Kaung Thant a Garden on a Far-Flung Peak

training. I said I would take that duty and that made them happy and satisfied. I gave them training at all my own cost. Then I chose a captain for the team. Later I was not free enough to take part in the training sessions. I did it as a way of organizing these jobless youths. Actually l was not at all free. I didn't have enough time to coach them. I had a lot of work to do. There were a lo_t still left to do to be able to develop the school. Thus I ask a youth to train the team, They had a chance to play football in the football ground and volleyball in the respective court at any time and they did not come and play in the school compound anymore. School walls were saved from their kicks. Giving the dirtiness as a reason, l officially issued an order not to play football between the school buildings. One or two still came to play but when they saw me they ran away. Since then there were no football players between the school buildings. I already created a way out for the adults but what about those who were still young? I meant those who were primary and middle-school level children. I looked around the school compound and found a big table but it was not long enough for a table tennis table. No problem. I issued the nets a, bats and ping-pong balls for the children to play. 89

The children were playing happily. At first some students didn't know how to play. Later after observing how the teachers played they learnt and knew how to play. I wanted to make some arrangement for the primary students. I got an idea to make a see-saw and a slide board for them. There was a space in front of my house. After deciding to build a see-saw and slide board there I asked Khen Suan Mung to bring a carpenter. When he arrived I told him my idea. He had never seen a see- saw in his life and did have any idea about that. I drew a picture but he did not get the idea yet. After cutting some wood and showing him a rough model, he got it. While he was working I kept myself available near the carpenter and advised him what to do .I asked him to finish within three days. In three days' time there was a see-saw and a slide board ready for the children. This play ground was named as \"MUANG NO\"which in Chin Language means youth. In the early morning the young children. played on the see-saw and slide board in front of my house. Around 8 a.m it was usually overcrowded. I opened the front door of the house and looked at them. When I saw them happy I started feeling happy. The happiness of the children had the power to make me happy. 90

But while looking at them in some part of my heart I suffered pain as I missed my own daughter, Mya Witt Yee. At this time of the day she might have woken up already. Was she preparing to go to her nursery? Was her elder brother carrying her on his back on the way to her nursery? I was worried whether my 9 year old son Htet Aung Kyaw was able to follow his lessons. Did he need to look after his younger sister during his leisure hours instead of playing? Although I made many other children happy, I couldn't do anything for my own children. Was I myself like the lights of a candle? Candle light cannot give any radiance at its bottom although spreading rays over a wide area. These thoughts made me feel so sad. But I am a government servant who had to perform his duty for the benefit of the country regardless of both mental and physical fatigue. \"Me..... Was I not a teacher?\" Although trying hard to make many flowers blossom, I didn't have enough time to take good care of my own two flowers. Well, it might be a sorrowful thing but not the end of the world. They would still survive under the care of their own mother. After consoling myself~ I felt a little bit better. 91

I was needed in this school I must help raise their living standard by encouraging them to acquire essential education. Their lives should be upgraded with education Let them see that education might be the only reliable thing for them. I must create good circumstances for them to study well and stay happily at school. I could help them to become highly intellectual persons so that they could in turn help their society and their community's benefits. I must do these things. I must. I recharged myself to regain strength both mentally and physically. The young ones were happily playing. 92

<<In fact all changes in life may not be -meaningless. Changes may lead to a better position in life. When fate offers you lime, you should make lime juice and drink it>> 93

CHA:PTEH:15 1? DEJECTED, DISA/OINTED, DEPRESSED SUNDAY Although I tried to encourage myself, sometimes I felt depressed especially on Sundays. There were no letters for me on Friday, so I was feeling lonely on Sunday. Being unable to identify whom I really missed whether it was my family members, or my old flame or my parents or my friends, I was laid up with depression on my bed. At that time my expectation was no other than to await letters from far away. There was a sub-post office in this village. But I didn't rely on it. I asked my office boy Khen Suan Mung to go to the post office on Friday every fortnight. I sent my manuscripts to magazines fortnightly. Almost every evening I wrote. I wrote short stories and also long stories. I wrote so many. I sent so many. So many manuscripts were also rejected. I sent manuscripts especially to Shu-ma~wa and Sandar magazines continuosly. I remembered once my short story, \"De- Lo-nint\"(ln such a way) was published in Sandar magazine. I sent a lot of letters and expected some reply letters to me. 94

Actually I didn't receive even one letter a month. No letters from friends. I got a letter from my family once a month. Sometimes, I got letter from my parents who were also government servants in Nyaung Shwe. Although my father mentioned health matters, my mother wrote on a variety of topics and up to one full page of an A 5 paper. She expressed the past events of my boyhood and warned me not to forget Buddha, Dhamma and Sanga as these three were genuine gems. She also told me that she missed all her children and-it was cold in Shan state. My mother's handwriting was not very good with spelling errors but it didn't matter. I could easily understand. She always wet the lead of the pencil with her saliva. No problem, I can read thoroughly. In fact her letter was mixed up with her motherly love and kindness. So I wanted to read it several times over again. After reading it, I was really touched and wanted to cry. Being away from my mother and also away from my children, it made me very depressed at that time. If I didn't receive any letter with love and care I felt dejected. Those weekends especially Sundays were sorrowful days for me. On that day I woke up early, took exercise and then cooked. After that I lay coiled in the bed again. 95

