Sir, my question is that so much has happened but still nothing has happened….
Huh!? What do you mean by so much has happened but still nothing has happened? Why are you beating around the bush?
Sir what I wanted to say is that….
Then why didn’t you begin with what you wanted to say?
Sir I… all the students… we, we have a question….
Instead of answering the questions, you want to ask one? Good-good!
The freedom of speech and expression….
Okay! Okay! What is the question? Get to the point.
Question no.1 is that can a question be raised without – placing it in a “waste of time” box or labeling it as an “inappropriate demand” or cementing it to a “preconceived notion” or jumping to an “ordered and stamped conclusion” or worrying about the “grand and cushy chair” or tracing it as an “outdated endeavor” or blaming the question for its relation to any “upset, unresolved history” or entering it in a “silly strike and stupid rebels” file or showing a fake concern by saying “I understand but” or highlighting the “strict consequences” or giving a “practiced performance” cunningly or postponing the talk to a more “suitable and auspicious day” or making fun of it and then calling the police to “handle the hooligans”?
Sir, this is 21st century and our generation….
Well, thank you for telling me that it is the 21st century and now let me inform you that rules apply for everyone, including your generation.
Agreed! But Sir, there is a difference between rules and conservative, bigoted ideas.
Listen! Your time is up. We’ll continue tomorrow, please leave.
But Sir, we want an answer… an answer to the question that you haven’t even listened yet.
Please! Don’t force me to….
Sir, just one question….
Oh-ho! It’s 5:10. I am a family man, why don’t you understand? Move!
Question no.1 has changed now but has become only complex, still without an answer. It is- why are they afraid of the questions to such an extent that – they have started living a dishonest life; they blame and blame and blame and hide and hide and hide; they have prepared a “counter questions” list to attack the questions aimed at them; they blindly believe that others are 10 to the power 9 times wrong and only their version is the right one; they have sold their listening ears and sensitive heart to buy praises and positions; they would rather keep quiet and tolerate till the question knocks on their door; they have accepted the half read stories before reading the end; they have twisted the already twisted report just to save the trophy in their hall; they have murdered the truth and planted plastic flowers on its grave; they live in constant terror and false belief that they are safe.
It is funny that the question is yet not addressed, though an unceasing hullabaloo exists as if in fashion, that too from ages. Maybe the answer is not inconceivable, only if the question is at least heard.
Sir!
What now? Oh! I give you five minutes to speak but you cannot raise any questions or demand any answers. Okay?
Then Sir it’ll be better if we continue tomorrow. You may leave.
(Also read – http://homechimes.blogspot.in/2015/06/the-freedom-to-have-freedom.html )
Incredible…caught the essence of your feelings..and of a lot of others…the first para is particularly effective..applause! May sanity and justice prevail!
Fingers crossed!
Thanks.