MY ALEX CLASS: IT TOOK A WILD SHAPE-FANTASY

An ordinary day and an ordinary class…yes it was boring, like I was any surprised. I always said I needed a moment which could inspire me to write anything, and then it was….

Alex Chandy, my sports journalism lecturer, was talking about sports…or wait, was it about cricket. It seemed to me and many more that he was somehow obsessed with cricket only. He talked about people from cricket, cricket endorsements, cricket ads, cricket jersey, cricket, cricket, and cricket.

Then I thought, maybe I was wrong in thinking that there were other sports in the world too!

Luckily, to break my chain of thoughts came the Commonwealth Games. It saved the day for us…no that’s what we all thought, until that became his next obsession…and while he preached on my friend Flora said, “Sir, you mean ‘commonless’ games?” obviously not loud!

He told us that we should follow the news about this ‘commonless’ games which somehow a few of us were doing. All that inefficiency of the government and the horrible lack of management show how wonderfully it has been planned. Delhi is in a mess and the people are at their wits end bearing the nuisance each day! It is all about the big words, big money and no use! Nonetheless, hope continues that one day it would be good. Hope, it aways remains, work shall follow anyway!

Then the topic moved on to money. This time it was about how the media earns huge chunks of money from sports. Or maybe even the other way round. It’s always about money isn’t it?

Cricket followed again. My chain of thoughts started running again. This time I wondered if he had any idea about any other sports. Then I thought it has been just two classes let’s wait a little longer. What’s the harm?

I caricatured him, kept writing about what he was speaking, being barely interested in what the class was all about because somehow I could not consider it as sports journalism but cricket journalism.

I am not really fond of cricket sorry sports journalism so there was a minimum interest I had towards the class. This interest came to end with his closing speech on how sports journalism was important with examples mainly from the world of cricket.

Everyone around me thought what was so interesting about the class that I was taking down notes of what my Sir spoke. I just held up the caricature and said, “This is what it was all about!”

REFORM TO HISTORY ITSELF

There’s a famous quote by people who don’t like to study and it goes: I was born intelligent but education ruined me! Little do I wish they had seen ‘Freedom Writers’ they would never say this again.

Chaos in the world never ends. Neither did it then nor will it now. There is so much unrest in the world that no one finds time to rest. At a time, especially then where the world (here, America) was dealing with a crisis involving many things like identity, space, land and most of all lives, someone had to take a step forward.

Mending someone’s life at their own cost is indeed a deed which requires much courage and valour. It needs selflessness and a kind and open heart. Ms. Erin Gruwell did exactly that. She reformed the lives of a lot of students by giving up her own life and joys.

The methods employed by her were appropriate and precise. Though they were at some point child-like but they favoured the then situation very well. To teach a 14 or a 15 year old kid, something beyond manners, in fact a way to live life itself was a tough challenge which she accomplished pretty well.

Binding anyone with love is not very difficult. When it comes to men it becomes easier because everyone has a weak corner somewhere. In this movie the kids have seen a lot more than they are supposed to and have done things way beyond imagination. Gang war conflicts have affected them young. Due to panic and fear, which surrounds them, these kids restore to methods which take their lives away.

In a situation like this, hearing them out was important. Understanding what they were going through was essential to take a step towards their welfare. At the same time, making them aware of the fact that the problem they shared was common to a lot many was equally important.

Providing information, making them aware of the situation and the commonalities they shared, teaching them through personal or inspirational life experiences was a wonderful way to change minds.

There was enough hatred in the minds and hearts of these youngsters and stooping down to their levels, being a kid herself was what the situation had called for. She did exactly that. Talking about the trips she had taken her students to was also a wonderful idea. It helped them in moving to places where they could see and learn things which told a story like their own but in a different manner.

A new place, good environment, a beautiful ambience, helped the students see a brighter side of life. All these put together helped them reform their life and also many others which were to come. It helped them speak the truth and stand up for the right.

A story which went down well in the pages of history, reformed lives and thus created a revolution. It was a one woman show but it was indeed a collective effort.

ALL IT TAKES IS A GOOD DEED!!

It was a sight. Not like any other but neither one I had never seen. They were all there. Puffing it out, some to show off and some thinking it was too cool….

And I stood there for a while watching and thinking. Wasn’t it just for a little money? Just money worth one cigarette!

I wasn’t sure if I should take the lead and go about it. Then I did it. I went forth. I walked up to the shopkeeper. At first it felt awkward. I thought what my people would think if they saw me here. Then I thought-why should I care. I am indeed helping that poor soul.

So I went over to him and said can I buy a pack of biscuits? He gave me a weird look and then said- yes, sure! I bought them, walked over and put them on the ground, stepped aside and waited….

Finally the dog put away its fear and moved close to the biscuits. Still watchful, it ate them up quickly. I stood there for a little more time, watched it eat them and then smiled at it and walked away.

And as I was walking away I was thinking, when people spend more than hundreds each month to reduce their lives, why not spend a little and save someone’s?? Does it take so much to help someone?

It is always about taking a step forward but we don’t do it most of the times. Why, either we think our people would laugh at us or that it is just not necessary! Making a move is vital, not appreciation.

As it is said, do good…the rest will follow….

T o me, I still see Timber around and it feels good….that is the good that follows….atleast to me..!!