The Power of Numbers
Maths is such an enigma , and more so for my underprivileged kids who have no access to fancy learning tools , or computers . We learn the old fashioned way , a blackboard , and some chalk and shouting out the multiplication at the top of our voices . This is the way I learnt them , when I was in school . It’s so interesting when we say our tables , we start moving in a rhythm intrinsic to time , a slow rocking motion that comforts and aid at the same time . Tall claims have been made by the present government to amp the levels of education and our esteemed chief minister is even sending 35 principals to Singapore for furthering their expertise .
The basic levels of education are so lost in the system that the children are confused and here we wonder why there is no progress in the government school and the education .
I was doing basic questions today and also revising geography with them , where I was clueless because the words of separable and inseparable were in Punjabi and I could not even understand , hence needed Google translate . This is what the truth is . The basic questions were just to get them comfortable and confident in speaking up because they are timid and don’t open up , they are shy , they are intimidated at first and it takes them a little while to be at ease.
So one of the questions after asking about names , and how old they are , and what is their favourite serial ,and what is their favourite number ? A bunch of them answered 295 and majority said 786. I asked in all innocence ( role reversal ) , what is 295 , and they shouted Sidhu Moosewala ,the rest said because 786was Babaya da number .
They all said the number is lucky and it was important . You cannot imagine the blind faith they have on this number . 786, is written on the note books , its written on the billboards of the shops , and they pay respect to the Pir sahib and giv emustard oil too . Punjab is dotted by these shrines /graves , green in color with a Chadar on top and a flag fluttering and 786 painted everywhere on the walls . This from a majority of children who are Punjabi by birth to Bihari immigrant labourers who have shifted to Punjab , worshipping forms of Krishnaji ..
Why and who says there is danger to Hinduatava , or there is segregation in Sikhs and Hindus or Muslims ? A handful of few politicians charge up emotions to whip up the public against each other on basis of religion to polarise and win elections .
My kids , innocent , eager ,who love langar and prasad, believe in the magic of the lucky number of 786 ( Allah ) and swear by 295 ( legend of Moosewala ) but are Hindus , have all the national integration we search for and swear by but get divided by 552 .
Ps ( that is the number of Lok sabha members of parliament)
