are we MAD?

Take A Stand…

“Five days ago two young girls that were students of Splendour High School were run over by a truck and died on the spot. The incident happened after school hours, and very close to where the school is located. However the tragedy did not end there, a handful of the most notorious anti social elements who have nothing to do with either the school or the deceased girls broke into the school with sharp tools and weapons and started breaking and smashing every thing that they could possibly lay their hands on and they tried hitting and harming my parents as well. My mom had to literally fall on their feet and beg them not to harm my dad. The school that took them 20 years of sheer hard work and dedication to build and nurture came to ruins within a couple of hours within their very own eyes. They had not spared anything including the school buses, the staff vehicles the window panes, the doors, the computers, the library and every other asset that the school had was shattered and broken to bits. The walls are only remaining.”

The above is an extract from a newsletter that was released after the incident. The reason why I am taking the onus of letting people know of an event 2000 km away is because I am a student of that school. I spent amongst the most enlightening years of my life in that school.

My association with the family running the school goes back by almost a decade. It awed me then, and it awes me still, that a couple of Iranian origin could come down and settle so well with the culture in West Bengal. Be it the language or the customs, the family was, and is, an active participant in the surrounding community.

The students, teachers and parents worship the principal, and the ideals that the school stands for. In its two decades of existence, he school has relentlessly gone ahead to provide its students with the most conducive environment for learning, and becoming honourable citizens of the country. The couple running the school often goes to villages and teaches children for free. Needless to say it requires courage and thorough understanding of the culture and history of the people before someone can go to the lengths that they have gone to. However, all that understanding of culture may seem futile in front of
a mob.

“What happened a few days ago is a severe Test of God and my parents have absolute faith in the Divine Wisdom. This crisis may end up producing far greater glorious result than we can imagine or realize at the moment. We can never see the reason behind things that befall us but we know there is definitely wisdom behind it. I was talking to my mom and dad yesterday and I was amazed at their wonderful spirit, they were smiling and planning how to rebuild the school. The parents, the children, staff and the ex students have all gathered to offer their help and support to rebuild the school.”

It’s clear from the news letter that the spirit of the family running the school can never be broken. It was faith that guided them through the past two decades in their service and it’s their unyielding belief in their work that will not let them step back from this tragedy. We cannot undo what has been done to the school; what we can do is to show our support to the school in its attempt to rebuild itself and the future of the many hundreds of students associated with it.

As a token of support to the school we would like you all to join us on

Sunday, the 9th of December, 10 am
at Gandhi statue, MG Road.

Your presence there will go a long way in encouraging more and more people to peek into the incident and come forward to show their support.

You can
• Be a part of the signature campaign and sign on the common board.
• Gift books with your message to the school staff.
• Contribute monetarily. School account number will be forwarded to those interested in contributing.

If you have any clarifications, suggestions or ideas to help the school kindly mail them at the email mentioned below. Please confirm your participation by sending a mail to muditchordia@gmail.com or swetha_1612@yahoo.com.

- Mudit Chordia