Assembly Of Stars On The Wings Of A Dove

Madam Manu Dash was an honest, efficient and capable IAS presently posted as the Education Secretary. Madam’s tour program to the Koraput District, rich with mountain and rivers, cut the unawareness of the District collector, C.I. and D.I. of Schools.

Madam left for a Primary School, located in the dense forest region, soon after her arrival in the District Headquarters. She came to Kosamguda upgraded the primary school, which sits on river Bhaskel around lush green, Sal forest.

The school had only two teachers for five classes. Madam asked the Headmaster, Sri Hemant Ghoshal, “How many days in a month you (tume) come to this school?”

Madam had a prior intimation that almost no teachers turned up in the schools. They remained on French leave bribing the higher authorities.

“I did not get you (tumaku)!” the Headmaster replied.

Madam could not believe she was being addressed as 'tumaku', being the highest official in the hierarchy. Madam was infuriated and in a raised tone she said, “Do you address your higher officers as 'tume'? How dare you use 'tume' for me?

Mr. Ghoshal said, "Madam! You addressed me as tume, first. I just paid you back in the same coin. In case a higher officer disrespects a lower officer, is it improper on the part of the subordinate official to talk in the same tune?

"Are you imparting such lessons to your pupil? I can place you under suspension for such arrogance," Madam flew into a rage.

"First tell me if Honourable Supreme Court or our constitution or any other court decision mandates that a superior officer can call a subordinate in a laid down manner? No one is superior. We are all co-workers. Our motto is to build the country as well as make the education department successful. It does not matter whether one is an IAS officer or a mere Guruji."

"Secondly, coming to your next threat of putting me under suspension. Madam! You can throw away a person out of a rail bogey in a chilly night. But, you can’t pour cold water on his confidence, his dedication, self-esteem and inner fighting spirit. That fire was enough to disintegrate an empire.  On the other hand, that determination and confidence are enough to build another kingdom overnight. Please don’t threaten me. I am not simply an employee. I am imparting education. You may deprive me of the service by an order of suspension, but can’t prevent me from teaching."

"Thirdly, you might not know but I don’t remain on leave unless I am sick or on some other important assignment. Otherwise, I come regularly to school to run the errands. I am insulted by your wild allegation against me."

The other higher officers present, whispered in a low tone, “The audacity of a mere teacher today has dared to provoke the cobra. No escaping its venom now!”

Some others were heard saying, “Madam had not had her breakfast in the morning. The poor teacher will be the stuff today.”

Madam grabbed the attendance register from the Headmaster and glanced through it and asked, “What? Only three students are absent out of a hundred and fifty?”

"Yes, Madam!" came a soft reply from Mr. Ghoshal.

"Don’t try to over smart me by telling lies. I know it is a ruse to gobble up the ration for the mid-day meal."

"Madam! You are again making baseless allegations without verifying the fact. This does not befit you and was not expected from a superior officer like you."

"Madam! You can examine the veracity by visiting the classes yourself. The three absentees are Laxman Bhatra of Class-V, Harihar Fagi of Class – III, and Hanu Mirigan of Class – II," Mr. Ghoshal said in a  raised voice.

"Well! You remember the names of the three absentees out of total one hundred and fifty?" Her tone had derision and disbelief.

"It may appear surprising to you Madam, but in such adverse surroundings of dense forest, hill and dales, away from human civilization, in an Adivasi dominated population, it is not an easy task to gather the students from amongst children engaged in earth digging, collecting Sal leaves and fishing, or even motivating their parents to send their wards to the school. I have spent countless days and nights by visiting their huts, convincing them about the benefit of education. This resulted in their coming to school. It is not a question of derision and it is the result of my penance. This is not the story of a Konark being completed over a night. This temple is built of untold dedication, labor and a lot of sacrifices. That is why I remember the names of each of my student, and I even have enough knowledge of their family backgrounds as well. My relation with them is not confined only to that of a teacher and student but goes much beyond that."

Perhaps Madam could not digest the words of the outspoken teacher and to further test the integrity of the teacher entered Class – V and asked, “Children! Tell me who was Nelson Mandela?”

The collector, Circle Inspector and other officials of the entourage were taken aback at such a question put forth by Madam.

“What a question!”

They were sure that no one would be able to answer it. The question was beyond the level of expected knowledge of the student of the tribal area.

"Madam will get an excuse to suspend the teacher."

But to their utter surprise, emaciated malnourished students stood up and spoke out in a loud voice, “Madam! You are wrong. Mandela is still alive He is not dead. He was the former president of South Africa, fighting against apartheid. He was in jail for a long time and was inspired by the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi of our country."

It was difficult to gauge the reaction of Madam, but the other officials were dumbfounded. Madam visited other classes as well and got the satisfactory answers to all her questions. Then she came out and strolled around the garden and surroundings of the school. Perhaps she was hell-bent on finding any excuse to suspend the teacher. Butt he school presented the perfect picture and everything was well laid.

"What is your qualification? Simply a graduate or C.T.?"

"Madam! I have done M.Ed, M.A. in Odia literature and I'm a Ph.D. in Economics along with MBA from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)."

"Is all that required for a primary school teacher?"

"Not exactly, Madam!" came the reply from Mr. Ghoshal, "The degrees of a University are the only qualifying criteria for entry into the service, but the real prerequisites are honesty, dedication to duty, power of judgment, empathy and self-esteem. You came here only today, showed your umbrage and you will leave the school after a while. Other officers have come and gone earlier after their routine work, but nobody has ever tried to know or understand the problems of a teacher in such a place. How does he live here? What facilities does he get? How his children are educated? Is his pay sufficient to meet their needs? How his children get higher education? If he fails to build the future of his own children, how he will be able to lay foundations of hundreds of others? Can he be motivated if he is not provided with basic facilities? He will obviously try to cheat and the education system will collapse and it is on course to such an eventuality."

"Madam! I will ask you a question. Nobody understands the woe of a cow, neither the cowman nor the cowherd boy. I feel, you just wield the stick in hand without doing anything more and that is why the country is in such a sorry state. What an administration needs is not the only qualification, or degree of a University, but empathy, judgment, understanding, and decision-making.

Collector whispered into the ears of the C.I, “See the teacher is calling Madam a cowherd boy. I will not spare this rascal.”

"Sir!" retorted the C.I., “You need not be worried. I will take care of this insane. Madam is seething with anger. She will gobble up this teacher. A mere primary school teacher, but what audacity!”

Madam announced, “I have decided to stay here tonight in the Ashram school of Mr. Ghoshal. Sir, Can I stay here?”

Madam! You are welcome. This will be a day of pride for all of us.

The other officials while taking leave were talking in hushed tones, “Madam decided to stay? This is simply unbelievable.”

(Translated from Hemant Ghoshal’s short story 'Kapota Denare Taranka Hata', published in The Samaja of 11th August 2013)