The Story
An interesting incident while dealing with the students at Vivekasham at VK Pimpald: Date: 3rd Aug 08. I have a geared cycle which was at Vivekasham. A student came asking for permission to ride cycle. I denied it saying that I left cycle here last time and you people have spoiled it. If you do not take proper care of the things you use, do not expect any one to give such permission. The topic was continued and I gave couple of examples.
We (I & Rohit) then came on un-clean toilets. As it happened in case of cycle the blame game started. Every body was saying there are few students who do not flush proper. We insisted little more to get name of those problem makers. First reply was these are younger students of lower classes. Probing was continued and slowly the names started coming out. We called those students both of them were uneasy being blamed by group. We realized these students are new joneses of this year. So this was type of ragging? I called them close to me & patted on their backs and then we turned to rest of the group and told them, "Yes being new they do not know our system but if we assume that these are the only culprits then last year toilet should have remained clean. I know last year also there was same problem."
Now we asked: Who are those who also contribute to problem but are form our old gang? Few more names, again younger ones.
We asked those who are being blamed for more names who do not flush proper.
No reply.
We turned to group and told them that they are scared of telling name because otherwise they will get beaten. Group came up with argument that you can talk to them separately and find out names. Our absence will give them confidence. We did not accept that. Dialog was on for almost 20 minutes.
Suddenly one boy Balu Ahire came forward and whispered some time I do not flush!
We called him close to us and holding his hand high declared here is an honest boy who is enough courage to accept his mistake. Let clap and congratulate him. We all clapped and he became hero. We talked little bit about being honest.
Now we stared appealing: Any one more, who is as brave & as honest as our hero. His honesty and environment made few more to accept that they also do not flush some times. Now group was in two unequal half's big one saying we flush every time. But blame game was stopped by this time. Stronger appeals and some more pin pointing made our honest group to build bigger. Now we have still two unequal half's but bigger group accepting that they do not flush sometime.
With in 5 min only two students and the senior most Navnath are three who did not join our group. Some body even pointed out Navanath for not flushing some times. With bit of resistances he accepted that, yes it happens some time. Now last two surrendered saying some time they also contribute for un-cleaned toilets. We became single group accepting and agreeing that yes we all are responsible for un-cleaned toilets.
Having accepted the problem group started thinking of solution and necessary infrastructure and system. With little help form Rohit and me; Navanath came up with new system. Let see how it works in coming days!
Our hero was promised with some price for his honesty.
Last night during dinner I& Rohit narrated this story to Shantanu who said he wants it in written form in English so that's the reason ….
Raksha Bandhan program at VK Pimplad (16th Aug 08) was the occasion to give prize to Balu Ahire who was the first honest boy to accept his mistake and ready to take corrective action on shabby toilets. By the way we (I & Rohit) went to Vivekarsham before program to check condition of toilet. The toilets are clean; and couple of them which was not in use last time is in use.