Thinking about sorrowful subjects I started to become depressed again. Loneliness made me recall the past and I missed this and that. Though no one would visit me, I was expecting a guest. If a guest may arrive, it would be good. Thinking that anybody might not be as unlucky as I myself, the thought soon led to depression. Spending my time in the bed with sorrowful feelings for a long time, I got bored and looked at different perspective of my life. Would I get any benefits by spending time like this? I just felt depressed and sad; whatever I wanted would not turn up. I could not escape from such a depressive situation immediately. Life is not a bed of roses. I might not get whatever I wished for every time in life. Whatever happens would happen naturally. Life is a struggle. The more struggle, the stronger it will become. No point to feel depressed. I wanted to become a head master and so I had come here. This is a sort of risk, isn't it? After serving as a Middle School Headmaster, I would be promoted to be a High School Headmaster. When I could stay 96

in a city as a High School Headmaster, this sacrifice would be good enough and worth for my son and daughter. I consoled myself and 1sought energy for life. In fact all changes in life may not be meaningless. Changes may lead to the better position in life. When fate offers you lime, you should make lime juice and drink it. If fate provides yol! with a Guay-tauk leaves (This leaf is a sort of poison for dogs) you should prepare soup for yourself to drink. High-flying birds can see farther than other birds. I had now moved to the hilly region. It meant somewhat like a high-flying bird. I should try to make my dream comes true this time. My dream since I was young was to become an author. I had experience. I had been reading a lot. Now I could have ample of time to write. What should I do except write. Just sit and feel sorry for myself? Should I bear sorrow by lying in the bed? Should I spend my precious time like this? No, no ,no and no. I am a high flying bird. l have a very big aim. I have a very huge dream. I should try to get a respectable place in a literary society .I must try to get there. 97

I would pass through whatever might hinder me. I would try to overcome any difficulty. Nothing can hamper me. I pulled up the sock also raised my morale and got up from bed. I went to the window and gazed outside. I saw a clear sky. I also saw a tree growing out of those rocks on the hill. I checked its survival. Without having anyone to water and weed, this tree struggled and still survived. Looking at that tree, I encouraged myself. Life should not be lived with depression and dejection, I had to struggle and tried to achieve what I really expected. I got rid of all the miserable thoughts from my mind. I just took my seat at the table and wrote in my diary. I usually recorded my thoughts and feelings just as if I was writing a work-related diary. \"I am now in a village on a far-flung peak. Nothing can be bought for food. I tried to survive with whatever is available. No companion to talk with. No books to read. No electricity. Not much water. No friends. No letter received. No bright expectations. Really depressive Sunday. But like a tree grown on a stony hill, I must live and struggle. I needed to organize and persuade my ethnic students to become clever ones. I must -try to help their live improve. I must try to become an author ~ so I need to write as much as I can. Nobody would come to console my suffering. I needed to build my life through 98

working for those who might need my service. I have to try to achieve success at work. One day I must become a person who could earn his living by writing. Starting from today I'll try\". I was satisfied with what I had done. Just writing down everything with all my heart heartened me again. It seemed that all the disappointed feelings, all the depression and all dejection were successfully washed away. I would live with the expectation of ...... one day ........ . 99

<<In life health plays the most vital role. If someone is unltealtlty, he or site needs to go to tlte clinic or hospital. Titus it would cost time, and money. Moreover, that person will be suffering from the pains of sickness. To keep oneself fit everyone must pay great attention to individual hygiene.>> 100

CHAPTER16 INDIVIDUAL HYGIENE I went to school with a fresh and energetic mind. I decided to complete the individual hygiene program which I had considered long time ago. Since a month ago, I gave students notice through a teacher to come to class wjth neat and tidy appearance. I also told all classes to wear clean clothes, to cut the nail regularly, to cleanse the grime on the neck and behind the ears and to keep the foet and hands clean. Today I must carry out the plan. I asked Khen Suan Mung to bring an extra blackboard from the office. 1wrote the classes from kindergarten to eighth grade vertically on the board. The name of the four houses, Kyansitthar, Bayintnaung, Bandoola and Ahlongphaya, horizontally. I also put the number 5,3, 1 in the team's table. Then I called all teachers to join me. I informed them that I would give scores on individual cleanliness or hygiene at the assembly. The class teacher should check the students two class level higher. That meant the first grade class teacher would check the students of third grade level. The class teacher of grade eight would check the students in kindergarten class. The document with the list of the team would be returned to 101

