BR. ERIC STEVE D'SOUZA: FOND MEMORIES
BR. ERIC STEVE D’SOUZA: FOND MEMORIES
On October 13th,2024, we received the sad news that our beloved teacher from school, Br. Eric Steve D’Souza had passed away at 1:20 p.m. in Goa. With his passing, we lost a legend in the field of education.
My earliest memories of Br. Eric was when I was a young student in class six at St Edmunds School. He had come to join our school from St. Columba’s School, Delhi, where he was the principal. He didn’t join our school as the principal, though; that job went to another legend, Br. Simon Coelho.
From the moment he entered our school, his reputation preceded him as a genius teacher, and we were all in awe of him. Over the next few years, we would learn why he was known as a genius. Boys made a beeline to be in his class, and parents tried to pull strings to get their boys admitted. The ones who were eventually in his class were the lucky ones.
Br. Eric was a multifaceted personality, and there was nothing he could not do. He did it all with panache, from staging plays to teaching music, coaching the football team, or teaching any subject under the sun. He was a rebel in a sort of way and did not follow the accepted norms of teaching or behaviour. Highly creative, far-sighted, and visionary, his rebellious streak did not gel well with the brothers in authority. But he had the vision that none possessed.
If anyone passed through his class, laughter would emanate from his classroom at any given time. Such sounds of hilarity would often raise the eyebrows of some who would wonder if any severe teaching was ever done in his class. But to those in the know in his class, he was a marvel who taught in the most creative, fun way that would help clarify the concepts in a way that no one would ever forget. He taught English even in those days of VCRs, with the help of tapes, films, television serials, videos and documentaries. His classes came alive for his students. He would go the extra mile for his students, even calling them late to ensure they were studying. He took additional classes in the mornings for his students before the boards. His generosity knew no bounds, and it was not limited to the students of his class and school. And even students from other schools would seek him out for free coaching, and the kind Br. Eric would always oblige. He had an unmistakable aura that left an indelible imprint on young minds.
Though I did not have Br, Eric, as my class teacher, my encounters with him were on quite a few occasions when I would cross his path. My mother wished me to be in his class like any other parent. So, she approached Br. one day, and I requested that he give me extra coaching. Br. Eric politely declined, saying that as I was Br. Simon’s student, I would not require any extra coaching from him. He was probably right; both these brothers had different contrasting teaching styles, and each was a legend in his own right. Yet, sometimes, my young heart longed to be in Dasu’s class, as his students seemed to have all the fun. Dasu: Yes, that’s what we call Br. Eric. The moniker was given to him by the students of St. Edmunds School.
Another incident I remember is when I was playing football, and suddenly, another football rolled down into the ground. I gave it a thunderous kick in my youthful exuberance, and the football sailed and broke one of our school’s window panes. Dasu, who was standing nearby, got the shock of his life. He inquired who had kicked the ball, and when he found out it was me, he let it pass without a word of admonishment.
Another incident I remember was during our school’s annual Creation Week. My classmates and I had devised the novel idea of designer dhotis, which we modelled on the stage to accompany great music. We were competing with Dasu’s class, and his students had created a dance skit performance. After viewing our performance, Dasu proclaimed us the clear winners, saying we had a far superior, creative performance in all aspects, disregarding his class’s performance. Such was the greatness of this man, who was fair and just.
To this day, I distinctly remember being enamoured by his book on computers, “Chipping In.” He pioneered computer education at St. Columba’s School, Delhi, and later our school. What struck me about his book was that it was so simple that any layman would understand it; moreover, it was written in a fun, exciting way. It inspired me so much that I later penned an article for the Meghalaya Guardian newspaper based on his writing style.
Even after I passed out from school, I found out that he had done great things, such as founding the Providence School for the underprivileged sections. Br. Eric’s students are spread worldwide, each excelling in their fields, and none can ever forget their Dasu. Perhaps it’s a testament to the genius of Br. Eric Steve D’Souza: a luminary in the field of education. He belonged to our parents' generation, and with his passing, an era ended. Now, the stars above will only shine brighter with him there. Rest in peace, Sir. Your work here on earth is done, you will forever live in our hearts, and your legacy will be carried forward by the thousands of lives you have touched and who proudly call themselves Edmundians.
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