Children's Day!

Children’s day

It was 4^th of September, nearly ten years ago. Two brothers, aged 10 and 8, used to go for tuitions to a place which they could walk down in ten minutes.

They had to go to school in the morning and used to return around noon. After having lunch, they used to go for tuitions.

Parents were skeptical that there would be any enthusiasm left in them after lunch to even comprehend what the tuition teacher would teach.

However, they were surprisingly impressed with the zeal that the brothers showed in going for the tuitions. They had a spring in their step, enjoyed the learning and were very happy about that part of their otherwise mundane day.

The Plan

It was the eve of teacher’s day (celebrated on 5^th September every year) and the brothers returned home as usual after tuitions.

They used to retire for the day at 10 p.m. The routine was strictly adhered to. The father of the boys was in the United States of America. When he would call, both his children would be fast asleep. He used to talk to his wife, know every detail about them and then start his day in the US. He was a complete family man.

The night of 4^th September was different. It was nearly 12 at midnight and the mother was talking to the father in the US. While talking about the children, she said they were asleep. That is when she glanced towards their room and saw the lights being on.

At first, she suspected that the brothers were up to some mischief and told the father about it. The curious father wanted to know more so he asked the mother to check. He said he will call back in a few minutes.

The Sneak Peak

Mother decided to sneak peek into their room to understand why the lights were on. Various thoughts were running through her mind. Like any other mother, she started worrying if there was someone in her children’s room.

Mustering the courage required, she slowly opened the door. The boys did not realize that the mother was in their room. They were busy counting and recounting. While it was no big deal, the look of responsibility on their faces was similar to a man in-charge of counting at the elections.

Mother watched the children slowly but steadily counting the coins and notes they had accumulated into their piggy bank. Two poor little clay pigs lay broken on the side table.

Not being able to hold herself any further and imagining a million possibilities (mostly negative) as to why this money would be required, she asked her sons what they were up to.

The innocent looking brothers contributed very well to the pin-drop silence in the room. The elder one spoke first. He told his mother that they were counting how much pocket money they had. They said they wanted to gift a saree to their tuition teacher.

The Euphoric feeling

In a split second, the apprehensions of the mother gave way to a feeling of happiness and pride she had never experienced before. The euphoric feeling rushed all over her body and she just couldn’t hold back her tears. Her trance was broken by the rather loud sound (considering the time) of the phone ringing from the other room. The ring was from the US and it announced the victory of the father’s curiosity over his self-control.

The mother ran and picked it up and started talking to the father. He asked her the reason for the heavy voice and was worried if everything is alright.

That is when she narrated the entire story. The feeling of pride engulfed the father and he asked the mother to buy whatever the kids wanted as a gift for the teacher.

Giving the gift

The next day in the afternoon, the mother and the kids went to meet the teacher and give her the gift that the boys wanted to give her. It was, indeed, a very beautiful and expensive saree. It was too expensive to become a part of her wardrobe but the teacher accepted it as she could see the purity of thought and innocence in the children.

It was one of the best moments of her life.

Conclusion 

I asked her why some children would get so attached to her. She told me that a teacher has to adapt to the ways children can learn and not the other way round.

A good teacher understand the children, their strengths and weaknesses and then aligns her/him with the children to enable them to realize their true potential.

She says that most kids appreciate this little adjustment that a teacher makes and that is what brings them so close to a teacher.

I asked her, “How can you manage this with more than 50 kids on average in a school or college.”

She replied that teaching should be your passion. If it is, you will put in the effort to understand each child and adapt to the way she/he can learn.

The teacher in the story is my mother. Over the last three decades, she has taught hundreds of students, many of whom are doing very well in various walks of life. And, most of them still do come down to say “Hi”.

She runs a playschool as well now which is called “Bluebells Playschool” in Mansarovar, Navi Mumbai.

It is such teachers who would make every child’s life a joyous experience. They literally make their childrens’ day – every day, throughout the year.

A tribute to untold greatness!

For someone who came to Mumbai more than four decades back with nothing but a little amount of money (Rs. 18 as he puts it), “head start in life” would have been the most alien term.

With no place of his own to stay, not much knowledge of the local language or the national language, and no references, network or friend circle, life would have shouted aloud – “Give up and go back home”.

It takes steely resolve and immense will power to stay on and a lot of optimism to believe that tide will turn. But it does!

He did not have the option of going back as there was a family of siblings and aging parents who needed the financial aid to stay afloat.

He stayed for a while with a cousin brother and his family in Navi Mumbai while working two shifts in Mumbai (one in Mumbai CST and other in Tardeo). The shifts were from 9 to 5 and then 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. After this, travelling back to Navi Mumbai is unfathomable even today with much better transport systems available. So, doing it pre-1975 would have been nothing short of a nightmare.

But he managed - to stay afloat and worship his work. With 100 per cent dedication, determination and discipline, he focused on the work that came his way. He quickly got a house on rent and started staying independently.

If you are true to your work and respect it, your work will definitely respect you back. His work did respect him back and how!

He went on to educate himself on managing the stores, excise and supply chain division for chemical manufacturing companies. He put in 42 years of focused glorious service on display – a display which found immense admirers in his colleagues and great respect from his seniors and owners of the companies.

In the journey, he found a great companion in his wife. Both of them worked immensely hard to take care of their children and the extended families from their respective sides to the best extent they could.

The universe is kind to those that it doesn’t give options. The tide did turn and he bought his own house in Mumbai, gave the best possible education to his children though it was a very expensive one, and worked hard with razor sharp focus to make ends meet. His constant support system is his wife – who took immense care of the family and took tuitions to earn and contribute to the family income.

As he retired yesterday, colleagues gave him a standing ovation, a note of appreciation (which bears strong testimony to his work ethics, professionalism and dependability) and lot of good wishes. A car was arranged to drop him home from work and it speaks volumes about what he meant to the company. Kudos to Dorf Ketal (his company) for this lovely gesture and for giving him the opportunities to show what he is made of!

Four decades from when he stepped into this magical city, life has now given up on throwing him more challenges. It is convinced that he can overcome them with a smile! It’s time for him to now live for himself and spend quality time with his wife and do the things that give him the most happiness. Maybe a few vacations like the one seen in the picture below (they are at a place called Chamarel in Mauritius which is famous for its seven colored earth as seen in the background)

The “he” is my father and I am very proud of him and my mother. They have shown the way on how to lead a great life and it is rather impossible to imitate. However, it is nothing short of heroic to have achieved a magnificent feat by consistently overcoming odds and moving ahead.

This is a tribute to him and the many millions (who travel with you in trains and buses in Mumbai) like him; who live a self-less life to ensure that life gives their children – a head start. Their stories, however, are more often than not, untold!