Transformation

Think of the most defiant and unwilled child and that I was upto class 3. Not at all focussed, not willing to go to school or learn any subject wholeheartedly. I was just interested in playing and having fun. My parents say it was not that I did not had brains but there was something which was not clicking within me to activate that brainwave, which could produce an interest for going school, studies and learning new subjects.My dad was serving the Indian Army then, in a very critical area in North-east. We (mom, me and my brother) used to stay with our Nana-Nani (Mom's Parent) so that Mom could work and earn to support us financially and save on rent, which was very expensive in Mumbai. I remember whenever mom used to get a chance out of her busy schedule the first thing she used to do was to sit with us and check our note-books and home-work sheets to make sure we are right on track. She used to meet our teachers regularly apart from the parent-teacher meet. Dad was the same. He used to visit us three times a year each visit for around 20-25 days. He used to accompany me to school everyday throughout his stay to ensure he spends some quality time with me in his short visits and his effort was always to create an impact within me of what studies and learning new things can make. But things were never complicated for me. For that matter I remember how I used to go and sit in the last bench inspite of dad reciting it atleast 5 times on his way to drop me school, that dear go and sit in the first bench, listen to class teacher carefully and try to ask questions when you don't understand things. I used to nod, concurring I will do it, but who cared once dad was gone.This was my attitude. Never vigilant and interested in class recitations. Mom was pretty upset but was not willing to show her anger as she hoped for the best always and thought may be with time I will develop interest in things and activities. I remember elaborately when Mom said on the way back home from annual-report day of class 3 , that how happy was Cebil's Mother to take her grade-report first in the queue because Cebil stood first in entire class and she felt bad to stand there last in the queue. I exclaimed and said but I have passed all the subjects and now I can go to class 4. There are few of my friends who have to repeat the same class as they are not good in all subjects like me. Just think how their moms must be feeling. You are standing last in the queue but their Mom are not called to stand in the queue itself.My thinking was very simple, I had 5 behind me in class. But Mom was unhappy of 30 ahead of me. I never remember she shouting or yelling at me for being amongst the last bunch of students. Her attitude was always to create a self-realization within me for good things, which could take me ahead in life and better shape my career. That day was gone but I think the message was well percolated within me for the first time that Ma disliked standing last in the queue to collect my grade-report and she felt gloomy to chat with my teacher for improvements.

Meanwhile, Ma got a new permanent job as a Teacher in Kendriya Vidyalaya, which offered a free 2 bedroom apartment to all new teacher staff who would join. What can be better than this for any working professional in Bombay. On top of that me and my brother were enrolled in class 4 and class 1 in the same school. One fine day Ma asked me as to what my plans are, if I still want her to stand last in the queue. She said very gently that in my class there is a girl who has been securing the first position for last two years and she is the daughter of the lady who cleans and sweeps the school. The lady is uneduacted but her daughter has made her feel so proud always. She continued talking to me gently and atlast she concluded mildly that she has never experienced the feeling when one feels proud and asked if it was possible for me to to make her feel proud just once.

It was the moment when the intention and impact which my parents were trying to create within me since a long time was achieved. I came 1st in the class of 35 and I was happy to see my mom being called first to take my grade-report in the queue in front of the entire school.