New IndPress
Mangalore, Sep 6: How should a teacher be?
Those in deep introspection about their role on Teachers Day will surely find some inspiration in this ‘teacher couple’ B Sreenivas Rao and Savithri S Rao. The elderly couple have and continue to prove that it takes only small gestures to spread happiness.
Their modest home with minimum necessities near Urva market today is virtually a classroom, laboratory and logistics centre for uninitiated.
Even after retiring from their teaching responsibilities 15 years ago the couple have surrounded themselves with children and their related activities.
They are known for accepting requests, even from complete strangers, for help with writing essays, speeches, drawing, singing, dancing and helping tough science and maths subjects.
Two months ago a USA educated lass of Mangalorean roots had sought out the couple to learn Kannada.
They did not disappoint her and using material published for neo-literates the Rao couple helped the girl to read and write Kannada. Both Sreenivas and Savithri have helped many intelligent students strapped in poverty to continue their education.
One such talent to benefit is herself a teacher. Two years ago when Rao completed 70 years it was decided that small gestures for poor children should sustain even after their death.
At a young age Sreenivas Rao realised the state of being helplessness when he could not raise Rs five to pay fees.
“Due to poverty my husband’s desire to become a Doctor was never fulfilled,” Savithri rues and added that their decision to help poor children was supported by close relatives and a trust ‘Kallavu Savithri Sreenivas Trust’ was formed.
The issueless couple set asiding a small amount for their needs have poured their retirement benefits and all savings into the trust.
“Though the annual interest accrued from the trust is Rs 10,000 we end up spending more than Rs 25,000,” Savithri Rao explains. Both teachers were honoured at state and national level in acknowledgement of their creative contributions to education.