Looking back, I can vividly remember the day when I committed theft, though my heart does not now thump in recalling the act the way it did when I was actually doing it. Bianca, my best friend of 14 years (who is now in Singapore) was my accomplice.

My school, India’s La Martiniere, which I had attended right from the age of three, had seen me through the teens and as the last days of school life edged closer I felt increasingly depressed and unhappy. That it would remain embedded in my soul was natural but as human beings we need to cling to physical things. I spoke to Bianca about it and she expressed a similar feeling. It was then that we decided to steal (kindly read: to take back) hymnbooks.

It was with the heaviest of hearts that we entered Lawrence Hall for our last assembly, taking with us the hymnbooks given to us as we entered the hall. The hymns would forever remain a part of us. Even now as I close my eyes, I can clearly hear the sopranos rising above the altos as the keys of the piano, played deftly by Mrs Sengupta, guided us through the notes.

Prayers and a minute’s silence... To write that I remember each word would be a lie. That is something I would rather not do. All I can recall is the feeling of triumph and sense of achievement I felt when I actually walked out of a hall full of teachers watching the girls go out in a single straight file, with each girl adding her book to the increasing pile. Walking and slipping a book in our bags with a hundred girls around was indeed a very daring task, which only the love of La Martiniere could have seen us through.

In class, the lessons focus on academics but we take back with us the knowledge and the ethics imparted by the school. Of this a large contribution is made by the school assemblies. An integral part of most schools, assemblies generally begin a school day. The atmosphere during an assembly is solemn compared to the routine of the rest of the day and children feel that they should be well-behaved and disciplined; hence, their behaviour is modified in accordance with the formal and informal air — this being a preparation for the future.

Standing straight, being quiet, etc. are not just rules to ensure that what is being said is heard but to make sure that what is being heard is imbibed. Children receive appreciation in the form of certificates, medals, badges, applause, etc., in front of the whole school which not only boosts their morale and gives them a sense of achievement, but also motivates others to improve. Assemblies are usually conducted by the institutional heads, who after years of struggle and experience have reached such a position, hence even a few words of wisdom from such a person can be a source of constant guidance through life.

Furthermore, insightful information imparted by expert guest speakers at an assembly broadens the horizons while sharpening thinking capacities. Standing together to pray, thanking God and meditating, builds a bond with all those present there and doing the same things as you. Assemblies work as a unifying force, making the students feel like a part of an organised group.

A practice which we had in our school, and which I really appreciated, was that each day a girl of grade 12 would go up on the stage and read out any passage or story which she liked. Not only did this give the reader confidence, the rest of us also learnt beautiful lessons. Also, the national anthem is sung or recited every day, during which the teachers correct each and every pronunciation.

These are little things which mould the students’ personality and achieve the aim of school — education, character-building and all round development.

Returning to where I had begun from, a few years back I asked my father in Kolkata to make the payment for the hymnbook I stole along with an explanation. Well, all is well that ends well.

The writer is a teacher.