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MY FAVOURITE SCHOOL TEACHER

==============================================UDDALAK

BANERJEE(UBJ)

"When lion in the Capitol roars Newyork dogs seldom bark" and in a moment the entirescenerio changed the humm in the class came to a shocking halt.In a moment the tyrant by her

searing gaze shivelled our heart and our mirth dissolved and fear jumped at its place.Silenceprevailed for a minute. No hush no words a rare sight in class vii b of VMS,JOKA."" you big tub

of lard!".Silence again."Ha so Mr banerjee what the big fat joke did the filty lumpywretched goon come up with?".Silence again."Yes I am asking questions have the rodents

lost their tooth?"."Donot try act smart with me i will catch my the collar and wringle you to

back of the ramshakle shed.You worthless belial brutish subhuman even Caliban will

smurk to see you uncouth wretched creature".Silence prevailed.And suddenly there was arush of life cutoff the deathly silence as wave of students were seen walking in groups talking to

each other and apprehensively peeping into our room with BD sister standing tall stabbing joy byher mere colossal presence.The recess bell has gone yet noone spoke.Juxtaposing the stark

contrast between the noisy lively class a few moments back against the marooned chided silentbunch of lifeless stones sitting in the class ,sent a chill down our spine."Next time be aware if I

catch you all again even the great God with all his might wont be able to save you".After wesaw her back ,albeit a minute after it we finally rose to leave but the apprehensive bunch seldom

interacted for the next few minutes.

And what a contrast on 13th june 2004,Rajiv was talking with Rohan sitting so close to her andyet Madam did not say anything not even once infact she didnot even try as her lifeless body was

decorated with flowers by her weeping sisters assisted by Shusmita Mam and Baral Mam for the

funeral.I can never forget what a painful death it had been but now she is free away from allpains and agony.She had a monstrous stroke on the morning of 12th june 2004 while teaching inour neighbouring class.The entire Vms was shook by her stroke as her 79 kg body hit the floor

with saliva covering her face."Help me" she said the last.Her eyes were bulging out in pain shedid not want to die . She used to say "i donot want to die for i have my son who is 15 years old

...he will not be able to live without me"

She used to teach us grammer and literature.She was fat and dark but she was a paragon martinetwhen came to her panache in teaching.She was our most unfriendly best friend.I remember her

how she came to me and said " I'll take a spoon and scoop out your eyes if you make a singlemistake in grammer ever again in your life".I always was in awe of her throughout the short

time about 3 years that we had her with us.Truth to say all of us loved and respected her deep

within our heart.I didnot invite her for my threading ceremony and the next day she shot back atme in the class"Yes Bannerjee why didn't u call me for the threading ceremony of yours?Am inot a mother to you?Or i need to kiss you to prove my love for you?".To This I said "I was not

sure ..i was going to call but.."."OO ! you are too bad at making stories.Donot try mothersstories to your aunt ..son.".

Then oneday, while teaching us a short story called diamond necklace she was discussing howmen cheat women and by pure patriarchial chauvinistic feelings try to limit their freedom at

every step treating them as mere play things she said,"the male chimpanzees flaunt their hairy

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legs and ears and dance around and sing kaho naa pyar hai but if a woman the poorthing if shefor one instant even talks with a stranger for an hour or so or even had a coffee with him then she

would be boycotted such is the thought process governing our society.".Well she was a crazysupporter of Sir VIvian Richards in cricket and whenever we used to talk of cricket or Vivian

Rechards ..she used to say"ah what a man he is!!!!!he was a hitter he could hit a bumblee bee

with his eyes closed..had I not married my sweet old Ramesh i would have surely liked togo on a long date with him".We all used to laugh whenever she used to say so.But yes when sheused to teach she was a diva ,her every expression reached the very bottom of our heart.Once

Rohan asked her in jest "madam dont you think Ferdinand was an amateur kisser inTempest?".The class became silent at his audacity but was soon brought to fits of laughter when

she said"Don't teach your grandfather how to kiss!! ".

Even to this day I remember her for her brilliant quotes and teaching procedures.She was the onewho always participated actively in most extracurricular activites and inspite of her greater than

life image as a disciplinarian ,she never hesitated to dance with us and applaud us in all ourcreative compositions.While teaching Shakespeare she used to wrap a maroon shawl around her

and say -"when you talk like a ROMAN, you should look like a Roman also!!".Her immortalquotes even today haunt us whenever we visit our school or pass by the side of it. We have made

an orkut community in her memories it is named"Our BD sister for ever" with more than 800 memberspresently.I think we will never be able to forget her ever and so through this composition i pay my undying homage

to this great lady and say"Madam I love you forever and ever and ever .I donot know where you are .I miss you

always.Through this composition madam .. through your own quotes (which are engraved in our hearts even today)

may even those who had not seen you can feel your presence justas we do everyday in our lives.Thankyou mam I

learnt a lot from you.Mam i am dying to hear your those inspirational words now "I can I shall and I will""