(school)
The science class ended and it was English next on the time-table. English was taught by Arti madam, very strict. In the last class a chapter had been completed and it was the time for a new chapter.
She entered the class and according to the habit, we stood up singing—‘Gooood Mooorrninngg…. Madam.’
She wished us plainly, “Good morning.”
“Today we are going to start a new chapter. Open up your text-books.” She ordered
The whole class opened the textbooks flipping the pages at the same time creating a musical sound. I too opened the chapter4. The title was---‘Bharat meets Ram.’ This was an excerpt from the great epic- “Ramayan”
“So students, this is a portion taken from Ramayan that was written by Valmiki.” She said.
It had been a tradition in English class that one by one Students were asked to read a paragraph aloud and teacher used to explain parallelly. If madam suspected anyone doing mischief she would ask him to stand up and read from the point where it was left. If he wouldn’t be able to locate, he used to get punished.
“Ok, Raaj. Start reading “ she said pointing towards me as I was seated on the first bench.
I started reading aloud,
“When Bharat returned Ayodhya, he came to know about Ram going to exile with Laxman and Sita for fourteen years and it happened all because of his mother Kaikeyi. Also, King Dashrath had passed away as he was unable to bear the pangs of separation from Ram……..”
After my paragraph ended, I sat down and Arti madam started explaining the paragraph. Then other student was asked to read and the chain continued.
While Viren was reading madam interrupted, “Viren, stop. Shyam! Stand up and tell me where Viren is reading.” She said in a harsh tone.
Shyam stood up. He was a bit shaken.
“Madam, I didn’t do anything.” He stammered.
“When did I say that you did something. I am just asking you to read from where Viren left reading.”
After few silent moments, he took a chance and started reading. The moment he read the first two words everyone knew that he was going to be punished.
“Why don’t you pay attention? Do you want to stay in the same class for the next year?” She scolded angrily.
“Ok, then tell me- Who were the four sons of King Dashrath? If you answer this correctly, I won’t punish you.” Madam made an offer.
The atmosphere was growing tense. Shyam began searching for the answers in the air. He was looking here and there, up and down to see if any help was coming from the neighbouring benches who were expert at lipsing but in vain. He scratched his head and neck; made gestures of ‘ooh, aah’ and then finally spoke, “I got it. I remembered madam.”
“Then tell me.” She said.
First he showed the four fingers of his right hand. Bending the index finger he said, “Ram.” Then bending the middle finger he said, “Balram” and then bending the remaining two fingers he spoke, “Krishna and Bharat.”
The whole class laughed uproariously. The history had been rewritten by Shyam, the great.
“You, the master of fools. Can’t you differentiate between Ramayan and Mahabharat?” she shouted.
Shyam replied, “Actually madam, I was not even born at that time. How can I know the difference?” Again the whole class burst into laughter.
The result was expected. Shyam was sent out of the class.
By the time the class got over, half of the chapter got completed.
“The remaining half we shall study tomorrow” madam ended the class.
(At home)
My father was busy turning the pages of his office file.
“Daddy, Today a chapter from Ramayana was taught by our English madam.” I said
“That’s very good. Which part of Ramayan did you study?" He asked.
"The part where Bharat goes to visit Ram in the forest." I replied enthusiastically.
"Now do you realize why I force you to see 'Jai Hanuman'? He asked.
I replied, "Yes." smilingly.
Those days a TV serial ‘Jai Hanuman’ by Sanjay Khan used to be telecast on Doordarshan weekly. My Dad insisted or rather forced me to see that serial, no matter how much homework was left. He believed ‘Ramayana is the most ideal epic for any person who wants to become an ideal son, ideal brother, ideal husband etc. In short he wanted to inculcate in me the qualities of an ideal son like Ram. I had never missed a single episode of it.
“We have a 2 CD set of Ramayana. You may watch it whenever you wish.” He said pointing at the shelf where CDs were kept.
"No. I don’t need to watch it now." I replied as it would be difficult to bear continuous four hours of mythological idealness.
(Next day in English class)
Arti madam arrived and after the Good Morning song she said, "Shyam, stand up. Start reading from where we had left yesterday."
Shyam stood up, this time with firm determination. Taking the text-book in his hands he said, "Madam, shall I keep standing or get out of the class?"
The class laughed uproariously.
"It would be good if you get out of the class every day before my period comes. No need to study English. Will it be Ok for you?" Her tone like that of a wild tigress.
Shyam was removed from the class again.
The reading of the left over portion began and parallel the explanation also continued.
