it is written for the reformation of education system in India, especially kerala
In captivity - A struggle for freedom
The clock struck eight in the morning, life flowing with the recurring duties. Charles opened the door wide and well, receiving the positive energy of the morning dawn as their first drop-in of the day. Holding the hot coffee mug, he managed to grab the newspaper while reclined to his sofa. He drank the hot coffee sip by sip along with steaming hot news. ‘Today is our 66th Republic Day ' he whispered. The press is celebrating it with a detailed description of Indian constitutional rights and articles venerating them in their entire splendor.
'THIS REPUBLIC DAY, LET'S BELIEVE IN INDIA’
This era belongs to the youth. Now, India a land of plush opportunities and growth, a strong work force and technological leadership, is fast cursing towards an infinite glorified existence, only if driven in the right proper direction. As per article 19 of the Indian constitution, all citizens have a right to the freedom of speech and expression, practice any profession and settle in any part of the Indian Territory'........... Charles read the newspaper loud and in full sarcasm so that I could hear and respond during my daily ‘at-work hours’ in kitchen.
' Our government offers freedom to all Indians, but I am a freedom less husband' he incoherently muttered, expecting me to hear him and give a peek through the pages of our daily news. “Not for a poor husband........ No one has such a freedom in this society ' I replied taking a sip from the hot coffee.
' Charles, Office today? Shall I pack your lunch?' I asked taking a look at him leaning back lazily.
'Madam, today we aren’t celebrating a harthal but our Republic day' he replied with mockery making me feel a lot foolish, for not remembering the day when my motherland transitioned towards becoming an independent republic.
' Sorry dear, I forgot it ' I apologized with great regret, my gaze down.
' You see, hmm well… It’s not fine for a good teacher' Charles advised me with a little scorn.
' Don't you know one thing, as far as the government is concerned “a teacher must be a mentor not a hermit with renowned knowledge”, I desperately opposed his words with the facts assembled from Teacher’s Empowerment Courses, a forced upon burden on us already busy enough to forget our family life.
' Wife, dear..... Read at least the newspaper to keep tabs on the things around you, upgrading your knowledge is never life threatening ' he ridiculed me with his authoritative worAds.
' Ahh, anyway, my husband is crammed with knowledge. That's enough for me...' I said with a grin, not stepping back.
This argument hung in the air with such heaviness that it felt like the silence was haunting us, Charles found something on his computer to refresh himself up. “but, what about my down trodden mood?” I mumbled to an inexistent entity. Rohit scratched his head in confusion, following me with his question “Why it happened so?” finding it as a good way to irritate his already annoyed mother. ‘Shall we move for a picnic? It could make the day a lighter and happier one ' I poked Charles with an intense desire to get away from the normal routine, persuading him to agree with my little Rohit’s support in his obtruded style.
Well at last with a bit more of my persuasion and nagging from our kid, we came to a wonderful park owned by the government which was located in the middle of the town. The green grass, the chirping birds, flowers bloomed to their full glory…. this place had a royal look. We enjoyed the day with private silly talks and jokes, even our son played on the see-saw which colorfully adorned was the center piece of the park with an inviting attractive ambiance.
' Mmmm, Susan ma’am ' a doubtful voice interrupted our talk.
' Yes! I am. Do I know you?’ I asked searching my memory for a familiar face or even his voice.
' Ma’am, you taught me years ago......I expect you might not have forgotten my name........... Alvin Davis ' he replied.
He might have expected a thunder of anger or lightning of confusion in my heart, but l couldn't recognize him from the past. I hid my blankness behind the words of familiarity, ' Oh yeah.. Hi Alvin, What are you doing now?'
' Just becoming an English faculty ' he shrugged.
' Nice ' I appreciated him in being a part to enrich our society with the beautiful English, that I was proud of him for selecting to be an English educator.
' Susan, come along... it’s already late ' Charles walked ahead by holding Rohit's arms. Bidding adieu to my former alumnus, I walked briskly to keep up with my husband.
……………..As the dark evening sky my mind too darkened with thoughts of Alvin after I reached the home. I tried hard to trace his picture from my past days, feeling an unease of hurt from somewhere back but couldn't recollect it.
'Is this the guy who humiliated me some years ago?' I pensively rubbed my nose with a sense of curiosity.
' Yes! Yes! Yes!’ Memories flooded back to an incident, years ago when I was young and dynamic in my teaching. I do remember that, the days when I was catapulted with philosophies on how teachers build up the next generation with their knowledge and wise words….. At that time the government had declared by law, to pass the whole set of students without considering (supporting them to attain) the norms of evaluation. As per the norms I had put forward an answer sheet to valuate. I could only find two sentences scribbled on it. It read
" Teacher you are so beautiful and fly around the campus as an empress butterfly" I desperately put the pen down, hit back with his words. As he was my student, I should raise him to attain minimum requirement for pass (this was how it had to be… Rules are rules you see…). It would destroy his life if l had never given him another chance to study it again in the same class. I was just living into the captivity of the hidden chain of government rules not being able to appraise the answer sheets with choice.
' Yes......Alvin.... he is the same guy....' I let out an unknowing shout and dived back into the happenings of the yester years.
The following day the supreme authority of our institution warned me in public for not giving 85% of the attendance to Alvin. As per the register he could only get 55%, but I should manipulate it to meet the level of pass, the big bosses ordered, otherwise I was not obeying the rules set out. I was shameful of my attempt and felt corrupted, dishonest and even a traitor to the profession I loved and adored. Moreover the student was deceived in my conscience with manipulating the score sheets and attendance register. I felt guilty of my actions. ‘Yes, I recognized Alvin Davis... Did he become a writer (those two sentences were relative enough to show his true spec of talent)?! 'I quizzed myself.
