What happened to my students!
My duty, as usual, was on the main
stage of Kalolsavam 2012. It took time and strain to start with the HSS Drama
on the stage. I patiently waited to watch and enjoy the plays to be presented
by my students with great curiosity.
First of the only two plays, “Jalakam”, was quite amazing just because
the efforts the students took within the short, inconvenient time, in the most
adverse circumstances in our school. I can only appreciate their earnest
attempt.
But script-wise, I didn’t like their selection. The play is not
suitable in the school stage and is full of abusive expressions in action and
words. Such cheap expressions with sexual undertones and such display of
violence are okay on cinema/TV screen but ugly on the Kalolsavam stage.
And, in the end of the play, what the viewer got? Nothing. Absolutely
nothing. The theme is highly subtle and vague. It has no much social relevance.
It’s neither contemporary nor political, and nothing didactic in it. No moral;
no message at all. I may be wrong, sometimes; I don’t know what will be my reaction
after I read the original script. But these are my first impressions after watching the play presented by those students.
The immature over-actions of the main characters, their ridiculous
gestures and mannerism, and the faulty direction are pardonable indeed as they
are all young students. But the fatal mistake is the wrong casting, (a girl
courageously but unwantedly took the role of a main male character!), spoiled
the crux of the entire play, that made the plots ridiculously confusing. The
audience reacted negatively, shouted and giggled at the abusive romantic movements
and the unparliamentarily verbal retorts and unnecessary violent movements
between a girl and a boy.
Everything is okay because, after all, mistakes are all from students
who are not properly guided, their rehearsals are not supervised and the script
was not scrutinized. It was our mistake; at least I can admit it. Due to an
untimely improvement exam we were on exam duty at different centers.
While the play was on, I just could not digest certain harsh words,
abusive expressions, dialogue with vulgar undertones, and the violent physical
actions of a male against a female. It should have been avoided. Personally, I
cannot stand and justify atrocities and violence on woman, both verbal and
physical, especially when they are my students or close ones, even if it is in the
name of art or drama. I just cannot compromise with all those sequence.
In fact, there were moments when I was provoked to order pulling the
curtain down. Instead, I shared my immediate response with one of my colleagues
on the stage. The private talk might have been leaked some how. After the
result was declared, the desperate director-student who found the script great, reacted violently at me, giving vent to his emotions in the most
irreverent manner, but, at the wrong person!
He conveniently pardoned those three judges of drama and gave them the
sole right to criticize their performance in public or private! And me have no
right, moral ground, as he says, even to pass a rash comment on the said
presentation. He caught me (I‘m their leaping boy!) responsible for not getting
the first place for his play.
I gave a clarification that I did not make my remarks (on the abusive
expressions in the play) in public or in the manner that influence the teachers
who were sitting away down the Judgment point. It was quite a private, silent
communication with another teacher on stage-duty and I have the right and
freedom to do so. I can express my reaction as a spectator and as their teacher.
I still hold the view that the play should have been censored. Certain
actions and verbal exchanges could have been avoided. Above all, with respect
to the school tradition, much of the physical contacts between girls and boys
during the rehearsals and staging, even if it is in the name of art, should NOT
have been allowed. I’m categorical about that.
Foot-line:
·
In the staff-room we often
exchange the drastic change that has been observed among the post DPEP students
that there is negativity in their attitude and approach towards teachers and to
the all system of education.
· A loss of faith; lack of respect
and reverence seen everywhere.
· There is confidence and
overconfidence but no trust at all.
· The youtube
generation is helpless to distinguish between fake and fair; excellence and
substandard; merit and defect.
· It has been as if we are told to applaud
and appreciate all nonsense and adore every ridiculous things at class rooms,
on stages and on the screen!
· They lack humility and they think
impudence and audacity is smartness!
Ye Duniya Mere
Duniya Naheehe…!
No respect. No reverence.
I’m losing the ground.
“Things are falling apart and
The centre cannot hold…
The falcon cannot listen to the falconer”.
-Ptsalam
30.09.2012
