Spirit

The school corridors and the ground was colorful with the three vibrant colors of our "National flag" Orange White and Green. Children were busy hanging the Tricolor toran  and small tiranga all around the school from the play ground, upto the gate. All were busy decorating the school for the upcoming "Independence day Celebrations"  each and every class was enthusiastic and filled with enthusiasm,  all were busy in their own way, some were practicing songs, poems and some were preparing hoardings and slogans. The school was looking festive. Sounds of teachers asking the importance of the tricolor flag were sprawling out from the classroom of the junior section. What does the tricolor on our flag say" Orange represent ??… Children together in chorus - strength and courage... White represent?? Peace and tranquility.... Green represent?? Prosperity and life. The whole school was gearing up for the Independence day celebration which was to take place after a week. Everyone and everywhere the sound of "Vande Mataram" and Bharat Mata Ki Jai was echoing and the ethos was so strong, that all children were swaying in the spirit of freedom struggle and Rashtriya Prem. Rabindra Sangeet and dance drama were being practiced in one corner of the school and on other part songs like "Chal chal re naujawan" was being practiced. All were filled with the spirits of Bapu, Netaji, ….the aura was unexplainable. In the midst of all these our history teacher as a part of Independence Day Celebration decided to have a film show for us children of class six in school. The film was 'Jagiriti'. The story revolves around two boys and a dedicated teacher. How the teacher transforms a headstrong boy, to a peace loving and caring child, is the story all about. The movie also focused on the strong bond between a teacher and students, friendship, and also the love for one's nation. The movie also has the wonderful song on Mahatma Gandhi " De di hame azadi bina khadag bina dhal...." This movie left a strong impression on me and my love for my country and freedom fighters was strongly ignited in my inner self, which is still flammable. 

School seems to be a wonderful place when celebrations takes place and all this spirit was carried by me to my home too. In my room in front of the mirror I would sometime become Bapu the sweetest and sometimes Netaji the courageous.... " Tum mujhe khoon do mein tumhe azaadi doonga....." Me a twelve year old was all ready to fight the freedom struggle. The spirit of the independence was colouring my whole being. I felt myself to be "Aruna Asaf Ali". In this enthusiastic spirit I decided to enact the freedom fighter rally with my siblings.   I asked them to make a human chain holding on to one after another. I asked them to stand behind me holding on to each other and walk with me shouting the slogan " Inquilab zindabad" the rally would start from the bedroom to the kitchen via drawing room,  corridors, and verandah. I gave paper flags to all and began my rally. " Inquilab zindabad, Inquilab zindabad,"...  All were following me, shouting out the slogan in high spirits.. and my movements, from bedroom to the kitchen and finally to the verandah succeeded three rounds. Now, what happened as I was readying for fourth round my counterparts ( my siblings) slipped away to see a ongoing "Baraat procession" the sudden backward turn of the human chain to watch the "Baraat" pulled me back and Lol!! I was lying flat on the ground hitting my chin and nose badly in a pool of blood. Me a skinny bag of bones at that time collapsed immediately into an unconscious mode which was a regular feature with me then, (the lean one)." Inquilab zindabad" turned into wailing and howling and calling out to Amma. Amma splashed water on me, made me sit and applied sugar ( sugar is said to have the property to coagulate blood) on my cuts, the blood stopped immediately and I was taken to Doctor Banerjee who had to stitch the wound on my inner chin. I was advised rest for at least 15 days. The etched up spirit of freedom, and to be a part of the Independence celebration in school, all got lost in the gripping pain on my chin. The skinny bag of bones was furthermore skinned out with liquid diet as I could not chew or swallow anything due to the stitch and gripping pain.

It's still a scar on my inner chin and make me remember my National spirit and Ethos of freedom.

" VANDEMATRAM"

pic courtesy: Google