Each one teach one

The first shrewd wind of winter swept across the city, stirring the sleeping leaves.

Badri turned over in his bed and looked up at the clock. If he didn’t get up now –

“You are going to be late for school, Badri “said his mother , walking into his room and pulling off his blanket “You have an exam today.”

“I don’t want to write it” mumbled Badri and got up slowly.

“You have prepared well for it” assured his mother “Now, get ready quickly.”

Badri had indeed spent a lot of hours studying for the exam but he was not satisfied. The exam was the only reason which had forced him to pick up his books. He felt he had no other motivation to read his subjects. Badri was a curious 12 year old. He thought more about the implications and causes of his every action than children of his age normally did.

The day flashed by in a whirl. Badri returned home after his exam, exhausted.

“How was the exam, Badri?” enquired Badri’s mother, handing him a glass of milk.

“It was alright “said Badri “I don’t see the point though. In the next few months, we will be taught new things and it doesn’t matter if we remember what we learnt previously. That’s how the system is. Isn’t it strange, Ma?”

“Yes, yes, of course” said his mother, from the kitchen “Is Hari there?”

Hari was a ten year old boy, who worked in their house.

“No, he is not in the hall” said Badri “Ma, we just had a session in school about the impact child labour has on our country. I think Hari shouldn’t be working here.”

“Badri, I don’t have time for this now” said his mother “Go find Hari. I need him to clean up the house a bit before the guests come.”

Badri sighed and walked out into the garden.

“What has to be done for a 12 year old to be taken seriously in his house?” he wondered.

Badri found Hari in the garden, crouched over a piece of paper.

“What are you doing, Hari?” asked Badri.

Hari jumped and looked around.

“Badri ! You scared me “confessed Hari “I was just , uh….nothing”.

He crumpled up the paper and grinned sheepishly.

“Tell me! “ urged Badri, stepping closer to Hari and trying to take the paper from him.

“I was just trying to read” said Hari, handing Badri the newspaper.

“Ah! Have you gone to school?” asked Badri.

“No, never been to one. There are schools which we can attend for free but my parents are not really keen on sending me to them. They want me to work and earn right from now. This is the situation in my village too. Most of the kids don’t go to school“ said Hari, turning around and sweeping the garden path ” Do you like school?”

“Hmm, sometimes” said Badri “I am not sure if I really use what they teach me. I just study and write exams.”

“Is that the point of going to school?” asked Hari “Just to write exams?”

“I was wondering the same this morning” said Badri, putting his hand around Hari and looking at him with the same gravity as a leader pondering about a crucial issue in his country.

“I see no point in paying so much money just to write exams” said Hari “There should be a bigger reason. “

“Well, there is “said Badri wisely “You finish school and get into a good college and then get a job . Sometimes even without learning anything.”

“That’s not so good “said Hari “I would want a good job but also learn a lot while I am in school or college”

Badri stared intently at Hari, his eyes widening.

“The purpose of me going to school is not to write exams anymore!” he exclaimed “The purpose of me going to school would be to teach you!”

Hari put down the broom and looked up.

“Really?” asked Hari “You’ll teach me ?”

“Yes, I will” promised Badri “At least that would give me a reason to learn more rather than just write some exam”.

And so, the days passed by. Badri would go to school everyday and take notes with a new fervour and concern. He would bombard his teacher with every question he could think of to make sure he had understood everything properly.

“Badri! “ said his teacher, exasperated with the torrent of never ending questions “ That doesn’t lie within the scope of this class.”

“Of course” shot back Badri “But it lies within the scope of another class I am teaching.”

His teacher looked at him stumped.

Badri would come home everyday and diligently teach Hari, with his notes by his side. Hari was a quick learner. He looked up to Badri as not only a friend but also an earnest teacher, who had added a new meaning to his life.

“I don’t understand this completely, give me a minute” said Badri one evening, squinting at his math notes.

“Which one?” asked Hari, peering into Badri’s book.

