I am teaching Them!

I was always reluctant to do something that can make me feel worth doing apart from fuzzy coding, browsing, TV etc etc. I got a mail through my HR stating there is a requirement
of volunteers for teaching visually challenged group of children. Initially I was not interested in it but then I came across one of the person who was involved in this
initiative from long and insisted me to join the campaign. These days I don't have much to do at home so I thought it would be ok. I'll go there for sometime
teach kids ABCD and comeback saying this doesn't fit my profile. So keeping this in mind I said ok to the friend and attended the introduction meeting of all the
volunteers. I thought it will be one time stuff and I'll be entitled to do a social service what better than this. When I attended the meeting it was boring and
useless, there was nothing for me in it and it was on a Sunday evening. I felt my Sunday is spoiled. Each volunteer was assigned a class to teach and I was
given class VII. I was shocked when they gave me syllabus for the class. It was no less than a regular class VII syllabus. I was bit moved and now I
thought to reconsider my decision to be a part of this initiative but I guess it was too late for me as on Monday morning I got a mail from Drishti group that
I have to take the class on the coming Saturday. I had never taught anyone (At least English) in my life and apart from my verbal communication I am not that
good in teaching but it was now too late for me to pull back and I had to conduct the class VII English communication session.

Week passed quickly and then on Saturday I was at the Victoria Memorial School, Mumbai. It was raining hard and I was almost wet from top to bottom. I was not
even in mood of doing anything, I felt my Saturday being spoiled but there was nothing that can be done now so I went in and searched for class VII in the school.
Then came the real twist when I asked a child (Obviously I forgot that these kids are blind) the way to class VII. He told me it’s on 1st floor and asked me to follow him,
he escorted me to class VII.I think the day was full of surprises for me, I was in front of class VII and was bit hesitated due to the surrounding. It made me feel
uneasy when I saw small children holding their hands together to get to their class; well even we used to do the same when we were in primary school but there
was a big difference between us and them. There was something here that made me feel guilty of my thoughts which I had earlier. So keeping them out side the class
I entered; I had eight students to be taught not a tough task isn’t it? Think again this is not that easy as it seems. I was thinking how to start conversation with the kids then suddenly one boy asked where is Amit sir (Amit is the primary person responsible for this initiative). I said Amit is not around today and I would be taking their class; all the boys were looking bit disappointed and I wondered why but after sometime I was about to get the reason.

As standard procedure told to me in the meeting earlier, I gave my introduction to them and told that I would be taking their session from now onwards for two weeks. To move further I asked them to give their introduction. I was doing my conversation in Hindi and when I asked them to introduce themselves they started all flying colors in English. Bit surprised huh….there is more to come. One thing which I never thought of was now coming in to play and it was how do I interact them individually, neither I can point my finger to one expecting them to reply back as we do generally nor I know them by name. So I asked them to give their name again and noted them in a paper as they were sitting in a circular fashion it was easy for me to create one on paper and put the names accordingly…so my first big task was solved. Now I looked into the syllabus and started teaching them noun but they were already thorough in that so my session ended in 15 minutes which was suppose to last for one hour. What next to do? I thought let me ask them what they want to be in future; expecting very less I was again surprised to know their big dreams, yes it was me and my hypothetical thinking that was expecting them not to dream but to ask others to create one for them. Each individual had big dreams for future and wanted to be self depended, they don’t want to live on anyone’s pity, and they don’t want sympathy but support. These are not my words but went into my ears through them. I guess they had already gone through enough of such new encounters with strangers but I was not stranger to them now; I was getting more and more closer and getting involved into their dreams, I never thought things can turn around so quickly but today they did, from my first entry to school till now I was changed; changed for better, changed to accept the facts, changed to see the life through their eyes, I was changed for sure. I always complaint for not being fortunate enough to get what I desired but don’t I have everything that can let me get what I want. Life now had altogether a different meaning for me; it really is Beautiful.

I stayed in the class for next one hour and only did listening, listening to the new sound of life, listening to desires, listening to dreams, listening the way to a new world. It was total harmony. Filled with lots of unforgettable moments in two hours I left for home.

Then came next Saturday and when I entered the class my students said welcome Vaibhav Sir we were expecting you. Now I came to know why they felt disappointed when I told them last time that Amit sir is not coming; they don’t have many to be a part of their life, they need attention not for sympathy but to support them to build their self respect and full fill their dreams. Today I was with Amit and Amit said nothing to me but I realized that why last time they asked for Amit; he is someone who is helping them to get to their dreams and they know it. But now they liked me as well, they really liked me. And now I am teaching them!!


Below is the link for the Drishti initiative; if you get time go through it:
http://mumbaiinitiatives.maitree.com/html/Public/PubMainPage.html