In a remarkable and deeply emotional gesture, a retired English teacher in Karnataka's Haveri district was honoured by his former students in a unique ceremony that combined the ancient practice of tulabhara with modern acts of social service. The event, held in Akki Alur on Saturday, saw over 2,000 ex-students gather to pay tribute to their 80-year-old mentor, P.R. Math.
A Unique Tribute: Tulabhara with Blood and Books
The centrepiece of the felicitation was the traditional tulabhara ritual, where a person is weighed against a commodity. In a modern twist, the students did not use rice or jaggery. Instead, they weighed their beloved teacher against two profound offerings: 108 units of donated blood and a collection of books. The blood, equivalent to Math's weight, was donated to the district blood bank in Haveri. The books, weighing exactly 47 kilograms—the teacher's own weight—were also presented to him.
The Heart Behind the Homage
The idea was born from the teacher's own humility. Having advised his students against buying him gifts for his 80th birthday, they sought a meaningful alternative. The concept of donating books equal to his weight was proposed. This inspired the Sneha Maitri Blood Army, a group that has turned Akki Alur into a 'village of blood soldiers', to suggest adding a blood donation drive as a token of respect. A total of 108 former students, including 35 women, participated in the blood donation. The event was coordinated with the Sri Dundi Basaveshwar Janapada Kala Sangh.
A Felicitation Like No Other in the Region
The uniqueness of the event was highlighted by local officials and attendees. Dr. Basavaraj Talavar, the district blood bank officer, noted that while blood donation camps are common at large gatherings like annual jatras, a camp specifically organised to felicitate a teacher was unprecedented in the region. Motivational speaker Mahesh Masal echoed this sentiment, stating he had seen many 'Guruvandana' programmes involving shawls and fruits, but this was a truly heart-touching occasion.
Dr. I.Y. Malode, a student from the 1977 batch and a retired district health officer, shared insights into Math's teaching legacy. He recalled how Math taught English—a difficult subject for rural students—in an exceptionally effective way, leaving a lasting impact. Moved by the event, many donors made a quiet pledge to donate blood frequently in the future.
P.R. Math dedicated 40 years of service to teaching at Narasingrao Desai High School and Sindhur Siddappa PU College in Akki Alur. Beyond academics, he was known for floating groups to organise spiritual and cultural activities, shaping the lives of generations of students. This unique tribute stands as a powerful testament to the enduring bond between a dedicated teacher and his grateful students.
