This story tells us how two villages found a solution to their disagreement.
Bina and Adil came from neighboring villages. They went to the same school which lay on a patch of land between the two villages. The school was an unpretentious, single-storied, brick building. It boasted of no great furniture. There was a small wooden table with a chair for the teacher. The children sat on mats on the floor and used low wooden stools to write on. It was simply called 'Paathshaala'.
Things went smoothly, until the Headman of Adil's village, who was a rich merchant, decided to renovate the school. He was prepared to spend money lavishly, provided the school was named after him. The Headman of Bina's village objected to this. 'The school," he said, 'belongs as much to us as to them. We shall not allow them to have sole control over it.'
The villagers agreed. A fight started brewing over this petty issue. It got worse and worse until the adults and even the children from Adil's village refused to have anything to do with people from Bina's village. The villagers prevented the children from talking to each other.
Bina and Adil were terribly upset. Mr. Pillai, their history teacher, noticed their dilemma and called them to his room one day. On entering his room, Bina burst into tears. "Why are people behaving like this? Are they sick?'
"Yes," answered Mr. Pillai. 'They are. But there is a medicine to cure them of their sickness. And you children can help me in curing them.'The two children were prepared to do anything to bring back peace and harmony to their villages.Next day, at the assembly, Mr. Pillai addressed the students. He said, "You are all children of one God. You are the flowers in his garden. His garden will look ugly if you turn your face away from each other. Next month, on Children's Day, let us stage a play—Unity in Diversity'.
Many children gave their names to Mr. Pillai. In fact, everyone wanted to participate in the play. Mr. Pillai saw to it that every child had a part to play—if not directly in the play, they were involved in making costumes or setting up the stage.
The play was based on the Freedom Struggle where men, women and children, irrespective of their religion or caste, joined hands to drive away the British from their motherland. The children got so involved in the play that they forgot all their differences and worked very hard to make the play a grand success. All the parents from both villages were invited to witness the play.
The play was staged in the central courtyard of the school. Benches were joined gather to make a temporary stage. The school was decorated with coloured paper and wild flowers. The villagers thronged the school but made a conscious effort to sit with people from their own village.
The play began. Many village elders shed copious tears as scenes from the past flashed before their eyes. They were reminded of the communal -lots and the death of innocent women and children. At the end of the play, the Headmaster of the school thanked the children and addressed the villagers. He said that the children had taught all of them a lesson. They should resolve their differences. After all, what's in a name? The village elders too agreed and decided to live peacefully ever after.
Bina and Adil came from neighboring villages. They went to the same school which lay on a patch of land between the two villages. The school was an unpretentious, single-storied, brick building. It boasted of no great furniture. There was a small wooden table with a chair for the teacher. The children sat on mats on the floor and used low wooden stools to write on. It was simply called 'Paathshaala'.
Things went smoothly, until the Headman of Adil's village, who was a rich merchant, decided to renovate the school. He was prepared to spend money lavishly, provided the school was named after him. The Headman of Bina's village objected to this. 'The school," he said, 'belongs as much to us as to them. We shall not allow them to have sole control over it.'
The villagers agreed. A fight started brewing over this petty issue. It got worse and worse until the adults and even the children from Adil's village refused to have anything to do with people from Bina's village. The villagers prevented the children from talking to each other.
Bina and Adil were terribly upset. Mr. Pillai, their history teacher, noticed their dilemma and called them to his room one day. On entering his room, Bina burst into tears. "Why are people behaving like this? Are they sick?'
"Yes," answered Mr. Pillai. 'They are. But there is a medicine to cure them of their sickness. And you children can help me in curing them.'The two children were prepared to do anything to bring back peace and harmony to their villages.Next day, at the assembly, Mr. Pillai addressed the students. He said, "You are all children of one God. You are the flowers in his garden. His garden will look ugly if you turn your face away from each other. Next month, on Children's Day, let us stage a play—Unity in Diversity'.
Many children gave their names to Mr. Pillai. In fact, everyone wanted to participate in the play. Mr. Pillai saw to it that every child had a part to play—if not directly in the play, they were involved in making costumes or setting up the stage.
The play was based on the Freedom Struggle where men, women and children, irrespective of their religion or caste, joined hands to drive away the British from their motherland. The children got so involved in the play that they forgot all their differences and worked very hard to make the play a grand success. All the parents from both villages were invited to witness the play.
The play was staged in the central courtyard of the school. Benches were joined gather to make a temporary stage. The school was decorated with coloured paper and wild flowers. The villagers thronged the school but made a conscious effort to sit with people from their own village.
The play began. Many village elders shed copious tears as scenes from the past flashed before their eyes. They were reminded of the communal -lots and the death of innocent women and children. At the end of the play, the Headmaster of the school thanked the children and addressed the villagers. He said that the children had taught all of them a lesson. They should resolve their differences. After all, what's in a name? The village elders too agreed and decided to live peacefully ever after.
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