Miss Mani Sheriar Contractor – 1936-1991

Posted by: Tanveer Rauf on: September 22, 2014

• In: Children and Education
• 13 Comments

Miss Contractor served the school from 1969 as Vice-Principal and from 1974 as the Principal. She came to the school in 1936 after taking her B .A Examination, as a very young lady-teacher. She was a very proficient teacher and executed her duties regularly, loyally and conscientiously. She completed fifty glorious years of dedicated services to the school – an evidence to envy!

She embodied the spirit of The Mama School, a spirit which is alive and well acknowledged throughout the world.

After my husband’s sad demise I needed some job to earn my bread and butter.

Fortunately one of my friends asked me apply in Mama Parsi as there exists vacancy for teachers.  Hence I did. I was interviewed by Miss. Contractor. After exchange of formal questions she asked me; “Are you Zionist Mrs. Rauf?” I said, “I’m sorry I’m not.” What she said was a compliment or what I am still lost! She said smiling at me, “Come on Mrs. Rauf, you are so honest and straight forward, you can’t be a Muslim”

I was speechless.

Then for three days she observed my way of teaching. Her remarks about my teaching were very upbeat and encouraging. I still have the remarks written in my old diary. (I wrote her remarks about me, myself as every time I read it gives me pleasure and strength)

I learnt so much there. It was first time in Mama’s history that I took my class to Dr. Ruth Katharina Pfau’s Leprosy Centre. I wanted to teach my students practically the value of health and to be grateful to almighty for blessing us with health joy and all what we need. Children had taken gifts for leper patients and also cash for donation to the centre. It was appreciated by Dr Pfau and Dr. Zarina FAZEL Bhoy. Dr. Zarina also had nice talk with the Mama’s students. It was their life time experience.

Every day in Mama was a valuable experience of my life. The  heaps and variety of flowers I used to get every day by students showed their love giving me more energy and strength to be dedicated to my profession.

One day we came to know that miss. Contractor was absent from school as she had broken her collar bone. She slipped in Metro pole Hotel while going inside to attend a conference.

She was at school early morning the next day with her arm in sling.

She was above 70 then. It was just unbelievable to see her sign with the same hand. There was no shaking or any dissimilarity in her signature.

I requested her to allow me to kiss her hand as I was so moved and impressed with her dignity, sincerity and professionalism.

She was truly a lady of substance. She had worked with the great lady, the sister of Quaid e Azam, Mohammad Ali Jinnah the Founder of Pakistan, Miss. Fatima Jinnah Poonja.

I feel honored to have served Mama Parsi School.

Though Miss Mani Sheriar Contractor is no more in this mortal world but her services will be much regarded and always remembered.

 

Tags: educationist, Fatima jinnah, Mama Parsi, Miss Mani Sheriar Contractor - 1936-1991, mortal world, principal, Quaid e Azam, sincere, zionst