Dear Friends,

Today is 15^th August 2016,Independence Day.

This article is not about how to commemorate this day but an outburst of my feelings for an ex-student of mine.

I have been into this line of work for almost twenty years. There have been moments when my ex-students shared their happiness and success stories with me and there have been moments when I was shattered by their grief. But this incident is completely different.

Rishikesh Vishwakarma, an ex-student of mine, who has joined army, had come to meet me so that he could share his experience at Siachen and Kashmir border. The odd circumstances faced by them in these places made me poignant. But the most tear-jerking moment was yet to come .Just have a look at this conversation:

Soldier 1-  Look at this pic on fb. She was my English teacher, Meena Ma’am.

Soldier 2- Let me have a close look at it. I don’t believe this. She was my English teacher too.

Soldier1-  I had gone to seek her blessings when I got selected in army.

Soldier 2- Really?? You know where she lives?

Soldier 1- Yes .Very close to my house.

Soldier 2- When I return to Mumbai, I would like to meet her. Can you make this possible for me??

Soldier 1- Where do you stay?

Soldier 2- Goregaon.

Soldier 1- Whenever I feel sad I call up my mom and Meena Ma’am. Do I tell her about you?

Soldier 2- No. I want to give her a surprise.

(Both the soldiers end up their conversation with a smile)

Next day soldier 2, died in the mine blast planned by the terrorists.

This conversation left me devastated, distressed, distraught and flustered. I sent a message  to another ex-student, Jasjeev Singh to find out more about this soldier.

But then another thought flashed my mind. There must be thousands of ex-students, of thousands of teachers, sacrificing their lives for their motherland. Shouldn’t I pay tribute to all of them including soldier 2, who wanted to pay a surprise visit to my place?

My heartfelt gratitude to all the soldiers who sacrifice their happiness, pleasure, joy and delight so that we live peacefully.

Right from my heart,

Meena Mishra