The Indian Walter Lewin

 10th February, 2021 

Introduction:

There is a quote I remember from my school days,

There are two types of teachers in the world, the first ones will improve your knowledge of the subject and the second ones will improve you.

Usually, the second ones are the one that change your view of life. But seldom do we see, teachers that do both. How would you like such a teacher, who not only teaches you the subject in the smoothest of the ways but can also grill you to the core if needed? Meet Asst. Professor Pranjal Saxena, of a tier-3 state owned university in a district named Bareilly, north of Uttar Pradesh, the country's most backward of states where modern values of education feel left out among the local politics, mindset and stereotype.

 

Often seen explaining complex electrical engineering concepts in online lectures on his Youtube lecture

tech insight. The channel is a mass hit among his students, who find the lectures crisp and content. 

Sitting in the 6th row from front, there I was, a freshman year engineering student in the same university, I had always kept my hopes low from the institute, and I was just waiting for the presentation competition to end as I had performed worse than expected, but a husky voice caught my attention, a faculty was talking about an event named Robowars , for those unaware it is a contest between several teams to develop a robot that can beat the other team's one, it is a rare sight to see such contests in such institutes. This faculty was none other than Pranjal sir. I immediately decided that this was the one event I would really work for, however a few weeks later I got the disheartening news from a senior that since no other teams were there, there was a very little chance that it might actually become a reality eventually leading me to leave the project midway. But I was no more a pessimistic freshman, I came to know that with proper efforts every dream becomes a reality and needless to say this was a result of that robowars fiasco.

However the reason that I am suddenly writing this blog is that I got to know that the TEQIP(under which many new faculties were recruited) contract with college has expired with the institute, the faculty may or may not get extension but I want to express gratitude by telling you all the learnings I had from him.

See things from other's perspective:

I have dealt with most kinds of teachers by now if not all, very few actually bother about the issues their students face. He is one of the few, I still remember one of his lecture, where he speaks about this exact issue. Quoting him
Life is like a marker, when I hold the marker pointing at you, all I see is the ceramic back whereas the only thing you see is the red cap of the marker, similar things happen in life, we don't know what other people are thinking, the kindest thing you can do to others and yourself is to try to look at other's viewpoint.
That led me to ponder that most of our problems are actually created by us, we are not ready to see things from other's perspective. Remember that grumpy teacher that always trolls you in the class or that rude senior that ridicules you for no real reason, actually there is a reason and that reason is you. So if you want to undo that, undo yourselves first. Such teachers are born one in a million and show you a metaphorical mirror.

 

Very soon I stopped finding the teachers I once found grumpy, instead started sympathizing with them. Whenever I see students not doing the tasks assigned to them by him, I am a bit disheartened as I fear that this constant lack of response from his student might discourage him from taking new initiatives. I have never felt the same for any other faculty.

One man can change the world:

I was never someone who would ever take initiatives, I found it better to curse the system and compromise with the miserable situations but he taught me that a person if determined can not only change things and make his life a heaven but actually make the world a better place to live for everyone. Apart from organizing first ever standup comedy contest of university to brainstorming upon Robowars, he took note of the longstanding problem of students and created his Youtube channel Tech insight, where he uploaded complex concepts of electrical engineering in the simplest of terms, working overtime, he came at the forefront and didn't rush any topic where he could have simply told the students to study it by their own anyhow like many others, apart from that he explained each in detail in class and gave special attention that student doesn't rote up the content. All the equipment is his own as I have heard that he uses to make his lectures. I find it amazing that besides all this, he encourages honest feedbacks and does the needful. He motivates me to Lead By Example which very few actually can. And I try that I support his endeavor in all my might otherwise it will be a failure of mine as a deserving student.

 

He regularly uploads a video on study hacks, helping his pupils to excel.

 Be a Leader:

In my 14 years of academic life, I never heard the word lead or leader from any faculty but once, it is something that is even rarer than girls in mechanical engineering(no pun intended). The only time I heard this word is from sir, sometimes life requires you to be bold, have courage and punch the problems in the face. He motivated us all to fight for a mere cover on the front tubelight, but taught a lesson for life, never compromise easy, leaders are always bold and courageous and no one teaches you to be a follower so the if your don't want to perish, lead, yourself and everyone even at the peril of your comfort. He is right, we compromise with things, I am too tired let's do this tomorrow or Why bother, it isn't urgent? and that exact thing haunts us even for our rest of the lives. A leader helps others, himself and never compromises his values.

Be Sincere in your conduct:

I have never seen a teacher more sincere than him to his profession. His teaching methodology is organised and clear, during the lockdown when every subject was in shackles, machines was the one that I never felt under confident or afraid in. He literally reversed the scene as machines is usually the one which is feared the most. He takes extra effort to explain things, clear out of the box doubts and mentor students to conquer their issues and provide them the guidance, he might have missed. That inspires his students to be sincere as well, I become distressed when I see that his task is not completed despite going lengths to help us and have always tried my best to complete whatever is assigned but I must admit I have never been his sincerest of students and I regret it every time I attend his lectures and am filled with guilt. But it sure has taught me what sincerity means literally.

 

Conclusion:

I have never been the most sincere of his students, sometimes missing his classes or being late in the class but I must admit that he has always done his duty justice and I hope he continues to do so. Maybe we haven't made him proud but if we all can do one thing then it is to do what others fear, the least we can do is to take up more initiatives and do something for the world. What challenge are you taking up? Comment below to let me know, maybe we can work together and create history or fail badly but learn a valuable lesson, who knows?

Signing off!

-Apoorv Saxena

 

 

 Hey! hope you learned something from my blogs, if you want more such stories or have suggestions then I would be more than happy if you can comment below. Share this with your dear ones as well. All feedback are appreciated. Stay tuned! :-)