Kids are My Paradise: This is NOT just a story this is a REAL life story, which has a lot of love and affection

By Kiran Ratan Raju

When you do something with your heart and soul, you feel like an ocean is moving within you – the happiness feels like heaven! It will make you forget everything and also make you think about happiness and peace in life.
This is a unique story where you will find an author – who cried for kids for the smallest of reasons – because he wanted to meet them, talk to them, play with them, stay with them and always wanted to be a friendly and determined teacher to them.
Teaching children gives incomparable joy. Nothing warms the cockles of a teacher's heart more than seeing his children achieve, grow and contribute back to the society. In this semi-memoir, he reminisces about his sojourn as a teacher and shares nuggets of nostalgia from his memory bank.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Notion Press
• Release date: Nov 4, 2015
• ISBN: 9789352064816

Book preview

Raju

1

Introduction

Kodangal (MBNR dist), 2014

I did not imagine that 100 kilometres away from Hyderabad, my city, I would find something that would give me so much happiness, peace of mind, love and affection. I had no idea that this place would decide what I am supposed to be and what suits me. I had no idea that I would experience something that reminds me of my childhood and my teachers. It is not that this place is better than Hyderabad, not because my uncle own and runs a school here, but because of the kids in this school. I feel blessed and am very thankful to him for giving me this gift.

In early 2014, at the start of the academic year, I landed up here for the second time in my life. I had no idea that this place would give me so many memories that would last even if this life ends. I came here as an untrained teacher, became a student, started learning things to make students stay involved and in order to train them. Initially, I was sent there for a week but I wanted to remain there for the entire academic year. There were many ups and downs while staying there. I faced many things, living away from my family, friends, and work. Every time, situations tested me. In a few situations, I decided to walk away and I even left, but then again, I came back, thinking that I was not going to leave my happiness, peace, childhood, love and life - in short, the kids - just because of a temporary situation.

Initially, I used to teach English, Mathematics and Environmental Studies (EVS) for students of classes 2, 3 and 4. The total strength was 27 students, of which 24 were regular to school. These 24 were 24 carats, like gold, for me. I even named them as 1st carat, 2nd carat, 3rd, and so on, until 24th carat, as per their roll numbers. I always used to tell them that together, their unity made them gold. I told them to be together, study well, compete healthily, work hard, have fun, and that they were all important to me. These kids are good in studies and are interested in games and dance. I used to be there for three or four days in a week and my kids used to ask me not to go. Some even wanted to attend school on Sundays! It’s only because they feel that their sir was here itself. On weekends, I would work in Hyderabad, play cricket on Sundays and return to the school on Mondays. It was like a residential school for me as I used to stay upstairs in the school building. Most times I was the only person around. There was a watchman who stayed on the ground floor and I was upstairs. For about two kilometres around the school, there were no shops, houses or anything - so I was completely isolated all night, and waited for the nights to end because I could see my kids in the morning. Even in those lonely times, I never felt alone as I remembered things that happened in the day, which would bring a smile to my face and make me happy. These memories cannot be forgotten, even if new colours are added in my life.

Akshitha, Abhinethri, Thriveni, Prashanthi, Cristina, Pravalika, Bindhu, Karthik, Nishanth, Azeez, Mahender, Shashank, Sai Gupta, Shiva, Navaneetha, Hafsah Sultana, Vamshidher, Anand, Ashok, Ashok Kumar, Suman, Sharan, Sai Neeraj, Niharika, Suneeth, Rajesh and Ajay - these are my students! Writing the names of my kids in this book is happiness. I hope that when my students read their names here, they will be happier than I am! Normally, I like spending time with kids. When I met my kids, I had no idea that I would get so attached to them that too in such little time. I used to leave home just to teach them, play with them, listen to their jokes, stories, and fights and see their cute expressions. I used to spend a lot of time with these kids. I always wanted my kids to be with me whether in the classroom or on the playground. Sometimes it felt like this was a residential school. I was even ready to be a warden so that I could stay there with my kids all the time.

