The responsibility of being young

Recently, on February 18, I was invited to be the guest of honour at the 168^th Founders Day of my alma mater, Bombay Scottish School, with strict instructions from the principal not to narrate instances of ‘my masti’ while I was in school, but to inspire 3,000 children from Standards I–XII. As I walked in at 8 am sharp for the morning assembly, which was held over the vast expanse of the football field, I was escorted by the principal onto a makeshift stage, amidst a drum roll of the school band, with sprightly students in navy-blue coats leading the procession with clockwork precision.