Mahatma Gandhi 2 - Mohandas Gandhi's Childhood Poem by Geeta Radhakrishna Menon

Mohandas Gandhi,
A docile child,
His education at a local school in Porbandar!
A shy schoolboy,
Remembers little of early childhood,
But admits to teasing
His teachers along with other boys
Calling them names of varied kinds;
Not the typical naughty boy category,
Like his vociferous schoolmates,
Yet, he enjoyed the little thrills
Of a joyful childhood!

Gandhiji's memory is vivid
On the subject of
Arithmetic
And the multiplication tables!
Imagine! To by-heart the numbers,
Two into four
Or eight into twelve,
Mind-boggling for a kid!
Mathematics gave him problems,
The additions, subtractions, divisions,
The mathematical sums
A difficult problem to solve!

At the age of seven,
Mohandas joined a public school in Rajkot,
At the age of twelve - a studious Gandhi,
At the high school of Kathiawad,
Avoided classmates and company,
Focusing just on his lessons and books,
Reaching school at the stroke of the hour,
Ran back home, when the bell rang,
A daily fixed habit!
Refrained from fun and frolic,
Being poked at
Or being made fun of!

A humble Mohandas considered
Himself a mediocre student
With sluggish intellect
And a raw memory!
A boy of exemplary character,
Never copied,
Even when tempted by his class teacher!
A visit of a school inspector
When he wrongly spelled the word 'kettle'
Preferred being reprimanded
Rather than copying, cheating,
Or enjoying an undeserving praise!