Off the Cuff: The pencil initiative

The back-to-school promotions will soon be in full swing, if they haven’t started already. For children, the idea of having brand new stationery, with the emphasis on the word ‘brand’, makes their little hearts beat faster just as the price tags make that of parents slow down.

I remember the excitement of a new school year as that meant new books, writing implements and geometry boxes with all the pieces intact (it was curious how some of these disappeared into thin air just as you sat down with some home work). The compass was a useful tool when pesky siblings tried to shake your concentration.

For very small children who haven’t started school yet, seeing their older sisters and brothers wear an air of importance as they heft heavy satchels or sit down with their books with a warning they are not to be disturbed, the word ‘school’ seems to hold a compelling fascination. They can’t wait to look as busy and start the learning process. Little do they know how quickly this enthusiasm fades and how fast one tries to come up with excuses to stay at home!

The waste paper basket in the primary school classroom is the equivalent of the office watering hole. This is where they congregate at the slightest excuse. There’s something so satisfying about whittling down a brand new pencil to a stub and indulging in small talk while doing so.

I remember a pupil who sat in class with head bowed over his exercise book as he concentrated on writing something. As the teacher walked around the room, she stopped short at the sight. Curious, she raised his head to see what he was doing. The little fist seemed empty. So, what was he doing? When the fist unclenched, she found the smallest stub of a pencil one could imagine nestled inside. To today, the mystery has not been unravelled as to why the boy hadn’t thrown that away and just used another pencil. His excuse wasn’t pecuniary. Maybe there was a sentimental attachment which made him refuse to part with it. Such behaviour would be hard to understand in this throwaway age where we discard without any qualms.

How many pens and pencils do you have in your home? I’m sure you have no idea. All you know is that you can never find one when you need it, especially when you’re on the phone and need to note down something.

So, it is heartening to read about the pencil man K. Venkatraman, a Dubai-based IT professional, who collects used stationery and uniforms and ships these to poor kids in India. What a simple idea and yet the rewards far outweigh the effort put into this philanthropic gesture. He collects these from schools as well as individuals and makes up goodie bags. These are then presented to underprivileged schoolchildren in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the sight of their faces lighting up when they receive these simple gifts is a joy to behold.

Venkatraman is involved in many other charitable efforts but the pencil initiative is one that struck a chord with me. It is a reminder of the fact that there’s so much we take for granted and don’t value enough. This humble writing tool forms the very foundation of our education. The first time we held one and managed to scribble gibberish on a blank piece of paper made us feel an enormous sense of achievement. Later, we graduated to writing with a pen but the thrill of making an impression on paper and being able to erase something if we weren’t satisfied with our efforts is difficult to replicate.

Thank you, Mr Pencil Man, for making me revisit my bond with this piece of whittled wood.