My Sis: Through My Eyes (10)
Chapter – 10 (No Real Talent Ever Goes to Waste!)
All my sisters couldn’t have been Destiny’s Fav Children. They deserved more than what was dished out to them. I’ve already written about Mejdi – how inspite of being a very meritorious student, she had to be contented with a second class. Two students were above her when the M.A. results were out. She couldn’t even win the recognition that was her right as a teacher. Her junior became the Vice Chancellor of the University of Calcutta and she retired as the Head of History, Lady Brabourne College, quite embittered and battered with her share of fame and recognition.
But this book is not for Mejdi, so I will try not to deviate from the subject of my Sis. There is something very wrong with the education system of our country. The really talented ones are pushed to the background while the ordinary, mediocre students hog the limelight, for all the wrong reasons! I hope this is not the case with the rest of the world.
My Sis was never serious about her studies. Like some other girls I know, she was more into being a home-maker from the time she graduated from high school. Her sole purpose in life, so it seems to me now, was to marry the Noble-hearted Prince and make a peaceful, blissful home with him. That she was talented, I have not the least doubt about it. I will come to her academic interests later, let me tell you how versatile she has been. She was an outstanding sportsman in her days and won most of the races she participated in. Once there was this ‘Go As You Like’ Contest’ organized by her school. She had earlier won a similar contest organized by her Club, Mitali Sangha. She decided to act as an insane lady and went on to win the Contest. When she came near our house, with her bizarre make-up and all, someone even threw a stone or something at her, having mistaken her for a real crazy woman by her sheer acting!
She has always been a born leader and went on to be elected as the GS (General Secretary) of her college, South Calcutta Girls’ College. Not only the students of the college, but also the teachers ( right now I recall one Ms.Lovely and she indeed was as lovely as her name suggested) were very fond of her. My daughter, Akanksha, should understand this better recently being elected the CR (Class Representative) of her class in her college. My Sis, by the way, was the GS!
Her popularity was unimaginable and all those beautiful girls came crowding at our house whenever they were faced with a problem. I intend to write about her concept of friendship and friends in a separate chapter. This chapter, for the time being, is about her talent that she was happy to keep hidden to the rest of the world. The following incident will give you an inkling into her latent talent. It happened the year my Mejda, passed away. He was another bundle of talent having had the enviable distinction of being the youngest Headmaster of his time. Even after having retired from the school as the Headmaster, he was closely associated with its administration, post retirement. Naturally, the school organized a ‘Shmaron Sabha’, a kind of get-together to pay homage to the former Head. Many distinguished speakers were there, speaking about Mejda’s contributions to the school and even Bengali Literature. I don’t remember who asked her to go up then and speak a few words on behalf of the siblings of the diseased. Now, mind you, I’ve been teaching for close to twenty five years at that time, but I also preferred to egg her on as well. Totally unruffled, she went up to the stage and delivered a speech impromptu. I know it for a fact because just before her name was announced, she was trying to introduce to me, some of the well-known guests present there, sitting next to me in the school auditorium. God! How courageous some people are! She started as if public speaking had been her profession and spoke so very confidently and competently, of things that came straight from a sister who was heartbroken at the irreparable loss of a brother and missed him dearly, that some ladies sitting in the row before me started dabbing at their eyes with a hanky, towards the end of her speech. There were not many left with a dry eye in the hall. That’s when, looking around, the enormity of the occasion was made to sink into me. Was I not very proud of this self-effacing sister of mine that time? You bet, I was.
She has never tried to talk about her qualities and achievements to others, has prided whole-heartedly in the successes of her nephews and nieces always, and most of the times preferred to be dumped amidst a sea of boisterous achievers!
A fighter to the core, she should have at least earned the respect due to her from her own people. That was not to be. Unfortunately, despite their education, high qualifications and erudition, most of them, in my humble opinion, will find it difficult to hold a candle to my Sis in the talent field stated above, for God grants His special favours and grace only the chosen best.
