The Flag Post ROPE

The Flag Post Rope It is commonly said that life after retirement is difficult to spend. I joined a school after retirement. The same profession continued therefore I didn’t feel so. The other day I read the horrid news of two school children drowned in the sea when the class went for a picnic. Parents must teach children swimming during summer holidays. When we were young our uncle taught us swimming in the farm- well. I got a job in a school after my studies. It was a defense school. When I was sent for scoutmaster training, the instructor was very happy about my swimming and gave me “A” grade. That helped me to pass the course with distinction. I became the Scoutmaster. In school, much work was volunteered and done by my scout troop. I kept a limited number of scouts in the troop. I used to take the troop for hikes and camps. When we went for camp, a cook from the mess was detailed and rations were plenty: enough for us and to spare for the people on the Besant Park Camp site. I love the Besant Park camp site spread over a hundred acres of forest land with a huge lake and boat house. The area measures a hundred acres of mixed jungle. Here you find small streams that pour into the large lake. Water birds and reptiles add beauty to this wonderland. The scouts would love this camp and requested me to extend the stay for a few more days. We used to visit one of the villages and the scouts contributed their used clothing for the urchins and the scoutmaster gave the villagers blankets brought from school donated by staff. In the evening the scouts entertained the villagers with the songs (mostly Hindi and a few English and local language songs.)The Besant Park Camp site is situated on the road leading to Nandhi Hills and about two kilometer away from the Railway Station. ALL trains stop here for the benefit of people going to Besant Park Camp site. Every year I used to camp there with my scouts. Since I was working in Military school, the transport was not a problem area. 0ne of my students had a spinning mill on the station road. He arranged a visit to the mill and the scouts were given Tea and Lunch. Our camp report was read by the scout who attended the camp, in the morning assembly. The result was that more number students apt for scouting. We conducted scout camp fire on Deepavali and Holi celebration on the school Parade ground. Meanwhile two of my scouts qualified for President Scout Badge The scouts celebrated this in a grand scale. To my delight I became the Bangalore District Secretary(Scouts) and I got my long-awaited promotion in the school also.As usual the scout troop was taken for their Annual Camp at Besant Park. It was in the month of 0ctober.I took the scout for exploration of the camp area. After some to me , I asked the troop leader to check whether everyone was present. He reported to me that one student was missing. Some told me that he saw him near the boat house. We went to the boat house. The boy pushed the boat and got into it. The boat started moving towards the wind blowing direction. He was so much afraid , started shouting for help. I was terribly confused. The troop leader stopped me from getting into the water fearing the slush. I looked for some rope. I couldn’t find any. The troop leader ran to the flag post and brought the rope. I throw the rope and asked the student to catch tightly. We pulled the rope. The boy was saved. He thanked me and other scouts for saving his life.

The Double Barell Gun (A Short-Story By K Jambulingam ) The Double Barrell Gun My wife and I were on board of the airbus that was on its way to Ranchi with a brief stopover at Kolkata. Captain Sanjay Kumar Singh announced that we were 2ooo’, above and will reach Calcutta in two and half hours. Then the chief of the cabin crew took over with her instructions. The beautiful air hostess started demonstrating the use of seat belt, emergency exits, oxygen mask and the live jacket kept under our seats. We reached the exit at Ranchi Airport. We were about to call our host. She appeared in her smart clinic uniform. Our host took us to her house where we spent the rest of our six days stay with her smart, intelligent, artistic and lovely children. In spite of her busy schedule, she managed to spend some time with us. She plays not only the role of CEO of her clinic but also does a number social service activity. Her car driver was a man from tribal community and his wife works in the clinic and at home. Our host took us to the temple at the hill and Durga Devi temple at her friend’s house. Next time I plan to go to Symbiosis Public School at Bundan and Jonha waterfall at Angara. I must agree that there are wonderful places to see in and around Ranchi. Due to the hot summer days we could not see all of Ranchi but during our brief outings in the evenings I could feel the street lights were dim. The Super market can be compared with that of Bangalore or any other city. Among the newspaper, I like the city edition for giving the headlines in English and the news in Hindi. During one of our outings, I had an unforgettable experience. As usual our outing with the kids and the host materialized. We were proceeding to the Sai temple ten kilo meters away in the jungle infested with terrorist groups. We ventured the trip because of our faith in Sai and the assurance given by some relatives of our host that the terrorists wouldn’t do any harm to the devotees proceeding to the temple. The moment we reached the mixed jungle that lead us to the thick forest area; the climate was cool and enjoyable. The car negotiated a curve .There stood a man .He stopped the vehicle like a traffic police. The driver slow down and we saw the man has covered his face with block scarf. He looked like the terrorist portrayed in the movies. We all got down from the car. The driver spoke to the stranger in tribal language. The gun in the terrorist hand fired in the sky. Another two people came on horseback and entered the scene. They ordered the woman folk to remove the gold ornaments. They took the purse from me that contained my pension identity card and photo identity card issued to me by the State Bank of Mysore and the senior citizen card issued to me by the Karnataka Government. We reached the temple. After prayer we came out. Three terrorist on horseback were coming towards us. People ran and hid themselves. I was bold because they already relived of everything we had. An young man from the group came to me and handed over all the things taken from us. He profusely apologized to me and told us that I was his English Teacher when he was in eighth class. He also promised me not to disturb the devotees. His fight was with the Govt. I looked at my host, the university gold medalist in medical science whose husband was also my student who occupied an enviable position in Army and passed away and buried with state honours. Whenever I was invited to speak at a function I used to tell that all my students occupy a place of pride. Hereafter I will tell the same about my student who has turned a terrorist.