the office. The individual student must be able to inform the teacher which house they belong to. The checking parts were whether they were wearing correct and clean uniform or not. The students must have combed their hair and keep it neat and tidy. There should be no grime on the face, neck and behind the ears. Student must have cut the nails. Their face, feet and hands must be kept clean. Teachers were requested to go back to their own classes and to inform the students. Next in half an hour's time the school bell would be rung and all must attend the assembly. I asked them if they had any questions. They didn't ask anything. That meant the information had been understood. The teachers returned to their respective sections. Only Khen Suan Mung and I myself remained near the flag post. I told him to enter the scores on the blackboard. When every section had made announcement on the first, second and third position, he needed to put the score accordingly. I told him he could ask if he did not understand well. I stood under the flag post. On top of the flag_post, the national flag was flying. Three feet down there was a six-feet long bar. On the right hand side the blue flag was flying. On the left hand side the yellow, green red and blue flags were flying. Due to the daily scores earned by the house, the level of the flag would be changed. After individual hygienic competition, the position of the flags would be different. I wished the yellow flag on the top could maintain its position. I didn't know why I had special attachment to the yellow colour. In fact, my favourite colour is white but I like yellow as well. 102

In a few minutes Khen Suan Mung rang the bell. The students came to the assembly ground in front of the buildings. As usual national flag was saluted and then students recited the four Youth's Oaths. And then I delivered a speech. \"In life health plays the most vital role. If someone is unhealthy, he or she needs to go to the clinic or hospital. Thus it would cost time and money. Moreover, that person will be suffering from the pains of sickness. To keep fit, everyone must pay great attention to individual hygi~ne. From today onward, students' individual hygiene would be checked. Those who stood first, second and third would be recorded in the register and then they would be given prize by the end of the academic year. So, please comb your hair, wear clean uniforms and clean your feet and hands dai ly. Now we wil l begin the individual hygiene competition.\" I told the students. After my speech, the teachers checked the students' cleanliness for the class assigned to them. Then they submitted the list of the students and the record they made to me. I made announcement of those who won the prizes. Those students had to stand up. The whole school cheered them with applause. Students had to clap their hands three times together and then pause and again they needed to clap like that up to nine claps. Not a clap less, not a clap more. They had to clap together in unity. I had taught the students this practice since I had arrived in this school. After making announcement, for every section, it was the time to calculate the marks each house had earned. 103

Looked at the board and I informed them that Bandoola stood first. The house leader teacher Pau Khan Khup raised up his hands. \"Please clap for house members of Bandoola\" I said The members of the house clapped their hands. Second was the Bayintnaung . Teacher Tuan Khau Cin smiled. \" Please clap your hands.\" The green colour team members clapped their hands. Kyansittthar stood third. Teacher Ngul Khan Hau kept reserved. After hearing the voice of the clap, I believed that the spirit of competition entered into the hearts of the students. I needed to create some more competitions. Only then would they be happy at school. After being happy at school, I would help them learn. I was determined to try to make my students be happy at school and well-versed according to my mott~. It seemed that the children were happy today. \"Let them compete from a small competition to a big one\", I said to myself. They had never had such an experience. They had learnt for the first time that there would be prizes for every competition. They looked with surprise at the teacher who talked to them and checked their hygiene. They might have decided to keep themselves cleaner after today. During lunch break I heard 104

some feedback from them. Some even spent an hour to clean the grime on their body. Another story was about a young boy who asked his parents to buy coconut oil and applied too much to hi s hair that his whole head was soaked. A lady teacher informed me that a girl quickly bought a bar of \"tlle-nat-kha\" ( a paste made from the bark of a tropical tree used for cosmetic purpose) and applied it on her face too thickly. Anyway, today's hygiene competition might create either repercussions or reflections. This news would be carried to their parents. A shop keeper said that she would go to town and buy nail clippers. One sure thing would be that hair oil, bars of soap and tha-nat-kha would be in great demand. The next morning I saw almost all my students wore their uniforms neatly and tidi ly. Oh, I was on top of the world seeing my sons and daughters looking beautiful. 105

<<It would he depressing for a teacher to use rote learning method to the students to memorize what they had never understood, in order to pass the exam.>> 106

CHAPTER17 UNFORGETABLE POEM, PA-DAUK-PAN (OUR NATIONAL FLOWER FROM GUM KINO TREE) The next morning l took the grade eight class and taught Burmese. I had to teach grade e ight students English, Burmese and History subjects and had to teach grade seven students Burmese. I needed to take 4 out of 7 periods daily. I had to do the office work before and after school hours. Sometimes I had to prepare emergency report. Although it was tiring, l felt fresh. My morale was totally different from the period when I first arrived here. When I took the helm of the Middle School, I decided to help the students in this village to become well- versed persons and happy at school. I determined to make them realize that education is essential in their lives to achieve any success. I myself have come across difficult situations in teaching. It was the time when I was teaching Burmese. I had to teach the students a Bunnese poem written by U Kyawt from the prescribed text, Selected Burmese Poems. The title is \"Padaukpan\" or macro capus ( National Flower) \"Have you ever seen Padaukpan?\" I asked. 107

