"Adit Lamba 20 on 25." "Chandraprakash Siroha 1 7 on 25." "Gaurav Sinha 19 on 25." "Ghulam Sheikh 15 on 25." "Harish Gwalani 18 on 25." "Hitesh Shah 24 on 25." "Ishaan Awasthi.." "3 on 25." "Kewal Talwar 23 on 25." "Harish Gwalani 20 on 25." "Hitesh Shah 24 on 25." "Ishaan Awasthi.. 2 on 25." "Kewal Talwar 22 on 25." "Mahavir Sinha 19 on 25." "Nimesh Desai 1 7 on 25." "Nitin Rao 18 on 25." "Sitting with your head in the gutter!" "The bus has been waiting ten minutes!" "Can't you hear the bus honking?" "Every day we're late because of you." "You want.. you want?" "Take." "Go and wash up." "Schoolbag in your room.." "in your room." "Wash your hands first." "Put that down." "Whatever do you do in school?" "Look at your hands, look at your face." "Ishaan, put that down." "At least, turn off the tap." "Weren't you going to get your exam papers today?" "Did you get them?" "Are you listening?" "Yohan..?" "Drama practice cancelled." "Lily Teacher has viral fever." "I topped in all subjects, Mom." "Algebra, geometry, physics, chem, bio, history, english, geography.." "And in Hindi?" "Second in Hindi, by only two marks." "How did you do?" "You've almost cracked it." "Finish your homework first!" "No.. your school uniform.." "Look." "Ball!" "Get the ball.. quick!" "Over here!" "Idiot!" "Duffer!" "Look where you threw it!" "Now go get it!" "I told you to go." "Don't you get it?" "What're you looking at?" "Don't you get it?" "What're you looking at?" "Get the ball." "Move it!" "What're you looking at?" "I said, get the ball!" "Don't you get it?" "What're you waiting for?" "Go!" "Ranjit!" "Thrash him!" "Your son destroyed my plants." "Have you taught him no manners?" "My son is hurt, look he's bleeding!" "Haven't you taught your son anything?" "How can he beat up my kid?" "Have you no shame?" "Look how badly my son is bruised!" "Come here." "Come here right now" "But Papa.." "Shut up, Yohan." "He even tore my shirt." "He's lying!" "Look, he's hitting my son right in front of you!" "Let go!" "Please leave." " l'm going to call the police!" "This is the limit!" "Complaints every day.." "complaints from school, complaints from neighbours." "You step out and there's a complaint." "If there's ever another complaint about you, I'll.." "Laughing!" ".." "Shameless!" "Shameless!" "If there's another complaint.." "One more complaint and I'll send you away to a boarding school." "Right in front of us.." "he picks a fight!" "Did you see what he did to that boy.. tore his shirt." "Worship him, that's all you do." "How many times have I told you not to play with Ranjit." "But Mama.." " Go, bathe." "I'll get some antiseptic." "Okay, you want to fight?" "Fight." "Come on" "Papa, where are you going?" "I'm going away." "Forever." "Sorry Papa. I'm very sorry, Papa." "I won't do it next time, Papa." "Papa, I'm very sorry." "I'll never do it again." "Papa please. I'm sorry, Papa" "Stop frightening the child." "Papa is going away for work." "Not because of you." "He'll be back by Sunday." "Any more cuts?" "Show me." "Tie your laces, tighten that belt." "Prepare for battle.." "..shoulder your burdens." "With files in hand and firm resolve.." "..we'll take on the world." "We'll stand our ground." "It's the way of the world, keep at it." "Your goal beckons.." "..keep at it." "They sleep with one eye open, falling behind is not an option." "Work your fingers to the bone, do exactly as you're told." "They live on omelets, vitamins and tonics.." "..and a strict regimen of work and rest." "Striding, striving, forging ahead." "It's the way of the world, keep at it." "Your goal beckons, keep at it." "But here thrives another theme.." "..of waking into music from a dream." "Where time comes to a standstill, to make fantasy come alive at will." "They always wonder to themselves.." "why is the world's motto "keep at it"?" "Why this steady striving towards a goal?" "Not slaves to time.." "..they're carefree.." "..having meetings with butterflies.." "..and discussions with trees." "They spend time gathering the wind and reading tales in raindrops.." ".while painting a new world on the canvas of the skies." "Why is the world's motto "keep at it"?" "Why this steady striving towards a goal?" "Quickly!" " Madam, hurry up!" "You're delaying us." "Come on.. every day we're late because of your boy." "We must also remember.." "the old saying, cleanliness is godliness." "On many occasions.." "..while doing rounds, I have also found.." "..that children don't keep the school corridors clean." "It is our duty to keep our school neat and tidy." "Unpolished shoes?" "Out." "Turn to page 38, chapter 4, paragraph 3." "We're going to mark adjectives today." "That goes for you as well, lshaan Awasthi." "Page 38, chapter 4, paragraph 3." "Can I have your attention, lshaan?" "I said, page 38, chapter 4, paragraph 3." "Read the first sentence and point out the adjectives." "Page 38, lshaan." "Adit Lamba, just help the boy." "The rest of you, look at your books." "Read the first sentence and tell me all the adjectives." "Okay, let's mark the adjectives together." "Read the sentence for me." "Just read the sentence, lshaan." "They're.. dancing." "Speak in English." "The letters are dancing." "They're dancing, are they?" "Then read the dancing letters." "Trying to be funny?" "Read the sentence loud and proper!" "I said loud and proper, lshaan." "Loud and proper!" "Loud and proper!" "Stop it!" "Stop it!" "Enough is enough!" "Get out of my class!" "Out!" "You want to leave as well?" "Who was