‘Does he beat the boys?’ 
‘He is very violent, especially with boys who come late. Some days ago a boy was made to stay on his knees for a whole period in a corner of the class because he came late and that too after getting six cuts from the cane and having his ears twisted. I wouldn’t like to go late to Samuel’s class.’
‘If he’s so violent, why not tell your headmaster about it?’
‘They say that even the headmaster is afraid of him. He is such a violent man.’
And then Swami gave a lurid account of Samuel’s violence; how when he started caning he would not stop till he saw blood on the boy’s hand, which
he made the boy press to his forehead like a vermilion marking. Swami hoped that with this his
father would be made to see that he couldn’t go to his class late. But Father’s behaviour took an unexpected turn. He became excited. ‘What do these teachers mean by beating our children? They must be driven out of service. I will see…’
The result was that he proposed to send Swami late to his class as a kind of challenge. He was also going to send a letter with Swami to the headmaster. No amount of protest from Swami was of any avail. Swami had to go to school.
By the time he was ready, Father had composed a letter to the headmaster, put it in an envelope and sealed it.
‘What have you written, Father?’ Swaminathan asked apprehensively.
‘Nothing for you. Give this to your headmaster and go to your class.’
Follow on Instagram.
2 comments
Excellent website, loaded with helpful information; I’m forwarding it to a few acquaintances and also sharing it on Delicious. Clearly, your efforts are rewarded.
I don’t usually read blog postings, but after reading this one, I had no choice but to try. Your writing style astounded me greatly. I appreciate your wonderful post.