Towards My Path !

Take inspiration from the trees; grow where you are planted. I desired someone to inspire me by these words at that time, but without any such inspiration or aim just as my obligation I was again towards my school. My feet never felt so lazy and uneasy while going up the bus.

I had said nearly everyone with my clearest throat that whatever be the situation, I would never return to this school. I was ready for being mocked badly by the classmates, but fortunately it didn't happen at all. Whether they had forgotten my words or had become sincere enough for avoiding those words which were needless, I was unable to decide.

Until I reached the school, I was in fear that anytime they might remember this topic and would embarrass me in front of everyone. As my feet touched ground of the school compound, confidence tried to take over the nervousness but failed miserably. The place where once I walked proudly, that day I almost entered my class without having eye contact with a single person. Prayers seemed too lengthy to end; all the premeditation mantras which would usually strengthen my concentration were pronounced unconsciously by me.

My new class was the same one outside which me and my friends were waiting to equalise for my insult and instead I lost love of those who cared the most. There were few faces which were known to me but I had never interacted with them.

There was also a new admission named Naveen. He looked quite sincere and I decided to share bench with him so that I could feel some freshness, avoiding all the old chats with those who already knew very well about me. He was very reticent but very sharp minded. He had completed his 10th from a Hindi medium school and was talkative enough for asking my help for improving his English. I asked about his native place, it was 20 km away from the town and here he and his brother were living with their relatives.

That day first two periods were cancelled and we had lot of time to know basics about each other. Time table was still not prepared and we didn't know who would be taking out third period. Before that period, from my sources I had known that our biology teacher had left the school; it was big relief to me as she was the one who knew most about the previous incidents. The peon hammered the big iron rod three times and all the boys and girls roaming in classroom came to their own seats.

Five minutes were over and we were still waiting for teacher's arrival, a boy went to the door and tried to see who is coming to teach us. He had just peeped once and ran as fast he can to his seat, shouting; 'J.K Sahu sir is coming'. The very next moment there was pin drop silence and books in-front of everyone's eyes in the class and the backbone of every one were as straight it could have been ever while sitting.

He was the most strict teacher in the school and taught us physics. His entry in the class made all of us very nervous; every one feared that he may ask any conceptual question from his previous year course and not answering him simply meant punishment. Today his temper was adequate and he started with introduction of everyone.

After the introduction was over, he asked for a book for starting the first topic of the standard 11th in physics. I had brought the book and not delayed even a second to rush towards the teacher for making him notice me. Before I could come back to my seat, he shouted, where the cover is? I turned back and bowed my head in-front of him. I knew that I had made a mistake and there was no way for escaping.

He continued, 'If you can't care for the most important thing in your life, all of your learning is wastage. Think how you have felt, if your parent had kept you without clothes.' My head was falling downwards with every word, but mind silently argued; no one takes birth with clothes. I had brought this book just one day ago and would have covered it soon. After he had completed, he ordered me for going back to my seat.

He started basic mathematical concept. My interest in mathematics was very low and I doubted that my day could be worse if he threw any question to me. He had just taught ten minutes and he found something which he had told us previous year. Now my heart was competing with speed of light, sir wrote the question on blackboard and turned his neck around for getting the answer, before his eyes could have reached at me, Naveen drew his attention by raising his hand and I sighed in relief.

He had ample knowledge of mathematics and saved every student in the classroom by his intelligence. Naveen and I had become good friends in few days.

All was going right and getting him as a friend made me perceive that I had got something meaningful just in few days after coming here back. All was going excellent, but one day I saw Naveen very upset and tensed. I asked him the reason, he replied, 'From tomorrow I will not be coming to school'. 'Why?' I asked instantly after getting a shocker. 'My relatives have problem with our stay in their home and my parents can't afford to pay rent for keeping us here. They have hardly managed to pay the admission fees of this school and any extra load on them will be too much for us.' He said with heavy throat.

The next day I didn't see him, he had left the school. I was desolated; loss of friendship was hurting, pain grew more when I realised how a competent person had been forced to move towards obscurity. The country which needs extraordinary talent every moment to get the tag of developed from a developing nation is losing talent like this due to financial deficit was very disheartening.

