I remember all my teachers, but some more often. As a +2 student at Boys Higher Secondary, Baramulla I remember Abdul Rashid Faktu Sahib who later got retired as CEO Baramulla. Those days he was our Principal. I was in the 11th class. He would come to our chemistry class for inspection. Hameed Sahib taught us chemistry those days.              Who can forget Gashroo Sahib and Ganaie Sahib? Both taught English. Gashroo Sahib had a great English vocabulary. He would give more than twenty words to a single word, in just a breath, that he would came across while teaching us text. When I was in the Degree College Baramulla. I often used to see him in a Masjid on Friday Prayers. He would very occasionally speak on the microphone. I would greet him and he would very humbly respond. Very late I came to know that Gashroo Sahib resides at Jetty Baramulla.  Ganaie Sahib’s English waves were also felt though he never taught us. I used to ask him questions often and if at times, he could not answer me he would let me know it next day in the morning assembly. He is perhaps serving a Higher Secondary as Principal in Wagoora Tehsil of Baramulla.
           I remember very well in 2002 I migrated to Dangiwacha Higher Secondary School on my parents insistence. I would naturally get inclined towards English teachers though there used to be other teachers around. Perhaps due to my love for English. Indeed true, one does what one thinks. Then I knew not that English literature and functional English are taught as subjects. I would speak English without caring about mistakes. I would listen to English programmes and read newspapers very often. And thank God my persistence and handwork paid me off.
           There were so many good teachers at Higher Secondary School Dangiwacha. And they indeed brought up to good students. Here at this school I remember Beigh Sahab, Bashir Sahab, Farooq Sahab, Rashid Sahab, Sumaira Madam, Nafeesa Madam, Hassan Jehangir, Ali Mohammad Dar (Refat) quite often. All of these were dedicated and sincere teachers.  How kind Beigh Sahab was!
            I remember Nafeesa Madam (English) as mush as I remember Mr Hassan Jehangir and Mr Ali Mohammad Dar ( Refat). Nafeesa Madam would teach GB Shaw’s ‘Spoken English’. Of all my English teachers Hassan Jehangir’s art of teaching was unique. Simple to complex, what a beautiful teaching style. He would teach keeping in view the requirements, instincts and emotions of his students. He often made his students ready recipients by saying filmy jokes, common life episodes, and stirring group discussions in the class. In discussions I was his soft target. He would make us laugh in the class by his heavy voice. He would do the role play so nicely and would generate the tunes of characters so exactly- be it a woman, a man, a child or an elderly. For his unique pronunciation he was favorite of everybody. I will never forget his teaching of short story ‘Necklace’ by Guy De Maupasant.
              Ali Mohammad Sahab was no less than anybody. He would teach us poetry. How best! He too was an ocean and had such a strong construction in English. He had a great knowledge of English Literature. I would not have ever come to know about great personalities like Shakespeare, Keats, Shelly, and Wordsworth had I not met him. He is the one who generated and instilled in me the love for literature. Dar Sahb’s phonetics was so strong.
My teachers were a source of inspiration for me. Their kindness, simplicity, and humility will never be forgotten and will act as a guiding light for years to come. I am proud of my teachers. May God bless them where they are? (Aameen).

 (Author teaches English at Govt. Degree College Kupwara. Feedback at: manzurakash@yahoo.co.in)

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