SUNDAY, APRIL 28, 2024
ANISHA FRANCIS
PANJIM: At the age of 68, Maya Nachinolcar, better known as ‘Maya teacher’, reflects on a life dedicated to service, education, and empowerment. During her teaching career that spanned from 1981 to 2015, she was a beacon of hope for countless teenagers from underprivileged backgrounds, who had trouble with academics, and lacked a strong family support system at home.
Born into a loving family, Maya enjoyed a blissful childhood filled with activities like playing badminton. Despite her natural aptitude for biology and science, her father was keen that she continue playing the sport and encouraged her to pursue commerce. This redirection didn't deter Maya; instead, it ignited her drive to succeed on her chosen path.
Marriage brought new challenges and opportunities. Encouraged by her father-in-law to seek financial independence and carve her own identity, Maya pursued a Master's degree in Commerce. “I answered my exams while nine months pregnant,” she recalls with a smile. “My classmates used to tease me, but I received unwavering support from my professors, husband and father-in-law. My father-in-law, a doctor, would sit outside the exam hall for three hours, in case I had to be taken to hospital,” she says. Having received such wholesome support from her family to pursue her dreams, Maya felt that her calling lay in doing the same for children who were not as fortunate.
Maya’s career in education began at People’s Higher Secondary School, where she taught commerce and a special marketing management course. Yet, it was social work that truly defined her purpose. “Children from poor families, from areas like Indra Nagar and even from distant parts of Ponda, Sanvordem, Margao, would come to People’s Higher Secondary as nobody would give them admission in other schools. Either they had scored poor marks, below 35, or they had failed or answered Class 10 exams twice, so schools would not accept them for Class 11,” she explained.
“In addition, some of these kids had been through difficult circumstances, so they were badly behaved and did not respect teachers. However, after a few months of work, they would become the gems of the school,” says Maya, beaming with pride and joy.
Maya's approach went beyond traditional teaching methods. She nurtured her students' minds and spirits, instilling confidence and providing practical support.
“I loved them, I worked on their insecurities, and gave them the assurance that if they studied hard and scored well, I would help them get placed in the future,” she explains. “A teacher is more than a mother, it is a noble profession. I always wanted to serve and give back to society. During that time, I may have neglected my own children’s studies as I was busy looking after someone else’s children, but God took care of my kids, and they always passed with flying colours, went on to study abroad, and have done very well for themselves,” she says.
Maya's home became a sanctuary for her students, where they found not only academic guidance but also emotional support and a sense of belonging. Other teachers would often ask her how she
managed to get close to these rebellious teenagers, how she touched their hearts and moulded their behaviour.
“I would never judge them, so children would confide in me, talk about their girlfriend/boyfriend problems, about issues at home. Some students would even follow me home after school, and ask me to make them an omlette for an evening snack - my children would sometimes get upset and ask me if I love my students more than them,” she laughs wistfully. “For festivals like Ganesh Chaturthi and Diwali, the whole class of 60 kids would be invited to my home,” she adds.
“I did help some students financially, with fees and other needs, but I think what made the biggest difference was to ensure that they understood, thoroughly, what I taught them. I didn’t care if they didn’t have the best of English pronunciation, but ensured that their fundamentals were all correct, so they enjoyed these subjects and could answer exams confidently,” she explains, adding that she would buy them comic books like Tinkle, so they could improve their English as well.
Today, Maya continues her mission of empowerment through the boutique she started after retiring from her teaching career. She stocks exquisite traditional handloom apparel like kalamkari and Lucknowi embroidery, and notably, she also recruits only single mothers to help her at home and at her business. “I know how difficult it is for a woman to raise her children and provide for her family alone, and they deserve all the support I can give them,” she signs off.
