Valley volley

Dr Robert Shimray *

Introduction:

The word 'Volley', according to the dictionary means – the simultaneous firing of a number of missiles or bullets, so also, the projectiles so fired. Derivation out of this very word comes 'Volleyball,' a game played by two teams, usually of six players on a side, in which the players use their hands to bat a ball back and forth over a high net, trying to make the ball touch the court within the opponents' playing area before it can be returned.

To prevent this a player on the opposing team bats the ball up and toward a team-mate before it touches the court surface- that teammate may then volley it back across the net or bat it to a third team-mate who volleys it across the net. A team is allowed only three touches of the ball before it must be returned over the net.

As given, with the concept of the words volley and volleyball, we would like to draw the attention of the general public as to how the term can be translated in variant ways to give its meaning in connection to our day to day life struggle. Allow me, it could thus sound somewhat a kind of sarcasm, but ironically it is to bring about the enlightenment within the interactions among men.

Careful, as I personally would like to be, it could, to an extent, be misunderstood by either individual or by any section or group. For which, the writer would like to acknowledge to whoever it may seem concerned that, whatever is said or expressed, it is done in so manner with the advantage through freedom of expression. Foremostly, it is to bring about amicable understanding among all.

Ironical Terminologies:

1. Life line.

Being the capital, Imphal valley is the focal point for all walks of life existing within the State. It is indeed the life line in every domain.

For which, people from every nook and corner would flock day in and day out for their very survival within which, their exist the hierarchy, in which, all walks of life, in their business pursuance comes the so called, the daily wage earners, as one can see, on the pedestrian flocked along with the colorful-like paraphernalia displayed, as one could avail to be sold out.

The other section of people is one who owns their own shop, seated in a little more of comfort. More of these are the ones who own bigger enterprises, who deal in bulks. They are one who decides the main factors in business.

As one depends on the valley-based business, the hill districts have to pay its ransom, sometimes in an exorbitant price in order to fulfil the demands. Moreover, reaching the destination, the price is hiked for the loss incurred in the form of transportation and labor.

Ironically, in such pandemic stage, when all are struggling, especially in the hills, for example, chicken broods are being brought from the valley at the thought of making some money in times of such crises.

But at the time of disposing it, chicken broiler is being brought up from the valley-based supplier at an unexpected low price which becomes a great challenge to the ones rearing in the hills.

Having incurred so much on their handful business run is but left in a pathetic way succumbing to the challenge as brought from the valley. Hence, as thought of 'life line' becomes a 'hard line'.

2. Shaping the future

In a world of such a great competitive phase of time, when the trend has become, 'survival of the fittest', everyone is struggling, trying to leave no stone un-turned.

In doing so, shaping the future has become one of the greatest responsibilities of the parents, and that is, educating their children, Mushrooming of educational institutions, regardless of whether one is of standard quality, has seemed to have become the fashion of the day.

Management of these many institutions varies from one to another. A very vivid glance of differences between the valley and the hills could be well understood. In the sense, there comes a great disparity in regard to fee structure and payment of remuneration to the working staff of an institution between the said ends.

A lengthy and great debate, so to say, has gone viral, bringing misunderstanding and misconception among the stake holders of every institution. Mind you, who is at a loss at the end of the day ? It's the students, school going children, who are thought of as the future. For which, such a great debate is only but tarnishing, making the future bleak.

What seemed as 'tug of war' between the Government and the Private Schools has but become the talk of the day. One can find colorful press release in its texture as expressed from both ends. Susceptible to being at a great loss, the suffering is very much a surmountable outcome. For which, Private Schools have been time and again pleading with the Government to intervene to its rescue.

But, alas! as a team in volleyball is allowed to have three touches of the ball before it must be returned over the net, the Government has done in like manner in three consecutive orders of late, which have but added much to the misfortune and hardship as faced by the latter translating it into a 'hard hit target'.

If not, the intended motive behind in the context of schools in the hills is but not for any sort of profit anymore, especially during such crisis, but at least in order to retain the dedicated teacher, for which the expected amount to be collected is to be given out to them to show thankfulness in return to their sacrificial commitment as entered for a year.

But having tasted of somewhatlike - the indifference toward the plight of the schools under the higher authority, when education is to be 'shaping the future' seemed to have become 'shunning the future'.

When everything is said and done who is to be blamed ? Let us remember, blame game will not take us far. It will not be able to suffice the need in shaping the future generation, but at the end of the day it will only ruin the socalled 'future generation'.

Hence, the Valley Volley.