AN OBITUARY

Although it has been quite sometime since the sad and untimely demise of one of my favorite teachers, the truth has begun to sink in just now. Not knowing what to do, I thought the least I can do is to write something about the phenomenon that was Mrs.Daschaudary. It will be very hard to do justice to such a fine lady, friend, confidant and above all teacher but I hope to do my best.

I distinctly remember my English Literature class of grade VI. That was the first time she had thought us. An alumnus of our school, She knew stewatorians in and out, and had managed to formulate an ingenious mix of warmth and rigidity which will kept us on our toes but at the same time long for her attention.

She commanded respect. She had an unparallel gravity in her personality and an aura of invincibility surrounded her. She was always clear and precise. A no-nonsense approach always. Once she was a bit late to class. We did what we do best, create sound waves of great amplitudes and annoyingly high pitches. She was pissed. It was intolerable. She asked all of us to bend our necks and to look down for the entire period (she was a severe critic of corporal punishment). After passing her judgment she left.

The class stood there with its head held low. She had gone we could end this turmoil, she will obviously not know. All that was required was a upward movement of the neck. That never came. All of us waited for one of the others to make the move so that we could follow suit. It never happened. The rogues were tamed. But why so? Why did we allow us to undergo the pain and risk spondilitis wherein we could have ‘just raised our heads’? May be it was her. It obviously was her.

My neck was strained. But it felt good. Obeying her made me feel good.
That was only was the beginning of a truly educative journey. She always pressed on character development. Her classes paid attention to minute details. She was a perfectionist. She settled for nothing less then the best and incorporated the same values in her students. She was strict but never mean.

Now that she is no more a void has been created in all our lives. It has been sometime since I have passed out of school, but I could have never forgotten her. As the sad news broke out all my friends were in a state of shock. Every body stood quietly in disbelief not knowing how to react.

If anyone ever asks me how good she was, I will have the perfect answer.
The fact that she is remembered and missed by so many, the fact that I am writing this, the fact that all her students have grieved is reason enough.

Anthony may have said ‘The good of men gets buried with them but their bad deeds live on’, but it is also true that you are remembered and missed only because of your good deeds. Mrs. Daschaudary has done a lot of them.

‘You have left us for your heavenly journey leaving a void that shall never be filled up. You taught us to be strong, to laugh, to struggle, to triumph. You made us what we are. You inspired us. Now from all those who love you a sincere pray has been uttered –MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN PEACE’

MRS. Daschaudary may have left but she surely has not gone. She will be survived by all her students.
TEACHERS DON’T DIE.