A great teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.
This is a reprint of a Vidyullekha special tribute to Prof. D.S. Habbu, who merged with Bhagawan’s Lotus Feet earlier this year. Bhagawan’s introductory words about Prof. Habbu in 1983 – “I have brought the best principal to the Higher Secondary School” became a living truth that transformed the life of every student graduating from the school thereafter. Former students offer their deepest and heartfelt gratitude to sir for everything he inspired them to become.
This first-person reflection is written by an alumnus of the school as a tribute to his ‘most beloved and respected Principal sir”.
The final exams were still a few weeks away. There was enough time to catch up on the lessons that were still hazy, to work on the tougher textbook problems and to ‘mug up’ those lengthier formulae. Our parents were miles away. We could afford to take it easy. This was the time to relax. And may be crack a few jokes with classmates, all assembled to listen to our principal. There he was, dressed in crisp white khadi, standing ramrod straight, with a gentle smile on his face. He spoke in a clear and measured tone. “We have to hoist Bhagawan’s flag on the CBSE building in Delhi,” he said. “When the results are announced by the CBSE in Delhi and I take the marks sheet to Bhagawan, He must have a smile on His face. That is all we aspire for.”
He looked around, “If your calibre is to achieve 90%, and if you secure only 80% or 85%, Bhagawan will not be happy. Aim to achieve your potential.” This made us stand straighter. We could feel the excitement rushing from within. What lies ahead is more than an exam. It’s an opportunity, which we shall not waste. “Yes,” we told ourselves silently, “We will achieve our potential.” This is not the experience of just one batch. Year after year, students have felt the sudden surge of energy to go that extra mile.
Great teachers inspire. There cannot be a better example than “Habbu Sir”. For us, the alumni of Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School, Habbu Sir epitomised the values of hard work, duty, dedication and devotion to Bhagawan. His focus was to ensure we grew up to be bright, ethical, patriotic, spiritual, balanced and self-confident citizens with Bhagawan at the core of our being. His patience and exactitude helped shape our lives. His name reverberates like a mantra and continues to evoke awe and inspiration among all those who were privileged to be under his tutelage at the school. One of the most defining images of Habbu Sir is his chanting the name of our Lord silently. He seemed to be doing “namasmarana” all the time, whether it was walking to and from the school or sitting on the verandah waiting for darshan. His most treasured possession was his diary, in which he would set targets for students to achieve, especially those in Classes X and XII. Many of us treasure vivid memories of Habbu Sir motivating us to excel in academics. He would often encourage us to stretch our limits.
Habbu Sir was a strict disciplinarian and a great patriot. Every year before Independence and Republic days, he would stand in front of us with his eyes on his watch, and make us rehearse the National Anthem over and over again to ensure that we sang it in exactly 52 seconds. We were relieved and happy when we got it right at last. But these sessions also taught us a bigger lesson – the importance of paying attention to detail.
During these days, year after year, we always looked forward to his speech after the flag hoisting ceremony. They were inspiring, made our hearts swell with pride, and urged us to do more for the country. It wasn’t difficult to notice, through his speeches, lifestyle and personality, how deeply he was influenced and inspired by Mahatma Gandhi. Incidentally, he chose to be always clad in Khadi clothing – a symbolic gesture of remembrance to a personality who had shaped his ideas and values.
Habbu Sir had a unique way of explaining life in Prasanthi Nilayam to students who joined the School in Class XI. One student of the 1990 batch recalls: “During those days, we had a weekly SUPW (Socially Useful Productive Work) class. Sometimes we used to bind/label the next issue of Sanathana Sarathi as the printing press was next to our school. At other times, we packed vibhuti packets and on many occasions, we cleared the grounds behind the school of parthenium weeds. The most cherished of these classes was when all the school and institute students (on Sundays) would engage in these activities and Bhagawan would Himself come to oversee our work. As Bhagawan’s car approached an area, boys would leave their work and form a line to have His Darshan. On one such occasion, Habbu Sir, informed us that this was the difference between life with Bhagawan and elsewhere. In other places, people often work only when the dignitary comes for a round, in Bhagawan’s presence, we work all the time but when He is around, we take the opportunity to have His Darshan.”
