What a Teachers' Day celebration it was, at the Department of English. 

In the afternoon, there was a slow trickle of the newsletter team into the department for a chat and the late afternoon flew away in happy chatter and plans for the future of the newsletter and the students. Uday, Prashant and Gopi shared their future plans. Prashant wants an easy life, full of fun and joy - he opts for a teaching career with an MS and  a doctrate from a foreign university. Uday is game for all opportunities, and is preparing for GRE, the Defence and the core companies. Gopi is 100% sure that it's going to be GATE and an IIT P.G. course. 

We were getting ready to leave when Navneeth who had been grinning like a Cheshire cat walked in and invited us - Ms.Majidha, Mr. Prasath and me outside. There sat a big fat cake with the most beautiful, glistening creamy cover,  ready for the cutting. Candles were lit and glowed gently. The wish for the prosperity and success of the students was made and the cake cut with much noise and fanfare. Eating the cake was only a part of it, as the rest of the cake was smeared on faces. Poor Lucky who tried to escape it all by running away from the scene ended with torn slippers and broken glasses.

The love and affection that one receives on these days is a gentle reminder to us that the teacher's bond with students just does not end in the class. It goes beyond text books, assignments and tests. It is that acceptance of one another and respect for one another that makes it easy for us to reach out in joy and affection. My heart goes to these children who with their gesture show us that teachers become more than teachers - they become an extended family.

God bless us all.