All waved their heads. I had made a mistake. I shouldn't ask this question as no Padauk tree would grow on mountains over 5,000 ft- high. It's natural that they had never seen that flower. I myself didn't even have a picture of the flower as a teaching aid. How could I get it? It's not easy to ask someone in Yangon to send it here. \"Once in a month, only a day in a month On a very rare and auspicious Buddha day, Blossom in the forest far away.\" It seemed no body understood. They could not speak the Burmese language fluently. There were 14 students in the class. No one seemed to know what I was talking about. \"On a very rare and auspicious Buddha day Blossom in the forest far away.\" Thaung Mun Mang looked at me with eyes which told me that he was not with me. They didn't understand the meaning of the word \"An auspicious day\". Although I gave them an explanation, they couldn't make it out. They were Christian. They wouldn't know anything about Buddha and Buddhism. 108

What is worse, the other stanzas with the following vocabularies were totally foreign to them as these vocabularies related to Pali language. \" Nan- - da-mu Phan -gu teight mar-la Pyit-sae-g{lr- c/tw{ly - theightY\" d\"e Aye yeik S{lryar. \" I read the poem al~ud and explained to them with much sweat all over my body. Their facia l expression showed that they were feeling uneasy. Being taught by the head master, they just kept quiet without understanding anything about the lesson. Their life experience had no relationship to the lesson and could not help their comprehension of the lesson. It seemed that I taught them by force something which they had never seen before. I was unable to make them understand the lesson and it was the most difficult time for me as a teacher. I even lost self- confidence. I even wanted to cry. In lower Burma, I was regarded as a good teacher. After my explanation, the students understood it. Those students didn't need to go to tuition. I was a respectable and reliable teacher. Now I didn't know how to teach. I just thought about the exam requirement. 109

These students had not studied Burmese for ages. All the teachers in those days gave them explanation in their own language, Chin language. Only when I took the class, they needed to study Burmese taught by a Burmese teacher using Burmese language. They tried their best to understand. This poem, Padaukpan, might be difficult even for the native Burmese speaker. How can it be taught in the ethnic regions like Chin, Kayah, Karen, Mon and Shan State? There might be their own ways and means to do so. I had not taught Burmese for a long time as well. Since I chose this career, I had been teaching English, and it might be my weakness that I was not at all skillful in teaching Burmese. At the end of the lesson I gave them sample questions and asked them to memorize for the examination. I told them if the question was like this, you had to write the answer like this. I told them that I would test them the next day. Then I dismissed the class. It is depressing for a teacher to use rote learning method and forcing the students to memorize what they had never understood in order for them to pass the exam. That was what I didn't want to do. But unavoidably I had done it. During English lessons, everything seemed to be fine. Their mother language uses English letters of alphabet. They used to 110

read the bible in English as they were Christian. The brother or preacher might say prayers in English. They were more or less familiar with English. Thus it was not that difficult teaching English. It was much easier teach ing these students English than any other school subjects. History was also not a problematic subject. While teaching, I took pity on my students. They didn' t know what a tuition class was. They had never heard of exam special book. I had bought these exam special books and the books which covered the whole syllabus. I gave these books to all subject teachers. The books were bought with my own expense as there was no fund at the school. At that time the PTA fees was only l0 kyat per head. Parents with three children needed to pay only 25 kyats. They were also allowed to make the payment on installment. At the registration period it was l5kyats and by the end of October they had to pay the remaining l 0 kyats. The number of students was only around 200. Thus l 0 Kyats per head would be about Ks 2,000.. Between l983 and 1986, the head master's salary was 525 kyats. Those who served at far-flung areas were granted 11 l

another 50 kyats as CL A( Cost of Living Allowance). So my salary was 575 kyats. During that period, the salary was just good enough for survival and could not make any saving. Lack of school funds hindered me to carry out co-curriculum activities. The building used for middle school classes slanted to the front. It was built with four inch-diameter wooden pillars and might collapse by if there were strong winds. In that building there were about 80 students. That was the totally number in the middle school level at my school. There were two reasons why the number was so few. First, if a student failed, the parents asked him to work together with them on the farm. Second if student himself could not follow the lessons, he worked as a porter near the Indian border to earn money. The village was on the smuggling route. It was quite close to India. It takes only one and a half day on foot to get there. Within three days a porter can earn 50 kyats by carrying contraband goods. They could earn about 500 kyats per month. . The children wanted to earn money. So they left the school and carried the goods. That's why number of student at school was not that high. I was thinking what to do to increase the number of students. 112

