Letter to the Editor
Dear Sir,
Through the columns of your esteemed publication, I wish to share a moving episode of innocence I witnessed on the very first day of the mega enrolment drive at the eye-catching premises of the Government Higher Secondary School, Gadole.
The scene was profoundly touching and heartbreakingly moving. On the 10th of November, all the affiliated schools of the cluster head, HSS Gadole, had brought their fresh admittees to participate in the Mega Enrolment Drive. The children were handsomely attired. Their hairs were neatly oiled and properly combed. As a token of love and mark of warm welcome their necks were beautifully adorned with colourful garlands.
Officers of school education department and other visitors were busy motivating parents to enrol their children in the nearest government schools. Different facilities like free textbooks, free uniforms, the Mid-Day Meal scheme, and a highly qualified staff were counted on loudspeakers.
Aroma emitting Kong Kehwa, biscuits and water were being distributed among the gathering. Bananas were offered and on the tables, dry fruits in shiny silver bowls awaited attention. Between all this, a little boy of barely four years was innocently helping himself. He picked up a few dry fruit grains, chewed and swallowed. And then he picked up another grain, chewed it and swallowed.
He did it multiple times caring least about the gathering and the event which was actually called in his love and welcome. Oblivious of the fact that like me he drew attention of few other members of the gathering too, he continued with his innocence. He would occasionally sip water from the bottle passionately offered by the Zonal Education Officer, Vailoo, Bashir Sahil Rather, to wet his throat.
In between, he would scribble and doodle in the dust, as if to seal his unspoken promise to stay with us for the rest of his student life. No words can truly capture the pure innocence that radiated from his face.
As he was busy eating, I was lost in thought. I began to contemplate how, twenty years from now, when he is in his twenties and has gained the ability to distinguish between good and bad, he will either bless or curse this day we enrolled him. If we can build his future and stand by our promises—and I am very confident we will—he will be grateful to all those involved in bringing him to school. In every prayer he will remember them and pray for them. And God forbid, if we failed, so will he.
Now, it is the moral duty of all stakeholders who have admitted such innocent children, who know nothing about the up and downs of life, into our government schools to ensure they receive the quality education they deserve. We must prepare them for future challenges and equip them to thrive. It is our collective duty to shape them into a responsible, and enlighten citizen of tomorrow.
I rest my letter. Thank you.
Bashir Ahmad Dar (Teacher)
