I spot Subu outside the ‘living museum’ struggling to put his shoes on, quite alone as usual. I run to chat with him. He’s probably five now, and has moved from Red to Blue Group. I say what I always say to him,
“When will you tell me a story?”
He ignores the question. So I ask him another, just so as to make him chat a bit.
“Where are the other children?”
He chooses to answer this question,
“They are in the Group”
“How come you are not in the Group?” I persist
“Because I’m not.”
“Yes, but why?”
“Because I’m not.”
“Okay, so tell me a story.” I come back to my original stance.
“How can I think, it’s not even lunch-time?”
Of course I know Subu takes the longest time ever when he’s taking lunch. During the ritual of taking lunch he loses himself in his dream-world. Everyone assumes it’s because he doesn’t like the food and as a result he’s the last to leave the dining hall. But I still ask,
“What does thinking have to do with lunch-time? You can only think at lunch-time or what?” I ask, both perplexed and amused.
“Yes”
“Why do you only think at lunch-time?” I’m curious.
“Because God made me that way” he smiles and runs away.
Food for thought?
Harvinder Kaur
(Harvinder Kaur began her journey in education because it made her heart dance! After a regular job for some years, she worked as a volunteer in non-formal education based on Sri Aurobindo’s philosophy which was for her a turning point. An avid writer, she writes poetry, articles and stories on education and spirituality.)
