Studying a stranger
Hello! Hello! Hello! A voice was heard on the telephone and the receiver was then dropped after that, the reason : there must be some technical problem in system due to which the replier’s voice was unable to reach the caller. Out of this single word hello how much do you think are you able to interpret about the information of the caller ? If you analyse sitting all that an average human mind can interpret you will be astonished. See how the human mind works and collects the following information which you can also do it. The results would be generally 80% correct.
The caller was a male
He was an Asian and most probably an Indian
His age must be above 30 as interpreted from his level of confidence he spoke with.
He was an educated person as evident from his mannerisms exhibited including his tone.
He was patient as the gap between his three Hellos was adequate
He appeared confident from his tone and deep voice.
Since he rang up at 0930 h he must be a service person as shops of businessman open at /after 1030 in our country
Since he rang at 0930 he must have come to office before 0930 say at 0900 so that after going through the files or his work schedule he must have planned to ring you up . He is thus punctual
If he is punctual he is disciplined
If he is disciplined he must be disciplined in other things as well
So he is an organised man
If he is organised his upbringing must have been very good
So most probably he must be good in his nature too.
We can keep deducing like this as long as our mind gets satisfied. This is what we interpreted from just from one word ; hello, without actually seeing the person or discussing anything with him.
Now imagine the deductions a human mind can make if you actually meet a stranger, chat with him for 10 minutes and then say bye to him.
Enormous!
I know you would agree but we just ignore it by actually not doing it considering it to be a sheer wastage of time. A person who does it for the first time would take hours or maybe a day analysing the stranger since there would be 1000 questions arising in the mind after a chat with him . When you do this for the second time, trust me, it will definitely take lesser time than before and maybe you would add up a few more new questions to your previous questionnaire in your mind. And when you do it for the third time it will be much lesser till the time you reach a stage that you will be able to analyse it within minutes. After you expertise yourself in this field it would take a fraction of second for you to analyse a person and deal with him accordingly. The palmists and the horoscope readers are expert in this and they rely more on this evaluation by analysis than their own studies which most of them use to confuse you for earning their bread. If their studies would have been so accurate and true then why would their predictions go wrong? So trust your own self and not a stranger’s advice.
Following are the few factors which have to be noticed with concern as it would help you analyse the character later on.
Physical attributes
Face, forehead, distance between eyes, origin of nose, length of nose, lips, cheeks, size of chin, neck, size of ears, shoulders, chest, arms, hands, size of fingers, width of palm, leg length, size of feet and its positioning etc.
Facial expessions while talking
Smiling, raising of eyebrows while talking, moving of hands while talking, exposure of palms etc.
Tone of speech
High, medium, low, speed of speaking etc.
Mannerisms
Usage of words like excuse me, thanks, sorry, etc, offering you seat to sit, showing respect to age, ladies etc, usage of good words and non abusive language
Contents of his speech
Speaks clearly, no beating around the bush, pragmatic approach or otherwise, usage of flattery, how fast he comes straight to the point, humour content usage
Dress up
Colours of his dress, quality of cloth, watch he wears (branded or otherwise), use of cosmetics, fragrance, width of his belt, shoes quality and its maintenance, any ornament he wears etc.
The list is very long so I have restricted to the main factors only.
Enthusiasm exhibited, interest shown in you, power of convincing and a warm approach are other factors which you can notice at the first instance in 10 minutes.
Now we shall discuss the important ones out of these which would make you understand how to analyse the remaining ones also.
In the physical attributes the people who have broad forehead are intelligent while those with small foreheads are generally born idiots and do not have pragmatic approach in life.
Those with less distance between their eyes are cruel as the distance between their eyes is inversely proportional to degree of cruelty.
Long nosed people are good and cannot be easily fooled
Thin lipped are attractive to opposite sex and smart
Big ears are very intelligent people
Big chinned are sportsmen and strong physically.
Pointed fingers are artistic and hence good painters, small fingers are treacherous, medium fingers are the best adjusted in the society
Large palms of square shape are big hearted and humble people
Large feet are tall people and the height is generally 6.5 times the length of the foot.
The people who exhibit the facial expressions as follows are graded accordingly. Those who raise their eyebrows quiet frequently while talking are the types who would make sure that they have explained their point of view well and hence have good power of expression and have clear minds but cannot hide any secret with them hence do not divulge your secrets to them as they can put you in trouble inadvertently. The more a person exposes his palms the more truthful he is which you will notice it generally in villagers. Those who do not express any expression are dangerous and unpredictable so beware from them.
The tone of speech indicates the place from where one hails which you will be able to judge your own self. Those who speak clear think clear and those who fumble have wavering minds. Those who give a pause while speaking think before they speak and thus have better control over their actions and care for others. Those who speak fast think fast and expect fast results hence are impatient. They are more likely to take wrong decisions so should be given less information and in a slow manner.
Mannerism play a very important role in indicating the background and the upbringing of the person. Those who exhibit it are dealt with accordingly by the people. They hail from an educated background and have a status. Those who do not are generally from the low business family backgrounds. The fairer sex generally exhibits more mannerism even if they are less educated comparatively. The ones exhibiting more mannerism would be generally from a metro city where the population and interaction amongst them is more.
Humour keeps you away from tension and those who use it quiet frequently are able to deal with the difficult situations with ease. They would be healthier and on a heavier side with easy going life. They would keep the environment also healthy with love and affection. People who speak too sweetly are not good and would turn their faces in times of need or as soon as their work is over. It is better to hear harsh words from a truthful man than sweet words from a dishonest person. They would always occupy position around you and prevent the correct person to approach you. Do not give leverage to their points and they will get aside automatically.
Dress up also shows the background and the environment from where one has come up. A person of good status will not wear flashy clothes, will use branded items of standard companies, will wear a dress well maintained and ironed. He will use cosmetics giving fragrance if he is from a high status, use of gold rings, bracelets and chain in fingers is another indication of high status.
The views expressed above are purely an independent thought as experienced by the writer and can be taken in general however exceptions are always there.
.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
The Precious Smile
It was a sunny day in summer of Jun and I was going from Delhi to Faridab
ad by bus. The bus was packed but comfortable and moving at an average speed since it was passing from the ring road which engulfs the city of Delhi all around. The people were sitting calmly, some were busy gossiping while others looked outside and were enjoying the fresh air coming through the window and I was one amongst them. Some were busy handling their kids and showing them various monuments which were visible from the bus. The road was clean and the traffic was dense due to lot many cars which plied on the road. Being a capital city of the nation the street roads were clean but lot of construction of flyovers made some parts dusty.
I could see beautiful cars below the bus window on to my right which were quietly overtaking our bus , thanks to the modern technology of noiseless cars. Variety of models could be seen as there was no count of it since eruption of no of car companies. From the lowest to the costliest models all could be seen at one glance making you dream of owning the best one someday. While I was watching what was going on outside I saw a beautiful navy blue coloured Hyundai Sonata car pass below my window of the bus trying to overtake the bus. It blew its horn but the bus driver could not allow it to overtake it as there was a vehicle in the front and the road was congested so the car moved on parallel with us and I could see it advancing from the rear and its speed stabilised near my position and then it tagged along with my position. All of a sudden I was stunned and spell bound you know why?
Because I saw the famous movie star “Karishma Kapoor” smiling at me and waving her hand from that shining window at the rear left of the car.
She was so beautiful and charming with a flash in her eyes. I looked to my front and rear to confirm whether that smile was aimed at me or someone else and soon was convinced as no one was looking out of window of the bus either to my front or rear. I was thrilled. She kept smiling with her raised hand so I immediately reciprocated by waving my hand with a warm smile. I wondered why she did like this: maybe due to my bright coloured turban which I wore that day which might have attracted her attention and she exhibited a goodwill gesture to impress me for gaining her image popularity which the stars generally do when they go out in public. Any way whatever may be the reason was not the matter which needed a thought and I only bothered about the fact that it had thrilled me due to this act of hers. Her lovely eyes with a sparkle, her fair cheeks, raised eyebrows and shining black hair with a maroon lipstick was all the matter which flashed into my mind again and again with the most important fact that it was live; face to face. Anyhow the car soon found a space ahead, zoomed overtaking our bus and vanished within seconds after that leaving only her thoughts in my mind. I wanted to immediately share it with someone but since I was travelling alone and all others were strangers so had to gulp this good news down my throat all alone till such time I reached home to share it with my dear ones.
Next few minutes I was in deep thoughts thinking why did she choose me to share her smile as she could have chosen a youngster of her age if she so desired and I also in excitement of the moment waved her back . How does she maintain herself so well even after being a mother? She really must be working hard to keep herself so fit and must be sacrificing her tastes of good food which we take without bothering much as they do. Life is indeed difficult for her and not as easy as it appears to be. What use is so much money if you cannot eat of your choice, cannot roam about freely in the streets and have Golgappas at a corner of your choice as we do and so many things which only a common man can do.
As I was thinking all this the bus turned to a corner and halted near a refreshing point where there were some shops selling cold drinks, potato wafers and tea. There were also some toilets for the transients of the bus. I also got down and had a coke after which I went to relieve myself. Later when I was returning towards the bus I was surprised to see the beautiful image of karishma Kapoor which was painted on the side of the bus wherein she was giving a similar smile and waving her hand as I saw her in the car when she overtook our bus few minutes back. The hairstyle was the same, her eyes were the same , the colour of her dress was the same with the same lovely cheeks and same colour of the lipstick. Slightly ahead of her painted image was written
“Always have Shakti Bhog Atta (Wheat flour) “
My mind was again in deep thoughts,
‘ How can this be possible?” I thought while boarding the bus after the break and quietly went and sat down on my seat before the bus could recommence its journey. As I sat on my window seat a thought suddenly flashed in my mind and the whole mystery was unraveled within a fraction of a second.
Oh my God ! How foolish is this on my part that I could not understand a simple law of physics. It was the reflection of her painted image on that navy blue car with a tinted glass as the image of her face fell exactly on the window of the car in such a way that it appeared to the observer that she glanced and waved at him.
Suddenly one more car overtook our bus from the same place when Karishma again smiled and waved me for the last time confirming that I was right but this time I did not wave her back with my hand but only smiled and felt happy in my thoughts.
God bless your precious smile Karishma as the image of your smile has enough power to give so much joy to anyone and God only knows how much happy would a person be when he actually sees you smiling -----Live.
