Teaching is really about inspiration, not information
Teaching is a very noble profession that shapes the character, calibre and future of an individual. If the people remember me as a good teacher, that will be the biggest honour for me.
–APJ Abdul Kalam
Honesty, sincerity, hard work, punctuality, lovingness, cheerfulness are some of the primary qualities I recall when I think about my papa—educationist Abdul Majeed Mir. And it is not just me, I am sure anyone who knows him either professionally or personally would feel the same way. He has been an outstanding teacher, academic counsellor at IGNOU, and retired as Senior Lecturer cum Academic Officer (DIET Kupwara).
I would like to congratulate him on his success, not just as an outstanding teacher but also as a father, friend and good human being overall. His teaching skills made it easier and fun for every student to contribute actively, thereby making his class engaging for all. He was a source of inspiration to hundreds of students.
Teaching is really about inspiration, not only information. Effective teaching focuses on ‘why’ and ‘how’, not ‘what’. The rest is easy because the student then drives his or her learning. The main goal of a great teacher is to inspire his/her students beyond the four walls of class and, indeed, Majeed sahib is known in Lolab valley for his dynamic teachings.
Papa has been a renowned teacher who taught mathematics and history in his unique pedagogy. A large number of his students achieved the hallmark of excellence in different fields, be they teachers, doctors, scholars, lawyers or engineers. Mathematics seems for most of the students a herculean task, but he always made even the complex riddles of the subject simple. His loving students remember him as a great mathematics teacher. During the ’90s, students from far-off places used to throng our residence at Lolab valley for Maths tuition.
He was passionate about history as well. He knew how to teach it in a lucid style. To him, history is never a list of dates, wars, and generals. History was a story of people—what they believed, how they lived, and what influenced their ideas. Every class was a chapter of that story, and students couldn’t wait to hear what happened next.
Growing up, watching him has always inspired me to move ahead, no matter what the situation may be. And today I am what I am, all because of him.
He taught me that a profession/job can be more than just a source of income; that, if done with purpose and intent, it can be a source of pride and meaning in our lives. By never backing down on taking up tough assignments, he taught me that change is not something to be feared but to be embraced, as a routine part of life.
I can recall hundreds of instances where, despite the opportunity to do so, he never took leave from work unless it was an absolute necessity. The trust and respect he received from peers and family members alike taught me the importance of honesty and integrity.
By always being there for his students, be it career advice or personal counselling, he showed me by example that a good teacher always provides time, attention and love to his students, despite of his busy schedules. He taught us that we can be happy by leading a simple life and wanting less, not necessarily by having more.
With his perseverance and endurance to teach students what they ought to know, he has changed the negative attitude of many teachers towards work. He is a father, hero and my role model. All these years, he has given me inspiration, motivation, apart from higher education at university level.
Thank you for all the life lessons, thank you for being you, and wish you a healthy and long life, papa!
The writer is a Geography teacher in J&K School Education Department. ta************@***il.com