V.I.D.Y.A : Very Inspiring Dedicated Yesteryear Ace
By way of age, Ms. Vidya Phadnis is a septuagenarian. A 70-plus individual, that is. By way of essence, Ms. Phadnis is a zestful firebrand who steadily remains young at heart. Her first name translates as “knowledge”. As a Teachers’ Day tribute (September 5) Ajit Ramachanddran illumines the expert and discovers that true to her calling, Phadnis is an educator of no mean merit
Ajit Ramachanddran
V.I.D.Y.A : Very Inspiring Dedicated Yesteryear Ace
By way of age, Ms. Vidya Phadnis is a septuagenarian. A 70-plus individual, that is. By way of essence, Ms. Phadnis is a zestful firebrand who steadily remains young at heart. Her first name translates as “knowledge”. As a Teachers’ Day tribute (September 5) Ajit Ramachanddran illumines the expert and discovers that true to her calling, Phadnis is an educator of no mean merit
The sedate white hair contrasts sharply with her exuberant spirit. Without a shadow of doubt, her life as a teacher has been enriching in terms of expertise, experience and material rewards.
Ms. Vidya Phadnis may no longer be an active educator, but when she sparks off this chatathon – selecting words judiciously and articulating them with finesse - it is with a passion that can only emerge from truthfulness and undiluted love for the vocation. Presenting, excerpts from the interface…
Green-lighting Trail
“When I started my private English classes in 2004 after I retired as a school teacher, the biggest challenge for me was the stiff competition around. There were established coaching institutes with large number of students and resources. But I kept working hard and earned my place. I know for a fact that I’ve taught close to 1,000 students in my 17 years of private coaching career. But I decided to discontinue with my classes around December 2018 because of certain health issues.”
True USP?
“What sets me apart from other institutions are my students. I’ve always had students who needed 1-2-1 teaching, who were always dedicated and hard-working. I also made sure that my batch of students was limited to six, so that I could give personal attention to each one of them. I never let a student leave my class unless I was satisfied with the day’s work. I’ve never taught for name and fame. For me, it was always with the intention of seeing my students succeed and achieve their goals.”
Sterling Qualities
“Firstly, it’s very important for a teacher to be a good human being. Patience, being open to suggestions, criticism and always being eager to learn and evolve, even it is from the students is important. Also, if a teacher is ignorant about a particular topic, it is better to be honest about it rather than mislead students.”
Viva Vernaculars!
“I’ve always found it extra challenging to teach English to vernacular medium students. It’s an added responsibility to unmould them and then remould them again. The best way for vernaculars to get a grasp of English, would be to start reading with a newspaper. Or read English novels. Listen to English news. Keep a dictionary handy at all times. If coming from a vernacular medium I can conduct English classes successfully for 17 years, then anyone can learn how to speak, write and understand this beautiful language.”
Guru Forever
“Once a teacher, always a teacher. This is a noble profession and we are dealing with shaping young minds who are the future citizens of this country. It’s a rewarding job and not everybody can do it. I take great pride in calling myself an educator.”
In Retrospect
“Looking back, all I see is happiness. In my career, there have been no pitfalls and no regrets, either. I’ve earned the satisfaction of teaching and influencing young minds, all the time.”
PHADNISSENCE
*Graduated in Psychology; completed B. Ed with English and Marathi as teaching methods
* Completed English course with the British Council at upper intermediate level
* Taught Mathematics and Marathi at Maneckji Cooper Education Trust School for a span of 16 years
*Enjoyed training students for inter-school elocution competitions throughout her career
* Many former students are present-day celebs
* Considers her father to be her foremost teacher; regards ex-colleagues and friends Rajul Grewal, Dr. Aban Movdawala and Mrs. Freny Vakil to be her greatest Gurus and “ biggest pillars of strength”
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