It was 15th auAugust.That day, I knew ,was papa's holiday.No more ,no less.But this particular day,15th August ,1990 I learnt was not any other day.It was our independence day and my first year in school.We were asked by our class teacher, the previous day, to wear clean neatly- pressed uniforms,polished shoes and reach school by 7 in the morning on15th,the next morning.The teacher,my first teacher Mrs Jaya Iyer,took my school diary and wrote something in my diary which read ............Dear parents,your ward.........................
I could only read these four words because it was common in all notice written by her and mom read it aloud,so i remembered.Rest was mere cursive writing for me because I had only learnt reading alphabets,numbers,rhymes recited by Ma'm and Mom.Since notice was a mixture of so many alphabets ,it was fussy for me to understand and read .Like always I went home and told Mom that there was something written for her in my diary.I always felt privileged for my diary was asked by teacher very frequently.Anyways,Mom went through the writing in the diary and told me "Tomorrow is Independence Day,and every year we celebrate this day because our country became free from foreign rule and we were our own rulers on this day in the year 1947"
Trust me I practically understood nothing and the only thing that bugged me was why does indepedence(oh my god !such a long word) start with 'I' and not'E'.I was far away from the purpose of the notice which said that I had to speak a few lines on this very auspicious day about its importance.My mom was very elated and humbled for being the mother of a speaker.But nobody other than her knew what it takes to make me mug a recitation or a short story.No prices for guessing it right I was an impatient listener and a quick learner.But my study hours started when everyones asleep.Yes in the midnight.She was initially very excited about my plunge to oratory but in no time she realised the lacunas.When Papa came home in the evening I rushed to say that I ll speak on "Indepenedndendnece".I pronunced it that way.He was like '"what???????????say again".Soon both them burst into laughter and I very cleverly realised I did some mistake somewhere.I was a lil child then but atleast mature enough to understand that it wasnt going to be very easy the next morning.Papa and Mom ,both of them ,tried their level best to finalise a simple,small,easy-to-pronunce speech for me because my preparation for speech would start early in the midnight and they had to play it safe.Then when the learning session started i lost interest in getting byheart because i was used to only rhymes which had some attractive words like"twinkle-twinkle,baba-black sheep,open ur mouth hahaha,chuby cheeks-dimple chin etc etc".The stories mom told had crow,bear,cat,monkey and so on.But this speech had only some bombastic words like"freedom","indepededendnenece(independence)","honourable","britishers".I dint like it.Soon my parents realised that it was rocket science for me.Then papa devised a way to make me understand it first.He told me what Independence is,how Britishers invaded us,set up east india company,then expanded their empire,subjugated provinces,then how poor enslaved Indians rose from the ashes,fought with non violence,about freedom fighters their struggle,bloodshed,massacres.All this and more.I was understanding it better now.Now I took interst in learning it.Heard it mom read.She read it 3 times and I just followed her.In no time I could remember it because I understood what "independence"is.I could pronunce it properly now.Soon I fell asleep and sooner I woke up for there were 'butterfies in my stomach'.I was all ready for school without hinting slightest fear or nervousness.Mom and Dad were the part of audience.I was amongst the first row occupants who would speak.We all stood up for flag hoisting and then "jana- gana-mana 'followed.Our Principal madam,Chief Guest Sir and Vice Principal Sir were on the dias.Then a group of girls performed on a patriotic song Then followed a sequence of speech by principal ma'm,sir,guests.Then came students turn.My name was called and I went up to the dias,looked for my mom and dad in the audience.I found them very easily as they stood up clapping and cheering me,very formally though.I started "Good Morning ,Respected Sir,Ma'm,teachers and dear friends......................"
Papa had told me to take necessary pauses and show li'l gestures.Mom told me to conclude saying jai hind ,vande matram!!!!!!!!!!I made no mistakes and ended my speech with a thank you.To my surprise,the entire audience stood up,clapped and clapped and clapped.I couldnot see my parents though.Our Principal Ma'm took me in her arms,pecked me and gave a rose from the bouquet in my hands.The Chiefguest sir asked me 'which class are you in?'My parents were called on stage and shook hands with them all.They were more than just happy.