laughing here?" "Who wants to follow him?" "I don't want to hear a titter in my class." "Look at your books." "Shameless boy." "Open your books." "Who's going to tell me what the adjectives are?" "I don't want a sound in this class." "Come on." "Punished again?" "Why d'you get punished all the time?" "This one's a regular." "Go in now." "Done your maths homework?" "Got your test papers signed?" "No..?" "Now, you're finished." "Yes, now you're gone." "A little sweet, a little sour." "A little close, not too far." "All I need, all I need.." "..all I need is.." "..to be free." "It's close enough to touch.." "..but disappears, like a mirage." "Woven of dreams, warm as a sweater.." "..beyond the white clouds.." "..is my world." "Let me in without a shout, let me in, I have a doubt." "There are more, many more, many more like me." "I'm not alone.." "..dream walking, wide-eyed." "..stepping.. stumbling." "I'm not alone, dream walking, wide-eyed.." "..stepping.. stumbling." "Yet I have no doubt.." "..just like the setting sun will rise again.." "..my world once revealed.." "..will astound everyone." "Open eyed how I run, how I run to the other side.." "Then I glide like a bird, I just want to be." "A thousand wings to fly.." "..to explore open skies." "So many turns to take, paths to follow.." "..and discover.. my world." "These few days of childhood.." "..will never return." "So live it up now, my friend, on credit, if you're broke." "Live it up." "Wash up, I'm serving dinner." "What's this?" "Superb!" "Done?" "Let's see." "What handwriting.." "What's this, every spelling wrong?" "Table is "Tabl", then "Tabel"?" "And "d" instead of "the"?" "What is this?" "How many times have we done this?" "We went over this yesterday." "How can you forget so quickly?" "Enough fooling around." "You'll fail again this year." "All your friends will move ahead." "Will you like that?" "Concentrate, son." "Stop fooling and fix your spellings!" "No." "What?" "No." "Brother.." "Go to sleep." "No stories tonight, I'm tired." "Today I bunked school." "What?" "I just walked out." "When?" "After the first period." "Why?" "I hadn't done my maths homework nor my test papers signed." "Where did you go?" "Nowhere, I just wandered the roads." "Roads?" "Alone?" "No fear." "Look at your guts!" "You know how dangerous that is?" "Anything could've happened.." "you could've had an accident, or got kidnapped." "Papa's not at home too." "Idiot." "Did you tell Mom?" "Shall I tell her?" " No, no." "Then..?" "Write me an absent-note, please?" "What?" "Absent-note." "No.." "I'm not writing fake absent-notes." "Go to sleep, I'll tell Mama tomorrow." "Dada, please" "Absent-note, teacher." "How are you feeling?" "99 degrees." "Go" "Children.." "Surprise maths test" "The marks on this test will count in the final exam, so be careful." "Take one and pass the rest." "Here." "Fearless Captain lshaan sets out on mission impossible." "His mission.. to take the third planet from the Sun.." "Planet Earth.." "and yank it "into" the ninth planet in the solar system.." "Pluto." "Three into nine." "Goodness!" "Scorching hot Mars will melt Captain lshaan's firm grip on Earth." "Saved!" "Hi Jupiter.. bye Jupiter!" "Hi Saturn, having fun?" ".." "Bye." "And now 3 gets ready to go into 9." "Pluto is destroyed!" "It's no longer a planet." "Fearless Captain lshaan has discovered the answer." "3 X 9 equals 3." "Time up." "How did the test go?" "No fear." "Thanks, Yohan." "Papa's back." "Papa, when did you come?" " Late last night, You were asleep." "Bye Papa." "Bye Inu." "Bye" "What did you get me?" "That." "Strawberries?" "And for Dada?" "Same." "For both?" "Wash them first." "Papa, aquarium." "Let's go to the aquarium today." "We're going to the aquarium today, okay?" "Maya, did lshaan have fever on Thursday?" "No." "What's this absent-note?" "I didn't write this note." "Come here." "Come here." "Come here, right now!" "What's this?" "What's the meaning of this note?" "Answer, or I'll give you such a thrashing.." "Don't look down.." "look up.. in my eyes." "And answer me." "Where the hell were you on Thursday?" "Let me.. where did you go, son?" " lf not to school, then where?" "Where, son?" "Answer!" "What's he saying?" " Bunk." "What?" "You bunked school?" "Bunked school and did what?" "Where did you go?" "Road." "What road?" "Which road?" "With whom?" "Alone." "Alone?" "Are you out of your mind?" "Are you out of your bloody mind?" "Wandering the streets alone?" "Any idea what could've happened?" "What's going on?" "Did you hear that?" "If he got lost, where'd we go looking?" "And who wrote this, who wrote this absent-note?" "You can't even write properly!" "If you could write, you'd pass!" "Who wrote this note?" " Tell me." "Who?" "This is the last time I'm asking you" "Who wrote this absent-note?" "Who wrote it?" "Speak up!" "No improvement in class-work or homework." "He's still where he was last year." "Books are still his enemies." "Reading and writing are like punishment for him." "Sometimes his English handwriting resembles Russian." "Repeats his mistakes on purpose, never pays attention in class." "All the time asking for permission to go to the toilet." "I'm thirsty, I want to go to the toilet" "Disturbs the whole class with his silly pranks." "You must've seen his test papers?" "Zeroes in all subjects." "You sent his test papers?" "Last Wednesday, for parents' signatures." "They never came back." "They were a sight, I tell you Mrs. Awasthi." "In fact, I sent a letter specially