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Mr Arthur Terence Flynn
The Pride of ALLAHABAD (October 15,1922 to April 8, 2011)
Author, Teacher & Principal of Boys' High School & College (1967-1988)
HE TAUGHT ME A LOT, IN MATHS AND LIFE
I was in La Martiniere College, Lucknow, in the final years of my school education, which culminate in the intermediate exams of the UP Board. This was a crucial year since, like many other students at school, I aspired to a career in engineering. However, since the number of engineering colleges those days was limited and competition quite intense, I knew I would have to score very high in mathematics to get in. It was at that stage that Arthur Flynn was assigned as our maths teacher. Mamu, as we called him, was somewhat short on patience and very demanding of his students but he was a brilliant teacher who explained very difficult concepts with great simplicity.
Since I knew that to get into Roorkee University or the only IIT that existed then in Kharagpur, I would have to score close to 100% in maths, I started working ahead and solving problems even before we got to the subject in class. ‘Mamu’ soon realized what I was doing, and since he knew that I was ahead of everyone else, he would draw me out in class and have me solve problems that others were being presented for the first time. Having solved these on my own, I had little trouble doing so in front of the whole class. Flynn did not utter expressions of lavish praise, but even a simple ’good’ from him was a huge bonus to be treasured.
His encouragement came through actions and his attitude rather than through words, but what lifted my spirits and inspired greatly was the fact that just before the winter break, Mamu brought over a thick book of problems in mathematics, which he suggested I at attempt the winter break. I worked diligently on the problem on my own. By the time the winter break was over, my confidence had grown. What i learnt and acquired in maths at that stage was valuable in itself, but what really mattered in influencing my llfe was the great sense of confidence that I gained through the encouragement of teacher who I admired and respected greatly. This feeling never left me through life and in a silent but powerful way comes to me whenever I face a challenge.
R K PACHAURI (Director, TERI & Chairman, Inter Government Panel on Climate change) |