It was my first performance on stage and my first felicitation for performance.since then I have won many prizes and lots of accolades but this one owes no second.Perhaps I won.It would last a lifetime.
I could only read these four words because it was common in all notice written by her and mom read it aloud,so i remembered.Rest was mere cursive writing for me because I had only learnt reading alphabets,numbers,rhymes recited by Ma'm and Mom.Since notice was a mixture of so many alphabets ,it was fussy for me to understand and read .Like always I went home and told Mom that there was something written for her in my diary.I always felt privileged for my diary was asked by teacher very frequently.Anyways,Mom went through the writing in the diary and told me "Tomorrow is Independence Day,and every year we celebrate this day because our country became free from foreign rule and we were our own rulers on this day in the year 1947"
Trust me I practically understood nothing and the only thing that bugged me was why does indepedence(oh my god !such a long word) start with 'I' and not'E'.I was far away from the purpose of the notice which said that I had to speak a few lines on this very auspicious day about its importance.My mom was very elated and humbled for being the mother of a speaker.But nobody other than her knew what it takes to make me mug a recitation or a short story.No prices for guessing it right I was an impatient listener and a quick learner.But my study hours started when everyones asleep.Yes in the midnight.She was initially very excited about my plunge to oratory but in no time she realised the lacunas.When Papa came home in the evening I rushed to say that I ll speak on "Indepenedndendnece".I pronunced it that way.He was like '"what???????????say again".Soon both them burst into laughter and I very cleverly realised I did some mistake somewhere.I was a lil child then but atleast mature enough to understand that it wasnt going to be very easy the next morning.Papa and Mom ,both of them ,tried their level best to finalise a simple,small,easy-to-pronunce speech for me because my preparation for speech would start early in the midnight and they had to play it safe.Then when the learning session started i lost interest in getting byheart because i was used to only rhymes which had some attractive words like"twinkle-twinkle,baba-black sheep,open ur mouth hahaha,chuby cheeks-dimple chin etc etc".The stories mom told had crow,bear,cat,monkey and so on.But this speech had only some bombastic words like"freedom","indepededendnenece(independence)","honourable","britishers".I dint like it.Soon my parents realised that it was rocket science for me.Then papa devised a way to make me understand it first.He told me what Independence is,how Britishers invaded us,set up east india company,then expanded their empire,subjugated provinces,then how poor enslaved Indians rose from the ashes,fought with non violence,about freedom fighters their struggle,bloodshed,massacres.All this and more.I was understanding it better now.Now I took interst in learning it.Heard it mom read.She read it 3 times and I just followed her.In no time I could remember it because I understood what "independence"is.I could pronunce it properly now.Soon I fell asleep and sooner I woke up for there were 'butterfies in my stomach'.I was all ready for school without hinting slightest fear or nervousness.Mom and Dad were the part of audience.I was amongst the first row occupants who would speak.We all stood up for flag hoisting and then "jana- gana-mana 'followed.Our Principal madam,Chief Guest Sir and Vice Principal Sir were on the dias.Then a group of girls performed on a patriotic song Then followed a sequence of speech by principal ma'm,sir,guests.Then came students turn.My name was called and I went up to the dias,looked for my mom and dad in the audience.I found them very easily as they stood up clapping and cheering me,very formally though.I started "Good Morning ,Respected Sir,Ma'm,teachers and dear friends......................"
Papa had told me to take necessary pauses and show li'l gestures.Mom told me to conclude saying jai hind ,vande matram!!!!!!!!!!I made no mistakes and ended my speech with a thank you.To my surprise,the entire audience stood up,clapped and clapped and clapped.I couldnot see my parents though.Our Principal Ma'm took me in her arms,pecked me and gave a rose from the bouquet in my hands.The Chiefguest sir asked me 'which class are you in?'My parents were called on stage and shook hands with them all.They were more than just happy.
It was my first performance on stage and my first felicitation for performance.since then I have won many prizes and lots of accolades but this one owes no second.Perhaps I won.It would last a lifetime.
