by Manjit Handa

Most of us have teachers, formal or informal. They tell us what to do and what not to. The informal ones do not evoke fear or terror in us because there is nothing at stake if we disagree with their impositions. They would not mark us or give us grades. They come in the form of parents, uncles, aunts, elder brothers, elder sisters or wise friends. Generally whatever they taught us is remembered fondly and has an association which we would always like to cherish. Even their frowns and scolding are fondly remembered because there was always a warm hug they gave us later.

But it is different with the other category, the formal teachers. We fear them although they introduced us to an all new world of study because we thought that all the lessons they taught us were mean, associated with grades. Perhaps this is why a subject becomes more of an association with a particular teacher. A certain subject always evokes the image of a particular teacher. But it has nothing to do with the teacher as such. Most of the teachers do their work the way they are expected to. They are programmed to finish a certain syllabus in a stipulated period of time and submit grades before the end of the term. They have families to take care of and so they have to earn and what better and noble profession than teaching?

On the other hand there are only a few who take teaching to their heart. Few think that they have a larger responsibility. They not only finish the prescribed syllabus but go beyond, showing us the right way of battling life. They are the ones who inspire us. Hence although formal, they are always cherished and become our favorites. This is the category of our concern in Tuesdays with Morrie for Morrie is one such teacher. Morrie Schwartz. “Have you ever had a teacher like this?”, the author asks in his acknowledgements.

Now there is another twist. Although we get lucky to sometimes have found teachers like Morrie, how many of us make it a point to keep in touch with them by dropping a line or two, just to let them know how they are still a beacon light in our lives? We are shameless in sucking ourselves into the mad consumerist world until one fine day we are encountered with something really sad, like the mortality of our being??? Until then there are always more important things and tasks to tend to. That happens with Mitch Albom, the author who has long left the University and its teachers, is a successful sports writer with a job in Detroit as a columnist for The Detroit Free Press, until one day while “casually flipping channels”, he hears the words of his favorite Social Psychology professor on the TV, whom he has not been in touch for “sixteen years”.

His teacher has been detected with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a brutal “unforgiving” illness of the neurological system. The professor’s days are numbered and Mitch immediately arranges to meet his teacher, so ashamed today of his accomplishments, because “with accomplishments” he believed he could “control things.” He goes back to his “coach” because he, as a “player” has to learn so many left out ‘moves’ of the game called LIFE.

When Mitch goes back to Morrie, just like a true teacher would have it, he welcomes his player back in his team. Now the teacher and student would write another (a second) thesis together; the first they had done in the University. Mitch has the names of all the moves ready that he needs guidance about: “Death”, “Fear”, “Aging”, “Greed”, “Marriage”, “Family”, “Society”, “Forgiveness” and “A meaningful Life”. And the coach is ready too. “Ask me anything”, he says. The initial meetings somehow end up on Tuesdays, then they make it a habit. As we read through Morrie’s utterances on the select topics, it reminds a reader of Bacon’s essays. And as we listen to Morrie’s lectures, he soon becomes our favorite teacher.

The biggest lesson that this terminally ill professor gives us is:”So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they’re busy doing things they think are important. This is because they’re chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” Mitch knows that “he was right”, and so do we.

For anybody who seeks ‘the truth’, this book is a ‘must read’. It provides an answer to ‘how to’ confront death, ‘the thing’ that every human being secretly fears. Morrie tells us: “To know you’re going to die, and to be prepared for it at any time. . . Do what the Buddhists do. Every day, have a little bird on your shoulder that asks, ‘Is today the day? Am I ready? Am I doing all I need to do? Am I being the person I want to be?’. . . (t)he truth is. . . once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.”

Well done Professor, and Student for that wonderful tribute!

Tuesdays with Morrie
By Mitch Albom
Broadway Books (Random House)
Trade Paperback 1997, Can $17.95, Pages 192
ISBN 076790592X

Reviewed by Dr. Manjit Handa