Stanley ka dabba.
While I was watching this unselfconscious movie
earlier this evening, it felt like there was a substitute for every character
in my own school. Not in the literal sense of “Khadoos" gunning
for the student’s dabbas but in a metaphyscial sense, yes.
Adults like him, who have been put in charge of young lives with a clear cut
mandate to guard and protect and nurture. Instead, they crush and devaluate and
diminish the young spirits placed in their care.
The casual, dismissively brutal air of the
canteen guy, the Science teacher and Khadoos himself is unfortunately an accurate
representation of reality. Because the children are small and vulnerable, the
school peons, the bus drivers and conductors as also the guards see nothing
wrong with an abrasive tone and disrespectful language.
I will never forget that day. Aqseer, who was a
senior student that year, had come to meet me in the Primary Wing. She had to
change out of her rehearsal clothes into the school uniform. Without giving it
too much thought, I waved her towards the Junior Wing washrooms, unaware of the
disaster in store. She was probably still half way through when the school peon
realized that a heinous crime was afoot! A senior student was using the junior
room. He went into his characteristically ballistic form. Foaming at the mouth,
he launched into the kind of door banging one would normally reserve for
someone about to hang themselves by the fan. With nary a thought for an
adolescent’s sensitivity and awkward placement at that moment, this man
literally brought the house down. Aqseer came out quietly and was accepting of
this misconduct in the discussion that followed but I could never forgive that
man for an attitude that clearly screamed his predominant thought: every
child is a potential criminal.
I can’t stress this
enough. There has to be an air of mutual respect in a school. And it has got to
be visible in every direction, vertically, laterally and diagonally. Respect
begets respect. In the movie, the Principal is perceptive, magnanimous and
open. It is this attitude that helps along the eventual resolution. Stanley’s
world is fortunately, also peopled by Miss Rosy and Mr Zutshi,
teachers who are warm and supportive and compassionate and encouraging
The school is as nuanced and layered as this
disarming movie. Several forces are at play, take any given time. But the acid
test of this class of institution is: to what extent are they building a
child’s self-esteem? CBSE may make a daily PT period mandatory. The Principal’s
report on the annual day may wax eloquent on the number of toppers and sports
awards. The government may push for the inclusion of Economically Weaker
Section students. These are significant components of a country’s educational
anthem but above all this din is
our little Stanley. Does he feel happy to be alive? Does he look forward to
school every morning? Does he feel safe and appreciated? Does he think he can?
Respect. It is the answer. In every form
and flavor. Self-respect, mutual respect, respect for authority as well as
for the students in their care.
Respect !
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