Its #TeachersDay today. So many people to thank. But today I'm going to mention an extraordinary man who left a deep impression on many of us students at Don Bosco School. His name was Fr.Joseph Comandu and he was the Rector at our school during many of our years there 
He was from Italy,tall with a flowing beard,twinkling eyes,a great sense of humour and a trademark blue head scarf. What set him apart though was his post class sessions on the play ground. After classes as students played he would come to the ground and seat himself on a bench
Students wd go to him and start talking about their problems. Their fights with friends, their problems at home, their difficulties with their teachers even. He wd listen patiently and offer his advise, often with a story to illustrate his point. And he wd instil belief in them.
Nothing that was told to him on the play ground wd ever enter the school building. Boys who were delinquents, who did badly at school bcos they had family issues, rebellious students, those with learning disabilties, he wd listen to everyone. No one was ever scolded or berated
And no problem was ever too silly to be discussed with him. Most school days this session wd go on until almost 6 p.m. Sometimes Fr.Comandu wd join the boys at a game or two.He was a great story teller too.Boys wd gather in a group to listen to his tales.
We wd often tease his Italian accented English & he wd laugh it off. Over time he became a trusted confidante&counsellor to many. I saw rebellious boys who could not be controlled become self aware. So many who could hv gone astray were transformed into responsible citizens
It is my eternal shame that I never kept in touch with him after I left school.He passed away in 2005 at the age of 87.He taught so many of us what a kind word of encouragement & belief in someone could do.He lives on in the hearts of the many he touched with his kindness.
