Kulkarni Sir

I do believe that we remember people by the events .If these events are impacted by the person who is genuinely sincere , compassionate and true to his character - this person stays in our memory cells till such time they are kicking .One such person was Kulkarni Sir from my tween and teenage alma mater New English School. 

When  it comes to education, grades , scores , adulation etc in the school , I don’t have many pleasant memories .  What I do cherish is my passionate interactions with buddies adept in hooliganism , sports , chess  . These two worlds were distinctly different but one person connected both was Kulkarni Sir .

He was the quintessential man of sports , history , management and human relationship . Had he not been a teacher - he would have been a terrific administrator . I admired his  administration skills when he Organized outstation school picnics . He would make a prior visit himself carefully selecting itinerary , hotels etc . So was his involvement in taking school team to inter school competition . Win or Lose - he was there to cheer and support . He fancied me - I don’t know what he saw in me - but he tacitly encouraged me to be myself . When any school hooliganism would happen , he would mischievously look at me with his flapping eye movement - often judging my reaction if I was party to the crime .

I have taken a corporal punishment  from many of my male Teachers but not from Kulkarni sir . I have seen him mercilessly slapping with his cane when students did damage to public property or brought bad name to the school through improper propriety . His statement “ I never examine answer papers looking at the Roll Number “ is the hallmark  of any teacher who evaluate their students without any tinge of any predisposition . 

Every teacher was  nicknamed and so was Kulkarni sir  . He was referred as नारळ - coconut in Marathi for his cephalon shape and barnet hairstyle that refused to go anywhere but straight . For me , he was full of juicy sweet coconut behind exterior hard shell . Remembering student names with middle name  with his year of passing even after decades was his penchant . So was his immense pride with Goregaon and Being Goregaonkar . His often pet example would involve Topiwala Talkies . When I organized alumni get together in 90’s -well before get together became a fashion  - he was game to come . Later years , I did give occasional telephone to him - and his direct question be ‘ आईला फोन केलास का ? आईला भेट ‘ .... did you call your mom , please meet her .... Tone of his words would tinge on admonishment   laced with concern . ‘ You are doing good ‘ reflected his pride of his student doing well in his life .

I knew he was staying at New Mumbai and during my stint in Pune made me pass by New Mumbai . Meeting him was on my mind but regular news about his well being filtered through some of close friends didn’t push me hard to meet face to face . It’s been a year or perhaps more of him passing away . I was keen to scribble some of memories about him but it didn’t happen . After my  iPhone popping up his photo , I decided to pen my thoughts and the words poured briskly .Belated it is but nonetheless  important for me to share his impressions on my life .