This
educational institution where I am working currently wanted to inculcate some
soft values in students and asked us to recite from holy books. During this
December- January’14, I was asked to recite “Thirupavai” for a week.
Immediately I paid a mental - thanks to my mother not because she taught me
these beautiful verses, for that matter, she never taught us to recite any
slokas for that matter. Her way of reciting aloud always drove all these verses
and much more reached our subconscious mind and is stored there forever.
On the
first day, I stood before these bright set of students, though a stage or mike
is not new to me, reciting Thirupavai on a mike for a set of audience – well –
it was the first time I am reciting anything to a rhyme. With all mustered
bravery I completed my assignment and looked at the students expectantly. Wham!
Some 1000+ blank faces were looking back at me. Slowly, there were some
students who started clapping. Being a stage freak, I would never have rushed
down as I did that day.
My team was
all polite to appreciate and only one colleague had the courage to tell me that
though she did not understand what I said, it would have been better if I had
narrated it as a prose. But, the surprise came from one of the sports teacher
who asked me if I was a new joinee in the Music team. It took me much more
courage to climb the stage the second day. But, this time, the students
promptly clapped. On the third day, one parent walked up to me to check if I
could teach his son music after school hours. That’s when I understood the
meaning of being on top of the World.
Like a
flash back, I remembered, all those instance when my dearest devil of a brother
would tease me to the point of me wailing for my musical knowledge. There were
instances when he will block the doorway and say that he is doing it to avoid
anybody running out of the room.
Coming back
to reality today, I was very proud of my progress in music that I shared the
instance with both my siblings. Prompt came the reply from my brother, “Are
they planning to shut the institution or something? Did your head of the
department meet an accident? How could they come to a drastic situation like
asking you to recite something with rhyme and rhythm?”
My Sister challenged me to sing before both of them. That will happen only in my wildest of wild dreams!
My mother
silently added, “I know you are a positive person, but I never knew you will
experiment your positive attitude to this height.”
Cynical
criticism should be banned!!
