A Peep Into A Child's World

Let us be honest with ourselves. How often do we, in our interactions with small children, go down to their level and try to read things from their eyes, consider situations from their viewpoints? Most of the time we try to pull them up to our level with repeated explanations, gesticulations, examples, etc. rather than kneel down to their level and let them come out with what they have in their little minds

Looking back at my formative years, I see my father as a great friend and support, a very loving person, and the one who pampered me the most. He never grew tired of telling me stories, both from classics as well as folk literature. Even later, in my late teens, I used to spend hours discussing books and stories with him. A voracious reader himself, it was he who introduced me to writers like Somerset Maugham and Bernard Shaw. But …. here comes the twist. He could never be a convincing teacher. Once as a child of 6 or 7, I had to learn some idioms given by the teacher. I could manage most of them myself but got stuck at one idiom, “Every bully is a coward.”

Try as much as I could, I found it impossible to decode the meaning of the idiom, as the words ‘bully’ and ‘coward’ were new to me. I approached my father, who readily explained it to me. ‘It is simple. It only means that each and every bully that you see, whether in school or outside is actually a coward, even though you may not realize it then. But you will see that for yourself- so one need not bother about bullies-they are all cowards. Is it clear?” He asked me looking at my vacant face. I nodded hastily as I knew that that was the only explanation I would get.

But I was not satisfied. I had to find out the meaning. Then it occurred to me – Why not puzzle out the meaning myself? After all, what is a bully? What could it mean? Bully, bully bull… a small bull, of course- a doggie is a little dog, a dolly is a little doll, a bully must be a small bull. Now comes ‘coward’. Well, the word ‘cow’ comes in it. So it is something to do with a cow- maybe meaning ’from the ‘cow family’’.

Wow! I’ve got it! It’s all so simple- a small bull does belong to the ‘cow family’-doesn’t it-a male cow?” It was plain logic. I ran to my father- all excited- “I’ve understood the meaning of the idiom, father.” “Really?” he sounded impressed. “But, isn’t it funny? Everyone knows it, still, they make an idiom out of it.” “You are right my dear.” And both of us had a hearty laugh over the stupidity of the language gurus.

Twenty-five years later, as a young mother of a five-year-old daughter, I found myself on the other side of the counter. My little Anju had an extremely curious nature and had a penchant for asking uncomfortable and embarrassing questions- questions which really had no answer, like, “Why does that uncle have less hair than my dad?” or “If you are taller than me then granny should be taller than you, but she is not, Why?” and so on….

One day as I was preparing my dinner, Anju, who was busy with her picture books, came to me and asked me, “Are there giants in the world really?” She showed some pictures of creatures with fangs etc., concern clouding her big eyes

“Oh no!” I laughed and drew her to me, “don’t worry there are no giants like these but when a man is over 7ft, we casually say he is giant.”

“But are there people of 7ft?” “Why not? Your father is 6ft. Well, there may be people who are just footing over him, isn’t it?”

“But, Papa. Is Papa really 6ft?”

“Yes, he is.”

She looked more thoughtful and concerned than ever.

Later in the evening, we had a guest- my husband’s colleague- and both the gents soon settled down with their glasses and a discussion on some issue that had surfaced in the office that day.

“Well,” my husband was saying, “I have never heard of such a thing happening in all my 35 years- it is ridiculous.” The very next moment little Anju was there tugging at my sari. “Papa says he is 35 years.” She said with disbelief. “Yes, he is, dear”! I laughed arranging the plate of snacks on the tray. “Now, go and play with your dollies. Mamma has worked.”

The next day my neighbor’s little daughter Chinky came to play with Anju and I overheard Anju tell her with full conviction,” Pata hain mere Papa ke Chhay payr aur 35 kaan hain (My Papa has 6 legs and 35 ears)

“Kya! Tu jhoot bol rahi hain” (you are lying)

“Sachi, Mamma bol rahi thi (True, my Mamma told me)”

“What kind of monstrous insect do you think I am Anju?” laughed my husband.

But the oversight was from my side. Anju knew only that much that was expected of age. For her feet and ears were parts of the body- payr and kaan. She had no idea that one foot also meant 12 inches and a year is 12 months. It was beyond her and I did not realize it when I spoke to her. In fact, when my husband had said “In all my 35 years, I have never heard of such a thing,” it worried her most and she interpreted it as “Papa ke 35 kaan hain phir bhi kum sunaiyi deta hain. (My father has 35 years, still he cannot hear properly).”

Today my life has turned almost a full circle. Children have become adults- grandsons have arrived on the scene. But still I find it hard to tear myself from the temptation of interpreting the actions of the newcomers, the tiny tots according to the accepted system of the adult world

“Why is this chubby little fellow so quiet now? What is going on his mind?” I wondered aloud.

“Remembering his activities of the past life”- remarked my mother

“Thinking and planning his mischief for the day,” decided my daughter.

As I gazed at the lovable bundle gurgling away, I could see neither of these explanations fitting. All that the six-month-old fellow wanted was to cozily suck his thumb while watching an ant crawl across the opposite wall, and slide into a blissful, deep, dreamless sleep. His stomach was full, his diaper was dry and newly changed, his bed was nice and snug. For him, God was in heaven and everything was fine with the world. And that was all that he cared.