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Teacher’s Day Gift


Riding around in Delhi on a rickety scooter is one of my few hobbies.  It gives me a feel of earthiness, a feeling that I am a nobody amidst the costly cars that fly by me.  It makes me feel humble, arrogant as I am.  It helps me to check my dreams.  It roots me in reality, the harsh reality that I like to confront honestly.

A traffic policeman stopped me today.  I took off my helmet with a smile that comes rather artificially to me these days.

“I’ve broken the law, you can punish me,” I said.  I think the smile had not vanished from my cheeks.  

I had jumped a red light.  I had not intended it.  My scooter got stuck on the gravel and the lights turned red before I could cross the range.  This was the first time that I was ever caught in my 12 years of hobbying in Delhi by the omnipresent traffic police of Delhi. 

“License?” asked the policeman.

I handed him my licence.

“... school ...,” he read it aloud for the benefit of his senior officer who was standing nearby.  “What do you do in ... school?” 

“Teacher,” I said as I pulled out a hundred rupee  note from my wallet which was the penalty for jumping the traffic signal. 

“Teacher?”  he asked as if he had expected the answer “peon” or “sweeper” or ...

“Will you please accept the fine here instead of sending me to the court?”  I asked.  “I have no time to go to the court to pay the fine.”  I requested.

“Half here and half in the court,” said the officer who had not spoken so far.  “Isn’t today the teacher’s day?”  he asked. 

“Yes,” I said.  I was a little surprised that the Delhi police was aware of something called teacher’s day. 

“How can I challan a teacher on the teacher’s day?”  He asked. 

I didn’t know what to answer.  The hundred rupee note was still in  my hand and the policeman wasn’t even looking at it. 

“Go!” said the officer.  

“An interesting teacher’s day gift,” I thought as I kicked on the engine of my old pal.


PS.  This is not fiction at all.  Everything is as it happened really. I’m back to reality. No more short stories.  They've been censored.  Except historical fiction.   




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Comments

  1. The Freudian CouchSeptember 5, 2013 at 10:27 PM

    Wow! This is very interesting, and heartening. Also, happy teacher's day sir..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 6, 2013 at 6:35 AM

      Indeed, it was a pleasant surprise for me. Maybe I should change my prejudice about the Delhi police :)

      Delete
  2. Karan SampatSeptember 6, 2013 at 12:06 AM

    Happy Teacher's Day to you sir..:)

    ReplyDelete
  3. jahidSeptember 6, 2013 at 12:06 AM

    Very interesting gift Tomichan Sir :) Really nice that a traffic police officer knows about teachers day, may be his kid(s) in school :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 6, 2013 at 6:36 AM

      You're right, probably his kid(s) had to contribute something for the day :)

      Delete
  4. Shrinidhi HandeSeptember 6, 2013 at 1:57 AM

    he was kind...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 6, 2013 at 6:38 AM

      In fact, I was touched by the way he spoke to and dealt with me. He was a thorough gentleman who seemed to have been thoroughly confused by my Hindi (overloaded with English words). He even made a slight bow to me as I thanked him.

      Delete
  5. AnonymousSeptember 6, 2013 at 10:46 AM

    I guess it was your first instance that you about to get fined for breaking the law .. and you might be the lucky first person who was let off by a traffic police in Delhi ! this should be news on the newspapers ... lolz !

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 6, 2013 at 12:11 PM

      It could be newsworthy, you know. I had quite a different image of Delhi Police until this happened to me. Then, again, this could be just an exceptional episode.

      Delete
  6. AnonymousSeptember 6, 2013 at 11:43 AM

    Now I guess good deed for one day..And I am happy that they know the importance of Teachers and Teachers Day..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 6, 2013 at 12:12 PM

      There may be some policemen who respect teachers, who knows?

      Delete
  7. UnknownSeptember 6, 2013 at 12:14 PM

    Good.. humanity still alive in Police persons..

    ReplyDelete
  8. kamekishSeptember 6, 2013 at 1:12 PM

    Good that Delhi COP recognized you. Happy teachers day. Keep unlearning.

    ReplyDelete
  9. vagabondmindSeptember 6, 2013 at 3:12 PM

    Interesting anecdote.Both my parents being teachers I understand the respect they get. Still some people reach out to me on FB asking me, 'are you gopinathan sir's son?'
    Thank you for sharing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 6, 2013 at 4:29 PM

      Perhaps, teachers get more respect outside their schools than inside :)

      Delete
  10. Anita SabatSeptember 6, 2013 at 3:49 PM

    This is so wonderful! Great respect to a Teacher!
    Wish the Respect would be on all days...not specifically just for- Teacher's Day!
    As that's unlikely, either be careful to not flout traffic-rules or save the Rs 100! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 6, 2013 at 4:30 PM

      This was my first experience of the sort, Anita. I'm a very cautious and law-abiding rider. So the police don't bother about me at all.

