It was already well past 10 AM by the time we got out of the Lonavala train station. Not the time of the day when you expect school kids on the streets.
I found one young, smartly dressed in a uniform and serious looking kid trundling along just outaside the station. Odd time and odd place (just outside the train station) for a school kid to be trundling, I thought. Must be playing truant and having fun. I caught up with him and started a conversation.
"Which school do you go to?" I asked in Hindi. I asked his name before this but he just gave me a quick glance, ignored the question and moved on. Maybe he was shy. So I asked about his school.
"UPS public school," he was more forthcoming with his answer this time.
"Which class?"
"7th," he said and looked at me to see if I was doubting his answer. He looked too small and too young to be in 7th grade. I decided to take all answers on their face value and not probe.
"You look well dressed and sharp. Must be good school. English medium?"
He thought for a second. I knew this was going to be a short conversation and was almost ready to say bye to him. Waited for his answer nevertheless.
"Half English Medium," he said.
Now I never heard of this "Half" thing in my life until that moment. You either study in English medium or the local language medium. That's the norm all over India, I thought. So had to stop and ask him another question.
"What is half English?"
"Maths, Science and Social are taught in English. Hindi & Marathi are taught in, well, Hindi & Marathi. English is the third language and is taught in English, of course"
That was a brilliant analysis for a kid so young. My schooling was similar but never did I think of it as "Half English medium". If discernment is a definite sign of intelligence, this kid had it in abundance.
My trek-mates were moving ahead and away. I could have spent some more time with this kid but neither he looked interested in this conversation nor did I have much time to spend.
"So, what's your favorite subject?" I asked even as I was moving away from him.
"Social" he was terse as usual.
"Why social?" the irritating curiosity of a stranger must have been getting on the nerves of the kid. He showed amazing levels of restraint though.
"Accha lagta hai. Why did you all come here?" it was his turn to ask the questions now.
"To go around trekking. Accha lagta hai," I must find ways to get away from this habit of trying to 'sound like a smart ass'.
"Anyways, I am falling behind the group now. Need to go. Nice talking to you," I wished the kid well and ran away.
'Half English Medium' - technically it is 2/3rd English medium but improvisation on a revelation is never a sign of originality.
We moved on. I am quite sure most of the people who studied English medium were all, in reality, only 'half English Medium' but never really realized that.
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