A bond that could not be broken
Pain of parting
In an unusual expression of affection for two teachers who were transferred, children of a government school at Tirumale near Magadi slashed their arms with sharp objects on Saturday.
Unable to bear the sorrow of the unexpected transfer of two of their favourite teachers, several students of the Tirumale Government Higher Primary School cut themselves with whatever sharp objects they could lay their hands on. Many students wept inconsolably.
The teachers, Ramani and Manjula, were transferred out of the school, because of “low student strength.” Friday was to be their last day at work. Once the news broke, students, many of them in tears, pleaded with the two teachers to stay, but in vain, sources said.
The impending exit of the teachers caused such grief to the students that one of them slashed his forearm with a divider from his geometry instrument box. In no time, several others followed suit.
“Many students cut their hands with dividers, compasses, bangle pieces and other sharp objects that they could find. Several students were injured. It was a heart-wrenching sight to watch,” recalled a teacher.
The Block Education Officer, A R Rangaswamy, rushed to the school by 9 am. He was dumbfounded with this rare bond between the students and the teachers, as students pleaded him to reinstate their favourite teachers.
“I have never seen such a deep emotional attachment between the teachers and students in my service. I will consider this a special case and give a detailed report on the exceptional teacher-student bond to the higher officials. I will do my level best and take further actions as per their directions,” he said.
Meanwhile, as soon as the news of the students hurting themselves spread, Manjula and Ramani rushed to the school. While overjoyed students surrounded the duo in no time, Ramani broke down.
Admonishing the students for their rash act, Manjula said: “Why did you all do this to yourselves.”
Do you think I will be happy seeing this? I am pained at what you have done.”
It was an emotional reunion, though a brief one, as Ramani embraced her sobbing students who left no stones unturned to convince their “madam” to stay back.
“I have been working in this school since 1994. I was earlier transferred to Bangalore in 2001 also. But the students appealed and protested and I was transferred back to the school. Now I have been transferred again. I will explain and try to convince them,” Ramani said.
Manjula, who has been teaching at the school since 1998, said: “The children are very attached to me. Some students even came to my house in the morning to convince me to stay. I rushed to the school as soon I came to know of the unfortunate incident.”
