SHE just passed her second standard in flying colours and started exploring more. She was happy and scared too. It was because, now she was out of the safeguards of her caring protective mother teacher. She had so many teachers to teach different subjects now. So many activities were now there in her timetable. She was really very particular in her responses and actions. Once I asked her to get me a glass of water, she brought it very carefully in her small tender hands. Not a single drop spilled. I said, “Thanks”. She instantly replied, “Wells”. I too was surprised in the same manner as you just got. Then I realised when I said thank you, she would say welcome. But because I just said thanks she too replied wells. I learnt a lesson; growing children are like mirrors in their formative years. They would simply reflect the actions of the elders, and second elders have to adjust understanding and comprehend what they say correctly. Next day was Wednesday, I knew she will have her CCA (Co Curricular Activity) period. The first two periods are just informal interaction with the budding stars.

 

Teacher tries to identify the latent talents which the student and most of the times even the parents are unaware of. She asked if they have hobbies, or if they know how to sing or dance. To this all of them started looking at each other, one among them came and introduced smartly and began to sing. I believe it takes a lot of courage to be the first person to start any event. Thankfully she wasn’t the first one. She came home in a very excited mood. Jumped out of her van, today her body language and eyes were totally different. Maybe she has won some battles and returned. Each eye was a luminous source of 100W bulbs. Smile from end to end and confident steps, as if she has accomplished a great task. I was happy too to see this transformation of the tiny tot. She started explaining about the whole procedure, which was already known to me. I also responded with the same enthusiasm and gave a patient hearing. You know, “I sang a song, and I was selected”. Which song did you sing? I asked. I sang Pallu ke neeche chhupa ke rakha hai, utha dun to hangama ho… I said what? And laughed loudly…..and then I questioned myself. She is just a student of third standard and this song. I further asked, “Who told you to sing this song”? She replied, “You don’t know anything, this song is a very famous song and we listen to all such songs while going to our school”.

 

I then realised we don’t even know how and where our own children are getting inputs from. The peer, people, songs, videos, YouTube, OTT all these platforms are serving so many catchy stuff in the name of true stories. All this is spoiling the tender minds and souls. We could conquer COVID-19 physically but the way our mind is contaminated digitally is a real serious question. We don’t know the innovative ways in which our culture is gradually distorted and then destroyed. The future needs to be nurtured responsibly by all of us. As she grew, I counselled her about good, bad, right, wrong, presentable, non-presentable.