Thoughts about the Movie, Hichki

Last week I saw an Indian movie, Hichki, which talks about the story of a teacher and her extremely naughty students. It was so impressive and moving that I was touched from the beginning to the end. And I highly recommend it to you. The film is adapted from Brad Cohen's autobiography Front of the Class: How Tourette Syndrome Made Me the Teacher I Never Had. And I am trying to get this great novel and have a read.

The lead role is an ambitious teacher, Naina Mathur, who has Tourette syndrome. It is a common neuropsychiatric disorder which causes her to make uncontrollable sounds like hiccups. Though she was born with such syndrome, she struggles to be a bachelor of education and a master of science. Spending 5 years in finding a job as a teacher and being rejected time after time, she never gives up. Finally, she gets the job at the prestigious St. Notker's School in which she graduates before. It is the former principal of this school who encourages Naina to be confident and positive.

She is accepted by the current school committee and the most mischievous students in Class 9F are assigned to her. Naina is informed that the misbehaved students belong to families from a nearby slum and that they are given admission to fill the government-prescribed quota for the underprivileged. At first, students imitate Naina’s sounds and mock her publicly. In the meanwhile, they play various tricks on her and behave in an uncooperative way. Naina takes responsibility for the students’ unruly behavior for they wouldn’t be expelled from school.

The teacher of Class 9A, Mr. Wadia, doesn’t like the 9F students at all. And Class 9A is composed of students who are academically excellent and economically affluent. Once a student of 9F, Aatish, destroys the 9A’s project which is for the national annual science fair project. The whole class is punished and they cannot attend school until the final exams. Aatish realizes his mistakes and begs for forgiveness under the help of his classmates. Though not allowed to go to school, students of 9F work hard for their exams. Naina teaches these students in a creative way and helps them develop their interests and strengths. Eventually, the students make great progress and she is proud of them. Also, students of 9F design a new science fair project and wins the national completion.

In the end of the film, Naina becomes the principal of St. Notker school where she works for 25 years. At the last day before retirement, all the students bid farewell to her, including her 9F students who are now successful grown-ups. 

I cannot help crying at the sight of last scene which reminds of my previous students in Sichuan Province. On the day I was about to leave, I was in the bus and two students suddenly appeared and came to say goodbye. I choked with sobs and even forgot the fact that they skipped the class to send me off.

When I was watching the movie, all the moments I spent with my students came into my mind. But there is a complex feeling. For one hand, I miss students so much for they are so thoughtful and considerate. It was such a pleasant time when I got along with them. For the other hand, compared with Naina, I didn’t leave too much to them both in the study and life. If I could be as excellent as Naina, I would make it much better. As I missed them already, I will make effort to improve myself so that I can cooperate with them better if there are another chance.

Recently I am puzzled by this question. I often emphasized that they needed to go out of the mountain to experience the outside world. In order to realize that dream which maybe the dream of volunteer teachers like me, they are required to study hard. Most of them are willing to work hard but still some are not so obedient especially boys. This week I had a pedagogy class. The teacher told me that don’t try to change the students and just let them be in their way. I agree with his opinion to some extent. Students are willing to live a comfortable life in a mountainous area, then why you have to force them to go outsides?

We have to admit that people are different and have their own advantages and disadvantages. Everyone can be best as long as their potential are stimulated. Students should be given more chance and time to explore and experience. Education doesn’t aim for cultivating the same excellent students.

In conclusion, I am deeply influenced as well as inspired by this film and it is worth seeing.