It was a sunny day in summer of Jun and I was going from Delhi to Faridab
ad by bus. The bus was packed but comfortable and moving at an average speed since it was passing from the ring road which engulfs the city of Delhi all around. The people were sitting calmly, some were busy gossiping while others looked outside and were enjoying the fresh air coming through the window and I was one amongst them. Some were busy handling their kids and showing them various monuments which were visible from the bus. The road was clean and the traffic was dense due to lot many cars which plied on the road. Being a capital city of the nation the street roads were clean but lot of construction of flyovers made some parts dusty.I could see beautiful cars below the bus window on to my right which were quietly overtaking our bus , thanks to the modern technology of noiseless cars. Variety of models could be seen as there was no count of it since eruption of no of car companies. From the lowest to the costliest models all could be seen at one glance making you dream of owning the best one someday. While I was watching what was going on outside I saw a beautiful navy blue coloured Hyundai Sonata car pass below my window of the bus trying to overtake the bus. It blew its horn but the bus driver could not allow it to overtake it as there was a vehicle in the front and the road was congested so the car moved on parallel with us and I could see it advancing from the rear and its speed stabilised near my position and then it tagged along with my position. All of a sudden I was stunned and spell bound you know why?
Because I saw the famous movie star “Karishma Kapoor” smiling at me and waving her hand from that shining window at the rear left of the car.
She was so beautiful and charming with a flash in her eyes. I looked to my front and rear to confirm whether that smile was aimed at me or someone else and soon was convinced as no one was looking out of window of the bus either to my front or rear. I was thrilled. She kept smiling with her raised hand so I immediately reciprocated by waving my hand with a warm smile. I wondered why she did like this: maybe due to my bright coloured turban which I wore that day which might have attracted her attention and she exhibited a goodwill gesture to impress me for gaining her image popularity which the stars generally do when they go out in public. Any way whatever may be the reason was not the matter which needed a thought and I only bothered about the fact that it had thrilled me due to this act of hers. Her lovely eyes with a sparkle, her fair cheeks, raised eyebrows and shining black hair with a maroon lipstick was all the matter which flashed into my mind again and again with the most important fact that it was live; face to face. Anyhow the car soon found a space ahead, zoomed overtaking our bus and vanished within seconds after that leaving only her thoughts in my mind. I wanted to immediately share it with someone but since I was travelling alone and all others were strangers so had to gulp this good news down my throat all alone till such time I reached home to share it with my dear ones.
Next few minutes I was in deep thoughts thinking why did she choose me to share her smile as she could have chosen a youngster of her age if she so desired and I also in excitement of the moment waved her back . How does she maintain herself so well even after being a mother? She really must be working hard to keep herself so fit and must be sacrificing her tastes of good food which we take without bothering much as they do. Life is indeed difficult for her and not as easy as it appears to be. What use is so much money if you cannot eat of your choice, cannot roam about freely in the streets and have Golgappas at a corner of your choice as we do and so many things which only a common man can do.
As I was thinking all this the bus turned to a corner and halted near a refreshing point where there were some shops selling cold drinks, potato wafers and tea. There were also some toilets for the transients of the bus. I also got down and had a coke after which I went to relieve myself. Later when I was returning towards the bus I was surprised to see the beautiful image of karishma Kapoor which was painted on the side of the bus wherein she was giving a similar smile and waving her hand as I saw her in the car when she overtook our bus few minutes back. The hairstyle was the same, her eyes were the same , the colour of her dress was the same with the same lovely cheeks and same colour of the lipstick. Slightly ahead of her painted image was written
“Always have Shakti Bhog Atta (Wheat flour) “
My mind was again in deep thoughts,
‘ How can this be possible?” I thought while boarding the bus after the break and quietly went and sat down on my seat before the bus could recommence its journey. As I sat on my window seat a thought suddenly flashed in my mind and the whole mystery was unraveled within a fraction of a second.
Oh my God ! How foolish is this on my part that I could not understand a simple law of physics. It was the reflection of her painted image on that navy blue car with a tinted glass as the image of her face fell exactly on the window of the car in such a way that it appeared to the observer that she glanced and waved at him.
Suddenly one more car overtook our bus from the same place when Karishma again smiled and waved me for the last time confirming that I was right but this time I did not wave her back with my hand but only smiled and felt happy in my thoughts.
God bless your precious smile Karishma as the image of your smile has enough power to give so much joy to anyone and God only knows how much happy would a person be when he actually sees you smiling -----Live.
Friday, June 18, 2010
The Safest Seat
The safest seat
Have you ever thought of while travelling in a bus ,train or an aircraft how safe you are while travelling in it. There may be hundreds of thoughts going on in your mind starting with whatever has to happen will happen so why think and bother about your life when nothing is in your hands and everything is in the hands of Almighty. Those with this belief can stop reading this article here itself as may find it boring and out of their interest to proceed any further.
For those who believe that some things are in your hands while the rest is controlled by God can still afford to carry on reading this as they may like it after they finish reading this.
For those who definitely are of the belief that success is 90 % hard work and 10 % fate would find it still more interesting to read it and those who totally believe in their own self would definitely like it the most. For your information I belong to the second last category so don’t keep your minds guessing in which category the author of this article falls in.
While travelling in a bus of Haryana roadways from Chandigarh to Delhi whose driver was driving very fast as he would not waste even a second in overtaking the vehicle in front of him at the first opportunity he got. His bus would swing to the left and to the right with the turn of his steering raising goose pimples on everyone’s epidermis.
I was engulfed with the thoughts; What if he banged head on with the vehicle approaching from the opposite direction? Apart from the driver the first three rows would definitely be smashed to death if the oncoming bus with a similar speed hits it with the double velocity impact. So I should shift my seat to the rear was the answer in my mind .
“No ! What if a similar bus hits from the rear while this bus is slow or standing ; the last two rows will not exist anymore,” was the second thought which prevented me from moving to the rear seat. Then where do I go? If I keep thinking like this then the middle seat is the safest.
If the bus plunges into the canal after breaking the parapet wall of the road which is meant to prevent the vehicle from falling into the river then I’ll be stuck since the door to the front or rear would be far off to reach from where I could get out while the water enters the bus. I convinced myself thinking that the chances of bus falling into the river/canal are less as the canal is following adjacent side of the road was for a limited distance only. Yes even if such an emergency occurs the window can be used to get out as it does not have any grills in it and the glass pane can be broken with my shoe heel for getting out from anywhere.
What if some other vehicle bangs the bus at right angles to it while on a crossing or a Tee junction then how the middle row will help ? This forced my mind to infer that I should not be sitting right next to the window on either sides of the bus both to the left and the right. Hence the option is left only with the two seats which are exactly in the middle of the bus from all the ends of the bus.
Out of these two seats which is the still safer one was the only query left in my mind. Since we have a right hand drive in our country hence the left seat would be comparatively safer compared to the right one as chances of collision are more towards the driver’s side.
Yes! The answer was that the safest seat would be the left middle one from all the sides where I was already sitting. It was just a coincidence that I had occupied this seat. There was one more advantage in this; it was the least disturbed seat as anyone wanting to go out would take the shortest route to get out from any side, so only the person sitting there or adjacent to me would come here and the rest would not disturb me.
Indeed a lucky and the safest seat I had occupied was the result of analysis carried out which you must note it for your future travels if you so desire.
Have you ever thought of while travelling in a bus ,train or an aircraft how safe you are while travelling in it. There may be hundreds of thoughts going on in your mind starting with whatever has to happen will happen so why think and bother about your life when nothing is in your hands and everything is in the hands of Almighty. Those with this belief can stop reading this article here itself as may find it boring and out of their interest to proceed any further.
For those who believe that some things are in your hands while the rest is controlled by God can still afford to carry on reading this as they may like it after they finish reading this.
For those who definitely are of the belief that success is 90 % hard work and 10 % fate would find it still more interesting to read it and those who totally believe in their own self would definitely like it the most. For your information I belong to the second last category so don’t keep your minds guessing in which category the author of this article falls in.
While travelling in a bus of Haryana roadways from Chandigarh to Delhi whose driver was driving very fast as he would not waste even a second in overtaking the vehicle in front of him at the first opportunity he got. His bus would swing to the left and to the right with the turn of his steering raising goose pimples on everyone’s epidermis.
I was engulfed with the thoughts; What if he banged head on with the vehicle approaching from the opposite direction? Apart from the driver the first three rows would definitely be smashed to death if the oncoming bus with a similar speed hits it with the double velocity impact. So I should shift my seat to the rear was the answer in my mind .
“No ! What if a similar bus hits from the rear while this bus is slow or standing ; the last two rows will not exist anymore,” was the second thought which prevented me from moving to the rear seat. Then where do I go? If I keep thinking like this then the middle seat is the safest.
If the bus plunges into the canal after breaking the parapet wall of the road which is meant to prevent the vehicle from falling into the river then I’ll be stuck since the door to the front or rear would be far off to reach from where I could get out while the water enters the bus. I convinced myself thinking that the chances of bus falling into the river/canal are less as the canal is following adjacent side of the road was for a limited distance only. Yes even if such an emergency occurs the window can be used to get out as it does not have any grills in it and the glass pane can be broken with my shoe heel for getting out from anywhere.
What if some other vehicle bangs the bus at right angles to it while on a crossing or a Tee junction then how the middle row will help ? This forced my mind to infer that I should not be sitting right next to the window on either sides of the bus both to the left and the right. Hence the option is left only with the two seats which are exactly in the middle of the bus from all the ends of the bus.
Out of these two seats which is the still safer one was the only query left in my mind. Since we have a right hand drive in our country hence the left seat would be comparatively safer compared to the right one as chances of collision are more towards the driver’s side.
Yes! The answer was that the safest seat would be the left middle one from all the sides where I was already sitting. It was just a coincidence that I had occupied this seat. There was one more advantage in this; it was the least disturbed seat as anyone wanting to go out would take the shortest route to get out from any side, so only the person sitting there or adjacent to me would come here and the rest would not disturb me.
Indeed a lucky and the safest seat I had occupied was the result of analysis carried out which you must note it for your future travels if you so desire.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Officers at Work
OFFICERS AT WORK
The status is said to be a factor which decides the degree of importance the man gets from the society. Nowdays due to decline of jobs in private sector resulting into retrenchment and laying offs by the private firms, the government sector has overpowered the private sector and hence everyone is thriving upon govt jobs .They are ready to pay any cost for getting into it either by hook or by crook. They promise and work hard to get into it, apply all their sincere efforts , get recommendations of the highest officials/ministers and do anything to get into it. Once they get in, then they forget to work for the remaining part of their life and just relax as they know it is equally difficult to throw them out on the charges of not working. Ironically in the private sector jobs where you have to work sincerely, honestly, day in and day out with the sword of insecurity always hanging on to your neck and with a fear of being fired any moment is always at the back of your mind :Job insecurity.
I have seen my friends leaving good private jobs and joining govt jobs just for the sake of Job security even if they have to join at comparatively lower status since it assures them of food, clothing and shelter with peace of mind for the rest of their life. At lower levels due to stringent policies of the govt the staff is not transferred from one place to another as a result of which the staff gets the privilege of staying at one place throughout their life at least for the time they are in their service for 30 years or so which means that three fourths of their life is over in the service time itself after which they hardly move out as they plan their stay or settle at their place of posting itself.
