Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Pen was mightier than sword ! contd.

I am coming back to this series after some time. I had been reminiscing my school days in Jamui Higher secondary school (JHSS). School was synonymous with the teachers. The teachers made the school and us what we are today. The other day I was trying to recollect names of my teachers and  some of them I still remember, Sri Anirudh Lal Das, Sri Kamata babu, Vikas Ji, Naresh Babu, Chandrika babu, Kedar babu and Kesto Babu. I had undergone tuition under Anirudh babu, Vikas Babu and Kesto babu at one time or other. The other day I could also recollect name of large auditorium the school had.  It was called Ravaneshwar Hall. Most of cultural programs in Jamui was organized here. Till first Cinema Hall was opened this was place of entertainment in Jamui. Due to my admission to High School just after my 3rd class in basic school, at a tender age of 8 I was in the sixth standard, the youngest in my class. Two of my sisters also used to study in the same school at that time. One was my elder Sister (Late) Kalpana Sinha aka Anju di and other was (Late) Madhubala Sinha aka Lilly di - my elder cousin. Several of their friends including Indu di and Kamala di were also in the school. Most were a year senior to me. All these girls considered me as their kid brother. This status gave me free access to the girls' common room. The common room was located safely behind the Headmaster's office and any body going inside had to pass his probing eyes. But I had free access. In the common room I was often invited to feast on chats or chiniya badam (ground nuts) from near by court compound. How ever I donot know why, I  used to feel suffocated inside girl's common room. I was always desperate to run out of the room as soon the task entrusted to me was over. My sister, Anju di and I were in the same class. By this relation, I became  brother of  two of her  friends - Rita Sinha and Neelam (daughter of highly esteemed  chemistry teacher Naresh Babu). In class eight we had the option of choosing Science or Arts stream. I had chosen science like many of my friends. Our science classes used to be taken in the new lecture theater near the well. We used to see many litigants in near by courts taking sattu at the well.Girls used to have separate seat near the teacher away from boys. I was a talkative boy and would often comment on the teacher's remarks. Sometimes I directed them at the girls as well, thinking them to be pretty hilarious. I was soon to know that one of my classmate who had crush on Rita did not like me talking to the girls or making comments at them.
One day I was alone in the classroom. To pass time I started playing with an electric plug on the wall. I felt someone approach me from behind. I turned to find this classmate of mine standing only a few feet away. He was a well built boy and being older than me seemed to tower over me. I was startled to see a knife in his hand. Pushing the tip into my stomach, he said, "Bahut aklamand bante ho? Agar Rita say baat kiya to chhura ghuser denge." (You think you are very smart? If you speak to Rita, I will kill you with this knife)
In my innocence I failed to fully grasp the seriousness of the situation, neither did his threat scare me. But I sure understood I had to get out of the difficult situation. I said, "Theek hai nahi baat karenge par Sir Aa gaye hai." (Sure, I will not talk to now, but look Sir has come in)
He was startled  for a moment, giving me an opportunity to escape. Sometime later, next year probably,  he said to me, "Amitabh pen uthane se kuchh nahi honga.. talwar jyada takatwar hai". (Amitabh, Pen does not do anything, a sword is mightier)
Tab maine use yaad dilaya,  "Tumhara chakku to meri buddhi se ek bar har chuki hai," and again ran away from him.

That was the time "pen was still mightier than sword".