12 - .............AND MORE ECSTASY

Shopping for the family's needs is a regular and lonely chore.   Sometimes for vegetables and fruits at the Nana Chowk Bhajigalli,  and other times at the Reliance and Nature's Basket stores at Mahalaxmi.    The pain is that the BEST bus service to my residence  is irregular and taxi drivers seem to purposely ignore you,  if you are in desperate need for one,  with lots of loaded bags etc.    

Today was my first day of school with students, after the summer holidays and I was extra tired.    To add to my sorrows,  the Reliance security misplaced a  cardboard box that I had checked in with them.   When I reached  the bus stop, laden with my bags,  the seating was occupied by some insensitive rich person's driver and he also had the temerity to block the bus stop with the uber expensive vehicle.     Passing taxis were occupied or heading home for Friday prayers.    After almost one hour,  I managed to flag down a cab and he decided to take me along Peddar Road.   

At the Cadbury Junction,  I peer to my left,  whenever I'm on my way towards Kemp's corner.   It has become an involuntary gesture through the years that I have lived in south Mumbai.    No,  you are mistaken if you assume that I am trying to catch a glimpse of the designer clothes' shops.   I am paying my obeisance to the nightingale of India.   The talented and famous Lata Mangeshkar,  who lives at an iconic building at this junction.  

Today,  the sight was an exotic one.   God had decorated her residence around the walls with the prettiest white bougainvillea,  (I think),  in full bloom.    The sight is such a pretty picture that all my woes were forgotten and I felt a sudden peace. 

I would not have agreed readily with anyone,  if they had said that flowers can change one's mood,  because I abhor being gifted flowers that wither and die within a few hours.   But the pure white flowers blooming over Lata Mangeshkar's compound wall,   seem to be a heavenly cloud or halo that is extremely aesthetic to look at.   I  wish that I could 'stand and stare'  to my heart's content. 

Anyway,  the pretty image is embedded into my memory.

4 - TEACHER'S DAY.

Teacher's day is unique to India,    thanks to Dr.Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.  My school students perform dances to entertain the teachers.  Then we are treated to lunch at a hotel.

The painful part of teacher's day celebrations is that I am expected to accept  'gifts' from students.   Usually these are flowers (natural and plastic ones),  red pens, chocolates (mostly dubious ones, or the Celebrations box meant for kids), and of course. the all time favourite gift-the tea mug.    And then, the cards,  most of which are the Archie's brand and so each teacher gets 7 to 8 similar ones.     Some parents let their kids design cards and each teacher gets a few 'masterpieces'.   It is a rare occasion when a parent sends an interesting and worthwhile 'gift' for the teacher on Teacher's day.

The lack of imagination and innovation by big brands like Cadbury's and Archie's,  is to blame for the sad choices that the student's parents make for gifts.  Pens, purses and watches (mostly cheap raste-ka-maal) are the main objects that parents assume they can gift teachers.  The male teachers receive neckties and cheap deos.   And some teachers receive placards and frames,  with inspirational words eulogizing teachers.   Parents expect teachers to display such frames and posters in their home and treasure them?  Do not forget that teachers are  fond of ordinary utility items,  same as you. 

On 5th September,  the happiest persons are the plastic flower vendor  and the natural flower vendor on the footpath outside schools.  Why is there no practical merchandise available for Teacher's day?  Dear parents,  I am writing this blog so that it can be an eye opener for you.  How will you all realize that most of the 'gifts' are given away to the peons since they are not of a good quality,   unless someone tells you this?   If you buy anything to gift your child's teachers,  do introspect and empathize as to whether you would like to be at the receiving end.     Once I even received a beautifully packed wallet that had been used and the zip was spoilt. 

I have a simple remedy for the follies of parents.  It is very easy for any teacher to involuntarily dislike the student who gives a cheap gift.  My policy is to try not to remember which child gives what.   And I never accept flowers.  Simply because I think it is futile to accept flowers and then discard them into a bin after 2 to 3 hours.  It would be better that parents would not waste money buying them.

Maybe it would be more practical and useful for students to contribute towards one common gift for a teacher.    Then the gift would be worthwhile and memorable.

There is nothing else to write about this day,  simply because there is nothing more that happens to ordinary teachers.