Why do you remember an MBA Prof?
Academic brilliance!
Sure! But do you remember all brilliant Profs?
No.
Then whom do you remember even after few years and why?
Perhaps, those Profs who listened to us.
All Profs have two ears. What's so special about listening?
I mean we remember those who were empathetic to us.
You mean they tolerated indiscipline in the class?
No, far from it. In fact we remember a Prof who was very strict and would admonish us for disturbing the class and would not tolerate any indiscipline.
But as adults, you don't like to be ticked off.
Yes, that's the point. This teacher would later counsel us and fathom the cause of our immature behaviour.
What about teachers who put up boards for 'visiting' hours? They tried to inculcate time management habit in you.
We hated such Profs. On the other hand, we remember the Prof who had an open-door policy for students.
But a Prof also needs privacy for research and self-study.
Agreed. But we feel students' accessibility should be a higher priority for any Prof.
Any other characteristic of a Prof which you remember?
Oh yes! We paid extra attention to a Prof who narrated real-life stories rather than the boring slides. We also felt valued when a Prof called us by name and helped us improve our self-confidence and the overall personality. A Prof who taught us more than lessons!
The above conversation is not AI-generated. It is based on the interaction with the students over the years.
Whether you are a teacher or a student past or present, ask yourself where do you fit in? And you will find realism in above conversation. Of course there are many other reasons why we remember a teacher. But we wanted to keep our story short.
Happy Teacher's Day 2026 to all my teachers, students, colleagues, parents, family and friends. Ghumakkad-the-teacher is grateful to each one of you for enriching his life.
Sharing below few pictures and links to our earlier stories on Teacher's Day
Do Teachers Get Bored? - far from it! There is always action all around. Click the link to browse an outdoor activity with MBA students and lessons from a forest!
A Teacher Keeps Learning - that is the best part! A teacher learns more from the students.
A teacher is like an explorer, out in the open!
If the story has triggered some nostalgia about your former teacher, do share. Because 'They Taught Us More Than Lessons'.
Postscript 6th September 2026.
A regular reader, fellow BITSian and an IT-pro all her life wrote the following poem yesterday. Sharing with her permission:
Great composition, straight from the heart. Am sure many readers will relate to it.
Thanks much Radhika.
End of Postscript------
Thanks for browsing.
Stay connected and do leave a comment to encourage us.
--- Harsh-the-Ghumakkad/ 5th Sep 2026/Secunderabad
#TeachersDay2026 #gratitude #impactinglives #MBA #touchinglives #discipline #empathy #student #opendoor #accesstoteachers #approachability #highereducation #ghumakkadharsh #ghumakkadhb #shapingyoungminds #futureofIndia
Harsh as usual you have shown your brilliance and even made me guilty that I did not open my eyes and ears to more methods of teaching and interaction. I will always cherish our friendship and interactions
ReplyDeleteThanks Sir.
DeleteNo fears. You were as effective the way you taught us !
God bless.
Very nice sir !!
ReplyDeleteThanks much Tushar.
DeletePoints very well made. A teacher’s success is inscribed in the students’ minds. And hearts.
ReplyDeleteWell said Dilip, an accomplished teacher himself! Thanks.
DeleteHappy teachers day dear Harsh.All very true and nice to read.
ReplyDeleteThanks much Prof. Appreciate.
DeleteDear Harsh. No doubt students remember your positive points & practice them as they get higher positions in their companies. More than that is the faculty members who make you as their role models & contact us even after 15 years, since we quit those jobs. I remember one student recollects my hug when corrected him to work better. My congrats to you on this day.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Prof. With your enormous experience of heading the educational institutions besides teaching, we value your insights.
DeleteWould have loved to attend your classes - as a student.
ReplyDeleteWhen your Guru sits in your class, it is one full circle. Thanks for your encouragement Sir.
DeleteVery lovely post bhaiya.
ReplyDeleteTeachers are not merely the ones who impart knowledge from the book. They are our mentors, guides and often the ones who help shape us as the person we become.
They listen to us patiently, correct us when we go astray and encourage to move forward.
A true guru also has the courage to dissolve our ego & show us the reality we may not always be willing to see.
My Pranam to all such gurus🙏🏽
Thanks so much Nidhi for sharing your insights. Appreciate.
DeleteDear Harsh you made me recall so many fond memories of our times together as students and then separately as teachers. I don’t think that there is a simple answer to it. It is like the proverbial “beauty is in the beholder’s eyes”. Every student learns differently and admires teachers who open his/her eyes to the beauty of learning. What is unique about great teachers at any stage of a learner’s life is the simplicity with which they convey a very deep point and usually without hurting any egos. It is a challenging balance but that is what the greatness is all about. Simplicity with elegance! As always your Posts are perfect examples of this approach. Thanks for opening our eyes to the world only you have wandered into. Keep moving us!
ReplyDeleteThanks buddy for such crystal clear thoughts.
DeleteSimplicity with elegance! Tough to achieve. But yes, leaves a lasting impact on the students.
Teacher upgrades his learning while teaching and explores the explorers..... in the taught minds.......Prof Harsh ...on his unique way!!!!...a Transformative Educator!!!!!
ReplyDeleteKind Regards
Gopu
Thanks much Gopu for your encouragement.
DeleteAppreciate your observation about transforming the students. Indeed, a teacher gets a sense of fulfilment on seeing the transformation. If not all, at least in a few students every year.
True Sir. Wonderfully articulated and narrated.@ Bajaj
ReplyDeleteThanks much Rakesh- an outstanding teacher.
DeleteThis teacher's day, pranaams from a shishya to his dear Guru - the one who always walked the talk, has been and continues to be a role model. "Ghummkad" sir, thanks for being who you are - an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Admiral for your kind words. It has been a pleasure learning together!
DeleteBag full of wisdom, endless enthusiasm, and daily inspiration ✨ College would not have been the same without your guidance and discipline. Thank you for making learning feel less like a task and more like a joy.
ReplyDeleteThanks for being part of the journey. Journey of learning and sharing. God bless.
Delete