Sriram S B.com 2006-2009
During my early days in Brindavan, Ruchir Sir was a genius, a walking library and calculator, master of ceremonies for most occasions at and for the BRN campus, a great orator, a tough disciplinarian and one of Swami’s best and favorite student.
He would throw you and your belongings out for days together if he catches you entering the classroom at the stroke of the bell for his sessions or if you slept in his class or for any other lazy attitude. Although he was very kind faced, the rare combination of knowledge and discipline of the highest order would make me fear him so much, that I rarely tried to pick up a conversation with him.
As days progressed, my fear turned into admiration, for he was deeply concerned about his students. He focused and brought to light the subtleties of life to us.
He encouraged us to always ask ‘why’ since he believed in the ‘Purpose’, a lesson in management. I have never seen a teacher who would throw open a challenge, that he would not enter the classroom until he had an answer for any question that was hurled at him in classroom. Anything literally meant any topic under the sun.
Once it did happen that one of our brothers asked a question for which he could not tell ‘why’ or its origin. I don’t remember the exact question but it was out of the normal?
He promised that he would not enter until he finds the answer. All of us were excited the next day since if Ruchir Sir didn’t enter his class at the stroke of the bell, it meant that we had outfoxed him and he would not enter until he finds the answer. This we knew from past batches that he was a man of his words. However, going by his records, most of us expected him to turn up on dot. But he didn’t. We were all happy having a free class. There was a lot of laughter and joy in the class. However, in about 10 min, there was a hushed silence as we saw sir walking towards our class. He entered panting and went on to explain the ‘why’. He turned the world upside down, overnight to find and answer to a not so useful question of a student in his class. He walked the talk that day! Faced challenges gleefully. Stood by his word. A lesson for us in practice.
Every time a mediocre student, like me, attempted to answer a question in class, he would be genuinely glad. In fact, we could see the joy in his eyes when any of us demonstrated a decent understanding of his teaching. He was truly a passionate teacher.
He believed in the power of human mind and discouraged us to use calculators. We have seen calculators fly out and break. But he would call that student in the evening and buy him a new one silently and advise him not to over rely on the machine.
His words on discipline – ‘Sensitivity to others and situations’, remains with me even today. He was more like the outer shell of a coconut, tough and hard. But, inside, he was sweet and tender, full of love and compassion.
He would also crack you up yet make you think with his witty anecdotes or quotes.
The world needs such teachers. Thank you Ruchir Sir for all the inspirational memories. I’m sure your legacy will be etched for long. I take this opportunity to bow down and offer my salutations with love and respect to all the teachers for their noble lives of sacrifices.
