Nimita Mam Part 4

Nimita Mam - Heres a moon-pie from one of your most favorite students and my bestest friend Pratiksha :
"
August 1999.
Climbing up the hill is usually tiring, but for me it was intimidating. It was a rainy day and my palms perspired holding the umbrella. I was just praying that no one talks to me or asks me any question. I turned my head down and walked straight. They told us to get inside the classroom and sit. Then someone else came and told us to go out. We all were so confused, after all we were fresh pieces in L&T Institute Of Technology. I came out and stood with others and suddenly something struck my ears.. "Do you guys think you are very smart? Abhi bahar raho, fir seniors ragging karenge aur fir aao mere pass rote hue" It was a loud but angry voice and I could only hear the word Ragging, which was enough to startle me. A short and healthy lady stared at us through her glasses. I thought "I dont remember when I was punished in school but today on the first day of college Ma'am is going to punish me" Nahin aisa kuch nahi hua. Ma'am looked at our innocent faces and calmed down, told us to get inside the classroom and not to come out till she comes. So this was my first introduction with Mrs. Raut yeah Nimita Raut. :)

Then it started.. MST lectures, she calling me Miss 652 (Because my SSC score was 652 same as her son's). I just loved listening to her, her stories, her masti bhari adaayein, and her unique style of asking questions. Her questions always puzzled us. She always said that Dinesh is the only person who thinks in totally different direction, but then she also said there is one more person in the class who can beat him in thinking. She never mentioned the name of that second person, however I always felt like being that second person. :) Yeah back to her questions, I was so proud of myself when I was the only one who answered her question "What did make titanic sink?" All my classmates came up with so many answers, few of them were actually out of my understanding. Well I just murmured "Creep" Yeah Ma'am shouted "Thats true Pratiksha.. say it loudly". You dont know how happy I was to hear that. Nimita ma'am always made me feel comfortable, always tried to to make me confident.

First year of LTIT was over, yeah I scored 93 in MST :) As we moved to Computer specific subjects, Nimita ma'am was lost in the classrooms, but she returned with IOM in 7th Semester. I was little tensed during this period, due to my health issues and dad's voluntary retirement. I dont know how but Nimita ma'am caught me before my friends could understand my problem. I was hurrying to the library and she was standing in front of me, her smile told me that she is going to ask me now and yes she did "What is wrong Pratiksha, tum aaj kal thik nahi dikhte ho. sab thik hai na beta? Dont take tension, things will be alright." (I dont remember her exact words, but this is what she must have said) I smiled, she did not ask me further. I knew she would not ask. Her two lines made me so much comfortable and I felt like I have regained my strengths to fight with the situation. I would always be greatful to her. Here I grab the opportunity to express my love and gratitude towards her, by sharing the moments still alive in my heart. :)
"

In all these parts we have seen that Nimi has not lived any extra-ordinary life becoming over-nightly famous celebrity. Yet she remains one of the most wonderful women that have left an impact on my life.
Nimi's story is frankly of any other simple house-wife cum working women who are present in thousands and millions in the city itself, but what distinguishes her from all others is her jovial and uncomplaining nature. Being a mother of two kids and having to deal with hundred other kids along with being a good wife and juggle your way through stressful traveling, I had never heard or seen her complaining about any situation. In short, she was never nagging about how difficult her life is. She really knew the art of making a fantastic lemonade incase life threw lemons at her! That was surprising to me because I have known a lot of housewives and working women, rich or poor, who never seem happy or satisfied with what they have and have something to complain about.
But Nimita Mam was always cheerful and industrious and took pride in her job - a quality she credits to her father who advised her to be so.

We all face criticism - from our bosses, advisors, superiors and it gets into our nerves sometimes. How does Nimi react to criticism - She would ask one question to herself - Is this really something she needs to improve? If its not giving the expected results, then yes, take steps to improve else, shred the tension luggage and forget about it.

So what does Nimi do when the low feelings creep in as they do to every women - She gives her sweet tooth a treat of gulabjamuns :) haha, well, and also remembers a message from her Dad who said " Do not do same thing in same manner, try to bring variety and betterment to every-day task you do. Enjoy life, don't whine, and don't complain and stay positive - if you think you can you most certainly can"

and what remains to be achieved for her - She wishes to do a Masters in Formity Management from Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay

We wish you all the very best Mam to achieve all of your dreams and also wish that we always remain a part of your life. Do know that you have really played an important role in molding our lives and we love you very much. Thank you for being such a strong support, rather making us learn to laugh at our problems
Guru Purnima Ki ShubhKamanayen Ma'm - Aapka aashirwad humpe sada barsaye rakhna :)

- to a wonderful teacher, from her student.

