May 26, 2007

A teacher is a person associated with school, our second home. Hence, teachers are like our second parents. After our parents, it is our teacher who cares for us, nurtures us and is a constant source of support and encouragement. The preceding qualities are, in my opinion, the qualities one would like to see in a true teacher. Aunty Dinshaw had all the qualities of one.

The values I was taught by my parents were reinforced by her. She did this through the various activities that were held at her Montessori. She taught me to live my life fully and independently. She encouraged us to ask questions about our surroundings and all that happens around us, not to just absorb everything in a passive manner. This and many other things she did with remarkable commitment and sincerity.

She was always concerned about us and felt proud when we, her students, were successful in our later academic careers and lives in general. I remember that whenever I met her in the years after leaving Markaz-i-Montessori, she never let go of a chance to enquire about my activities and academic career at that time. Every year, on May 18, her birthday, my family and I would go to meet her without fail. Each time, she would ask to be filled in about all the news of our doings in the past year. Hearing about my success, my achievements made her very proud and I always felt the happiness one feels when he or she sees how proud their teacher is of them and their achievements. Hence, May 18 has become an especially significant day for me.

This year on May 18 I could not go to see her as she is no longer in this world. I missed her so much that I cannot express my feelings in words. through this article I would like to say that ‘I love you Aunty Dinshaw. You will always be in our hearts.’ May her soul rest in peace.