My Teacher, My Mentor
By S.Senthil Kumar, Assistant Professor, Digital Journalism, DDU KAUSHAL Kendra, Loyola College
There is always more than one teacher who inspires a person. Since my turning point in academics happened at the gates of higher education, I would like to focus on people influenced me in that realm.
I was fortunate enough to study English Literature at St. Xavier’s College, under the guidance of SA Thiagarajan sir. He was inspiring inside and outside class. He would conduct classes with a child’s enthusiasm. I still remember voice modulation of SAT sir when he read out the poem, “La Belle dame sans merci” from John Keats. The words were French. But it got ingrained in me because of the way SAT sir taught us.

SAT sir was invigorating. He took so much pain to bring in Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach into our curriculum. An inspiring teacher, he introduced us an inspiring fiction. The foundation laid at St. Xavier’s college led me to higher leanings under the leadership of Dr. Ravindran sir at the Department of Communication, MS University, Thirunelveli.

To be frank, Ravindran sir wasn’t charismatic in classroom sessions (as I recall from that period of time). He would sit in a motionless posture but would talk with a charming smile. Him calling students “kanna” would show his affections for the students.
Ravindran sir’ classes would be thought provokingly sharp and in-depth. I never wanted to miss his class. Every time he brought new things in his lectures, it pushed me to grow.
But students generally don’t understand the real worth of their teachers during their course time. I was no exception. I realized later on that he was actually intellectually enlightening us. After becoming a working journalist I used to meet Ravindran sir occasionally. I was fortunate to get a glimpse of his thoughts on topics affecting Tamil society and polity.
I might have left my PG course under him by 1999, but I still had my professor guiding me, who was more like a mentor, guide and a philosopher.
Gifted are those who got mentors like SAT sir and Ravindran sir.
The write up was prepared for the booklet Loyola College planned to bring out on Teachers Day, 2017 under the topic My Teacher My Mentor, getting essays from the faculty.