The sole hope of something new for next two years had gone, now all the faces were there whom I knew from previous 5 years. I had argued with few of them on things I didn't like about them. I generally avoided their behaviour but when I was sure of leaving the school I decided to tell them, how much they had irritated my mind by their habits.

It was mortifying for me to start talking with them. But there were no other option, I started with a boy whose home was nearest to mine; Rakesh. We were good friends from long time but his habit of showing himself superior more than his reach irritated my mind and I stated maintaining distance from him. This misunderstanding of thinking himself superior allowed his mind to behave sometimes like a guy who could insult anyone at any instant.

Secondly I had habit of being indignant. I always stopped him from passing comment randomly on anyone, which he never cared. But spat of those days were just fatuous and our friendship was again back on the track. We both had helped each other in many instances and the feeling of those moments overshadowed the nasty part.

One month had passed in new class and I was waiting for something interesting to happen. Every second and fourth Saturday we had extracurricular activities, which I loved the most. I participated in most of them and made sure that my house won most points to become the house of the year. In the initial month, the process of house distribution had not commenced, so any competition had not been arranged till yet and I was missing that a lot.

The very next day our class teacher, who taught us computer came and said, 'Houses has been distributed, today you will know where you belong.' There were four houses named after four great sages in Indian history, Sankracharya,Parasar,Vasistha and Vyas. 'The 1st roll number will go to Sankracharya , 2nd roll number to Parasar, 3rd to Vasistha, and 4th to Vays , for rest of roll numbers same sequence will be followed.'

All students began estimating their houses; few were confused and confirmed their houses from class teacher. I was in Vasistha house, I looked around the class and found no one in our class from Vasistha, who was capable in any outdoor sports. Though only students from 12th standard could become house captains but I think my mind was preparing for it from then.

In the recess, I went downstairs in 10th standard for and asked names of those who belonged to Vasistha houses. While coming back I had known that the best painter, 'NIHARIKA,' and the best musician, 'Ashish,' of our school were in our house, I thought we had enough to cover up the loss that we could face in sports from academic part. Whole day my question to everyone was, 'To which house do you belong?' At the end of day I was satisfied after getting most of close schoolmates in same house. I was quite confident that we were enough to dominate every competition.

The next excitement was to know the house masters; the teachers who would be guiding the houses. The first two names that I knew were Singh sir and Divya sen ma'am. Ashwini Singh sir taught us chemistry and was one of senior most teachers in school. Divya sen ma'am had taught us science in standard 6th. She was one of the teachers, who rated me very high, so I was sure that she would give preference to my thoughts while planning for victory. This imagination lifted my excitement for upcoming events to its peak.

'There will be speech competition on upcoming Saturday. All the students interested in it kindly submit your names to your respective house masters.' I read it on the notice board.

My wait was over, it was Monday and I had enough time to prepare for the speech.

The topic was 'Indian Politics'. I moved happily towards the assembly hall. While coming out, 'Ashish'; who was in same house that I belonged, asked; whether I am participating or not? When I replied in yes, he said, 'Great, now our house will get silver medal too!' His overconfidence had a valid reason. The time since I tried to create a foolish scene, I had not won any of the speech competition. It's not that I was putting less effort but the drama had created a negative image of mine in mind of few teachers and most of them believed that no matter how talented you are if you deviate from the morals which a student should follow, you have to pay for it.

Ashish was the most fluent speaker in our school. Whenever we went for any interschool competition, he represented the school in speech and I preferred Quiz competitions. In past whenever I won the competition, it was due to some different vision that I represented about the topic.

On competition day too Ashish's fluency and the contents of topic were admirable. But I had decided to win; co-incidentally few days ago one of the judges was praising a famous politician while teaching in our class. I knew even if I matched his fluency, I required few points which could influence the judges and applauding the political vision of that politician was the best option.

It was not just about explaining politics. I had showed some political skills along with that, which gifted me a win after a long time. Before leaving the hall, cultural head of our school made an announcement about interschool school quiz competition which would hold on Sunday. The students who wanted to participate were instructed to reach Kamla Nehru Park in our city on given time by organisers for getting registered for it.

Abhishek was my obvious partner while participation in Quiz. In school, we represented different houses but outside the school our co-ordination was great. We emerged victorious by huge margin from the runner ups. M.L.A of our city rewarded us a trophy in the prize distribution ceremony that held on the same evening.