to meet you" "Look at this maths test." "Three into nine equals three." "That's all." "Not another question answered." "No one will believe he's Yohan's brother." "Mr. Awasthi.." " Yes?" "This is your son's second year in third grade." "At this rate, I won't be able to help you anymore." "Maybe he has a problem." "What do you mean?" "Perhaps, he.." "Some children are less fortunate." "For them, there are special schools." "Clear out, get out of my way!" "Worthless brats!" "She thinks my son is a retard." "She thinks my son is abnormal." "Sixty kids stuffed into a class.." "..how can a teacher give attention to each?" "Nonsense!" "What haven't I done?" "I sacrificed my career for the children." "It's a daily struggle to get him to study." "No Maya, it's not your fault." "He needs something else." "I'll be there in the morning." "Thank you very much." "Good night." "Done" "But.. in mid-term?" "Suresh's uncle is the school's founder trustee." "I'll pay the fees tomorrow." "No, I won't go!" "Shut up and eat your dinner!" ""Won't go."" "Let's wait till next year.." "He has never stayed away from me." "He'll have to learn." "You heard the principal." "Next year, she'll throw him out." "Then where do we go?" "Look.." "look at him glaring." "No bloody regret on his face" "Out there they'll beat you into shape." "He got Yohan to write that note." "What next?" "Trust me, I'm his father." "We can't afford it, but we'll manage somehow." "Term begins after Diwali." "Please, don't send me away." "I won't go to boarding school." "I don't want to go." "Please tell Papa. I don't want to go to boarding school." "Hush." "Yes.. wake up." "Mama..?" "I'm right here." "I don't want to go to boarding school." "You have to." "I don't want to go." "It's a nice school." " l don't want to be sent there." "I'm knowing, I'm trying, see.." "Really, I know it all." "I can learn more." "I won't even ask for fireworks." "I won't celebrate Diwali." "But I don't want to go to boarding school." "No fireworks this year?" "Scared of going to boarding school?" "Admit it." " l'm not afraid." "You're afraid, I know." "I'm not afraid!" " You're afraid, I know it." "I'm not afraid." "He's crazy!" "I won't go!" "Your father tells me you're very stubborn." "Let's get one thing straight." "In this boarding school, we live by one rule." "Discipline" "Don't worry, Mr. Awasthi." "Here we've broken the wildest horses." "Come on, we're getting late." "Done?" "Come on, child." "I've never told you, how scared I am of the dark." "I've never told you, how much I care for you." "Get changed for dinner." "But you know, don't you, Ma?" "You know everything.." "..my Ma." "Don't leave me alone in crowds.." "..I'll lose my way back home." "Don't send me to places far away.." "..where you won't even remember me." "Am I so bad, Ma?" "Am I so bad.." "You haven't changed yet?" "Come on, change your clothes." "Come on." "Nine o'clock." "Lights out." "Good night, sir." "When sometimes, Papa swings me." "..too high in the air.." "..my eyes search for you.." "..hoping you'll come and hold me safe." "I don't tell him.." "..but I get petrified." "I don't let it show.." "..but my heart sinks." "You know everything, don't you Ma?" "You know everything.." "..my Ma." "You aren't dressed for class yet?" "Look at your tie." "Didn't Mummy teach you anything?" "Boys, this is lshaan Nandkishore Awasthi." "Step forward.. come on." "With your bag." "From now on, your place is here, in front of my eyes, beside Rajan Damodaran." "Rajan Damodaran always comes first in class." "His company will have a good effect on you, I hope." "Understand?" "Sit down." "Today's subject, interpretation of poetry." "Page 28, "Perspective"." "Rajan Damodaran, you will recite the poem, and lshaan Nandkishore Awasthi, you will interpret it." "Right?" "Proceed, Rajan." ""Perspective"" ""When I look from above, you are.."" ""a cloud-filled piece of sky."" "Until a thirsty elephant comes by, or my friends jump in, or a bicycle bell, or a pebble or two.." "..or even a blind man's cane will do." "Then the picture dissolves and you become our river again." "Excellent!" "Now explain the meaning of the poem." "What we see, we feel is.." "And what we don't see, we feel isn't." "But sometimes.." "..what we see, actually isn't." "And.." "what we don't see.." "..actually is. I mean.." "What's all this .. "is - isn't"..?" "Minu Patel, you explain." "The poet says, when he sees the river.." "..he sees the sky in it." "Using different objects, he demolishes the reflection." "And then we realise it's a river." "Good." "Very good." "Minu Patel, sit down." "You explained the true meaning of the poem." "Others just said what they crammed." "Tiwari-sir is very strict." "So remember what he says, and just parrot it." "How come you joined in the middle of the term?" "My father, he.." "Come on.. art class." "You always come first in class, so why did your parents send you here?" "Meaning?" "I mean, why did they send you here to punish you?" "I'm not a boarder." "My father is the school's estate manager." "I live in the staff quarters, with my parents." "And who told you everyone's sent here to be punished?" "Children, open your sketchbooks" "And take out your pencils" "Without using a ruler, copy the shapes." "The lines must be perfectly straight, or five raps on your knuckles." "Hey, new boy." "Eyes on the blackboard." "Show us.." "..where did I make the dot?" "Show us the dot." "Why are you staring like a frog?" "Don't laugh" "Where did