Ms. Bhatnagar

There was school. With many teachers. Then there was Miss. Bhatnagar.

Though the school librarian, yet more than all our other teachers.

Feared. Awed. Repsected. Looked up to.

Strict. Wry Sense of Humor. Good values.

And above all, love for books.

That's what she taught us.

We graduated from Enid Blytons to Nancy Drews.

She moved from telling us how to make cloth covers to how to care for books.

No dog ears, no late delivery. Certainly no stealing books.

Her library was her bastion, she was the Queen.

She ruled as we read.

Entering it was like entering a temple.

With her reading was a religion, we had all opted to follow.

Silence and her presence made it even more holy.

There were bookshops in town and the British Council Library

But nothing as pure and prestine as Ms. Bhatnagar's library.

Then came sports day and the march past.

Guess who was beating the drums, real hard all in rhytm.

Ms. Bhatnagar.

In her own way, she taught us multitasking.

Thats books ans sports were good companions.

With her presence there, the naughtiest stood in line.

Metaphorically.

We left school and didnt look back.

But she stayed with us in the love she taught us.

Even today, I dread to make a dog ear, I can feel her looking down on me.

Even today, I love collecting bookmarks and reading still a religion

As I teach my daughter today about book covers and reading,

All that she taught me, it all comes back.

Each and every thing.

I hope I can make my kid love books as Ms. Bhatnagar taught us.

Other teachers taught us, but she educated us in lessons we learnt for life!

Miss Bhatnagar we couldn't have got a better educuator.

Guru, Trailblazer, Role Model

Her first name is good to define her. A name we dare not take then.

But now, a befitting one.

Madhur.