E-Paper
He has not lost hope
EXAMPLE IS better than precept. In the capacity of teacher and principal, he set examples for his students and teachers. With utmost care, he accorded top priority to discipline, punctuality and moral and social values. It had hardly been a smooth sailing for him and he had to sacrifice many materialistic gains because he adhered to his principles. But, he undoubtedly impressed and inspired many.
EXAMPLE IS better than precept. In the capacity of teacher and principal, he set examples for his students and teachers. With utmost care, he accorded top priority to discipline, punctuality and moral and social values. It had hardly been a smooth sailing for him and he had to sacrifice many materialistic gains because he adhered to his principles. But, he undoubtedly impressed and inspired many.
Narbada Prasad, former principal of the KP Training College, Allahabad, still remembers a sentence of his father Late Dr Laxmi Narain "Sahi sahi hai, ghalat ghalat hai." He often says: "An ailment draws power from the weakness of the health."
Though he is unhappy with the attitude of present-day teachers, he has not lost all hopes and makes best efforts to do his bit. He had sent a proposal for improvement in education policy to the then Prime Minister in late 80s.
After doing MSc (Zoology), MEd and LL B from Allahabad University, Narbada Prasad joined the KP Inter College as a demonstrator in Biology Department and later became its head. Simultaneously, he held the responsibilities of NCC unit and games. He made valuable contributions as a coach of hockey and football.
During his period, the KPIC football team was considered to be the best in the entire district. He has the credit of grooming excellent football players like Somnath Chanda (who led UP team for six years, played and scored at every ground in the country), Ranjit Singh, Amarjeet Singh, Prabhat Sahani and Sachchidanand.
Later, he joined the KP Training College as a lecturer and became its vice-principal after a few years. He became the principal of the institution when he was only 40 and retired from the same post in July, 1990. During his tenure as principal, he constructed a temple of Goddess Saraswati on the college campus and got "Gyan hi shreshtha dharma hai (knowledge is superior religion)" inscribed on it.
The excerpts from the interview:
As principal of the KP Training College, Allahabad, I ordered closure of the college on the day the mother of the great martyr Bhagat Singh died. Besides, as a mark of respect to the great soul, the flag was flying at half-mast.
Although there was some query from some corners as there was no official order in this regard, I remained firm to pay obeisance to the great soul.
As member of the Chandrashekhar Azad Park Committee, time and again I insisted for the upkeep and maintenance of the statue area at par with the status of the great martyr. I am lucky enough that the administration, media and citizens have been quite benevolent to co-operate in this project and the change is now perceptible. However, much more, including plantation and inscription of Vande Mataram', is needed to be done thereon.
The Uttar Pradesh Government was considerate enough to sanction payment of salary of teachers belonging to different categories, except those of aided LT colleges. In spite of vigorous efforts made in this regard, nobody was ready to lend ears and remove this discrepancy.
I cannot forget the benevolence of Kailash Nath Singh Yadav, the then Minister for Education in this regard. He is an alumnus of the KP Training College. I wrote a letter, urging him to get a Government Order (GO) issued to include aided LT colleges in the 'Salary Payment Scheme'. To my surprise, I got a telephone call from Lucknow that the GO had been issued within 24 hours.
Later, I invited Yadav as the chief guest to address the college students twice and he willingly came to college on both the occasions. In his address, Yadav had no qualms about saying: "My teacher Narbada Prasad ji has used word 'request' but, I request him to order me instead." This clearly reflects his faith and belief in Indian culture and 'sanskar'.
I have no hesitation in saying that the KP Training College is basking in the reflected glory of its alumni like Kailash Nath Singh Yadav.
Prof SB Adaval was Head of the Education Department, Allahabad University when we were trying for the affiliation of the KP Training College as AU's constituent college. In the beginning, Prof Adaval was reluctant. Somehow, he came to know about the functioning and atmosphere of the college and mellowed down to some extent.
Finally, Prof Adaval got the institution inspected by the then giants of education. Although the team members were not much satisfied with the infrastructure, the educational climate, sanctity and ethical preference of the staff and the students impressed them highly.
I am frank when I claim that the affiliation of the KP Training College as B Ed College was possible because of our reverence for values.
After 40 years of my experience in the field of education and teacher education I firmly believe that it is the adherence to values that always pays. The two couplets "Chalna sidhi raah par hai path kitna pathrila ho" and "Jaga hua zameer hai wo aaina Katil, soney se pehley roz jise dekhta hoon main" are the driving and guiding forces in my life.
