Lalitha Ma’am

How can the year end without a whirlwind pilgrimage tour? Madurai – Pillayarpatti – Rameshwaram… I’m trying to forget the horrors of bathing in so-called scared waters (“punniya theertham”) or the food poisoning that made take frequent trips to the bathroom and confined to bed for two days. The best of this trip is meeting Lalitha ma’am, my high school biology teacher. I was surprised when a lady grabbed my arms and asked “Mercy, do you remember me?” I struggled hard to place her… Thamba knew her instantly. I was truly touched – she could remember my name and face after all these years and out of numerous students who would have walked in and out of her classroom… Not every teacher will help to shape our future… Some will leave long last impression that would stay for lives. Lalitha ma’am is one of those kinds. She is a tough bird with impeccable standards. I remember this particular incident… Amma drew an impressionist work of Nepenthes in my Botany record notebook. I do not remember what I did to annoy her later that she refused to draw human brain for Zoology record. I wanted the brain to excel the beauty of nepenthes. Hence I decided to trace the picture from book. The result - brain appeared as a minuscule version in my big record notebook. I submitted my work proudly. When she picked up mine, she called me to her table with a cold stare and asked me “what is this?” I replied innocently, “brain!” She retorted in front of all my classmates “yours?” and showed it to the class roaring with laughter. Well… my notebook was thrown out in an elegant projectile motion. That’s when I decided without any trace of doubt “Computer Science is my future” :) On a serious note, I owe a lot to her… She strived for perfection in every single thing. I’m still trying to live up to her standards…