An ode to a man whose humility, humour, and humanity continue to inspire beyond borders and time
Zeeshan Rasool Khan
On 30th March at 4:45 pm, I had a final handshake with a colleague whose personality drew words from me. I know my words may not suffice to pay earnest respect to my senior colleague, Mr Sunil Kumar Bawnoo, who, while shifting from my workplace, left an indelible mark.
In April 2024, I met Mr Sunil Kumar Bawnoo, an experienced mathematics teacher, and within a few days, he carved a place in my heart. I find him to be the epitome of humanity, humility, and honour.
Every moment spent with him was a lesson. His humility, sense of humour, and pristine character were truly inspiring. Living away from home is a challenge—indeed, a bigger one. A person, no matter how strong, often faces multiple obstacles, the biggest being homesickness. However, Sunil sir’s company always played an instrumental role in easing that homesickness. Even if a person had health complications, his presence would bring laughter to the patient’s face.
His knack for turning everything into a joke had no parallel. It was not that he wasn’t serious, but in everything, he would find something funny that always helped us perform the hardest tasks in a jiffy.
He was one of the finest examples of humanity. Despite being a Hindu, he never set boundaries of faith. Yes, he followed his religion fervently, but the rest of his life was spent with his Muslim brethren—eating, washing, cooking, and playing, always with a characteristic smile.
I also had the chance to teach his ward, which strengthened another belief in my mind—that a beautiful heart is never swayed by any barrier, be it religious or geographical. He would graciously serve me, thereby teaching his ward indirectly what a teacher means and how a teacher should be treated. That was also one way of respecting his profession. When we respect ourselves, only then can we expect it from others. When we respect our occupation, only then do others value it.
Since the moment we shook hands for the last time, there have been many flashbacks of his mesmerising character—one that would vanish pain, change sorrow into happiness, make frowning faces smile, and make work feel like joy.
P.S. I wish that geographical barriers never impacted us. May we remain connected forever, transforming lives—from hardship to ease, from grief to exuberance, and from darkness to light—with our shared spirit.
mo************@***il.com