An Audience with Mr Tushar Chavan- By Smt. Vaishali Jane Madam

An Audience with Mr Tushar Chavan- By Smt. Vaishali Jane Madam

Good morning Sir. Welcome to our college and congratulations for receiving the award as an ideal teacher. It’s our privilege to have an audience with you. Should I start?

1) How did you feel when you were honoured with ‘Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Ideal Teacher's Award (Adarsh Shikshak Puraskar)’?

Mr.Tushar Chavan:  Of course, I felt honoured. It was a moment of joy. If anyone gets appreciation for his or her work, he or she will get new energy to do more creative and valuable work.

2)  Whom do you want to give credit of this award?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: I want to give credit to my family members, my teachers, my students and all my colleagues from complete Maharashtra. I would like to give special thanks to my friend Prof. Atul Ingle from Swami Vivekanand Jr. College, Jalgaon for giving exposure to my work.

3) When did you start your journey as a teacher?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: I completed my M.A.B.Ed. in 2000 and I got a job as a jr. college teacher in the same year. I remained topper from std. fifth to tenth in my highschool, M.V.Waghali Tal. Chalisgaon Dis. Jalgaon. I was also topper in B.A. English in Rashtriya Arts, Science and Commerce Senior College, Chalisgaon Dist. Jalgaon. I was the topper in PG in Chalisgaon Education Society’s Arts, Science and Commerce Senior College, Chalisgaon Dist. Jalgaon. I was second in B.Ed. in B.Ed. College, Lonkahadi, Shahada Dist. Nandurbar. Due to this good academic record, I got the job in the same Junior College where I was a student. I was working from 2000 as a Jr. college teacher. At present I am the head of department in Rashtriya Jr. College, Chalisgaon Dist. Jalgaon. There are seven full time jr.college English teachers in my college.

4) Who inspired you?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: There are so many persons who inspired me. They include- late President Dr. A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, Cricket player Sachin Tendulkar, Actor Amitabh Bachchhan, Social worker Baba Amte, etc. When I read about their work and dedication, I always get inspiration.

5) Who is your idol?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: My father is my idol. He is no more now but his teaching and way of living always guide me. We were living in a small village but my father tried to give all kinds of facilities to us. Though he was strict, he was very kind hearted person. I never heard any bad word from any person for him. He maintained good relations with so many persons. It’s his art. I always desire to follow him.

6) Did you come across any challenges in your life?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: Yes. Every year I had to face the challenge to maintain my topper position in my class. There was a big challenge that I had to face when I decided to change my faculty. I was a student of science up to Std. XII. But to become a lecturer in English, I had changed my faculty and joined Arts faculty. This decision was not easy. But my father supported me and I took the right decision.

7) How did you face the hardships?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: I lived in a small village. I studied in Marathi medium school. So to develop myself, I have to work hard. I like reading books. These books give me ideas to develop myself and make ready to face all kinds of hardships. My family supports me in every problem. 

8) How did an Idea of group formation of teachers come into your mind?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: I saw groups of primary teachers. They were sharing various resources to each other. There was no special subject teachers’ group at that time. So I started first group for English viz. English Teachers Club 1. Later on I have to create second group viz. English Teachers Club 2. But here teachers belong from class first to twelfth. So I decided to create separate group for Junior College English Teachers. There were no special groups for Junior college English teachers at that time. Due to this I got huge response. On Jucto organization groups, I appealed all subject teachers to create separate groups for every subject. You don’t believe but I have created Biology group also. When sufficient teachers gathered, I made four admins and left the group. I had already created so many type written resources for my tuition class. I used to share it in the groups. I made various PPTs for my classroom teaching. I also shared it in the groups. No one got such effective resources at that time. So many teachers were eager to join my groups. In four years the number of groups reached to 15. I am the only one admin of all these groups.

9) How do you feel after the creation of fifteen groups of Jr.College teachers?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: Of course, I am happy. I am able to win the confidence of so many teachers. Many teachers are member of my groups for a long time and do not want to leave it. It’s the success of these groups.

11) When did you learn technology?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: I turn to computer from 2000. In my college, I got a chance to handle computer. There was no one who knew computer in my college at that time. So I used it. From 2004, I started using it for educational purpose. I learnt its proper use when I became a trainee R.P. for changed evaluation pattern for upgraded syllabus of Std. XII in 2013. I used computer technology as a R.P. at district level effectively in 2013. It was a nice experience. I got a very good appreciation during that training session.  

12) When did you create your first blog?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: I started my first blog on 27-07-2017, viz. ‘English for Jr. Colllege’. It is for std. XI and XII English.

Blog link: https://juniorcollegeteacher.blogspot.in

I have started my second blog on 08 March 2020. It is for std. tenth, viz. ‘English for tenth class’.