Two big gains in two days were overwhelming. Everyone in school was in praising mode, so was a girl; her praise had more of flirting than words. Her boyfriend saw her talking in such a way and he came to me when she left from there. 'Be in your limit, don't try to be a hero,' he warned. 'Even if you became an I.A.S after all your hard work, I will easily be a politician and master you like lion in a circus,' threatening me of his background, he said.

I found a serious issue in his warning he just had realised me the bitter reality of our system. A person does all the hard work for his aim of serving society and end up compromising on every step due to political pressure on him. In a democratic country quality is always secondary to quantity. With even almost no quality you can dominate anyone who lacks the quantity. This left me pondering and settled me without any 'practical solution'. His words always revolved in my mind whenever I opened any book for studying.

Next morning our newly selected principal, 'Gupta sir', came to the centre of assembly hall and announced, 'It was great to hear your views in the recently completed speech competition, we are proud of such talents in our school. We will have many such events throughout the year, where you can showcase your talent. But before all that, Head boy & girl of school and Head of all houses will be elected tomorrow. So be ready for that.'

Only students of standard 12th were eligible for contesting election for all those positions. I discussed a few names with my friends whom I would prefer to vote if they contested the election. I had a chat with one of them and acknowledged him about my support.

On Wednesday it was all set for the election, the whole assembly was filled with excitement and sounds of murmuring about their preference, later turned into pin drop silence when our principal sir took over the mike in his hands.

'I hope you all the excited for today's election, it is great opportunity for recognizing the leadership quality that you have.' He said for boosting our confidence. 'All the students of standard 11th and 12th who desire to contest for the post of head boy, come in-front of the assembly.'

I was stunned and internally happy with this announcement. I was centre of attraction from previous two days in school and it was a great opportunity of encasing the popularity gained by victory in two competitions. Two candidates from 12th had already reached the stage and I was still in state of nervousness. I looked at face of my friends standing near me, and asked, 'Should I go there?' One them firmly supported and urged for contesting the election. Hearing him, few more backed me for the election.

Now I had gained necessary confidence and went on the stage between huge applause. Principal Sir continued his inspirational words for convincing more candidates. The boy who had once raised me up by collar also came from his place, but went back after one of the candidates from his class made him understand the concept of vote division.

Words of my principal inspired a few from my class too, one of them was Navneet. He was in the other section till 10th standard. We shared a good friendship even after studying in different sections. I never expected that he would contest against me. He stood just beside me. I was not worried about his candidature, it was unnecessary to tell him the vote division policy.

I always believed, if my trueness is not enough for winning me something, I am fighting for a wrong reason. If god is the mastermind, using yours was like opening the doors for sin. I had observed many times in life that whenever I desired to achieve something, god created co-incidences which always saved me from any kind of ill thinking that may occur while human planning.

Every candidate was given a chance for explaining his vision.

I started by explaining few basic changes required in the school and ended by saying, 'Leadership is not about being popular or showing heroism, it's about showing right path to everyone by putting ideal example in-front of them by your works. Leadership is neither about enjoying the superiority, it is about serving with true heart. Sometimes my inexperience may lead to mistake but it's not necessary that every mistake causes destruction. It may lead us to new discovery too, mainly when something is done with trueness and determination and I am determined for uplifting the spirit of our school to the highest level. So please, caste me your precious vote.'

Everyone one was provided a blank slip for naming their favourite candidate.

Slips were also given to all the candidates. While writing my name on own slip, my eyes went on Navneet's slip. I was not sure whether he was copying me or really casting vote for me. I had never heard or seen anything like that. How someone could think of casting vote to someone else, when he himself is contesting the election? After the voting ended we all went back to our rows. I asked Navneet about his vote, he replied with ease, 'I just wanted know where my thinking stands. All voted for the thinking in which they had the trust, and I too did the same.' Competition had not affected his mind to any extent and that was a great thing to learn.

The result was a huge surprise for me. I never expected that internally so many hearts were flooded with love for me. I had secured more than 50% of the total votes, rest votes were shared by 5 other candidates.

