On Teachers Day Tolly celebs share their early-life teaching experiences

Teachers are believed to be the most important person in our lives! Our parents may bring us up, but it’s our teachers who prepare us to face the world! Teachers often influence us more than anyone else.

But how many of you know these Bengali celebrities have shaped the lives of many once. Yes, these Tolly celebs had been or became teachers in real life!

Ahead of the Teacher’s Day, we spoke to these Tolly stars who were once teachers in real life. Scroll down to know about their experiences of teaching life.

I started my career as a teacher. For five years, I was with St James and for the next three years, I taught at St Xavier's. But I always wanted to be a director, an actor, and scriptwriter. In 1987, I forayed into Tollywood as a scriptwriter. For a long, I was doing a balancing act, but after a point, I felt I was not doing justice to either, so I left teaching and opted for what I thought was my calling. But mentally, I never left the classroom as I still feel like a teacher when I am behind the camera. Churni, my wife, too was a teacher with Patha Bhavan and Mahadevi Birla Girls' Higher Secondary School and we both have a degree in teaching. On Teacher's Day, I feel grateful to all my teachers who helped me become a good human being. The greatest teacher of all times, I feel Ramkrishna Deb continues to inspire me.

I used to teach in the primary section of the Government-Sponsored Multipurpose School for Boys, Taki House and enjoyed my stint as a teacher. It was fun interacting with so many kids. I balanced my teaching profession by singing. At that time, I wasn't getting paid much as a singer, so I had to be in some other profession to run my family. I used to get Rs 8,000, but because of shows and rehearsals, there were times when I couldn't attend classes. Almost every month there would be a salary deduction and I would get around Rs 6,000. By 2006, I was doing well as a singer and started getting a lot of shows. That was when I decided to give up my job as a teacher. So, I left teaching in school, but continue to do so through singing. It's through music that I am teaching 24x7. I was a very popular teacher and my son loves it when I help him with his studies. Teaching the younger ones is an art and one has to be both lenient and strict. My teachers helped me improve my knowledge, skills and confidence.

I was into theatre and always wanted a job that would leave me with enough time for the stage, so I opted for teaching. That apart, teaching gives a sense of fulfillment and I enjoy that. Interacting with students is quite enriching. Even when I direct a play, I feel like a teacher as coordinating with so many actors and other group members is nothing short of teaching in a classroom. My teachers played an important role in my life and I guess I do the same for my students, be it in class or on stage.

I started teaching at Modern High School before I completed graduation. I used to teach upper infant students and it was really fun. Then, after completing my masters, I joined Loreto Day School, Sealdah, as an English teacher. There, Sister Ceril gave me the responsibility to teach those who were not so good in studies and I took it up as a challenge. The appreciation I got from their parents later is something to cherish. Then, I was with RN Singh Memorial School teaching the students of classes IX and X. I was never a strict teacher as I felt shouting could only get you that far and that it made a child more adamant. When I joined a media house, I was still in touch with my students. And now, when I am into direction, my team makes fun of me by saying the teacher instinct is still alive in me. On Teacher's Day, I salute all those who make a difference. My teachers not only taught me maths, English, history, etc but also helped me improve my personality and self-confidence.

Apart from singing, I also teach psychology at Asutosh College. I am a student of this college. So, it's a different high when I deliver a lecture in the same classroom, where I used to sit and take notes. I still remember when I joined college as a professor I used to share the staff room with one of my teachers. It was strange when my teacher became my colleague. I am not a very strict teacher though I look serious and talk less. I feel teaching is the noblest profession, where you share your knowledge with so many students. I still remember a teacher during graduation. She was so supportive that she would lend me all her books. I am thankful to every teacher who shaped my life.

I have been teaching English at Baranagar Rajkumari Memorial Girls' High School for the past 10 years. That apart, I teach in Nandikar and also the inmates of Dumdum Central Jail. I believe in one-on-one interaction while teaching than delivering a mass lecture. In the school in Baranagar, I follow the syllabus and teach accordingly, but in Nandikar and with the inmates, I stress on communication skills than knowledge. Outer knowledge is more important than what is in the syllabus. Helping students build on their emotional intelligence is more important to me than anything else. I love teaching. Once a student in Nandikar told me that she hates me as I pursue a lot. But I am like that as I always want to bring out the best from a student. Jasodhara Bagchi, my English teacher at Jadavpur University, left a great impact on my life.