CHILDISH VETERANS

Let me insist here that I am not a teacher who is in charge of making students comfortable with homophones. But still, there is a complete difference between the terms 'childish' and 'child – like'. I almost went deep in exploring the etymology of these two words due to some of the incidents I faced in the recent past. My friends always say that I act a bit childish sometimes as I tend to get provoked and frustrated too easily. And, certain situations have demanded me to do so. But if someone has the guts to face me directly and say, “You behave childish, mahn”, I definitely am confident that they would have to face the intensity of my slap in their cheek. That is because I got a chance, if not many, to practically experience the meaning of 'being childish'. Back to the scene now.

There are too many incidents but let me not make this post futile by listing out too many of them. During my first year at college, I had the habit of going to my home very often. In one such journey, since I had no smartphone then, I was sitting with newspaper then. An educated retiree sat beside me and was keenly looking at me for sometime as if he had noticed a porn star and was ready to pounce on her. There are some trademark looks and statures for these retired government officials, who think that one might become a scholar and versatile in English if he/she had the habit of reading 'The Hindu' regularly. It was evident that he was of that kind as he, after some period of staring at me, asked openly, “Why do you read all this?” Yeah ok, I felt humiliated because I was going through some latest cine gossips then. So, I threw a look of scepticism and awkwardness towards him, ensuring that it was my right to read any news I wished, being an Indian citizen. But then came the shock. “Why don' you read 'The Hindu' or 'The New Indian Express'? You couldn't get that or...?” He paused there with a thought of hesitation but I could read him by the way he looked. The sentence could be completed in this way. “..... or you don't read English? If at all, do you know anything about English at any cost?” I was reading Dinamalar, the greatest cheeky daily in Tamil, which provides news suitable or satisfying to everyone. But then, his blabbers went on to the utmost extent that he termed people who didn't know English as illiterate and insane.

That was all. I couldn't take anything beyond that. I already have mentioned that I am a bit easy in getting ireful and so I became red – faced and started replying him, or rather abusing and scolding him. It was after sometime that the conductor came and sent him off to another seat. I could hear that senior citizen muttering, “These days, even the toddlers learn more bad words than us elders. Look how he speaks. Doesn't seem to have English knowledge but shows off as if he knows everything!” Luckily for him, I had then started hearing an ARR track, which made me calm and composed, so the brawl didn't continue after that.

I wish to ask this question to all. “Do I or don't I have the freedom and independence to read the newspaper I like? Or by the way, if I don't read 'The Hindu', does it mean that I am fit for nothing and fit for futility? Or, has 'Dinamalar' really lost its importance in the newspaper market?” But, thanks to that man, I now have the benefit of filling up almost one – and – a – half pages in Micorsoft Word. (Take the positives out of everything and get pumped up, mate!!)

Another incident just happened today. I was with two of my best buddies on my way to the canteen when one elderly man stood on our way at a narrow lane. When one of us tried to step beyond that man, he just started shouting at the top of his throat some grammatically perfect sentences in English. “I have come closer to this point than you so you should maybe wait for sometime at the other end decently so that I can cross. Do you understand? After all, I was here before you. Everyone is equal in front of law and justice.” This guy really got embarrassed as there were some chicks in and around there. But then, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar would've felt proud because there was a common man here in the extreme southern part of India, who could speak boldly about law even without knowing what it was really. And moreover, had Mr.Shankar, one of the greatest directors in the history of Kollywood witnessed that scene, he would have seriously mulled on directingAnniyan v2.0, with that man in the lead, though he was bald – headed.

I wondered what on Earth did law had to do in connection with that incident. After all, it was just a blockade by a student, who was innocent and on his way to fulfill his hunger and thirst. After all, it was just about a foot difference that really mattered. After all, even that man could have let us pass through. He, on thinking himself to be superior to us, had actually landed himself so small in our hearts. How could a person of approximately 40 years of age behave in such a silly and trivial manner? If it was our bound duty to let him go, then the same was his duty, too. But, this sense of ego, which has become so common to us, is spoiling golden chances of building great, ever – lasting relationships between people from various walks of life. Egoism is particularly dominant among the people of 30 – 40, I say.

I face a lot of difficulties in buying grocery and vegetables these days. Reason: I have to wait patiently for about half – an – hour just to get some 100 ml of oil or salt or whatever. “You're a child. Why can't you wait for some more time? These people have other works.” As if children like us are always idle and lazy, wandering around there with no real purpose and aim? And then, I have this doubt also. How long am I going to be called a child? See, I have joined college; I have got my own two – wheeler and mobile (Most children today get these in their very early days. So, maybe let's not include this point); and I have even voted in an election, expecting acche din. So, I am not a child and I am busy. Try snubbing me by telling some other reasons but not this, please.

            Once, I was in a hotel with my friends. A family of three people were dining in the next table. After eating to the full, the dad paid the bill and was about to leave when their child, a boy who might be somewhere around his fifth grade, shouted, “Why don’t you tip the waiter?” The matured dad tried to calm him down by saying that the bill had already crossed the expecte budget so it was not the time to tip the server. But, this adamant guy asked a question which made me motionless for almost five whole minutes.”If we can’t pay some ten rupees for a poor fellow, why the hell do we spend about 500 bucks lavishly in eating? After all, you get incentives and allowances in your office. Have you ever denied them? If so, let’s go. Else, this waiter has to be given some allowance, now.” That was like Lord Muruga enlightening His Dad, Lord Shiva the Pranav Matra, Aum. My hand was waiting there near my mouth, willing to fill it with dosa pieces but then I was immobile. Only when the man took out a ten – rupee – note from his pocket and handed it over to the waiter did the dosa go inside my throat.

            There are lots more. Really, I don’t want to get into the debate of whether the technology is a boon or bane for children but even infants are well – equipped today. If they could think about satisfying the hunger of a poor fellow, then that isn’t something very ordinary.  So, do never try to snap them by telling, “You are still a child.”