I remember once I ordered some of the labourers and chowkidaars(watchmen) to clean the area outside the boundary wall of my office which is adjacent to the major road of the city where everyone plies to various places especially in the morning when they have to go to their offices or while returning in the evenings after the offices close. The men were deployed to clean the area and were given the basic tools like talwaars (swords) for chopping the grass, sickle for cutting long grass, khurpi (Garden tool) and brooms etc for finally cleaning the areas so that it looks good from outside and security is also catered for by enabling clear sight adjacent to the walls. These working men could be clearly seen by the commuters on the road .
After some days their union leader came to me and hesitatingly told me that the work should be stopped as the people are tired to which I asked him astonishingly that they have just worked for two days and got tired so soon. How ? The leader again said,
” Sahib woh baat nahin hai”(Sir that is not the matter)
I then asked ,
”Kya baat hai?”(What’s the matter?)
He said,
”Sahib isme kuch log pandit hai aur woh jharu nahin pakarte’(Some of these men are pandits of higher caste and they do not hold the brooms)
I said ,
”But this is a government and a clean work, let them pick the grass with their hands then or use something else”
The leader reiterated,
”Sahib yeh baat bhi nahin hai woh to main unko mana loonga”(Sir this is also not the matter ,I will somehow manage and get the same done from them)
I then asked him to explain it in clear terms what is the matter why they do not want to do it?
I was surprised at the cause which he narrated to me and you know what it was;
Some of the lower staff like mazdoors and chowkidaars who were in the govt jobs had told their friends ,relatives, even to their wives and in laws that they are junior officers (Sarkari mulhazim) in govt services and have a very high status. The problem arose when their relatives started noticing them cutting the grass with those talwaars in their hands in the morning while passing through that road . The men felt ashamed as did not have anything to say so were hiding their faces while working. So they had put their request through their union leader to either change their time of working in the night when no commuter passing by can observe them working as mazdoors or their duties be accordingly changed to work inside the office so that they are behind the curtain of the office wall.
I was shocked to hear this and wondered how they lived in such a falsehood for such a long time. There was yet another story connected to it which their leader apprised me and that was after they declared themselves to be officers their market value increases manifold as they are able to extract large dowries from the girls in lieu of their son’s status in a govt job. It was really shameful and I felt very disheartened that day. But this is a bitter fact of life in an uneducated society which needs to be curbed with the only tool of education. How can you convince a person who is nearing his age of retirement to improve and not resort to such acts. One can only hope and apply efforts to educate the forthcoming generation to put an end to all this for a better generation .
“Every educated one’s please wake up, rise, shine and spread the light of wisdom to all concerned,” is all I can hope, say and request.
The status is said to be a factor which decides the degree of importance the man gets from the society. Nowdays due to decline of jobs in private sector resulting into retrenchment and laying offs by the private firms, the government sector has overpowered the private sector and hence everyone is thriving upon govt jobs .They are ready to pay any cost for getting into it either by hook or by crook. They promise and work hard to get into it, apply all their sincere efforts , get recommendations of the highest officials/ministers and do anything to get into it. Once they get in, then they forget to work for the remaining part of their life and just relax as they know it is equally difficult to throw them out on the charges of not working. Ironically in the private sector jobs where you have to work sincerely, honestly, day in and day out with the sword of insecurity always hanging on to your neck and with a fear of being fired any moment is always at the back of your mind :Job insecurity.
I have seen my friends leaving good private jobs and joining govt jobs just for the sake of Job security even if they have to join at comparatively lower status since it assures them of food, clothing and shelter with peace of mind for the rest of their life. At lower levels due to stringent policies of the govt the staff is not transferred from one place to another as a result of which the staff gets the privilege of staying at one place throughout their life at least for the time they are in their service for 30 years or so which means that three fourths of their life is over in the service time itself after which they hardly move out as they plan their stay or settle at their place of posting itself.
I remember once I ordered some of the labourers and chowkidaars(watchmen) to clean the area outside the boundary wall of my office which is adjacent to the major road of the city where everyone plies to various places especially in the morning when they have to go to their offices or while returning in the evenings after the offices close. The men were deployed to clean the area and were given the basic tools like talwaars (swords) for chopping the grass, sickle for cutting long grass, khurpi (Garden tool) and brooms etc for finally cleaning the areas so that it looks good from outside and security is also catered for by enabling clear sight adjacent to the walls. These working men could be clearly seen by the commuters on the road .
After some days their union leader came to me and hesitatingly told me that the work should be stopped as the people are tired to which I asked him astonishingly that they have just worked for two days and got tired so soon. How ? The leader again said,
” Sahib woh baat nahin hai”(Sir that is not the matter)
I then asked ,
”Kya baat hai?”(What’s the matter?)
He said,
”Sahib isme kuch log pandit hai aur woh jharu nahin pakarte’(Some of these men are pandits of higher caste and they do not hold the brooms)
I said ,
”But this is a government and a clean work, let them pick the grass with their hands then or use something else”
The leader reiterated,
”Sahib yeh baat bhi nahin hai woh to main unko mana loonga”(Sir this is also not the matter ,I will somehow manage and get the same done from them)
I then asked him to explain it in clear terms what is the matter why they do not want to do it?
I was surprised at the cause which he narrated to me and you know what it was;
Some of the lower staff like mazdoors and chowkidaars who were in the govt jobs had told their friends ,relatives, even to their wives and in laws that they are junior officers (Sarkari mulhazim) in govt services and have a very high status. The problem arose when their relatives started noticing them cutting the grass with those talwaars in their hands in the morning while passing through that road . The men felt ashamed as did not have anything to say so were hiding their faces while working. So they had put their request through their union leader to either change their time of working in the night when no commuter passing by can observe them working as mazdoors or their duties be accordingly changed to work inside the office so that they are behind the curtain of the office wall.
I was shocked to hear this and wondered how they lived in such a falsehood for such a long time. There was yet another story connected to it which their leader apprised me and that was after they declared themselves to be officers their market value increases manifold as they are able to extract large dowries from the girls in lieu of their son’s status in a govt job. It was really shameful and I felt very disheartened that day. But this is a bitter fact of life in an uneducated society which needs to be curbed with the only tool of education. How can you convince a person who is nearing his age of retirement to improve and not resort to such acts. One can only hope and apply efforts to educate the forthcoming generation to put an end to all this for a better generation .
“Every educated one’s please wake up, rise, shine and spread the light of wisdom to all concerned,” is all I can hope, say and request.
Friday, May 14, 2010
The big blast(Excerpts from UDHAMPUR DAYS)
The big blast (Excerpts from Udhampur days)
The winters were approaching and the leaves were turning yellow. The human body demanded sweaters in the evenings. The shops were full of the winter clothing. The ‘Deepawali’ festival was also approaching and so the sale of crackers could be seen displayed in various stalls all over the city including the ‘Chinar’ complex. If crackers entered the city then how can you stop a child from buying it for it was a great fun playing with them especially for the boys at that age. Be it school or home the crackers found their place in the schoolbags too. If they entered the school bags then they had to show their presence in the school also.
A new lady teacher had just joined as our substitute teacher for Geography since the actual teacher, Mr Tribhuvan had proceeded on leave. She was nice looking but her class was boring as she mostly read the book and did not explain anything nor made any eye contact while facing the students but would be looking at the back wall. The students mind therefore wandered elsewhere in mischief and bursting of crackers was the best way to enjoy which they felt. While she was teaching facing the board a small hand-bomb went off with a low noise
“Phat! “.
When she turned back everyone was looking at her as if nothing had happened. She asked
“What was it?”
One of the student replied
“Madam I think it was a bomb”
“That I also know it but who did that?”She said getting slightly angry since was new to the class.
Everyone was silent. She again started writing on the board after sometime.
“Boooooom! “
Came the noise of the second blast with a greater intensity.
She turned angry this time and said,
“Who was it? Don’t you have any shame?”
Some giggled with their lowered necks while some were seriously looking at her for her next reaction.
She looked around all the corners and with her frowned face turned towards the blackboard and started writing again. There was profound silence now and I expected the matter to be over . Everyone was busy listening to her and making notes .
“BOOOOOOOM!”
Again the loud blast occurred.
No one moved a muscle this time.
”I will not teach this class and report the matter to the principal “she went out saying.
As she rushed out in anger I could notice her crying while going towards the principal office. Fortunately the principal was not there so after some time we saw Daddoo sir coming along with to help her sort out the problem. By this time one more bomb was already planted tactfully.
When she came she narrated the incidence showing the place where it went off but the culprit could still not be traced. Daddoo told her
“Madam please continue with the class I’ll see who explodes the bomb this time and I’ll explode him”
The Madam continued teaching us the types of clouds which she was already teaching,
” The clouds located highest in the sky are called ‘cirrus’ clouds and are white in ---------------------“
Daddoo sir meanwhile during the pause of her sentence said addressing the class protruding his eyeballs which were already half out by default,
“Let me see how the bomb explodes this time you people think you are extra smart, now show your smartness to me “
Saying this he sat down on the chair kept on the side of the stage and as he sat down
“Booooooooooooooom”
went the heavy duty cracker bomb which was placed under the chair ready to explode with the weight and Daddoo sir jumped two feet high and fell down on his hips with a bump. He immediately got up and cleaned his trousers first noticing carefully that his back side was intact. I just lowered my head as expected sholay(small fireballs) to come out from his inside which would shower straight on us. Everyone was shocked less those who must have planted it. The lady teacher ran out and hearing the blast two more teachers who were taking the class in the adjacent classrooms also came out to see what had happened. Now Patthu sir took over the lead who was teaching in the next class room.
“I know this is a very mischievious class and they should not be spared”, he said facing Daddoo sir who was still looking time and again at the back side of his trousers.
“Daddoo added,” Actually I had also come to sort them out but----but------“
“But what?”, asked Patthu.
“I am still not able to find out who the culprit is otherwise I would have made a rooster out of him” said Daddoo sir anguishly.
Soon the matter reached the Principal who had arrived back by then through that Lady Teacher and he came to our class for giving threats and long moral lecture but still no one owned up the responsibility as the matter had become serious now. The whole class was summoned and asked to come out in the field and told in no uncertain terms that till the time the student owns up the responsibility there would be no classes and the whole class would suffer. There was a stunned silence .Saying this the Principal went back to his office and so did other teachers to their class. Then Patthu sir said,
“Abhi bhi time hai aadmi ke bachche ban jaao”(There is still a chance turn into child of a human being) and he went away.
Now it was only class IX B students who gathered in a cluster near each other when JP took the lead and said,
“Oh dekho bhai jisne patake bajai hai ya to chup chaap bata do aur mamala khatam karo ya phir pacca kar lo ki chahey jo bhi ho jaye moo nahin kholna hai ”(Listen everyone either quietly own up the responsibility who ever has done this or else never ever open your mouth)
But one thing was certain no one still knew who had done this at least I did not know .The matter was not going to end so easily since it had reached the level of principal who also could not solve it so it soon became the prestige issue more so because the lady teacher had cried twice so principal made up his mind to crack the hard nuts at any cost. While at the other end everyone was motivated and had already decided not to open their mouth. How could they have opened it when no body knew who did it except the ones who actually did it. The day passed and we kept sitting outside the class on the drain which was in front of our class. Some floated around the Banyan tree where we generally sat and had our tiffin or played during the games period. It was fun as we were free from studies for the day. Soon the school was over and everyone pushed home .
