THE UNFORGETTABLE TEACHER - PROF. RD PATHAK

Dr. RD Pathak (01.10.1936 - 10.02.2003) 

This is the fifth post of the series 'Happy Days Gone by'. It talks about the fourth notch in the key to open door for glorious future: consider students more important that your time - a common phenomenon among the teachers in those times. 

Happy Days Gone By

Introduction।। Students' Enthusiasm at Allahabad - Unparalleled।। God Does Not Exist।। The Unforgettable Teacher - Prof. RD Pathak।। Don't Worry, It Will Cool Down।। Can Parliament Abolish Constitution।। Fall from Grace।। We Shall Overcome।।

When I was invited to speak at 'Induction program of the faculty members at the University of Allahabad' on the topic 'Olden days, glorious past and experience sharing', I contacted my friends to tell me about the past teachers and why did they like them. They told me  many incidents and remembered their teachers fondly but one name of Prof. RD Pathak of Maths Department was common among all of them. 

Everyone remembered him for clarity, communication skills, and his sincerity for his students.  They said if they have to teach mathematics; or sit in the exam and had to take one paper in mathematics then they would take paper taught by DR. Pathak as it would be easiest to revise. 

Prof. Pathak taught us modern algebra for some time in BSc first year and  mechanics (dynamics and statics) in the second year. He was an excellent teacher: clear concepts, good communicator, often engaged us with problems on the subject. The best part was, his devotion to his students.

In BSc second year, his period used to be the last, from 2:40pm to 3:30pm but it never finished at 3:30. It went on till 4:00pm. If anyone looked at his watch then he had it. He would scold us if he was willing to spend time with us then why are we hurrying to go back to our homes. 

He remembered his old students. Whenever he engaged us with a problem, he would tell us the names of those, who were able to solve the problem. He would also tell us if he had got stuck in explaining a point in the earlier years then who sorted that out. We were attentive in class. Who doesn’t want his name to be remembered in posterity.

He would also tell us how to answer a question in order to get full marks for the answer, e.g. if question required application of any formula then we should derive that formula also before applying the same.

Corridors of the Maths Department - who can forget it.

In the mechanics paper that year, not a single question was from any book; the paper setter made up those questions and set the paper. Our section was the only section that did very well in that paper. The reason was that our concepts were clear and knew how to answer the questions.

His sincerity to the students was unmatched. The point that I wish to drive home is, if teachers of an institution give more importance to their students than to their personal time - the institution is bound to have a bright future.  

#AllahabadUniversity #RDPathak #GoodTeacher #Mathematics