The year was 1966, and I was a student in seventh standard in DAV School, Dhariwal, Punjab, when a new principal took charge and tried to establish his dictatorship among teachers and students.
The school that followed Swami Dayanand's philosophy of self-discipline was known for its good results in Board as well as university examinations. There was no state board at that time. Each district had its own education board that conducted examinations for the 8th standard. The next big event in our career would be the 10th exam, called matriculation. The matriculation exams were conducted by the university and the certificate was also given by the university. There were no Plus One and Plus Two during those days.
The new principal never smiled. He believed that most parents did not know how to impart good qualities to their sons and that these students needed a periodic dose of what he called the "heat-treatment".
One prominent presence on his table was a long, shiny rod which somehow contrasted in the most odd manner with Gandhiji's picture fixed behind his chair.
Subhash was a mischievous student. Most teachers ignored him and believed that with age he would gain maturity. The new principal noticed Subhashish's errant behaviour. He looked for an opportunity when he could give a type of trashing to Subhash that would become an example for others.
Like a typical mischievous boy Subhash enjoyed defying authority. Now when the new principal had gradually established himself as the dictator among teachers and students, Subhash itched to defy and irritate the principal.
One day when the principal was delivering a sermon to an assembly of students and teachers that sat listening in pin-drop silence, Subhash produced a screeching sound that pierced through the silence. The principal stopped in the midst of a sentence and looked straight at the mischievous boy. Subhash, instead of feeling a fright, became more defiant, and laughed loudly.
The principal took in his hand the rod that he always kept by his side. He beckoned to Subhash to come out of the assembly, and then told him to put out his hands. With all his force he hit Subhash's hands one by one. The students had fear in their eyes, and the teachers turned their faces away. Subhash was completely undaunted and kept putting his hands out one-by-one.
The principal, who was in his late 50s, became breathless, and looked at the teachers, expecting one of them to come forward and stop him. Then a stage came when he was completely exhausted. He stopped hitting and shouted, "He doesn't even cry!". Then, he walked away to his office, and sent message to the students to disperse.
By his style of functioning the principal spoiled his name and ruined the atmosphere of the school. I find a strange parallel between the principal and Donald Trump. Mr Trump also looks exhausted.
After the departure of the principal, the management of the school took great precaution in choosing principals. It is strange how similar patterns of human behaviour and human relationship occur at different scales.
There are millions of Donald Trumps among us. Only the scale differs. And so does the extent of damage caused by them.