” Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.”
- Margaret Mead
How true. After their parents, children look up to the youth for guidance, for support, for answers and sometimes just for a reason to do something they want to. What is so special about youth?
Sophia Lauren says:
“There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your lives and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age.”
In the youth, children see enthusiasm; the bubbling vivacity that drives boredom away. A thirst to prove themselves and an endearing recklessness that inspires them to do things that age approaches warily. Children emulate what they find attractive and special in these young people. That is because childhood believes that what it sees is real. It is a time of innocence, of slow psychological change.
And it was in this phase of my life (feels like ages ago), that I happened to know and appreciate a bunch of young men and women who spent time and came together to train kids like me in the vast field of fine arts. For me it was my first brush with competitive singing and speech. After a month of sweating it out in the mini hall of the church, we would present our songs and well-prepared speeches at the Konkani Natak Sabha (Don Bosco Hall, we called it), in the tough annual inter-parish competitions. We brought home the overall championship without fail for several years. If we lost individually, we would put on brave smiles or walk away with drooping shoulders (or even cry and make a mess) and they would still be with us.
Thinking back on the training period makes me nostalgic. The qualifying auditions were never scary and come to think of it I don’t even remember feeling nervous. Everything was so informal. There was this time when our practice went on till long after it was supposed to. And as six-o-clock neared I started glancing at the clock every few seconds and simultaneously got my verses mixed up. Actually I watched this program on tv at six every evening and I did not want to miss it (missing programs was a big deal). After putting up with my sloppiness for a while they asked me what was wrong. I was embarrassed and didn’t reply. But then one of them started guessing and (uncannily) got her first guess right! I did not get an extra hour of practice as punishment but a couple of good laughs and a drop home. It was five minutes after six, but I got to watch the rest of the program!
But it wasn’t always easy. A singing competition meant a strict hot diet and hot diets are difficult to follow when you are eight years old and love ice-creams. So one rainy evening when we were early and had nothing to do, we happily got drenched in the rain and got scolded so much (“Playing in the rain! Ridiculous! Get a cold, and I’ll teach you to get wet!”), we won’t forget it in a hurry.
On the big day we all gathered in the church in our colorful dresses looking important and excited and the priest said a short prayer to sooth our nerves and after the customary ‘three cheers’ we hopped into the car and sped off to Don Bosco Hall. When we finished singing, these youngsters would always be there to cheer the loudest whether they knew us personally or not. It was a special bond.
When the results were announced (some delay meant that we would bite our nails to the flesh), if we won, one among them would carry us to the stage to receive the prize. One such time, I remember demanding to be grounded because I was terribly shy and considered getting carried to the stage some kind of a shame.
What we shared with them was something wonderful. A rare experience that will never fade from our memories. Their behavior left an indelible mark on our lives. They brought out the talent in us. They used to gather in big numbers in the church premises but they did not smoke. They did not use abusive language. What I’m trying to say is that they acted like responsible people. Why? Because they knew that children believe what they see. They knew that their actions were setting us an example.
Wherever they are today I am sure they have made good husbands and wives, good parents and most of all good citizens. Because, to learn out of experience is what age does, but to show the way to others much younger than you, without being told, is great. It is the mark of responsible youth.
“They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old; Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, We will remember them.”
- Laurence Binyon
yea nish…i too remember those days….they were really awesome…..I won’t forget them for anything!!!!!!