First picture of my kids

Before meeting my kids for the first time, I wondered what needed to be done, what I could do in life, where I would go and what all I could do. All these questions were about my future. When I entered the school, these things were still on my mind. But, my kids never let it come to mind as they occupied my heart and mind completely and wanted more place and I used to think about only them, and nothing else. Sometimes, I used to forget my meals.

After completing my MBA, I could work in an MNC, earn a lot and remain in a high paying job. My friends were mostly settled in such companies and they’re still going well, earning good money, living luxurious lives and enjoying some degree of name and fame in society. I was not into that. I was different from them.

I did my MBA because I know that doing it will give me an opportunity to work in MNCs and would be useful if I become an entrepreneur. I completed the course, but did not join a company, and was still thinking about what work to do and what would best suit me and my personality.

When I told people that I was planning to spend time at a school, some of my friends, relatives and some of my well wishers told me that I had an MBA and not a Bachelor’s degree in teaching. If I was really interested in that profession, I should have done my B. Ed. , instead of a B. Com and MBA.

It was a valid argument. But, I told myself,

My friends were not WRONG but I’m RIGHT!

I love my friends and family and they were not wrong but what I felt was right, too. They were right in their own perspectives and I was right in my own perspective. There were some others who said, "You were born, brought up and schooled in Hyderabad. How will you go to a village and adjust with that environment, where the lifestyle, language, thinking and training are all different from what you are used to in Hyderabad?

Sometimes, when debates go on, I only tell them that I’m not doing it for anyone else, but that I’m doing it because I love doing it and this is for my happiness, health and peace. I’d even decided that I entered as an untrained teacher and wanted to join the teaching profession.

Everyone has a goal and a dream, and I do, too.

My Goal was to get into Teaching, be a teacher or lecturer and not stop till I reach my goal and

My Dream is to establish an Educational Institution of my own, no matter how long it takes.

There are people who make fun of small things in life like making fun of your phone, your dress, shoes, bike, and what not. When they do this, they also have the tendency to make fun of the more important decisions in life like your career, profession, dream and goals. People definitely do it, not only for you, but for others, too. Everyone should face it and overcome it. If you stop doing things because people make fun of you, you cannot progress. DO IT! If you can find happiness and satisfaction in doing what you like, do it irrespective of what others say.

There are parents who call me and ask me to come to school just to teach their children. There are parents who invite me for their family functions and birthday parties. There are students who want to see me at least once each week. This is happiness, this is value, this is respect and this is life.

I believe in earning! Yes, I do believe in earning Value and Importance rather than earning Income and Incentives. You may earn income with your value and importance, but you cannot earn any value or importance with your income. If you work too hard to earn, you will not get time to experience these things. The reason why people are interested more on investing in stocks or insurances is to find happiness.

There are people who believe that to live means to survive, so they do anything to earn money, and hope that it gives them value in society. There are people like me who believe that life is meant to be lived happily, and that one should do the things they like most, be there where others feel that your presence is important. Life is all about Value and Importance.

2

Missed INDEPENDENCE

August 15, 2014

The first celebration of Independence Day in the newly born state of Telangana (the 29th State of India) and the first celebration of Independence Day for me at School coincided. Sadly, I missed both events. As I usually do every year, I got up early in the morning, had a bath, get ready and went to the government school near my house. I participated in Independence Day celebrations and a few leaders attended, and hoisted the national flag. I never skipped Independence Day and Republic Day ever, in my life. I always felt that they were the most important days for me since my childhood,

When I was in residential school, studying in Class 8, Independence Day was on a Monday. I was not into any extracurricular activities. I was not very interested in them, and they were not even important to me. That year, on Sunday, I felt that I had to do something to mark Independence Day.

But since I was a school kid, I was not allowed to go anywhere