The next day immediately after the assembly our class was simply told to sit outside and not to enter the class for the day. Everyone was soon called and told collectively under the banyan tree to own up and finish the matter so that only the guilty would be punished and the rest of the class would be left free. No one agreed. The PT teacher was now told to take care of us and he ordered everyone to run around the assembly ground on the perimeter road which passed in front of all the middle and some senior classes. Everyone was seen running in the first two rounds then slowed down and changed to walking .Like this they continued walking all around for the next one hour. The girls also accompanied us and it appeared that some rally was on . We were hooted by the students of the classes in front of whom we passed while walking listening to their comments,
”The Pataka(cracker) class Yaaaaaaaa Yaaaaaaaaaaaaa” and we would laugh and wave our hands in return actually cursing them from our hearts inside.
The girls would also feel bad as it was none of their fault ; presumed. There was still no feeling of frustration noticed on anyone’s face as we were free from studies and were having a good time. The boys spent most of their time gossiping and roaming around here and there, some sneaked off to Chinar on the pretext of some work, some went for their own work to the staff room some made their notes and completed their pending work after they were allowed to use the classroom later, girls chitchatted and were busy reading novels while some mixed up with boys discussing about the latest situation and made wild guesses on the brain behind this incident. Not only we all were concerned but the teachers also had started making their calculations as to who was the person who did this but were unable to proceed ahead even an inch in this matter. The second day also came to an end.
On the third day the same routine was repeated of making rounds on the perimeter road and then I could see some breaking in some of us especially the ones who were least interested in mixing up with the back benchers and were totally studious and introverts.
“Yaar jisne kiya hai bata do na aise hi sabko tang karne se koi faida nahin hai”(Yaar who ever has done it please own up there is no use harassing everyone) one of the short statured student, Ravinder who used to sit in the front row said in a tired voice. He also added after sometime
“Agar koi naam nahin bataiga to main uska naam teacher ko bata doonga(If the culprit will not own up himself then I will tell his name to the teacher)
“Do you know who has done this?” asked one of us from the crowd.
“No but I will just tell the name of person whom I suspect as I do not want to get punishment unnecessarily for his prank” said Ravinder.
Two of us, Panda and JP looked at him anxiously but did not say anything. When Ravinder was away they started discussing that whoever tells anyone’s name now to the teacher will be blamed as a culprit by the rest of us.
“If anyone owns up now he is definitely going to get some severe punishment for sure which may amount to dismissal or issue of transfer certificate from the school.” said JP to everyone.
Thus a decision was made and this word was spread to everyone in the class as discussed which silenced Ravinder’s lips to blurt out anything harmful and all were back on the same grid. This made me have a suspicion on JP and Panda as they took pains to hush up the issue. Maybe or maybe not that they had done it. If they had not done it why are they so interested in hushing up the issue. Are they so caring about everyone I thought and only thought but did not let that thought come out of my mouth.
The school administration also appeared to have planted some mole amongst us which we sensed but everyone kept their thoughts of suspicion also in their heads only so this technique of administration also failed.
One day Sanjeev Bhagat called some of us while sitting on the drain outside the class and said very clearly,
“Folks please listen to me and close up please”
We all gathered around the drain as were curious to know what he wanted to say as he had just arrived from the staff room side. I was astride him, JP stood in front, Rakesh Chander with his one leg on either side of the drain to his left while Pramod stood leaning on to him from the back.
“I was called by the Principal and told in clear terms to help him find out as to who did this but since you are my young friends all my loyalties are towards you only and you all can take my word on it. The principal has also said that he would not harm anyone if he owns up himself. So what is your decision and how do you desire to go on further?”
Firstly we all were very impressed by Bhagat as he had shown trust on us instead of playing dirty which he could have if he wanted to for occupying a special place in principal’s heart to have his personal gain in the long term. But later everyone thought it might be a ploy of the Principal to trap the student using Bhagat and later punish him. So JP came forward and said ,
” No we will continue to keep mum on the issue and so did everyone”
Bhagat asked once more,
” Sure?”
“Yes “ said everyone while the girls looked from the window of the class guessing what discussion was going on. Sandeep also laid emphasis and joined Panda in saying,
”Jo bhi hoga dekha jayega”(We’ll see whatever happens). Kamini was overjoyed when she heard this and I could see her felt relieved from her facial expression as she looked from the from window of the class from where she was overhearing all the conversation she was able to and exchanging signals with Sandeep.
“Ok then we are firm and continue to be and don’t break in between.” Said Bhagat sternly to all of us and called for his guitar kept inside the classroom which he had brought to pass the time in the school.
The guitar was brought and given to him. He started playing it and started to sing,
“Yeh Patakey kisne bajaai hum nahin bataingay-----------------“(Who bursted these crackers we will not disclose-----------------) trying to imitate the lyrics of Hindi movie ‘Sholay’.
While singing everyone joined and the song was sung in chorus. After some time Bhagat forgot the nodes he was playing as he had just learnt it a few days back so he switched over to ‘Tabla’(An Indian instrument used like a pair of small drums placed on the ground in front of the musician) on the wooden guitar itself and continued the song. The Principal sitting in his office was thinking that it must be his plan which his blue eyed boy must be executing with utmost sincerity and did not interfere or ask as to what was going on although overhearing everything. The students in the other class also felt jealous of us and envied our enjoyment which was camouflaged under the jacket of fear. Deepa, glancing through her window seat in the rear of the class was laughing discussing what was going on amongst the boys with her evergreen friend Madhavi sitting next to her. Veena who sat next to the door which was in the middle of the class and in between the two windows saw us singing by leaning her chair back on its two rear legs and neck turned right . A day to remember all my life I would say as is fresh as flower in my mind even today. After finishing the song it was lunch time and like this passed the third day also with no progress on tracing the culprit.
The next day was holiday so one more day went off.
On the fifth day some of the students did not come to school at all thinking that there would be no studies as it had become a routine since the last three four days and there seemed to be no end to the problem. The fifth day went. By now the parents also came to know about it and it started pricking them also that the studies of their child is suffering as the half yearly exams were homing on in November and the syllabus was also at large to be covered.
On the sixth day parental pressure could be felt on the principal as the local Sub Area Commander had also asked the principal by now to sort out the problem soon as it was a childish act on his part to play with the studies of the children.
The Principal was tense and sandwiched between us and the sub area commander& parents. He had no choice but to act diplomatically.
On the next working day, day seven, the principal gave a long moral lecture after the assembly to our only class which was standing when everyone else had dispersed which went as follows,
“Dear students of class IX , today I am speaking to you as your brother and not your principal as I can understand very well what must be going on in the hearts of those who are innocent and have not participated in this dastardly act of playing a prank with a lady teacher who must be of your older sister’s age and was new to this college. She was put for you on special employment by me personally within my powers so that your studies do not suffer during the absence of your Geography teacher, Mr Tribhuven who was to suddenly proceed on leave due to sudden emergency in his house which if I tell will not be good as would hurt the sentiments of him being his personal affair, but you have responded and behaved in the most irresponsible way which was not expected out of students of your age. You are supposed to be acting as an example to the junior classes who would be following your actions in the times to come when you will not be there in this school. Would you like it when someone says this to you that this brat is from that KV in Udhampur who harassed their lady teacher so much that she left the job and went crying out of the school and who had no other means to support her family except this job which she got with great difficulty. Would you like to be called a student of such a Principal who could not even get justice to a teacher from a group of Hooligans. I am not worried about those who acted this way but about those who inspite of knowing this still supported them for a wrong cause.
I will therefore not punish you any more as I do not want the innocent to suffer their studies as the time is very precious for all of you. Although I have come to know of the students who have done this act through my sources but will not say anything to them as they will be taken care of well at the appropriate time for which I have given strict instructions to the teachers concerned, but want that they should come forward on their own anonymously to me and the matter will be closed once for all. If you have even an ounce of shame left in you for tomorrow it could be your sister or mother in place of that lady teacher you would give an apology in writing which will be duly signed by all of you addressed to that teacher and not me that you apologise for the act for the sake of my respect, otherwise I will still not say anything to you but would take this impression all my life that I did not teach students but a group of merciless creatures who did not have any place in their hearts for their Principal and would consider my self to be one of the most unfortunate Principals of this country which everyone of you may also feel one day when you grow up and recall this incident”.
Saying this and turning back he headed straight to his office without saying any word further and it appeared to some of us who were standing close to him that some tear drops fell on the collar of his shirt.
Two girls standing amongst us could be seen with wet eyes. Three of us also became emotional and smile was missing on everyone’s face. The speech of the Principal had an effect on us. Everyone said,
”Now enough is enough and there should be end to it”.
But who was the culprit could still not be established and the culprit also did not own up still. It was definite that it was the work of some hardcore person amongst us. So we all finally made a letter of apology addressed not to the principal but to the Madam and everyone signed on it which read as follows
Dear Madam,
We all are very sorry and shameful for what all happened in the class. Although we are not in a position to tell who the culprit is as we actually do not know ourselves but can assure you this much that it was only for the sake of fun and nothing was against you. Also we assure you that it will not happen again. We all feel that the culprit is also really sorry and must be afraid to come out at this juncture. You would agree to it that the innocent have suffered enough in their studies and some of us are not capable to study on our own for the part which our teacher only can make us understand .So we expect that considering our humble prayer you would pardon us and join back the school. We also would like you to request our Principal not to form our opinion as he thinks we all are since we cannot face him for this act of ours and love him from the core of our heart.
--------------------Signed by all the students of IX B
The letter was then handed over to one of the staff clerk to be placed on the Principal’s in tray .
The next day we were attending the assembly as usual and everyone was smiling seeing the new teacher standing in the row of teachers to take our class who took the class for the next three days after which our Geography teacher took on since he rejoined from his leave.
Later on I only sensed from the discussions and unconfirmed reports as I cannot say for sure that it was the work plan of Sandeep, executed by Panda and motivated by Kamini.
What a plan and what a participation with perfect coordination. I was convinced that for every successful plan there can be a girl behind it.
The winters were approaching and the leaves were turning yellow. The human body demanded sweaters in the evenings. The shops were full of the winter clothing. The ‘Deepawali’ festival was also approaching and so the sale of crackers could be seen displayed in various stalls all over the city including the ‘Chinar’ complex. If crackers entered the city then how can you stop a child from buying it for it was a great fun playing with them especially for the boys at that age. Be it school or home the crackers found their place in the schoolbags too. If they entered the school bags then they had to show their presence in the school also.
