Assam Rifles Public School

I left Zunheboto and got admitted into a teachers’ training course (B.Ed) but soon realized that it was difficult to carry on without a personal income, parents were helping though. So ultimately I landed up in Tukrajhar Higher Secondary School. I was looking for a job around Shillong. So I started applying for jobs once again. Once again, I received more than once call – one an Appointment Letter and another, a call for interview. The appointment was for a college – Sapatgram College, which was near Tukrajhar. The interview was for a school – Assam Rifles Public School, which was in Shillong. I went for the interview first. This was the second time I was facing an interview in this school. I was not selected the first time, though I thought I had done everything correctly. A university professor who loved me ventured to go to the school and ask why I was not selected. The principal said I was not ‘mature’ enough. During the second interview my approach was very casual. I was not bothered if I was not selected – I had a job under my belt. I started late – didn’t take any preparation. There were four members in the Interview Board. The chairman was Colonel Sahani. On his right was the Principal, Mr M.N. Tankha, next was the Vice-Principal, Mr S. Banerji. On the left of the chairman was Major Kumaria, the Bursar. I was not happy as I hadn’t been selected the first time, so I was not going to be very humble. The chairman shot the first salvo – what’s your name? I wanted to tell him, he knew my name already as he had called me, but decided otherwise. I told them that my name was ‘Aniruddha’. ‘What’s the meaning of your name?’ asked the chairman. I said – free. ‘Free as what – wind?’ ‘No sir, wind is obstructed by mountains, buildings etc. I am free from all that.’ A laughter followed. The mood inside the room suddenly changed. ‘Can you think of any one in our epics with the same name?’ ‘Yes, Aniruddha was Lord Krishna’s grandson.’ ‘You are elevating yourself to that height?’ ‘Sorry Sir, it was my parents who gave me that name and not me.’ The chairman smiled. Others were tight lipped as I interacted with the chairman. It was the turn of the principal now. I had to take my revenge. ‘So Mr Burmon (he stammered), you have done your MA in English Literature?’ I had to be cautious. Literature – means any one could ask questions from almost any where. I played a trick. I said, ‘Sir, the thrust in my Master’s was linguistics.’ ‘Haven’t you done anything in literature?’ ‘Yes, but a small part, it was linguistics mainly.’ It was actually the other way round. This lie saved my day. It was difficult for a lay person to ask any question from linguistics. ‘Haven’t you done anything in literature?’ ‘Yes, a small part.’ ‘Can you name some authors?’ ‘Authors form which country – Australia, India, Nigeria, South Africa?’ ‘Well India.’ ‘R. K. Narayan, Nirad C. Chaudhuri, Raja Rao, Anita Desai … ….’ ‘Who of these do you like most?’ I wanted to play safe – ‘R. K. Narayan.’ – not a popular name then. ‘Can you name some of his works?’ ‘Guide, The English Teacher, The Man Eater of Malgudi.’ ‘Which of these do you like most?’ ‘Guide’. The interviewer was not very sure what to ask. ‘Can you name some poets?’ I wanted to give him a chance. ‘Wordsworth, Shelley, Keats, Byron.’ The Principal beamed. ‘Can you tell us something about Keats?’ ‘What do you want to know about Keats?’ ‘Can you name any poem of his?’ I chose a not very common one – ‘Terror of Death.’ Again, it was difficult to ask any question from an unknown piece. ‘Can you tell me something about this poem?’ ‘Well, I don’t remember the poem, I read it long back (I was actually teaching it the year before), I can tell you the gist if you want.’ I told him the gist in a line. He then asked what other subject I could teach other than English. I said, I couldn’t teach any other subject. He insisted it was a school and I needed to teach another subject. I said that was not possible on my part. He wanted to know the reason. I said, ‘I don’t think I will be able to do justice.’ ‘I also teach Geography, do you think I don’t do justice.’ He was actually a Geography teacher I knew. Hence, I said, ‘I don’t think you do.’ Major Kumaria took on from the principal and asked me what subjects I was teaching in the previous school. I said, ‘English and Alternative English – both being English.’ Same was the case with Zunheboto College. The shock was awaiting me. Mr Banerji, the Vice-Principal, with big round eyes was noting down whatever I was saying. ‘So, Mr Burmon, you made a mention of Mr Nirad C. Chaudhuri.’ I sank. I had made mistake in mentioning this name. ‘Yes sir.’ My face said it all. ‘There’s a controversy about Mr Chaudhuri, could you name it.’ I admitted, ‘Sir, I am not in touch. I know of one controversy. I don’t know if there is anything else.’ ‘There’s only one.’ I was sweating inside. I almost wetted by pants. ‘He being pro-British?’ Mr Banerji agreed. Months later he asked me if I remembered the question he had asked. Well, I did. Surprisingly I got the job of Senior Subject Master in English.

I met a friend of mine who had gone there for the interview for the post of Biology teacher. He said, ‘Let’s join on the same day.’ He was not too happy working there in strange surroundings.