Education is very important in shaping the future of the nation. The new generation is thinking of the future. Keeping this in mind, teachers have to learn new skills as the times change. They need to be dedicated to teaching and surrender themselves to their duties. The best teacher is the one who keeps on studying while teaching. Mrs. Malan Shrikant Bhatikar’s entire career of 3 and a half decades has been dedicated to the field of education.
She has shown an inner passion for the student. While trying to find and develop aspects of the student’s personality, she undertook a number of activities in the field of science and devoted herself completely to making it a success. Malan has helped many students achieve excellence. Until her retirement, she worked at developing a scientific temperament in her students with the vision of making them scientists. She never gave up the perseverance in her mind. As a result, she gained popularity among the students, colleagues and management.
Born into a cultured family in a rural area of Kumbharwada, in the North Kannada district of Karnataka, Malan pursued her primary and higher education at Karwar and Belguam. She graduated in Science (B.Sc.) from Karnataka University and did her B.Ed. from Mumbai University.
After completing her education, she started her career as a teacher at Bal Bharati Vidyamandir in Ribandar in 1972 and then at Wagle High School in Mangeshi for ten years, before joining the highly reputed Bhatikar Model High School in Margao as an assistant teacher in 1985. She taught there for 23 years until her retirement in 2008. Her work as a Science teacher during these two decades has earned the school an esteemed reputation
The teaching profession is an important as well as a responsible one. Malan nurtured affectionate and caring relationships with the students as well as the parents. She studied and meditated on science and related subjects. The students loved her teaching skills. Understanding the background of each student, she taught in the classroom without any discrimination. Even outside the classroom, when the students came to meet her after school hours, she would attend to them and resolve their doubts.
Malan Bhatikar, who aspired to be a teacher from a young age, is a Chaitanyamurti who has made her dream come true. That is why she became a loved and admired, student-friendly, ideal teacher. Even today, many alumni honour her teaching skills. She is also loved and respected by fellow teachers and management.
Without being confined to the four-walls of the classroom, she often took the students with the help of other science teachers to the lab of nature. She took them on field trips to the Leela Beach (Orchid Farm), Narasinv Nayak Farm (Rubber Plantation), Salaulim Dam (Water Treatment Plant), Goa Observatory (Sky observation through telescope). She also took them on visits to Goa Medical College (to explain the importance of blood donation, blood transfusion, dialysis, etc.), Sesa Goa (Blast Furnace), Goa Pottery, GEDA (use of solar energy & solar equipments), etc.
She continued to study while teaching and engaged herself in the field of training to enhance her knowledge.
She encouraged students to create projects and participate in science fairs held at various parts of Goa. She gave many students the opportunity to represent Goa in the Western India Science Fair, National Children Science Congress, Intel Science Talent Discovery Fair etc. She carved name for Goa and her school by winning these competitions. Some of these projects were also a part of exhibitions held in Goa and later nationally in Mumbai, Chennai, Delhi, Assam and Calcutta.
After retirement, due to her love and loyalty towards the school, the management first appointed her as the Coordinator of the school in 2009 and then as the Manager in 2012, which responsibility she successfully handled till April 2021.
Although she is retired today, she has not mentally retired from the education sector. She is still enthusiastic about education and guides students who are in touch today.
She has received many awards for her outstanding work in the field of education. Among them, Salcete Taluka Teachers Forum, Rotary Club Madgaon Midtown has to be mentioned. She was also awarded certificate of appreciation by All Goa Science Teachers Association for meritorious service rendered as Science Club Advisor for promoting Science Club activities for four successive years from 1993-94 to 1996-97.
It is worthwhile for young emerging teachers in the field of education to learn about Malan Bhatikar’s ways and techniques of teaching. May she have a long life and continue to provide guidance on education. That is the only thing we and many alumni like us pray.
(Written by Vishal Valvatkar, Sonia Bhagat, Shreyas Paranjape and Prajothis Mohandas)
