Monday, August 24, 2015

On how I unwittingly helped build a school roof

Just saw this Kalyan Jewellery ad which has Amitabh Bacchan in the role of a rural school teacher seeking help from his ex-student to get the school roof fixed.

Reminded me of the incident last week when I unwittingly helped contribute to building a roof over a school in rural Konkan.

What happened was this.  I was searching for the Dadar-Matunga cultural centre where the famous Shruti Sadolikar was performing, and asked a passerby for directions.

"Just take a right at the junction, and the building is the 2nd on your right" he told me.

I took the right and there was the board proudly saying "Dadar-Matunga Cultural centre".  I promptly went into the building, where I was greeted by a small reception committee all of whom were flaunting very large and colourful badges that important committee members usually like to wear.

I did not know why they were so enthusiastic on seeing me so I quickly told them that I have come to listen to the music program, and not to perform.  At that their joy further increased, and I was escorted to the reception table where I bought a ticket.

While I was waiting for the auditorium doors to open, one of the badge wearing gentleman came up to me and started a conversation:

He : "Thank you very much for attending this music program"

I : "Not at all.  In fact I was looking forward to this program since quite some time".

He : "Yes, we need the encouragement of patrons like you to help re-build the school roof.  Were you a student in that school?"

I : "umm.....errrrr"

He : And we find nowadays very few patrons like you supporting new and upcoming music talent".

Shruti Sadolikar is by no means a new and upcoming talent.  I took a quick look at the ticket.  Then I noticed that the ticket mentioned the venue as the "Yashwantrao Chavan Cultural centre" and the performing artiste as some Vasant Deshpande.

I had got into the wrong building.

I made a smooth and low profile exit somehow managing to avoid the reception committee. Shruti Sadolikar was just about to begin her alaap when I entered the Dadar Matunga auditorium situated in a narrow lane next to the Chavan hall.

2 comments:

Kishore said...

Phew! ;)

radhika said...

You have written about such a simple incident but it's delightful.