Skip to content

Rough Book

random musings

Menu
  • About Me
  • Contact
  • Projects
    • bAdkOde
    • CherryBlossom
    • FXCalendar
    • Sulekha
Menu

Remembering a great teacher

Posted on October 2, 2012 by vivin

1995 was a difficult year for me. I had finished the 8th grade at Indian School Muscat. However, instead of joining the 9th grade with my friends, I had to move to an entirely new school, Indian School Al-Ghubra, which was much further away and worse, was our arch-rival. My first few weeks at the new school were horrible. I missed my friends terribly; everyone was a stranger and I had a hard time adjusting to the way things were done at the new school. My first mid-terms were a disaster. While I had consistently scored in the 80's to 90's in my old school, here it was a different story. My grades were pretty bad. Looking back, I think it was mainly due to the stress of moving to a completely new environment. I was unsure of myself and I simply wasn't used to the way things were done.

I still remember when I got my Math paper. I had scored a dismal 37.5 out of a 100. I was shell-shocked. I had never scored that low on a math paper. As I stared at the paper, tears welling up in my eyes, I heard a gentle voice tell me, "It's only the first exam. You're new here and I'm sure you'll do better next time..." I looked up to see my Math teacher, Mr. Vida, looking at me with a little smile on his face. I didn't believe him then, of course. More urgent things were at hand, namely soon-to-be irate Indian parents whom I would have to answer to, at home. It seemed rather insignificant and pointless to me at the time. But looking back, I can see it for what it truly was: a concerned and kind teacher taking the time to comfort an obviously-distraught student.

Over the next few years I became very familiar with Mr. Desmond Vida, and his wife Mrs. Pushpa Vida, or as they were known around ISG, "The Vidas". I used to go to after-school tutoring sessions for Math at his place, which in addition to being extremely helpful were also quite simply, fun. A lot of my classmates were there and our study sessions regularly had less-serious interjections were we all laughed and joked, along with Mr. Vida. Those four years at ISG were formative and extremely important since they played a huge part in molding me and shaping me into the person I am today, and the Vidas were a huge part of that.

Mr. Vida didn't simply teach us Math. He did more than that. He was a mentor and a guide who helped his students realize their potential. He consistently encouraged us. This was especially poignant to me, a student who never really fit in with the "learn-by-rote" mentality of the Indian system of education. Oftentimes while I was wondering if something was wrong with me, he would remind me that no, there was nothing wrong, I was a smart kid, and that I was simply better at applying knowledge than regurgitating it (an opinion that was vindicated years later when I finally moved to the US for college and started acing my Math classes).

After 10th grade, Mr. Vida taught us English. He was as effective in English, as he was in Math. He didn't limit himself to the syllabus, but deliberately went outside it. We would hold long discussions in class about the subtleties and nuances of the prose or poem we were examining. To help us understand our lessons better, he had us present plays on some of the subject matter. I fondly recall those after-school rehearsals, still.

I graduated high school in 1999 and Mr. Vida was there to congratulate me and everyone else. He told us how proud he was of us and that we would all go on to do great things. That was over 13 years ago. Over the years we kept in touch intermittently through email and eventually, Facebook. Mr. and Mrs. Vida moved to Australia and continued doing what they do best: teaching.

Then this morning I found out that Mr. Vida had passed away due to an accident. I read the words, but they didn't register. The kind, intelligent, jovial man in my mind's eye didn't jive with what I was reading. I was shocked. Fate snatched an exceptional man away from us, before his time. Like I said before, Mr. Vida wasn't just a teacher. He was an exceptional human being. He guided us without telling us what to do. He encouraged us and helped us along when we faltered. He was never one to patronize either. Even though we were still somewhat childish, he understood that we were on the cusp of young adulthood and treated us with respect, and without passing judgement. He was always there for us to turn to if we needed help. When I heard the news, long-dormant memories came flooding back: the laughs, the jokes, late-night Math tutoring sessions before exams, and especially before the 10th grade board-exams. The play rehearsals where we'd end up fooling around (much to Mr. Vida's consternation) rather than doing anything useful. Cruel irony then, that these fond memories were now tinged with sorrow.

Mr. Vida, you were a wonderful teacher and you were an inspiration. I am honored to have been taught by you. You will be missed, but not forgotten. Our thoughts and prayers are with Cruz and Mrs. Vida in this difficult time.


