Hidden kindness & Terrible truth
A short story
Shyam was a smart young boy with great ambitions studying in a semi urban school. He fared well in studies and was quite liked by his teachers and classmates. Stepping into school finals, his one consuming desire was to make his last year in school eventful. He wanted to be acclaimed and remembered as a hero. Eager to draw attention to himself, he began sporting a punky hairstyle, get dressed in gaudy colours, and was seen hanging out with the town’s riffraff. Boisterous and defiant, he soon acquired notoriety. Shyam started skipping classes, attracting attention to himself for all the wrong reasons. Those who knew him thought that an intelligent, affable student was slowly but surely heading to perdition.
As the year was coming to a close, his class teacher, when preparing his character certificate, left a blank against the column: character. “I know you have performed consistently well in your studies in the past. Twice you were elected class captain and had led many group activities. You were a diligent sportsman winning medals, at least till the last year. My concern is about what you have turned out to be this last quarter. There have been many and frequent complaints about you. Some negative remarks mentioned include defiance, absenteeism, aggression, challenges teachers, disturbing class.”
“Shyam, I don’t really know how to grade your character. Last year I would have readily awarded ‘Excellent’ for your character. But your recent conduct has been diametrically opposed to what you have been all these years. I don’t know what to do. Therefore, I am leaving this column blank. I shudder to think of the consequences of the label ‘Poor’ against your character. It’s a stigma you’ll carry all your life. Opportunities would be denied, all doors will be closed. I don’t want your future ruined. Yet, in conscience I can’t help you. So, I’m forwarding all our records of your years in this school to the principal. Let the principal take the call.”
Shyam took some time to process what his teacher had said. With tears flowing down his cheeks and shaking all over, he stormed into the principal’s room. No welcome, no discussion — just the handing of the certificate with a label “Poor”.
And the “Poor”, though rich in money and capabilities and above average in marks, didn’t get an admission in “good colleges” and have to opt for a government college known for its rowdyism. His connection with the books and rowdies continued in the same veins; Still the “brainy beast” cleared the college in flying colours. Thankfully no more character certificate was issued. Was his character certificate going to affect his future dreams? He was ruminating these questions and responded, “Wait and watch.”
Never a fan of Bill Gates, or any such conglomerates, Shyam heard the video of Bill Gates — a college drop out from Harvard to the founding of Microsoft. “Poor” can do something. Ruminations were changing the directions, and he met a great philosopher cum activist who told him, “I was never the best in my class; I kept thinking; I kept encountering different kinds of people. That’s where my great activism was born, an activism with and for the people.” And he continued, “Inspite of all doubts put on you by the “Poor”, you still studied; you have experiences with rowdies; you talk to the nature; the path of your life is slowly emerging” Was it a prophecy or self-help talk? Shyam wondered.
Shyam joined the esteemed faculty of Manila for developmental studies. What was his advantage there? Along with academic skills, he had a brilliant exposure to the lives of people in difficulties; and he heard the groaning and sobbing of the creations. A development economist with much work for the grassroot level connections was born, and students from his erstwhile school started coming to his company for internship. “A legacy built in 5 years.” The article in the newspaper, that too in the Delhi and Mumbai edition of Times of India was the testimony to his pioneering work. He became a noble alumni of the school and college. “Poor was forgotten”, and “Shyam sir is remembered everywhere”. He murmuring still was not audible.
This notable alumni was the chief guest of the annual day of the school. The welcome speech spoke of the glories of the alumni— brilliant student in school, college, Manila and a brilliant grassroot economist. But two stories were forgotten — he wants to evoke it in his speech. Ex-principal was sitting in the front row; he was a guest, but not as distinguished as his “poor” student turned celebrity. The current principal on the stage saw that fear in the eyes of the man sitting in the front row; he requested, “please don’t humiliate the sir.” He can only request, but this is the moment of Shyam.
“Namaste,” Shyam started with a smile, “I start with a story, where two phrases were important pointers for my life. The first one was one word in my character certificate. Can you guess it, guys?” “Wonderful, brilliant”, responses were pouring in. “No, my character was Poor, and it was the tagline given by my head master, who is sitting in the front row. He was not even as gentle as my class teacher, who left it blank.” The murmuring started in the hall, and all the poking eyes were on the cruel monsieur.
“Life doesn’t end there friends. Sir came to my home in the evening. The Principal of our school came to that rowdy’s house and told me, “Sorry for that certificate; in between truth and kindness, I chose truth. But this label needn’t define you.” He gave me the autobiographies of Ambedkar and Martin Luther King; he asked me to decide for myself where I should stand in between truth and kindness.
“My friends, that humility and kindness and that phrase “Labels don’t define you” was more influential than “Poor”. It was my path to awesomeness. Thank You.”
NB: First 350 words were from a magazine who asked us to complete the story. So I just wrote it.
