Tipu

(Tipu, a 15 years old boy, walks home from school)

Tasnim: Tipu! Tipu! Wait...

Tipu (Turns back): Hey Tassy, whats up? :) Hi Brad. Whats up Jay?

(They continue walking)

Tasnim: Why did you do that today?

Tipu: Do what?

Jay: Mess with the teachers! It's not right.

Tipu: Oh! That history teacher? That fool does not understand me. Haha..

Tasnim: I know you are good in the natural sciences, no! Maybe the best of us, but that does not mean every other subject is nonsense. How can you call him a fool? Look at yourself. He's got a PhD. And you? How dare you compare? (Looks away, angry.)

Tipu (Laughs mockingly): Oh why, dint you see how he lost his nerves and started yelling at me when I was only trying to put some sense into him. Is that how a sane man behaves? He says legends of kings and stories of wars and the exact dates and all those stuffs of the past are necessary to understand the present. I remarked, let the dead past bury its dead, while... (interrupted)

Brad: I know sweetheart. You dont have to lecture again. I was there.

Tasnim: Why Tipu, at least study for exams' sake. You will fail if you stick to this attitude. Teachers are important.

Tipu (Smiles): Knowledge is.

Brad: No, wisdom is more important. That comes with experience. We are only children. Why dont you understand this? We are ignorant of many complex realities of life. Teachers are not to be ignored. They have the experience of life.

Tipu: That's a belief fed to us by these elderly blockheads. They have grown old. And that which you call experience is rust that has made them so resistant to new ideas and new attitudes. That way progress cannot come. Progress is a change – a goodly change. That comes with innovation and creative thinking. Tell me what's the point in remembering by heart the dates of history? You can always look them up in the internet.

Jay: O I second you Mr. Einstein, so exactly how are you going to bring the change? Proving E equals m c squared wrong? (Giggles)

Tasnim: You get passed with excellent marks if you have a good memory. Simple as that! :)

Brad: However there are clear reasons why we must respect our teachers, why we must try to learn from them as much as we can. At this age, we cannot do anything on our own. I think on some issues we are trying to be oversmart.

(Tipu stops walking. Looks into Brad's eyes.)

Tipu (unhappy): Show me ample reasons if you think we are being oversmart. Let me also see if we are indeed. We dont have to worry though. Truth always stands clear from error. We only need to have a clear unbiased unprejudiced scientific mind.

Tasnim (pulling on Tipu's hands): Oh common Tipu!

Tipu: I am sorry.

(Tipu resumes walking)

Tipu: I do not say I am always right. To err is human. But what I say is, this applies to them as well. They are not some kind of gods from heaven.

Brad: Yeah. But we are arrogant in our understanding and interpretation. Sort of disrespecting the intellect of the greybeards. I dont like that.

Tipu (smiles): “Blind respect for authority is the worst enemy of truth.” Einstein.

Jay: Dont you respect Einstein, even though his theory is flawed at some point? Does not imply that he is a complete old fool.

Brad: Yeah!

Tipu: I dont care about Einstein. What matters me is his ideas. I judge his works, not his person. Not blind respect, but recognition for what is worthy in him. Same applies to everybody else.

Though his theories have no flaws to correct you. ;)

Brad: Yeah. So for one flaw, will you disregard all of his claims and theories? No. You are obtuse and you dont wish to learn and disregard things which does not suit you.

Tasnim (chuckles): Right.

Jay: Point! :D

Tipu (embarrassed): If his claims and theories are not related to this flaw or are not derived from the flaw, they are a separate world, and I have no reasons to reject them adamantly. Anyway, the greybeards with their heavy heads are not smart enough to be human. PS If they have something good in them, they get their due respect.

Brad: You have ingrained hatred for authority and greybeards which has nothing to do with their credibility. You are inclined towards rebellion. At times, unnecessary! Disregarding someone unfit to be humans is a contempt which I feel displays vanity. Brother, do respect them. Because you have a clear perspective on things, it's your responsibility to spread it, not picking up fights with greybeards just 'cause they cant dye their beard black, and understand the different perspective you so ardently follow.

Tipu: I hate no man. But I cannot stand... (interrupted)

Tasnim (with gravity): Enough is enough! Here Tipu, you have reached home. Go get some sleep. For God's sake do the homeworks today. Bye. See you tomorrow.

(Tipu enters gate. Friends leave. End of scene.)