From girl's side, Shrinkhala became Head girl of our school. Later I came to know, all the students of 10th standard had voted from me. And only one from the seniors had voted for even after huge pressure of power. His name was Ankit Das. When he was pressurised, he said, 'Do whatever you can, I will vote only for him.' That day I had realised, there is no greater magnetic attraction than your simplicity which can't be demagnetised even at Curie point.

I wanted to breakdown in-front of all and let my tears tell the sufferings that I had been facing from more than half year while thanking all the voters. But I always termed tears as weakness and decided against wasting it.

I ended in very short, 'Thanks for them who voted for me and raised my confidence that I have capability of bringing the required change, and thanks for them too who didn't voted in my favour and told me that there is still a lot of imperfectness inside me.'

Lots of stories about me were floating in atmosphere of school, whether it was teacher or student everyone had some story to tell. I was sitting in my class when a junior came and said, 'J.K Sahu sir is calling you in the staff room.'

Most of the teachers were sitting there and gossiping on some topic. I asked permission for coming in and asked, 'Did you call me?'

'Yes, I just heard about the incident when you met DFO of our city, Is it true?'

It was rainy reason of previous year when our school decided to plant trees for balancing the polluted environment. Our computer teacher, Gupta Sir, was given the responsibility of organising that event. Gupta Sir was our class teacher, so he gave preference to us while selecting the positions for organising this event. I got the position of treasurer. Soon fund was released by our school management for buying the plants.

It was a great change of enjoyment for us. We brought some fine plants from nursery near to our school. Our management decided to a have an opening ceremony prior to the plantation. District forest officer was sent an invitation for inauguration of the program.

On the event day, when just one hour for scheduled time of program was left, our Hindi teacher took me along with him to the home of DFO for inviting him again. After waiting for nearly fifteen minutes in his guest room, the officer came in there. Our teacher again memorised him about the program and invited again for the same. The DFO called his diver and ordered him for getting his car ready.

My teacher wanted to go in the car with DFO for telling him about the details of program. But I didn't know riding motorcycle, so he instructed me for going in the car.

Half of the way went in silence. I was still gathering confidence for uttering a word in-front of him. When I observed he was not at all interested in initiating from his side, gathering all the courage I said, 'Sir, do you think we can save nature by conserving energy?' 'Yes, this is must!' he replied.

'But Sir in your home, I saw three bulbs lightening in a single room where just one could have been enough, will it be helpful?'

His words fumbled while saying, 'We should plant more tress for covering up for more utilisation of energy.' Obviously he didn't have any valid answer.

'But Sir what if we do both the things together, decreasing the utilisation and increasing the plantation?'

'Yes, that's a good prospective!'

I felt to stop embarrassing him anymore. If he had excused about any necessary work and refused to go further, I would have been made responsible for this. For the sake of successful event in my school my mouth didn't utter a single word before reaching to school.

All the teachers and head of the students were at the gate for welcoming him with flowers and bouquet. DFO was taken to our principle room and all the core members for plantation event were introduced to him.

When I was introduced as treasurer, he smiled and said, 'You are at the most profitable post.' I understood his meaning but I found it meaningless asking him to explain, 'How?'

There was broad smile on the face of J.K Sahu sir after knowing the dare of his own student. He praised me for the work and congratulated me for my new responsibility.

Success can highlight even smallest quality inside you. Today my story was being discussed there only due to success otherwise it would have been only a secret.

From being treated as depraved student to ideal one, it was a huge turn around.

I came back home with my happiest memory in the school. Whenever I reached most of time I found my mom cocking in the kitchen. I would tell all the incidents happened in school to her other than anything worrying. All the other works after coming to home were secondary to this. When I told her about winning election, more than being happy she was worried that it could affect my studies. I assured her about my dedication towards studies.

In the evening, I was in the way to my tuition when I received an unknown call. He was one of the head members of a youth gang operating dominantly in the area where our school was situated.

He said, 'I want to meet you.' He called me in ground of an old school. 'I will come after completion of my tuition.' I was surprised with his sudden call. Would he offer me for joining his gang after knowing about my popularity?

One of my friends, Amit, Whose home was also in that area, went along with me.

