We Bought a Zoo Page #6

We'll round off all of

Gita's problems.

What did you say?

Nothing. Nothing at all!

Hail the Lord of Strength!

This is the first lesson in wrestling.

Remember it.

There's no letter for you Mohan babu.

You're a wrestler as well?

I have been wrestling

since I was a child

and it's my favourite hobby.

- Very good.

Just out of curiosity, till what

grade have you studied?

I mean, you must have worked

very hard to gain this post.

I am a graduate!

How fortunate you are!

- Fortunate... yes!

But I've also studied very

hard to attain this post.

I'm sure you studied hard

but at least you had the

opportunity to go to High School.

I feel very sorry for the

village children.

Why is that?

- I'll explain.

What are your views on the school case?

The school case? It's very simple.

The school must move from here.

That space is needed for the Panchayat.

That is why I feel bad for

the children of the village.

Look... the Panchayat is not allowing for

a High School to be started here

and what good is it going to be for

children to have studied till 4th Std?

If they want to succeed in life like you

then they must go to High School.

True...!

Look!

It's here the high school will stand.

The children will study here.

Then they can start writing letters

for their parents themselves.

Think about the work it will save you.

I think the school

should not shift from here.

I will talk to people in the village.

You must!

- Definitely

Praise the Lord of Might.

- Praise the Lord of Might.

Mohanbabu...

Yes?

Why don't you drop by our

wrestling ring sometime?

Sure, why not?

How about a wrestling session?

Sure!

Mohan babu,

l have a surprise for you...

Here... have some pakodas with

shimla mirch tandoori.

I've made it specially for you.

Is this all that you can make?

- No sir, I can cook whatever you desire.

Got it. Listen Mela Ram...

Please don't say a word.

I know what you have on your mind.

- What?

Actually I was thinking...

you must have felt bad.

I'll give you 60%.

I'll give you 60% in partnership.

Okay.

Your lunch and dinner

will be on the house!

I have changed the name of our dhaba.

We can call it Mohan's Mela Ram Dhaba

or Mela Ram's Mohan Dhaba.

You decide. Then we'll lock it.

The first one sounds ok.

Mohan's Mela Ram Dhaba.

Ok then sir... so deal done, sir?

But before that,

you'll have to help me.

Help? How?

- I wish to send the kids from...

...your community to the school

for which I need your help.

Understood.

But it's little difficult sir.

Well, then your going to America

also looks little 'difficult' to me.

It is easy sir.

I'm ready. Just tell me what I need to do.

Our children and their kids in

the same school? Never!

Lions and sheep never drink water

from the same pond, Mohanbabu.

So...

...what is your background?

I mean...

...what caste are you?

I'm a Brahmin!

Then learn to behave like one.

So what am I expected to do?

We've heard that you eat food,

cooked by Mela Ram.

Are you aware what his caste is?

But what difference does that make?

What age are you folks living in?

Don't you dare degrade our piety!

You've fallen, are you out to

drag us down too?

And you Nivaaranji, seems like

you've switched sides already!

I am only doing what I think is right.

If you have any objections

you don't have to accept this.

Hey Birsa. Mohanbabu wants to

have a word with you.

What has happened sir?

Have we done anything wrong?

No, not at all.

I just came to ask...

...if you would you like to send

your children to school?

Huzoor, the villagers that do not

allow us to work in the village...

...do you think they will agree

to educate our children?

Don't worry.

Your kids will go to school.

Also, of what use is studying, now that

they are in their marriageable age?

My daughter Lajwa is going

to be engaged.

Child marriage!

Can you not see our situation?

We barely manage to fill our stomachs.

Who is going to pay their school fees?

Gitaji doesn't run the school for money.

Teaching is her passion... her life!

If we speak with her

we can assure you that

she will help you.

The village folks don't

want to see us around.

Just listen to me...

Let it be saheb.

Education is not in their destiny.

Not in my children's destiny.

What have you decided Vishnoji?

Studies are not going to

fill an empty stomach!

Since pottery will be

their livelihood

then why waste time studying?

Have you made these?

They are beautiful.

Tell me. How much do

you sell this pot for?

Thirty rupees.

- What!

We have a contractor in the city,

who buys it from us.

Sometimes we even get an extra

five-ten rupees.

We won't sell it for less than thirty!

The price of this pot in the city

is 100 rupees or more.

Maybe if you people were educated

you wouldn't be fooled like this.

I know that this art has been

passed down through generations.

I agree that your kids should

carry on this tradition.

But in this day and age, it is

crucial for them to be educated.

Is it not Nivaaranji?

- Absolutely.

Because education will help them take

this art to its deserving end...

...and earn appropriate prices.

You are selling us a dream!

Don't show us these dreams.

Namaste Sarpanchji.

Welcome Nivaaranji.

Welcome Mohanji.

Mohanbabu wanted to discuss...

I know, I know. Let me tell you...

Both my grandsons are

enrolled in the school.

We have great respect for

education in this house.

But I have heard that you have

two grand daughters as well

and both of them have dropped out?

Oh yes, Kusum and Suman...

They have both studied

till the fourth grade.

Now how much more can they study?

It's time for them

to learn household work

cooking and such things.

After all, this is what will help

them once they get married.

How can you say such things?

Education instills confidence in girls.

Don't you want to see

them study and live their lives

with self-respect... independence and...

self-reliance?

There's more to a woman

than just wearing bangles.

Agreed Mohanji!

But Charanpur does not even

have a High School

for these girls to study in.

But Mizwa village does.

You could have sent them there.

But now you don't need to

worry about that

because Gitaji is planning to open

a High School in Charanpur.

If she has your support that is.

Do support us.

No Mohanbabu!

Not possible.

But how long are you going to control the

children's lives on the basis of caste?

Who are you to tell us what

we should be doing?

How much do you know about the

ways and problems of this village?

I accept that you were

born in this country

but that doesn't mean you can

go around giving sermons.

We understand perfectly what we need

to do for the progress of our village.

But the only ones who stand to

lose are the children.

Enough of this! I don't want

to argue with you.

Father.

For heaven's sake, stay out

of the village matters.

Mohanbabu, you are just a visitor here

roam around, enjoy the village...

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