What do we say to our children on governance in these times?


I remember playing cops and robbers as a child . The two roles were held as contrasts when black was black and white was at least whiter. Robbers were the ones that ran and the cops were meant to chase. Today, public roles and spaces seem coloured in one muddy brushstroke of grey.

With the idea of linking life to learning, we had asked our middle school students to bring newspaper cuttings on leadership and parties, only to land in the middle of mudslinging and horsetrading in those infamous days of bundles being flung in the well of the parliament. Wiser now, we stick to local news and let the nation take care of its politics.

From citizenship week in Dec to the Republic day in Jan, children have gathered news and views to cull an understanding of rights and duties. So tomorrow , when we hoist that flag and mark the anniversary of our identity and sovereignity, our small group will have a handle on the thing
that we call republic .

Happy anniversary of nationhood from mine to yours...