It was in the year 1999. I had just returned
from Delhi after completing my PhD work and had rejoined my duties as an
Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, Assam
Engineering College after a gap of three years. Most of the students were not
known to me.
In our department, we used to conduct viva on each subject for internal assessment. It happened to be a
thorough examination of the students’ knowledge on the subject. The students, as expected, usually did not
like the exercise.
The viva was going on well and I was present
there more as an onlooker since I was fresh to the scene, though I used to be
notorious for asking tough questions to floor even the smartest of them.
After one student had left the room, one of my colleagues
said to me, “Sir, the next student who is coming is very naughty, a trouble
maker. Ask him very tough questions to teach him a lesson.”
I just smiled and waited eagerly for the
student to come in.
In came a smart, handsome and confident young
man with a smile on his face. He took his seat and I started asking him few
questions on his family back ground. As
it turned out, both of his parents were highly educated and were holding some
respectable positions in the society. He also had his schooling in some
reputed public school outside Assam.
After asking some questions on the subject,
most of which he could not answer, I said to him , “You are from a good family,
you have a good background, you seem to be very good. You have the potential to
top the class. Probably, you are just enjoying your life rather than concentrating
in your studies now. Take care.”
He just nodded in agreement and left.
After a few days, I met the student personally
just to give him another pep talk.
The classes for the next semester of that particular
batch started and I was also to teach a subject in that class. The boy never missed
a single lecture of mine on that subject. He did extremely well in the end
semester examinations to score the highest marks in that subject.
He was a transformed boy by now, his conducts
changed for the better, the teachers' opinion about him started changing too. His academic performance continued to improve and
finally he secured a place among the top three students of the class. He
received a very lucrative job offer through campus interviews and has been
doing well professionally now.
After his final results were out, he along with
his father and aunt came to visit me at my residence. Even though he did not speak out, his
sparkling eyes were expressive enough to say thanks to me.
And for me, it became one of my fond memories.
the SPARK that left a MARK on your heart
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