The poem, by Dr. Roopali, is about the relationship of the teacher and the taught.  A Special Feature, on the eve of the Teachers’ Day, exclusively for Different Truths.

Five thousand years ago, in ancient India,
in the epic times of the Mahabharata, 
there lived in the forest a hunter called Ekalavya 
son of chief Hiranadhanyu of the Nishad tribe.
“Father give me your blessings 
I wish to learn from the wise Guru Dronacharya 
to be a warrior, a perfect archer.”
The wise father could not say no 
and let his brave son go 
knowing he will face rejection and humiliation.
Yet not wishing to come in the way of a son’s decision
To learn skills of war with precision.
 
Ace archer and teacher, Guru of kings and princes 
Dronacharya arrogance turned away Eklavya 
denying him his knowledge and wisdom  
calling him a low born without a kingdom
who had dared enter the princely arena,
to learn to be equal with the great Pandava Arjuna.
Rejected yet undeterred, sharp as the arrow 
and strong as the bow 
Eklavya built a clay figure of the Guru
to practice his dharma to fulfill his karma
 
Arduous years later Eklavya 
excelled the prize archer prince Arjuna
the learned Teacher demanded to know 
from whence for a young Nishad 
did knowledge of archery flow?
You cannot be a warrior your birth is so low! 
With folded hands him did a humble Eklavya greet 
and the bow and arrow he laid at his teacher’s feet.
“I learnt from you, my Guru I have only this to show
Of no other great teacher do I know.”
The angry proud teacher said you have learnt from me,
Now give me your right thumb as Guru Dakshina, My Fee.
The stunned princely learners watched in horror,
as the son of a hunter, the super archer 
cut his own thumb to offer 
the Guru a gift of supreme gratitude
for his chance to hone his aptitude.
Thus, the great teacher and archer Dronacharya
disabled his supreme shishya Eklavya.
 
Five thousand years later
I stepped into the sacred space of my classroom 
and saw in the lone corner, an eager bright curious face,
looking at me with hope, his shirt faded and his shoes patched.
In his dark eyes I saw reflected the deep forests,
and the running deer and
heard the rain clouds rumble.
What is your name?  I asked.
In the silence of the noisy restless room
I heard his quiet voice tremble. 
My name is Eklavya. To come to you
I have travelled a long way.
The sky turned blue
and the sun let in a bright ray
I walked across centuries to reach this young boy 
who had walked miles to learn, 
so, some day he could earn.
I put my hand on his head and 
whispered,
“Ekalavya, I am here 
you must never fear.” 

Poet’s Note: An arrogant teacher /guru, who disables his student, is biased, and denies his student the right to learn. He has no honourable place. There are three characters in this story: Eklavya, Dronacharya and a teacher today, who is a mentor.

Visual by Different Truths

Dr. Roopali Sircar Gaur

Dr. Roopali Sircar Gaur is a poet, travel writer, and social justice activist. A former professor of English Literature at Delhi University, and a creative writing professor at IGNOU, she is a widely published academic and creative writer. Her book Twice Colonised: Women in African Literature, is a seminal text on women’s socio-political empowerment. In 2020-21, she co-edited two poetry anthologies – In All the Spaces: Diverse Voices in Global Women’s Poetry, and Earth Fire Water Wind.