I make the dot?" "Show us." "I don't see it." "You don't see it?" "Satyajit Bhatkal.." " Yes sir?" "Come here and show him where l made the point on the blackboard." "Now you see?" "Very good." "Step forward." "Quickly." "Five raps on your knuckles, so your attention never wanders." "Put out your hand." "Clench your fist." "Get on with your still life study." "I want perfect shapes." "Otherwise, five on the other hand." "Go!" "Forward march!" "Left, right, left.." "left, right, left." "What are you doing?" "Halt" "You're ruining the marching order." "Out." "A noun is a naming word, a pronoun is used instead of a noun" "An adjective describes a noun, a verb describes the action of a noun" "An adverb describes the action of a verb.." "..a conjunction joins two sentences" "A preposition describes the relationship.." "..between a noun and a pronoun" "And an interjection is a word thrown in to express feeling" "Have you got it, Mr. lshaan Nandkishore Awasthi?" "Why?" "Why can't you?" "Idiot" "Why can't you?" "What's the problem?" "Why are you so dumb?" "Why zeroes in math?" "And punishment daily?" "Grammar pathetic, spelling all wrong !" "Are you tripping?" "!" "Idiot." " Hey duffer!" "Lazy!" " Crazy!" "Garbled sentences.." "..and answers all wrong?" "Why don't you try?" "You're a failure.." "..your handwriting is terrible, homework incomplete.." "..why's your attention adrift?" "Why?"" "Idiot.. duffer.." "lazy.. crazy." "This child can drive anybody mad." "Someone please call up his dad." "What's your problem, son?" "King of the Morons!" "Awful scores.." "..dreadful results." "Geography makes you dizzy?" "Answer me, answer me!" "Five on the knuckles!" "Ishaan, open the door" "Open up." "Your Dada is here too." "Talk to him." "Inu.. champ, open the door" "Please open the door." "What is it, champ?" "Let's go." "I've taken permission from the house master." "Don't be angry anymore." "Come.. come along, son." "One extra mattress, please." "See what I got you." "Water colours." "24-colour pack" "Hit it when it rises.. excellent!" "Stay focused.. good Yohan!" "My eyes are empty.." "..tears too have left me." "Silence fills my heart." "I feel pain no more, I'm numb." "All feeling has left me, I'm empty." "You know everything.." "..don't you, Ma?" "What are you up to?" "What are you doing?" "Get down!" "Why did you climb up there?" "Come.. we're late." "What's the matter?" "Oh, don't you know?" "Holkar-sir is gone.." "to teach all of New Zealand how to draw." "We've got a new temporary teacher." "I hope he's different from Holkar-sir." "Come, we're late." "Oh, come on." "Look there, is that a tree?" "Or a man covered by a cape?" "is it raining?" "Or has the sky.." "left the taps on by mistake?" "The world is what you make of it.." "..it's in the eye of the beholder." "So free your mind.." "..spread your wings.." "..let the colours fly.." "Come on, let's spin new dreams!" "Shake it!" "Swing-a-long!" "Shake a leg!" "It's fun!" "Swing-a-long, shake a leg, have lots of fun.." "Who says fish don't fly?" "Ever thought of it?" "Does the sun bathe everyday?" "Or does he just wet his hair and pretend to be clean?" "These stars.. are they twinkling?" "Or in anger, grumbling at each other?" "So free your mind.." "..spread your wings.." "..let the colours fly.." "Come on, let's spin new dreams!" "Why cram until your head is full?" "Head is full, head is full!" "In a blink, your mind goes blank!" "Mind goes blank, mind goes blank!" "Go ahead, unlock the doors.." "Unlock the doors, unlock the doors!" "And fearlessly, take wing!" "Take wing, take wing!" "I'm with you.." " l'm with you!" "You're with me.." " You're with me!" "You and me, let's all together.." "..swing-a-long.." "..shake a leg.." "..let's have lots of fun!" "Why is the world so colourful?" "Ever wondered?" "Imagine.." "Choosing these colours so lovingly.." "..someone has decorated this world with them." "So beautiful is our universe.." "I suspect its creator is surely an artist." "So free your mind.." "..spread your wings.." "..let the colours fly!" "Come on, come on.." "..let's spin new dreams!" "Here's one for each of you." "Draw, paint, do whatever you like.." "..while I put this away." "But what do we paint, sir?" "There's nothing on the table." "This table?" "This table is too small for your beautiful imagination." "Peek into your mind.." "..and pull out an image.." "..then slap it onto the paper!" "Have fun. ln here, you're free." "Lost somewhere, friend?" "Looking for inspiration?" "No problem, there's no hurry." "What is the matter, child?" "Don't you like painting?" "What's your name, son?" "Sir, his name is lshaan Awasthi." "Where have you been?" "Your mother called." "Wait by the phone." "She'll call again." "is lshaan there?" "Yes one moment, he's here." "Here." "Say hello, son." "Look Inu.." "we can't come on Saturday." "On Sunday, Dada has his inter-school tennis finals." "I know you're very angry with Mama." "Mama is very bad." "I'm very sorry, Inu." "But what can Mama do?" "Dada is very tense about the final match." "Will you talk to Dada?" "Here, talk to Dada." "And wish him all the best." "Inu, are you there?" "I'll miss you at the finals." "Son, talk to Mama." "He's left." "He left?" " Yes." "Sorry." "What happened?" "He didn't say a word." "Don't worry, we'll go next Sunday." "What are you putting in there?" "The kids' class-work." "So what?" "Holkar never used that space. lt's meant for books." "So where do I keep these?" "Return them to the boys." "What use