Little Jay had just joined the new school. Having moved to a
different city, the 10 year old kid had just got admission into the school. Jay
was a shy kid who normally kept to himself. Behind the veil of this shyness,
however, was a very intelligent and well read boy with remarkable observation
powers. He was naturally intuitive and had matured faster than most kids of his
age.
Jay was a voracious reader. As a present for his just gone
by birthday, his parents had gifted him "Animal Farm", a classic by
George Orwell. He had received his present on the eve of his first day at
school.
During the first few days, the observant Jay clearly noticed
that the principal of school was not very involved in the running of school. It
was not that he worked things to his own advantage, but that he was ignorant
and did not really care about the students. Within a few days, a new Bengali principal
was appointed. He was supposed to be very enthusiastic about running the
school, even though he had no prior experience of managing any institution.
Aged and nearing retirement, his arrogance, dominating nature and high
handedness had been construed for enthusiasm. In the Animal Farm, the Rebellion
has taken place and the animals had overthrown Mr. Jones. Jay read on....
As more and more days passed, Jay observes a growing
friction between some of the administration and the principal. Even though both
proclaimed that they are working towards the betterment of the school, they seem
to be heading towards a face off. A few days later, the vice principal of the
school was replaced. Some of the faculty members were also unhappy with the
running of the school, but there is not much they could do in the face of
growing powers that the principal was vesting in himself. In the Animal Farm, Napoleon
had become the undisputed leader after expelling Snowball from the farm. Jay
read on...
Jay passed class-5 with flying colours. As he entered the new
class, a shock awaited him. The number of subjects and the school working hours
had been increased. This, the principal explained in the morning assembly,
would enable the students to get a better understanding of the topics and make
them a more intelligent and knowledgeable. In the assembly, one of the kids asked about
the dilapidated conditions of the playing ground. The new vice principal
replied by saying that the students would now have so much work, it would be a
wonder if they would have time to play. The principal also added that the
school appointments room on the top floor of the academic building-1 would now
be taken back and be used to make a lounge for any visiting teacher/guest. In
Animal Farm, the work on windmill had started again as Napoleon and other pigs
convinced the other animals that this was for their own good. The working hours
had been increased and the ration reduced. Moreover, the Sunday meetings had
been called off and only pigs had the power to pass decisions as all other
animals lost the power to express their opinion. Jay read on...
One fine day, Jay went to visit the administrative bock of
the school as he had work there. He crossed the second floor, which had the
principal's office. What he saw left him in a shock. The floors had been redone
and now boasted of white shiny tiles. The doors had been changed and replaced
with new ones. From where he was standing, he saw that the principal's office
had doubled in size and contained a 52 inch television. Jay vaguely remembered
that the fees of the school had been increased by 10% this year. During the
previous meeting, the students had been told that for each subject, the cap on
the price of the book was Rs 500. The school was also not setting up a computer
terminal saying it was cash strapped. In the Animal Farm, the pigs had moved into
the house of Mr. Jones. They always had plenty to eat and drink even as the
other animals starved. Jay read on...
Once, to pay the quarter fees, Jay entered the administrative block. He
saw a vacant lift and proceeded towards it. However, the guard stopped him
saying that the principal was on his way and the lift had been stopped for him.
Poor Jay climbed 10 floors and while on his way back down after depositing the
fees, a good 15 mins after he had entered the block, he saw the principal's car
approaching. Meanwhile, a new rule had been passed in the school. It said that
after school hours, the students, when they were outside their hostels, would
have to be properly dressed up. Even to go as far as the mess, they had to be
in a proper attire. In the Animal Farm, Napoleon had shifted to an exclusive
room, and had his meals alone in a separate quarter waited by two dogs. He had
given himself new titles. Jay read on...
Years had passed. Jay had reached class-12. He would pass
out this year. The school had lost its name and fame. The fees had remained
high even as the facilities and services level fell. The only thing that had
grown was the waist size of the principal and the number of cars he had.
On the final result day, Jay found out that he had been
given the President's medal. He went up to the stage to collect the certificate
and gift. As he looked at his recently earned
gift which he had received from the principal, he was surprised to see
that it was the same book- Animal Farm. The cover page contained the picture of
Napoleon. As he looked up from the picture to wards the smiling face of the
principal, he saw no difference. He felt a sense of Déjà-vu as his mind raced
to understand the significance of his latest observation. Then it hit him.
The school had been his very own Animal Farm.
PS- Any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely
coincidental!
