Paying tribute to a gem of a teacher
Sunday, 29 July 2007
Nahid Kaiser Toma
WHEN I started to write paragraphs or essays at schools on my 'aim in life' or 'future plan', instinctively I wanted to be a teacher since they are like the lighthouse whom we need to go ahead in our cruise through life. At school, at college, at university, at every sphere of life I have been influenced by my teachers. But in schools or colleges, I could not communicate with them. The first time I could communicate with a teacher was at university and the first teacher I found complete was my dear professor Dr. Fakrul Alam. July 20 was his birth anniversary and this writing is going to be not only a tribute or homage to my dear teacher on his birth anniversary but also a student's study of a real teacher from as much nearness as possible, yet less biased than my readers would expect.
It was July 18, 1999, a fresh Sunday morning when an Apollo-like handsome teacher, no more than fifty, entered the classroom to teach George Orwell's essay. Yes, it was my first class at the department of English, university of Dhaka and the class changed my view of education and educational institutions radically. Sir taught us that university is not for mere academic education, it is a place to enlighten, shape and enrich our life.
As a teacher he was never- ever late, even for a single day in my six years experience of his classes. He always came to the class well-prepared and though sometimes politely claimed 'I have a very bad memory', he hardly missed any particular thing about the text he dealt with.
He provided us with texts rare in the market and offered counseling, even, in times outside his office hours. As a teacher he is unparallel in sincerity.
As a person Fakrul sir is no less worthy of commanding our admiration. He practices what he theorizes. He has supported students to overcome their personal depression and frustration being a good advisor in need. Though famous for being short-tempered (which he personally confesses to be), his is a soft humanitarian heart. He hates begging or beggars because he loves and worships work. 'I hate darkness', he often used to say whenever there was insufficient light in the classroom because he is a man of and for light.
Dr. Fakrul Alam is an academic giant. After passing honours from the University of Dhaka, he did an MA from Simon Fraser University and a PhD from the University of British Columbia. He has taught at Clemsan University and has also lectured at Jadavpur University and Vishwa-Bharai University. He has authored several books which have contributed to the scholarship of not only Bangladesh but also of the great arena of English language and literature.
His creations include Daniel before Colonial Propagandist (1989), Bharati Mukherjee (1996), Jibanananda Das: Selected Poems (1999) and Imperial Entanglements and Literature in English (2007). Besides, he has edited 'South Asian Writing in English', a work in the Dictionary of Literary Biography. At present he is working on a volume of translation of Rabindanath Tagore's poetry and a casebook on R.K.Narayan for Pearsons Education, India.
There are teachers who forget students after they leave the institution, but Fakrul sir is such a wonderful teacher that he always allows us to visit him, even without any appointment. The two main aspects that distinguish him are that he has some spirit which enlivens him and us.
A teacher is never complete without some of the art of performing or acting. Fakrul sir, like a good actor, enters into the situation and the character he teaches. He is such a scholar whom Emerson thinks to be crucial for the emergence and establishment of any nation. He teaches us only what he believes and practices himself. He performs also the duty of the active intellectual Edward Said appreciates and demands of the scholars. Perhaps, he is not a popular teacher in the traditional sense of the term, because he never means to be one. He is a jewel only very few jewellers can appreciate.
My reason behind calling sir a rolling stone is his being so much prolific, versatile, ever-growing himself as a person, a teacher, a writer, a translator, an editor and what not! He always gives the credit of his great works to his dear wife Nazma who has been a comrade in his life for years. And I also believe she well-deserves it. So, through this writing I not only pay my humble homage to my dear sir but also his wife Nazma whose constant love and encouragement keeps this jem rolling on and on.
WHEN I started to write paragraphs or essays at schools on my 'aim in life' or 'future plan', instinctively I wanted to be a teacher since they are like the lighthouse whom we need to go ahead in our cruise through life. At school, at college, at university, at every sphere of life I have been influenced by my teachers. But in schools or colleges, I could not communicate with them. The first time I could communicate with a teacher was at university and the first teacher I found complete was my dear professor Dr. Fakrul Alam. July 20 was his birth anniversary and this writing is going to be not only a tribute or homage to my dear teacher on his birth anniversary but also a student's study of a real teacher from as much nearness as possible, yet less biased than my readers would expect.
It was July 18, 1999, a fresh Sunday morning when an Apollo-like handsome teacher, no more than fifty, entered the classroom to teach George Orwell's essay. Yes, it was my first class at the department of English, university of Dhaka and the class changed my view of education and educational institutions radically. Sir taught us that university is not for mere academic education, it is a place to enlighten, shape and enrich our life.
As a teacher he was never- ever late, even for a single day in my six years experience of his classes. He always came to the class well-prepared and though sometimes politely claimed 'I have a very bad memory', he hardly missed any particular thing about the text he dealt with.
He provided us with texts rare in the market and offered counseling, even, in times outside his office hours. As a teacher he is unparallel in sincerity.
As a person Fakrul sir is no less worthy of commanding our admiration. He practices what he theorizes. He has supported students to overcome their personal depression and frustration being a good advisor in need. Though famous for being short-tempered (which he personally confesses to be), his is a soft humanitarian heart. He hates begging or beggars because he loves and worships work. 'I hate darkness', he often used to say whenever there was insufficient light in the classroom because he is a man of and for light.
Dr. Fakrul Alam is an academic giant. After passing honours from the University of Dhaka, he did an MA from Simon Fraser University and a PhD from the University of British Columbia. He has taught at Clemsan University and has also lectured at Jadavpur University and Vishwa-Bharai University. He has authored several books which have contributed to the scholarship of not only Bangladesh but also of the great arena of English language and literature.
His creations include Daniel before Colonial Propagandist (1989), Bharati Mukherjee (1996), Jibanananda Das: Selected Poems (1999) and Imperial Entanglements and Literature in English (2007). Besides, he has edited 'South Asian Writing in English', a work in the Dictionary of Literary Biography. At present he is working on a volume of translation of Rabindanath Tagore's poetry and a casebook on R.K.Narayan for Pearsons Education, India.
There are teachers who forget students after they leave the institution, but Fakrul sir is such a wonderful teacher that he always allows us to visit him, even without any appointment. The two main aspects that distinguish him are that he has some spirit which enlivens him and us.
A teacher is never complete without some of the art of performing or acting. Fakrul sir, like a good actor, enters into the situation and the character he teaches. He is such a scholar whom Emerson thinks to be crucial for the emergence and establishment of any nation. He teaches us only what he believes and practices himself. He performs also the duty of the active intellectual Edward Said appreciates and demands of the scholars. Perhaps, he is not a popular teacher in the traditional sense of the term, because he never means to be one. He is a jewel only very few jewellers can appreciate.
My reason behind calling sir a rolling stone is his being so much prolific, versatile, ever-growing himself as a person, a teacher, a writer, a translator, an editor and what not! He always gives the credit of his great works to his dear wife Nazma who has been a comrade in his life for years. And I also believe she well-deserves it. So, through this writing I not only pay my humble homage to my dear sir but also his wife Nazma whose constant love and encouragement keeps this jem rolling on and on.