Fond Remembrance

My fond memoirs of 1959 when I was studying in Sophia convent, Mount Abu in STD V. Our school was invited to take part in inter school sports which used to be held every year in our brother school, St Mary’s.

It was there we came to know of a certain senior boy who had been rusticated, which meant a severe loss in his future career.

 The boy had violated the school rules despite strict warnings.

His parents came over to St Mary’s school and the boy’s father told the Principal, “Well! You must be knowing I am so and so and quite an influential person, he further added, you have to take back my son”

The Principal an Irish Brother remained serene throughout the aforesaid words, but he was firm and confident about his decision, he said  “ Yes gentleman you can be anyone, but I refuse to compromise with a wrong and take back my orders, I would rather close the school and go back to my country than to accept your son who has disobeyed

I was then barely a 9-year-old girl, and after the sports when I reached home I narrated the incident to my parents,  I further said “ I admire Brother”  Today after so many years reminiscing past, lost in good thoughts I add up, I admire his distinction.

There was another event which took place sometime 10 years back. We were then staying in Calcutta. One fine morning whilst going through the newspaper I came across a true story which I would like to add up in my article.

A senior boy who was a student of St Lawrence, Calcutta, had cheated throughout the pre tests to sit for the finals.

After the exams were over, the boy had a strange feeling, one day after reaching school he straight went to meet the Principal, he told  “ Father I have cheated throughout and in all major subjects”   Father was taken aback, and told the boy to repeat the sentence.  The boy did accordingly. Father told him to meet him end of the day, and meanwhile he called the class teacher, and the other teachers too who took classes in different subjects.

He told them of the situation, and the others came to a conclusion, the boy would not be promoted. Father patiently heard what everyone had to say, and then he calmly declared which took all’s breathe away  “ Give passing marks to the boy and promote him so that he can sit for the finals”

Father saw the courage in the boy who confessed of his wrong, in his heart the boy felt fear of being expelled from the school, but still stood up and spoke truth.

Here I would like my readers to share my thoughts. Both the principals were disciplined, righteous, high-minded  and significantly honorable. The boy’s parents of St Mary’s school wanted to hide the wrong of their child instead of scolding him.

So Brother did the right thing to rusticate the boy

The St Lawrence boy confessed of his wrong and had the grit to tell truth. Father gave him a chance to shape his life for a better future. Father knew the boy would never do it again.

My personal view is had the St Mary’s boy too confessed his wrong and maintained integrity and rightness, Brother would have forgiven him and he would not have to leave school.

These are the few people whom you can count, different from others, who stand out in the maddening crowd, who shape children for a bright future, who show the path of faith, who believe in themselves, crossing the tunnels in life to find light and lead to victory.

Minakshi Chakraborty