A new lady teacher had just joined as our substitute teacher for Geography since the actual teacher, Mr Tribhuvan had proceeded on leave. She was nice looking but her class was boring as she mostly read the book and did not explain anything nor made any eye contact while facing the students but would be looking at the back wall. The students mind therefore wandered elsewhere in mischief and bursting of crackers was the best way to enjoy which they felt. While she was teaching facing the board a small hand-bomb went off with a low noise
“Phat! “.
When she turned back everyone was looking at her as if nothing had happened. She asked
“What was it?”
One of the student replied
“Madam I think it was a bomb”
“That I also know it but who did that?”She said getting slightly angry since was new to the class.
Everyone was silent. She again started writing on the board after sometime.
“Boooooom! “
Came the noise of the second blast with a greater intensity.
She turned angry this time and said,
“Who was it? Don’t you have any shame?”
Some giggled with their lowered necks while some were seriously looking at her for her next reaction.
She looked around all the corners and with her frowned face turned towards the blackboard and started writing again. There was profound silence now and I expected the matter to be over . Everyone was busy listening to her and making notes .
“BOOOOOOOM!”
Again the loud blast occurred.
No one moved a muscle this time.
”I will not teach this class and report the matter to the principal “she went out saying.
As she rushed out in anger I could notice her crying while going towards the principal office. Fortunately the principal was not there so after some time we saw Daddoo sir coming along with to help her sort out the problem. By this time one more bomb was already planted tactfully.
When she came she narrated the incidence showing the place where it went off but the culprit could still not be traced. Daddoo told her
“Madam please continue with the class I’ll see who explodes the bomb this time and I’ll explode him”
The Madam continued teaching us the types of clouds which she was already teaching,
” The clouds located highest in the sky are called ‘cirrus’ clouds and are white in ---------------------“
Daddoo sir meanwhile during the pause of her sentence said addressing the class protruding his eyeballs which were already half out by default,
“Let me see how the bomb explodes this time you people think you are extra smart, now show your smartness to me “
Saying this he sat down on the chair kept on the side of the stage and as he sat down
“Booooooooooooooom”
went the heavy duty cracker bomb which was placed under the chair ready to explode with the weight and Daddoo sir jumped two feet high and fell down on his hips with a bump. He immediately got up and cleaned his trousers first noticing carefully that his back side was intact. I just lowered my head as expected sholay(small fireballs) to come out from his inside which would shower straight on us. Everyone was shocked less those who must have planted it. The lady teacher ran out and hearing the blast two more teachers who were taking the class in the adjacent classrooms also came out to see what had happened. Now Patthu sir took over the lead who was teaching in the next class room.
“I know this is a very mischievious class and they should not be spared”, he said facing Daddoo sir who was still looking time and again at the back side of his trousers.
“Daddoo added,” Actually I had also come to sort them out but----but------“
“But what?”, asked Patthu.
“I am still not able to find out who the culprit is otherwise I would have made a rooster out of him” said Daddoo sir anguishly.
Soon the matter reached the Principal who had arrived back by then through that Lady Teacher and he came to our class for giving threats and long moral lecture but still no one owned up the responsibility as the matter had become serious now. The whole class was summoned and asked to come out in the field and told in no uncertain terms that till the time the student owns up the responsibility there would be no classes and the whole class would suffer. There was a stunned silence .Saying this the Principal went back to his office and so did other teachers to their class. Then Patthu sir said,
“Abhi bhi time hai aadmi ke bachche ban jaao”(There is still a chance turn into child of a human being) and he went away.
Now it was only class IX B students who gathered in a cluster near each other when JP took the lead and said,
“Oh dekho bhai jisne patake bajai hai ya to chup chaap bata do aur mamala khatam karo ya phir pacca kar lo ki chahey jo bhi ho jaye moo nahin kholna hai ”(Listen everyone either quietly own up the responsibility who ever has done this or else never ever open your mouth)
But one thing was certain no one still knew who had done this at least I did not know .The matter was not going to end so easily since it had reached the level of principal who also could not solve it so it soon became the prestige issue more so because the lady teacher had cried twice so principal made up his mind to crack the hard nuts at any cost. While at the other end everyone was motivated and had already decided not to open their mouth. How could they have opened it when no body knew who did it except the ones who actually did it. The day passed and we kept sitting outside the class on the drain which was in front of our class. Some floated around the Banyan tree where we generally sat and had our tiffin or played during the games period. It was fun as we were free from studies for the day. Soon the school was over and everyone pushed home .
The next day immediately after the assembly our class was simply told to sit outside and not to enter the class for the day. Everyone was soon called and told collectively under the banyan tree to own up and finish the matter so that only the guilty would be punished and the rest of the class would be left free. No one agreed. The PT teacher was now told to take care of us and he ordered everyone to run around the assembly ground on the perimeter road which passed in front of all the middle and some senior classes. Everyone was seen running in the first two rounds then slowed down and changed to walking .Like this they continued walking all around for the next one hour. The girls also accompanied us and it appeared that some rally was on . We were hooted by the students of the classes in front of whom we passed while walking listening to their comments,
”The Pataka(cracker) class Yaaaaaaaa Yaaaaaaaaaaaaa” and we would laugh and wave our hands in return actually cursing them from our hearts inside.
The girls would also feel bad as it was none of their fault ; presumed. There was still no feeling of frustration noticed on anyone’s face as we were free from studies and were having a good time. The boys spent most of their time gossiping and roaming around here and there, some sneaked off to Chinar on the pretext of some work, some went for their own work to the staff room some made their notes and completed their pending work after they were allowed to use the classroom later, girls chitchatted and were busy reading novels while some mixed up with boys discussing about the latest situation and made wild guesses on the brain behind this incident. Not only we all were concerned but the teachers also had started making their calculations as to who was the person who did this but were unable to proceed ahead even an inch in this matter. The second day also came to an end.
On the third day the same routine was repeated of making rounds on the perimeter road and then I could see some breaking in some of us especially the ones who were least interested in mixing up with the back benchers and were totally studious and introverts.
“Yaar jisne kiya hai bata do na aise hi sabko tang karne se koi faida nahin hai”(Yaar who ever has done it please own up there is no use harassing everyone) one of the short statured student, Ravinder who used to sit in the front row said in a tired voice. He also added after sometime
“Agar koi naam nahin bataiga to main uska naam teacher ko bata doonga(If the culprit will not own up himself then I will tell his name to the teacher)
“Do you know who has done this?” asked one of us from the crowd.
“No but I will just tell the name of person whom I suspect as I do not want to get punishment unnecessarily for his prank” said Ravinder.
Two of us, Panda and JP looked at him anxiously but did not say anything. When Ravinder was away they started discussing that whoever tells anyone’s name now to the teacher will be blamed as a culprit by the rest of us.
“If anyone owns up now he is definitely going to get some severe punishment for sure which may amount to dismissal or issue of transfer certificate from the school.” said JP to everyone.
Thus a decision was made and this word was spread to everyone in the class as discussed which silenced Ravinder’s lips to blurt out anything harmful and all were back on the same grid. This made me have a suspicion on JP and Panda as they took pains to hush up the issue. Maybe or maybe not that they had done it. If they had not done it why are they so interested in hushing up the issue. Are they so caring about everyone I thought and only thought but did not let that thought come out of my mouth.
The school administration also appeared to have planted some mole amongst us which we sensed but everyone kept their thoughts of suspicion also in their heads only so this technique of administration also failed.
One day Sanjeev Bhagat called some of us while sitting on the drain outside the class and said very clearly,
“Folks please listen to me and close up please”
We all gathered around the drain as were curious to know what he wanted to say as he had just arrived from the staff room side. I was astride him, JP stood in front, Rakesh Chander with his one leg on either side of the drain to his left while Pramod stood leaning on to him from the back.
“I was called by the Principal and told in clear terms to help him find out as to who did this but since you are my young friends all my loyalties are towards you only and you all can take my word on it. The principal has also said that he would not harm anyone if he owns up himself. So what is your decision and how do you desire to go on further?”
Firstly we all were very impressed by Bhagat as he had shown trust on us instead of playing dirty which he could have if he wanted to for occupying a special place in principal’s heart to have his personal gain in the long term. But later everyone thought it might be a ploy of the Principal to trap the student using Bhagat and later punish him. So JP came forward and said ,
” No we will continue to keep mum on the issue and so did everyone”
Bhagat asked once more,
” Sure?”
“Yes “ said everyone while the girls looked from the window of the class guessing what discussion was going on. Sandeep also laid emphasis and joined Panda in saying,
”Jo bhi hoga dekha jayega”(We’ll see whatever happens). Kamini was overjoyed when she heard this and I could see her felt relieved from her facial expression as she looked from the from window of the class from where she was overhearing all the conversation she was able to and exchanging signals with Sandeep.
“Ok then we are firm and continue to be and don’t break in between.” Said Bhagat sternly to all of us and called for his guitar kept inside the classroom which he had brought to pass the time in the school.
The guitar was brought and given to him. He started playing it and started to sing,
“Yeh Patakey kisne bajaai hum nahin bataingay-----------------“(Who bursted these crackers we will not disclose-----------------) trying to imitate the lyrics of Hindi movie ‘Sholay’.
While singing everyone joined and the song was sung in chorus. After some time Bhagat forgot the nodes he was playing as he had just learnt it a few days back so he switched over to ‘Tabla’(An Indian instrument used like a pair of small drums placed on the ground in front of the musician) on the wooden guitar itself and continued the song. The Principal sitting in his office was thinking that it must be his plan which his blue eyed boy must be executing with utmost sincerity and did not interfere or ask as to what was going on although overhearing everything. The students in the other class also felt jealous of us and envied our enjoyment which was camouflaged under the jacket of fear. Deepa, glancing through her window seat in the rear of the class was laughing discussing what was going on amongst the boys with her evergreen friend Madhavi sitting next to her. Veena who sat next to the door which was in the middle of the class and in between the two windows saw us singing by leaning her chair back on its two rear legs and neck turned right . A day to remember all my life I would say as is fresh as flower in my mind even today. After finishing the song it was lunch time and like this passed the third day also with no progress on tracing the culprit.
The next day was holiday so one more day went off.
On the fifth day some of the students did not come to school at all thinking that there would be no studies as it had become a routine since the last three four days and there seemed to be no end to the problem. The fifth day went. By now the parents also came to know about it and it started pricking them also that the studies of their child is suffering as the half yearly exams were homing on in November and the syllabus was also at large to be covered.
On the sixth day parental pressure could be felt on the principal as the local Sub Area Commander had also asked the principal by now to sort out the problem soon as it was a childish act on his part to play with the studies of the children.
The Principal was tense and sandwiched between us and the sub area commander& parents. He had no choice but to act diplomatically.