Nimita Mam Part 3

So when our Nimi was busy building her career, a fine young man had lost his heart to her from the same batch in the university - Nachiket Raut. They met during group counseling or social gatherings and started liking each other. Though "dating" is not really a part of Indian culture, the couple managed to find time to know each other. They could go to movies but only with a group of friends. So when they finally committed to each other, first thing they did was to tell their parents about their decision. Love marriage was really not much accepted version of marriage back then (even now in some places). The relatives would give you a look as though you have committed a blasphemy! Nevertheless, the couple was hopelessly in love and determined to make it work - together they made it possible. After much reluctance, their parents gave their blessings too, and the couple got married on Jan24th, 1983.

Now, Nimi had to take a difficult decision here. She worked in Faridabad - North of India, whereas Mr. Raut was placed in Selum, Tamilnadu - South of India and she decided to resign from her job and move with her husband to Selum. What I always wondered is, why did a career-oriented woman like Nimita Mam succumb to such an adjustment when she was doing very well in her job and happy with it. To this Mam gave me two reasons which I did find quite plausible - One was that, women always have an inclination to have a husband, have her kids and be a part of a beautiful family. She was no different from the young girl who dreams about wearing the red saree at her wedding, marrying the man of her dreams, her house, since when she was 12.. and second and my favorite reason was when she said - Monika, a woman however educated and independent is the ONE to compromise/ make adjustments. The point is finding a man worth adjusting for and then you will never feel you have compromised. Infact, it leaves you with a feeling of fulfillment. Mr. Raut had been supportive to her all these years and he had married her promising to be with her in sickness and health. She felt 100% sure of what she wanted and without a doubt, resigned from her job.

Lesson learnt - Adjustments are a part of life, whats important is, if you do them for a guy who understands it well enough to realize that when a woman adjusts, she is not weak, but actually strong enough to let go what she likes and hence he takes the responsibility of keeping her smiling.

So, Nimi started her married life in Selum. Within a year of her marriage, she gave birth to a baby boy. In-spite of heart problems and other complications, the baby made it through and our Nimi was now a Mom - the prestigious milestone every women wants to reach. The couple had truly entered the phase of "Grihasthashram" i.e having a family and social responsibilities. Nimi took tuition classes for local school children for the 10 years that they lived in Selum.
Nimi was blessed with second child, again a baby boy and within few years of it, there was a major change in her life.

Mr. Raut was transferred to Bombay - the city that never sleeps! the city of lights, the city of dreams! Nimi had started thinking about getting back to work-life, but this time as a teacher. She made just one application to Larsen and Toubro Institute of Technology, Powai and received a telegram in the summer of 1992 that she has been accepted for the position of "Material Science and Technology" professor in the Diploma college which later luckily, happened to be my Alma Mater.

Her typical day now would be getting up early at 430am to make lunch, get the kids ready for school, come to work, teach and come home by 630 to again be a wonderful wife and mother.
And when did Nimi find time for herself - Well, when most of Bombayites take their time to sleep during long travel times of trains and buses, Nimi took her time to read books. When I was leaving for United States, I had asked her to give me a list of good-read-books and wrote the list on a torn piece of paper. But I remember all of them - The FountainHead, The Alchemist, Atlas Shrugged, The Da Vinci Code and P.G Woodhouse laughter series. and needless to say, all these books were marvelous and amazing.

And what magic she did as a teacher - is unexplainable. She left an impact on every student in the class. Her teaching style was practical oriented, fun filled as well as serious science.
She was a mother who would not spare the rod to spoil the child. Her strict eyes behind the spectacles complimented her sweet smile to make learning an enjoyable experience.
For me, she was my first ideal woman when I had entered the real world just out of school.
There was something uncanny about her teaching. Her strict voice, her years of experience, she knew every reaction of her students. She could read your face easily (yes, she could spot you distinctly even if you tried sleeping in her class with your eyes open :) - reward you for your good work and punish equally for procrastinating! I remember vividly many of the incidents where she amazed us by her wit mixed with her jocular nature.
ohh! I so miss being her student !

Well, she agrees that it took a lot of work to reach to this point. When she started first as a teacher, she felt it was not easy to fit in a leaders role for students. She had to bridge the gap between her education and experience with the "we-have-no-clue-whats going-on" out-of-school-students. Just like any other normal being, she accepts that her high-tempered nature was not helping and had to work a lot on being patient with the students, though being a mother of two did contribute to it.

Since then, LTIT institute is blessed to have her experience as a professor and Nimi continues to work here. Her kids have grown up, elder one getting married this year and younger one studying in a university out of town. So our Nimi will become the dreaded mother-in-law sooon :) Well, am sure her daughter-in-law is lucky to have such an inspirational and most of all funny natured mother-in-law.

On asking how does she feel to be this successful, she answers, "Monika, I feel I have lived a very content and happy life- no complains, no regrets" something we all strive to achieve...