somedays one might always want to remember

it was kind of farewell to say.. my last day at school.. 5 or 6 students.. all female.. 2 poor Hindu and 3 to 5(on various days) Muslim(atleast middle class)girls.. i was never sure what would be coming my way while i had orientation at rasta.. a lot of gud memories and some a bit uneasy ones too..
its sad to find that people even in cities ignore studies.. studies for women is 'against religion' in islam.. so they told me on 2ond or 3rd day that if they can practice 'integrity' they might continue studies till 12th or till they get married.. and that their brothers dont want them to study.. one (call R)gets threats that he will kill her.. (not kidding) but her father is supporting.. and wants her to study.. and i found her atleast engineering material.. only that i called her father.. she went to Madarsa till 5th and knew urdu, farsi.. poor english.. then she said she was ill for 3 years and then her mother was in bed after her youngest brother' birth.. for 3 years more.. so she skipped school.. again not kidding.. i had a right guess about her father and mother.. both were illitrate.. it was ignorance on their part.. i asked Mr. Riyasat Saifi if anybody had ever told him that she was a good student.. he said no.. i told him that she is.. and to take care of her studies.. and make sure she doesn't miss school.. he agreed and was happy with what i said.. i even told him that she might fail this time becuz time is less but don't take her out of school.. he was a humble person.. and loving father and said he will take care.. problem is that R is the eldest child and bears several responsibilities.. well catch is i didn't inform the co-ordinator that i had called her parents and that didn't go well with them..
SH is another confident girl but her brother threatens her too.. i dont know why..
SG is better prepared than others but she is a follower of Cramming philosophy.. phew..
SV is a very shy Hindu girl.. one day i tightened her and next day she went missing.. she was brought back after a visit to her home.. got mind but absolutely no aptitude for studies.. she was getting better each day..
NH is naughty and never concentrates..

first day i was teaching them a lesson about women empowerment.. Muslim backdrop in lesson.. i was a bit perplexed and asked them after lesson if i told them anything wrong?? they said no..

and poems about krishna... narottam dass and soordas.. and civics.. it is odd thing for people who have no general awareness.. and everybody lacked it.. i started explaining them the concept of a family to a community to a city and hence to a country.. and then constitution.. huh.. 3 days.. 3 repetitions.. 6 hours..
federalism and democarcy and secualrism.. these topics went on and on.. again and again..

i find myself into a rare catagory(around me) these day.. better than working hindi and somewhat working english.. so medium of study hardly matters..if i am not teaching language at higher levels..

so the discussions evolved.. topics revolved around need of constitution and its features.. and assginment included obama and malegaon blasts.. and cricket.. and kashmir.. and religion..

and my insistence that they must keep on studies as long as possible..

it appeared that they got me.. R gave a small golden Ganesha(great gesture??) and 3 others pens.. and poor NH and SV smiles.. SV brought me some snacks.. she's not been able to buy books.. i m looking at matter.. nice gestures.. all promised to study as far as possible.. they themselves said.. i didn't ask.. and i told them i'll not use their pens.. i'll keep them with me..
it was heartwarming as i was not considering going to school today.. but went there to say them goodbye.. and got my gifts.. it was 11 or 12 days only i went there.. there a sense of achievement.. predictable with me; i forgot my part and didn't give them any treat..
R says she wants to become an Aalia or Aalima(urdu teacher).. and given her background, it would be great.. she got 98 in urdu.. i know how to write my name in urdu.. full name..

why religion is mentioned about each student is that while only poor hindu girls were there but muslim girls were from capable but ignorant or unwilling families..
that is their real problem.. just that they are not realizing that lower education rate is and will be dragging the community back economically too..
i dont want this to be true but increasingly i feel there cud be some analogy with nazism.. its not much different.. and fathers want them to study and brothers threaten.. radical youth.. like the financial meltdown.. it can get overlooked but sooner or later.. there will be decisive global war on muslim fundamentalism.. becuz whole world is a direct contradiction with muslim fundamentalism.. radical govts are getting elected.. iran.. indonesia.. even Pakistan who once had Benazir.. is under threat of taliban like things.. HuJI political wing is getting foothold in Bangladesh..

umm umm.. over..