As and when teaching becomes the source of knowledge and enlightenment, it also brings in some vital issues along with it.
As teachers, the good faculties always try their level best to execute those standards into the process of teaching which, I feel, best meet the thought process of the youth today. The sole purpose of my exams is generally to prepare students for the "BIG MATCH" as they enter the corporate world as future leaders.
The exams help them realize that not the known challenges but the unknown challenges, under pressure-cooker situations make great managers/leaders.
Though it's a challenge to meet the regularly changing trends in the teaching process, I feel glad that I get to see faces who successfully find their way out to glory even in such a strikingly competitive world. A few such faces that shine on the pedestal of success today showed up during a fun-filled conversation the other day, and it just felt like a reunion.
The drive home element of the whole conversation is that extra edge that a future manager/leader should possess.
It all started with one of my students, Puneet Aggarwal reminding me of how much he had to tolerate me during his college days, through a shared online article on "Messing with students". I could well understand the fact that my students have had to put up with some stress situations in my subject during my course. A mixed set of emotions brought back so many memories that only a teacher can cherish.
As Puneet hit his question, "Kakani Sir, was this your inspiration? ;)", another student of mine, Akshat Kumar exclaimed, "I think it's the reverse.. Sir must have been the inspiration for the comic strip! 
".
Hameed Uddin poured in writing, "He actually did it with our class.. 
", while Puneet continued, "Yes. One of our exercises was a match-the-following with all the straight ones matching..!! :O".
To this, Hameed added, "Sir had once said that after the examination he would give out the answers, and as soon as it got over, he walked up the podium and said, 'all the answers were choice 'D'...' and we were completely scared stiff".
I instantly barged in, "Boys, do you remember some sweet memories that you all had spent together during my classes? ".
Puneet's instant reply was, "Guys, just imagine galloping through the course without Sir's exams.. they still remain one of the best experiences of our college days.
They were, by far, the most interesting part during those two years ... You may not know any answer and might end up with a net negative score, but at the end of the exam, you always leave smiling, either at your own stupidity or the sheer brilliance hidden in the question papers." Varun Kumar Gupta spontaneously commented, "I swear the day I got a pass grade, I jumped with happiness. Only a miracle could have saved me from a fail grade. That miracle was the weird end-term question paper."
Tushar backed Puneet's comments writing, "Yes, Tushar, I know. Once, in one of his exams, as far as I remember, I had guessed 15 with a..b..c..d, 14 were correct, and I had solved 12, 10 were incorrect , but I still got a B+... Just a bit a curious... Is there any clause in the student manual where the grades can be revised after one has got the degree??.. ".
On this, I exclaimed, "Never knew the exam papers would create so much interest... but I remember the day when the Financial Times 2006 newspaper was used to set a question for my SPJCM Singapore students ..
There was a call from Diana David (Director of FT Asia, Business Development & Regional Circulation division). Amy Yee (Correspondent) & Janice Tan (Regional Manager of FT Singapore, Academic Partnerships) thanked me – stating that this was unheard of i.e., using "Financial Times" Newspaper to set the 'Financial Management' Question Paper.
Credit goes to Junta also for permitting the experimentation. Thank you ji!
After all brilliance is only a collation of the different ideas and putting the same as a zigzag puzzle. A bit of experimentation is perfectly okay, if time permits.."
Puneet added a touch of spice to the conversation- "Sir, the other thing that creates so much interest in your subject are your infamous accounting assignments or I should rather say 'the mother of all accounting assignments'... J" (the song : Sabka Katega re-edited to emphasize one of the BFA assignments. Link is available with the students who have done the course).
I smilingly replied, "The game has significantly changed... No comments".
Tapan Malhotra commented, "Different games, different rules, but the same outcome"
Suddenly, Krishnan Subbraman peeped into the conversation with a brighter consideration, reminding me of one of the best thoughts that I had shared with his batch- "God is great and life goes on!"
Akriti Dharendra also added, "I quote this one everywhere.. 'In companies, as in life, the balance sheet, credit and debit are always balanced' (as once said by Sir)."
When students spot such fleeting moments wherein they had absorbed some of my thoughts, and still care to remember them in their busy lives, gives me lot many reasons to be proud being a teacher.
What I have been to them and what has made them what they are today has nothing much in comparison, yet the fact remains.. I was one of their teachers.