Last degree had been a cakewalk

Intentionally so

I bid farewell to backbreaking Botany practicals 

And choose this new subject for Master’s Degree 

To chill

To enjoy my last outing at the university

Before getting tied down in matrimony

“Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayengey” style

The idea was original then

DDLJ happened fifteen years later

Lazily smooth sailing in happy matrimony 

Rearing raising two restive children

Who filled my heart, hands and time to the brim

Hands engaged

Mind grew hungry for serious academic stimulation

Had had my fill of Mills & Boon, class three Math and class one EVS

Vain women talk had begun to irk irritate and get my goat

I was desperate to break through

God sent an invitation to teach Sociology to XI and XII in John Connon and Cathedral School 

A hope for my children’s admission in that haloed school took me there impromptu

I enjoyed graduating to class XII Sociology from class one Math

The job was temporary 

As wise words of farewell advice the Principal, Ms. Meera Issacs said, “Do B.Ed. and come back”

Hence Bombay Teachers’ Training College 

Skeptically I stepped in

The lady teachers – Dr. Kamlesh Bhatia, Dr. Dolly Mistry, Dr. Arti Sathe, Dr. Maya Lulla,      Dr. Mintu Sinha, Dr. Adelaide Waz, Mrs. Anuradha Patil, Ms. Cybil Thomas and Ms. Sachdeva 

Sophisticate stern severe strict

In their busy rustling silks and perfectly coiffured heads

Speaking immaculate English

Enamored by their elegance I was instantly inspired to emulate them

Thankfully the men teachers – Mr. Reddy, Mr. Mishra and dear Sabu Sir

Were welcoming and friendly and not half as formidable 

Gateway, the fabled grand Taj, ships on the horizon and the blue sea beyond the classroom window

enticed with alluring dreams of sea and voyages

Cacophony of chirpy and bright and young and snob SoBo students broke through my reverie 

And threw innumerable impossible challenges at me

These challenges became my raison d’etre 

Which ignited the rocket of my will to prove myself

Having suffered an infinitely long dull yawning sabbatical

I was raring to go 

Plunge deep 

Exercise vigorously to charge my hibernating brain cells

My first inning as student was not my choice 

But this second one was by design

Not by default

Motivation was full throttle

Enthusiasm effervescent

Energy galore

For a young parent floundering in dark Child Psychology was a boon

Pouring out pent up thoughts of social injustice in Sociology essays was cathartic

Soul searching consternation made Philosophy therapeutic

Never did I lack communication skills 

Never the less was able to chisel and fine tune mine

Slowly soaked up a teacher’s perspective in teaching Science and English

Our teachers were all always motivating us to pluck the stars

The lofty goals of altruism, selfless service, ecology conservation were unabashedly unleashed upon us incessantly

Celebrating all the festivals, national, religious, regional and local

We learnt to truly appreciate diversity and respect our cultural bricolage  

And were soon a close knit family of a hundred and ten

The warmth, the deep personal connections, the constant inspiring mentoring 

Were missing in my previous impersonally large college

The purposeful constant urging towards lofty goals

Created prominent niches for the goals in my consciousness and contemplation

Which still keep prodding me to act and achieve some 

At the end of the B.Ed. year I was a little more singer, actor, playwright, dancer, athlete, orator and a natty dresser

Having shattered limiting inhibitions

And polished my self-confidence to a brilliant sheen

I was blazing to change the world

When I went to meet Principal Dr. Bhatia to acknowledge my gratitude 

She said, “Do M.Ed. and come back”

My B.Ed. result got me a National Merit Scholarship once again

So to University I went to pursue M.Ed.

If learning the basics had charged me sufficiently then the advanced excited me more

One rigorous year at Mumbai University under Dr. Kerawala, Dr. Kalliath, Dr. Sachdeva and Mrs. Garg 

Wrought maturity and ingrained equanimity 

Enough to be a responsible teacher trainer

BTTC beckoned, again, in a different role this time

Armed with the requisite National Eligibility Test Certificate

I was back in the same classroom to pursue dreams

The nine years in that classroom 

Built a rich repository of nostalgia

An abundant harvested of pupils’ love

That uplifts me from the depth of a rare yet inevitable melancholy 

The BTTC experiences have made me what I am today

I am all gratitude for life changing experiences at BTTC

Kudos to the august BTTC family that I am a proud integral member of

Wish you well for envisioned future successes galore

 Hoping to be there for the centenary celebrations…