THE INNOCENCE OF A STUDENT

Dear Friends, There is something I would like to share with all of you. Here is an innocent script given to me by a young student of mine. I have treasured the script even today after nearly a decade.

It was very early in the morning that I found this student waiting for me outside my classroom , with a lot of optimism written on her face, an expression that keeps reminding me often about her innocence. Please do read on:

TO MY ESTEEMED TEACHER

DO NOT JUDGE ME BY THE MARKS I GET IN MY TESTS, BUT BY THE EFFORTS I MAKE.

HELP ME TO LEARN, TO THINK AND TO JUDGE FOR MYSELF, NOT JUST MEMORISE READY MADE ANSWERS. HELP ME, RATHER, TO FIND THE ANSWERS MYSELF THOUGH IT MAY BE PAINFUL FOR BOTH OF US.

PLEASE DO NOT RIDICULE ME, ESPECIALLY, BEFORE MY CLASSMATES. IT HURTS AND IT WILL TURN ME AGAINST YOU. ONE EARNEST BUT KIND WORD IN PRIVATE WILL BE MORE EFFECTIVE.

TRUTH IS COMMUNICATED TO MEN ONLY BY DEEDS OF TRUTH.

BEHIND EVERY GREAT MAN THERE WAS A PARENT OF A GOOD TEACHER.

WHEN I LOOK AT THE UNIVERSE I CANNOT ESCAPE FROM THE FEELING THAT THERE IS AN ETERNAL COSMIC MYSTERY BEHIND IT.

THE SECRET OF WHOLE EXISTENCE IS TO HAVE NO FEAR.

LET NOBLE THOUGHTS COME TO US FROM EVERY SIDE.

A MAN’S VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY DEPENDS UPON HOW FAR HIS FEELINGS, THOUGHTS AND ACTIONS ARE DIRECTED TOWARDS PROMOTING THE GOOD OF HIS FELLOW-MEN.

I HAVE THE RIGHT TO THE AFFECTION AND INTELLIGENT GUIDANCE OF UNDERSTANDING PARENTS AND TEACHERS.

I HAVE THE RIGHT TO CONSTRUCTIVE DISCIPLINE FOR THE PROPER DEVELOPMENT OF GOOD CHARACTER, CONDUCT AND HABITS.

I HAVE THE RIGHT TO GOOD ADULT EXAMPLE.


I had not opened the little scroll of paper until I reached home. Sitting down with the heap of books in front of me for my daily corrections, my eyes fell on the little gift, and reading the script brought tears to my eyes. This student was an orphan and Nobody’s child, but always was a very receptive student of mine. My gift to her was always appreciated with the top score coming from her, in every subject of the exams, when she was termed as an useless student until she was brought to me for getting the necessary guidance and I was told that it was a kind of challenge and if I succeeded I was given the post.

I do not know where she is put up today but wherever she is, I am sure she has the most precious gift from me, to face all adversities in life with an optimistic smile and the gift of knowledge to trudge on.