On the next working day, day seven, the principal gave a long moral lecture after the assembly to our only class which was standing when everyone else had dispersed which went as follows,
“Dear students of class IX , today I am speaking to you as your brother and not your principal as I can understand very well what must be going on in the hearts of those who are innocent and have not participated in this dastardly act of playing a prank with a lady teacher who must be of your older sister’s age and was new to this college. She was put for you on special employment by me personally within my powers so that your studies do not suffer during the absence of your Geography teacher, Mr Tribhuven who was to suddenly proceed on leave due to sudden emergency in his house which if I tell will not be good as would hurt the sentiments of him being his personal affair, but you have responded and behaved in the most irresponsible way which was not expected out of students of your age. You are supposed to be acting as an example to the junior classes who would be following your actions in the times to come when you will not be there in this school. Would you like it when someone says this to you that this brat is from that KV in Udhampur who harassed their lady teacher so much that she left the job and went crying out of the school and who had no other means to support her family except this job which she got with great difficulty. Would you like to be called a student of such a Principal who could not even get justice to a teacher from a group of Hooligans. I am not worried about those who acted this way but about those who inspite of knowing this still supported them for a wrong cause.
I will therefore not punish you any more as I do not want the innocent to suffer their studies as the time is very precious for all of you. Although I have come to know of the students who have done this act through my sources but will not say anything to them as they will be taken care of well at the appropriate time for which I have given strict instructions to the teachers concerned, but want that they should come forward on their own anonymously to me and the matter will be closed once for all. If you have even an ounce of shame left in you for tomorrow it could be your sister or mother in place of that lady teacher you would give an apology in writing which will be duly signed by all of you addressed to that teacher and not me that you apologise for the act for the sake of my respect, otherwise I will still not say anything to you but would take this impression all my life that I did not teach students but a group of merciless creatures who did not have any place in their hearts for their Principal and would consider my self to be one of the most unfortunate Principals of this country which everyone of you may also feel one day when you grow up and recall this incident”.
Saying this and turning back he headed straight to his office without saying any word further and it appeared to some of us who were standing close to him that some tear drops fell on the collar of his shirt.
Two girls standing amongst us could be seen with wet eyes. Three of us also became emotional and smile was missing on everyone’s face. The speech of the Principal had an effect on us. Everyone said,
”Now enough is enough and there should be end to it”.
But who was the culprit could still not be established and the culprit also did not own up still. It was definite that it was the work of some hardcore person amongst us. So we all finally made a letter of apology addressed not to the principal but to the Madam and everyone signed on it which read as follows
Dear Madam,
We all are very sorry and shameful for what all happened in the class. Although we are not in a position to tell who the culprit is as we actually do not know ourselves but can assure you this much that it was only for the sake of fun and nothing was against you. Also we assure you that it will not happen again. We all feel that the culprit is also really sorry and must be afraid to come out at this juncture. You would agree to it that the innocent have suffered enough in their studies and some of us are not capable to study on our own for the part which our teacher only can make us understand .So we expect that considering our humble prayer you would pardon us and join back the school. We also would like you to request our Principal not to form our opinion as he thinks we all are since we cannot face him for this act of ours and love him from the core of our heart.
--------------------Signed by all the students of IX B
The letter was then handed over to one of the staff clerk to be placed on the Principal’s in tray .
The next day we were attending the assembly as usual and everyone was smiling seeing the new teacher standing in the row of teachers to take our class who took the class for the next three days after which our Geography teacher took on since he rejoined from his leave.
Later on I only sensed from the discussions and unconfirmed reports as I cannot say for sure that it was the work plan of Sandeep, executed by Panda and motivated by Kamini.
What a plan and what a participation with perfect coordination. I was convinced that for every successful plan there can be a girl behind it.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Mathemagic (Bidar Days)
Mathemagic (Bidar days)
It was Bidar,1983 at GND Engineering college in the 1st year . We had to pedal 5kms from the hostel to reach college as there was no hostel near the college. The maths period was very interesting because we had a very good and effective teacher, Mr BS Janthe who had exceptional teaching skills in built in him and was a gem of a person who did not leave any doubt to be clarified at the end of the lecture which made it easier for everyone to digest the contents of our maths book on ‘Higher Engineering Mathematics’ by BS Grewal supplemented with his notes as his notes catered for everything. He only had one barrier : The language. He was a Kannadigas and knew only Kannada and no hindi or Punjabi which was the language in which all the conversation used to take place most of the time. The only lingua Franca thus left was English in which he was able to manage but was not able to make correct use of grammar as a result mixed the right words with the wrong situations but if thought of logically by the listener would convey the correct meaning of what he wanted to say. He had one more habit; he never liked to be disturbed in between his lecture and expected everyone to ask him a questions at the end of the class.The chances of asking the questions were however remote as usually everyone’s mind would be clear by the time his lecture finished which he also knew well. If some student still clarified a doubt it generally meant that he is just asking for the sake of fun or to gain importance in the class to impress the teacher.
It was an afternoon class when we had to come back after lunch travelling 5 kms on our pedal bikes. The seats were full as it was an important class made easy by him so no one missed it otherwise would be banging his head in the night on the Grewal book. He was teaching multiplication of imaginary numbers.
“The Zhad Zhad conjugate gives this value” as he pronounced the conjugate function and took out its value finishing the problem. Then he looked at the class for it may shoot any question for clarifying their doubts on it. No one spoke anything as the solution was crystal clear at the end of the lecture as usual. One of the student , Amandeep however got up to clarify his mind and said,
“Sir if you could tell what is meant by imaginary number again?”
“I have already told you any number which can be written in the form of a+ib is called imaginary at the start of the lecture so why asking now ?” the teacher replied
“Sir what is a and b?” Amandeep asked again
“ a one any number and b any other number” He again clarified
“Sir what is i ?”Amandeep reiterated
”i is imaginary” Said Mr Janthe
“Then what is a+ib” Amandeep asked again
“I think you not understood. Require extra time. Dont waste class time. I will explain after lecture” said the maths teacher.
But Amandeep was not ready to listen and he insisted on explaining then and there itself.
Mr Janthe then told him,
“You meet me behind the class when you are empty and I am vacant. You can also meet me when I am vibrating in the verandah. In this way class time not wasted.”
Meanwhile three of the students who had gone out for some work were waiting outside facing him to get in as were waiting for the gesture of Mr Janthe to permit them in as he was busy talking to us. Seeing them after finishing his sentence he looked at them and gestured them to enter the class for going to their respective seats saying,
“Both of you three get in”
And they without showing any sign of surprise went and occupied their places forgetting that they were three of them and not two.
One of the student,Surjit who was in a hurry to go wanted the class to be dismissed and was waiting for Mr janthe to disperse the class soon so that he could be left too said to Mr Janthe showing that he cared about him and his things,
“Sir your Luna (Scooty) seats will melt in the sun shall I park it under the shade”
Mr Janthe probably understood his psychology to break off early and replied,
“Don’t worry my Luna is understanding the tree”
And Surjit put his head on the desk between his folded hands and giggled silently.
Long live Janthe sir.
It was Bidar,1983 at GND Engineering college in the 1st year . We had to pedal 5kms from the hostel to reach college as there was no hostel near the college. The maths period was very interesting because we had a very good and effective teacher, Mr BS Janthe who had exceptional teaching skills in built in him and was a gem of a person who did not leave any doubt to be clarified at the end of the lecture which made it easier for everyone to digest the contents of our maths book on ‘Higher Engineering Mathematics’ by BS Grewal supplemented with his notes as his notes catered for everything. He only had one barrier : The language. He was a Kannadigas and knew only Kannada and no hindi or Punjabi which was the language in which all the conversation used to take place most of the time. The only lingua Franca thus left was English in which he was able to manage but was not able to make correct use of grammar as a result mixed the right words with the wrong situations but if thought of logically by the listener would convey the correct meaning of what he wanted to say. He had one more habit; he never liked to be disturbed in between his lecture and expected everyone to ask him a questions at the end of the class.The chances of asking the questions were however remote as usually everyone’s mind would be clear by the time his lecture finished which he also knew well. If some student still clarified a doubt it generally meant that he is just asking for the sake of fun or to gain importance in the class to impress the teacher.
It was an afternoon class when we had to come back after lunch travelling 5 kms on our pedal bikes. The seats were full as it was an important class made easy by him so no one missed it otherwise would be banging his head in the night on the Grewal book. He was teaching multiplication of imaginary numbers.
“The Zhad Zhad conjugate gives this value” as he pronounced the conjugate function and took out its value finishing the problem. Then he looked at the class for it may shoot any question for clarifying their doubts on it. No one spoke anything as the solution was crystal clear at the end of the lecture as usual. One of the student , Amandeep however got up to clarify his mind and said,
“Sir if you could tell what is meant by imaginary number again?”
“I have already told you any number which can be written in the form of a+ib is called imaginary at the start of the lecture so why asking now ?” the teacher replied
“Sir what is a and b?” Amandeep asked again
“ a one any number and b any other number” He again clarified
“Sir what is i ?”Amandeep reiterated
”i is imaginary” Said Mr Janthe
“Then what is a+ib” Amandeep asked again
“I think you not understood. Require extra time. Dont waste class time. I will explain after lecture” said the maths teacher.
But Amandeep was not ready to listen and he insisted on explaining then and there itself.
Mr Janthe then told him,
“You meet me behind the class when you are empty and I am vacant. You can also meet me when I am vibrating in the verandah. In this way class time not wasted.”
Meanwhile three of the students who had gone out for some work were waiting outside facing him to get in as were waiting for the gesture of Mr Janthe to permit them in as he was busy talking to us. Seeing them after finishing his sentence he looked at them and gestured them to enter the class for going to their respective seats saying,
“Both of you three get in”
And they without showing any sign of surprise went and occupied their places forgetting that they were three of them and not two.
One of the student,Surjit who was in a hurry to go wanted the class to be dismissed and was waiting for Mr janthe to disperse the class soon so that he could be left too said to Mr Janthe showing that he cared about him and his things,
“Sir your Luna (Scooty) seats will melt in the sun shall I park it under the shade”
Mr Janthe probably understood his psychology to break off early and replied,
“Don’t worry my Luna is understanding the tree”
And Surjit put his head on the desk between his folded hands and giggled silently.
Long live Janthe sir.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
NURSERY DAYS AT DELHI
The Nursery days at Delhi
It was about 42 years back in 1968 when we were at Palam, an Airforce station in Delhi and I was about 3 years old. I still remember my first day in school when my parents had taken me to Cambridge foundation school, got me admitted there,and left me with a beautiful young teacher in the classroom. At that time she was teaching about fruit and animals with their images displayed on the charts placed on the easel. As my parents were about to leave I requested them
that I would like to accompany them till the verandah to see them off to which they agreed and so I went holding my mother's finger till there. When they were about to leave from there I changed my mind and refused to go back to the class. My Father then picked me up handed me over to the teacher against my wishes while I cried with full throttle while they left the school. I cried for hours together till my lungs got exhausted and tears dried up. Thereafter I had no choice but to listen to the teacher silently as others were doing.