Many new students often wondered whether the sun rose and set with Habbu Sir! He would be there in the playgrounds early in the morning to see us go for a jog and exercise the body by playing football, cricket, volleyball, or whatever sport we fancied. He would then go for Bhagawan’s darshan and arrive at the school before the students gathered for the morning assembly. On one occasion Bhagawan enquired from Habbu Sir whether He was aware of what hostel life for students was like. From that day, until His retirement, He would visit the hostel every evening to check for himself. Bhagawan’s word was His command. Such was His dedication!
Habbu Sir was a great speaker. He often narrated the story of Prof. Thakakao. (Prof. Thakakao taught Dr V K Gokak, the first Vice Chancellor of our university.) He would say, “After examination results were declared, Mr. Thakakao would go to his university’s head and ask, “And who has stood second in the University.” “Why? Don’t you want to know who came first?” “No” was the prompt reply from the young Thakakao, “because the first rank is reserved for one Mr Thakakao.” Stories like these inspired us to believe in ourselves and have faith in our own abilities.
To those who wished to become good public speakers, Habbu Sir used to point to examples of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg speech, Rt Hon’ble V S Srinivas Sastri, Sri M. Visweswaraiah and Sir C V Raman. He believed that speeches should be short and powerful. He liked to quote an incident from the life of Sir C V Raman. When approached to be the chief guest at a function, Sir C V Raman told the organisers –“ If you want me to speak for an hour, I am ready straight away but if you want me to speak for 15 minutes, you have to give a month’s time to prepare”.
Habbu Sir wanted us to excel in sports too. His favourite basketball matches were those between the school and the institute students. Whenever he spoke about it, it was with child-like enthusiasm. Once, the school students won their match 20-4. Habbu Sir was the proudest man on that day. He recollected this match to alumni who went to see Him in the Super Speciality Hospital on 2nd Jan 2009, a few days before he left his mortal body.
As a teacher, Habbu Sir was par excellence. For us, he was the best history teacher in the world. He was a master story teller. When he taught, we could almost see the characters in life and blood before our eyes. He could enthral and capture even the most numeric and scientific minds with his often quoted, “And one more anecdote….” His classes were exciting and very interesting. He could seamlessly blend these anecdotes with modern day socio-economic problems faced by India. As a teacher He was inspiring. Every year a debate was organised between Class XI and Class XII students on an interesting topic. After the session, when the jury was still out, Habbu Sir gave His perspective on the whole issue. Every time, His views were refreshing and thought provoking.
Habbu Sir’s life was an example of devotion and dedication to Bhagawan. To his students, He was a Karma Yogi. He practiced Bhagawan’s teaching, “Dil mein Ram, haath mein kaam.” Ably assisted by a dedicated band of teachers, Habbu Sir worked tirelessly. His sole aim was to bring joy to Bhagawan. In the process He made our school, truly, world class. He sought no rewards, and no recognition. He always exhorted us to follow Bhagawan. Many alumni who went to see Him in the Super Speciality Hospital in Jan 2009 confided in Him, “Sir, we will follow your teachings” and to each one of them He replied, “Follow Bhagawan.” He was much more than a school principal.
In 1983, on the verandah in Prasanthi Nilayam, Bhagawan introduced Habbu Sir to a group of dignitaries as the “World’s best Principal”. In July 2008, twenty-five years later, speaking to Radio Sai, Habbu Sir wondered whether He had lived up to Bhagawan’s expectations. One thing He knew for certain, He had tried His very best. He had given it his all.
Dearest Bhagawan, we wish to “Thank You” from the bottom of our hearts, for choosing Prof D S Habbu, as our Most Beloved and Respected Principal Sir. We are grateful for this opportunity. We are privileged to have been His students. We are proud to have been associated so closely with such a noble and dedicated soul.
Dearest Bhagawan, You could not have chosen a better person to shape our impressionable minds. We remain grateful to you. Habbu Sir shall remain a “special person” in our lives. To each one of us, His students, He is a legend. We, the alumni of Sri Sathya Sai Higher Secondary School, pray, that our most beloved and revered Habbu Sir, is free from this cycle of birth and death and rests eternally at Your Lotus Feet.
