My Drawing Book

An afternoon in the school.  All class is at pin drop silence. Rani, age around 10 years studying in 5^th standard is standing in front of teacher. Teacher is scolding her due to incomplete homework.

“Where is your drawing” teacher asked angrily. Rani is silent.

Teacher asks in loud voice, “tell me, why you have not completed homework?”

“Mam my drawing book is finished, I don’t have new drawing book” Rani says in low voice.

“Excuses….don’t give me excuses”. Teacher “Get out of the class”

Rani stands silently.

“I said, get out of the class” Teacher.

“But, please Mam, I will complete it by tomorrow. Today Papa will purchase new drawing book for me”. Rani

“So, come to class tomorrow. Don’t waste time of your and others also” teacher.

Rani takes her school bag and walks out of the class.

After getting out of the school Rani start walking towards her house in sad mood. Normally at this age, getting out from school early is enjoyable moment for every kid. But teacher scolded her in front of whole class and only she has to go out of the class, this was very disappointed moment for Rani and she was in very sad mood.

Rani reaches her home which is old and very small. Her parents were not in the home, they went to farm. She sits on the floor, takes out two-three colourful chalks and drawing book from her book. She starts searching blank page in her drawing book but unable to find any blank page. The drawing book is full of drawings made by her. She again and again randomly searches for blank page but couldn’t find.

Rani takes chalk and starts making drawing on the wall of her house. She starts making any random shapes. She starts making sky, sun, moon, clouds, stars, planes, trees, birds and many more…..just like she has got her own Space. While making drawings she falls asleep.

After long time, Rani’s parents came. By the noise of door Rani wakes up runs towards her father.

“Papa, have you purchase drawing book for me?” Rani asks in excitement.

“No, beta. I went to farm, not city.” Says father.

“Let’s go now. I will also come with you. I have to complete my homework by tomorrow” Rani.

“No beta, not today. We will go tomorrow”

“Papa, teacher has warned me to complete my homework by tomorrow in any case, otherwise she will not allow me to sit in the class” Rani.

“See, beta I don’t have enough money to purchase you a drawing book. I am hardly getting money from this farming. I am not able to educate you” father said.

Rani becomes upset. “But I want to study Papa”.

“We will educate her, we will do more hard work” says Rani’s mother.

“Nothing is going to change by her education and after her marriage she has to stay at home only. So what is use of education?” Rani’s father said in emotional way

“Papa, our teacher told now a day’s girls are working in every sector with boys. From teaching to pilot everywhere you will find girls doing good job. Girls are not less than boys”.

“Very few girls are working and they all are from rich family, I can’t afford your education expenses.”

“It is not like that; in our school we have one chapter on Mary Kom. She is world boxing champion. She was also from poor family, by her hard work she reached to that level. I will do very hard work.” Rani tries to explain importance of women education to her father.

“This is different story altogether. Not every girl will become successful”

“Also not every boy is becoming successful” Rani argued with her father

“Don’t argue with me” Father said with heavy heart. He was feeling helpless.

“Please listen to me, I heard that government is providing free education to girls. Also we will gather some money and educate her. After she became officer you will be proud father of an IAS officer, just like that father shown in TV” says Rani’s mother.

“Don’t be in dreams. We are poor farmers and we don’t have right to see big dreams. There is big difference between TV life and reality” says Father. “Rani, from tomorrow your school is closed”.

Rani becomes very upset, ran towards her mother and starts crying. Her mother tries to convince her but Rani is not in the mood to listen to her and continues crying. Her mother tries to hide her tears but she couldn’t. Rani’s father walks out of home. His condition was not different than both ladies; his eyes are filled with tears, but he is not able to do anything.

From next day Rani was going to farm with her parents to help them. She used to do small kind of work at farm but she didn’t find it as interesting as making drawings.

One fine morning when Rani’s father was busy in work at farm, Rani was making random shapes from clay and water. At that time owner of farm came to visit the farm. Everyone in village was calling him as ‘Maalik’. Rani was so busy that she didn’t notice him. Maalik found some creativity in those clay shapes which were related to her day to day life. He knew Rani from past few years. While giving payment to Rani’s father, Maalik was using calculator for calculations, but Rani used to do that calculations within seconds. He was very impressed. Her image is created as smart girl in his mind.

“Wow!! Very nice drawings. What are  you doing here sweet girl? Are you not going to school?”

Rani remains silent. Maalik asks Rani’s father, why she is not going to school?

“Maalik, I am not able to educate her. Now day’s education became very costly. In this less money we are hardly able to meet our daily expenses” says Rani’s father. “ and also there is no use of girl’s education” he added.

“What are you talking? What you are thinking was long back. We are in 21^st century and girls are not behind in any fields than boys, in fact they are doing much better than boys” Maalik explains to Rani’s father.

“But….” Rani’s father tries to say something but Maalik interrupts him, “No….No….don’t give any excuses. You are such lucky that, by having fewer resources, your child is studying very nicely. I am providing every facility to my son but he is not interested in study at all. Send your daughter to school and in case if you require some extra money, I will provide you”

After convinced by Maalik, Rani’s father agrees to send her to school. Rani is very happy by this decision and she thanks to Maalik.

Now Rani is regularly going to school. Her father has decided to work more hardly and will educate Rani.

One day Rani’s parents were busy in work, Rani came running towards them.

“What happened?” Rani’s father asked.

“Papa, I got first prize in drawing competition at our school. I am 1^st out of 200 participants from our school” Rani said very happily.

“Wow!!  That’s great” Rani’s father shouted in joy.

“I am qualified for district level drawing competition”

Rani’s mother hugs her “I know, you are going to win that competition also, my child”

That was proud moment for Rani’s family.

“Tomorrow is prize distribution. Papa, mummy you both have to come to my school”

“We? What we will do at your school” Rani’s mother said

“You have to come” Rani insisted.

“Ok beta, we will come” both agreed.

Fine morning of children’s day in school. All children came well dressed to celebrate children day. All villagers are gathered at school for children day function. School teachers and some respected people from village are on the stage. School principal gave speech telling that birthday of Jawaharlal Nehru is celebrated as children day on 14^th November. He was very famous prime minister amongst children.

After that, principal announces prize for Rani for winning drawing competition. He further added that Rani is one of the scholar student of our school. She is not only good in drawings but in academics also. We have lot of expectations from her in future. Rani gets prize by the hands of Maalik. Rani dedicates prize to her parents telling that they are the persons behind her success. Because of their hard work she is able to study.

Rani’s parent’s eyes are filled with tears, this time because of pleasure. They are feeling satisfied of their decision to educate Rani.

“Papa, please come” Rani invites her father on stage.

Her father came on stage. Principal requests him to speak some words.

Rani’s father starts speaking, “I am just illiterate farmer. I don’t have that much knowledge to speak in front of you. It was Maalik who opened my eyes and convinced me to send Rani to school. I really thank him for his help. I just want to say that, do not discriminate between boys and girls. Girls have ability and they have proven themselves. There are many successful women and you all know that. Please respect them. Everyone wants mother, sister and wife then why not girl child? It’s my humble request to all of you, please save girl child and educate her, she is future of our country”

Rani’s father hugs her with pride and whole audience appreciated with loud applause.