Eight-year-old Rohan lived in Nagpur, a city in the heart of India. He was a third-grade student at St. John's School. His favorite person in the whole world, after his parents, was his class teacher, Mrs. Singh.
Mrs. Singh was like a warm, comforting presence. She had a kind smile and a gentle voice, and she always encouraged her students to learn and have fun. She taught them most subjects, and her classes were always in the morning. Every day began with her taking attendance, followed by a story. These stories were what Rohan and his classmates looked forward to the most.
Mrs. Singh had told them about her son, who was a fighter pilot in the Indian Air Force. She would say, with a mixture of pride and worry in her eyes, "He serves the country, it is his passion. But a mother's heart is always concerned."
It was December 1971. Rohan could sense a change in the air. There was a lot of unrest in East Pakistan, which was far away from Nagpur, but its effects were being felt. Mrs. Singh explained that the people of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) were fighting for their rights because their elected leader was not allowed to form the government. Many people were leaving their homes and coming to India as refugees.
Soon, the situation escalated. War broke out between the Mukti Bahini, the freedom fighters of East Pakistan, and the Pakistani army. The Indian government decided to support the people of East Pakistan. Many soldiers and air force personnel were sent to the eastern border. Mrs. Singh's son was among them.
In Nagpur, though far from the eastern border, the war felt close. Sirens wailed in the evenings and at night, a sound that made Rohan's heart race. People were told to stay indoors and turn off their lights at night. Mrs. Singh seemed very worried now. The students shared her concern. They prayed for the safety of the soldiers and everyone else.
Despite her worries, Mrs. Singh continued teaching. But her stories changed. Instead of folktales, she told them about the war. She didn't try to scare them. Instead, she spoke of courage, sacrifice, and the importance of being prepared. She shared stories of brave soldiers and their victories. These stories made some of the boys, including Rohan, dream of joining the armed forces when they grew up.
Rohan's school had an Air Wing and an NCC (National Cadet Corps) program in high school. Mrs. Singh encouraged the older students to participate, saying it was a way to learn discipline and serve the nation.
The war was short, lasting only about two weeks. The Pakistani army surrendered, and East Pakistan became the independent nation of Bangladesh. Everyone was overjoyed.
Soon, life in Nagpur returned to normal. Mrs. Singh's son came back, a victorious hero. The children eagerly awaited the new stories she would tell, stories of bravery and triumph, told by a mother whose heart was full of pride and relief.
Nice tale. Though I wasn't in St John's for primary school, I do have some memories from 1971. I remember the blackouts and air raid sirens. Also dad listening to BBC on radio to get correct picture of war.
ReplyDelete