The chapter ended after Bharat agreed with Ram that he would return to Ayodhya and rule the kingdom with all the dignity obeying all the principles of Sooryavansh.
Then the most hated part of the chapter came—The EXERCISE. It meant homework as well as an extra Activity.
Madam read aloud the activity, “Read Ramayana from other sources and then write down your own analysis highlighting any three events from the epic. Express your opinion."
" So who will do this activity?” she asked
As none responded, she said, " Ok. Then I shall select someone."
She scanned the whole class with her eyes behind her spectacles. Finally the wandering eyes stopped at the bench where I was seated and she said,”Raaj, you will do it.”
If at all I had said, ‘No’ then I would have had to hear-'Why don’t you want to do? Why are you behaving like an idiot? Why, aren’t you a bright student? You, idiotic nincompoop!’ The last word means a foolish person. So I better swallowed my tongue and agreed.
"How much time would you like to take for preparing the activity?" she asked as if she was doing an act of benevolence.
"14 years" I said and then corrected myself. "Sorry, I mean 14 days."
“Ok. Then next to next Wednesday, Raaj will present the analysis before the class.” She announced as if it was going to be a speech by The Prime Minister of India.
(After the class)
Viren came to me and said, "It seems like God never listens to you."
"Why do you say that?" I asked though I knew what he wanted to say.
"Every time when some extra activity has to be done, you get selected by the teacher. Every time you get trapped. This is the disadvantage of being a scholar or a brilliant student- You always come under the eyes of the teacher."
"Trap! This is not a trap. It is an opportunity to hone my skills." I emphasized the word 'opportunity' pretending to be happy with the activity.
"If that is the case why didn’t you raise your hand voluntarily?" He asked sarcastically.
"I thought every time I take the chance. So this time I must give others the benefit." I replied.
"Ok then, all the best. Do complete the activity with full enthusiasm."
I wish I could have kicked him.
(At home)
For the activity allotted, I had to recall the whole Ramayan that was impossible. There was only one way visible to me so I said to my father, "Daddy, I would like to see Ramayan. Please give me the CDs."
"What happened suddenly? Yesterday you were denying me." He asked.
"Actually, I realized how important it is to inculcate the qualities of Ram in me. So I would like to see it." I said though this wasn't the truth.
He gave me the CDs happily. I knew that it would be extremely difficult to watch the whole Ramayan at a stretch. So I decide to watch it part by part every day, about half an hour each day, and accordingly prepare my analysis.
I started my mission. I started watching the Ramayana CDs, everyday about 30 minutes. Wherever I found difficulty I would ask my father and he would explain in a manner as if he himself was Valmiki. Actually, I found it more interesting than I had thought. After 14 days, I got my report prepared and was ready to present it. I had scanned Ramayan and picked up the three instances from which it was worth learning. The next to next Wednesday came and came the period of English.
Arti madam entered and asked, “So Raaj, are you ready with your report?”
I must appreciate she had a very sharp memory. She could remember the activity she had allotted before 2 weeks without anyone to remind her.
“Yes madam” I said confidently
"Good. So come ahead and present it." She invited me.
I began reading the report aloud to the class: ------
RAMAYAN REVIVED
Here I present you the three instances along with the lessons which we must learn from them.
1.Kaikeyi demands her wishes from Dashrath
Once while on a war, King Dashrath got badly injured. He almost saw his death. At this time his one of the queens, Kaikeyi nursed him on the battlefield and saved his life. Being pleased with her care and service he said,”O Great Kaikeyi. Make any two wishes and I shall fulfill immediately” to which she replied, “I shall demand when I feel the need of them.”
When the time came, she demanded following wishes:
Ram should go for exile for 14 years
Bharat should be crowned as the king of Ayodhya
She demanded such rude wishes because her ears were poisoned by the words of Manthra, the maid. Because of this, Ram had to leave Ayodhya and go to forest for exile for fourteen long years and because of the grief of separation from Ram, Dashrath passed away.
Lessons to be learnt: ---- Never give yourself in control of any woman like Dasharath did. You will get trapped in your own words. Also never believe the words of any woman because they are always meant to deceive and destroy like Manthra. Never fulfill the wishes of your wife blindly as women always want to satisfy their ego. In this first instance, two women are culprits: Manthra and Kaikeyi.
As I completed the first instance, everyone in the class began laughing including Arti madam.
“Is there any mistake or shall I continue?” I asked.
She replied laughingly, “No, No mistake, please continue.” Then controlling her laughter she ordered the class, "Stop laughing and listen to him."
After everything got stabilized, I began the second instance.
