The Jester Who Reigned Supreme

There are several reasons for which I consider Std. VIII-A as the base upon which the pillars of my present life rests. It was the cornerstone of a transition from timid,mindless obedience to increased involvement in class activities, and also, to an extent, the bursting of my ego bubble. I have no qualms in admitting that prior to 8th, i was...in lenient terms, a "a dull,lonely,arrogant snob"....Some may wish to use harsher(and more demeaning) words, but I feel these are enough to convey the essential! Though that does not imply that I'm an angel now, at the very least, I feel a lot better about myself personally!

Something that I will cherish forever is the FREEDOM that I felt in 8-A. I have always stated that, of all my teachers, SHIRLEY Ma'am will always remain dearest to my heart. She is the first, and perhaps the only teacher, who I've felt connected to on such a personal level! Her down-to-earth, understanding and amiable nature have earned her my allegiance right from my very first Hindi class to my final one in 10th and beyond.........May God Bless Her!

But 8-A brought me another period in our daily schedules which gave me almost as much joy as every Hindi class. Maths had always been among my favourite subjects, but my love for the subject had always remained a cut above my liking for my subject teacher(s), until 8th Std. ANANTHA KUMAR SIR....or AKS(read as अक्स , not as initials) for short, is definitely among the most dynamic personalities in the teaching profession. His rating strictly as a teacher would probably have been 7 or 7.5 upon 10 at most, but as an educator, i'd struggle to award him any less than 9. The reason I distinguish the two is because of his ability to establish connections with his students on a personal level, which forms an integral part of the curriculum of holistic education. His openness and comical nature set his students at ease, which, over my 14 years of schooling, I have found to be an accomplishment which few educators can boast of regardless of their towering CVs! The freedom we enjoyed in his classes was unique! Students, when given freedom, tend to misuse it through internal discussions, rather than improving student-teacher interaction! Yet, that barrier was hardly ever a factor in AKS' classes......wise-cracks and doubts were shared with equal willingness!

He was witty, humorous, had strange mannerisms (like rubbing his hairy neck, which seemed to itch quite often when Praveen or George interrupted class), and was....all in all, a goofball, but an endearing one at that. His dialogues were perhaps not incredibly witty, but his delivery was OUTSTANDING. Even his most repetitive dialogues never failed to draw peels of giggling laughter, thanks to his "unique" English accent and beaver-like grin!....His outwardly friendly nature bore an impact upon us all. Our self-consciousness ebbed away, replaced by the rare ability of laughing at one's own mistakes. It lightened the atmosphere and made learning in class, believe it or not, enjoyable. I believe that as a person, I benefited tremendously from his short tenure at our school, for I learnt to loosen up, break away from the moulds which sought to shape my life like all others, to think out-of-the-box, and to exploit my freedom to be MYSELF with no fear of societal pressures. It was also the first time that punishments appeared enjoyable rather than grim or degrading! In that regard, my peers were far ahead of me, but I felt glad to have been given a start! He was a man who showed little hesitation in letting out his inner child and interacting with students on their own terms, a quality that is truly to be envied!

TRADEMARK DIALOGUES :

* "GEORGE MATHEW (pronounced as JORJ MAATHUU) , YOU GO TO CAGE!!"
(CAGE implying the gap between the door and the blackboard, usually
reserved only for the dust-bin)
* "WHAT MAN??" (the standard reply to anything half-amusing or bemusing)
* "WHAT MAN, LIVING IN INDIA AND DREAMING OF PAKISTAN??"
(directed at day-dreamers)

For these, and a multitude of other reasons, I, and undoubtedly all my fellow classmates from the legendary 8-A, and the other privileged few who studied under him, shall bear fond memories of AKS for years to come. Though he may have appeared to be the court jester, his subjects accorded him respect due to none less than a king !

The Legacy of Benazir Bhutto

The timing of my post may be far from ideal, but I still feel there is a message which needs to be communicated through it! I recently read my friend Prathik's account of the disheartening end brought to this path-breaking politician's life, yet I can't help but disagree in some respects. Benazir Bhutto, heir of the legacy of the Bhutto clan, may have left a mark unparalleled in significance in world history by becoming the first woman to lead a Muslim nation, but there is little I see in her accomplishments which justifies her treatment as little less than a local deity!

Benazir, during her tenure in power, did little to justify the title of "saviour" that was thrust upon her since her return. She and Rajiv Gandhi may have shared an understanding or even a camaraderie of sorts hitherto unseen between the leaders of our two great nations, yet her past is clouded by misdealings and failed policies. The fundamentalist forces she returned to defeat in 2007 are the very same hardcore fanatic groups which she and countless other Pakistani leaders from the past had sought to control and use to their advantage, not only to seek a violent settlement to the never-ending Kashmir dispute with India, but also to retain power at the centre. Decade after decade, the fundamentalist movement gained strength from its political backers, and though she may never have admitted her silent support, Ms. Bhutto certainly did very little to suppress the movement fast gaining roots in her homeland. Corruption charges have been levelled against Ms. Bhutto during her tenure in power, but as in all political cases, there is hardly any means of distinguishing between true cases and charges trumped up by the ruling government.

Gen. Musharraf, by seizing power, only emulated his predecessors' policies, albeit to a much greater degree, with far-reaching consequences for the integrity of the nation. The failure of the army to quell the growing separatist movements in Baluchistan threatens the integrity of the nation, and provides a new haven for the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. A large section of Moderates in the nation have decreed the army's heavy-handed approach in the troubled areas as a sign of Musharraf waging war against his own people.

Here, Ms. Bhutto's courage cannot be understated. Regardless of her past misdealings, she retained the courage to return to a land which had been badly scarred by tussles between the government and extremists, with the people caught in the middle! She realized that her end would come sooner rather than later, yet as it seems, her mind stayed resolute and unwavering. Would she have succeeded in her supposed motive, had she survived that attack? Perhaps, for she would certainly have been named Prime Minister with little opposition by the "democratic coalition". Yet, seeing how her husband, Asif Zardari, has been toying with the Prime Ministership saga for a while now, creating rifts within the party at a time when the democratic, secular voices in the nation need to stand in unity, inspires little faith that Begum Sahiba would have been much different. Call me a skeptic/pessimist, yet the democracy that has been restored to that nation hardly seems complete or even genuine! The need for Musharraf's ouster is being quelled by calls for "stability", something the people of Pakistan have not known under democratic governments and dictatorships alike. Democracy will never be attained unless the people's representatives respect their demands and seek the impeachment that has been long overdue. Looking firmly forward is no excuse for repeating the mistakes of the past !

Yet, if anything, Ms. Bhutto's unfortunate end has only galvanized her people's resolve to demand a government by, for and of the people. It has taught them that neither dictators nor fundamentalists can provide to them the peace they have desired for so long........and so, to an extent, she has succeeded. I would think twice before awarding titles such as "icon", "legend" or "hero" upon her, but I must appreciate what she did accomplish.......at a time when her country needed her the most, she listened to her conscience, sought to serve her people, and rewrite the wrongs of her past. In death, she served her people to a far greater degree than during her tragically short life. It has always been apparent to me that facing bullets is less mortifying than the prospect of reflecting upon your past and resolving to rewrite the legacy you leave behind......for it requires not only courage, but also character and humility! For this, she deserves my full respect, not as a deity, but as an example of how redemption is never too far, if one's resolve remains steadfast! This, to me, will remain her true enduring legacy!