School beyond the classroom

A small act of kindness can change not only one life but the generations to come

As I returned from my native village, I couldn't shake off the thought that a small act of kindness can change not only one life but also the generations to come.

A few days ago, I had visited my village, where I spent my childhood. While wandering through the familiar streets --on the road to nostalgia--I hoped to meet someone I knew, but most people from my generation had left the village.

Suddenly, a person greeted me, and as I struggled to recognise him, he introduced himself as the younger brother of Zareena, my classmate from middle school.

I was thrilled to hear about Zareena and asked about her whereabouts. Her brother told me told me that Zareena was settled in Delhi, her husband had retired from a reputable company, and her two sons were working abroad.

She was living a very prosperous life and I was genuinely happy for her. My mind flashed back to the day I passed the middle-class examination. My father took me to our teacher’s house to discuss my admission to a new school as our village only had a middle school.

We met Zareena and her father whom our teacher had invited to persuade him to allow his daughter to continue her studies. Zareena's father adamant about not sending her to the next village to study, but our teacher and my father convinced him that she was talented and good at studies and deserved higher education.

Zareena's father had planned to marry her off within six months. In a last ditch effort, our teacher suggested that she study as a private student for the matriculation examination. He assured Zareena's father that his wife would accompany the girl during the examination in a nearby town. Eventually, Zareena's father agreed and she was allowed to chase her dreams.

Zareena was the only student from our village to secure a first division in the Matriculation examination. After that, my family moved to the city and I lost touch with my friends and others in the village.

Years later, while I wandered the streets of our village, Zareena’s brother told me that after Matriculation she was admitted to a junior teachers training programme and she secured a scholarship from the state government and became a primary teacher. She got married into a good family, continued her studies and eventually worked as a post-graduate teacher in a Delhi government school.

As I listened to Zareena's story, my mind kept drifting back to our teacher, who had selflessly helped her family and paved the way for future generations to escape poverty and darkness.

I realised that a good teacher is not only good in words or deeds but also in heart. Their good relationships and concern for students are genuine reflections of their kindness, not mere strategies to win friends or influence people.

I hope Zareena is a teacher like ours, inspiring and guiding future generations.