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Black

As I spent my first day taking classes at the NLSIU, I realised how much teachers and teaching has changed since the last time I went to college.

No longer are teachers monotonous, no monologues, nobody even waited for the time to pass, eagerly waiting for the bell to ring for the ordeal to end. Teachers at NLSIU made the sessions lively, interactive, full with stories and real world examples that made us understand patent law. 

Gone are the blackboards with chalks or whiteboard with markers, what we got was some slick presentations that kept us engaged all through.

As as time moved on , we reached the pneultimate lecture of the day. I stepped out for a quick samosa and chai at the college canteen and was late for the lecture on Patent Infringements. As I walked back, the class was well under way. Teaching us was Mr Kannan from Banana IP , a local firm offering patent services.

Mr Kannan was off to a great start, he got all the 40 odd students very engaged. He had a slick slideshow with lots of animations. There were 3 case studies that Mr Kanan solved together with the class. Mr Kanan made good 'eye' contact with the entire class and truth be told his storytelling and humour made the class very enjoyable. 

As the class ended. Mr Kannan pulled out a white cane and used it to get off stage to mingle with the students. I was stunned, Mr Kannan was visually almost blind.

For every presentation of mine , I typically fuss over every detail,  try to get the storyboard right, re-hearse over and over in my mind but still I never get it perfectly right.

In front of me was a man who could not see but who chose that his constraints will never come in the way of taking a great lecture. Mr Kannan delivered a 90 minute perfect presentation that kept a 40 member crowd engaged.

Good teachers teach, Great ones Inspire. 

Mr Kannan inspired me. More than patent infringement what I leant that you should never let any constraint come in the way of you reaching your potential.

As I was driving back , I was reminded of the movie Black by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. In the end of the movie a visually and mentally challenged girl ends up teaching her own guru. No matter how many challenges we face, we are all blessed with divine ability to inspire. 

Live life like a diya, no matter how dark it gets , our life will always illuminate the world around.

-Viva




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