The teacher and the cricketer

Every Student in India can connect to this story, especially those who grew up in the 1980s. It was a chance mention to me and I had to pen it down. It will for sure tickle your funny bone and you can have the laugh for your day

• Humour

								
     She was a strict no nonsense teacher who taught how our government functions. The civics teacher that every school has. Since the parliament structure in India has remained the same since Independence, she obviously did not have the variety in teaching, nor it is the favorite subject of the students especially in the all important 10th grade. So we can understand (to some extent) the reason behind her irritable nature.

     Thus, as days rolled one into another, came this one fine day. The day that the civics teacher got up on the right side of bed, with a smile and for some reason felt that her career revolving around the parliament structure from the Lok Sabha till the Panchayat board can take a little short break. 

     She walked into class, and announced that they were going to play a game. Surprise, smiles and some bored looks all came to her, but she was set in a good mood. Children were getting excited. After all it was not every day that they get to play a game, especially during preparation for the all important 10th grade, and that too in the ever important civics class. 

   Seeing the eager faces should have given her clue to think beyond, but in her perspective she was already thinking beyond and out came the much awaited game “Each of you, starting from the girls tell me what you want to become when you grow up?”

 Mind you, this was happening in the late 80s - around 1989. The world of bits and bytes was unheard off and career options were what was handed down. 

   Though the game felt a bit lukewarm, especially to the boys, it was far better than learning the differences between the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on a hot afternoon.

    Like all generations, girls started presenting the shiny, sincere side of the species. 
“I want to become a doctor.” 
"I want to become a pilot.”
 “I want to settle down in America.” ( remember this is 1989)
“I want to become an engineer.”
“I want to become a lawyer.” 

     With each declaration the smile on the teacher’s face grew wider, like thy were already in that position, and she was fully responsible for it. Her break from routine bore fruits and what can be better than this sense of pride. 

   Then came the boys. The first boy in the first row should have been cautious by then. But no, he was not. He was just watching the scene in front without the least being impacted by it. 

  He honestly answered what he wanted to do then “I want to play cricket.” What else does any boy at the age of 15 want to do other than play? 


Boom, the smile vanished in a microsecond and the teacher’s old avatar took possession. “What, you just want play around! No responsibility? To roam around with the bat is why your parents are educating you?” 

   The boy was watching her clueless, “What can be better than playing cricket with friends?"  Was running in his behind. 

    Then came her standard quote in class “Look at you. Blank face, blank expression as if I am talking in French or Latin? “ 


   And with that she went to the next boy. Boys are smart and by now they knew what answer the teacher wanted and came pouring the replies. The ranged from wanting to become an astronaut to becoming the Prime Minster.

   Her mood lightened a bit, but the magical time was gone. Thus, it was ensured that the next day it was back to learning the Indian Governance. 

What happened to that boy? Had to face multiple ripple effects from that day. ”You are anyway going to play cricket. Why do you want to do this or that? “ Or “Cricketer come here” was heard often.  

 When he selected the science group for his 11th grade, she even requested his father to move him to Arts as he was going to play cricket but was not able to alter his plans. 

The boy could never understand why cricket would offend anyone.

 And who is that boy?

 The boy still loves cricket, has become a leading doctor and is also my dear husband :-)
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