35 Years of Teaching: A Lifetime of Lessons

An inspiring story of Ruchita Anand (Khyaal Club Member)

“I am Ruchita Anand, 64 years young. I was born in Amritsar and brought up in Mumbai. I did my M.A. in Sociology and my Master’s in Education from the University of Mumbai. Interestingly, becoming a teacher was never my childhood dream. When I was in Class 12, I actually wanted to become a secretary in a senior management position. But I was the youngest of three sisters, and my father believed teaching was a safe and respectable profession for women. My elder sister became a teacher, then my second sister followed the same path, and before I knew it, I too was channeled into teaching.

My first teaching job was at a school just a five-minute walk from my home in Mumbai. On my very first day, I was asked to teach Classes 9 and 10 — board classes. I was young and, honestly, a little nervous. Teaching teenagers preparing for their board exams was not an easy responsibility. I was teaching English to a Class 10 division. At that time, students would stand up when answering a question. I asked a boy named Gurpreet to stand up and answer. When he got up, I was completely taken aback. He was extremely tall!!! For a moment, standing at almost the same level as him, I had to look up to speak to him. My expression apparently said everything because the whole class burst out laughing. I was young, and the students were not much younger than me. That moment was both amusing and slightly awkward, but it became one of my most memorable memories from my early teaching years.

Very early in my career, I realised something important - you cannot use the same approach to teach every child. So, I made it a point to know my students. Once a week, I would spend a period simply talking to them. We would discuss things other than studies. I would ask about their families, where they lived, their parents, and what was happening in their lives. This helped me understand that every child’s background and circumstances are different. Many of my students came from lower-middle-class families. Some had financial difficulties. A child might come to class without a book, a geometry box, or not attend school as their fees had not been paid. These things can easily affect a child’s ability to concentrate on the job at hand - their studies. So, I tried to understand the child before judging the student. I wanted every student to feel special to me, and somehow, each one did.

There are two students I still remember very clearly - Gyanesh and Umesh. They came from ordinary families, but Umesh’s family faced severe financial constraints. His father sold vegetables, and their entire family lived in a very small space. Umesh often could not study during the day because the house was crowded and noisy. He would sometimes study under a streetlight at night. There were times when he did not have something as basic as a geometry box. So, I would buy one for him. Later, when he went to college, he needed equipment for his science subjects. Again, I lent a helping hand to him. But I did not want him to feel that I was giving him charity. I told him, “I am buying these things for you now. When you grow up and start earning, I will take them back — with interest!” That made it easier for him to accept my help. I also helped Umesh and Gyanesh with career guidance because they were unsure about what they wanted to pursue. I took them to people I knew in different professions so they could understand those careers better. Eventually, both chose engineering. They went abroad for further studies, built successful careers, and did very well. Umesh eventually returned to India, while Gyanesh continued to live abroad. We have remained in touch for decades. I have seen them grow up, get married and build their lives. That, to me, is one of the greatest rewards of being a teacher.

Over 35 years, I moved from being a teacher to taking on leadership responsibilities and eventually becoming a Vice Principal. I retired in April 2023. If I had to describe the biggest lessons from my teaching career in just two words, they would be: Humility and humanity. Even after retirement, my relationship with my students has not ended. There is a group of girls I taught who are now grown up, working, and living their own lives. Yet they still come to my home and spend time with me. My students call me once in a while and share updates about their lives. Our relationship as Teacher and Student has now branched into a beautiful bond, which makes me immensely grateful.

After retirement, my life changed completely. I live with my husband, my youngest son, my daughter-in-law, and my two grandchildren. I had spent most of my life working, so having so many empty hours was a completely new experience. Instead of allowing myself to feel bored, I started learning new crafts. I learnt embroidery, crochet and drawing by watching videos online. I also started experimenting with cooking. Retirement, I realised, was not about stopping. It was about discovering what else I could do.

I initially came across Khyaal through social media and joined because I wanted to participate in the 50 Above 50, India’s Biggest Talent Hunt for Seniors. At first, I joined for a month simply to understand what it was about. Within just a few days, I decided to take an annual membership. I started attending different sessions, including open mic, food stories, puzzles, discussions, and other activities. Khyaal gave me something I did not realise I needed - a space where I could continue learning, participating, and meeting people. Open Mic became one of my favourite sessions. Most people would sing, but I wanted to do something different. I started presenting my art and craft - embroidery, crochet, and mandala art. I even created a presentation using names of Hindi films and another where I created a fictional character around famous singers and wrote new lyrics around food. I discovered that my creative side lay in areas other than teaching. And Khyaal gave me the opportunity to bring that side out.

Perhaps the biggest change Khyaal brought into my life was perspective. Khyaal helped me realise that I am not alone. Others too face issues similar to mine. One of the most beautiful things that happened through Khyaal was meeting new friends. I connected with other women from Indore during a Khyaal session. We exchanged numbers, started chatting, and slowly became friends. Today, we have our own WhatsApp group. Some of us meet, go out for tea, and regularly stay in touch.

I retired from my profession, but I did not retire from life. Today, at 64, I am still learning, creating, participating, and making new memories.

If there is one thing I would like to tell other seniors, it is: Retirement is a beautiful new beginning. It is a journey that helps you explore facets of yourself you never knew existed. It is a wondrous new life experience that lets you know yourself as you never did before. It gives you a new sense of self-worth and helps you build a life beyond 60.” - Ruchita Anand (Khyaal Club Member)