Author Information
Fearless
Privilege Card
Back in 1965, a class was in progress in the latitude and longitude of the globe 22° 32’ N and 88° 20’ E here on earth. It was grade five - section A.
At ‘Convent Our Mother Mary Queen of The Missions’ in a city perhaps three hundred years old on the banks of a tributary of the Ganges; conurbation reachable by train, plane, helicopters, cars and other modes of transports.
The city’s landmark covered one of the most ancient Kali temples in Kalighat. Of this metropolis, Nakhoda Mosque, St Paul Cathedral, Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture needs special mention.
Museums and Art Galleries; Botanical Garden that house the oldest banyan trees; Zoological Garden; IIT Universities; monuments much more; and a history of great significance.
Most importantly, were the inhabitants drinking tea munching hot grams, Chai and Chanachur, chewing pan, or none, coping challenges.
Before, to their respective offices, they went dangling jute bags ‘bazaar-thali’ quick rounds market, buy seasonal produces to busy kitchens; prepare delicious delicacies.
In spite, rains in the morning pick Hilsa fishes, aubergine, green chillies... Mangoes and jackfruits were in their list of summer purchases. Bring to the school would they, their children in scooter, rickshaw, buses…
Satyajit Ray honour, dance Uday Shankar modern, think literature, films, arts and science… yes; “Kalkutta liegt am Ganges” melody in German; to remember “Ladies of Calcutta…” sung for fun.
Moral Science first period, over; nine a.m. found stunning blue, silk sari prints drape Mrs Mira Fernando; punctually begin reading and recitation class. Sheen from her dozen gold bangles motivated spirit.
The children were thirty-three in total numbers. Each had to read a few lines loudly to practice fine pronunciation. Karen stood up book in hand it was her turn. She was to leave for Australia with her parents and siblings, shortly.
Ethnic swathe Khasi girl Li interrupted the teacher, while she was spelling out the words’ correct voice production. Sister Edmund had called for an urgent meeting regarding a change of system in class tests.
She immediately needed, in the staff room. Other class teachers were already there. Asking Selma the class captain to mind her classmates Mrs Fernando left with her.
“No talking please” she said and walked out, Li following.
Bespectacled Selma Saran tall and thin leaving her seat went towards the blackboard to manage better. Classroom’s row of large windows; percolated brightness, added ambience, made the children livelier.
The girls read aloud. Uneventful twenty minutes went cool. However, without notice a change in pace occurs. All start chatting with one another, of course in whispers.
Suddenly, whispers catapult into the hum of thousand swarming bees. Lanky Selma tempted to play the clown. Mind the class, prank style.
Soon the class joking, screaming, threw rubbers, pencils and all possible bouncing mechanisms at one another.
Tables and chairs dragged out of place, yelling out names, laughing at the top of their voices, the scene switched on to a pandemonium.
Noisy chaos travelled with the winds out of the classroom through the windows; hit the walls of other classrooms; reached into the teachers’ closed doors. Those engaged in an important discussion; were disturbed.
The perfect chatterbox was the quietest of the girls, this day seen.
Unbearable bolt from the blue for Mrs Mira Fernando, who rushed back as the peon informed about the noisy waves, nothing but Class five Section A. berserk nuts.
Her class being the most sober and manageable, it was unbelievable!
Mrs Fernando back into a fish market, all the children ran for their place as though running for their lives.
In a panic while hurrying to their seats they thud, the school furniture clamour and add more commotion.
Not only very angry but she felt extreme hurt. “Shame on you children those who cannot be entrusted with responsibilities and discipline,” she said.
The class had settled into silence. Only one or two stray sounds from pull chairs into position. They were scared of severe punishment.
“Hardly half an hour has passed and you create nuisance that disturb other classes; are you big enough to understand this or not?” disgust in her voice.
Would she complain about them to their parents? Rati thought in her mind.
“Hope she does not send me to the principal!” sweated Seta inside her school pinafore.
“Please God calm my teacher, she is so annoyed” a little prayer murmur Renu.
“You are not in kindergarten; you are in fifth grade, big girls” deliberately teacher, Mrs Fernando to the guilty faces in anger. Her face flushed with a rise in her blood pressure.
The scolding made the whole class in the wrong cut a painfully sorry figure; Mrs Mira Fernando exasperated.
“Set of unruly girls, never repeat such disregard to your teacher’s word” a let down, she gave her mind.
After all Mrs Fernando was the children’s favourite class teacher.
They were remorse even more because Mrs Fernando unable to veil discomfort evidently wounded by their disobedience looked betrayed.
There were yet minutes to go for the next period bell to ring. The atmosphere was far from normal. Pin drop silence prevailed.
“Now, let us continue with the reading,” said the teacher. “Who is going to?”
She waited. No movement, no volunteer, they were motionless.
To think of their behaviour just a while ago perhaps they were fake little monsters pretending regret.
Tania broke ice raising hand, “Teacher, I want to read and before that I say, for the whole class, teacher we are sorry” she honestly.
“Come here to me, Tania” she beckoned.
Turning to the class Mrs Mira Fernando said, “Today Tania is awarded a special Privilege Card for Courage to come forward and volunteer reading”
She continued, “The whole class was naughty but she alone had the courage to ask pardon, for all of you.”
The green coloured Privilege Card for Courage with hand written Tania Mukhopadhya in blue fountain pen ink by Mrs Mira Fernando signed year 1965; stored well a source of strength to the little girl grown up.
Her parents and all other family members were proud of her valour as she joined the Armed Forces and went to the fronts as doctor on duty from the delta city of Calcutta fearless of challenges.
