Interview Series: Ms Louis

Thank you, guys, for the encouragement you have shown me with this blog. Many of you have asked me to update more frequently and I promise to honor your requests! Meanwhile, earlier this month my mom, Mrs K. Sanga along with Ms J. Louis and Ms Kaur retired from school after almost four decades of working there as teachers. At a personal level, it was a very emotional change in my life (and ofcourse, my family) as the Westcott campus was much more than school for me, it was a place I called home. I once read a book which read "What is the one spot in the planet to which your ankles are shackled and where you have to return, no matter how far and wide you wander?"  Westcott is my such spot.  However, I carry with me the most beautiful memories, which will stay with me for the rest of my life and which I hope to share with you as well. 

This post, however, is about my dearest Ms J Louis who was my (and probably yours too) very first teacher. I thought nothing more befitting to start this series of interviews with her, as she starts with her retirement life. When I think of Ms Louis , I always picture the knee length dress, wide rimmed spectacles and a tiny pony tail tied neatly at the back of her neck. I am eternally grateful to her for teaching me my alphabets and my numbers and helping me read my first book of "Kitty and Rover". Who remembers that book still?

So without much ado, here's the interview:

Tell me a little about your family and where you come from.

I come from a very large family. Although my father had only one brother, we were a lot of siblings and all of us along with my cousin sisters and brothers lived in a very big house in Goa. Then each one had to go to different places. I studied with the nuns, horrible they were(makes a cringed face and laughs). No, some of them were very nice and I am still friends with some of them. My Sister Jones is in Jodhpur now and my very, very close friend Sister Michelle is in Kota now. These are the memories of my Sisters. This is my life. And now it’s come to autumn years.

How did you come about teaching in Westcott?

As soon as I finished my teacher’s training, I had an offer letter for teaching from Jesus & Mary, Mussoorie but I didn’t go. My principal, Miss Surrey, was a friend of Miss Cooper who was in Westcott at that time. There was also my friend called Sister Ilona who was working here in Westcott and Miss Surrey asked me –“Why don’t you go to Ranchi,? Bishop Westcott is also a good school” and I applied.  Miss Harinarain who was the principal then, sent me three telegrams asking me to join. You know, in those days, there were no telephones and all. And so I got my appointment letter stating that my salary would be three hundred and forty rupees per month. I was to get a partly furnished room and would have to pay eighty rupees per month for the food. And so I agreed and came here.

How did you feel when you came here for the first time?

Oh, for the first few months I didn’t feel so nice. But then I saw the atmosphere here, it was a loving atmosphere, the teachers were nice and Ms Harinarain was very helpful. It was the year 1974, and I was only 27 years old.

What was the school like then?

The school?! Oh back then, only this first block was there. When I came here, I came in a tempo and got down in front of the principal’s office. Ms Harinarain welcomed me and took me up to my room. When I was unpacking my things, she was sitting was me and she could not get over my BIG trunk and BIG suitcase filled with my many clothes! (chuckles) Then, I had my first cup of tea here sitting in this very same room. I do remember that.

And you know, my first friend here was Mrs Monica Harinarain. Of course, she was Monica Miles then. And then I started teaching my little children until now (smiles softly).

So since you’ve been in Westcott, have you only taught kindergarten children?

Yes! I have been teaching KG children since the beginning. I have done no other classes but KG. You know, when I was in St Mary’s in my teachers training, I got first class distinction in teaching, and I have wanted to teach no other class than KG.

I think, it’s most difficult to teach young children.

Yes, it is difficult. It depends on you, how you handle them. You have to love children. If you love them, then it’s not difficult.

You told me once you love teaching little boys more than girls.

I LOVE little boys (laughs). We had boys in Westcott earlier. You know, you could scold them and they would never bear a grudge. But the girls, they keep in their hearts for one or two days and then they forget.  Not boys. Boys never hold grudges.

 And you want to know something about boys? In my class there was Randeep, Muhammad Ali, Rana and Sunil Tirkey and a boy named Satish Jha !.And another one called Anil who was from Allahabad or Lucknow. Oh, they were my pets. I loved teaching boys. They used to have boys in our school and then they made it only for girls.

Who was your most memorable student ?

Okay(smiles). His name was Raja Karen and he was an army brat! His father was a major or something in the army. One was Siddharth Chibb. I remember. They both had their own ways. Little naughty boys, especially Raja Karen. And there were two Singh boys from Calcutta. Little fat fellows. They were twins and I could never tell them apart. What was their names ??Rishi Raj!! Yes, and one of then had a spot behind his ear and whenever either one created a mischief , they would both stand up and I couldn’t figure out which one was who. Then I figured it out to find the spot to identify them.

Among the girls, okay, Meghna Raj! She is right now in class 12^th and she must have gone home. I was waiting for her to call but she hasn’t called me yet. She is my ‘dil ka tukda’. I love her. I am going to call her before I leave.

And there was another girl. Udita Sanga. When she concentrated during maths, she would tap her head with her fingers. Do you still do that? Write it down, you have to write it! And Shamita, never troubled me. Beautiful child.

And you want to know about more girls? Kavita Tirkey! Write all their names down. There was another girl, my memory isn’t as it used to be, she had the prettiest smile. And she would give me a small gift every Teacher’s Day and I would wait for her little gift every year.  

Tell me your funniest moment in class.

Funniest moment you want to know?(chuckles) Once a child just pulled down my skirt in class!! She wanted to go to the toilet or something and she just came and pulled my skirt down!

 I said “ What are you doing?” and she just said –“ Ma'am, toilet!” 

And she pulled my skirt and I kept laughing and laughing. I am trying to recall her name but I can’t remember!!

Jyoti!! Jyoti Kumari, it was.

Now the present lot of children, Oh! They are not like they used to be. It’s a pity.

I loved kids who argued with me. Like Vedayana Dubey, the girl in the last lot of mine.

What did she argue to you about?

Oh, everything! I must say, according to her level. She will become someone great someday. Vedayana.

How do you think the school has changed over the years?

Discipline… earlier, you’d never find children loitering about in the verandahs. Except during the breaks. And as soon as the bells would ring, the children would be inside the classrooms but now even if the bell rings ten times, the children are always roaming around.

What will you miss the most about Westcott?

It’s hard to say…. Children. I don’t know how I will live without them. Little children, my KG children.

Even the bigger children. Though I didn’t have a lot to do with them, they were a part of my life. I watched them grow.

If all the children you taught were listening to you, what would you tell them.

I will tell them that I love you. I still love you and I am sorry if at any time, I was rude or I hurt you.

Many students ask me about you. If a student wanted to contact you in your home in Goa, could they do that?

Yes ofcourse! I don’t know how to use the computers. I will learn now. Some of my students also send me letters, with photographs of their families. I like receiving letters. If they want it, you can share with them my address.

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(I would love to read your memories of Ms Louis in the comments section. Do share!)