are they anyway?" "What a racket they're making in your class, Nikumbh." "Like a fish market." "They're kids, it's natural." "And if kids don't express emotions in an art class, where will they?" "That may be, but go easy." "The headmaster likes discipline." "I believe you sang in class yesterday and played a flute?" "Yes I sang, played a flute.." "kids happy, I'm happy." "But our students aren't like those kids." "What do you mean?" "You teach in Tulips School, don't you.." "mentally retarded, abnormal kids?" "In those schools, experiment all you like, what difference will it make?" "They have no future, anyway." "No seriously, Nikumbh." "This is a formal school." "Your singing-dancing style won't work here." "Here, we prepare children for life's race." "Kids have to compete, succeed, make a future." "Our school's motto is.." ""Order, Discipline, Labour"." "The three pillars of success." "Foundation of a complete education." "Mr. Tiwari, time to learn German." "What happened?" "Okay.. it's okay." "Slowly, children.." "Hey listen.. where's your friend?" "I don't know.. he suddenly disappeared." "Must've seen his new boring art teacher." "No sir, he must've gone to the dining hall for lunch." "What's your name?" " Rajan Damodaran." "Rajan, what's up with lshaan?" "Something troubling him?" "He always looks so frightened." "He wants to go home." "Why?" " He has justjoined." "Mid year?" "He has problems." "Try as he might, he just can't read or write." "He's always punished." "His books are full of red marks." "What to do?" "Getting emotional, are we?" "Man is.." " A cruel, insensitive animal. I know." "And blind." "Blind to beauty, blind to feelings." "Who did you run into there?" "Myself." "It's like seeing myself in the mirror." "That's shouldn't upset you." "You're not too bad to look at." "Jabeen, he's in danger." "Who?" "Who is it, Ram?" "A boy in that school, of eight or nine years." "Doesn't say a word." "Always depressed.. frightened." "His eyes, screaming for help." "I'm afraid, he'll sink." "Dada.." "Yes, Pradyumna?" "Come on, it's rehearsal time." "Hey Sahil, how many days to the show?" "Two." "Yeah." "Let's go for it." "Today, let us open the windows of our hearts and peep outside.." "to see the little-little raindrops meet the glorious Sun.." "a rainbow forming, sheer joy and great fun." "Look at them.." "like fresh drops of dew.." "..nestled in the palms of leaves.." "..gifts of the heavens." "Stretching and turning.." "..slipping and sliding.." "..like delicate pearls.." "..glinting with laughter." "Let us not lose these.." "..little stars on earth." "Like sunshine on a winter's day.." "..bathes the courtyard in gold.." "..they banish darkness from our hearts.." "..and warm us to the core." "Let us not lose these.." "..little stars on earth." "Like sleep trapped behind eyelids, where sweet dreams abound.." "..and in the dream an angel rises.." "Like fountains of colour.." "..like butterflies upon blossoms.." "..like love which is selfless." "They're surging waves of hope.." "..they're the dawn of dreams.." "..and eternal joy.." "Let us not lose these.." "..little stars on earth." "On the heavy darkness of night's bosom.." "..they sit like a flame dispelling gloom." "Like an orchard's fragrance they fill the air." "Like a kaleidoscope of a myriad hues.." "..like flowers reaching up to the sun.." "..like the notes of a flute in the quiet of a grove." "They are breaths of fresh air.." "..the rhythm and music of life.." "Let us not lose these.." "..little stars on earth." "Like the pulsing life of the neighbourhood.." "..like buds, determined to bloom.." "..like the breeze of the season." "caught in your palm.." "..they're the blessings of our elders.." "Let us not lose these.." "..little stars on earth." "Yes?" "Hi, my name is Ram Shankar Nikumbh." "I teach at New Era School in Panchgani." "Come in." "Are these his third grade books?" " Yes." "Who did this?" "Ishaan did." "Ishaan paints?" "Yes, he loves painting." "Sometimes as wise as old men.." "..at others, like a carefree stream." "Or a volley of innocent questions.." "Like laughter breaks silence, and a smile lights up a face.." "..they are like a celestial light that.." "..shines on the fortunate.." "Like the moon dancing on a lake.." "..like a familiar shoulder in the midst of a crowd.." "..like a gurgling stream, frothing and giggling.." "..like a sweet little nap at midday.." "..like the comfort of a loving touch.." "..like joyous music ringing in your ears.." "..like a fine spray of rain.." "Can I have some water, please?" "Why did you send him away?" "Why?" "There was no option." "Last year he failed in the third grade." "Can you believe it?" "And no signs of any improvement." "My elder son tops his class in every subject." "And that one.." "What do you think is his problem?" " Attitude, what else?" "Towards his studies and everything else.." "..Always mischievous, difficult.." "..disobedient." "I want to know his problem." "You're giving me the symptoms." "You're saying, the boy has a fever. I know that." "I want to know why." "What's the cause?" "Why don't you tell us?" "Go on." "Did you notice a pattern in his mistakes?" "Any errors that he repeats?" "Pattern?" "What pattern?" "Just mistakes." "Then you didn't recognise it." "Look." "b' for 'd' and 'd' for 'b'." "He confuses similar letters." "S' and 'R' inverted.." "like several others." "Look.." "'h' and 't'." "Mirror imaging." "Animal.. three different spellings on the same page." "So, it's