Thursday, 11/09/2025
06:00 PM
Teaching is perhaps the most influential profession one can imagine, with its remarkable power to inspire and shape the futures of generations. Those who fulfill this transformative role truly deserve to be honoured and celebrated. On Thursday, September 11th, seven days after the National Teachers’ Day, scholars and students from our department gathered in Mahatma Hall in this spirit of gratitude and appreciation. The event, organized by the Research Legislator Subhra, along with the Branch Councillor Uthara and the Department Secretary Aswitha, was a cherished evening that evoked ardour, laughter and nostalgia.
Uthara and Subhra opened the event by welcoming the professors, non-teaching staff and all attendees. Professors were then invited to share their thoughts and memories, turning the evening into a series of heartfelt stories and nostalgic recollections. Prof. Rajesh Kumar, the Head of the Department, expressed his pleasure of being invited to such an event. He reflected on the influential role of teachers and recited verses of poetry.
Many professors recollected some cherished experiences in their teaching journey. Prof. Sreekumar could vividly remember the single-student class he was assigned to teach in his first stint as a professor at a college in Kerala. The student was terrified and broke into tears on the first day, but over time, he gained her confidence and she even encouraged more students to join the class. Prof. Swarnalatha was eloquent in remembering her soft-spoken PhD supervisor and the ten-minute conversation with him that convinced her not to quit academia, ultimately changing the course of her life. Prof. Solomon also recalled one such teacher, who went so far as to fight court cases against the school’s competitive and discriminatory pedagogies, rewriting the lives of students branded as worthless, one of whom was Solomon himself. Prof. Hemchandran gratefully remembered a teacher who was a good listener and encouraged him to tell stories, something he continues to do to this day.
Prof. Patra observed that a teacher shall always remain a student, open to learning everyday which Prof. Milind agreed totally and cautioned against the tendency of students to place professors on a pedestal, letting the distance grow. Prof. Joe recited verses of Khalil Gibran, delivering an evocative address that highlighted the role of teachers through the allegory of a river whose journey of learning and unlearning culminates in the ocean, not to disappear within it, but to become the ocean itself. Prof. Santhosh reminded the gathering that there are also bad teachers, who in their own way become lessons. Professors, including Prof. Sahu encouraged the continuation of such celebrations, hoping for many more days that bring everyone together. It was notable that even professors with twenty or thirty years of experience could not recall such occasions in the past when faculty were celebrated. This made the event all the more special, valuable, and a reminder of the importance of bringing the community closer together.
One of the main highlights of the event was the duet by Prof. Kipgen and Prof. Solomon. This joyful collaboration between one of the most senior and one of the most junior professors was truly a memorable snapshot of the evening. Prof. Sudarshan also let his music speak, captivating the audience with his rendition of a Carnatic classical piece. Several students and scholars further engaged the gathering with their soulful music performances.
Every single seat in the hall was occupied, thanks to the massive turnout of PhD scholars. It was clear that the professors thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to meet each other in such a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, and many expressed a desire for more gatherings like this. Everyone congratulated Subhra Chettan and Uthara Chechi (that’s how Uthara addressed him during the introduction, which quickly became a running joke throughout the evening) for this thoughtful initiative. The event was truly charming, with attendees becoming engrossed listeners to inspiring stories and melodious music.
All teaching and non-teaching faculty joined in cutting the cake and posing for group photos at the end. The celebration was followed by a special screening of the film Taare Zameen Par (2007), organized by the department film club.
—Design by Neenu Elza & Photos by Department Photography Club
Article 19 