Gurukul

I was looking at the campus, proudly, from the top. The biggest school campus in the city, it is a status symbol to get one's kid enrolled in our school. The well-designed school building consisting of classrooms, administrative office, canteen, hostel, swimming pool, gymnasium and other utilities is an architectural marvel. The garden, the lawn is a treat to eyes. I was enjoying the view, there was pin-drop silence in the classrooms. The entire corridor was neat and clean. The security guard was relaxing in his cabin, without worrying about half hazard parking. The lawn and garden were neatly maintained. I could see the school staff were moving lazily, the canteen was very clean and there was no rush for having food. I was looking at the CCTV cameras' monitor, everything was perfect. No students were in the playground or moving on the corridor. An unusual silence was prevailing, the very rare scenario for the school. I decided to climb down and take a round of the school, started from the gate. The security man was, who complained every day about the students for wrong parking, coming late, hanging around the tea stall, playing in the garden and plucking flowers, was looking very cool today. The lawn was looking like a green carpet, the garden was full of colourful flowers, it was giving a look which was very soothing to the eye. The classrooms were completely in order, the clean blackboard, the desks were arranged properly. No parents were waiting to meet the teachers for listening to the complaints. No students were asked to stand outside the classroom as a punishment. Now  I was in the dining hall, what a sight, everything was at its place. The dustbins were not full of tissue papers covering the most unwanted food items like bits, carrot or bitter gourd etc. The windowpanes of the classroom near the playground were intact. I was surprised at the sudden and unexpected change in the school environment. Initially, I was enjoying the changed scenario but slowly could realise there is something unusual. I was missing the students, the morning rush of students, the noise that makes the environment lively. I could see flowers losing the brightness of their colours, the birds were missing, honeybees were not hovering around the flowers. The dewdrops on the lawn were not enjoying the morning sunshine. I was standing like a Selfish Giant looking at the lifeless campus.

My dear students, I just want all of you back in the school. I have no existence without you. I have not changed with the passage of time. Whether you call me Gurukul or pathshala or Vidyalaya or school. I was there with Guru Dronacharya, at Nalanda or Shantiniketan, always guiding you. Now it is the time to put my foot down. There will be a new environment in the school, it will be fun learning. We will have more periods for games, nobody will stop you from playing on the lawn. No homework, no school bag to carry books. There will be classes in the open air. We will make you better human beings to face the world, not just to have good scorecard.