During
lunch time, my wife informed that the boy who topped this year in SEBA's
Class 10 comes from a very poor economic background. While both of us were
happy at the result of Sarfaraz, as usual, my wife became suddenly worried for
the future of our two sons who, she complained, inspite of getting all the
facilities, have never been serious at studies. I knew Sarfaraz would bring bad
news for Hrishi, the elder one, after he was back from School.
While
we rejoiced with the result of Sarfaraz, the news that followed thereafter were
shocking and appalling. Some people will always twist anything and everything
in the name of religion.
For
the national media, a Muslim boy becoming a state topper from a RSS backed
school may be a news, but it's not certainly a surprise in a society where we
grew up.
During
school days, I used to go for morning walk with an elderly person from our
nearby Moriapatty. I called him Borta ( Father's elder brother). Whenever
the dome of Hajo's Hayagreeba Madhav Temple was visible from the road, he
asked me to offer sewa (prayer). Abbas Sir used to teach us Hindi . In class,
he used to tell me - I studied with your Grand Father, taught your both parents
and now I will be teaching you. I still remember his emotional eyes the day he found
me in his class in my first day at School. And how do I forget the
advices of Late Habibur Rahman sir, who taught us in Primary School,
before I left home for my first job !
Needless
to say, my father too taught many at home and he never considered the religion
of his students who came to take lessons from him. Tajnoor and Amjat da are
still remembered by parents fondly.
With
time, the society where we didn't know the difference of religion has become
murkier. The experiences which taught me to be aware of my religion, I will not
write here. Those moments, I would love to forget as a bad dream. But still
some rational thinking prevails in the Assamese society. Caste and religion
still don't come on the way on choosing our friends.
And
that's why , the news of Sarfaraz to me is all about how a bright student
fought against all odds to come out with flying colors. Nothing more than that.
Wish
Sarfaraz a bright future above religion and May he become an inspiration for
many.
You can contact Kamaljit at kamaljitmedhi1975@gmail.com
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