My Teacher

His name is KARUPPIAH.

He was single and had determination in the living. He served as a dedicated teacher in the unaided school in our village. For his subsistence there were people supporting him

A land lord in the next village had some lands in our area. There was a big well and a high power pump installed in that. The operation of the pump was entrusted to the teacher. So the teacher stayed in the pump room as well as in the school. He got his lunch from the landlord as well as some money.

His breakfast was from my house. After some time dinner was also from my house. He insisted in some sort of  a tuition in lieu of this.

So this helped me in getting more attention and teaching from him. Not just the school book type but more of a general knowledge. States of India, Districts of Tamilnadu, Mathematical Table, many riddles and English alphabets. In those days the English came into teaching only from 6th standard. But when I went to the Higher Secondary School for 6th Standard, I can read, write English alphabets and few words also. All these things kept me a step above others, those have come from higher status family also.

He used to tell stories on honesty, straight forwardness. He took me to the movie 'Veera Pandiya Kattabomman', at Madurai. While returning he explained the sequences ( since I could not have understood fully) and appraised of the courageous ruling of the earlier Kings.

On my completion of 5th standard in that School, he took me to the Muthu Thevar Mukkulathor Higher Secondary School ( MMHS as it is called) in Thirunagar, Madurai and ensured I am admitted for the 6th Standard.

He has done more than a teacher. Without him there, probably, I would have been a 'nobody' today. What I am today is more from his caring.

After one or two years he left this school, and was absorbed in Government service and was working in a School at Villapuram. Though I could not see him , heard, he got married and had children.

On hearing about teachers' way functioning today, he was a person nobody can reach his status.