Walking back to gratitude - This Guru Pournima

Walking Back to Gratitude – On Guru Pournima

I’ve been meaning to start something — a journey back through the moments that shaped me. And what better day to begin than Guru Pournima — a day dedicated to honouring those who guided us, taught us, and believed in us.

So here’s me, writing not as a student, not as a writer, but just as a human. Saying thank you — to every guru I’ve had in life. And I’ll start from the very beginning.

1. My Mother: The First Guru

Our first guru is always our mother. And when I talk about mine, words feel like an understatement.

She taught me everything — from empathy to resilience. I remember her saying,

“I work in the rain, in the burning sun. If you study, maybe you won’t have to.”

That hit different.

She showed me that education is freedom. That financial independence is not a luxury — it’s a necessity. And above all, she taught me strength wrapped in kindness. She made sure I understood the realities around us — that even when we had little, others had less. Gratitude and grit — I learned both from her.

2. My Grandmother: The Bold Legacy

If my mom planted the seeds, my grandmother tilled the soil.

Strong, fearless, and ahead of her time — she was the first to send me to school, even when people questioned why so much was being spent on a girl’s education.

I still remember — I was scared of policemen as a child. She didn’t say, “Don’t be scared.” She said, “Face it.” Then she made me blow the whistle hanging from a cop’s uniform. That day I learned: fear dies when you confront it.

3. My Teachers: The Silent Builders

From Sulochana teacher in nursery to Anita teacher in UKG — they shaped the roots of my education when I barely knew myself.

They didn’t just teach me subjects — they taught me how to show up, how to act with discipline, and how to carry myself with grace. Every teacher who saw something in me before I did — thank you. You were the builders working silently in the background.

4. My Father: The Encyclopedia

My dad was the quizmaster of our dinner table. Every meal came with questions about science, history, politics, even space.

We’d protest — “This isn’t in our syllabus!” And he’d always say,

“Go beyond the syllabus.”

That mindset changed my world. He made me curious, taught me to think beyond textbooks, to connect dots. Even now, he’s my personal Wikipedia — always expanding my perspective.

5. Struggles & Unexpected Mentors

12th grade was the storm. No coaching classes, pandemic chaos, financial struggles — I nearly gave up.

Enter: Rajani Rani Madam, our school principal — our neighbour, my unexpected angel. She reminded me,

“Coaching doesn’t matter. Willpower does.”

While most friends drifted away, she showed up. She gave me notebooks, guidance, and even helped me earn ₹5000/month by tutoring. That helped me rebuild not just my finances — but my confidence.

She taught me that support isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s someone quietly saying, “Start again.”

6. College Days: Owning the Room

By the time I entered college, I already knew the syllabus. Not because I was a genius — but because I had to teach myself.

Most classmates struggled with science — still caught up in the idea that it’s “too hard.” A biology professor told me something that stuck:

“If you're the smartest in the room, you're in the wrong room.”

He suggested I drop a year and aim for NEET. I considered it. One day my physics professor gave us all a chance to teach. I picked one topic and taught it.

After my session, he said:

“You’ve got the spark of a real teacher.”

And for the first time, the class clapped for me.

From struggling to pay auto fares to being the one teaching the class — that transition felt surreal. But growth is like that — silent, slow, and steady.

Every time a professor offered me a ride while I waited for the bus because that was free bus pass — I felt it. I had earned something more than grades — respect.

Later, when I stood first in the college and attended the felicitation ceremony, my English professor asked:

“Are you happy now?”

I smiled and said, “Yes sir, I am.”

This Is Not an Inspirational Story

I’m not sharing this to inspire you.

This is a reminder:

You’ve already inspired yourself.

Don’t forget the miles you’ve walked when no one was watching. The quiet victories. The silent strength. The days you showed up for yourself, even when it felt like no one else would.

Thank You to All My Gurus

Whether you’re still in my contacts or just in my memories — this isn’t written for you to read. This is for me, to honour what you gave me:

Hope.

Knowledge.

Courage.

Perspective.

This Guru Pournima, this is my letter of gratitude — to every single one of you who helped me become me.