MY ENCOUNTER WITH ELEPHANTS During School holidays, I usually go to the jungles to have glimpses of the wild life and shoot them: not with the gun but with camera. Last May, when my daughter came from US, we planned to spend a day or two in Mudumalai Nature Camp before proceeding to the Island Hut in Parambikulam forest range.We left Bangalore in two jeeps. 0ne jeep was driven by my son and daughter alternately. In the other, I carried the tents, water bottles, sleeping bags, rations, camera stands and two jerry cans with diesel.After a six hour drive from Bangalore we stopped at a teashop. It was 5 PM. My son noticed that diesel was leaking from the engine of my jeep. We detected that the tube connecting the diesel tank sprayed diesel all over the engine when ever the engine was started. The tube had minute holes. We decided that my son and daughter would proceed to the camp before it was too late. I had to repair or replace the faulty tube next morning and join them in the camp. They bid good bye. My daughter told me"to take care'. My son remarked that the old guard (referring me) would manage any situation. They left. I was waiting on the main road with the hope of getting some transport to reach the nearest town Gundalpet, eighteen kilometers away. There was no sign of any transport. The tea shop owner told me to sleep on the bench. I thanked him for the hospitality shown. My sleeping bag marked 'kay Jay' came to my rescue and I slept without dinner. I almost had a sleepless night.At five in the morning a lorry came and stopped at the tea stall. The driver of the lorry told that since there was a ban on vehicle movement, he stopped. Then I realized why my children went in a hurry. The Government had slapped a ban on the movement of any kind of transport from 6 PM to 6 AM.on that stretch. So that the vehicles would not disturb the migration of animals from one jungle to the other.I told the driver about my problem. He told that it was a common problem and he was ready to solve it. He pulled out the leaking pipe and w rapped a plastic condom and covered the leaking part and sealed it with candle fire. When the tube was refixed , it did not leak or spray any diesel. I thanked him. He went to sleep on the wooden bench where I spent the night. I requested for a cup of tea from the tea stall owner and he obliged. I started at 6 AM.I saw a motor cycle coming in my way. I stopped the bike. The rider told me that he did not see any wild animal on the way. I continued. While negotiating an up hill curve I felt the chill in the air. Slowly I was climbing down. I reached the plains.0n either side of the road was a mixed jungle with huge trees and thick bushes. The road was wet with occasional drizzling. The fog prevented my vision beyond twenty feet. Every now and then I came across the sign "Animals crossing point, go slow". Before I could realise what was happening, a few stags jumped across the road and disappeared into the jungle. I could have knocked one of them, if I had driven faster or had they moved slowly. I became alert. On my right, I saw a number of wild boar and at a distance on my left a pack of wild dogs lying under a huge tree. I was contemplating to stop the vehicle for a while to have a closer look at them. I switched of the engine. The jeep rolled for a few yards and came to a halt.I was about to get down.To my shock I saw a bull elephant standing in the middle of the road. It was staring at my jeep. I stood still. I knew any movement would have irritated the bull. Keeping an eye on my jeep, he gave out a small cry. The next moment, a herd of six elephants were crossing the road along .with three calves . The drama of crossing was over. The bull went after the herd and at a safe distance it stood and looking at me gave out another cry. As if ,to tell me to go on my way.I reached the camp. I narrated the whole incident. My daughter said," Daddy, the bull might have thought that sixty five year old man in the sixty year old jeep would do no harm to the herd". I said," It is their right to cross the road and only men are intruders in their teritory"..

Being Different

We come across people in our working place and other occassions telling us that they are different. They feel that they are not ordinary people but they are different in thier approach to solve a problem . They say that they are quite different. When I asked a friend of mine the why does he not go to the temple or church as other people. His answer was that he is different and he feels that he need not do as others. Not that he is against religion but being different, he conducts prayer meetings at home.He wants to be truthful to his consious and as long as he does not commit any harm to others he feels good. He doesn't want to follow others as he is a different man.While punishing an erring student the teacher always says that he is different and he follows his own method of correcting pupils. Therefore it is the mind set of some individual to be different. It is good if their approach doesnot harm and wound the feelings of others . Then and then only they can do things differently.

