Prof. Archana Talekar

2 teach is

2 touch lives

4 ever

Five years ago, I was like a little bird which was preparing itself to take its first flight from the nest. I was about to step outside the school where I was a little bird protected by my mother bird i.e. teachers. Golden days of my life (school days) was at its verge. I was all set to face the cut throat competition waiting for me in this modern world.

With an aim of becoming a CEO of a globally reputed company I finally decided to join a course called B. M. S after completing my H.S.C.   B. M. S, a course which will enhance my technical, conceptual, soft skills and I was sure that this will definitely turn me from an uncut diamond into a well polished diamond.

Throughout my first year I was in search of a professor who is an all rounder, who is a friend, philosopher, guide and a mentor to me. Even though all professors in my first year where efficient and qualified hands but I could not find the one whom I was in search of.

In my second year, semester IV, here she was Prof. Archana Talekar with a subject called Direct and Indirect Tax (DIT) and I finally found the person whom I can refer to as ‘MY FAVOURITE PROFESSOR’.

Where ‘FAVOURITE’ stands for-

F – Friendly

A – Affectionate

V – Vigil

O – Open-minded

U – Understanding

R – Right, responsible, rosy and righteous

I – Intelligent

T – Talent

E – Energetic and enthusiastic.

Prof. Archana Talelar has done C. A., M. Com, B. Com and a degree in Financial Management from Welingkar’s Institute.  She is teaching in our college as a visiting faculty. She has a teaching experience of three years in colleges and an industrial experience of twelve years. Even though her teaching experience in colleges is only three years but she has been teaching in private tuition center for the past 12 years. She is also a co-author for six text books. She teaches subjects like Direct and Indirect Tax and all the subjects related to the field of finance like Financial Management, Special Studies in Finance (SSF), etc.

She has a very noble character. She is a lady of simple living and high thinking. Her character is flawless. She captured the attention of all the B. M. S.  students of our batch with her simple and lucid way of explaining the most complex things. She is a very soft spoken person. She was successful in developing an interest in subjects like DIT and SSF. My percentage shot up to seventy five due to high marks secured in DIT and I realized that it was because of her that I developed an interest and love for the subject. It is not only her mastery over the subjects but also her attitude towards her students that makes her a student friendly teacher. She has a genuine love for her students and a sincere solicitude for their welfare. Her sweet words and smiles are attractive. She never loses temper. She is always serene and calm. She is a strict follower of discipline and very punctual as well. Completion of portion on time is also very well taken care of.

She regards it her sacred duty to contribute her mite to the moulding of the character of the young men to her care. She loves her profession of teaching and devotes fully to this profession.

I remember an incident that took place in our class when a boy and a girl where sitting together on a bench and both of them started getting cozy with each other (started doing vulgar things which was unacceptable) when the lecture was on. She scolded those students for doing such things in a classroom and thereby showing disrespect towards the teacher. They were given warning early as well. This was the first and the last time that I saw her scolding students. As an observer, I felt that this incident has hurted her a lot as she never expects such things or behavior from students. She always tell students that,

‘WE ALL KNOW THAT WE ARE LIVING IN A MODERN WORLD BUT WE SHOULD NEVER EVER FORGET OUR ETHICS, MORALS AND CULTURE’.

You should be up-to-date with the information and the changing trends but you should never do things which are unethical/ immoral and respecting others like parents, teachers, and elders is of utmost importance. We should attend bhajans and kirtans which are very essential to keep us on track in life. This nature of her is something which I love and respect the most.

This was all about her professional life. But apart from this she is a very good, caring and affectionate daughter, wife, daughter-in-law and mother. She is a lovable mother. She used to tell us that she took a gap of almost six months when her baby was born and devoted her whole time for baby. When she narrates all these stories I feel like my mother is sitting beside me and narrating stories. She is like a mother to me. She is also a tax consultant and run a private tuition centre as well. The whole day she is busy with something or the other. She is a perfect idol who maintains a good balance between her personal and professional life.

Her talent, hard work, sincerity and her humble nature is appreciated and respected by all her co-workers, students and friends. She has shown me the way, like a torch, to lead a balanced life, happy and a successful life. She is my inspiration and I have decided to be just like her: sincere, kind, honest and dedicated. I feel really indebted to her for what she has done for me. I shall always cherish her memory with love and respect. India badly needs professors of her caliber and qualities of head and heart.

                 GIVE me a fish

and I eat for a day.

                 Teach me to fish

and I eat for a life time.

Submitted By –

Nisha Kurup

Joshi-Bedekar College