' Not only Alvin, but I have sabotaged the knowledge, career and thus the life of many....' I cried aloud not being able to hold to, crumbling to my emotions which I had held back for so long.
' Susan, are you crying? You look so drained and pale, what’s happening to you? Charles asked concerned and worried about my plight.
' He is the same person, the victim of the irrelevant educational reforms, a scrape goat? I had difficulty in bringing out my words.
' Who he? Whom are you speaking about?' he patted on my shoulder.
' Alvin Davis, the first student whom I had to give the minimum pass percentage ten years ago who wasn’t worthy of it with his knowledge nor his academic expertise ' I wept.
' Don't worry dear; it’s not your problem. The government played with the rules and intruded in your freedom of assessment and appraisal.' he comforted after I told him between my sobs about the whole system of Valuation-Revaluation-Minimum pass marks, which would enable the students to get a higher qualification but would have a bare little knowledge about what they had studied.
It was a sleepless night for me with nightmares of the day’s happenings and excruciating thoughts of restrictions and limitations suffered by poor and oppressed. As an Indian citizen we have the right to live anywhere we choose to but our lands are snatched away by the ‘Big shots of power’ in the name of development and are restrained from cutting the trees in our property because they say ‘these are valuable and rare trees so it belongs to the state’. Our rights are chained here, be it regarding the people, the society or the whole knowledge system set up to ‘empower’ our tomorrow!. One day the people will rise against this inequality with an iron fist to change this arrangement for good.
' How can a teacher do with such a situation? How must they react? Should they retract just hoping things will turn fine or be a mere spectator in the destruction of a socio-educational system of which they too play a part.' It wounded my thoughts and bled my heart.
Days passed, years flew by, seasons changed……. It was my last year in service and as a senior teacher I was allotted to attend a conference held at the District Educational Department based on the curriculum development. Fortunately I met Alvin Davis in the convention center.
“Hi ma’am, remember me?” he asked with great pleasure and zeal, his eyes shining with respect for his teacher.
“Of course Alvin, I do! What bought you here?” I inquired.
“I am representing our institution to deliver our ideas of curriculum development in the most student efficient way” he replied.
I whole heartedly thanked God from the depths if my spirits, for taking him to a higher position like this. “Which subject are you presenting?' I quizzed just to start a conversation.
“History” he shrunk back to his insecure self.
“I think you are an in English literature graduate, aren't you? I asked him boggled. As St. Peter from the bible disciple of Jesus Christ, disowned him three times before the rooster crowed twice, Alvin had rejected his subject several times. The organizers of curriculum committee persuaded him for a welcome speech but he ignored it lacking confidence. I saw Alvin seated in a corner withdrawn and fidgeting.
“Hey Alvin, are you in some worry or is anything disturbing you?” I asked.
“No Madam” he shrugged with a distasteful smile.
“Next is Mr. Alvin, representing the History department of a reputed institution. I welcome you to share your ideas on developing a student friendly prospectus ...” The announcement had to be repeated once again in the convention hall. This lead him to the stage, but he couldn't open his mouth and had done something not up to his usual self- he started to stammer and twitch shifting his weight on the legs simultaneously and nervously.
“ Alvin dear, why are you so frightened” I inquired as he descended from the stage.
“Ma’am, I have many degrees to propel me to a higher status, but not enough language to glorify me or my degrees” he replied in despair.
Returning home I sat back on my couch lost in thoughts of the day. What made Alvin lie? Couldn't my students open up before me? I had given them much freedom to but…. My thoughts shook waking me up from my trance when another sip of coffee burnt my lips. My phone rang with a familiar on the other side “Susan ma’am” his voice was trembling with regret.
“Yes Alvin, it's me. How do you do my child? What’s it?” I asked, a motherly affection flowing for him.
“Ma’am, in my teen-age I became a problem maker for you and for all. Now I know the intensity of my antics earlier. Recently I have been insulted by my students in the same way once I humiliated you with my answer paper” he regretted profusely.
“With your moral stories and lessons, you always taught never to cheat or lie but I violated it, I stepped off course. Ma’am, please accept my apology... I am not a liar… I am so so so sorry” he sounded as if he was touching her feet in an imaginary bow.
“I am a liar not to give up the burden of my degrees which the government put up for me. I have a graduation, a post-graduation, a PhD, B.Ed. and even a SET as for documents but don't know how to apply the knowledge acquired from them it in life...” he wept again and again after this long confession.
“Don't worry Alvin; it’s not your problem alone.... This problem has been persistent for quite some time now. I can understand you, my child, even I am a partial victim myself forced to push my wards like you into this problem...” I really hoped my words bought some sort of relief to him.
"Ma’am, people like myself are here to stand against the injustice flourishing in our education system, else our future generations will be puffed up illiterates with highly qualifying degrees not knowing how to apply their awareness in real life situations " he paused and then resumed.
" As today’s youth, we will raise our voice in unison to the rescue of coming generations “he proclaimed with determined pride and satisfaction.
I felt extremely joyous and pleased with the strong fortitude and will power of people like Alvin to make a change. His words rang in my ears; there are people like him, who will raise his sincere voice against injustice and inequality of our society. Let this be a new start, let this be a new beginning, let this bring the future a bright tomorrow….
An interesting story about government interference in education. We have grade inflation in the United States and a push forward program called No Children Left behind. It was the brainchild of a fine fellow (I know him personally) but not a very scientific theory and therefore has backfired with much cheating and scandal.
When I taught in universities I had many students. It is strange, but I remember only a very few and would be embarrassed if one of my former students came up to me and I did remember him or her. Fortunately, I did remember one who approached me a few years ago as one of my best students.
Your story could use some more editing to make it more readable. The Indian way of saying things is okay. There are some other typos and so forth that should be taken care of.
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