Soon it was games period and I could see lot of toys displayed all over in the next room . Those beautiful big wooden blocks which were shining with lacquer polish had round and square pegs which were so big that I could hardly hold in my small hands. The teacher was explaining to put the square cross section pegs in the square holed sockets and the round ones into the round hole. This instructions I heard again at the Services Selection Board at Bangalore in 1987 about 19 years later when the instructor at the SSB was explaining the same concept that they are testing the candidates to see their performance to discover the required grey matter they are interested in. He said that everyone is good in their own fields but their endeavour is to ensure that a square peg fits into a square hole and the round one in the round hole ie those who are not selected
are not failures but are fit for some other profession otherwise it would be like fitting a square peg in a round hole causing discomfort both to the cadet as well as the organisation. This is generally said to the rejected candidates so that they do not go back home demoralised.
When the school was over everyone rushed to their respective military school buses and so did I as was happy to go home. I saw my mother already waiting for me in front of the gate who immediately kissed me as I got down from the bus and asked,
”How was your first day at the school?”
“It was fine, but why did you leave me ?” I asked
“Had I not left you how would you have got the experience of the school? Did you see anyone else’s parents there?”
I replied ”No” nodding my head.
Thereafter I started going to school in the bus which picked me up from my house daily in the morning and dropped me back in the afternoon.
The school in which I was studying was basically a play school as had lot of toys. I vividly remember my classroom set up which comprised of small colourful chairs and desks with lot of posters of poems, animals, fruits and vegetables fixed on the easel and some pasted on the walls. I do not remember the name of the teacher but can recall that she had a raised puffed hair cut short, wore a light blue beautiful sari, and was young and pleasing. She was teaching us words of english language with the help of a fruit chart. One by one she discus
sed with each one of us about the fruit we liked and then asked us to write its spelling while looking at the chart in which the spellings were written below the photograph of the fruit.. Some liked banana while the others liked Guava and so on. She came to me while I was still thinking which fruit to select? She leaned over to my desk and with her right hand placed on my back and the left pointing to the fruit chart asked me,
”Which fruit do you like?”
I first looked at her pretty face and then at the chart and pointed at the pineapple which I found it interesting as I had never seen it before.
The teacher looked at the chart carefully and then in my notebook, where I was to write its spelling and said,
“Why don’t you write Apple instead of Pineapple as it will be a shorter and an easier word to write and remember”
I wrote apple against my wish as per her advice like an obedient boy but was satisfied only the day I wrote pineapple.It was like I had won a war with myself as it instilled confidence in me of taking the solo task.
One day the teacher told us that we would be going out for a picnic on Wednesday and everyone will get his tiffin with double the quantity since it would be late that day and she wrote the same instructions on our diaries for the parents to note. I was excited and so was everyone. On the picnic day we did not carry any books but only a small bag full of eatables like cakes, biscuits, sandwiches, butter etc. We reached our school and from there everyone in a single line boarded the big bus in which we all accommodated. It took us to a beautiful place with garden, waterfalls, grassland, flowers and big statues of various animals, I cannot recall the name of the place but it was designed specifically keeping the interests of the children. As we got down from the bus we played on the beautiful grass like that of a golf green. Our teacher played so many games placing a handkerchief kept in the centre of a circle which was guarded by one of us turn wise. The handkerchief was attempted to be picked up by other person who would quickly take it and was chased by the person guarding it till such time the one who picked it reached the circle. We also played “Ringa Ringa Roses” and people watched us as if some film shooting was in progress.
We soon crossed a small bridge over a nallah with little water flowing in it. As we were crossing it one by one in a queue one of us rolled down into it like a log and stopped with a thud at the base but was luckily unhurt. He started to cry lying on his back while we all gazed at him.from the bridge I still remember how he was turning on both the sides left and right but was unable to get up. Since the water was very less it flowed past his sides. One of our teacher immediately went inside the nallah and picked him up. He was then given medical aid and kept in a towel inside the bus with all his clothes removed to dry up. We all were giggling saying shame! shame ! when our teacher asked us to keep quiet by fingers on our mouth. We then turned serious and crossed the bridge silently keeping fingers on our mouth. Later when his clothes dried he also joined and was given special care thereafter, which we envied.
We all had our lunch sitting at various places on the grass, swing, small trees and under the shade of trees. Then started the swing session which we enjoyed to the fullest. There was a huge merry go round, the ferris wheel and the long rope swing. Some were busy catching each other got tired soon after sometime. It was relaxing time now so the teachers switched over to other sitting games kept us busy. The song session was in action in which everyone would come in the centre of the circle and would recite a poetry and then go back to his place. I had my cake and biscuits from my tiffin along with the milk given centrally by the teacher from canter in red good quality plastic glasses. I noticed a peculiar style of holding the tiffin by some of my friends. They would hold the tiffin box with the lid at right angle to it making the food invisible to others. Was it a part of good manners or a style I pondered.
It was then time to go back We all lined up near the bus.. While returning everyone was exhausted, contended and satisfied with high morale. On our way back to school we kept thumping the bus in rhythm taking out our hands from the window singing our school song. On reaching the school we boarded another bus to reach home as the picnic was over so was the day at the school.
At home I had a very close companion friend of mine with whom I used to spend all my day. Her name was Amba .She had small bob cut hair, not very fair and most of the time in her frock. She had her brother, Ravi who was older to me hence I and Amba were closer companions being of the same age group. They were our neighbours. Our house was in a hutted type of accommodation as in those days many officers with families stayed in that barrack type of accommodation which had many rooms in series. It had enough space in front for us to play and also a lot of space at the rear which was mostly used for drying of clothes. There were two more families who had children much older to us in age. I and Amba used to play all day exploring all the area around the house. We played all the games from ‘I spy’ (we called it ‘Ice Bice’ then) to Ludo, Catching the Thief, Tippi Tippi Tap, Corners, High and Low, Cards and what not. When it used to get late we would sit on the bed and try making various things with yellow plastic mechano set of mine having using the big nuts and bolts which I could not find it now when I searched the same for my son in the market. I remember the sunday routine when my mother gave us eatables with milk after washing my long hair and I and Amba would sit inside the mosquito net to play Ludo, Carrom At times Ravi would join us and would sneak out of the mosquito net soon leaving the game in between when his friends would arrive .
One day we both were playing outside in our lawn and we noticed a cat leaping over the fence so we followed her and came out of our garden .The cat meanwhile disappeared into the bushes. While we both were discussing about the opening from where she had entered we saw a gap in the bushes which was wide enough for a small animal to enter. As we approached the open space I saw some white coloured balls of about 2 cm diameter, which were shining and lying in plenty . Amba picked one of it and put it in her mouth and found it tasty to gulp.
“Its tasty”, she said and gulped one more.
Seeing her I also put one in my mouth and gulped it down my throat inspite of it being sour.We both had about 6 to 7 of them. I kept two of them in my pocket for consuming it later on. We carried out playing and soon when my mother called me for lunch I went saying bye to Amba for meeting after lunch. As I reached my room my mother asked me,
” What are you eating?”
I narrated that we had found some toffees which I ate. When she asked me to show what kind of a toffee it was I took out two of them from my pocket and showed it to her.
“Oh my God! Did you eat them?”she asked in a terrified voice.
“What’s wrong in it ?”I asked
“They are naphthalene balls and who else has had that?” she asked with a worried face.
“Amba” I replied.
She immediately ran towards the phone and narrated the same to my father who was in the office at that time and then she ran to Amba’s house and narrated the incident to her mother. Soon she was also in tears and petrified.
Amba and I were wondering what wrong had we done that our mothers are so much worried as we just had toffees of our choice. Within next half an hour my father arrived in his jeep and so did Amba’s father. I still remember that day when we both were sitting behind the jeep facing each other discussing where we were going as we still did not know what terribly wrong had we done. Soon we both were in the Military Hospital on the adjacent beds still discussing about our games and what the doctors were going to do to us. I did not feel any pain or discomfort still and so was Amba fit and fine. We were given lot of salty water to drink which initially we liked as were thirsty but after two glasses when we were forced to drink the third glass I resisted but there were three of them to act against my wishes, the doctor, my father and one more assistant. So was the case with Amba hence not having any choice we both forcibly drank the third glass also. When the fourth glass was forced on to me I started to weep but Amba quietly gulped it with difficulty so I was given her example of to consume it as she had done like a good girl and so should I behave like a good boy and not to cry. I could not do so. Later I found that I was lying on the bed wit a pillow under my head and a plastic tube in my nostril. They were doing the same with Amba and she had also started to cry loudly now. We both faced each other looking face to face and understood that they extracting poison from our body. I vomited due to the heavy consumption of salty water after which I noticed some satisfaction on doctor’s as well as my Father’s face. We both were out of danger but the process continued. I could see the fluid moving out through that transparent soft flexible rubber tube fixed to our nostrils with moving bubbles inside it. It was giving a feeling that someone is taking out something from my stomach. Amba and I faced each other on our respective beds in anxiety and we shared the difficult time together giving moral support to each other through our eyes in tears .This carried out for about an hour. They were not letting us sleep and engaged us in talks. After about two hours when we were stable we were left and returned back home. As I reached home my mother embraced me and became emotional and so was the state of Amba’s mother. We were then told not to consume anything from outside which is just lying on the ground as can be poisonous and the next day all the maids were admonished for throwing those poisonous naphthalene balls outside the dustbin.
I do not know whether Amba would be remembering this incident or not, I also even cannot say whether she remembers me as her friend or not but I can say for sure that our mothers must not have forgotten those moments which they had shared together while we both were at the hospital with our Fathers wondering what was our state in the hospital was every moment as the fear of unknown is the most fearsome fear which one can face.
Amba must be nearing to become a granny today where ever she is on this planet and I hope this story goes under her eyes somehow so that she can recall her oldest friend and the good childhood time spent with me. I have the following to say to Amba:-
Dear Amba,
It was wonderful having a friend like you whose company I enjoyed while at Delhi more than four decades back and shared those moments of happiness and sadness together in our childhood which are once a lifetime gift of God. They still remind me of you especially when ever I see those naphthalene balls while packing my clothes during our posting after every two to three years as I am in the army now. Please take a very good care of yourself, look after your children well and keep them well protected from such dangers which we experienced together (like consuming those naphthalene balls) including your grandchildren if you have them by now.
I miss you a lot and if God desires we would meet again some day may be through facebook or somehow just like that.
