The Ray of Hope


I was about to give up, when I met him for the first time………….

In our daily lives we come across many people, strange, beings crossing us from all borders of life and angles… Life seems to be just a fine rhythmical river which takes it own path as it comes and so do we flow with it in times of joy and sorrow.

I read a quote once, “Fate decides who walks into your life, You decide who stays”, well that’s true indeed, I look back and I see some of the most beautiful times I have spent with are people who have lived for a short span of time with me, yet the footsteps we shared together are like carvings on a rock wall, they seem to stand so green and so invincible leave behind.

For me, one of those most memorable times was University, and I just can’t have enough of it… Some of the best friends made some of the most priceless time I have earned and some of the most remarkable people I’ve met.

Here’s a man, I want the world to meet, his name is Dr. D. Arivudainambi, Ph.D and he’s the man who has changed a part of me; for good, forever. If he hasn’t been there in my life that day, I wouldn’t have been what I am. Thanks to his hope and wisdom, I am a man of who I always dreamt to be.

Presenting my priceless Teacher a word of thanks from the bottom of my heart:

Dearest Sir,

You were one of my most influential mentors I have ever met in my life. Brilliant and encouraging, you led me through the rigorous yet the most satisfying days of my life in University--no simple feat. The very Math class which turned out to be my nightmare changed into glory because of you, and it so happened that your class was one of my favorite classes. Under your masterful and entertaining tutelage, even Math was immensely interesting. I just loved hearing you talk and never missed a class. Every day, when you strayed from the topic and just bantered on, I hung on to your every word. I took more notes on your life musings than on anything on which I would be tested.

But it was your confidence and your convictions in me that left such a lasting impression. When I'd answer a question in class and you would say, "Vasanth” you give me great hope for the human race," I wanted to jump from my desk and hug you. No one had said words like that to me. Those where days when I never wanted the class to end.

I loved the way you were a professed Anglophile and you'd come strutting into class on the gloomiest, humid days, but always enter the class with a distinct smile, and enthuse, "What a beautiful day. Just like the way it used to be, back in my beautiful village." With your spot-on Tamil accent—it was one of the most memorable voices ever to be heard.

I studied just one subject called “PQT” under you. Even though I hated that subject so much, I studied only because of that pure and raw hope you had on me, and you believed I can always do it, and I worked for it because your respect meant the world to me. Although you were probably just 8 or 9 years older than I was, your inter activeness with the students and people like me, made me fall in love with you--with your brilliance, your wisdom, your glorious mind. You illuminated with your wisdom and knowledge.

Of course, most of my classmates thought you were the most difficult teacher in the Math Department which is why it gave me such great joy to produce work that pleased you. It was both a challenge for me and a triumph.

I hope you remember the day I wrote my very first email to you, saying that I have passed my paper with distinction, which was one of the happiest moments of my life sir. Even though I failed and failed again, the hope you had on me, was the most priceless thing I have earned out of you, and I am sure I will keep it safe for the rest of my life.
I was an insecure and a helpless student and you changed my world in ways you'll never know. I think of you often and hope by the Lord’s blessings you're doing well. I hope you would be very proud one day of the person I've become.

With Love and Admiration Always,

Your Most Devoted Student


Vasanth G.Benjamin



* PQT (or) Probability and Queuing Theory is a subject which comes in 4th semester for the Engineering students of Anna University, and is till date considered the most challenging subject ever listed on the University syllabus and when it came to existence for the first time in 2002, about 73,000 students failed miserably all over the state. And by the time I had finished engineering, I had already failed 5 times and the highest mark I had got was 12 and had just one remaining chance to pass it. That’s when I met my savior, under his confidence and hopes I studied just a month under him and got 78% with a distinction rank, making him one of the most respected people I have ever had in my life.

Dedicated to the man, I call; "God Himself"........

May God Bless Him :)

Comments

?? said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Hi vasanth
I was just impressed by the way u wrote about him.....and indeed i know how true it is!!!!!!!!!!

Iam proud to say that he is taking pqt for me now...

and iam lucky to be in his class....

he simply rocks...
Unknown said…
This motivates me a lot...And reminds me of my past..

