Whatever it was Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar actually said on Teacher's Day had me laughing heartily. Some newspapers reports informed us he told students that if teachers are unable to answer their questions they should telephone him. Another report claims he asked students to telephone him if their teachers scolded them. Which one is true or are they both true?
I don't know but when I told my manager's son who is ten years old about it, Prakash wanted to know the Chief Minister's telephone number. As a former teacher who has taught for decades at several universities it is time for me to tell the truth: I'm sorry but I really don't know the Chief Minister's telephone number. Obviously, I need to update my information. As a school boy in Bangalore I recall how my teachers would strut about looking important and full of knowledge. Both science and teachers of other subjects. While the science teacher would act as though he discovered electricity or magnetism the history teacher would try to give the impression he was present during a war which happened hundreds if not a thousand years ago. The Apologetics teacher was the prize winner as his goal in life was to convince school boys of all religions how all religions are false except you know whose religion. I learned my lessons well and years later when I stumbled into the teaching profession I kept it always in mind. That I was constantly at odds with teachers, even teachers from various countries was not at all surprising. Teachers have a lot in common. I, however, did observe how the eminent erudite teachers were more stooped than others. It is no easy task to carry the heavy burden of knowledge. Nowadays, the great teacher is The Internet. Teachers are more facilitators than anything else. We are, at last, free! If only Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had been the Chief Minister in Bangalore when I was a school boy. But, that's life! I still want to thank the Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for his sentiments. The problem is I don't have his telephone number. Will somebody please help me?