<< At « house there shouldn't be someone who does not study or who is illiterate. If there is, the Lord wouldn't be happy and satisfied.>> 113

OPERATION CANDLE LIGHTS The next day I called a meeting. I also invited the chairman of the village council and village party secretary. All teachers and headmen of the village quarters were also included. At that time the country had been marching on the way to socialism and the village party secretary was in a paramount position. Nothing could be done without him or his knowledge. At the meeting I told them that 200 students out of 500 households could be seen under par. It was like not every household had a student. There should be at least 500 students at school. So I encouraged them to give me some suggestions regarding that matter. The village council chairman groaned that students believed that it would be fruitless to study at school. They might have believed that leaving school and earning mone-y by carrying contraband goods would be a better choice for them. Another headman of a village quarter seconded the chairman by mentioning that what the chairman had said was correct. Parents thought that their children were just wasting the time by going to school. School boys or girls didn't want to go and help their parents on their farm. Parents had to spend money on clothing, stationery and kerosene. The parents believed that 114

earning money as a porter or working on the farm would make their ends meet. Nobody could give any good advice regarding the matter. At last I presented my idea. I req uested them to help make my wish come true with the support of the party and council. The authority concerned also accepted my idea. Laitui was a village with more than 500 households and a population of more than 5000. There were eleven qua11ers in the vil lage. There might be at least one school- going age child in every household. If so, they should go to school. Every school- going age child must study at school and the parents must cooperate. If parents remiss about this duty they would be fined Ks. 200 by the village council and that fine would be donated to the school. Those who were suffering from poverty would be exempted. That movement was named \"Operation Candle Lights.\" The committee members were: Chairman = Village Party secretary Vice Chairman = Village Council Chairman Secretary Head Master, State Middle School, Laitui Assistant Secretary = A Junior Assistant Teacher 115

Member A representative of Junior Assistant Teachers Member A representative of Primary Assistant Teacher Members All Headman of 11 quarters The committee was organized with 17 members. The sub groups of that committee would go and check every household. After making a list of the school- going aged children, every headman of each quarter would check whether these children were studying or not. The undutiful parents would be fined 200 kyats and that fine would be donated to the school fund. The then Ks.200 fine was too much. If a porter carried goods from Teddim to Laitui they could earn a kyat for every one viss(l .63 kilo- gram). And a porter usually could carry about 24.65 kilo-gram per trip. In this way one porter could earn only Ks.15 per trip. That meant to be able to earn 200 Kyats one had to carry the same weight for 13 trips. Unable to pay Ks 200 fine, the number of students increased. In my second year, at the school there were 100 more students. The total number reached 300.That operation was reported to the Chin State news agency and it was published. There were reflections and repercussions. Some agreed with my idea and some didn't like it. 116

Because of my good intention, I had clear conscience. For those who really had great burden were g iven exemption with the decision of village headmen of the quarters. On one hand I took support from the authority, on the other side I had to organize the parents. In the vi llage there were 8 di fferent religious sects. They had different names and the rules and regulations were also not the same. Although almost all were Christians, there were Evangelist, Roman Catholics, Adventists etc. · They had to attend the services at their own churches. I com mun icated with all churches and requested them to let me deliver a speech on education at their Sunday mass. They fully understood my intentions and movement and kindly allowed me to do so. I went to these ch urches with the help of teacher Ngul Khan En. Before taking action, I had to study the Bible and took notes on the Lord's teaching regarding education. I talked to them with the quotations from the Bible, and especially referred to the Salam. {Psiams} \"Dear fri ends. l come here by the grace of God to talk to you. \"A debt of thank is owed to the Lord who kindly grants me this great opportunity to see you and to say somethi ng to you.\" \"In any household there shouldn't be someone who is not studying or who is illiterate. If there is, the Lord wouldn't be happy and satisfied. Only when everyone becomes a literate 11 7

person, they would believe in God and would also become the true sons and daughters of Him.\" \"Only when someone studies, can he or she read. When a person becomes a literate he or she has intelligence. Those who want to receive His loving kindness need to have intelligence. Without proper education it would be impossible to serve the God.\" Education is necessary for those who believe in God to know clearly why they should trust in Him. It would be better to believe in God with His Glory, Love and Compassion than a blind belief. If there were illiterate person in a household, slow progress and less happiness might befall the family members. The same would befall the quarters and the village. Therefore, please study. Parents should urge their children to study.\" I used some quotes from the Bible and gave speech. It could be claimed that \"Operation Candle lights\" was a success. The third year of my service at Laitui, the total number of students rose up to 367. I needed to try to make them happy studying at school. I wanted to build a school garden for them. 118

<< They had to cross nine mountains and then climbed down about 5,260 ft to get to the Manipur river and then climbed up again that 5,260ft on the other side ofthe river. It was really a very difficult and exhausting task, carrying a 5ft tall- tree back from Teddin to the village. One must have great perseverance.>> 119