We reached the school ground after 8:00 pm, there was hardly anything visible in that darkness. We looked around to find anyone there. When we moved forward, I saw a red point floating in the air, it was the light coming from cigarette in the hand of a boy standing beside his bike under a tree in the ground. We shook hand with him and his companions. He looked at us constantly for a while and pointing his fingers towards me he said, 'Are you Sarvesh?' 'Yes, why did you call us?' I questioned.

'Resign from the post of head boy,' he said in heavy voice. ' But Why?' I asked in surprise. He got very angry by my cross questioning and while throwing his cigarette in anger he said, 'Just do what I say.' 'While resigning, suggest the name of a boy from our group to your principal who fought election against you.' For threatening me further he asked the means by which I went to school. So that in case I didn't obey him he could stop me in the way for showing his power.

My family was the biggest strength in that city and that too suffering from their own problems. I knew no one, who could bring me out of this obligation. I agreed with them and said, 'What if principal didn't accept my resignation?'

'Call me in that case, I will tell you what to do.' He said firmly.

Just few days ago, I had heard a journalist saying, 'If someday truth and power could become good friends of each other, it could completely change the face of our society.' I had understood the meaning of his words. Power had overshadowed the truth and had ensured its defeat. That Day I learnt, without power your truth could not be as effective as it should be. Superiority for heroism is one thing, but superiority so that no one could stop you from doing right works is must. How one could forget even lord Ram had to bring out his bow for drying up the whole ocean when it didn't provided them way on requesting for defeating Ravana.

The next day I went straight to principal and told him about the problems that I could face in studies due to that post. As I had predicted, he rejected my resignation.

I informed the boy whom that gang wanted to get the post head boy. He said, 'I have nothing to do with this, I don't want that post like this but they want me there at every condition.' I said, 'I can understand.' All the classmates of that boy had known about this and beyond my expectation most of the girls of his class were angry with this. They forced him for making his leader understand about this matter. When own voters of any leader force him for something, he couldn't evade their words. He had to convince his group members for not bothering me for resigning any more. Any empowered girl cannot bear anything wrong going around her and that is a sufficient reason, in my view, for supporting the idea of feminism.

With every passing day I increased my presence everywhere in the city. For that I participated in most of the competition organised in the city. This had brought me in eyes of many effective personalities in the city. One such competition was organised on the quiz about Ramayana. I, Sourabh and Dhananjay formed a team and were qualified for the finals after going through two prelims as all the schools of our city was participating in that competition.

The district chief of one of the powerful organisation was called as chief guest.

We secured 1st position in that competition too. The chief guest was impressed with our knowledge and confidence. He offered me for joining his organisation and said, 'Come there from tomorrow, you can learn a lot more.' Studies being our first priority at that time i promised him to join later.

I remember the first time I came to Raigarh. We had completed three years while living in Kharsia and now my father was transferred to a station near Raigarh. For providing us better facility he found a home on rent in Raigarh. There was still few weeks left before completely shifting to Raigarh. My father had applied for my admission in K.V, so we went there for its entrance exam. There was only one seat vacant for admission in 6th Standard, it was hard to qualify but my father wanted me to put all my hard work for that one seat.

Soon we shifted to our new home. One day while having lunch my father received a phone call, it was about my selection in K.V. I had managed to beat everyone in competition for just a single seat. It was a proud movement for everyone in home.

On the given date we reached for admission in that school. We were given 1st may as the last date for submitting result and TC of previous class. I had given the board exam of standard 5th as per C.G board rules. The result of board exam was to be published on 5th may, so my father gave an application about this to the school management and they assured as about having no problem in this case.

Five day later when we went to school with the result. The seat had been given to the student who appeared second in the exam. Reasoning us the matter of delay, they rejected our every request. Just one day ago, a new person had gained the position of principle and he didn't know about the application which my father had given for the delay. After doing everything accurately there was only hopelessness. Admission dates of most of the school were over. That time M.V.M gave us hope and finally I was admitted there.

It's said that it doesn't matter where you desire to go; you will reach only where you are need to be. Probably bringing me to M.V.M was only for showing me the right direction of my life. If you face something wrong even after doing almost everything in limits of humanity then there is always some better reason behind it, which you can find with conscious mind. But if you will give priority to blaming nature for that you couldn't observe the plan what nature had for you.