Textbooks...

Back in the glorious days when I was young and wasn't well, overweight I studied in a school. It happened to be a boys school, therefore most us had dirty thoughts of assorted Maths/Science/Elocution teachers. But, as most young boys had to do, we had to study from textbooks - maybe the Moral Science Textbook for Class VII was a bit too 'steamy' (heck any description of sex, no matter how dry was 'steamy' for a 13-year old) and then there was glorious amounts of 'dubious' information. Like the Civics textbook, which painted the entire bureaucracy and judiciary is glowing colours, the history textbook which mourned the defeat that assorted rajahs suffered in 1857 and spoke of the Soviet Union as a shining example of recent history. Somehow, I don't remember any history textbook that talks about recent international events - other than the Non-Aligned Movement (Natwar-era dinosaur). And then there were the English textbooks, with their silly, silly stories. I hated the CBSE English course in both Class X and XII because it was so freaking boring. Ugh! Some of the short-stories in the Class XII textbook were somewhat interesting - The Snake, Icarus (if I remember correctly, it was quite some time ago), but nothing beats what Pakistani students had to study, I don't believe they cleared this. (As is a denial of 1971 wasn't bad enough - almost makes you think that the Gujarati textbooks are not so bad after all)

The leader

Patient and steady with all he must bear,

Ready to accept every challenge with care,

Easy in manner, yet solid as steel,

Strong in his faith, refreshingly real,

Isn't afraid to propose what is bold,

Doesn't conform to the usual mold,

Eyes that have foresight, for hindsight wont do

Never back down when he sees what is true

Tells it all straight, and means it all too

Going forward and knowing he's right

Even when doubted for why he would fight.

Over and over he makes his case clear

Reaching to touch the ones who won't hear

Growing in strength, he won't be unnerved

Ever assuring he'll stand by his word

Wanting the world to join his firm stand.

Bracing for war, but praying for peace

Using his power so evil will cease:

So much a leader and worthy of trust,

Here stands a man who will do what he must

I really want to shake the hand of the person who wrote this masterpiece. This is freaking brilliant!