“This problem…” said Badri, pointing at a diagram and quoting Calvin ” As you can see, I have memorized this utterly useless piece of information long enough to pass a test question. I now intend to forget it forever.” Badri considered himself similar to Calvin and reading those comics had set him thinking about several of life’s remarkable things.

Hari looked at it for a few seconds.

“Aha!” he said after a minute “I got it. You just use the formula we went through yesterday to get the missing numbers and then you have the answer”.

Badri beamed proudly at his student. He knew very well that was how it was done. He was just testing his student without him knowing.

The one way learning session gradually turned into mutual learning sessions, where Hari was also able to make Badri understand some concepts better.

After two years, Badri’s father got a transfer and they had to relocate to another city. Badri and Hari were equally unhappy.

“I will write you letters” vowed Badri “Maybe we can continue our sessions that way.”

Hari laughed.

“That is so nice of you, Badri “said Hari, reassuringly “But it may not be this effective. Don’t worry about me. I can never forget how much you taught me. Hope we meet again someday.”

Badri and Hari exchanged goodbyes and parted ways disheartened.

Badri’s guilt of abandoning his faithful student pricked him day and night. As the years went by, this guilt was pushed further down in his mind but never vanished. He finished college and joined a reputed company, which specialized in developing business strategies. His job was to assess proposals for strategies for growth and validate their viability. He enjoyed his job as it stimulated him to ponder a lot. He was sent to a local village one day to analyse the suitability of an educational software for rural children.

As he drove through the lush green village, a bright yellow building with the board “Each one teach one” caught his eye. He slowed down and parked his car outside the building. He got out and stretched, still looking at the building inquisitively. He looked around. There seemed to be no one in the vicinity but the door to the building was open. He walked in and spotted a man sitting in one corner, scribbling away in a book. Behind him was a shelf with several books.

Badri walked up to the man. He looked up.

“Hello, how may I help you?” he asked politely.

“My name is Badri” said Badri “I came to this village on a company assignment. I was driving by and noticed this building. What exactly happens here?”

The man motioned for Badri to sit down.

“We are an innovative social venture” explained the man “Our aim is to reach out to the children in this village and help them study.”

The man paused and smiled at Badri.

“I had a friend named Badri” said the man “He taught me my first few lessons in all subjects –“

“Hari ?” gasped Badri.

“Badri !” shouted Hari standing up and walking to him. Badri hugged Hari.

“It’s so good to see you!” said Badri “Do you run this venture? Tell me more about it. How have you been?”

“One question at a time, Badri “laughed Hari “This venture is the result of you inspiring me, Badri. I am continuing what you did for me. I started here at my own village. I approached children at a really well known school here and told them the story about what you did for me and how it helped me come up in my life. I urged them to pick anyone they know and teach them the same way. The school was always very helpful and promoted my idea to a few other schools here. Many kids found it exciting and took up the job which you did.”

Badri listened, amazed and astonished.

“That is brilliant!” said Badri “Why do you need this building here then?”

“Oh, sometimes a few kids teach and have their sessions here” explained Hari “We provide material for study too sometimes. We are looking to expand in other cities. The program has had a good reach, Badri. I am at a loss of words to thank you for what you did for me. I tried to find you several times but I couldn’t.”

“That’s okay, Hari” said Badri smiling “I am glad you are doing so well. What did you study?”

“I studied chemical engineering, Badri. I convinced my parents to send me to school and entered a good college eventually” said Hari “And I also did an MBA. I worked for two years in a company and then started with this. There has been no looking back. I have also started a few other programs which help affluent families choose a child and pay for his or her education. We’ve had tremendous results.”

The guilt which had been bothering Badri for years turned into satisfaction.

“If you need any help, do let me know” said Badri “I am looking forward to contributing in any way I can.”

After several hours of talking with Hari, Badri walked out of the building euphoric at his triumph.

The seed of education will never remain buried once planted, it will only spring into new plants of wisdom.