WHAT D0 YOU WANT TO BE

During my long experiences in Governemnt and private schools, I have come across more problem parents than problem children. When a boy or girl scores hundred percent marks in a subject like mathematics, parents attribute it to their heridity. But when a child scores less marks, the teacher has to bear the brunt. This isthe attitude probelem.Some teachers are interested in getting their students good grades in their subbject. They do not encourage their students in other extracurricular activities. May be a boy excells in Art and Painting,the teachers will not encourage him. Instead they tell the child to concentrate in their subject and the art and painting is not going to help him in future.Therefore teachers must change their attitude towards the children and parents must change their attitude towards the teachers. Then only the developing countries can equal thier standard of
education to that of developed countries.

When I gave the topic "What you want to become when you grow up" as an essay writing project to the students of eighth standard Sections A B C D. Out of one hundred and sixty students( Boys and girls), some of the boys wrote that they want to become pilots.Some expressed the desire to become cricketers.Since one of his uncles is a famous surgeon, one boy wrote that he wanted to become one. Another boy from bussiness community wrote that he wants to become an Engineer but his parents want him to look after the family business. Most of the girl students wrote that they wanted to become hospital nurses to serve the community.Two girls were different.One wanted to become a school teacher ; the other wanted to become an astronmer like India born Williams of United states.

As parents we force our children to take up a profession which we wanted and failed to enter.

Take my own example. I wanted to be doctor of medicine but I could not. Therefore I wanted my daughter to go for medical college.

In the common enterance test, she qualified for both medical and engineering courses. My daughter chose to continue her studies in Environmental Engineering. I had to accept her decision with a pinch of salt. Now she is in USA well settled. I say to people that I am very proud of her.

Therefore I feel that we must leave the choice to our children and we should not impose our ideas on them.

Now a days children are well informed and they know what to become. Young people marcheS on.

Absentmindedness

My wife had left for her school an hour ago. I came out of the house. The door with automatic lock closed behind me. I went to my vehicle to go to my school. The key of the vehicle could not be found in any of my coat pockets. Then I realised that I had left the keybunch on the table. I forgot to take it along with me. Perhaps as I am growing old, I have become absentminded quite often nowadays. The other day I went to draw some money from ATM. I inserted the card and I could not carry out my transaction as I had forgotten the four digit pin number.

I returned from the school in the evening and waited for my wife to return, so that I could enter into my house as she had the master key Sitting in my jeep I started recollectting my college days.

We had an absentminded Professor. 0ne day he drove his car to a book shop. He parked his car on the parking lot and went into the book store. He purchased some books and hired a taxi to return home..He realised his mistake, only when his wife asked him whether he had given the car for repair.The Professor's story was told and retold by the students year after year.
Everyone added one of his imaginative incidents to make it interesting. I too did. My story,"0ne day the Professor went to the college and shocked to see all the classrooms locked.Then he realised that it was Sunday. Instead of going to the Chapel on the campus, he came to the classroom blocks."

My friend added another bit to it." Once the Professor went to see his wife off at the railwaystation. As he was forgetful, he gave his wife the plateform entry ticket and came out with the journey ticket".
In those days we used to enjoy such jokes at the cost of my Professor. We laughed at him. To-day when it happens to me, to be honest, I don't hesitate to laugh at my ownself.

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TIME MANAGEMENT

We are aware of the proverbs and sayings- Time is Money,Time and Tide waits for no one.Time is precious. Time management is important in life and profession.Time management is learnt in school.We learnt to write the examination within an hour or two. Our training in school help us finish the task given to us on the prescribed time.Education imparts the most required knowledge of time management.We may be forced to attend too many tasks at the same time. At that time,We must decide upon the priorities. Suppose you face the problems of aleaking tap,fused tube light,leaking gas cylinder. Your first priority should be the laking gas cylinder repair. Other things can wait for a while.

We should not brood over the past.The English poet H.W. Longfellow in his poem,"Psalm of Life", says, "Trust no future;however pleasant, Let the past bury its dead; Act-act in the living Present;Heart within and God overhead".
Some people feel that it is boring to repeat the same thing every day.It is our attitude towards the work we do that creates fatigue. I will narrate a story I heard some time back. A student asked a vegetable sorter in the New York Super market whether he did not feel bored up sorting out cabbages every day. The worker told that he did not feel bored because he has been looking for two cabbages of the same size and colour.He could not find so far.This illustrates that if we take interest in our work, we will not feel bored.A friend of mine asked me whether I don't feel bored teaching English Grammar and Shakespearean plays year after year. I told him that the topics are the same but my students are different. Each year I teach a new set of students; therefore I don't feel bored.

English men are known for their punctuality. They knew the value of time and that's how they were able to rule the world and it was said that the sun never set in British Empire. I used to advise my students to be on time for all the activities of the school.'Be in the right time :in the right place and in the right dress', if you want to be successful in life.The most successful people in life are those who spend their time usefully.A well begun task is half done.Therefore, let us begin our task with interest, let us be focused and let us know our priorities as well, to succeed in life.