Rector Sir (Part-1st)—

The kind of anecdote/story, I am going to relate is the sheer paradigm, how students cunningly retaliate to their teacher, on being offended by them publicly. Though, the main story is not so lengthy, but the ambiance and the circumstances that led to the occurrence of this incidence need some detailing. Firstly, the period of time of occurrence of incidence goes back to the decade of seventy of last 20th century. At that period of time, in my this Himalayan foot hill city there existed only three degree colleges. All duly recognized by the government but run by some charitable Trusts. Out of these three degree colleges, two were managed by the one and the same Trust. Premises of both the colleges were in vicinity to one another.

This incidence relates to one of these two degree colleges. The very degree college, I too was a student at the time of occurrence of incidence. This degree college had had a repute for quality education in “science faculties.” Truly say, in the name of arts faculty, the “Geography” was the only subject taught here. Otherwise, rest of faculties belonged to science subjects exclusively. Be it , zoology, botany, chemistry, physics, math, geology and military science etc, all were taught here. It was not an easier task to seek admission in this college. Admission were sought on merits and after proper interview. People happened to manage their children get enrolled somehow as an under graduate in this degree college at the initial stage.

That was an old time. My main city was confined to some km in width and length. Natural flora was in exuberance since city was a foot hill city. This flora helped to maintain a beauteous climate. Apart from, a good percentage of denizens were of educated people. The social milieu of that time could be stirred by some small incidence occurred in the city. Secondly, being the city of peace loving people, it was almost crime free.

The another degree college run by the same Trust was enormous in size, assets, faculties and in number of students. It maintained its distinct girls and boys hostels to facilitate the education. The yearly election of the “Student’s Union” ever remained topic of discussion in the entire city. In way, it also served a s a political nursery for the upcoming political leaders. Even, if there were supposed to erupt some political disturbance in the city, that too in its initial stage had to seethe here firstly. Just contrary to this degree college, the degree college with “specific science faculties” had a renown for its discipline and intelligence.

At that time, as I noticed as a student, this specific college contained three categories of students. First most category consisted of students, who whole through in their education carrier been a Convent School products. Second category was of students who were denizens of city, smart enough but educated with Hindi medium. A prerogative enjoyed by them was, they were properly urbanized. In the the third and last category, a limited number of students came like me. We happened to come from “country side” rural ambiance and could not dare to emulate them neither in etiquette nor in dressing sense.This ever made us feel that we were so backward. This feeling also often intensified by neglecting attitude of urbanized students toward us. We were doomed to finish our entire graduation session enwrapped in that smoke of inferiority.

Here, one noticeable thing about our inferiority complex is mentionable. The students from “elite class” often happened to refer about their parents as “Mom and Dad.” Second category of urbanized students as ” Mummy ji and Papa ji.” But, we all from third category were from village culture who happened to call parents in pure vernacular as “Mother and father.” It amazed me, how smarter and civilized they were, calling their parents so decorously. Psychologically, we were under a persistent pressure to take ourselves far-backward on this minor issue and our rustic background ever nagged us.

Another cruelty upon  us was more daunting one. Up to 12th standard our schooling had been in Hindi medium, but here in the degree college, we were forced to study in English medium. Really say, for the initial six months, every lecture delivered by teacher remained “beyond comprehension” to us. We attended the class regularly only for the sake of proper attendance record, otherwise we could be debarred from appearing in the annual exams. It was like a torture listening incomprehensible jabbering of the lecturer. Gradually, we improved our English, but the god knows only, how we cleared our first year, even it was like a miracle to us.

There also occurred some events during the first year, when I sought the admission as an under graduate. In the same year, Ministry of education of the province granted a ” Local University” to our this part of the Himalayan region. All the three colleges of the city got affiliated to this University. It was helpful for students regard some problems. Along with,  a new Principal Sir came on a new posting in our college. He was renowned for his being a “Professor” at some University at abroad. At that time, “Professorship” in true sense was most respected designation. Even the teaching staff in degree college merely had the categories of lecturer and “head of the department” of the concerned faculty. No term like “dean” or ” reader” was in vogue at local level. Perhaps, these were in existence at the University level.

In that era, no any Tom, Dick and Harry could start his teaching carrier in degree college as Associate or Assistant professor as we witness today in abundance. One had to initiate the carrier as lecturer and after going an arduous, lengthy and hard process, near to his retirement , rarely one could  have conferment of Professorship. Even the Newly established University of our region had no professor except our Principal Sir of the college.

It was the rule by the administration of degree college that some senior most “head of the department” of any science faculty was conferred the designation  of “Chief Proctor” of the college. He was endowed with rights to maintain a discipline in the college campus. Still, this post is maintained in degree colleges and a board assists the Chief Proctor in this service. Since, new Principal Sir had appeared on the scene with his long teaching experience on foreign land, hence he was supposed to introduce some innovations as per his own parameters. Secondly, he was back to his poor, backward Country and that too in a small city. He was determined to change the atmosphere and he dis as well.

At the first, he abolished the designation of “Chief Proctor.” In place of that, he introduced the newly designated post of “Rector.” A new term, a new domination. Even teaching staff hardly heard  of this post at that time. Principal Sir, duly held a meeting with old proctorial board and introduced them with this new term “Rector.” He made them acquaint, how impressive, influencing and heavy weight this post was. He related his some memoirs of past life of teaching in foreign land and described the role of “Rector” in detail. Along with he also added some extra curricular power to this post.

The existing “Chief proctor ” felt so elated and glorified with this new designation. The reason was, none other college contained this post nor had possibility to create. Only a foreign returned Professor could dare to introduce such innovation. Students too felt elated of the prospect to be supervised by a Rector. But an off the track behaviour was noticed in the attitude of old Chief Proctor. He began to walk just a few inches above the ground on being deputed as Rector. (End of the Part 1st. Cont’d.) Penned by — Vinay Pharasi —–