CHAPTERF19 ZOZAN GARDEN At that time an instruction letter from Township Education Officer arrived. He instructed to start a \"Green Environment\" project. All schools in this township had to follow that. In fact, a very pleasant green environment was needed for the students. Each and every school should have a beautiful garden. A school should be surrounded by the trees and a school should be somewhat like a park. There should be a garden for students who are studying. Moreover, the tree could offer good shade and resist the heat. Let them play under the tree. Let them read under the shade of the trees. Let them have an aesthetic feeling. As a teacher I believed that the trees were important, I decided to implement that \"Green Environment\" project. Not because of the order but because of my heart- felt belief! was determined to carry it out. But it would not be a piece of cake to grow trees on the mountain, especially in my school compound. There was no place to do so. I thought the only place was no other than a small hill in front of my house. 120

That hill was not soft ground. It was covered with stone -like layer and very hard. So it was needed to remove that stone like layer which I didn 't know the thickness and the depth. But it was impossible to do that with only the help of my students. So I went and saw the ·villager party leader and village council chairman. After discussions with them, I call a meeting of villagers from every househol<! to attend. At the meeting, l read aloud the order from Township Education Officer. My wish and thought of a garden for the student was also presented to them. Both authorities concerned from party and council supported and encouraged me. The whole village took responsibility to dig and remove that stone-like layer alternating among the eleven quarters. Each quarter would offer their volunteer service one whole day. Each quarter provided I00 volunteers on their respective day. They brought mattocks and pickaxes. Mattocks were not that useful. With those pickaxes, the stone layer was destroyed. The strikes of the pickaxes against the stone-layers could make sparks .The hands of the some volunteers were even seen bleeding. The small hill did not yet become flat even though I00 volunteers dug with their pickaxes the whole day. 121

After 20 days, the earth started appearing. The garden was built with the whole village's labour. The length was about 100 ft and 50ft.wide. Unlike in the plains, it was necessary to prepare three terraces in order to prevent the soil erosion. I adored the villagers so much as they offered their volunteer service in great unity. I should express my heart-felt thanks to them. To show my gratitude towards the villagers, I would do my best to support their children's success in education. I had the responsibility to make them happy at school and help them to become well-versed students. I needed to build a beautiful garden that would be the pride of the village. I could not do that alone. I would give suggestions and direction. There must be someone who could carry out my plan. That person was a primary teacher U Kam Lian Thang who was only 25 years old and a graduate Chin youth. He was very active and also famous for his good skills in teaching. He usually spent most of his time with students and he had lots of influence on those students. With love and respect they called him Teacher Thang Pi. At that time I was 3 lyears and he was 25 and both of us were very active to carry out extra curricula activities together. As one of my reliable teachers, l could count on him any time. 122

We used cows' dung as a natural fertilizer on the ground where we were going to grow plants and trees. Four houses were busy collecting dung as their labour was recognized with scores. Very young children carried dung with the banana leaves. The seeds of flowers from Pyin Oo Lwin Botanical Gardens were bought under the arrangement of teacher Thang Pi. The first terrace was decorated with flowering creepers of a variety of colours. The ledge was two feet high and we grew many beautiful flowers there. On the second step, shady trees like Cypress (Kyaut -ket) were grown. I didn 't want to wait for a long time to get shade. So I didn't want to grow small ones. Thus I declared that if a team member carried a tree, 50 marks would be given. Also I gave the ale1t sound to the house leaders and teachers to do it in their own ways. I even informed them that the Kyaut- ket tree must be at least 5 feet high. Gin-Suan-Lian, GoThang Khup, Thang Mun Mang and many students went to Tedim and carried back the trees on their backs. Laitui vi llage and Tedim are only 12 miles apart. But they are not on the same plain. The students had to cross nine mountains and then climbed down about 5260ft to get to the Manipur River and then climbed up again that 5260ft on the 123

other side of the river. It was really a very difficult and exhausting task carrying a 5ft tall tree back from Teddim to the village. One must have great perseverance. Not only one trip but they had to make two, three trips to and fro between the village and Teddim, the town. I pitied them a lot. I had no other choice when I asked them to do this. I could not do it by myself. But they could. I was not sure whether they did it for the school or for the village so that they could have a garden to be proud of or they wanted to be dutiful and show their obedient attitude towards their teachers. Any way and anyhow, due to their labour, the garden became more beautiful. One terrace after another, beautiful flowers and plants were surrounded by conifer and pine trees. Students carried water with the army lunch boxes to earn marks for their respective team or house. Actually at that time water was very scarce in that village. There was not enough water for that population. The students needed to go inside the forest and look for the water from small stream and then carry it back. The distant was quite far. They had to climb ups and downs along the mountain range and carry back water. After six months' time, the garden became green and beautiful with flowers. Benches were provided in the garden. They 124

could read or study together before classes. Some were weeding and it was already crowded. On weekends, the lads and lasses from the village brought a photographer and took pictures among flowers. The garden had a fence to protect it from the horses and cows. On a pleasant day with beautiful flowers blooming, the garden was officially opened by the Township council member for Social Affairs. · It was named \"Zozan Garden\" in Chin language. Zozan means \"royal flower.\" That garden was created with the villagers' sweat .It was also developed by the students' labour. For these reasons, this garden was the symbol of the unity of the village and the school. It was the only green place in Laitui village. It was also the pride of the village 125

