We all have that one teacher from our school or college who profoundly influenced our careers and personalities — a teacher who became a friend, someone we admired and loved, or aspired to emulate. On Teachers' Day today, My Kolkata asked educators from Kolkata schools and colleges to share fond memories of their favourite teachers. Read on...
A teacher who dared to do the unexpected
Jaya Misra, principal, Lakshmipat Singhania Academy, with her mentor Sumita Ghosh
Sumita Ghosh, the former head of the Geography department at Loreto College, was my mentor during my college years. Her impact on countless lives, including mine, makes her my all-time favourite teacher. Her passion for teaching breathed new life into our study of geography, offering us a fresh perspective on landscapes. With a reassuring demeanour, she would often say, “Chalo chalo, you can do it,” effectively alleviating our stress. Ms. Ghosh encouraged us to think outside the box, emphasising financial independence and self-sufficiency for all her students.
In 1996, during a field trip to Meghalaya, she learned about the existence of Sacred Groves near our stay. Although it was not part of our planned itinerary, she insisted on adding it, despite local objections. The locals believed that anyone who entered this ancient 2,000-year-old virgin Tropical Rainforest would not survive. Ms. Ghosh felt it was an opportunity her students should not miss. Despite discouragement, we embarked on the journey. Our bus driver refused to approach the forest, stopping the bus a kilometre away. Undeterred, our mentor led her students into the forest. This visit remains one of our most cherished memories. We witnessed the three-layered arrangement of trees, buttress roots, the slippery forest floor, orchids adorning tree trunks, pitcher plants, the dense canopy, beams of sunlight piercing through the foliage—everything we had read about in our textbooks. The forest remained untouched due to the locals' strong beliefs. This incident exemplifies Ms. Ghosh's willingness to dream and take unconventional paths in academics.
Ma'am played a pivotal role in shaping my career and has been a guiding light throughout my journey. This Teachers Day, I extend my heartfelt wishes for her continued health and happiness.
— Jaya Misra, principal, Lakshmipat Singhania Academy
A teacher who made teaching fun
Runa Chatterjee (top right) with her teacher Shiela Masilamani (below)
On Teachers’ Day, I offer a heartfelt tribute to all my teachers and mentors. As an educator myself, I’ve drawn valuable lessons on effective and empathetic mentorship from the guidance of my own teachers.
One teacher who holds a special place in my heart is Ms. Shiela Masilamani, my Chemistry teacher at St. Teresa’s Higher Secondary School in Kolkata. She also taught us Moral Science. I can vividly connect the title of our Chemistry textbook, Fun with Chemistry, to Ma’am’s classes. Beyond imparting knowledge, she instilled in us the values of being good human beings, all without the need for preaching. Ma’am was years ahead in her teaching style and effective communication. I am truly grateful to Ms. Masilamani for leaving a profound impact on my mind and for helping me pursue my dreams.
— Runa Chatterjee, headmistress, The Heritage School
A teacher who turned into a role model
Jinia Ray, assistant professor, Bengali Department, Women's Christian College, with her mentor Manidipa Das
Having spent 14 years as a professor, I owe much of who I am today to the remarkable teachers who have guided me since childhood. Among these mentors, there's one I’d like to highlight today – Manidipa Das, the former professor of the Bengali Department at Bethune College. My journey with her has been a continuous and enriching one, spanning from the age of 18 to my current age of 44.
One crucial facet of women’s education is fostering free thinking and independent living. In a world where many of us receive education, we often find it challenging to preserve our self-integrity when confronted with life's adversities. Manidipadi played a pivotal role in my life by unveiling the treasures of Bengali literature and world literature. She possessed a remarkable knowledge of Comparative Literature, theatre, photography, international cinema, was proficient in the Russian language, and had a delightful sense of humour. Through her guidance, I explored the world of Bengali language and literature from a multidisciplinary perspective. She seamlessly intertwined physics, language science, cinema, theatre, photography, painting, and literature, all while highlighting the profound connection between nature and humanity.
Di's contribution goes beyond academics; she empowered her students to cultivate a unique worldview, instilling in them the resilience to overcome grief and life's challenges, all with a touch of humour. Not only did she guide me to achieve a gold medal in Bengali within the confines of the university syllabus, but she also showed me the path to deep knowledge across various subjects and the joy of the learning process. Even in her recent retirement, as she delves into her research on Nabaneeta Dev Sen, she remains invigorated, continuously gathering pearls of knowledge from the boundless sea of academia.
To students like us, she remains a constant source of inspiration, long after her formal retirement.
— Jinia Ray, assistant professor, Bengali Department, Women's Christian College
Lessons from mother and a mentor
Arindam Basu and his mother Tandra Basu
Two teachers immediately come to mind, each leaving an indelible mark on my life. First and foremost, my late mother, Tandra Basu. She wore many hats for me — a teacher, guide, unwavering supporter, devoted fan, and even the sternest critic. It’s likely that my deep love for literature was nurtured by her. She would read the stories from my syllabus, both in English and Bengali, with such passion and depth that I couldn’t help but be profoundly affected. It left a big impression on me. She always asked me to be my fiercest competitor and outdo myself each time, something that I hold true even today. The other person who had a big influence on my life is Mr. Subir Ghosh. His simplicity, charm, warmth, sense of humour gave his classes a magnetic quality. When he would write something, he would show me and say that my opinion mattered. It gave me great confidence. He taught me to dream big and pursue it all my life. His life lessons have helped me shape my career to a great extent.
— Arindam Basu, senior faculty, Sister Nivedita University
A teacher, who’s also a friend
Asmita Chatterjee with her teacher Anita Mitra
My favourite teacher is Anita Mitra, my former German teacher who now serves as the Education Cooperation Officer at Goethe Institut Kolkata. She played a pivotal role in my journey to becoming a German teacher myself. Beyond her role as a teacher, she has been a constant source of motivation, pushing me to excel and providing unwavering support in every possible way. Her classes are not just educational but also incredibly engaging and fun, catering to both kids and adults alike. I often incorporate her innovative teaching methods into my own classes, inspired by her approach.
One of my cherished memories is from a German Language camp in Shillong, where I had the privilege of learning from her. Additionally, teaching alongside her at a German language camp was an absolute honour. Anita Mitra continues to be a significant influence and inspiration in my teaching journey.
— Asmita Chatterjee, German teacher and CAS coordinator at Modern High School International