Sir took us MATHS III in 2005,I was in Sir's class and found myself tough in clearing the internal assessments. I thought he is a very rigid and rude person but to my surprise I found him persuading and pushing me to understand things in simple way and realise maths is nothing to scare about and he never let my self confidence go down. He is a very cool person and is a great motivator. I realised only after I saw my MATHS III results.

One day, we had the first hour as MATHS III and the climate was soo nice and sir told lets celebrate it and he took time to hear some of our students sing and one of our classmates walked with his hands.. He was appreciating..I bet in none of the classes esp. mathematics classes this would have ever hpnd.

Much brilliant - he completed his PhD in a very short time and its pretty difficult for PhD in Maths. Great Sir..

And I was proud and lucky to be again in his class for my MBA III semester (distance Anna Univ Chn) -Operations Reseach Paper - but it was only 6 classes on Sundays(2 hours each), one sunday sir couldnot turn up and someother sir came and that time the whole class realized the value of OUR NAMBI sir..Whn sir teaches we know the reason of each step we do and he makes things clear and very simple...If u have listened in the class without missing a single word from his mouth, and did the homeworks he gives 100% assurance of clearing the paper. But this person, he himself knew not what he was doing and proceeded the class. More than all, Sir used to teach in a very friendly approach but this sir was really teaching us maths like a stunt master..Cool..we realize the value of people when they are away. Almost that 2 hours was a waste..we learnt nothing..we gained nothing out of it.

On the last day of those 6 classes, when sir was about to wind the class I felt very sad that it was my last class as a student in his class and can never again take that privelege.. :-(

Let my MBA III semster results come and I will get back...
Unknown said…
very happy to say that i got 84/100in OPERATIONS RESEARCH. It was all due to him, the way he teaches, moulds and grooms..will never forget you(respect) in life sir.thank you so much God for sending ANGEL to the earth.
Unknown said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said…
hello vasanth..
i was really amazed by de way u had expressed ur love for arivudainambi sir...
im also as lucky as u were cause im studying under him this semester..
i really luv these words of urs.....
"when i'd answer a question in class and u would say,vasanth u give me great hope for human race, i wanted to jump from my desk and hug you"...and....
"I loved the way you were a professed Anglophile and you'd come strutting into class on the gloomiest, humid days, but always enter the class with a distinct smile, and enthuse, "What a beautiful day. Just like the way it used to be, back in my beautiful village." With your spot-on Tamil accent—it was one of the most memorable voices ever to be heard."...
i have hardly seen ppl who express their love 4 their teachers in dis way...it was too good!!
And after reading dis i really wish that one day i will also send him a mail saying "i cleared my M4 paper wit a good grade and its all because of you SIR"...hope dat happens...
Thanks alot guys.... It was really sweet of you to come and comment on a few words out for our Sir.... Am pretty sure, somewhere he still feels the joy in teaching people, with this little piece of gratitude we show, and after all as teachers this is all what they expect from us.... A few words of appreciation from our hearts... Thank U all once again from the bottom of my heart...
Vasanth Benjamin
(vblogics@gmail.com)
Unknown said…
Dear Vasanth,

I too impressed by his way of teaching....

I am going to appear PQT for coming Univ Exam....

Same 2001 Regl but this time only attend Dr.D.Arivudainambi 's class.

God Bless Him and his excellence.

Mik-Peruz.
Soja said…
No man can be a good professor unless he has feelings of warm affection toward his pupils and a genuine desire to impart to them what he believes to be of value.
Thanks Sir...All the rest is mute.
Unknown said…
I am Prashant and I have PQT this semester and I had his first class today and to be very honest I woke up from semi sleep just to listen to him and he to an extent has rekindled my interest in engineering
Unknown said…
I am Prashant and I have PQT this semester and I had his first class today and to be very honest I woke up from semi sleep just to listen to him and he to an extent has rekindled my interest in engineering
Murugan said…
It's really true vasanth thank u for ur staff impression way good
Murugan said…
Murugan R cheyyar

Thank you vasanth It's really true for Nambi Sir
Unknown said…
Lovely recounting senior ! You triggered a flash of reverie across my mind of his , as you quite rightly put it "entertaining tutelage" Probability classes ! :D
Unknown said…
Feeling proud and blessed to be a Student of him...!!! NAMBI sir always ROCKZZZ..!!!

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