JOIN USNormally Teachers Day is celebrated by thanking and gifting teachers. But at Government High School at Police Colony on Magadi Road, it was celebrated in a unique way.
A group of 29 students of 1984- 85 batch, who are now working in various streams across the country, came together to felicitate seven teachers who had then taught them. They also honoured 16 present teachers under the tree which the alumni had studied. The group, with tears in their eyes, recollected their good old days in the school.
The reunion after 31 years was organised by Art of Giving Foundation and conceptualised by Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences Chairman Achyuta Samantha.
Mamatha, an alumna who teaches craft to government school students for free, took the initiative.
“It took her a year to track us and bring us together. It was sad to learn that three of our teachers were no more,” said Guruprasad, an alumnus and a member of Art of Giving.
It was nice to see that most of the alumni of government high school are doing well in life. Some have become businessmen, a few others are working in various government departments including Vidhana Soudha, BWSSB, One of the alumni is a nurse at Nimhans. We have a civil contractor, a granite exporter but none joined the police force or active politics, the alumnus added.
Another teacher Manjula, who will retire in a few months, said that these children who were once my students are like my children now. We have come so close together.
Anekal Lakshmi, a teacher who retired two months back, said that it was overwhelming to see the old students. It is even more nice to see how much they still love us. This is a true Teacher’s Day gift. She wished that every school would replicate the same and bring back the old glory of government schools.
Ambareesh, an alumnus and a civil contractor, said that this reunion was a morale booster for students studying presently in government schools.
“There was a time when people used to queue up to enrol into government schools. But these days people are hesitant. It is not that the quality of education in government schools is bad, but it’s because of the mindset. Government schools lack branding. So, we have started many initiatives like personality development and extra-curricular activities,” he said.