The Barpali Days

EXCAVATE THE CURIOSITY IN YOUR CHILD

[This article has been published by India's premier ladies magazine "The Women's Era" in its 1st May 2012 issue]

Every growing-up kid has got the curiosity to know about the unknown things. In fact it is the curiosity that helps a kid of a tender age to explore the knowledge. It is this knowledge, which in turn helps them to build-up life successfully. I got my nephew Sreyanshu. I have been watching him closely since his birth. This kid of six years old is perhaps the naughtiest kid on earth. Like any other kid, he is very demanding. All his wishes need to be fulfilled instantly; otherwise he creates a war-zone at home. Whenever he sees any new toy in the hand of another child, he would start nagging to buy it. The moment you buy it, he will go on displaying his price possession to one and all, at home and on the street. But before the day ends, he breaks it into pieces. Either he will remove the battery of the toy-car, or he will pull out the head-light or take-out the wheels. The following day he starts the jumble game. He will invent a never seen before toy, by amalgamating the broken parts.

He would always share with me his secret desires and wishes which go unfulfilled by his parents. Initially I used to buy a toy whenever returning from a trip. But one day when I discovered four cardboard boxes full of broken toys beneath his bed, I stopped buying anymore play things for him. As a consequence of which I lost the popularity in his life compare to his Karun Chachu, who often brings expensive imported toys while coming from New Delhi. He often asked me to buy one mati-kudda (earth-excavator) for him. But I was reluctant, as everything goes to the dustbin. I made him agree to my condition that, he will donate the broken toys to the poor kids on the street, who fails to buy toys. Finally Sreyanshu donated a trigger-less gun and a wheel-less car to Bibhuti a poor kid from the neighborhood.

[Sreyanshu]

Finally this June 4th (2010) evening he ran-down to me with excitement to inform that, there is an Monster like machine on the street. He saw this yellow coloured earth excavator for the first time in his life, as these machines are unseen in the middle of a small town. These are generally used in the construction of roads or in the open-pit mines. When we both went to check, found a mammoth machine leveling the ground for the upcoming Sital Sasthi Jatra (fair). He was jumping with the excitement to watch this monster like machine at work. He told me to buy this yellow coloured machine for him. I looked at his eyes to say regretfully, I don’t have Rs.30 lacs or so, to buy it.

He was disappointed, but kept on narrating about his wild imaginations of how powerful this machine is. We were watching the excavator from an elevated place near the road, when it neared us I waved my hands to the pilot to stop it. The dinosaur like machine halted, I took Sreyanshu near the machine. I asked the pilot to switch-off the machine by waving my hands as nothing was audible. I said “LIFT PLEASE”. The pilot of the vehicle was puzzled and at the same time got excited. He opened the doors to invite this kid. But Sreyanshu started getting nervous. I assured him not to fear, as I would be watching him from a distance. When the kid entered the cabin, the pilot shut the doors and started the engine. For 15 minutes or so he was in this monster like machine, to till and level the ground. Finally when the machine returned, Sreyanshu got down from the vehicle safely with the sparkling eyes. I asked Sreyanshu to say thanks to the pilot. And he did so.

While we were returning home this kid told me, “ Kiran Chachu don’t worry, when I have enough coins in my kiddy-bank I shall buy it on my own. And I shall give you a ride in it.”

This is how the elders should encourage kids to fulfill their hearts desires. I may not have bought a excavating toy for him, but I helped him to excavate the curiosity that was hidden within him. With money you might be able to buy toys, but could never buy knowledge or the happiness.