‘Whatever I am today is because of my teachers’: CJI shares heartfelt school memories

Hisar: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant on Saturday visited his ancestral village of Petwar in Hansi district, where he revisited memories of his school days and Class 10 exam preparations while sharing an inspiring message with students and villagers. He urged young learners to stay informed about the achievements of those from the village and encouraged them to pursue excellence across fields ranging from the armed forces to engineering, medicine, civil services and law.
Before the programme, the CJI paid obeisance at the Baba Shriram Dadupanthi temple in the village. After the ceremony, he attended a community feast at the Brahmin Dharamshala village. Union law minister Arjun Singh Meghwal, Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana high court Justice Sheel Nagu, state ministers Dr Arvind Sharma, Ranbir Gangwa, and Mahipal Dhanda, MLAs Ramkumar Gautam and Randhir Panihar, Congress MLA Jassi Petwar, and former Rajya Sabha member Lt Gen DP Vats were also present.Earlier in the day, the CJI inaugurated the sub-divisional courts at Barwala and Narnaund and announced that a sessions court would soon be established in Hansi district. Due to his engagements, he could not attend an alumni meet at Govt College, Hisar, and departed directly for Guwahati from Sirsa. Recalling Early Struggles Justice Surya Kant recalled that he completed his primary education, high school, and Class 10 at the village school at a time when facilities were minimal. The village had a co-educational middle school, teachers were few, and students often sat on the floor to study. Despite these limitations, he said, the commitment of teachers was extraordinary. He fondly remembered his English teacher, Master Prem Singh of Madanheri, who identified students capable of clearing the Class 10 board examination and asked them to stay back at school overnight. "He taught us till 11 pm and slept in a room spread with paddy straw," the CJI said, adding that the teacher did this solely to ensure that talented village children could pass the examination and move ahead in life. Justice Surya Kant said whatever he achieved today was due to the blessings of his teachers and village elders. ‘Allow children to choose their own careers'He also recalled that after he passed Class 10, his father gathered all his brothers and told them to pursue higher education, including arts and law, according to their interests. "My parents allowed me to choose my own path," he said, noting that although there were discussions about govt jobs and competitive examinations, his family respected his inclinations. He urged parents to allow children to choose their own careers, even if it involved financial hardship. "The greatest source of wealth is education," he said, adding that the responsibility of educating talented children should not rest solely on parents but on the entire village. He advocated the creation of collective village education funds, supported by donations, to ensure that no child was deprived of education due to lack of resources. Justice Surya Kant also remembered his friend Thaluram, whose father worked in the fields and would bless him by simply saying, "May you bring glory to the village." Announcements for the Village Referring to a memorandum submitted by villagers, the CJI said that after discussions with chief minister Nayab Singh Saini on Friday night, assurances were given that village demands would be addressed. On behalf of education minister Mahipal Dhanda, the CJI announced that a Model Sanskriti School would be established in the village. He expressed hope that on his next visit, the village hospital, school, and pond would be clean and well maintained. Law minister assures PM Shri School for village Union law minister Arjun Singh Meghwal on Saturday said that, considering the deep concern shown by the Chief Justice of India for the village, he would make all possible efforts to ensure that a PM Shri School would be established there. He expressed confidence that the proposal would move forward soon, noting that three cabinet ministers were present on the occasion. Meghwal clarified that he was making the assurance not in his official capacity as law minister, but in view of the Chief Justice's personal attachment to the village and its school. Caption of photo: Village schoolgirls present a painting to Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant. Caption of photo: CJI Surya Kant, accompanied by the Law Minister, in an open jeep, accepting greetings from villagers in the village. MSID:: 126454044 413 |