'Please stand up for the National Anthem.' The line flashed on the screen.
Everyone stood up, including me and my friend. The Anthem began.
'Waah beta, kitna sundar ga rahe Ho. Ga te raho, mein recording karta hoon,' a man standing in the next row praised his son.
After a few seconds, another family talking and searching their seats entered the cinema hall. They hardly cared that Our National Anthem was going on.
The Anthem finished. We all settled in our respective seats to watch Badhai Ho.
The movie began.Me and my friend got lost in the movie. Suddenly, someone from behind was pushing my seat. I thought someone might have passed and it was by mistake. I ignored and continued to watch the movie. But now it became rapid as if someone was kicking. I turned my neck and saw a child, the same child whose song was recorded by the parents. I could not control my patience any longer.
'Please be seated properly.' I said in a firm tone.
'Beta, aap idhar aa jao.' The mother asked the child to change his seat.
The parents could have asked the child to apologise or even they could have said something. But to my utter surprise, they did not.
Few days back, on 22nd December, pre Christmas celebration was organized at our institute. Our school was decorated very beautifully. Just after the entrance to the main premises, near our school church, a small castle was made. The castle was decorated with Christmas trees, snow balls, Santa Claus, lights, gifts etc.
After the Christmas celebration got over, we came back to the staff room. We were not even settled properly when one of my colleagues noticed from the staff room window that few parents were helping their wards to take out cotton snowballs, leaf from a decorated Christmas tree etc. She screamed at the top of her voice to stop doing that. But it had no effect. So, a few of our male teachers rushed to the spot and took control of the situation.
After some time, when we all teachers were discussing about pre Christmas celebration, each one of us were stressing on one point, 'Can we really make responsible and well behaved citizen?' The answer we did not admit directly. But somewhere we all knew it was impossible.
Dear readers and parents, do you think only an educational institution and teachers can shape the personality of children? Do you not accept the fact that a child spends more time at home than at school? Can you disagree with me that a child imitates what he/she sees it observes at home? If so, don't you think first the educated parents need to be educated?
