My friend, Sajjan, grew up in a remote village in Nepal and walked four miles to school every day. The school was a mud hut with thatched roof, where the teacher wrote lessons on an old blackboard and all the students copied in silence. They spoke only when asked to speak, and an eager rod greeted any infraction. Sajjan wanted to understand a few things he read, but the teacher, Shresthaji, wanted him to memorize them instead. Twice he had asked a question, and Shresthaji had frowned and told him to keep quiet and do what he was told to do.
Then a miracle happened. Sajjan’s father and family gained a US visa through the diversity lottery. Sajjan came to Maryland, stayed, like the rest of his family, with an uncle who had immigrated earlier, and went to the local school. It was very different. The pupils spoke out all the time. If Sajjan didn’t speak – he felt uncomfortable speaking in English for a long time – the teacher asked him to speak. If he asked a question, the teacher seemed happy and answered at length.
Six years later, the family went for a visit to Nepal. They took a bus from the capital, Kathmandu, and then rented a ramshackle cab to take them to their old village near Nalang. The last few miles they had to walk. They spent the whole day with relatives and old neighbors and regaled them with stories of their new life in a strange world. Sajjan took his father’s permission and walked to his old school.
Six years later, the family went for a visit to Nepal. They took a bus from the capital, Kathmandu, and then rented a ramshackle cab to take them to their old village near Nalang. The last few miles they had to walk. They spent the whole day with relatives and old neighbors and regaled them with stories of their new life in a strange world. Sajjan took his father’s permission and walked to his old school.
The school hadn’t changed at all, except that Shresthaji looked much older. He still seemed to wear his old weather-beaten glasses and peered for long at Sajjan’s face without recognition. Sajjan persisted and mentioned several of his classmates’ names, with no good result. Then Sajjan mentioned key events, such as the time a visiting school inspector had an accident and two mountaineers had died in a climbing mishap. Shresthaji still scratched his neck.
Then Sajjan hesitantly mentioned the occasions he had asked a question. Shresthaji’s face lit up with recognition. “So you are the boy who always asked questions?” he said with finality.
Sajjan could have said that he had asked a question only twice. He didn't dare to venture a third time. He chose, however, to remain modestly silent. Then he walked back all the four miles to his family’s home, quite satisfied.
Then Sajjan hesitantly mentioned the occasions he had asked a question. Shresthaji’s face lit up with recognition. “So you are the boy who always asked questions?” he said with finality.
Sajjan could have said that he had asked a question only twice. He didn't dare to venture a third time. He chose, however, to remain modestly silent. Then he walked back all the four miles to his family’s home, quite satisfied.
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