For art’s sake

When Gill became the principal, Ms Rubina, a charming lady, joined as a drawing teacher. Her beauty made her the cynosure of all the eyes. The principal was also one of her admirers.

The year was 1957. I was in Class III and Gill was our arts teacher. He was good artist but that was not all: he was a great manipulator.

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Every time the chairman of the school’s managing committee visited us, the drawing teacher would present him a with a sketch of his glamorous wife. No wonder that by the time I reached Class XI, Gill had been made the school’s principal. This was no small feat, considering that our school had highly qualified science and arts teachers, while Gill was only a self-trained artist. But thanks to his networking skills, he made it to the top position.

When Gill became the principal, Ms Rubina, a charming lady, joined as a drawing teacher. Her beauty made her the cynosure of all the eyes. The principal was also one of her admirers.

Every morning, he would go on a daily round without fail. But as days passed, everyone noticed that he would be seen only in Rubina’s class. Moreover, as the grapevine went, he would spend considerable time in her classes.

Understandably, other teachers were angry. For Rubina, it created a problem of sorts because she was at the receiving end of all kinds of barbs from teachers as well as students.

This was too much for Rubina. The matter reached the chairman’s office soon and he summoned Gill. Asked to explain his conduct, Gill said: “Sir, what you are suspecting never crossed my mind. I spend time in Rubina’s class because my first love is still drawing. You are aware that I know nothing except drawing. So, I don’t feel comfortable in attending physics, chemistry, English or biology tutorials”.

He survived.