It was in 2012 that I first got admission into the department of English as a student of the MA programme. God has been kind to me and the place has been my second home ever since, as an MA student, as a research scholar, as a guest teacher and then as a project fellow. I think everybody here will be able to imagine how huge a role the department has played in my life in the last seven years.
All of us gathered here today know our teachers well; they have different personalities, different methods of teaching and different approaches towards different situations in the classrooms. And needless to say, we have all benefitted from each teacher. I believe their different approaches have enriched our lives as human beings and as academics. Where one teacher might have a weakness, another teacher will make up for it. And like that, together, they make an amazing wholesome team. Whether it is Pi Maggie imparting precious knowledge to us with a passion and confidence that is unparalleled, or Pu Baral challenging us to take our intellectual exercise to a whole new level through his lectures, or MLP ma’am being the epitome of sincerity and efficiency and as my best friend Lydia puts it “the most efficient human being ever”, or Miss KC’s soothing collectedness that can calm even the most stressed of souls, or Miss Laltei’s eloquence and expertise as she explores the varied realms of literature, or Dhanajit Sir’s apparent enthusiasm to help us discover magic through words or Miss Kristina’s fresh and unconventional approach towards education and life itself, all our teachers are uniquely the best of teachers.
Now, you may wonder why I have not mentioned Pi Adiki, that is because I have been for saving her for the last and not at all because she is the least. Today, in 2019, more people are talking about the importance of mental health. But Pi Adiki did just that way back in 2012, when tremendous importance was not yet placed on a person’s mental well being. I remember vividly, as though it were yesterday, Pi Adiki telling us to take care of our mental health and that there should be no stigma attached to mental illness. Back then, we were not used to listening to anybody talk about such matters in such a way, and to this day, I remain grateful to Pi Adiki for telling us just what we needed as a group of young adults who still have so much to go through in life. And so, it is with all the confidence that I have ever felt that I proudly assert that all of us who have had the privilege to sit in the classrooms of our teachers are truly blessed.
Growing up in the Mizo community where the church and the YMA are dominant forces, I seldom saw women leaders in the public life. That we have had just about six women MLA in the last 47 years since Mizoram became a Union Territory strengthens the perception that women are usually not seen actively participating as leaders in public. But when I joined as a student in the department, I realised that women can be just as smart as men, and just as capable as leaders. But then I also realised that most of our teachers come from progressive families that did not try to clip the wings of their womenfolk. Alas! Not all women can say that of their families. But today, things are better and more and more women are pursuing their dreams and ambitions, and making significant contributions to the Mizo community. And I believe our teachers are pioneers who have paved the way for us younger Mizo women.
With the world continuously moving towards creating more spaces and platforms for the sidelined and marginalised members of the world community, our teachers too have not failed in teaching us to be proud of our roots, our cultures and traditions and in doing that, they have given us the gift of pride, pride in our history and culture and that is something nobody can ever take away from us without our will. Through the critical perspectives they have lent us through their lectures, they have also taught us not to just accept things at face value. Whether it has to do with our culture or society or even the way we practise our belief system, our teachers have taught us that it is alright to question the status quo and engage in discourses and debates, and yes, even if we are women.
To conclude this little tribute, I wish to acknowledge God’s grace and wisdom in placing me in the hands of people who have so much knowledge and wisdom to share. I know that it is not just my life that has been touched, but also the lives of many others as well. Thank you and God bless you.
