A Transformational Teacher

Days were passing, pressing the thumbs on biometrics and getting acknowledged for the presence(Sometimes getting irritated with the sound of ‘Pl try again’) and nights were swallowed by the pre-reads of economics, leaving many gorgeous faces circled and sleep deprived. The erratic behavior of the curves in those pre-reads was making them look horrible (going against their vary notion of being attractive). Strategy and   probability was brought into the action to safeguard ourselves in the classroom. As the probability of getting hit by the spell was higher in the region of eyesight and on the corner benches, we get strategically positioned on the extreme back benches and become invisible. So the balcony benches were getting booked much in advance and booking was extended to close ones with notebooks and mobiles working as booking agents. Though after the lecture, things were falling in place and curves were appearing attractive again (Even they didn’t dare to be undisciplined in the classroom).This was the scenario with the economics, marketing and statistics were also slowly starting to tighten their grip and one more monster was marching its way towards the Spartans i.e. Accounting.

Most of us being engineers, our lives revolved around machines and programming codes, we were as much familiar with the ledger and the journal of accounting as a beautiful lady used to be familiar with loneliness. In other words, the liabilities were piling up in leaps and bound, assets were weakening and Spartans equity was also depleting (after analyzing ABC case study so many times).The basic accounting equation was in danger of facing imbalance. Hang on folks. A powerful asset was already on its way to Greatlakes. Similar to the way, Amitabh Bacchan used to rescue helpless from the goons starting with the dialogue,”Rishte me to hum tumhare baap lagte hain, naam hai Shahenshah”, he entered the classroom with the words”Hi, I am Suryasekar Krishnamurthy from Florida university and I will be teaching you accounting”. Though the words were as humble as he is, the result was as much powerful as that of Mr.Bacchan.

First lecture started with the accruals and cash concept and he started answering every single hand that went up. Few of us started asking complex questions and I started to feel that lecture is diverting from the topic. But soon realised the futility of my thinking as such was his grip over the subject that no matter wherever it goes, he will bring it back on the track.

The magic wand that he brought with him started showing its effect. Suddenly the demand for front benches exceeded the supply; atmosphere inside the classroom got filled with trust and confidence. Eye contact started establishing and more and more hands started rising with the belief that no matter ‘whatever’ the doubt is and however foolish it is, it will be cleared with crystal clarity. With the continuous flow of knowledge from his side and 300 brilliant minds sitting in the front, accounting became more accountable with Journal appearing as General and Ledger appearing as Pleasure. Any murmur in the classroom would die down with his three simple words (don’t misinterpret) i.e. Hang on folks. Such was the flow of knowledge inside the classroom that even the benches in the classroom could recognise the difference between the asset and the liability.

Being the University of accounting in himself, the exchange of knowledge was not confined within the walls of the classroom. A coffee with him in the Bistro and you will digest the accounting concept much before the coffee. A walk with him in the green campus and he will take you on a ride of various accounting concepts.

Apart from his teaching skills, it was his personal connect that added the cherry on the cake. It may be his that extra mile walk on the stairs of classroom to listen to the question of the back bencher or appreciation of the singing skill of fellow Spartans in the temple or mischievingly congratulating us for our sour response to the non mandatory doubt clearing session on ratios, with the justification of understanding our priorities. Those invisible walls between the faculty and the students got demolished and he started appearing as one of the fellow Spartan.

After being the testimony to the fact that learning can be flourished even in the atmosphere of trust and confidence, he left on the same note as he started with “Hi, I am Suryasekar Krishnamurthy from Florida University and I will be teaching you accounting”

As a transformational leader made a sheep lion realize that he is lion. Being a transformational teacher, he made us familiar with that accountant beneath most of the engineers.