Silvester D''Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Sep 5: There is no doubt that education alone can bring about social transformation. The role of teachers in achieving this transformation is beyond doubt. When a child goes to school for the first time, he is just like a piece of rock. Teachers hone this stone, breath in the light of knowledge, and infuse life skills which become leading light for a lifetime. Thousands of ideal teachers have worked strenuously, right from the ancient system of Gurukuls to the present modern system of education, in bringing in changes in tune with changing times. K V Nayak is one of the teachers, who finds a sense of fulfillment in engaging in the service of spreading knowledge and in developing personality of his students, without seeking publicity or awards in return.

Nayak continues to evince interest in education even though it has been 15 years since he retired after excelling in several roles in education sector. His style of serving this sector has always been characterized by dedication and totally silent revolution. Nayak gets credit for securing degree in mathematics from St Aloysius College Mangaluru, considered to be one of the prestigious colleges of the times in the 1940s when education happened to be the prerogative of the rich and the mighty. From 1961 to 1998 he served the field of education in the capacity of teacher, headmaster, lecturer etc. Except Hindi, he has taught every subject by studying them in depth, through fluent style of teaching and backed by rich knowledge and experience.

Teachers have the onus of understanding the importance of their job, and working without bringing disrepute to their professional ethics, backed by the basic concept that no one in the society should be deprived of education. Nayak followed these principles to the core. Besides, he also kept an eye on whoever has deserted school midway, brought them back to the field of education, provided guidance to those who were listless, and many a time, spent from his pocket to bring the students to a level from where they could lead life independently. Therefore, he has earned a position of reverence and respect in the hearts of his students. By spending a part of his salary for educating children, he has lit lights in the lives of hundreds of students and provided them with ladders which have enabled them to go up in life.

K Venkat Nayak, born as the son of Venkappa and Chandamma couple from Kedoor in 1940, was the only among the couple''s five children to get higher education. He joined Kedoor primary school in 1945, and recollects well the period when India became independent. On the fateful day of August 15, 1947, Nayak says he has vivid memory of going in a procession and feasting on white rice mixed with coconut milk. He then got educated in Tekkatte higher primary school and Kota Viveka High School.

It was the period when K L Karanth, who was strict and disciplined, was the headmaster of Viveka High School. Nayak was greatly influenced by Karanth, who aimed at all-round development of students. Nayak went to high school by walk from Kedoor, which was 14 km away. The entire region was covered by forests then, and he recollects that a tiger had passed his path on a fateful day. He belonged to an agriculturist family, and stood fourth in the high school by securing 66 per cent marks. He was sure he could not afford higher education, and got involved with the family profession of agriculture, when a person named Honnayya Shetty Hosmath met him, and after knowing about his academic excellence, inspired him to join college at Mangaluru. Nayak went to government college at Mangaluru on July 16, 1957 seeking admission. But it happened to be the final day for admissions, and therefore, he was turned back. He then went to St Aloysius College, where the priest, looking at his marks card and obedient behaviour, permitted him to be admitted, although the admissions had been closed by then.

Nayak, who got into St Aloysius College, says that the system of imparting education then was very strict, and every student was sure to get corporal punishment with canes at least three days in a week. Even in the final year degree class, he was slapped on his cheeks, he remembers. He completed BSc degree in his favourite subject, mathematics. After finishing education in 1961, he started to hunt for jobs, and started work at Kemmannu school, which was a fisheries school then, where he served for three years. When high school was set up at Shiroor, many recommended to Yadtare Manjayya Shetty, an influential figure from the region, to get Nayak to that school. Nayak was appointed as the founder in-charge headmaster of that school. He had to work very hard to pool together first batch of 16 students for his school, after undertaking house to house visits. He then took steps to talk to parents and bring back students who had left school midway, many of whom were of his age. Shirur, where Muslims have a sizeable presence, came under the influence of Nayak''s efforts, as he provided tuition under gas lights. Nayak remembers that his salary was then Rs 130 per month. In the final examination, his school got 100 percent result, and the then fisheries department director personally congratulated him for this feat, as it was a record. Thereafter, the school got many additional facilities.

Nayak was then transferred to Tekkatte. During this period, he secured MA degree privately, and was promoted as lecturer in course of time. After serving at places like Malpe, Padubidri, and other places, he retired from Tekkatte college on February 28, 1998. Although his service deserved to be hailed at the national level, he never showed interest in self publicity. Still, he was given the district level best teacher award.

Although bothered by heart problem, Nayak, even after 17 years of retirement, gets fired up when the issue of education comes up. He continues to spend a part of his pension for education of financially backward students. He has been serving for Kuvempu Centenary school at Tekkatte and Kedoor school as patron.

Nayak insists that teachers and students need to read good works and biographies of great personalities. He continues to read various books, and has special interests in the books of Dr A P J Abdul Kalam. He says that his daughter-in-law supports his interests by sending him good books from Mumbai. Every day several children visit him to speak to him and share their experiences.

Teachers'' Day is an ideal time to pay tributes to such a personality, who has earned trust and faith of thousands of students, kept his personal pains for himself, and always pursued the goal of imparting education selflessly.

"We should always give fillip to positive thinking among children. It is desirable for them to inculcate the habit of respecting the elders, behaving decently with them, and always behave courteously. In addition to maintaining professional dignity, people should serve with truthfulness, dedication, and honesty. Everyone should contribute something or the other to the society. Patriotism should be our way of life, and we should be good citizens. We should follow humanitarian principles in our lives, and live like a human," he advises.

K V Nayak stresses that there should be no divide or space between the teacher and the student. He feels that the society automatically takes the right path, if the parents and teachers are idealistic and sincere. He feels that changes can be brought about through education, if the primary education in the country improves.

In K V Nayak''s life, SSLC was a turning point. At that point, he had shed hopes of continuing education and opted to till his land. With the inspiration provided by someone, he achieved milestones as a teacher, and he has been inspiring younger generations to come up in life and move forward. Teachers like him show to others that education is not impossible for them, and turn them into achievers. Such people also derive happiness at the progress of their students.

Kudos to Nayak and his breed on Teachers'' Day.