A Celebration Of Life

Frankly speaking, I never wanted to go back to school. There’s nothing for me there. Teachers, yes just two or three of them, friends, nope. At least not back at school. I never saw myself walking back through the front gate, gallivanting through the paths and corridors and the field…Well, maybe I did…but I never thought I’d be doing it for this reason. The memorial service of a most beloved teacher.

Mrs. Vilma Rabinder Raju. Who would not know or remember her? Every Baldwinian came under her wing. This small lady, with peppered hair tied back in a bun gave a life to Baldwins. One that only grew with the passion she had for teaching and the love she had for her students. For 31 years it was not her career, it was her life. True, I was terrified of her in the beginning, but that was way before I stepped into high school, thus coming in closer contact with her. She was the true meaning of a teacher. She defined it. And she taught Geography. Yup, that’s it. Geography. The enthusiasm she exuded every time she came into class was infectious. It made earthquakes, volcanoes, hurricanes, tornadoes, oceans, glaciers, winds, currents, et al so utterly fascinating even though we’d heard the stories a dozen times from different teachers earlier. It was altogether a new experience sitting in her Geography classes. But it didn’t end there. There was still life that we had to learn about.

Mrs. Raju, as we always addressed her, had a certain air of simplicity about her which was more captivating than anything else. Determination, dedication, discipline, character, faith…She had it all and she molded us into that. Of course, very few understood it at that time, few liked her telling us off on our faces, few liked her correcting our mistakes, but as time goes by and the world sort of bears down upon you, small simple things come to mind. She had strength about her that she would share with anyone in need. She was sick with failed kidneys and she would go for dialysis three times a week. That would drain the energy out of any normal person, but Mrs. Raju? Woah! She’d bounce right back out, not one ounce of tiredness on her features. Not one sign of weakness shown. She was always a busy body, like a child let loose in a toy shop!! She put all her faith in God while she continued to work unfalteringly towards churning out the best from people. She believed in every individual…that each one was the best in something. She was a confidant of many, that shoulder for most. She would offer a ready smile to anyone.

That’s exactly how I remember my time in Baldwins. Of all the twelve years I spent there she is one of the reasons I enjoyed being in school. Her passionate dedication…GOD!! I’ve never seen anyone so obsessed with what they do!! And she was the best!! She defined a ‘teacher’. I’ve never come across anyone who even comes close to that and I don’t think I ever will. This is probably the reason I had the jitters just before I walked into school today. I didn’t want to go in there. I did and that’s when I realized how much she meant to me. I never had any personal talks or time with her, but in her own magical way she insinuated into me the morals and values of being a girl and eventually a woman in the world. Just by watching her scurry around doing her work was enough for me to draw my inspiration. Her unwavering faith being the first motivating factor (this brings to mind a hymn entitled ‘What a Friend We Have in Jesus’ – it was one of her favorite). She was always the voice of right and honesty, standing up for everything she believed in and never backing down in face of any storm she had to face. She had no fear. Literally.I didn’t think I would cry for a teacher but this was inevitable. It’s more the feeling of pride of having known such a splendid person than the feeling of missing her. There are thousands who have had this privilege but only few carry it with them. I am one of them.

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: (2 Tim 4:7)

The memorial service was rightly called ‘A Celebration of Life’ because I’m sure that Mrs. Raju would not have wanted people to gather and mourn or grieve for her. She would’ve wanted us to go on leading our lives…with whatever she gave us. Thank you Mrs. Raju. I love you and miss you. There is no one that can even come close to how much you have done for us.