That Encouraging Word

                                            Statue of the founder, GTN College, Dindigul


"I KNEW it all along, I could feel the sense of gratitude and the looks of admiration from my classmates, both boys and girls. Yet it felt good and truly boosted my spirits to hear it from my master when he told you about me the other day," my friend's daughter told her mother Nandini (my friend) recently.

'And hearing her say it the day after she graduated from her College boosted my spirits in turn because we really had reason to fear for her', Nandini explained.

'Her two years of Higher Secondary at a new school hadn't been good. How she landed there, hostel and all I still can't say.Some suggestion from her friends, some from mine and off she went. Her idea was to listen well in class and  then open her books now and then to understand a concept. Just before tests and the exams she'd refresh what was in her mind.But it didn't work out there.

The authorities there who had produced some toppers believed in making the students reproduce the textbook, word for word. This would ensure full marks for the students and a name for the school. When my daughter produced the answer in her own words, she was hardly given a decent mark. Overcome by shame and guilt, she lost her reasoning and logic. In spite of our assurances that we only wanted her to be happy and confident, she showed symptoms of stress, depression and inferiority.

Then to our surprise she passed with a 1st class and in fact with marks above 70%. But with every College expecting students with top marks, we had a tough time during admission. Anyway she was admitted  to the GTN College and it proved to be a healing therapy for her.The positive and encouraging atmosphere there did her a world of good.

. Most of her classmates being from villages, my daughter who had lived in towns through out had lots to learn from them : like sharing in the chores at home,being independent,etc.

And they in turn came to know of their rights,learnt to think and reason with their lecturers, etc.from her.She had even arranged a trip to Kerala for them-all on her own.

 Once I got to meet a lecturer by chance.He was surprised how so active a girl could remain humble and helpful too.This was the lecturer she was referring to, Meena",Nandini told me obviously relieved.                                                                                                                                                                    A trip to Kerala                                                                                      

My doggy experiences

                                                    Hi, I'm Maggie.

Sometimes I remember   my old life under different owners and I shudder to think of how my fate might have turned out had I continued there.

  


Maybe I shouldn't blame them. I was fully infected with ticks and mites and had no fur at all.

I don't have a photo of the  old me. I was of the colour  and shape of cooked prawns.

Somehow a kind soul took me to the blue cross where my present owner spotted me and took me home.Got me vaccinated and treated  me for all my ticks, mites and lice.                                                                                                                                                                  

 And treated me almost like I was human.

They already had Terry there, grandson of their favourite pet, Rosie. He welcomed me warmly and continues to be my friend, guide and mentor. He didn't laugh at me even when he found out that I just couldn't bark.


How could I, when both dog and man treated me like an outcast and I had to beg even for their left-overs?.

Only their little kitten didn't accept me. " I hate dogs and I always will. Don't expect me to change my mind.," she said angrily.  

 Unlike some pets who are tied at home all day, I am given freedom to roam about and make friends at specific times..

 This is Frisky, my first doggy girl friend. She told me about the place and introduced me to all the street dogs

."You have speed, you know,"she told me."You sure have some hound blood in you."

She gave me all the self-confidence I have today.

The brown one here is Lucky and the one with the long tail is NeelaVaal which means long tail. Lucky is very submissive even to me and is very loyal. NeelaVaal is more of the happy-go- lucky type.

                                                                     
  Then one day they were missing suddenly. I guessed that something was wrong. Ihad seen a van go after some rowdy dogs the previous day  but I didn't bother much about it then.Now I put on my thinking cap  and at last told my master about it,

                                                                                                                                                                 

    refusing to eat and biting my own paw instead.

This frightened my master and he went out.

                            He must have signed for them because they came back safe and their masters fixed collars for them after that. They thanked me and we continued having all the fun in the world.

Two months ago I met my admirer, Karuppan (black fellow). I noticed him watching me from a distance.Then he introduced himself and started telling me about his life as a vagabond. He tried serving different masters and then gave up when he saw our group. He says I am smart and active.

Last week he proposed to me and said that we should start a big family. But my master told me  firmly, "No starting a family till you celebrate your 1st birthday".

"Remember the dog-catchers?" he asked. " They caught those dogs because of all the pups they leave behind  with every litter."

In the meantime a farm -owner  said he could use me to coax some new trainee dogs to run and chase  intruders who misuse his farm.So now I'm a working dog with a purpose. My master takes me out to a ground nearby for a warm-up every morning. Then the farm owner takes me in his jeep to his farm.There I train new dogs-Shree, Hasina and Shobana to run and chase each other. Not the way we used to play at home, pretending to chase and bite. Here I nudge whoever is last or slow. I am taken home in the evenings. But I have very little time or energy left to play with my old friends. 

Perhaps this is what I was ultimately born for.