Abhay, I studied in various government schools. In my early childhood, I studied at my grandparent's village Seema. Then higher secondary school at my father's place where he was working as a government school teacher.
Further, I did all my education at my grandfather's village.
Oh! Grandpa. Which grandfather your father's parents?
No dear. My mother's parents.
How were your Schools?
All schools were nice. But all the schools are either established by a government or donate, but both are run by the government. I studied in. 1970 to 1980. At that time most teachers used to never even come to School. Or sometimes teachers were not appointed.
Then how did you study?
We have some regular teachers. With their help, we used to study. But once we did not have a literature teacher appointed for our school. We complained several times. But no one was appointed.
Then we used to go to the railway station and bus stand. We wrote on the trains and Buses that Seema government school doesn't have a literature teacher. Please, appoint one.
One day district collector read that note and appointed a teacher.
****clapping***
So, grandpa's education system was in problem then.
The door knocked
Tak-Tak
Riddima opened the door.
The president of their colony came.
Riddima! Please control your daughter Raadhya. She is the most notorious kid in our colony.
Sorry, mam! Riddima said. But tell me what happened?
Come outside and have a look at what your daughter did?
They go outside near the colony gate. Where Riddima sees that her daughter Raadhya did painting with emojis on the colony wall.
Colony president says, "we have spent so much money in maintaining these walls. She ruined everything."
Riddima smiles at her. She Goes near her daughter who was in fear. She asks, " Raadhya, why did you draw this here?"
Raadhya in her little tone, " I drew them because I want people to see them and be happy."
Riddima said, "You can draw on a paper?"
Mom I have seen many paintings on the flyovers, walls in our city. People stop there and take selfies. I found that they all are happy. I wanted even our colony people to be happy.
Riddima said, " That's a good intention Dear. But all those paintings are made by professional people who are trained. Even you should get trained to do that. But still, your work is good. You should first practice on paper, get trained to reach the wall and art exhibits."
No! Mom. I'll do it on the wall.
Yes! Dear, you can but after some time. Just think how can you show your beautiful art piece to your teachers and friends at school. They all cannot come here.
Okay! Then I'll cut the wall. Carry it and show them.
Okay! Try if you can cut?
Raadhya runs into her home to bring a knife.
Meanwhile, colony people-
Instead of controlling your daughter, what are you telling her? To cut the wall!
Another woman says, look at my son? How disciplined he is! Your daughter is notorious.
Please! Lady doesn't say that. I'm not supporting her to do that. I was explaining to her the problem you people have.
Oh! You are pleasing her!
Then what I have to do?
You have to scold her, beat her, take her home.
No! I will never do that. I'll speak with my kids. I'll explain them. By the way she good intention of making you people happy.
At the age of 5, she has an interest in painting and she observed a lot too. I want to encourage my child in her talent.
So, you will make her paint all the walls.
Please, I'm not yet done!
Raadhya comes with her toy knife. Tries to cut the wall on which she painted. She takes the knife and scratches it on the wall hardly but nothing happens.
Mom! Help me.
No dear! We cannot cut a wall like this. We should not. We build it recently when we bought a new billiards kit for you.
Oh! Mom. But I lost some pieces in the billiards kit.
So, you are unhappy about that.
Yes! Mom.
Then even our colony people will be sad if we cut the wall. You want to make them happy.
Yeah! Mom. Then what about the painting.
You can re-do it on paper. However, from next week you can join painting classes too.
Okay! Mom let's go home.
Riddima says, "That's so simple to handle kids. Always shouting, mental abuse, physical abuse suppresses their talent.
By the way, Mam you compared my little one with yours. Why do you want to compare two beautiful roses of our colony?
After coming back home, Raadhya starts painting, while their grandpa was talking to Abhay.
Riddima goes into her room. She writes in her new novel, these lines
"JUDGED AND COMPARED
Yes!
We face it in different situations of our life.
We are compared to other kids in Childhood life.
When our parents say, look that Y got more marks.
Look your friend got a good rank and seat in College.
When our teacher says, you are nothing and you will be nothing in life, only the first ranked will succeed in life.
When we hear this every time, we bare it every time.
When we hear our parents saying look at your friends getting settled at a young age.
They compare everything from appearance to earning.
Yes! Our parents love us.
They are concerned about us.
But we don't compare them with other parents and say
Look at my friend's parents who have a big house, who earn more than you.
We don't compare our teacher with the teacher of other school and say he is settled in a good life and earning more than.
It's about comparison and getting compared.
Sometimes children compare their parents with others, saying they are not doing like them.
We as children, teenagers, or young adults keep on repeating these words and comparison and de-motivated.
But when we think in a reverse way, maybe I would say positively and say to inner ourselves that
All my Dearest persons,
Please wait one day you will find an incomparable me. The one and unique me, with my own identity.
It's about self-satisfaction, rather than thirsting for stopping someone to "STOP COMPARING" me and "STOP JUDGING" my life.
They compare us only once when they say but keep on thinking about their words and compare ourselves for N times.
Is this life or reality show! Why are we judging each other?
If this never happened with you, great you are a lucky and blessed person.
If you never did this as a Teacher, Parent, or child, you are great! Keep going...
If comparison and judgment happened with you, great! You are blessed to say on one day, I'm incomparable, My life is not meant to be compared and judged.
Life is not a race to compare and judge, let's connect emotionally with self-respect and mutual understanding and love."