CURRICULUM AUTOBIOGRAPHY

By Sunil Sarkar August, 15, 2012 Early Childhood

The early awareness and achievement spirit of education aroused in me with a hit of a bamboo made ink pen, by my mother, on the middle finger of my right hand. I was 4 years old, no clothing, from a deep rural village of south Bangladesh. I was sitting on my mothers lap as she was trying to teach me to write the first alphabet Kha of Bengali literature, on a dry palm leaf, dipping the ink pen made from a bamboo stick, into a bottle of charcoal ink . The roughness of the dry leaf, bamboo made pen, charcoal ink, and my small being was failing me to begin to write the first alphabet, even though my mother was holding my hand strongly teaching me to write again and again. Suddenly, out of anger, my mother hit me on my finger with the pen as I burst in to tears with a conscious cry looking to her eyes asking my dear mother is there something worth writing to feel such pain? A year after my mother passed away, I started to realize that education is the greater means to living, than pain and suffering. In those days I had seen students in uniform going to the only SDA village school in our area, to make a better life. I had lived with my grandparents and uncles for a while when my grandmother, who was a village religious gospel singer, taught me that my mother wanted me to have an education, and that only education will remove all my pain and suffering someday in the future.

By Gods grace there was an opening for the childrens education at Kellogg Mookerjee Memorial Seminary boarding school, near our village, which first began the SDA work in Bangladesh. My grandmother and grandfather carried me on their shoulder, walking through the paddy fields from morning to evening to the school. I was telling them that when I will finish my education, I will buy my grandmother an outstanding red Shari, and for my grandfather a big fish as I have seen how happy my grandmother used to be to have a Shari, and how happy my grandfather and uncles used to be when they caught a big fish as fishermen.

Kindergarten, Primary, Elementary and High School

The first evening at Kellogg Mookerjee Memorial Seminary boarding school was a great surprise. For the first time in my life I had seen a pitched road, iron made gate, buildings and lights. This school was built by some SDA pioneers like Lal Gopal and Grace Kellogg Mookerjee, missionaries from Battle Creek, Andrews University and Lomalinda University. I had started Kindergarten by cutting papers, drawing pictures, playing with toys, learning through puzzles and pictures, and even making animals, a house, etc., out of clay. I was the first boy in the class until my primary and elementary school. There were several talented SDA teachers who taught me various subjects like Bible, English, Bengali, Math, Science and Social Science. As I have continued my studies in the same school, several subjects like Anatomy, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Bookkeeping, Trade and Commerce, Agriculture, Civics,

Sociology, Home Science, English Grammar, Bengali Grammar, Bengali literature, English literature, etc., were added in the high school level . From Kindergarten to High School, the curriculum we have followed was timely and very systematic. Sunday to Thursday were schooling and working days. Friday and Saturday used to be holidays. Every Friday was a holiday, with Vesper Service in the evening, and every Saturday we use to have Sabbath School, Divine Service, Branch Sabbath School and Adventist Youth programs. The other working and schooling days our schedules were as follows : every morning we woke up 6AM, worship 6:30 AM to 7:00 AM, breakfast 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM, class 8:00 AM to 12:00PM, lunch 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, rest 1:00 PM to 2 PM, physical work 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, play 5:00 PM 6:00 PM, dinner 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, study hour 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM and sleep 9:00 PM to 6:00 AM. Work education was one of the most important priorities from my kindergarten to high school, and every student had to go through all types of vocational training and work activities that a human needs to survive his or her life.

Intermediate / College
After I finished my high school I had no sponsor or relatives to help me to continue my studies. Because I had gone through all types of work and training in my high school, and I had joined Intermediate in Applied Arts, I was able to take the risk to travel to Dhaka city to sell health books, to earn money to further my education. I started selling books without training, and successfully earned money to survive and continue my studies.

The money I had earned by selling books, plus other help from our Bangladesh Christian Sponsorship Service, I was able to join Intermediate in Bangladesh Adventist Seminary and College. When I was in the college I stitched shoes, and sold books during the vacations to earn the tuition, living expenses, and pocket money. When I had finished my Intermediate I wanted to join only a SDA college but I did not have money. Additionally, at the same time our only SDA college in Bangladesh was about to be closed due to collision with Muslim students. At that time, there was an American man named David Waid who came to know about me, and wanted to help me earn my Bachelor of Theology. With his help, I went to Spicer College, Pune, India and studied and attained my Bachelor of Theology.

Carrier and Universities

I came back and obtained a position with the Bangladesh Adventist Union Mission as Health Teacher/Bible Worker and Pastor. For about 1 year and 8 months, every Monday to Friday, I went to preach the gospel, teach in the slum schools and worship in peoples homes. Every Friday night I conducted the Vesper Service and every Saturday I conducted the Sabbath service as a pastor. As a pastor, I have seen that its hard to change an adult mind through preaching, and also, people basically join a church for other needs sake than spiritual needs in our country. A British diplomat name Gordon Saggars and his wife Pene Saggers, who were my church members, were impressed and wanted to help me with an amount of money to study my Master s of Education. I went back to

Spicer Memorial College to study Master of Education in Administration with an extended Andrews University program. At the same time I was teaching English to students from Taiwan, Korea, Thailand , and Iran, to earn my living. I had more than enough earnings to help my studies, so I additionally joined Master of Sociology in Tilak University, Pune, India, so I could help the poor people of societies and bring them to Jesus Christ. After I finished my studies I came back to Bangladesh and joined as the Assistant Manager of the Women Empowerment Project. I also joined Assembly of Gods church Bible College as a manager. Inside me the spirit of education still bubbles pushing me to study more. I came here in the Philippines to study my PhD in Educational Administration. When I visited AIIAS, Philippines, I met Professor Dr. Prema Gaikward whom I have always wanted to be my teacher from Spicer Memorial College itself. Dr. Gaikward changed the view of my life about education and teacher. I found out about myself, discovered that I am good in lecturing, and came to realize that someday I wanted to be the author of books which is my final destiny. And finally, I have decided to study PhD in Curriculum and Instruction, because I will be lecturing and will grow and continue to mature, to write some books very soon. At this point I remember my Mother: I want to tell the whole world that writing will never leave me because it is greater than pain and suffering to me.

Thank you

Sunil Sarkar Email: sunilsarkar1981@gmail.com