<<But a creature like man should never turn on his heel and run away because ofthe difficulty. A human being can meet any difficulties head on and overcome them.>> 126

CHAPTER20 DANCING SOUNDS OF THE DRUM This morning thick mist covered the whole village. It was too cold that I didn't want to get up from bed. The time was 7'o clock. If l didn't get up now, I would be late for school. l had to clean my face and bn;:!Sh my teeth. And then l had to climb up the mount and take exercise. When 1got there l could not see the sun. There was a gloomy thick mist. I could see the mountain range through the thick mist but not clearly. I cannot definitely tell the direction of the cold winds. It was really chilly. To endure the coldness, I had to do the warming up exercises rather quickly. Taking a deep breath, either mist or cloud entered my mouth. I felt like I was eating the clouds. I could taste such a feeling because I was here on the mountain. With an optimistic attitude [ thought my decision to come here was right. 127

I could not afford to waste my time with wandering thoughts as I needed to cook rice so I ran down along the mount in a hurry. I went straight into the kitchen and prepared for cooking. I took rice with the cup which in fact used to be a tin of condemned milk. I put the rice in the pot and filled the pot with water to clean the rice. The cold water chilled my hand. Then I had to make fire. When I looked at the fire wood, I saw they were damp. As usual I set a small pine stick fire and put it in the middle of the fire wood pile. All small pieces of pine easily caught fire and the flame started burning the other wood. But as the wood was damp, it was not successful. The damp wood responded with smoke (or were they crying?) As the smoke squeezed my tear glands, the tears came out. I had to wipe the tear on my cheek feeling up set. I'd rather like to make good use of my energy in my office work but now I was preparing to make fire witfi difficulty and that disappointed me. It was somewhat like a student who tries to memorize a subject without understanding it. But a creature like man should never turn on his heel and run away because of difficulties. A human being can meet any difficulties head on and overcome them. With the sprite of never surrendering, I made a fire using a lot of pine sticks until I succeeded. 128

I could see the payoff through my tears. Later in my life 1 thought I would remember this moment of wiping tear without actually crying. I was late for school due to the time spent on making fire. While I was climbing up the hi ll to go to my school, I started hearing the sound of Chin traditional drum. Who were dancing at my school without my knowledge? Who? Who were they? Egocentric anger just arose in me. Me, the head Master. Me, the leader. Whoever was doing such things without asking for my permission? Egoism was ignited by egocentric mood. Anger was aroused by egoism. I strode up to the school with heavy footsteps. The scene was not what I had thought. U Pau Khan Khup , the Physical Education teacher was striking a drum on a table. The students of the whole school were doing freehand exercises according to the beat of the drum. What a lovely scene! I gazed from behind. The students made necessary changes at the signal of the drum. Their movement was great. They were in harmony. It was very wonderful. Previously they did exercises with the wh istle signal. Since then they were in harmony. 129

I had assigned him when I got the instruction. I showed the P. E. teacher the order. He tried the exercises, and demonstrated with the pictures which were also sent together with the order. When he was ready, he demonstrated the exercises in front of the students. Start the warming up exercise. One, Two , Three, Four Five, Six, Seven , Eight. Eight, seven, six five Four ,three change next I saw them doing exercise with sixteen different positions. They had been practicing these exercises almost every day except on Monday when teachers checked personal hygiene. Since the free-hand exercises performance was also regarded as competition among four houses, the students did the exercises very actively. Every day they had been trying for their house to win. First they practiced with teacher's verbal command When they were very familiar with all e.xercises, they had to follow the whistle signals. Now they practiced with the signal of the Chin traditional drum. 130

Hearing the drum beat, l felt like they were dancing. I wanted to write an essay about the \"Dancing Drum Beat\". P.E. teacher Pau Khan Khup should get much credit. His effo11 had really paid off. The students were also happily doing exercises. Th is was a kind of implement on one of the educational projects and plans. It might be better to take warming up exercises before classes. It would definitely make them active during the lessons. I wondered whether the people from the Education department might know about such a school with which good intention genuine ly existed on a far flung peak. My thoughts were wandering. \"Oh, no. What I was thinking about? That is none of my business. I have tried my best to help my relatives on this mountain develop in harmony with those from the plains. I try to be more than dutiful. Why should 1consider those matters that are none of my business? I needed to teach myself\" I looked at the students at first from the back and now I wanted to see them from the front and changed my position. As the head master observed from the front, it seemed the louder the sound of the drum, the more active the students became. As they were human beings they might want the recognition of their superior. 13 1

