Dubai: The 16th episode of NewsKarnataka.com’s Namaste Teacher was held on Saturday March 12 at 6.30 pm IST.
The guest teacher for the evening was John Chandran, Art/Drawing Teacher, St. Aloysius High School. The special guests of evening were his students, Shubham R. Vernekar, Business Technology Consultant for Deloitte (Offices of the US), who is a BTech graduate from NIT – K, Surathkal, Jeevan Acharya, BVA, and Multimedia and Animation Diploma holder, who is a Visual Artist, Graphic Illustrator, Jewellery Designer, and Guest Lecturer at St. Aloysius Degree College, Mangaluru, Jonita Laurel D’Souza, who is working in Administration Department with Sony India, and Harshachandan D. Bhat, who is a CA Student.
The event host was Spearhead Media Group Mentor and Advisor CA Valerian Dalmaida, and the Co-host Kiran Nirkan.
Through teacher-student interaction, the series strived to highlight teachers and their impact on students. On youtube.com/newskarnataka, the show was streamed live.
In the beginning of the show Valerian Dalmaida and Kiran Nirkan introduced the guests and welcomed them.
Recalling the remarkable painter Antonio Moschini-organised painting exhibition teacher John Chandran remarked, “Each and every experience in twenty five years of my career has been remarkable.”
Recalling the days back to the beginning of his interest towards art he said, “Apart from being a teacher in Art/ Drawing, I am a caricature artist, the interest for which developed in my high school days.”‘ I also contribute political cartoons in eveningers as well as worked as editorial cartoonist, he said and detailed on his cartoon strips for kids.
The habit of entering into public library along with neighbourhood friends and reading cartoons might have led me in becoming a cartoonist, he observed.
Student Jonita Laurel D’Souza recalling her memories with her teacher John Chandran sir said, “Even after ten years post schooling, John Chandran sir is a go-to person to me. Sir has always encouraged me in school and I was the only girl among six boys who was interested in art. Sir saw to it that, I am not left out from participating in any of the competitions.
Shubham R. Vernekar said, It was in my sixth standard I had my first interaction with John sir. For a state-level competition at Bengaluru I was suggested to meet John sir who was teaching for high school. And the warm and welcoimg act of his is the very first memory with him of mine, Shubham said. In high school, a solo art exhibition initiated by me had a full-fledged guidance from sir, recalled Shubham.
Harshachandan D. Bhat said, My childhood interest was converted into a passion because of John Chandran sir. Harshachandan also spoke on the guidance of John Chandran sir in organising various art exhibitions along with excelling in the competitions. “The value education class to enlighten on ‘what has
to be done in life’ was taught by John sir, he said expressing gratitude.
Jeevan Acharya sharing his memories said, “Teacher is not the one who teaches only syllabus but the one who teaches beyond it, and he is the best teacher. The Rangoli competition which had least boy participants is where I was qualified up to state-level, thanks to the guidance by Chandran sir. Due to John sir my paintings were recognised by the people all over the world,” he expressed.
Stating teachers are more like parents and they mould the teenage brains with values and morals, students emphasised on “how teachers change an entire generation through their dedication.”
Both teacher and students expressed their gratitude for the remarkable and unique initiative of NewsKarnataka through Namaste Teacher programme.
Kiran Nirkan signed off the session stating, “Newskarnataka celebrates teachers every week and so every week is a Teachers’ Day for the team.”
