Down the memory lane- II

Second Grade
A win after all

I mince no words in saying I was as poor a student as one can be in my Kindergarten and most of my First grade, till I joined KVW.
My relatives draw reminiscence recounting how much they had struggled in vain to teach me write the first tamil alphabet! I would always manage to write it reversed.
(Thank god, Tare zameen par came much later. Else, People would’ve doubted dyslexia! )
My Octogenarian grandma, still clearly remembers how we had become a laughing stock when I messed up as a tamil teacher in a Fancy Dress Competition, chanting "Sooriyan udhikkum disai kizhakku" ("The sun rises in the east.."), instead of Aathichoodi (A tamil poem)!
It didn’t stop with this. I had once gone to the wrong dressing room in my UKG Annual day function only to turn up in the wrong costume for a western group dance (Boogie Woogie)!
And, obviously, with such a heavy background, it would have taken a person some time to get accustomed to a new place. And my remaining 3 months in First standard and the summer vacation that followed gave me just that.

With an increased friend circle and an enhanced communication skill, my second grade started seeing what was supposedly a myth earlier- ‘my better side’. :)

And the incident that I choose as the most memorable is one of those!

It was a dream-come-true for a struggling child facing one adversity after another, having not managed to win even a consolation prize at the dumbest of dumb competitions. (yes, it includes the ‘dumb-charades’ I played in my First grade!)

My brother had become a popular student by then, having given quite a few stage performances, be it competitions, news reading, sharing the ‘thought of the day’, or giving the monotonous “Saaavdhaan!!!- Vishraaaam!!!” :).

So, it was natural that I tried my hand at it one day. And that day did arrive.

It was time for the Annual English recitation competition. And, I gave my name after noticing the best student of my class not going for it for reasons best known to him. (One viable reason would be that he had his showcase completely filled with Cups that he was waiting for a new showcase to be installed! :) )

We had more than a week to prepare for the competition. I took to my dad for help. He obliged by getting me a copy of “Twinkle Twinkle little star” (full version) from the state board English texts.

I had a very tough time learning the poem by heart. I kept forgetting the lines every now and then. And, finally, lost any confidence of reciting it on stage.

I was so scared in the morning of the competition that I was almost in tears asking my dad to do something. He gave his usual solution-

“Take the day’s leave, son. I’ll write a letter to your class teacher”.

I somehow didn’t like the idea for once (yeah, I stress, “only once” :) ).
I got an idea. I managed to borrow a kindergarten English text book from my neighbour and started searching for the easiest poem available.

Amidst the little stars, humpty dumpty’s and hot cross buns, I found what I wanted-
A four line poem not learnt in my KG.

I thought this would be enough to save the embarrassment of standing blank on stage. I started mugging the lines up. It took just an hour to master it. And, I started to school on our cycle rickshaw pondering if I had done the right thing.

A part of me told I would be making a fool out of myself. But, I shrugged it off saying,
“Nothing to fear mate. You have been doing this all along! Nothing new!” :)

And the competition began.

With each participant’s performance on stage, my confidence stooped further low.
For, they were not just reciting lengthy poems, but were also giving a tune to it.

And, when I was completely inside the bore-well I had dug for myself, my name was called!

I walked on to the stage nervously.

I had been instructed by my brother not to look at the audience but to look at the space in between. I started looking out for that elusive space, but couldn’t find one.

I stroked the microphone’s head twice as everyone else had done not knowing the exact reason. It echoed, making me more nervous than ever.

But, I had practised my initial address speech pretty well. So, I started off with a confident sounding “Respected judges, teachers and my dear friends..”.

And then it happened!

The microphone stopped working! It was a power cut!!!

My nervousness dried away. I could sense an opportunity. I knew my voice would now be heard only as far as my judges were seated.

I thought this was my golden chance. I didn’t stop my speech. I carried on. And quickly recited what was meant to be my first successful recitation:-

“Cock crows in the morn to tell us to rise,

And he who lies late will never be wise;

For, early to bed and early to rise,

Keeps the body healthy, wealthy and wise!”

(The above is the complete poem and not a small part of it! :))

Relieved having recited my part without the speakers, I departed saying a big “thank you” to all, and more importantly, to God for saving my grace!

I asked my classmates for feedback soon afterwards. All of them said they couldn’t hear even a bit. I was comforted! 

A week later, the winners were announced on stage during the Morning Prayer,

“...And, the first prize goes to B.S. Sankara Subramaniam of 2nd B!”

To this day, it has been a mystery what made the judges award it to me.
But then, I had learnt a lesson,

There are some things in life destined!

I managed to win many more prizes then on. But, this moment is the most memorable of them all! :)