31st July 2010 - The Scindia School

Interview of
Mr. A.N. Dar
former Principal of The Scindia School, by Aayush Tandon
AT: What qualities should a public
school teacher have
AND: An independent mind, passion for
life and self respect such that he develops
trust and faith in both his students and
colleagues i.e. his community.
This applies not only to public school
teachers but to teachers of any school.
The teacher needs to have passion for
life to give him enough energy to enjoy
his work. Today we talk about all kinds of
schools: public, international, world school
and global, etc., which leaves me utterly
confused. For me teaching is not a job
or a profession but a calling: we should
talk about nurturing that is inclusive of
all and not simply teaching. Teachers in
any school are nurturers, and not just
facilitators. Any nurturer anywhere should
have these qualities.
Several teachers in my days in Scindia,
my school, who were my role modelsincluding
my father had these qualities in
abundance.
AT: You have been a student and the
Principal of the Scindia School.
What did you enjoy more and why
AND: As a student I only dreamt of
being a schoolmaster in Scindia School.
Thank God I didn’t become a master
here because I also dreamt of occupying
the office of the Principal of the Scindia
School and as tradition here is: “Thou
shall not be the Principal of Scindia if you
are a teacher.”
As a student, I enjoyed every moment of
my stay here. As the Principal, it hardly
mattered to me whether I was enjoying or
not for my prime concern was to ensure
that I was successful in putting others in
their zone of comfort. It is for history to
judge whether I lived up to my ideals.
I dreamt of being the Principal of Scindia
School because even as a child I felt that
the direction of Scindia School needed
correction and my colleagues, my board,
my students all helped me during my
tenure here to achieve what I believed.
AT: You have referred to the
tradition of non Scindians heading
Scindia: What about your successor,
Mr. Nirmal Tewari
AND: That is exactly what I meant that
I have believed in corrections in the
direction of the school. However, Mr. K.C.
Shukla, the second Principal of Scindia
rose from starting here as a warden and
Mr. J. L. Dar became the Principal after
being the VP here. I am certainly happy
that Mr. N. K. Tewari succeeded me.
AT: You used the expression
schoolmaster. According to you,
what is the difference between a
teacher and a schoolmaster
AND: A teacher confines himself to
a subject and text books and a tutor
restricts himself to exams while a
schoolmaster is a mentor i.e. he interacts
with his student in varied ways.
AT: What do you consider as
your most significant moment
in the School
AND: My departure from the Scindia
School at 10:30 a.m. on April 24th, 2000
– the day I turned 60. I was delighted to
hand over the gown to Mr. Tewari in my
office immediately after my last Assembly
at SMoaT.
That was the day I fulfilled my destiny
and the Scindia community bade farewell
to my wife and me. That was the most
significant moment of my life because I
thought my innings were over, unlike many
Indian politicians who linger on and stick
to their chair. I am grateful to the School
that they bade me farewell at the right
time and in the right manner. The moment
had its own dignity. Interestingly, this was
a second farewell for me at Scindia: the
first was in 1958 after I completed my
Intermediate (I had lived here since my
birth) and the next was 42 years later as
the retiring head of Scindia.
Mr A.N. Dar giving a speech after receiving the Madhav Award
AT: Do you think that student
behaviour has changed over the
years
AND: That is what the world believes but I
don’t. At the Old Boys’ Night at the SMoaT
we saw and heard pop music and you
guys danced. Had I been your age I would
have done the same. How can people
think that human behaviour has changed
I think it’s evolution. Basics are just the
same: grow, interact, enjoy – and die. The
behaviour of men is evolving and this is
visible in The Scindia School too.
AT: Which is the first place you like
to visit when you arrive at the Fort
AND: The trouble with me is that I haven’t
divided the School into parts. For me the
world is one place. When I was on the Fort
I wandered. Even in my thoughts I am a
wanderer, a dreamer. Looking down the
Fort wall and walking freely on the roads
– there is history, religion, freedom and
privacy all around. The Fort changes at
dawn, during night, under the starlit sky at
midnight. It is painted in different colours
in summer, in winter or during rains.
Mr Dar handing away a trophy during the athletic meet
AT: How do you feel that now the
Assembly Hall will be adorned with
two of your portraits: one as the
former Principal and the other as a
Madhav Awardee
AND: I feel privileged as the only other
person who has this honour is my
schoolmate and then the President of the
Board of the School: Late His Highness
Maharaja Madhavrao Scindia. Yes, I
also figure in the list of Cariappa Shield
winners. I am really amused because my
name figures in some other boards of the
captains also.
I feel grateful to the Scindia Board and
thank God for giving me the opportunity
to serve my alma mater. I get a feeling of
comfort.
AT: Any message for the young
Scindians
AND: Only one message – be a
schoolmaster, whether at The Scindia
School or some other school. Some of you
should actually aspire to be the Principal
of The Scindia School.
Mr. A. N. dar (Ex Rn ’58)
Principal, The Scindia School 1994-2000
Madhav Awardee, 2009
AT: Aayush Tandon
AND: Mr Amar Nath Dar
14 Interview
VOL 8 | Jul 2010