Like many other special days,
Children’s Day has a beautiful inspiring history. Of the Birthday celebration
of a leader who adored children, of reminiscing the freedom struggle and of feeling
a sense of pride and wonder about our history and the distance we have
travelled since then. In school though, last year, my nine-year-old son got a
very familiar circular advising that he should come dressed in white pyjama-kurta
to participate in the predictable format of celebration- a special assembly,
some games and activities and a small treat. It brought no joy or excitement to
me or him and felt tepid and tedious.
So when I received the circular
from the school for Children’s Day, I felt a strong urge to mix things up a
bit. If children’s day is to celebrate the love of children, as homage to Pandit
Nehru, then why not do just that. Cherish our children. I decided to begin with
sharing moments of my son’s achievements and milestones with him. I shared
stories of his first success in school, the first race he won, his first few
friends. The mischiefs that he made, the time he fell down trying to jump too
high! Of how he made me proud and how his achievements surpass all my
expectations.
Over the years, celebration of many
of these occasions and special days have become clichéd and therefore
mechanical. From Valentines day, mother’s day to republic day, we have become
stuck in the format of what we shall do rather than enjoy the spirit of that
day. Even on Christmas or Diwali melas, when most children enjoy the special
decorations in public places we do the usual shopping and eating out and
enjoying the sales, never questioning-never wondering-never innovating and
never feeling fulfilled and meaningful.
So when I received the circular
from the school for Children’s Day, I felt a strong urge to mix things up a
bit. If children’s day is to celebrate the love of children, as homage to Pandit
Nehru, then why not do just that. Cherish our children. I decided to begin with
sharing moments of my son’s achievements and milestones with him. I shared
stories of his first success in school, the first race he won, his first few
friends. The mischiefs that he made, the time he fell down trying to jump too
high! Of how he made me proud and how his achievements surpass all my
expectations.
Then we sat and enjoyed the old
photo album and more memories and stories came pouring in with each picture. Whether
he remembered or not, I recalled the baby steps of him growing up little by
little and the joy that I experienced at every step.
But later I took him out for a
treat. After some arcade games, we shared a nice meal at his favorite
restaurant. When we got out, the sun was setting, the sky was a deep orange hue
and the breeze felt chilly! As we walked to the car through the random crowd of
people rushing to nowhere, many young street children roamed around hoping that
we would look at them and take mercy to give away a rupee or two. I looked at
my son and then at one of the ragged children. Under his unkempt hair he had
big eyes and dry mouth. His tattered clothes gave him no protection from the
breeze. My son followed my eyes as I waved for that child to come over. I
handed my son a big bar of chocolate to gift him. “Kuch Meetha Ho Jaaye”! I said
with a naughty smile! My son mirrored my kind smile and handed the chocolate to
the nameless boy. From nowhere, many more children gathered around us and we
gave away many more sweet moments of celebration and happiness away.
Finally, when all light had succumbed
to the darkness of the night, we got into the car and headed home. Our souls
satiated!
Happy Children’s Day.
#CadburyDairyMIlk #ChildrensDay #KuchMeethaHoJaaye