not as if he has learnt any one wrong spelling." "And here.." "he mixes up similarly spelt words." "'T-o-p' becomes 'P-o-t'." "'S-o-l-i-d' becomes 'S-o-i-l-e-d'." "Why does he do this?" "is he a fool, is he lazy?" "No.." "In my opinion, he's finding it hard to recognise letters." "When you read 'a-p-p-l-e', your mind conjures up an apple." "Ishaan can't read the word, so he can't understand what it means." "In order to read and write, it is essential.." "to relate sounds with symbols, know the meaning of words;" "Ishaan is unable to fulfill this basic requirement." "Rubbish." "These are just excuses to avoid studying." "Please read this." "How can I?" "It's in Chinese." "Come, concentrate." "What nonsense, how can I read this?" " You're being insolent." "Your attitude is wrong." "You're misbehaving." "Exactly lshaan's predicament." "Unable to recognise letters." "This difficulty in reading and writing is called dyslexia." "Sometimes, kids could have additional problems." "Like, difficulty in following multiple instructions." "Turn to page 65, chapter 9, para 4, line 2" "Or, poor 'fine and gross motor skills'." "Does lshaan find it difficult to button his shirt.." "..or tie his shoelaces?" "Yes." "If you throw a ball, can he catch it?" " He can neverjudge a ball." "Because he can't correlate size, distance and speed." "What size of ball, from what distance, travelling at what speed.." "by the time he works it out, it's too late." "Just think.." "a child, barely eight or nine, can't read or write." "Can't do regular stuff, fails to do all the things that kids his age do, effortlessly." "What must he be going through?" "His self-confidence must've been shattered." "Hiding his inabilities in disobedience.." "..he must have taken on the world." "Must've created a riot here." "Why admit I can't, I'd rather say, "l don't want to."" "No different from adults." "Now, his rebellion too has been crushed.. out there." "I'm sorry to say, he has stopped painting altogether." "It's very sad" "But why lshaan?" "There's no answer to that." "It can happen to anyone." "Sometimes it's genetic." "Simply put, it's like a little wiring problem in the brain, that's all." "So you're saying my son is abnormal, mentally retarded?" "You're a strange man." "Look here.." "this is a sharp mind with a vivid imagination.." "..far more talented than you and me." "What's there to gain?" "Why are you looking for gain?" " What else should I look for?" "What is to become of him?" "How is he going to compete?" "Am I to feed him all his life?" "I know." "Out there, it's a merciless, competitive world.." "..where everyone wants to breed toppers and rankers." "Everyone wants top scores." "Medicine, engineering, management.." "anything less is intolerable." "95.5.. 95.6.. 95.7 percent." "Anything less is sacrilege, right?" "For Christ's sake, think.." "each child has unique skills, capabilities and dreams." "But no, everyone's hell bent on pulling.." "..and stretching to make each finger long." "Go ahead." "Even if the finger breaks." "No options, he says." "No alternative." "If you fancy racing, breed racehorses not children." "Forcing your children to bear the burden of your ambitions." "It's worse than child labour" "And if the child is unable to bear this burden?" "When will they understand?" "Every child is different." "Sooner or later all of them learn." "Each at his own pace." "Five uneven fingers make up the hand." "And here we have dreams of settling these.." "..little ones into the mainstream." "Look, he's smiling!" "There.. take that." "No, don't touch that." "Ishaan's first day in school." "His first puddle." "Don't cry, love." "Mama is right here, she hasn't gone away." "Don't cry son, don't cry." "Friends, today I'll tell you a story.." "about a boy." "Once there was a boy, don't ask me where.." "..who couldn't read or write." "However hard he'd try.." "..he couldn't remember that X came before Y." "Words were his enemies, they danced before his eyes, frightening and tormenting him." "Studies exhausted him, but who would share his woes?" "His brain was full, nothing made sense.." "..the alphabet danced in a disco." "One day, the poor boy failed under the burden of his studies." "Everyone made fun of him, still he put up a brave face." "Then one day, he struck gold." "The world was amazed when his theory was told." "Can you guess who he was?" "Albert Einstein." "Correct, Rajan." "Albert Einstein." "A great scientist." "The man who shook the world with his theory of relativity." "Brownian motion, the photoelectric effect." "For which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1921 ." "Now.. what's this?" "Helicopter." "Not any ordinary helicopter, this one." "The great artist-inventor Leonardo da Vinci.." "Who?" " Leonardo da Vinci." "Yes." "He came up with this." "A working sketch of a helicopter." "But when?" "In the 15th century.." "..400 years before the first airplane took flight." "You know, Leonardo da Vinci had great difficulty reading and writing." "He wrote somewhat like this.." "Can you read this?" "No." "Now?" "Switch on the light please." "Who lit up the world with electricity?" "Thomas Alva Edison." "Absolutely right." "Poor chap couldn't get his alphabet right either." "Sit down." "Leave the lights on." "Let us bask in Edison's glow." "Everyone knows this guy." "Abhishek Bachchan!" "As a child, he found it hard to read and write." "Now he's rocks!" "And there are more." "Pablo Picasso, famous cubist painter." "He never