THE MOST PRECIOUS GIFT

“The mind is a complex lump of energy. Thoughts arising inside the mind make us happy as well as sad. I believe if you pretend to be happy for at least 21 days it will become a habit. Habit is nothing but a continuous repetition of the same task which becomes permanent later”. The entire class was silent as Dharma was trying to build up their broken confidence level after the Mathematics teacher left the school forever.

“I know, this is one of the most prestigious schools in the city and your Maths teacher was more than a pathfinder for you all. I learned it from one of your batch mates”. But Dharma’s words couldn’t break the eerie calmness of the class.

The bell rang and Dharma came out of the class cursing himself for not being able to win the hearts of the students. But in his mind, he took for grant that every teacher in the school has a dynamic personality as the student’s attitude shows.

Dharma has worked in 7 schools in the last four years. He aimed to climb the ladder of success slowly and steadily.

Every day he would make a list of the top schools in the city and submit a resume whenever he gets time. His career was at its peak which left lasting impressions in the past schools and with an increase in salary every time he skips to a better school. But the numbness of the students of his present school was intolerable. Dharma consoled himself.

“Today is the first day and I never accept failure, I’ll have to go into the root of the matter”.

Dharma walked briskly down the corridor to the staff room and sat quickly on the corner of a desk. His presence in the staff room didn’t seem to bother anybody. Some of the lady teachers gave a fake smiles looking at him. Everybody was busy in their world. Some of the lady teachers were busy discussing the new shades of El-18 nail polish and others about lipsticks. He could hear every matter of the world except teaching.

Dharma took a class register and started turning the pages silently listening to the talks.

“You don’t have to buy the new shades of Revlon nail polish”, one of the lady teachers spoke.

“Teacher’s day is on next week and I’m sure, we’ll get nice gifts”, the ladies started giggling.

“And Bakshi Sir, you need to reduce your tummy or else XXL shirts will cost more than XLs”.

Dharma came out of the staff room and headed to the 2^nd floor for the next class.

“Days have changed! I always dreamt of being a teacher in the school where I learned the value of a teacher, but this new section of the same school lacks the building blocks…….. true teachers. I wonder why the Maths teacher left the school. Consoling his mind, he climbed the steps. But he never thought that the next 45 minutes is going to change the scenario into a new world. A thought started germinating inside his mind.

“Good morning sir”, a faded greeting. Dharma was not surprised as the class showed the same response the previous day. Dharma walked around the class and tried to peep inside the minds of the students.

“So students; Today is my first day in your class and I find something is missing here”. The students blinked their eyes and turned towards Dharma.

“Okay, I’ll tell you what is missing here and you and I will try to find it out”.

One of the students spoke in a low tone to the one near to him “Is he speaking about Raj Sir”.

“No, you fool, this teacher doesn’t know him”.

Dharma took a piece of chalk and wrote, “The Most Precious Gift” on the blackboard, and started speaking.

“Once upon a time there lived a hermit on the outskirts of Kohlapur. The hermit was a great scholar who almost all the time remains busy in meditation. He was the master of immortal arts….. Archery, wrestling and above all….hypnotism”.

There was pin-drop silence in the class and the students with their backs straight and unblinking eyes stared at Dharma’s face for what was next.

“This is not a core subject class dear, all of you can sit the way you like”.

Dharma started again.

“The hermit has some followers who are on the way to completing what was taught. One day, the king of Kohlapur sends a ‘summon’ to the hermit to train the ‘to be king’, the present prince of the kingdom.

The hermit rejected the summon and told the guards,

“Go and tell your king, that if he thinks I’m worthy to teach the prince then he should come to my place”.

The guards left his place and the next day, a royal chariot pulled with seven white horses appeared at the hermit’s hut.

Down came Vajraketu, the king of Kohlapur with both palms joining together in a traditional Namaste posture.

“I’m sorry Guruji, it was so mean of me to send a ‘summon’ to you. My chariot rider will drop the prince at your place at any time you wish”.

“But Rajan (king), I have the same restrictions for everyone I teach. First, your son will have to adopt a hermit-like life here to be my disciple. Second, he’ll have to spend his life here for the next fifteen years till I complete imparting whatever I have”.

The kings thought of imposing power, and refuse everything but remembered the mighty rulers and warriors who were once his disciples, which include him too. The king left the cottage leaving the prince with the hermit to be trained as the future ruler.

“This was an ancient Gurukula system”.

“Sir, just like a boarding school”, shouted a backbencher. The entire classroom was filled with the sounds of laughter. A wave of satisfaction surrounded Dharma’s entire being and he started once again with a new rhythm.

“The hermit returned all the costly dresses of the prince to the king. The only cloth he had was a light dhoti and a bare body with his head shaven.

“Today you take rest, all the students will leave tomorrow; they’ve completed their studies”.

“So, Guruji, you mean to say, I’m the only disciple here now?”

 “No dear, tomorrow evening one more is coming and you two will have to spend learning the principles of life and become tough like steel for the next 15 years”.

 “Guruji, from which kingdom does the prince belong?”

