Naguesh Sardesai
Selfless service, discipline, approachability and lovable nature were some of the attributes of Sushila Jagdish Surlacar, who passed away on August 8, 2016 at a ripe age of 78 years. She was the woman behind the man, late Dr Jagdish Manguesh Surlacar, the founder of People’s Higher Secondary School and School for Appropriate Learning (SFAL) as well as the former chairman of Goa Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education.
Being the wife of an educationist, she imbibed some of the virtues of her husband. The glorious era of People’s High School, especially since 1960s, has been primarily due to the yeomen service rendered by the husband-wife duo, who gave the school everything to take the school to the pinnacle of glory. The chequered history of People’s High School, during the last eight decades has seen the institute grow to an unprecedented level of progress.
Sushila Surlacar born as Sushila Rao joined the school in the year 1965 and for the next three-and-a-half decades served it, first in the capacity of a teacher and then as the headmistress. Armed with a degree in Arts and another in Education, she provided a new dimension to the teaching of Hindi subject. Having been a recognised actress during her childhood days, she actually dramatised many-a-topic to make the teaching-learning process in the classroom as effective as possible, thus carving a niche for herself in the teaching fraternity.
She was in charge of Gold House group of students in the school and strived tirelessly to take this group at the highest levels of excellence and glory. Dance and music were her forte, and she directed many skits as well as choreographed dances for the gatherings of Gold House, year after year. She never shirked away from any duties be it even menial, on many occasions.
Surlacar teacher was an ideal teacher and a true role model for aspiring and budding teachers. Her legacy will be cherished for a long time to come, by all those who came in her contact, on varying occasions.