Nagapattinam: The teacher in this small classroom — actually a temporary shelter for tsunami survivors — is barely a few years older than the students. But that is hardly a limitation for the 16-year-old teacher, who has been a constant source of inspiration for the students.
For Nishantini, who lost her mother when the tsunami struck, it is fulfilling her mother's dream. But for the tsunami-hit village, she is inspiring education.
Nishantini finds it extremely difficult to put behind the memories of the day her mother died. The thought that she is doing something that her mother would have liked brings her a lot of peace.
"I can hardly concentrate on my studies because I find it extremely difficult to push away the memories of my mother, but I am the happiest when I am teaching. The tranquillity of the school, the responsibility of teaching so many children - they all help me overcome my personal loss," she says.
Three other teachers have joined Nishantini at the school and take tuitions for free. But more than that, they help people get over their pain.
Nishantini dreams of becoming a doctor but she also wants to continue teaching and inspire young children to study further.
"My colleagues and I want to ensure that there is no one who is not educated in our village. Seeing us, I hope, that there will be a day when no one who will remain uneducated in our country," she says.
As she works towards fulfilling her mother's dream, her own life has become an example of how a victim can help other victims overcome a disaster.
A Blessing in Disguise |
The Nagarachi Nadumilai Palli – the Municipal Middle School – in Devanampattinam, Cuddalore, is just half a kilometre away from the seashore.
Last year the fury of the ocean brought the school building crashing down, but after the tsunami waves subsided, there was a little surprise in store for the children.
Brand new desks, bags, books and stationary, donated from all over the world, found their way to this 67-year-old school. The children say that the tsunami has had a positive impact in their lives and that they have actually started loving going to school because of the new furniture and supplies.
The teacher says that the students are so awed that they take extra care to make sure that the school property remains unspoilt.
These children have got an opportunity to enjoy the simple pleasures of childhood, which rest of us take for granted, for the first time – ironically all thanks to the tsunami.
—Divya Iyer
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