Bye with lots of love
Bawa (My name is Rajinder now because I only had a pet name then)
It was about 42 years back in 1968 when we were at Palam, an Airforce station in Delhi and I was about 3 years old. I still remember my first day in school when my parents had taken me to Cambridge foundation school, got me admitted there,and left me with a beautiful young teacher in the classroom. At that time she was teaching about fruit and animals with their images displayed on the charts placed on the easel. As my parents were about to leave I requested them
that I would like to accompany them till the verandah to see them off to which they agreed and so I went holding my mother's finger till there. When they were about to leave from there I changed my mind and refused to go back to the class. My Father then picked me up handed me over to the teacher against my wishes while I cried with full throttle while they left the school. I cried for hours together till my lungs got exhausted and tears dried up. Thereafter I had no choice but to listen to the teacher silently as others were doing.Soon it was games period and I could see lot of toys displayed all over in the next room . Those beautiful big wooden blocks which were shining with lacquer polish had round and square pegs which were so big that I could hardly hold in my small hands. The teacher was explaining to put the square cross section pegs in the square holed sockets and the round ones into the round hole. This instructions I heard again at the Services Selection Board at Bangalore in 1987 about 19 years later when the instructor at the SSB was explaining the same concept that they are testing the candidates to see their performance to discover the required grey matter they are interested in. He said that everyone is good in their own fields but their endeavour is to ensure that a square peg fits into a square hole and the round one in the round hole ie those who are not selected
are not failures but are fit for some other profession otherwise it would be like fitting a square peg in a round hole causing discomfort both to the cadet as well as the organisation. This is generally said to the rejected candidates so that they do not go back home demoralised.When the school was over everyone rushed to their respective military school buses and so did I as was happy to go home. I saw my mother already waiting for me in front of the gate who immediately kissed me as I got down from the bus and asked,
”How was your first day at the school?”
“It was fine, but why did you leave me ?” I asked
“Had I not left you how would you have got the experience of the school? Did you see anyone else’s parents there?”
I replied ”No” nodding my head.
Thereafter I started going to school in the bus which picked me up from my house daily in the morning and dropped me back in the afternoon.
The school in which I was studying was basically a play school as had lot of toys. I vividly remember my classroom set up which comprised of small colourful chairs and desks with lot of posters of poems, animals, fruits and vegetables fixed on the easel and some pasted on the walls. I do not remember the name of the teacher but can recall that she had a raised puffed hair cut short, wore a light blue beautiful sari, and was young and pleasing. She was teaching us words of english language with the help of a fruit chart. One by one she discus
sed with each one of us about the fruit we liked and then asked us to write its spelling while looking at the chart in which the spellings were written below the photograph of the fruit.. Some liked banana while the others liked Guava and so on. She came to me while I was still thinking which fruit to select? She leaned over to my desk and with her right hand placed on my back and the left pointing to the fruit chart asked me,”Which fruit do you like?”
I first looked at her pretty face and then at the chart and pointed at the pineapple which I found it interesting as I had never seen it before.
The teacher looked at the chart carefully and then in my notebook, where I was to write its spelling and said,
“Why don’t you write Apple instead of Pineapple as it will be a shorter and an easier word to write and remember”
I wrote apple against my wish as per her advice like an obedient boy but was satisfied only the day I wrote pineapple.It was like I had won a war with myself as it instilled confidence in me of taking the solo task.
One day the teacher told us that we would be going out for a picnic on Wednesday and everyone will get his tiffin with double the quantity since it would be late that day and she wrote the same instructions on our diaries for the parents to note. I was excited and so was everyone. On the picnic day we did not carry any books but only a small bag full of eatables like cakes, biscuits, sandwiches, butter etc. We reached our school and from there everyone in a single line boarded the big bus in which we all accommodated. It took us to a beautiful place with garden, waterfalls, grassland, flowers and big statues of various animals, I cannot recall the name of the place but it was designed specifically keeping the interests of the children. As we got down from the bus we played on the beautiful grass like that of a golf green. Our teacher played so many games placing a handkerchief kept in the centre of a circle which was guarded by one of us turn wise. The handkerchief was attempted to be picked up by other person who would quickly take it and was chased by the person guarding it till such time the one who picked it reached the circle. We also played “Ringa Ringa Roses” and people watched us as if some film shooting was in progress.
We soon crossed a small bridge over a nallah with little water flowing in it. As we were crossing it one by one in a queue one of us rolled down into it like a log and stopped with a thud at the base but was luckily unhurt. He started to cry lying on his back while we all gazed at him.from the bridge I still remember how he was turning on both the sides left and right but was unable to get up. Since the water was very less it flowed past his sides. One of our teacher immediately went inside the nallah and picked him up. He was then given medical aid and kept in a towel inside the bus with all his clothes removed to dry up. We all were giggling saying shame! shame ! when our teacher asked us to keep quiet by fingers on our mouth. We then turned serious and crossed the bridge silently keeping fingers on our mouth. Later when his clothes dried he also joined and was given special care thereafter, which we envied.
We all had our lunch sitting at various places on the grass, swing, small trees and under the shade of trees. Then started the swing session which we enjoyed to the fullest. There was a huge merry go round, the ferris wheel and the long rope swing. Some were busy catching each other got tired soon after sometime. It was relaxing time now so the teachers switched over to other sitting games kept us busy. The song session was in action in which everyone would come in the centre of the circle and would recite a poetry and then go back to his place. I had my cake and biscuits from my tiffin along with the milk given centrally by the teacher from canter in red good quality plastic glasses. I noticed a peculiar style of holding the tiffin by some of my friends. They would hold the tiffin box with the lid at right angle to it making the food invisible to others. Was it a part of good manners or a style I pondered.
It was then time to go back We all lined up near the bus.. While returning everyone was exhausted, contended and satisfied with high morale. On our way back to school we kept thumping the bus in rhythm taking out our hands from the window singing our school song. On reaching the school we boarded another bus to reach home as the picnic was over so was the day at the school.
At home I had a very close companion friend of mine with whom I used to spend all my day. Her name was Amba .She had small bob cut hair, not very fair and most of the time in her frock. She had her brother, Ravi who was older to me hence I and Amba were closer companions being of the same age group. They were our neighbours. Our house was in a hutted type of accommodation as in those days many officers with families stayed in that barrack type of accommodation which had many rooms in series. It had enough space in front for us to play and also a lot of space at the rear which was mostly used for drying of clothes. There were two more families who had children much older to us in age. I and Amba used to play all day exploring all the area around the house. We played all the games from ‘I spy’ (we called it ‘Ice Bice’ then) to Ludo, Catching the Thief, Tippi Tippi Tap, Corners, High and Low, Cards and what not. When it used to get late we would sit on the bed and try making various things with yellow plastic mechano set of mine having using the big nuts and bolts which I could not find it now when I searched the same for my son in the market. I remember the sunday routine when my mother gave us eatables with milk after washing my long hair and I and Amba would sit inside the mosquito net to play Ludo, Carrom At times Ravi would join us and would sneak out of the mosquito net soon leaving the game in between when his friends would arrive .
One day we both were playing outside in our lawn and we noticed a cat leaping over the fence so we followed her and came out of our garden .The cat meanwhile disappeared into the bushes. While we both were discussing about the opening from where she had entered we saw a gap in the bushes which was wide enough for a small animal to enter. As we approached the open space I saw some white coloured balls of about 2 cm diameter, which were shining and lying in plenty . Amba picked one of it and put it in her mouth and found it tasty to gulp.
“Its tasty”, she said and gulped one more.
Seeing her I also put one in my mouth and gulped it down my throat inspite of it being sour.We both had about 6 to 7 of them. I kept two of them in my pocket for consuming it later on. We carried out playing and soon when my mother called me for lunch I went saying bye to Amba for meeting after lunch. As I reached my room my mother asked me,
” What are you eating?”
I narrated that we had found some toffees which I ate. When she asked me to show what kind of a toffee it was I took out two of them from my pocket and showed it to her.
“Oh my God! Did you eat them?”she asked in a terrified voice.
“What’s wrong in it ?”I asked
“They are naphthalene balls and who else has had that?” she asked with a worried face.
“Amba” I replied.
She immediately ran towards the phone and narrated the same to my father who was in the office at that time and then she ran to Amba’s house and narrated the incident to her mother. Soon she was also in tears and petrified.
Amba and I were wondering what wrong had we done that our mothers are so much worried as we just had toffees of our choice. Within next half an hour my father arrived in his jeep and so did Amba’s father. I still remember that day when we both were sitting behind the jeep facing each other discussing where we were going as we still did not know what terribly wrong had we done. Soon we both were in the Military Hospital on the adjacent beds still discussing about our games and what the doctors were going to do to us. I did not feel any pain or discomfort still and so was Amba fit and fine. We were given lot of salty water to drink which initially we liked as were thirsty but after two glasses when we were forced to drink the third glass I resisted but there were three of them to act against my wishes, the doctor, my father and one more assistant. So was the case with Amba hence not having any choice we both forcibly drank the third glass also. When the fourth glass was forced on to me I started to weep but Amba quietly gulped it with difficulty so I was given her example of to consume it as she had done like a good girl and so should I behave like a good boy and not to cry. I could not do so. Later I found that I was lying on the bed wit a pillow under my head and a plastic tube in my nostril. They were doing the same with Amba and she had also started to cry loudly now. We both faced each other looking face to face and understood that they extracting poison from our body. I vomited due to the heavy consumption of salty water after which I noticed some satisfaction on doctor’s as well as my Father’s face. We both were out of danger but the process continued. I could see the fluid moving out through that transparent soft flexible rubber tube fixed to our nostrils with moving bubbles inside it. It was giving a feeling that someone is taking out something from my stomach. Amba and I faced each other on our respective beds in anxiety and we shared the difficult time together giving moral support to each other through our eyes in tears .This carried out for about an hour. They were not letting us sleep and engaged us in talks. After about two hours when we were stable we were left and returned back home. As I reached home my mother embraced me and became emotional and so was the state of Amba’s mother. We were then told not to consume anything from outside which is just lying on the ground as can be poisonous and the next day all the maids were admonished for throwing those poisonous naphthalene balls outside the dustbin.
I do not know whether Amba would be remembering this incident or not, I also even cannot say whether she remembers me as her friend or not but I can say for sure that our mothers must not have forgotten those moments which they had shared together while we both were at the hospital with our Fathers wondering what was our state in the hospital was every moment as the fear of unknown is the most fearsome fear which one can face.
Amba must be nearing to become a granny today where ever she is on this planet and I hope this story goes under her eyes somehow so that she can recall her oldest friend and the good childhood time spent with me. I have the following to say to Amba:-
Dear Amba,
It was wonderful having a friend like you whose company I enjoyed while at Delhi more than four decades back and shared those moments of happiness and sadness together in our childhood which are once a lifetime gift of God. They still remind me of you especially when ever I see those naphthalene balls while packing my clothes during our posting after every two to three years as I am in the army now. Please take a very good care of yourself, look after your children well and keep them well protected from such dangers which we experienced together (like consuming those naphthalene balls) including your grandchildren if you have them by now.
I miss you a lot and if God desires we would meet again some day may be through facebook or somehow just like that.
Bye with lots of love
Bawa (My name is Rajinder now because I only had a pet name then)
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