Teachers..then and now!

After long time, I stayed for one full week at my ancestral home at my native village Narvel for the marriage of my nephew. The marriage was solemnized at a nearby village called Jhodga; because the bride hails from that village.

After reaching Jhodga, while I was chatting with some gentlemen from the bride's family, few elderly men approached me and expressed their desire to have a word me. I was little surprised as to what they have to talk to me. They said, we came to see you and to have few words with you because you are the grandson of our beloved teacher! I was shocked! They were referring to my grand father!

They told me the stories which were entirely unknown to me! They said that my grand father was the Head Master of their school at Jhodga and they all are students of my grand father. Now these 'students', on asking by me, turned out to be in their 80's and 70's! They said, there were three teachers coming from my village to teach in their school, though at different period of times. Earliest was my grand father, Shri. Maruti Kolte, then my father's uncle Shri. Shankar Kolte and thereafter Shri. Madhukar Kolte, who hailed from my village. All of them used to walk down to Jhodga from my village. The distance, through the pathways through fields is about 8 km. By today's regular tar road, it's about 10-11 kms.

I said, I feel greatly honored that they made it a point to come and meet me. They said, in fact, they feel honored that the bride, who is like a grand daughter to them, is getting married in the family of their beloved teacher! I was shaken! 

The most touching part of the conversation was that, one of the 'students' said, your grand father used to walk down from your village to the school, but was always in time. Today, we have teachers who come from other villages on motor cycle, but never in time!