understood the number 7." "Said, it's my uncle nose upside down." "Who's Mickey Mouse's dad?" "Walt Disney." "Correct." "Walt Disney." "Troubled by letters, he infused life into cartoons." "Neil Diamond, popular singer." "He drowned his shame in songs." "Agatha Christie, famous mystery-book writer imagine a writer who couldn't read and write as a child?" "But why am I suddenly telling you all this?" "To show you that there have been such gems amongst us.." "who changed the course of the world.." "..because they could look at the world differently." "Their thinking was unique and not everyone understood them." "They were opposed." "Yet they emerged winners and the world was amazed." "Let's dedicate today's art class to these famous misfits." "So let's keep them in mind.." "..step outside and create something different.." "out of whatever we find interesting.. stones, sticks, trash." "Let's head to the little pond!" "Wait." "Rajan, go on." "You know, there's someone I didn't name.." "maybe because he isn't all that renowned." "But his problem is the same." "That name is.." "Ram Shankar Nikumbh." "As a kid, I too had a learning problem." "My father never understood me." "He thought I was being naughty, making excuses for not studying." "He had written me off." "What can a duffer, an idiot achieve?" "Well, here I am." "Shall we go?" "Did you go to my house?" "Look at that!" "It's moving." "is it an airplane?" "Can it fly?" "Will it fly?" "Who made it?" "is the principal in?" "Yes." " Don't get up." "Yes, Nikumbh." "Come in." "Sir, I need to talk to you about a student." "Ishaan Awasthi. 3rd D. A new student." "I know." "Other teachers have complained too." "I don't think he'll last the year." "No sir, he's a bright boy." "He just has a little problem with reading and writing." "You must know about dyslexia?" "You've made it easier for me." "I was wondering what I'd tell his father." "He was referred by a trustee." "Good.. good" "Then a special school is the right place for him." "No sir, he's a child with above-average intelligence" "He has every right to be in a normal school." "All he needs is a little help from us." "And worldwide, all kids, no matter what their problem study together." "In fact, my students at "Tulips".." "..have every right to be in any school." "I'm only saying what the law of the country says." "The "Education For All" scheme gives every child this right." "It's another matter that very few schools follow it." "Tell me how this boy will manage here." "There's maths, history, geography, science, languages!" "He'll cope." "With a little help from teachers." "Where do teachers have the time?" "Attending to one in a class of forty?" "Come on Nikumbh. lt's impossible." "Sir, it's not a big deal." "Two or three hours a week. I'll do it." "Besides, he has only to pass in these subjects." "His calling lies elsewhere." "So all the subjects we teach, except yours, are pointless?" "Not at all." "But every child has a native talent." "And as Oscar Wilde says, who wants a cynic who knows the price of.." "..everything and the value of nothing?" "Sir, please look at the boy's paintings." "This depiction of battle.." "..a soldier digs a trench and overleaf he escapes." "Wonderful conception." "Confident brush strokes." "Such bold use of colour." "Uninhibited!" "And look sir, a unique flip-book." "The story of his separation." "Such creativity, from barely an eight-year old." "Very few of us can think out of the box." "Please sir, one chance is all he needs." "Or he'll be lost." "What do you want from me?" "For the time-being, let his handwriting.." "..his spelling be ignored." "Let him be tested orally." "Knowledge is knowledge, oral or written." "Meanwhile, I'll work on his reading and writing." "Gradually he'll improve." "I hope we don't cause permanent damage.." "..on advice from a temporary teacher." "Now add three." "Add five." "Where are you?" " Plus seven." "Now, subtract eleven." "Sir, one question." "Have you ever painted since your school days?" "What?" "What is this, sir?" "A painting competition." "For teachers, students, everyone." "I want all of you to come" "No seriously, what's the purpose of art?" "To express your emotions." "You're happy?" "You automatically reach for bright colours." "Terrible lunch?" "Out pour drab, dull colours." "Excuse me" "Guys, I'll be back in a bit." "Come in." "Have a seat." "Sorry, it's a little cramped." "How come..?" " On a business trip." "Met lshaan?" " Not yet. I will." "I wanted to talk to you first." " Go ahead." "My wife has been surfing the net." "She has read all about dyslexia." "I wanted you to know." "Why?" "Just so you don't take us for parents who don't care." "Caring." "It's very important." "It has the power to cure." "A salve for pain." "The child feels wanted." "A hug, a loving kiss now and then, to show that I care." "Son, I love you." "If you have any fears come to me." "So what if you slipped, failed." "Don't worry I'm there for you." "Reassurance." "Caring." "That's what caring is, isn't it?" "It's nice to hear that you think you care." "Well, I should get going." "Has your wife read.." "about the Solomon Islands on the internet?" "I don't know." "On Solomon Islands, when the natives want a part of the forest for cultivation.." "..they don't cut the trees." "They simply gather around the tree and shout abuses.." "..at it curse it." "In a matter of days.." "..the tree withers and shrivels." "It dies on its own." "There have been such gems amongst