Creative Connections
A Personal Essay about Motivation, Inspiration and Energy
On the 18th of November, I took up an assignment that was a challenge in every single way. I had to teach the rudiments of creative writing to a group of 30 odd school children. The school was St Peter’s, in Vasai, Mumbai, and my only concern was this mind numbing fear I have of getting into our jam-packed Mumbai locals. Add to that, my innate tendency to get lost. I could get lost anywhere. It is an ability I seem to have been born with.
But J, a friend and an erstwhile colleague, who is an administrator of the said school, stepped in, like the good Samaritan she is, and volunteered to pick me up and drop me back home, in one piece.
Teaching creative writing is a dicey proposition at all times. It becomes more challenging when one is dealing not only with very young children, but children who haven’t had the means to read books other than their textbooks.
The kids who had opted to attend the session were from the 5th standard to the ninth standards. At the school, I go into the small classroom and stand stock still. You know how you get hit by a wave? There was this soft glow that met me from thirty pairs of eyes, and shy, slightly apprehensive smiles on all faces.
I began the two-hour session. After some time, smiles appeared on faces, followed by…
