found him the first amiable person - one I could trust. He lookedapproachable! Of course what I mistook him to be I can’t say here…but thedays that followed at Scindia were indeed good because of him and his familyand Mr. Dar who had introduced me into the school.The road ahead of me was narrow and twisted - which way leads to whichdestination would be known only once I traversed it. I had to face a societydominated by men, Mr. Tewari did not look any different then - of course it’sanother matter that he proved to be different for the rest of my life here. But itwas with family that I found the road ahead of me easy.As a person he is a clear minded individual. One who is extremely focused inhis work and one who is soft spoken! Forgiving and overlooking one’s faultis easiest with him but not unless he gets you to amend it through his gentleways.As a Housemaster he played a pivotal role for his boys. As a neighbour I suffereda lot. When his House was at its noisiest I’d know Mr. Tewari was around. Boysflitted in and out of his home like bees - complaining, sharing, chatting andeven playing in the lobby of his home. Whenever I would complain of boysmaking a ruckus on the room above my bedroom, complaints with him, fellon deaf ears, as he would end it with one question - “Were you a child at onepoint of time?” I would leave with promises to ensure that his boys would betaught a lesson one day. Of course sadly the day never arrived.His family adopted me soon after my first day at school. Mrs. Tewari correctedmy Hindi alongwith her husband. My Hindi is better today thanks to both ofthem. I can never forget little Aditi play at my home and walk about the housewearing my high heels. I will miss her the most perhaps.His parents showered love like the unending rain. You could feel kindnessemanating from their acts. They were souls not human beings as their acts werean extension of their spiritual learning. They protected me, loved me, scoldedme, worked me, counseled me and shared lessons of life to help me grow. Myparents could live in peace at Ajmer. Mridul and I used to take permission fromhim to watch a late night movie and he would allow only if Dhirendra was toaccompany! I was strictly ordered to return home before eight, if I got delayedI was sent for. Abhimanyu disliked the hunt errands for me. Such protectionand discipline can only come from a human being like him.Having food in Mrs. Tewari’s kitchen was a routine. She’d make extra to keepus going. We did not have to cook our own meals and we always had a reasonto avoid Mess food! She found her way into our hearts through our stomachs.She made us feel a part of her family through this motherly care.As a teacher he had tremendous patience. He recognized the slow learner andcalled him home to teach in the evenings. Rich in his subject, he always camedown to the basics of a child’s mind and always got through his head. Ofcourse I rarely saw him teach his own children - something he left to hisbrother often.Now that he leaves …along goes my extended family. But this is not a good bye.This is not what we are meant to do. Even though miles of distance separatethem from Deepak and me I know as they do too that we shall remember eachother with fondness. We will cherish the memories as wine that gets better as itages. I am glad Deepak could find a great friend in Mr. Tewari.All I can remember now is an Irish blessing that my grandmother would oftensing...May the road rise up to meet you,May the wind be ever at your back.May the sun shine warm upon your faceMay the rain fall softly on your fields.And until we meet again,May God hold you in the hollow of his hand!May you always have work for your hands to do!May your pockets hold always a coin or two!May the sun shine bright on your windowpane!May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain!May the hand of a friend always be near you!And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.Mrs Deepika TandonIt’s not as if I have been to many schools. Scindia School is my second schoolthe first one being the Woodstock School in Gwalior which till date I hold veryclosely to my heart.When I was in class VI, I looked forward to the Monday assembly as I enjoyedhearing the Principal read the prayer. There was something very captivating,may be it was his voice or the way he read the prayer or just his personality.I enjoyed listening to the prayer the way the Principal spoke; slowly andmiraculously. Every Monday all through the day within my own self I wouldkeep murmuring the prayer the way Sir had said it. I had in fact developedgreat admiration for him.Over the months I tried to find opportunity to read the prayer which was verydifficult as there were many in the queue who wanted to do the same. Onefine morning, I finally got the chance and was really very excited. I mustadmit that while reading the prayer I tried to emulate the Principal. This yearwhen he was going to Lucknow for the Scindia 111 celebration I met him onmy way to the mess. He called me - I was too scared to talk to him but thenhe affectionately told me how to pronounce truth, which I may not have beendoing correctly while reading the prayer.I also remember, last year, during the music competition when I gave thebackground music Mr. Tewari called all of us who had given the backgroundsupport to the singers and appreciated us. That moment is very close to myheart.I have a lot of memories about Mr. and Mrs. Tewari as I am born and broughtup here in The Scindia School Campus and I am really sad as Mr. Tewari isleaving the school. I always saw Mr. Tewari talk to the prefects and some othersenior boys. Whenever I saw some of them in and out of his office I thoughtmay be when I come in XI and XII, I too would get the chance to speak to himmore often. Yes, I am sure I will get a chance to speak to the Principal but itwas not simply the Principal, it was Mr. Tewari, I wanted to speak to.May I say it aloud sir, you are the best principal I have heard of. You are smartand care about the children. You are articulate, and a great visionary. You willbe greatly missed at the Scindia School.Sir, the school shall never be the same without you; I and many other boysshall miss you here. Sir we will miss your fine example and we will miss thethings you did. We will recall and carefully save our pleasant memories ofyou,I hate to stop, but I will stop after I dedicate a small poem to youTo Sir with love…..If I could tell you, sir,I would tell you, how much moreyou have accomplishedthan you think you have.I would show you the seedsyou planted years agothat are now coming into bloom.I would reveal to you the mindsthat have expanded under your care,the hearts that are serving othersbecause they had you as a role model.If I could teach you, sir,I would show you the positive effectyou have had on me and my life.Your homework isto know your value to the world,to acknowledge it, to believe it.Thank you, sir.Today you are leaving, going on your wayAnd together with me many will sayThat you've done well for all over the yearsAnd I could possibly write a playJaskaran S. Bakshi | VIII A