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Physics and the Banana Bunchby Zaw Moe |
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During our childhood days, we used to enjoy on weekly comics like Beezer, Topper, Beano and Dandy, published in England. I think it was in Beezer that was featured a full-page strip called "The Banana Bunch" about a bunch of schoolboys causing mayhem in class. Most of us were so fond of the "Bunch" that we tried valiantly to copy the antics of our heroes. And in the same way they got caned by the teachers, we too would have our calves caned - but not too hard as our teachers liked to make a statement but not hurt us. One incident came to mind which most of us will never forget. When our Methodist English High School was turned into State High School (1) Dagon in 1965, we had just passed middle school and were about to enter high school. Most of us were eager to explore the new subjects of physics and chemistry though none of us had a faintest idea what they were. Only one of our friends, Albert, his uncle being a Professor of Chemistry at Yangon University, could provide us with a few facts and he seemed to be quite obsessed by Chemistry but to most of us both subjects were Double Dutch. The long awaited moment arrived for the first lessons of physics. Our teacher, Saya U Ah Wain, a retired Inspector of Schools, stomped into class with a yardstick in his hand and began his lecture. The yardstick might have been threatening in its looks but compared to a cane it’s about as painful as a rolled newspaper especially with the velocity used by him. He made physics so clear and interesting that the whole class was mesmerized by his voice and paid full attention, with even the Banana antics forgotten. I remember one classmate, now in America, who used to be so envious of Albert explaining about Chemistry that wanted to prove his worldliness before the pretty girls in our class. He announced his ambition to become a "physician" one day, and to that end to devote his life to physics. He was echoed by his best friend like Twiddle Dum and Twiddle Dee. At that time forty years ago we were barely 13 and never heard of such words like "physicist” so we were very impressed with him. With this new word in my mind, and also getting fonder of physics, I too announced my ambition to my family of becoming a "physician" by majoring in physics after matriculation. My family burst out laughing at this and I was informed of a new word, “physicist”, of which I was very proud: I was the first in my class to discover it! I felt like Columbus. By the time we were in the matriculation year we were more familiar with science and U Ah Wain still taught us Physics. However his classes were just after the lunch break and most of us were sleepy, not with food, but with the intense games of football and basketball we had enjoyed after gulping down our lunch. After a few weeks, Saya U Ah Wain came in one day as usual after the lunch break, and asked whether there were any questions regarding the previous chapter, for he was about to go on to the next one. When we dutifully droned, "No questions and everything is clear Sir", he said he would honor our word but would like to challenge us all for a physics problem to be worked out at the same time with him. When all of us accepted the challenge, he turned to the black board and started to scribble the question. Turning around, he said, "Anyone who can finish together with me or faster will get a prize" and began to work it out on the board. The whole class, rubbing our eyes, conveniently copied down each and every step that our teacher jotted down. So, as soon as he came out with the answer, we had copied it down. The moment he turned around, all of us were ready to submit our exercise books. Smiling in mischief, which we didn’t detect at that time, he asked how many of us had the same answer as his. Wearing innocent faces, the whole class raised our hands high. "Well, well, well,” he said, "stand up on the chair all those who raised their hands, I'll be rewarding you with the prize I promised you". Bewildered, we climbed up uncertainly but gallantly as if hearing in fantasy "Arise, Sir Knight…." Nonchalantly, he came around row by row, whacking our buttocks with his trusty yardstick. Only after the "knighting" ceremony, he went to his table, faced the whole class and said, "Idiots, the solution I just wrote down on the board was all nonsense and nothing to do with the question above it. So my stick is the prize you deserve." Since then, in spite of exhaustion or full tummies, nobody dared to nod off during his lectures through out the year, but to me it’s still not clear whether we were interested in physics or in the yardstick. More than 75% of the class gained distinction in Physics in the Matriculation Exam and there was not a single student who failed in physics. The "physician" classmate of ours really majored in Physics, obtained several postgraduate degrees and is now a computer expert abroad. His friend who also vowed to become a "Physician" kept his word and is now a very prominent physician in Myanmar. Albert, although he gained distinctions in Chemistry on matriculation, became a lawyer and a successful businessman and I became a dental surgeon. Nevertheless, Physics and Saya U Ah Wain will always remain in our memories. And his yardstick, too, of course. As our school song goes… "When our schooldays are finished, and we're far apart, |
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