2.) Shurpnaka episode
One morning during their exile period, Ram and Laxman were meditating outside their cottage. Shurpnaka, the sister of Ravan, happened to pass by. She was amazed to see Ram meditating. As she was a woman, she had a feminine body and was proud of it. She thought of seducing Ram by various moves. Ram, being a staunch practitioner of meditation did not get distracted. When Shurpnaka tried to cross the limits by insulting Sita, Laxman wrathfully cut her nose with his axe. Then she ran away crying to her brother, Ravan.
Lessons to be learnt: ---- A man should always be fully concentrated on his work. Women always try to break man’s concentration by showing off their beauty. But one should never get distracted by a woman’s beauty. Also when a woman crosses the limits, she should be punished just as Laxman did so that she never repeats the mistake. It was because Shurpnaka complained this to Ravan that he thought of taking revenge from Ram by kidnapping Sita. This led to the enmity between Ram and Ravan. Thus one should never trust a woman’s words.
Again when I completed second instance there was a roar of laughter. I was baffled.
"Is there a problem? Am I a joker or something? This is not at all a comedy show. Why are you all laughing?” I asked with my eyes widespread.
“Class, keep quiet.”Madam ordered and then asked me to continue. I began the third instance.
3.)Sita kidnapped
Ram, Laxman, Sita were busy doing their work in the courtyard of their cottage. Sita got distracted by some movement behind the bush.
She was surprised to see a golden deer moving across and immediately she said to Ram,” O Swami, That deer is so beautiful. Please bring that deer for me. Its so charming.”
Ram at first denied but Sita would not listen.
She said, "Swami, Never I have demanded anything from you. Please bring me that deer. I want it." At last he agreed to go for the deer and asked Laxman not to leave Sita alone. When Ram did not return for a while Sita became anxious.
She said to Laxman, "Please go in search of your brother. I am feeling nervous."
"No bhabhi, I won’t go. Ram bhaiya has ordered me not to leave you alone." Laxman disagreed.
"Laxman! I think you dont love your brother. You wish your brother should die." Sita said.
" Oh bhabhi! I can’t even think of such a sinful act." Laxman said
Laxman agreed but only if she promised not to cross the Laxman Rekha. After Laxman left, Ravan, in disguise of a saint, came to the cottage. Sita wholeheartedly came out of the cottage to give the alms. Ravan asked her to cross the rekha if she really wished to give the alms. Sita disobeyed Laxman’s commands and crossed the line. She got kidnapped and Ravan took her to Lanka. From this point Ram couldnt rest for a while and the troubles for Ram began. Ultimately the war took place and and lots of destruction took place.
Lessons to be learnt: ---- This part of Ramayan gives the maximum number of lessons.
Women are very stubborn and obstinate. Once they wish for something they desire to get it fulfilled anyhow; like Sita didn’t listen to Ram and just wanted to have the deer. One should never accomplish any desire of a woman They never obey any commands. They always do the things they have been denied to do; like Sita didn’t obey the request of Laxman to not cross the line. Had Sita just obeyed Laxman and not crossed the Rekha the entire complexity of Ramayana would not have begun. Ram would not have to face so many troubles. Also the war would not have taken place So many deaths and so much of destruction could have been avoided. Ultimately Sita was the cause of the war of Ramayan and the destruction that it led to.
The final summary is: --------
Ram had to bear all the agony just because of the women around him. Kaikeyi, Manthra, Shurpnaka and Sita--- all played a role in messing up Ram’s life. Ram's biggest mistake was to marry Sita. It is better not to marry. Sita was the cause of the war of Ramayana. Wives are meant to give rise to wars. So prevent yourself from getting married.
Thats all."
Everybody was clapping as well as laughing. I thought they were really happy with my report.
"Madam, How was the report?" I asked madam.
"Good, Raaj. You really have a different mind than others. Your point of view of Ramayan is really an eye-opening one." She appreciated.
I closed my notebook with a thud and walked to my bench with my chest 2 inches wider than before.
(After the school)
Viren came to me and with his mouth wide open said, "Raaj, Did you write the whole report yourself?"
"Of course, the entire report was mine." I replied with a sense of pride.
"What a funny report! Did you intentionally make a fool of yourself?" He asked.
I was confused. "What do you mean by 'foolish'? Didn’t you see the whole class laughing and clapping after my report ended?" I said.
"Oh! That was not appreciation. They were laughing at your innocence or foolishness, whatever it may be?"
"What rubbish!"
"This is not rubbish. What you spoke in the class was rubbish." He laughed loudly.
I ended the argument by saying, "Leave it." 'He might be jealous of the appreciation that I received in class.'-I thought.
