Today the
lesson went off rather well. Yesterday’s Test became null and void due to the
Mock Drill on Earthquake. So at the start of the class, I informed them about
my intention of conducting it next week. They will have to answer two short
questions but the only difference next time will be instead of chapter-4, the
questions may be set from any of the chapters done so far.
After the
prepared speech delivered by Rinchen Dorji, I started off with a summary of
Chapter-4 once more. I asked them then to turn to Chapter-5 and spent some time
discussing the topic of the chapter based on the title: Dawa Runs Away. They
were mainly talking about his fear of turning out to be an underdog and being
ill-treated by the other dogs. I told them they were right but there may be
other reasons why Dawa decided to run away. Who knows most probably, he was
suffering from a dangerous disease or something. After all, he is no coward.
Later, when
Dawa sought out the Memorial Chorten for solace, as he was suffering from the
deadly disease of mange and when he recollected words of the utility of
distancing oneself from the crowds at times, I put in my feeling that it is
better to distance ourselves from our relatives and friends at times in order to take
stock of things.
Sitting
under the bush in the compound of the Chorten, as Dawa observed the
interactions of the humans and the dogs, he noticed people being phobic of some
of the dogs straying on their way, I shared with them my own experience and the resultant
phobia of dogs. The year was 2003. I was working at Jakar Higher Secondary
School in Bumthang. As I was waiting for the Captain (they were not called
Councillors then) to lock up the collapsible gate of the Administrative
Building after the Evening Study, suddenly the lights went off, covering the
whole area under a blanket of darkness. Luckily, I was staying in the teachers’
quarters, some 1 minute's distance from the Administrative Block. The captain
had vanished into thin air by then as I thought it best to hurry up to my
place. Two huge black dogs emerged right then in front of me from nowhere. In
Bumthang you have this gigantic dogs that look like the bear. I was scared to the pit
of my stomach at the very sight of the monsters. I tried to look for a stick or
something to save myself. But when fear takes a steady grip on you, your mind does
not work sanely any more. I lost my balance up the stiff, narrow path in the
half-walk-half-run state and fell face down. I was expecting the Devil disguised
as the dogs to tear me apart. Surprisingly, the last of them I saw was both the
dogs in the air with their front feet stretched and their mouths snarling and
foaming. I do not know why I was spared by them that sinister evening. I only
fractured my left hand! But the phobia was their greatest parting gift to me.
So, I told the class, it is just natural for many to fear dogs and to try to
avoid them at any cost.
When Dawa
was saddened by the negative attitude of humans, encouraging their kids to be
cruel to animals by kicking the dog out of their way, I did not let go of the
chance to impart some values to them as well. One should never be cruel to the other
animals in this world. I shared with them the essay we are doing in Class-XI
these days. It is about a tribe called the Touaregs living in the Sahara desert.
This once upon a time prosperous tribe, who had led a picture perfect life
earlier, are starving sans food, sans clothes, sans everything. The only thing
they are left with now is their civility. Their civility, kindness and
compassion is what makes them unique under the trying circumstances. Despite their
poverty and hunger, they make dinner for the author with the meat they have
been saving for the harder times! This is what we must be like – gentle, kind,
polite and helpful to others even under the most horrid circumstances.
As we got
closer to finding out the reason for Dawa getting afflicted with mange – his encounter
with ‘the fluffy dog with the fluffiest tail’, I reminded them to be careful
while making friends. Someone may smell divine and desirable as a result of
wearing a perfume, but from inside s/he may be thoroughly rotten. So, they,
especially the girls, need to be very cautious of the charmers, snuggling upto
them for the kill.
Finally,
when Dawa realized that he had spent the whole day in the chorten, he noticed
the elderly couple sitting near him. He also heard them talking about Faith and
Miracles. I told them in this context, never to lose faith in God and in their
own selves. Faith and miracles, I further added, can work out miracles. Then,
all on a sudden, something clicked somewhere in my mind. We hear our Principal
Sir, Mr. Namgay Wangchuk, talking about the importance of the Morning Assembly
and the Prayer everyday to our students time and again. So here was a chance to tell them to pray more
seriously during the prayer time. Even if they find a friend in the next line,
chatting animatedly with another friend unseen by the teachers, they should not
let themselves be influenced by others and pray with their whole heart. This
prayer will stand them in good stead and heal all kinds of wounds – physical,
mental and intellectual in due course of time.
I looked at my watch and realized there was
still time to do one more paragraph at the cost of not being able to summarize
the pages studied together at the end. I asked Sonam Zangmo to continue. The main points
could be summarized in the next class. I tried my best to talk about the
important points after their readings and explanations. As they seemed to be
enjoying the story, why not make hay while the sun shines? The lesson was, to be honest
about it, exhausting but enjoyable and that is what counts in the final
analysis.Contd on pg 2/-
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