Guiding Light

Written by: Elsa K. Varghese 

Graphic Design by: Sonika Krishnan

In the quiet corridors of CHRIST (Deemed-to-be) University Bannerghatta Road Campus, where sunlight falls softly across open classrooms, and students walk with the busy excitement of finding themselves, some teachers become the gentle lights that guide the way. Their voices may not always be the loudest, but they stay with you, steady, thoughtful, and full of meaning.

For Tanushree Banerjee, her journey began almost two years ago. She stepped into CHRIST  University with equal parts curiosity and uncertainty. Coming from the structured world of English studies, the Liberal Arts department felt wild, open, and full of possibilities. It was confusing at first, almost chaotic, but in that chaos she saw something refreshing, a freedom to try new ideas, to teach in new ways, to stay connected to the world outside the classroom. She remembers how students showed eagerness, how the subjects felt vibrant, and how each batch brought different ways of thinking. She learned quickly that no two classes are ever the same, and that every group of students carries its own spark.

Among the people who shaped her time here, the person she holds in deep admiration is her Head of the Department, someone she describes with quiet respect. She sees her as a symbol of energy, innovation, and leadership, someone who manages everything with strength and grace. But even more than colleagues, it is the students who leave the strongest marks on her journey. Sometimes, after a class, a student walks up to her and says, “Ma’am, your class made me think.” Those simple words stay with her. For her, real achievement is not perfect answers, but the moment a student begins to think critically, question, and reflect. In a world full of easy shortcuts, these moments are the ones she treasures the most.

Her two years here have taught her that learning comes from everywhere, from the exposure the university gives, from being involved in things willingly or unwillingly, from trying new subjects, and even from the pressure of working in a structured institution. CHRIST University demands discipline, yet Liberal Arts gives space to experiment, create, and imagine. She believes this balance, though difficult at times, prepares students to build new ideas long after college. Thinking beyond boundaries, she says, is a practice that stays with you for life.

A similar warmth fills the words of Saakshi Kumaraswamy, another faculty member whose journey has come full circle. For her, coming back to CHRIST as a teacher after studying here feels surreal. These walls shaped her, challenged her thoughts, broadened her world, and gave her friendships she still holds close. Now, standing on the other side of the classroom, she feels more empathetic. She often thinks about how she wished her own teachers had taught, kindly, patiently, with understanding, and she tries to bring that into her own classes. She knows what it feels like to be a student wanting to learn more, to explore more, to be part of everything.

One of her most memorable moments as a teacher came when students told her, “Ma’am, with your class, we can sit for hours.” Those words grounded her deeply. They reminded her that she was doing something right, that students were not just attending but truly enjoying and learning. It made her believe in her ability as a teacher, and she carries that moment with her as a quiet encouragement.

When she speaks about the biggest lesson she has learned, she shares something honest and comforting. She says that not knowing your future is okay. It is okay to be unsure, to be curious, to try different things. She understands the pressure of wanting a clear plan; she felt it too. Some things worked out for her, some didn’t, but she learned that life cannot be rushed. “Take your time,” she says. “Stay curious. Try everything you can. When you like something, you’ll know. When you don’t, you’ll know that too.” For her, exploring is part of growing, and as long as students keep listening to themselves, they are moving in the right direction.

Together, their stories show how teaching is never just about subjects. It is about people. It is about turning confusion into clarity, fear into curiosity, and questions into possibilities. It is about teachers who learn from students, and students who carry pieces of their teachers into the future.

And when they look back at their time here, both Tanushree Ma’am and Saakshi Ma’am hold on to one truth that shines softly, like a lamp in a long corridor:

“Thinking takes time. Growing takes time. And that’s okay.”