By Narendra Nayak
   
Mangalore, Jul 2: After giving 81 umbrellas to the students of the Gandhi Nagar higher primary school to 'induce the rain gods' to give rain, which succeeded as it has been raining cats and dogs in Mangalore, the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations decided to conduct one more of such by giving bags to those of the students who did not have them.

Not just any ordinary bags but those with slogans on them to make them think. About 68 students were handed over the bags on Saturday July 2 at a small function with a small treat thrown in.

The children were asked whether giving them umbrellas had started the rains. One boy said it rained only on the next day. President of the federations Narendra Nayak asked him whether the rain was due to them being given umbrellas and there was a chorus of no's.

Then came a bed of nails with really sharp ones on a plank. It was shown around and the students felt it. All agreed that the nails were really sharp. Then came the question who was going to stand on it, and as there were no volunteers, the teachers were asked to name the most mischievous boy and girl in the school. They were named, summoned and 'punished' by making them stand on the bed of nails. They, however, were smiling, and when asked why, they said it is did not pain at all. The children were surprised and one of them explained why the nails did not pierce the skin. He said because of the large number of nails which were at the same level, the weight of the person standing got equally distributed on a number of points. A point was thus made about rational thinking and its need.

The federation members also explained the slogans printed on the bags - there were two - 'Hands that help are better than lips that pray'. The meaning was explained with the help of an example of a person who has slipped and fallen - only a hand extended out to him can help him stand, and not prayers. Then we asked them whether they understood the second slogan which said 'Develop rational thinking for the progress of the nation'. It was explained to them how scientific temper helps the country to progress by proper utilisation of resources. It was also explained to them as to why all of them were not given bags and/or umbrellas. The teachers had taken care to inspect their bags to see which of them had none and the same was applicable to the umbrellas too. But the note books given at the beginning of the year and the treat following was for all because all of them needed these things.

The funds for these activities came from a number of individual rationalists who wanted to help children without any strings attached.