Today's Cain Author: Dr. K.S. Kang

Today’s Cain

Author: Dr. K.S. Kang

Rameshwar felt himself to be closely associated with the biblical Character Cain. It was not that he had not achieved any thing in his life but the only regret that he had with life was that whenever he achieved anything in his life there was no near and dear one to applaud his achievement. He always found himself surrounded by strangers, without any familiar face nearby who could congratulate him on his accomplishment.

            Rameshwar considered brain as higher than other organs of human body like heart and stomach. So he considered product of brain- reason and intellect as superior to emotions- product of heart. So right from his young age Rameshwar had decided to give more stress on training and developing brain than other organs of the body. Today it was red letter day in the life of Rameshwar as he was getting the highest academic degree in his subject from the university. He had achieved this accomplishment after the ceaseless toil of nearly a decade. Today the day apponted by destiny had come when Rameshwar would receive degree from Hon’ble Governor and Chancellor of the University. Though he secretly wished that some of his relative witness this grand event of his life but he did not want to disturb the routine of his family members who were either too old to travel 200kms or they were busy in their work. His parents had retired nearly 15 years ago and he did not want to put them at discomfort by asking them to travel this much distance in their old age. His wife was a working woman who worked as a teacher in the school, so she could not get leave from her school at the peak of the season when Half Yearly Exams and Pre Board Exams were round the corner. Rameshwar also did not want his children to skip their school just to witness this event whose significance they did not comprehend fully. So Rameshwar came to this town a day earlier in order to ensure that he reached the right place at right time by evening train and took a room an Inn situated nearl the railway station through one of his local friend. After a hurried dinner he went to bed early so that he may not get late for the function next day. In the morning Rameshwar dressed in the prescribed dress code of white shirt, white pant and black leather shoes and went to the university. As he reached the university precincts he saw that rehearsal and drill of the function was already going on. Since Governor of the State was the Chief Guest of the function so University Administration had planned everything meticulously and systematically. Before entering the main tent Rameshwar filled some forms to complete the formalities to claim one side fare of travel by second class as University administration had decided to give one side fare to successful candidates the moment they had received their intimation to attend the function. When Rameshwar entered the main tent he saw that student of every faculty was given a particular place in the hall as per planned programme of the function. As the name of the faculty will be announced  they will get up and line up on the side of the stage and wait for his turn. This thing was rehearsed once before the real function began. The function started with academic procession with faculty members and others associated with University marching into the main tent in two’s and it ended with The Vice Chancellor and Hon’ble Governor entering the tent in academic gown and tent and the procession was led by uniformed marshal with a long baton in his hand. After the inaugural address by Hon’ble Vice Chancellor and Convocation address by Guest of Honor, Hn’ble Governor and The Chancellor of the university rose to give his message to the audience. After the address started a long process of bestowing degrees to the successful candidates started. First of all the name of Medical faculty was announced and a row of students rose up to go to the sidelines of the stage and as the names of students were announced they went on the stage to receive the degree from the Chief Guest and come down from the other side of the stage. Governor was giving the degrees quickly as he had to endow nearly 1000 degrees and medals that day. As Rameshwar’s faculty was announced he also rose up with other successful candidates to get his degree. Before the function began he had tied up like other candidates with a photographer to take a snap while receiving his degree. Photographer gave him a piece of red ribbon to be put on his left sleeve so that photographer cold recognize his prospective client. Meanwhile as Rameshwar’s name was announced he went to the stage to get his degree. As the Chief Guest handed him the degree he quickly checked his name on the degree to avoid any complication under the staring glare of Governor’s ADC and came down from the stage quickly without caring that photographer had taken his snap or not. After the vote of thanks by Registrar of the University people lined up to take their packed lunch packets at one corner of the tent and started congratulating each other on their life time achievement. Rameshwar while collecting his lunch packet felt alone in the crowd of strangers. He was searching for some familiar face who could congratulate him on his once in a life time success and offer a few words of praise on his accomplishment.