Guru Brahma Gurur Vishnu
Guru Devo Maheshwaraha
Guru Saakshat Para Brahma
Tasmai Sree Gurave Namaha

Translation:
Guru is verily the representative of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
He creates, sustains knowledge and destroys the weeds of ignorance.
I salute such a Guru.

4 thoughts on “Remembering a great teacher”

  1. soumitra says:
    October 2, 2012 at 10:26 pm

    vivin,
    could not have put this better. mr. vida was an institution himself and the memories are just so many. really shocking big time and he definitely would not be forgotten ever. yes, those after school sessions were always a lot of fun. was thinking of mrs. pushpa vida and mr. vida the other day. always in our thoughts and memories.

    Reply
  2. dolst says:
    February 15, 2013 at 1:52 pm

    Okay, so you don’t know me, but I was looking up some Java stuff, and I found a post of yours on StackOverflow. I saw your profile pic and thought it looked funny and/or familiar. So I clicked on it.
    Then I saw you had a site of your own. So I followed that link. I saw a really cool picture demonstrating how modem carriers work. I was surfing BBSes back in the late 90s, so that made me nostalgic.
    And then I scrolled down to this story. Like I said, you don’t know me, and I never met Mr. Vida, but the story you wrote about him just hit me for some reason. It truly is sad when someone who has touched our lives and had such a positive influence on us gets taken away.
    Your story reminds me of my old headmaster Mr. Freudig. I didn’t really appreciate how great a man he was when I was in school. Several years after I graduated, I found out he was at another school and I thought I might visit him when I got around to it.
    Unfortunately, he passed away before I had a chance to tell him what a positive impact he had on my life.
    I am glad you and Mr. Vida stayed in touch over the intervening years. Your story is a poignant tribute to him and the type of man he was. I just wanted you to know that what you wrote has moved me, a complete stranger, and will stick with me. Peace upon you and yours. Surf Wisely.

    Reply
  3. vivin says:
    March 22, 2013 at 3:32 pm

    @dolst:

    Hello, thank you so much for those kind words. He really was a remarkable man, who had a huge impact on the lives of many of his students.

    Once again, thank you for those kind words. I’m sorry I took so long to respond; I should really do a better job of keeping tabs on responses to my posts!

    Reply
  4. Vikas says:
    January 31, 2018 at 3:14 pm

    Wow! I Googled Mr Vida today in 2018 who taught me Math in Lucknow way back in 1988. He was exactly the person that you described he is . I remember when I had my final exam I was a bundle if nerves and Mr Vida left a party and came home to me to coach me at the last moment . I passed! I am surprised he even taught English . Its a shock to learn about his untimely death . I was hoping I could discover him again but sadly it was not to be . RIP Mr Vida!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Archives

  • February 2023
  • April 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • June 2017
  • March 2017
  • November 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • February 2016
  • August 2015
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • March 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • September 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • October 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • August 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008
  • November 2007
  • July 2007
  • June 2007
  • May 2007
  • March 2007
  • December 2006
  • October 2006
  • September 2006
  • August 2006
  • June 2006
  • April 2006
  • March 2006
  • January 2006
  • December 2005
  • November 2005
  • October 2005
  • September 2005
  • August 2005
  • July 2005
  • June 2005
  • May 2005
  • April 2005
  • February 2005
  • October 2004
  • September 2004
  • August 2004
  • July 2004
  • June 2004
  • May 2004
  • April 2004
  • March 2004
  • February 2004
  • January 2004
  • December 2003
  • November 2003
  • October 2003
  • September 2003
  • July 2003
  • June 2003
  • May 2003
  • March 2003
  • February 2003
  • January 2003
  • December 2002
  • November 2002
  • October 2002
  • September 2002
  • August 2002
  • July 2002
  • June 2002
  • May 2002
  • April 2002
  • February 2002
  • September 2001
  • August 2001
  • April 2001
  • March 2001
  • February 2001
  • January 2001
  • December 2000
  • November 2000
  • October 2000
  • August 2000
  • July 2000
  • June 2000
  • May 2000
  • March 2000
  • January 2000
  • December 1999
  • November 1999
  • October 1999
  • September 1999
©2023 Rough Book | Built using WordPress and Responsive Blogily theme by Superb
All original content on these pages is fingerprinted and certified by Digiprove