Teachers’ Day every day

“We got to know that our teacher,Branca James,was unwell and in hospital. We had heard that she was living in an old-age home. Some of us visited her and helped her with small things like getting the book she wanted to read or ensuring that the doctor checked on her regularly. This made us realise there would be many like her with similar issues of old age,failing health and loneliness. We decided to find out the whereabouts of other teachers,most of whom we had lost touch over the past two to three decades,” said Sejal Mehta.

In June 2011,Sejal along with Jai Dalal,Nita Mehta,Shalin Divatia and Prithvish Purohit formed the “Rose Manor Alumni Foundation”,a registered trust,to address problems of former teachers. “We have learned an important lesson. It is our time that teachers want and not money,” added Divatia.

The former students got together initially using personal contacts and via social networking sites. They opened a Rose Manor alumni group on Facebook (rmgsalumni),which currently has 750 members spanning across batches from 1967 to 2010. Subsequently,the trust was established and a dedicated bank account opened. “We first registered the teachers with ‘Topsline Emergency Services’ so that they had access to emergency medical assistance before one of us could come for help. All of them have been provided with membership cards,and the service was recently tested when a teacher had a medical emergency,” said Dalal.

A panel with doctors from each branch of medicine has been set up and are on call at all hours. They will also offer services in consultation with the teachers’ physicians. Subsidised rates on all services have been worked out at some hospitals in Mumbai.

“What they are doing is amazing. They are all busy and yet they are taking time out for us. Initially,they asked us what our problems were. They have done a lot medically. All of us also had a thorough medical check-up,followed by consultations and treatment for those who needed it,” said 70-year-old Indrani Basu,a former teacher.

However,the initiatives are not restricted to healthcare and medical emergencies. “They surprised me on my birthday and made me feel very special. The sentiment and thought they put into each initiative is very touching and goes beyond what your own children would do,” said 68-year-old Christine D’Costa,a former teacher.

A group of “caregivers” has been formed and call the teachers every week to check on their wellbeing. It includes getting errands done like banking,travel arrangements,legal issues and even getting them internet connections. “As part of our gratitude,we celebrate the birthday of each teacher. A group visits them with a cake,flowers,gift and food hampers. Other special occasions are also not forgotten,” said Nita Mehta.

“We are celebrating Teachers’ Day this year on September 4,something they probably haven’t been part of for 15-20 years. We are their support system and they can rely on us for anything in the absence of their immediate family,” said Purohit. They have also been given a list of volunteer students (non-medical) who they can call in an emergency.

(To join the group or share information,email at info@rmgsalumni.org).