In the essay writing competition organized by the state government, Tomoghno Mondol, also known as Takai, won the first prize of 6000 rupees. The theme of the essay was "How do you want to help your parents when you grow up?"
What did Takai write that won the first prize? Let’s find out.
Almost no one knows the name of Atasul village. Even if they don’t, it doesn’t matter. The person whose story we will hear today is named Takai.
Takai’s father works in a different state. He comes home twice a year. If the work pressure is high, he comes only once a year. He arrives during the festival time, but not at the beginning of the festival. He either arrives on the ninth day or the tenth day and stays for a week before leaving again.
When Takai was born, he was as soft as kneaded dough. His grandmother, who went to see him, said, "He’s my Naru Gopal, my Takai..." From then on, the name Takai stuck.
Takai’s mother does embroidery work. She makes beautiful stitch designs on sarees. The person who assigns them this work used to have the village women sitting together in her yard doing this work. After Takai was born, his mother understood the work and moved to the house. She could take care of Takai and work at the same time.
Takai’s grandmother also helps take care of him. When Takai was three months old, his grandmother predicted, "My Takai is very intelligent. He will brighten up the family’s name when he grows up."
One month, two months passed, and slowly Takai grew. Now he is three months old. Takai’s grandmother, while putting him to sleep, said, "Your father and mother work very hard. When you grow up, how will you take care of your father and mother? I won’t be around then, Naru Gopal."
What does his grandmother’s Naru Gopal mean? Only Takai knows. He responds with a sound, "Angu." His grandmother is thrilled and says, "Oh daughter-in-law, look at how Naru Gopal is speaking. No child at such a young age answers like this. God, please protect my little one." She folds her hands in prayer to God.
When Takai was four years old, an accident happened. Suddenly, Takai’s grandmother passed away. Takai, though not fully understanding, felt that he could no longer find his grandmother, and that realization dawned on him. After hearing the news of her passing, Takai’s father came from Surat. Takai bombarded his parents with questions and became restless. His question was, "Where is my grandmother?"
Takai’s father picked him up and took him outside, showing him a star in the sky, and said, "That is your grandmother." Takai stared at the sky for a while in amazement, not understanding how his grandmother could be up there.
Six more years passed. Takai turned ten. On his tenth birthday, Takai’s father came and gave him ten saplings. Takai, along with his father, planted them in a plot near their house. Five fruit trees and five flower plants.
Takai’s friends were astonished when they heard this. "Flower plants as birthday gifts?" Ryan said, "My father gave me a very nice jacket." Shubham said, "I will ask my father for a cricket bat on my birthday."
Now, in the age of the internet, cities and villages have all blended together. The days when villagers didn’t know half of the world’s news are gone. Now everyone knows everything. Young children know even more. That’s why their needs have changed and are no longer simple. But Takai’s case is different. He is a bit different from his friends. He has no desires.
Takai’s Father Works in Surat at a Fabric Manufacturing Factory. The long shifts are very exhausting. Takai cannot see his father’s hard work, but he sees his mother’s. His mother makes intricate designs on blankets and sheets with fine embroidery. She changes needles two or three times and uses different colored threads to create beautiful patterns.
Takai doesn’t get first or second in school, but he doesn’t do poorly either. He is quiet and calm, and many of the boys in class tease him. They pinch him, tickle him, and hide his bag. Takai doesn’t say anything. Those who are his good friends protest when others disturb him.
Takai is now in Class Six. One day, a notice for an essay competition organized by the state government arrives at the school. Students from classes six, seven, eight, nine, and ten can participate in different categories. The headmaster, Abhijit Nasakar, encourages the students in each class to sign up. Takai’s friend, Badal, who is the class monitor, signs Takai up without him asking. Takai didn’t really want to participate.
Badal said, and Takai replied, "I’m not fully grown up yet. How can I write about helping my parents now?"
Badal said, "Just write whatever you want. I’ve put your name down." Takai felt a little nervous but didn’t say anything. Then the day of the competition arrived. After the lunch break, there was no class. The students were given papers to write on for the competition. Remembering his grandmother, Takai began writing. The word limit was 500. It was okay if the essay was shorter, but if it was longer, the entry would be disqualified.
After writing his name, class, age, and other details, Takai wrote:
"I am not old enough to work yet. My father works in Surat. I don’t get to see him much. He comes home twice a year. I feel sad for my father, but he has to work, so he stays away.
My mother does beautiful handwork. She embroiders blankets and sheets with intricate designs. After doing all the household chores, she sits down in the afternoon to work. She doesn’t take any rest. There are many colored threads for sewing, but only three needles. That’s why my mother has to keep changing needles as she works. After finishing with the red thread, she has to use the same needle again to thread the green one. My mother finds it difficult.
When I start working, I will buy my mother as many needles as there are colored threads. Every needle will have its own thread. She will finish one design and immediately begin the next without wasting any time changing the thread.
Then, I will tell my father to leave Surat and come back here. He will find work here. My grandmother used to say, ‘If you sit idle, you’ll rust. As long as your body allows, you have to keep working.’ So, my father will also do some work, but he will stay with us.
Bhulo sleeps in front of our house. My mother says, ‘He is our guard.’ When I get a job, I will build a house for Bhulo. I’ve seen dog houses in pictures; I’ll make one like that for him. Bhulo will be comfortable there.
These are my wishes for now. When I grow up completely, I will do even more for my parents."
Twenty-one other students from Class Eight participated in this essay competition. Some wrote that they would become great engineers and buy their parents a huge flat and a car. Some wrote that they would take their parents on a trip abroad. But none of them wrote the way Takai did, expressing his heartfelt thoughts. That’s why the judges really liked his essay. Tomoghno Mondol was nominated for the first prize.
The state government awarded him a check for 6000 rupees. Takai is waiting for his father to come home. Once his father is here, he will deposit the check in the bank and then ask him for money to buy a dozen needles for his mother. Once he has the money, there will be no obstacle in fulfilling his wish!