ELEGY –TO  MY STUDENT

I was asked to handle as a stop gap for the Geography teacher who was away on leave . It was then that I  met this rather bright student full of impetuosity and a face as clear and  full of  the milk of human kindness.

                                        On the whole for a week I had just two classes so was particular that not a minute should be wasted . I had told them from the outset this particular expectation of mine  was because  un like English classes which had seven hours in a week Geography had just two.        

                     My first entry in to this class, I must tell you was absolutely different . I was greeted by   this  boy Kapil Vyas with   a reverence that was hither to conspicuously  absent in others . An interesting boy I must  say cause his fair smart face not just reflected an outside look but also had mirrored  equally  by a   well  and  true  goodness matching within . His pleasant mannerism definitely attracted not only his class mates but also was able to win all for even the surliest  tempered couldnot help breaking  in to smiles.

                          You might think what made this boy of seventh grade to stand out among the crowd? . The first and foremost was his stance as he entered the class .He would lock his hands  in reverence to be excused and this strangely reminded me of the Gurukula system of education  where in the disciples sit obediently at the feet of the guru’s for their lessons like   the one in Shanthiniketan  kind .

                                       What impressed me was his thoughtfulness beyond his age .  Teachers have our own share of woes you’d admit and as I had said  I had  not much time  with  this class made me to lose patience when I find that class  runs short of chalk pieces or the duster not being  proper .

                     I  remember the first time I asked for a chalk the class leader had  to run down to the ground floor to pick up chalk pieces from the office room which would take a clear  five minutes . I had the tendency to imbibe in these children the importance of time . so I would say ‘’your class has wasted three hundred seconds of my period ‘’.

                       This was made note of , by Kapil and every time I’d turn to the class leader to question then on there would he jump up like jack in the box handing over from his pockets chalk pieces kept ready for me . when asked he’d say he bought it in a shop or had picked up a few from the office room as he  came up from the morning assembly. Mind you he did n’t do it just for me but for the other teachers too especially for maths and science .

                                 His  casual remark that  ‘’three hundred seconds  not  being lost’’ punning on my words  would immediately make me to mellow down in to a smile and the class leader would feel relieved that she had escaped the brunt of the punishment.

                             Yet another marked characteristic feature in him was when  he finds the teacher slightly tired he would offer water from his water bottle . I usually and  politely refuse since no un due preferences be shown to students .However I couldn’t help   calling  him   after class    to   appreciate his gesture.  

                       He  would    volunteer    to   help   teachers   with carrying of books,  wish them where ever and when ever he sees them, etc and I must say I’ve not noticed him sloppy or tired or lazy   but would always carry about himself with a liveliness that would remain with him even at the end of the day .

                              He finished schooling in a different school and due to his family situation went to work in an electrical shop as early as sixteen years . The heart rending news I heard has shaken me to the core was during  the rainy season  he had met with an accident due to short circuit in the electrical shop and  had  died !

                       I broke down at the cruelty of fate , and a question kept reverberating in my mind as to why God should draw to himself such a dynamic boy as Kapil ???

Surely  such goodness  aren’t  seen these days you see?   I was numbed totally bereft of any logical answer to the question as to  why couldn’t this boy been   given a longer lease of life time.                                           

Tragically true we are here on lease and our time is short why don’t we  live a life selflessly radiating amity and well being to co human beings . Kapil  in his short span of life I think had achieved in his own small way so too why not us ? Let us do something that would stamp our identity on this planet!