As an administrator my duty was to observe and recognize them with words of praise or compliments. In a few minutes the practice was over. I myself had observed and this time I wanted to select the first, second and third position by myself. They looked more excited as their headmaster himself would select first, second and third position for their performance. I was very pleased to see them doing exercises in unity by following the drum beat. I praised their power, ability and skills. Thus I announced that all four houses were regarded as FIRST. Their voices loud with pleasure covered the whole school compound overwhelmingly. Teacher Pau Khan Khup's beaming face indicated that he was pleased with his students' excellent performance. All students were satisfied with the remark that they were in uniformity, clever and skillful. When they could keep quiet, I praised them with three sentences. 'You all are clever\" \"Your performance is wonderful\" \"You can do whatever is assigned to you\" 132

My words of praise encouraged them and made them very happy. Their happiness flew to me. The longer the year, the more I realize that that happiness was genuine. 133

<< Whatever is difficult, with power/ul determination, one can overcome any hindrances. If there is a will, there is a way.>> 134

CHAPTER21 W.C. Project I read the letters brought by Kim Swine Moan yesterday. There were not any personal !etters for me. Without receiving any letters since the previous night I was depressed, disappointed and forlorn. It was really difficult to cure this letter expecting sickness. The then the transportation system was not at all good. Only the trucks of the Road Transportation Corporation ran to Teddim. No other cars are running. Communications system was also in the same boat wearing the same shoes as transportation. That's why it took a month to get a letter. Although I sent many , I didn 't receive any. Only my family members and my parents wrote letters to me. I was out of contact with many fri ends. Sometimes the letters I sent didn't reach their d•istinctions. They were Jost on the way. I usually wrote four letters a month but they got only one or two. I didn 't know where they were lost. I asked Khen Suan Mung to go to Teddim to collect letters personally, worrying that the personnel from post office might give the letters to one of the villagers to take them to me. When Khen Suan Mung came back with a letter or letters, I felt great. But if there was no letter. I suffered. My mother 135

sometimes wrote to me knowing that I might be feeling lonely living in a far flung area surrounded by mountains and forests. I was really happy receiving letters from my beloved mom. My mother's education level was only grade four and she couldn't spell some words correctly. But she could write eloquently. When she mentioned the events that happened in my young age, the tear welled up in my eyes and sometimes made me cry. She wrote letters to console me. I later expected my mom's letter. But I didn't get any this time. My weekly expectation collapsed again and I was depressed. I read the office letters. I found one wonderful letter. The letter was an instruction to build water closets or latrines at every school. Before I got here there were Joos with holes. I was busy and neglected to pay attention to the toilets. Now I got an order to build toilets. When I read it out to the teachers at the meeting, they responded that it would be a difficult task. There was no fund to build even one toilet. There were also no school funds. A W.C. without water would become a very dirty and smelly place. In Laitui, water is scarce. 136

Even for a headmaster, the quota was only one bucketful. Where could we get water for the school-toilets? No decisions could be made at the meeting. \"Impossible,\" they said. In fact, what they had said was practical. It would be very difficult to get water every day. The next day I called a PTA executives committee meeting. l read out the Toilet Project to them. I asked for their suggestions. They meant the chairman of village council and village party leader. The chairman said\" It is very difficult to get water in our village. You have already known that, Sayagyi.\" \" I know that's not easy but I am a government servant. I need to follow the instructions. Please consider how we could implement this project successfully-,\" I requested. \" It was an order in black and white. So I shouldn' t reply that it can be carried out due to the scarcity of water. Please provide me with necessary help.\" \"Well, if you're determined to carry this out by any means, we also should help you with every possible way. The vil lage party leader encouraged me. I was heartened by his words. \"Well, I have a detailed plan. Please listen to me and discuss my plan. Then please give me any necessary advices.\" Then I presented what was on my mind. All agreed with doubt. Was it possible to do what the headmaster had proposed? 137

They would do whatever they could. But it was impossible to get water every day. Water plays the vital role in using a W.C. without water, how could this project be successfully implemented? They accepted the facts I had presented. Four toilets would be built, two for males and another two for females. To search for a carpenter who could do that with the least budget. The responsibility for expenses would be taken under the proper arrangement of village party and council. The village council chairman informed me not to worry. There were timbers and wood. There were also old corrugated zinc sheets at school. They would ask the carpenter to build the toilet. The village health department could issue the essential commodes of eastern type. But to get water, they asked me to seek other ways. When I got a solution, I had to inform them. They would offer help of whatever was in their reach. At last, responsibility for water fell on my shoulder. I couldn't give any answer immediately. I had got only one pot of water for my toilet at the house. Even that amount was taken from the big bucket I got as a quota. How could we seek the water for the whole school? From which place could the water pots be brought? 138