What is your definition of a good book?
Is it one that wins all the popular literary awards?
One that makes you reach for the dictionary every five minutes or any 800 page monster with a glossy cover (if you’re not a fan of the adage “Don’t judge a book by the cover”)
My definition of a good book is neither philosophical nor a literary edification.
If a book through its seemingly innocuous story line evokes an uncanny reminiscence of people, experiences and events that have chequered my life, then it works for me.
So in my opinion “Tuesdays with Morrie” by Mitch Albom is a good book.
Morrie Shwartz !!
The book is a perfect companion for a quiet introspective read on a train as it snakes its way through India (I can definitely endorse this statement with my own sublime experiences).
“Tuesday’s with Morrie” is a book that chronicles the last few days of Morrie Schwartz, a teacher (who suffers from Lou Gehrig’s disease) and the bond he shared his student, Mitch Albom. The book makes you wonder whether it is possible for a teacher to profoundly influence your existence and more importantly, is it really possible to have fond, cheerful memories that involved teachers from your childhood.
No sooner that the above questions germinated, my eyes lit up with a broad grin plastered across my face. Off course it’s possible to have fond memories of teachers. Hell ,I have a truck load of them.
Its time for flashback spirals to fill the screen.
“School days with Ranga”
Mr Ranga Rao was my physics teacher back in high school. Robin Williams’ character in Dead poet’s society would pale in comparison to his antics. He is like the Ozzy Osbourne of the teaching world.
So here are a few Ranga tales to support my claims (courtesy: Orkut Community)
Ranga and Diplomacy
Mr Ranga Rao fervently appeals to noisy and boisterous class to maintain decorum by offering Chikki and a memorable quote
“Please co-perate Saar, please don’t operate.”
But when diplomacy has fails to make the desired impact Mr Ranga Rao maintains his trademark Clint Eastwood stance looks the class in the eye and says
“To all those who are making fun of me .THIS IS THE ANSWER!!!”
Waving his Digitus Midius menacingly.
THIS IS THE ANSWER!!
Ranga demystifies the Archimedes principle:
The Archimedes principle states that “Any object, wholly or partially immersed in a fluid, is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object.”
Mr Ranga Rao simplifies above seemingly abstruse statement in a manner comparable to Auden’s poetry:
Ranga: Boys, What that fellow Archimedes is saying izz “X cc ullo pora…….X cc veliyo vara…….”
Ranga the Gentleman
An innocent young soul was completing his English homework during the Physics class. Mr Ranga Rao walks up to him seizes his note book and upon discovering the young man’s transgressions.
POW! One tight slap!
Ranga: U are dooying english vark in the physics class?? english vark in the physics class?
Friend: Sir no sir…
Ranga: Boshtard!!! fack off fack off (slaps him, rocky style), oh I’m sorry, Ranga is a gentleman… PLEASE fack off!!
Did somebody say School’s out….hehhe..NEVER!!!!
for some weird reason, ur Mr. Ranga reminds me a lot of Manoj Mohan or Manjo jojo as he is known now…ROFL a good read man!!
hey mann..i remember our engg days, especially the first year when we never got tired of you narrating Ranga Sir’s antics or actually imitating/playing him out numerous times. Well, honestly we always thought you were cooking up things, but never bothered because it was simply hilarious. I distinctly remember, we literally dying of laughter every time you got into the Ranga Sir mode……those, were the days
PS: i once actually confirmed with poulose to check if you were lying
Whatay hard ass this Ranga Rao was!!! I’m impressed! AWESOME photograph!
My word Balla! Where have you been? The last time I heard your name was from hashkash (Kashyap Thimma) in 2nd year. Give me your gmail ID man.
Ranga-fucker outdoes himself again. I am sure he posed for that photograph. I still remember how he would display just half of that finger like in the pic as if he was showing us something precious yet be so nonchalant about it. Very nicely written blog man.
heyyyy Arvind!!!
the post has served it’s purpose..hehehhe.Hope to bump into more school buddies here.you could do your bit by letting them know..hehheh