A tribute to my English Teacher

My English teacher who taught me from 5th to 7th classes passed away on 7th July, 2011. He age is above 90 years. His full name is Vemulapalli Venkateshwara Rao. However, he was affectionately called as VVR garu by his colleagues and school management. He was also referred to as Jampani mastaru as he worked as the Head Teacher in Government school in the village Jampani. After he retired from government service, our principal, Madhusudhan Rao garu went to him and requested him to teach at our school in Chilumuru. He taught for more than 20 years even after retirement and I was one of his countless fortunate students to have learnt English alphabets and grammar from him.

He had special affection towards me and my sister as our family and his family used to stay close by in our school. His wife (mamma garu) used to come to our home regularly and amma also used to reciprocate. When I came to 5th standard after finishing my first 4 years in Government Elementary school, I was yet to start with English alphabets. VVR garu was a hard task master and I was initially so frightened that I used to look for an opportunity to run away from his classes. Amma sensed my fear and conveyed the same to VVR garu. I slowly became comfortable and got 38 marks in 1st unit test. The score improved to 57 in 2nd unit test and to 75 in Quarterly exam. Later, fear about English as well as VVR garu translated into love for both.

VVR garu used to stress on fundamental grammar so much that I still remember him writing active- passive voice, direct-indirect speech on the black board. The countless occasions he explained to us about adjectives, adverbs, tenses of verbs, infinitive etc. made them an inalienable part of my memory. I still remember his sentence that we must write only present tense after do, does, did, will, would, shall, should, can, could, may, might. Now, I may be unknowingly applying all these elementary principles. But for him, my confidence with English grammar would never have been same.

When I went to Hyderabad for graduation and Anand for P.G., my vocabulary was comparatively weak since I could not read many English books in Telugu medium till 10th class. But, my grammar gave me the required comfort. I kept reading Hindu, Frontline though I could not understand many words, kept looking into dictionary umpteen times though the explanation itself baffled me sometimes. Vocabulary is like muscle and tissues which I could gradually add to the strong skeleton that I owe to VVR garu.

My interaction with him never stopped (after 7th class or even later when I left A.P.). Whenever, I used to meet him when I went home, he affectionately used to ask me about my studies, work. I remember one of his sentences for life – “Choudary..be moderate in your habits or whatever you do (be it food, sleep, physical activity). I am able to keep good health in my nineties because I was always moderate in my habits”. He passionately used to tell me that he used to go to court during his school days to listen to lawyers’ arguments to improve his language.

He was so happy to get know about my rank when I met him in Tenali for the last time in December. I am so unfortunate not to have been able to see him before his death. What a noble life is that of teacher who enlightens the minds of so many children? It is a life fully lived and lived for a purpose. I and many of his students may never be able to repay the debt that we owe to him. May his soul rest in peace.