 “Let him come, you’ll know”.

The next evening, the prince was shocked when he learned that the other disciple was the son of a poor fisherman. He tried to protest but was unable to find any difference in the dress code, he had to accept his destiny.

Days rolled and the two excelled in everything that was taught. The prince was shocked to see that the hermit lived only on fruits. When asked, why is it so? He replied,

“Eating flesh is a sin for me, neither nor I destroy life in any form. I feed myself by the fruits which fall from the tree”.

Finally, a day came when the two completed their training of excellence in life, which the hermit says must be used for the upliftment of society.

The two took Guru’s blessings and the hermit spoke in a serious tone, “You two have been here for the last 15 years; I’ve taught you everything I learned in this life, I fed you as a father but haven’t charged anything yet. It’s time for you two to pay my debt…….my Gurudakshina. I want the best gift in this universe; you have two days in hand”.

“You’ll get it Guruji”, the prince replied immediately.

“But, you must note one thing, that the gift must be owned by the lessons you learned here the last 15 years”, added the hermit.

“It’s okay”, said the prince confidently and left the place immediately.

But the other on his side remained silent and still.

“Why are you silent”, enquired the hermit.

“Guruji, you know I’m the son of a poor fisherman; the only possessions I’ve are the knowledge which I’ve learned here with you. It’ll take some time to collect the most precious gift, with these words, he left.

Not affected by the grief of the departure of the two disciples, the hermit sat down to meditate wishing blessings for the two.

The next day, early morning, the hermit’s sleep was disturbed by the galloping of several horses in front of the cottage. The hermit came out of the cottage and saw a brightly shining golden chariot pulled by seven horses. The door opened, and out came the prince dressed in royal robes holding his head in high esteem. He bowed his head and said, “This golden chariot is for you Guruji. Now you’re a rich man and you don’t have to pass a hermit-like life here in the jungle. Do you agree, my gift is the most precious gift in this very universe”.

The hermit smiled, “One can never be compared; for comparing, we need two, let the other disciple come”.

At this, the prince broke into loud laughter, “Guruji, you’re joking, how can you compare this golden chariot with something. The other disciple will not come”.

The hermit spoke in a gravy tone, “You’ve passed 15 years here, I want you to stay here for a day or two till the other disciple comes”.

The prince didn’t protest and broadened his chest at the gift he bought. He passed five days there and on the fifth day evening, the hermit and the prince were talking outside of the cottage. A shadow coming from a far distance caught their attention. When it came nearer, a figure covered with mud with a fishing line in one hand and one small fish in the tip became visible.

It came nearer to the hermit and touched his feet. The hermit recognized the figure…….. ‘The other disciple’.

 He roared in anger, “How dare you disobey my order; I told you to bring the most precious gift and you are late”.

“Sorry Guruji I tried, but to bring you a gift through the lessons you taught will take time. So, I thought about what qualities I have, that I can utilize. Suddenly, my conscience reminded me about my origin……a fisherman’s son. I forgot the art of fishing. I jumped into the river and was covered on the bank. Every time I failed, I thought that you were testing my patience. For four days and four nights, I hunted for fish but didn’t get any. With an empty stomach, my brain stopped thinking”.

As the disciple was speaking, tears rolled down the cheeks of the hermit.

“Finally, my brain started working; I prepared this fishing line and got this fish. This is for you Guruji. Sorry I’m late”.

The hermit gave a smile and with eyes sparkling like crystals, he ordered, “Go and cook it for me”.

Thinking nothing, the fisherman’s son cooked the fish and the hermit ate it with delight.

Seeing this, the prince shouted in anger, “Guruji, you never ate fish, you’re a total vegetarian; you said so, you’re a liar. I’ve waited here for five days and you never told me how my gift was and today this ordinary fish became the center of attraction and is fascinating to you. You broke all your principles.

The hermit turned back and gave a tight slap on the prince’s face.

“You fool, I told you to bring the most precious gift of the knowledge you learned here. But you brought a thing, which is not yours. You don’t dare to bring something at your hard work; how can you rule your kingdom? And for your kind information, the fish is not the gift, the gift is the hard labor that he has done t obtain it. You can leave now; first, build a better you and then a better kingdom”.

Dharma finished the story.

“So students, what is a precious gift”.

All the students shouted, “One which cannot be earned by money but by sincerity and hard labor. The bell rang and Dharma left the class. He didn’t know that the seed which he planted grew into a blooming tree.

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“Happy Teacher’s Day”, everybody wished him in the morning assembly. A huge number of cards were added to his cupboard…..all were sketched or colored at home. A bouquet of handmade flowers added glamour to his collection. As Dharma was busy talking with the students, s group of class VIII students came and gave a gift to Dharma.

“Sir, this is not handmade, it’s a necktie, and we’ve saved our pocket money and managed to buy this. We all want to see you in gorgeous looks this annual school day”, the corridor was filled with the laughter of innocence.

Far in the staffroom, “What happened this time; no lipsticks, no nail polish; only handmade cards”, wondered the lady teachers.

“Not even a T-shirt”, added Mr.Bakshi