That Guy with Ray-Bans

Remember when a pair of Ray-Bans was the epitome of "cool"?

Back in the early 90s, when I was an 8 year old kid, my family had moved to a new place. New home, new school, new friends, the works. Very first week of third grade, I saw a man wearing those green aviators that are still trendy, but were the in thing back then. It was a few years after Tom Cruise gave us flying lessons in Top Gun, but who could forget those trendy sun glasses!

First impressions always last, and my first impression of the man was that he was nothing short of a celebrity. I saw him get off a scooter (a red Kinetic Honda, also very trendy back then), grab his bag and make his way to the school building. No sooner had he taken a few steps, he was surrounded by kids. Funny kids, really - they were all greeting him with folded hands, one leg in front of the other, in a kind of a bow. I remember wondering who the man was, and why he had a fan following among the kids.


Turns out, he was the "Karate Teacher". Easily the coolest man in the school!

It has been twenty six years since that day, so obviously, my feelings have changed a lot. The first few interactions were pure awe. Then came a time when he instilled undiluted fear in me (I regularly saw him side-kick people twice his size into oblivion, and was always worried I was next). Over the next few years though, as I spent more and more time with him, the fear changed to respect. He was perfect at everything - even an ungainly whack on the backside of a student would look like advanced martial art!

Gradually, respect led to loyalty - the unconditional kind, where you don't question any instruction given to you. You know that the task given to you going to serve a purpose. Mostly, that was true - the tasks he gave me did make me a better man. However, I have also been told to wake up 75 exhausted kids at midnight, carry them halfway across the camp site, help them pee (yes, really help them) and then put them back in bed.

Over time, my teacher turned into a mentor. No decisions were made without seeking his opinion, which was sought not just by me, but also by my parents! Science, Commerce or Arts? Medicine or Engineering? Sports bike or cruiser? Chilled Lassi or chilled beer?

I like to believe that every child, every student has a favorite teacher who ends up as a mentor - the progression is very natural (take a moment here, think about who was yours). But in my case, it went further than that. My mentor turned into a friend. The kind of friend who makes you completely careless. Careless about basics such as hunger, thirst, exhaustion and most importantly, the "be home by 10" warnings from mom and dad! Martial Arts aside, some brilliant knowledge transfers have happened when least expected - when overhauling motorcycles, on drives halfway to Gujarat, while polishing cars, during treks in bird sanctuaries and so much more!

So when this man turns 50, you don't just wish him a happy birthday. You have to be a little filmy, you have to post a blog about him. Not because he is just a friend, but because he is a friend in addition to being everything else. Every role he has played till date, he continues to play. He continues to inspire loyalty and he continues to command respect. He still scares me shit-less at times, but most of all, with him around, I am still an eight year old boy in complete, unbridled awe of the guy in the Ray-Ban aviators with green lenses.

Happy 50th birthday Sir-ji!