Dr. Sharma: An Incredible Indian

Dr. Ganga Prasad Sharma began teaching Hindi at GDUFS in 2013. Inspired by his own teachers, Dr. Lakhalal and Dr. Rai, Sharma ji (“ji” is a respecting title in Hindi) had already planted in his heart the seeds of benevolence and responsibility. He recalled, “It was in my mind,” as if he was born to be a teacher.

    The odour of Indian spices could be smelled at the bottom of the stairway to Sharma ji’s house, creating an illusion of the incredible India: a bend of culture, people, traditions, art, architecture, nature and adventure. Along with the vitality of India, Sharma ji is apparently a person who brings surprises to all around him.

In his class, freshmen may have appreciated his patience when he set the alarm clock again and again and asked them to tell the time in Hindi, one-by-one. For juniors, it’s a great chance to obtain knowledge from wikis, which brings more possibilities into class. Knowledgeable as he is, he would turn to his own professors for precise answers if obscure questions were raised.

Sharma ji teaching in class

     In his life, riding his bicycle along the avenues of trees towards the early sun is often the beginning of a brand new day while meandering along the sidewalk of the river in the moonlight marks the end. Some may have seen him wearing a covering a head scarf against the wind, and others may have heard him bargaining with shopkeepers outside the campus.

Besides bargaining, vegetarianism is also common in India. Claiming to be a vegan, Sharma ji checks every time whether there’s oil and meat mixed in food before he eats. Although this lifetime habit is hard to break, Sharma ji is free in his soul. He doesn’t discriminate against the lower castes even though the caste system still dominates India. He is an atheist even though he comes from a country where religions blossom and clash. As he always says, “I don’t believe in god. I believe in my wife,” with smile lingering on his lips.

Mrs. Sharma smiling with great joy

It seems that the couple couldn’t live a moment without each other. Even before our interview, Sharma ji was having a webcam conversation with his wife, who has gone back to India. Mrs. Sharma, as a traditional Hindu, worships and respects the religions and the caste system. Nevertheless, their tolerance and understanding of diverse human nature enables their mutual differences. It’s the communication in daily life that reveals the inner beauty inside both.

However, communicating with Chinese people is not that easy for Sharma ji. “Chinese language is not only hard, but very difficult, even impossible to learn,” he moaned. “I was talking like a child under two years old, for I can only express my demands in words, not in sentences.” On his desk are a primer on Chinese phonetics and some English versions of Tang and Song poetry, all of which reflects his effort to learn Chinese. For him, to communicate better is to understand Chinese culture better. “My wife was deeply impressed by the lanterns decorating the street.” Moreover, Sharma ji is eager to explore the rural life in China so as to add inspiration for his writing.

Sharma ji holding lanterns

So kind a person is he that many of his students regard him as a friend or a father. According to Sharma ji, students from India and China are quiet different, “Indian girls dress formally to attend classes while Chinese girls can dress more casually. Indian students in higher grades are more likely to involve themselves in politics while Chinese students have the pure aim to study.” Having written a book with two juniors of GDUFS, he felt so proud of his Chinese Students. “I am a lucky guy,” he said gratefully, “I have learned too much from my students.”

Sharma ji waving to students

All in all, Sharma ji is an incredible Indian who loves nature, who would help his wife to hang a lady bag and learn how to purchase goods in Taobao from his students. Every time someone pays him a visit, with a mischievous spark glinting in his eyes, he opens the door, grinning widely, “Welcome!”