      Delete
  11. AditiSeptember 6, 2013 at 4:12 PM

    Happy Teachers day! Only goes to show how deeply gurus are still respected...there might still be hope left somewhere in our society.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 6, 2013 at 4:31 PM

      I don't know, Aditi, if mine was a unique or rare experience. Do you think most policemen would have done the same thing? I don't know since I have no personal experience in the matter. But I don't hear people speak highly of the police.

      Delete
  12. Manav SinghiSeptember 6, 2013 at 4:21 PM

    Very nice Read, a G+ for ur post. . :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. BushraSeptember 6, 2013 at 6:18 PM

    Lovely post! It really does feel good :) Dinno policemen in India were good too! :P Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 7, 2013 at 10:17 AM

      It was an experience with a difference for me too, Bushra.

      Delete
  14. à´•ാà´³ിയൻ - kaaliyanSeptember 6, 2013 at 6:53 PM

    An Interesting Teacher's Day gift.. !! Nicely written :)

    But remember you've broken the rule :D

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 7, 2013 at 10:17 AM

      If I had not broken the law I wouldn't have had this experience :)

      Delete
  15. UnknownSeptember 6, 2013 at 7:15 PM

    Sir first thing that you wrote it very well as you always do I mean it seems like it was just happening in front of me
    Second congrats for your gift otherwise they don't leave anyone
    And sir how's mam and sawan

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 7, 2013 at 10:18 AM

      Do you think my smile is becoming magical or something? :)

      We are fine, Abhishek. Doing fabulously well!

      Delete
  16. UnknownSeptember 6, 2013 at 7:16 PM

    Sir first thing that you wrote it very well as you always do I mean it seems like it was just happening in front of me
    Second congrats for your gift otherwise they don't leave anyone
    And sir how's mam and sawan

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anil KrishnanunniSeptember 6, 2013 at 8:58 PM

    Wonderful experience for a teacher on teacher's day :) Indeed Happy Teacher's Day Sir!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 7, 2013 at 10:19 AM

      Thanks, Anil. Even a cop can make your day memorable.

      Delete
  18. vinnySeptember 6, 2013 at 10:34 PM

    What a wonderful thing to happen! need to share with friends..
    came from indiblogger and glad i did!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 7, 2013 at 10:22 AM

      Glad you came here, Vinaya. Wish you many returns! :)

      Delete
  19. AnonymousSeptember 7, 2013 at 2:27 PM

    More than the teacher's day .. it is the teacher's intellect which worked :) the promptness of taking out the fine .. the ever selling marketing tool a smile .. and the white collar profession :) .. a pleasant persona(as much I have understood about you through your DP and your awesome posts :) ) and the catalyst Teacher's Day ..
    Belated but from the heart...Happy Teacher's Day Respected Sir :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 7, 2013 at 6:24 PM

      Jack, I think you are a dangerous person. You understand too much.

      And thanks from my heart for the wishes.

      Delete
  20. UnknownSeptember 7, 2013 at 7:49 PM

    First and foremost wish you a happy teachers day sir. This profession has a lot of respect in it and I am more than pleased to see hard core corrupt people like our Indian cops not accept money and let you go. Maybe there is actually a ray of hope for our country.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 7, 2013 at 7:55 PM

      I'm a bit surprised by the no. of comments speaking about the cops' ability or non-ability, corruption/non-corruption... For me every experience is a first experience. And I loved it.

      Delete
  21. Richa SinghSeptember 8, 2013 at 11:42 PM

    ha! these cops I tell you always upto something strange. Well as long as you got the benefit! And why have the stories been censored? Something happened?

    Richa

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tomichan MatheikalSeptember 9, 2013 at 10:23 AM

      Conditions applied, Richa. I can tell you about it later some time.

      Delete
  22. AnonymousSeptember 11, 2013 at 5:07 PM

    That must have been a surprise ! :)
    Happy Teachers Day (Belated)

    ReplyDelete
  23. UnknownSeptember 11, 2013 at 6:47 PM

    Hmmm...For a change, positive experience on the hands of Delhi police.

    PS: Why no fiction? I love reading your fiction. :)

    ReplyDelete
  24. UnknownAugust 26, 2014 at 12:14 PM

    We are thankful to you personally intended for providing the know-how about computers the actual trainer’S twenty-four hours. It along tutor’ersus twenty-four hours is usually really motivating and is particularly useful for myself with arranging my own lecturers evening lecture.
    Happy Ganesh Chaturthi

    ReplyDelete
  25. Roshan JhaAugust 25, 2020 at 2:34 PM

    Thank you so much for this very Informative post. You can also check our blog :
    Customised teacher’s day greeting card

    ReplyDelete

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