Blog link: http://englishfortenthclass.blogspot.com

13) How did you feel when you published your first post?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: I just wanted to preserve my resources through one media. There was no other intention behind it. But after few months I knew that my resources are beneficial to many teachers who are not in my whats app groups.  Many students were also using it for their study. So I started sharing more posts in my blog. As the content was good and effective, it got many visitors. Presently the visitor count is very near to 19 lakh. I get a large exposure through my blog. It’s amazing. To develop my blog, I got valuable help from Prof. Prafulla Mahure from Mahatma Gandhi Jr. College, Gadchandoor, Chandrapur and Prof. Somnath Dhage from Military Jr. College, Solapur. Prof. Somnath Dhage gave a modern and beautiful look to my blog. Prof. Prafulla Mahure had given good tips to develop my blog. I am grateful to both of them.

14) How did you feel after the publication of Activity Work Book for 11th class?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: I have shared a lot of resources by whats app groups and by my blog. Still few teachers insist that I should create my book. The new evaluation pattern accepted the activity sheet pattern. So I decided to write an activity work book. I was confident that to increase the score, our students needed activity work book. I created innovative activities in my activity work book for Std. XI. I felt satisfied when I was able to publish it. It was a moment of joy and satisfaction for me. I never forget that moment.

15) How did an Idea of work book publication strike your mind?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: I saw few activity work books in the market. I realised they lacked many things. There was a new text book introduced in the syllabus of Std. XI. So I decided to create more suitable and perfect activity work book which would be beneficial to teachers and students.

16) Which difficulties did you face during the publication?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: I was new in this field but if you had done good things in the past you would get its benefit in the future. I helped one my teacher friend by providing activity sheets for his publication at the crucial time. So when I decided to publish a book, he readily accepted the printing task. I didn’t get any problem in the publication of the work book. One of my friends Mr. N.K.Deshmukh gave good guidance about its marketing and supply. He gave very valuable tips for it. I am grateful to Mr. N.K.Deshmukh who had a very good experience of this field. I had taken a license from Balbharati, Pune and made a copyright of the book.

17) How many rupees did you invest in the publication of book?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: Well, I had invested much amount for it. I had to pay license fees to Balbharati, Pune. There were other expenses too.

18) Have you got success in it?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: Yes. I earned sufficient money from it. But the book was not made for earning money. It’s just to fulfil the hobby to provide good resources to the needy. Through this work I had given business to three courier companies, post office and packing person.

19) How is the response to your blogs and activity work book?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: Tremendous and incredible. I never expected such a huge response.

20) How do you manage the time for performing all the activities?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: Where there is will, there is way. We can manage it.

21) Does your family support you?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: Yes. My wife helped me in distribution of books. She recorded the addresses and reminded me to dispatch the books. She always gave me full freedom in my writing task. My two children are small. But they know my work so never disturb me.

22) Have you decided to publish the Activity book for 12 th std?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: Yes. I have almost completed the activity work book.  

23) When will it be published/ released?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: I will try to publish it in June.

24) Which teaching methodology do you use for your students?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: I have set new strategies to deal with textual topics. E.g. I choose a prose topic of 250 to 300 words from the text book. I explain it. I ask the students to find out new words and their meanings. I ask questions for comprehension. I give the activity sheet to the students from my activity work book. Students write answers in the activity work book or in their note book. Students check the answers from the answer key. For revision I ask the students to see the PPT or Video or my blog. I set new activity sheets to give ample practice to the students. If we give maximum practice of activities, students will easily get good score in the exam.

25) Tell something to our students regarding study strategy.

Mr.Tushar Chavan: I advise to all the students to attend the classes regularly. Study at least four to six hours daily at home. Keep away from T.V. serials and unnecessary use of mobile phones. Use mobile phone as an instrument of study. Make time table of daily study and follow it. Set your target and try to achieve it.

27) Do you think that today technology is essential in teaching-learning process?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: Yes. It is a good supportive media. It helps to create interest in learning process. It saves the time of the teachers as well as students. In every Junior college there is need of digital classroom for English.

28) As a techno savvy person, can you guide our teachers regarding the use of technology in teaching?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: Yes. Teachers should become techno savvy persons. It is the need of today’s time. e.g. If you have already set activity sheet, you can show it on the display board using projector. It will save the time and students get sufficient time to deal with it. Teachers should make PPT, videos and computerised resources. It will be beneficial to the students. Teachers can use other teacher’s resources effectively if he or she is a techno savvy person.

30) How do you feel when you are invited to deliver the guest lectures?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: It’s honour for me. I like to give guide lectures to the students. If my lecture helps the students in their learning process, it’s the best reward for me.

31) What is your future plan?

Mr.Tushar Chavan:  I want to connect all the teachers by social media. It will be a good platform to all to share resources, ideas and concepts. We have to create a good learning fraternity which will help every teacher in every part of Maharashtra. I wish that every junior college should develop digital classroom for English. For this we all can provide good digital resources if we connect to each other and work unitedly.

32) How will you spend your spare time after your retirement?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: There is much time to think about it. Fifteen years are still remaining to get retirement. So I am not thinking about it. I believe that every creative person never gets retirement from his or her work.

33) Which message would you give to our students and teachers?

Mr.Tushar Chavan: Be creative and techno savvy. Help each other and remain positive in your life.

Thank you very much for spending your precious time with us and giving your valuable guidance to us.

Interviewer: - Smt. Vaishali Jane madam from Ajabrao Wankhede Jr. College, Kohali Tal. Kalmeshwar Dist. Nagpur.