An inspirational interview series with teachers

Have you ever met a truly inspired person?

Then you would instantly recognize Ratnabali.

It is people like her who remind you that teaching is

fundamentally a human experience and that it is enriched

by the teacher’s life experiences as much as the subject knowledge.

Tell us a bit about your background and how you got into teaching?

I’m basically from a very small town of Assam, near the tea garden. I grew up amidst nature

and studied in an English medium school. I got married at the very young age of 18. I

completed my education after marriage, with two young sons, as a regular student from

Jamshedpur Women's College. My husband encouraged me a lot.

I was a very brilliant student all through my academic career, even after marriage. My

husband never stopped me. I used to study late night, He never demanded me to go to bed

early, wrote my notes like copying from books, or explained poems or critical notes of

eminent authors, bought books from Calcutta (There was no on line facilities then). This was

in the 80s; I completed my studies in 1994.

My husband encouraged me a lot. I was a very brilliant student all through

my academic career, even after marriage. My husband never stopped me.

Yes, I wanted to become a teacher as since my childhood. I always imagined myself as teacher

only. I took my teacher’s training from one of the best institutions called Loyola B.Ed College. I

have two post-graduation degrees, English & History.

What about teaching as a calling excited you, made you want to become one?

Teaching excites me very much. While teaching poetry or Shakespeare I deport myself in that

world, I try to take my students also along with me. History is something I consider very

fascinating, as it is a factual literature. In fact history & literature go hand in hand.

In the classroom there are so many different types of students coming from so varied

backgrounds - social, religious, economic- to deal with them is so challenging! At the end of the

day, there is a sense of great satisfaction that I have made some contributions in their lives, their

value systems, and their personality development.

And how do you navigate these challenges of varied social, religious, economic backgrounds?

I am a very sensitive person. I love literature, read a lot of books in Bengali, Hindi & English.

It gives me strong insight to understand people and I use the same in my classroom context.

How do you ignite the passion in others, in your classroom?

I write poems, short stories, articles, I sing, dance (like a professional). In school, I taught

students dance, drama. Surbhi did a lot of dance.

I think I never considered teaching from the point of view of earning money only.

May be that is one of the reasons I could reach the student’s heart.

Who is a teacher according to you?

I think a true teacher is that person who has a burning desire to interact with her

students and one who loves her subject. She must have enough knowledge of her

subject, should always keep herself alert to her surroundings & never consider

that she knows a lot. She should always keep learning.

In your growing years do you recall a teacher who shaped the person you eventually became?

Yes, my English teacher & my Maths teacher. They were my role models. I used to copy them. My

English teacher once saw my dance - performance on the stage. She was so pleased that she gave

me a book written by Rabindranath Tagore. My Maths teacher came to my house and told my

grandpa to send me to her so that she could tune me finely, without charging a single penny.

And what did young Ratnabali make of these gestures? What did you take

away from these gestures of your teachers?

I learnt to praise, encourage, and help by going out of my way if I believed that

my helping will make it better, make a difference to any situation.

Tell us about any exceptional

student, one who left a lasting

impression on you?

Yes many Sweta, Inthekhab,

Ramakrishna, Saurav, Ranjan,

Fardeen, Gaurav, Vaibhab,

Meghali, Surbhi, so many of

them are there.

If you had to choose one who

inspired you the most?

Hmm… may be Surbhi though it

is difficult to say one name.

I love her simplicity, and down to

earth nature.

What is the future of teaching in a Googled world?

You mean to say whether there will be any need of a teacher in future?

My answer is teachers are path breakers, navigators, and guides.

A machine cannot take the place of a living identity,

who can feel the emotions of a student, understand a student, correct a student,

and if needed cry with the student.

How do you see teachers of the future?

What new skill would they require to meet and thrive in the future?

They definitely need new skills to keep themselves at per with the changing times, to tackle the

young generation in a different manner. They would need to understand the students from a

psychological perspective. This is becoming more important because of the internet exposure of

young minds. Teachers of the future would also need to work towards finding the balance

between being more open to them and maintaining your position as well.

Do you have any message for future teachers?

Teaching is a noble & very responsible profession. Therefore only those people that are

genuinely sincere and have a passion for teaching should come into this line.

Just to kill time & to earn some money one must not become a teacher. I have never regretted

once that i am a teacher though I had all the ingredients to become an IAS.

Is there something I should have asked but did not that you think

is important in the context of this discussion?

Parents should be counselled that they must not force their children to study only Science

as our society still believes that only those who study Science do wonder in their lives.

Then many students will be happier and the teachers as well will be happy to teach.

An inspirational interview series with teachers

Teacher Tales is an inspirational interview series conceptualised by Shreyanka Basu. The idea of Teacher Tales comes from Shreyanka’s personal belief about teaching.

The goal of Teacher Tales is to be a witness to the passion that drives teachers to take up this profession. It touches upon the things that inspire teachers and how they bring the same to their classrooms. It focuses on the evolving narrative of what it means to be a teacher in the larger context of learning and education. . It’s ambition is to raise a toast to the great human beings behind the inspiring teachers. It celebrates both young and experienced teachers. If you know a teacher who has inspired you and others like you please do write in to us at teachertalesinterviews@gmail.com with the subject line – Teacher Tales Recommend a Teacher. To get inspired follow us @ https://www.facebook.com/TeacherTales https://twitter.com/Teacher_Tales http://www.issuu.com/teachertales http://www.slideshare.net/TeacherTales Content Copyright @Teacher Tales 2015. Image Source – Facebook Timeline- Copyright with respective owners.