us.." "..who changed the course of world.." "..because they could look at the world differently." "Their thinking was unique.." "..and not everyone understood them." "They were opposed." "Yet they emerged winners.." "..and the world was amazed." "Wow, what a sight!" "Welcome, sir" " Here I am." "You have finally convinced me to become a Sunday painter." "Welcome" "This way, sir." "Where's your lshaan?" "I've been dying to meet him." "I don't see him." "Where's lshaan?" "I don't know." "He left the dorm before anyone was up." "Really?" "Hey Nikumbh, you've got me in a fix." "George-sir give it a try, it'll be fun." " Painting isn't for me." "I've decided, I'll make a wordy painting." "I'll fill my painting with the alphabet." "You seem to be limited by your language, Sen-sir I'm here just to show my face to.." "..the headmaster." "Only five or ten minutes." "I'm not wasting my Sunday." " l'm delighted you came anyway." "Where do we sit?" " You'll be shown your place by the kids." "Kids, come here." "Show your teachers their place." "Careful.." "Take it easy, I'm coming." "Jolly good, I say." "Bless you." "Our special guest today, Lalitha Lajmi." "Teacher, painter, my guru." "Greetings" "Thank you for coming" "Have you seen lshaan?" "No, sir." " He must be with Rajan." "Where is he?" " l don't know, sir." "He left before anyone woke up." "Where were you?" "Come on, sit down." "Do you have colours?" "Open the doors, draw the curtains.." "..the wind is all tied up, let's set it free." "Bring your kites, bring your colours.." "..let's decorate the canopy of the sky." "Why are you so worried?" "You're here a guest, at nature's behest." "The world was made.." "..just for you." "Discover yourself, know who you are." "You are the sun, radiate light.." "..you are the river.." "..don't you know?" "Flow on.." "..fly high.." "You'll find your purpose where you find your happiness." "Tiwari-sir, you haven't left?" "Weren't you leaving in five minutes?" "What are you painting?" "A frog, a duck and a banana." "This is a frog?" "Staleness is sadness, freshness brings joy.." "..like the aroma of freshly-baked bread." "Life is like candyfloss, spun of hopes and dreams.." "..savour it and hoard it in the palm of your hand." "If there is thirst in you.." "..you'll find a raincloud round the corner." "Don't let anyone come in your way.." "..your potential is endless like the sky." "You are the sun, radiate light.." "..you are the river.." "..don't you know?" "Flow on.." "..fly high.." "You'll find your purpose where you find your happiness." "Boys, how's my painting?" "Take a look." "Beautiful, sir!" "First prize, sir!" "Great, sir!" "Look, the path to the skies is revealed." "And the little lost star has been found again." "The world is awash in starlight.." "..the universe is aglitter." "You are free to soar.." "..unfettered." "What a wonderful morning this has been." "As if past a mosaic of coloured panes.." "..I was transported into my childhood." "Wonderful. I also got to re-live the childhood of others." "George-sir has promised me.." "..he'll take lessons from Nikumbh-sir." "Right?" "But not me alone." "Sen and Tiwari too." "Their paintings were the worst." "Okay, okay.." "While on Nikumbh.." "..there's good news." "We don't need to find a new art teacher." "Along with Tulips School, Nikumbh will teach at our school as well." "Now, I'm going to announce what everyone's been waiting for." "Let me come to the results of the Art Fair." "Our special guest, Ms. Lalitha Lajmi was in a real fix.." "..caught in a dilemma between two paintings." "It was a tie." "She was saying.." "..let both be named "Best Painting of the Art Fair"." "But that wasn't possible." "Because the winning painting is to be.." "..the front cover of our school yearbook." "Now, we can't have two front covers." "So what to do?" "Ms. Lajmi was in a real quandary." "But after much contemplation, she arrived at her conclusion." "She chose.." "the disciple over the teacher." "Yes boys, your Nikumbh-sir.." "has been defeated." "And the student who defeated him is.." "..the little.." "..nine-year old.." "Ishaan Nandkishore Awasthi of 3rd D." "Where are you?" "Come on my boy." "Get up." "Where are you?" "A big round of applause!" "Come on Rajan, say bye to your friends." "It's time to go." "Bye Rajan.." "I'll miss you." "Here's your lshaan." "And here's his painting." "Just look at it, what a masterpiece" "He's a very talented boy and.." "..I'm really happy to have him in my school" "Have you met his teachers?" "Not yet.." "Please go and meet them." "They will give you the progress report." "Thank you so much." "Mr.  Mrs. Dave, enjoy your summer holidays." "Hello.. come in." "Mr.  Mrs. Awasthi.." "Ishaan's parents." "Oh.." "Ishaan!" "Please sit." "Your lad?" "Mighty spirited boy, I must say" "What say Mr. Tiwari?" "At first we thought that he won't last here." "But then he showed such improvement." "Great!" "He has such a unique perspective." "Well done." "Here's his progress report." "Now, that's progress." "Maths, grammar and what a painter!" "A real discovery." "Your son is very bright." "I cannot believe this!" "Thank you so much." "No, don't thank us." "Thank Nikumbh." "That pied piper.. he really turned the boy around" "Lovely boys." "What happened?" "I don't know how to thank you." "Come on." "He's a lovely boy." "Just look after him." "Come on." "Mama-Papa are waiting." "Hey champ" "I'll miss you." "See you soon, after the holidays." "Off you go." "Bye Yohan." "Bye, sir."