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By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright December 2023
In the quaint era of the 1950s, children embarked on a unique educational journey that blended conventional schooling with afternoon religious education, an experience that left an indelible mark on many.
The recollections are hazy, but the structured routine comprised two distinct sessions, morning and afternoon, with the latter proving to be a time of profound life lessons.
During those afternoons, the ustaz, or religious teachers, imparted wisdom, cautioning about the potential distractions from the mischievous syaitan while navigating life's righteous path.
Among the students, there existed a few who seemed intent on testing the faith of their peers, resembling embodiments of the very temptations the ustaz warned about.
Adding a peculiar twist to this narrative was the afternoon headmaster, a Haji, whose appearance drew parallels to the notorious Adolf Hitler. Clad in sarong, baju Melayu and armed with a long cane, he believed in using its length to tame the devils within the students. The notion that caning expelled the devil from one's body became a unique philosophy in the school.
Enter Mad Jinn, a student who dared challenge the authority of the Hitler-esque headmaster. Notorious and inventive, Mad Jinn went beyond the usual mischief associated with the devil, venturing to the Great World Park to witness burlesque performances, including one by the renowned Rose Chan. No amount of caning seemed capable of exorcising the devil within him.
One of Mad Jinn's most astonishing feats involved swimming in the flooded football pitch without detection. As the headmaster, Haji Adolf, vociferously demanded swimmers to vacate the pitch through a loud hailer, Mad Jinn remained elusive.
The flooded pitch, a consequence of the river overflowing its banks, concealed Mad Jinn's underwater escapade. It was a performance so mysterious that some began to believe he might be more than just a mischievous student – perhaps a genuine Ginnie.
The climax occurred when, after Haji Adolf's futile attempts to clear the pitch, he resorted to scrutinizing each student in class. Armed with his long cane, he sought to peer into their souls and expose any lurking devils. Mad Jinn, seemingly calm and guilt-free, faced the ultimate test when the cane struck his back. Revealing red eyes betrayed his secret, prompting Haji Adolf to question the impossible swim.
With an air of nonchalance, Mad Jinn confessed, "I swam underneath the grass!" The absence of goggles in that bygone era added a touch of authenticity to the incredulous feat.
The tales from those afternoons in the 1950s paint a vivid picture of a unique educational landscape, where disciplinary measures, religious teachings, and the allure of mischief converged in a bygone era of innocence and intrigue.
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