People say teaching is one of the most gratifying professions ever. While I have never had the pleasure of doing so, I understand what they mean when they say so. I’m sure we can all agree that whatever we are today, big or small, is mainly thanks to all of those individuals who taught us in school and college. And to think that often, in our crazy misunderstood youth phase, we’ve never actually understood their true value.
But that’s what makes our teachers even more special. Good teachers are selfless, empathetic and have an undying passion to spread knowledge. And those who have a calling for it, always find a way.
Mukesh Sahay, the formerĀ Director General of Police in Assam, is one such individual. After 34 years of service in the police force, he is now a full-time Mathematics teacher.
Barely a week after his retirement, Sahay took up his new role at theĀ Sonaram Higher Secondary School in Guwahatiās Bharalumukh area.
The school,Ā despite beingĀ one of the oldest and the most reputed schools in Assam, since being established in 1894, boasts ofĀ former Assam Chief Minister Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi and eminent literary figure Hemchandra Goswami of having been their headmasters back in the day.
Yet, the students have not had a permanent maths teacher since 2016. Speaking of their predicament,Ā the school principalĀ Dwinjendra Nath Barthakur says:
“Even though I teach Chemistry, I would pitch in and teach them Maths. So did the Statistics teacher.Ā And that is how we managed for two years.”
When he invited Sahay to be a guest in one of their school functions in 2017, he happened to tell him of the vacancy. Sahay immediately expressed an interest in the position and even asked for the course textbooks.
And though, the busy nature of his work made it difficult for him then, Sahay called Barthakur again on May 1st, the day after his retirement. On May 7, the school had their new mathematics teacher.
Speaking to the Indian Express he says:
“I have never worked as a teacher before ā but I am a certified police trainer and that helps.Ā I used to work as a part-time tutor to supplement my income in my younger days.”
The former top cop now takes one-hour classes on Calculus every day of the week. But he’s ever more ready to take on even further classes.
He’s looking forward to a couple months later when the new class XI batch will start their year and heĀ may get to take two classes every day.
He adds:
“I am quite conversant in Calculus so it has not been too difficult, but I definitely need to do my homework every day.Ā We never stop learning āĀ one must always be socially relevant, physically active and mentally engaged.”
Major Surendra Poonia shared the retired DJP’s social work on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MajorPoonia/status/999968994365976578
Sahay’s teaching style which does not get influenced by his stature is what the students like about him the most, says the school principal. The eleven students under Sahay’s guidance now are ecstatic that they finally have a Maths teacher and that too such a great one.
This former cop’s life teaches us that it is never too late to pick up an entirely new profession. More often than not, people choose to do nothing after their retirement and this is what gets to them in their old age. There is no age limit to pick up a new skill and as shown by this former DGP, neither is there one to teach one. Kudos to you, sir.