This happened sometime in 1972. Something about the Tamil teacher, an interesting character. Today, every management experts talk of time management. To the extent I know, I can confidently say, he was the first person to practice time management. He had never kept pending any of his assigned jobs for the next day. Why next day, not even to the next hour. Anything to be done should be done at the anointed hour. Immediately after the test is over, he will sit in his place and complete the paper valuations and send back the test papers to the class. Then only, he will leave the place.
He must have been in his mid forties and to our knowledge; he has been practicing this for the last 20 years or so. A much disciplined person.
My elder brother was his student earlier and then studying Tamil literature on his advice. He is very happy that one of his students is studying Tamil literature and due to this he had soft corner to me.
When we were in seventh class, his wife was expecting their second child. We all knew that his first boy was not keeping good health and was always on some medication. Few months back, one day afternoon, he called me to his cabin and asked whether any washer man live in my village. I said yes. Then he asked me whether I can get some donkey’s milk next day. He said it is required for medicinal purpose.
Any request from the teacher is an order only. In fact, it is an honor to get this kind of assignments from the teachers. There is no question of saying no, but this time, the request is something unique.
I didn’t know whether the washer man in our village has milking donkey. If not what is the option. Moreover, the idea of asking milk from the donkey man itself is funny. What the other boys will think. Anyway, I can’t ask him for the reason and purpose. While going back I told Padma about the Tamil teacher and the donkey’s milk. She was also serious like him. Padma was my childhood friend.
In the evening, when he told mom about the Tamil teacher and the donkey’s milk, she was surprised and amused. However, my father was sympathetic and assured that he will arrange. We both went to the washer man’s house.
On seeing us, the man came running. My dad is a respected person in the village, but very simple. Had he wanted something, he could have called the washer man instead of going to his place. The man was tensed.
My dad told him the requirement. He said, he has a milking donkey but very difficult to tame it. As his future was at stake, his dad decided to tame the donkey to get the milk. After two hours of hectic effort, we could milk about 100 ml of sweet milk, a very successful effort. It was yellowish white, but very thick like paste. Those days there was no refrigerator like things to store the milk, but somehow, my mom managed to keep the milk in condition till next day. I reached the milk to the Tamil sir, early morning next day.
Later, we came to know that his wife gave birth to his second child previous night and the child was first fed with the donkey’s milk. It was told that the donkey’s milk will ensure a very good health to the baby. No wonder, the donkeys are healthy. The whole night, the child has fasted for good health. Its funny, but who knows the child may have a very good health. Insah Allah.
