Back in time: the courageous journeyer of joy

Looking back at school years brings smiles to the face when we think of the friends, games, fun and mischief that were all rolled together with innocence and carefree times. An occasional teacher also finds herself in this list. Juxtaposed with this smile-list are the faces, words and thoughts of teachers, prefects and even principals, which often bring sadness and tears to the eyes. Their needless tyranny is something I've struggled to understand. Can't school rooms be happy spaces, I would often wonder.

While the strict, stern, anger-spewing teacher was the stereotype, I'm sure we can all recollect some worthy exceptions with a smiling, happy heart. One such 'iconoclast' was Sh Himmatbhai Kapasi, the celebrated and revered Principal of Vidyanagar school of Ahmedabad. True to his name, he exhibited the immense courage required to be so very different. He was lenient, encouraging, experimenting, improvising and innovating across diverse fields. A 'renaissance man', Kapasi Saab could straddle Beethoven, Kurosawa, Gavaskar, Ustad Amir Khan with the same ease as diverse foods and crafts. His leadership made Vidyanagar a true 'metropolis of learning'. The who's who from Ahmedabad, who have made a dent in so many walks of life across the country and globe were nurtured or influenced by Kapasi Saab. These range from Abhijaat Joshi, screenwriter of films like "Three Idiot's", Madhu Rai, cricketer Parthiv Patel, Sural Collector Dhaval Patel, and a host of doctors, teachers, engineers and administrators who have made a difference. Those who had walked and breathed in the school or been friends with Mr Kapasi speak of his refreshing influence and impact in their lives.

A student thrown out of class by a teacher recounts how the 'poker faced' Principal asked him to meet him in his office. On nervously entering the Principal's room, he was treated to some exquisite music of Beethoven and explained the nuances of it. He was also told to not be mischievous in future as he was allowed to go home for the day. That was Principal Kapasi for you! The student who recounted this is a principal of a leading city college today!

Over the last decade, my involvement and engagement with Saptak brought me in contact with this legend. I can hear his lilting voice as he would discuss the nuances of carnatic music, films, nature and so many things on many evenings, seated on his now empty chair in Vidyanagar school. He was a traveller and pilgrim of joy, whose curiosity, wonder could deftly turn the ordinary and mundane into something fun or even 'topsy-turvy'. As an academic leader, he explored new worlds, exposing young minds of various biological ages to different, fascinating worlds and people, connecting them to create new friendships and worlds of activities and amusement.

Down with bouts of serious illness, when people went to enquire about his health, he would recount his experiences with people who were taking care of him. His childlike interest and fondness for people made him lap up the life stories and narratives of doctors and caregivers attending to him in the hospital.This left absolutely no room for any bitterness, anger or cynicism. He was the same joyful voyager of life in a different setting!

He had an elephantine grip and mastery over so many subjects and yet carried all this so lightly. He touched almost three generations of Ahmedabad, leading them into exciting worlds of multi hued creativity and joy. A fortnight ago, a packed hall of his students and friends had gathered to celebrate his 'power-packed' beautiful life that effortlessly impacted and transformed so many worlds around.

A book and a film on his life and work has been put together by his family and students as a homage. As I read this book, I get to know more and more about this humble, elderly man with a lilting voice. People may scarcely believe that he strode through this garden of life, in his own terms, in a complete journey of joy. May his spirit live on, as we celebrate his life and the gentle fragrance that flows from it.

The author is a Harvard-educated civil servant & writer, and has worked in the education sector