by Indu Parvathi
Along the precise rows of children
and amidst the cluster of teachers,
winter chill swirls on its icy toes.
Amplified voices tingle in the air,
a reluctant applause tiptoes around
for the winners of the quiz contest.
Crumbling into a silent stupor,
the hall awaits the Principal’s address.
“Term end exams next week.
No activities,nor any games or clubs,
only revision and review for now,”
he intones, moustache quivering.
His fiery gaze sweeps the hall,
scorching the latecomers at the door.
“Any news? Announcements?”
queries the school captain,
as is the practice every day.
“Yes, I will share my chips today,
but only with my four friends,”
says a sleepy kindergarten voice.
“Announcement, announcement
I have an announcement to make.”
Someone chirps out in a sing song.
A first grader races to the podium
captures the mike and booms,
“Why don’t you all come home?
We will race on the field
and will have cupcakes later.”
That’s the end of the assembly.
The school chuckles awhile
and flows back to the classes
to learn, unlearn and relearn,*
while Jagdish, the culprit,
trails after the principal
to answer certain questions.
* “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
― Alvin Toffler (Author of Future Shock)
