My spontaneous temperament got the better of me when a friend surprised me by stopping by at a government aided school to converse with students during my recent travel in picturesque north Karnataka. Liberty to speak on whatever topic suited me gave freedom to avoid being formally introduced, as neither half-a-dozen teachers nor seventy-odd teens were profiled. All eyes were glued on me without anybody being clear on what to expect from an uninvited outsider.
During such times when children are exposed to hatred and hostility, the idea of an engrossing but entertaining conversation was paramount in my mind. Pointing at the boys first, I raised the most unexpected query 'when was the last time you hugged your father?' Bewildered! Nobody raised a hand but quite a few confirmed hugging their mothers. The girls were found to be few numbers better in hugging their mothers. Fathers do not know what they might be missing!
Despite initial hesitation, the conversation evoked interesting insights. A teenager reported that he hugs his parents when they are in distress. What difference does it make? After a brief pause, he considered it to cause a soothing effect. Hugging has been found to be therapeutic, reducing stress and pain. Research has further shown that hugging releases feel-good hormones such as dopamine and serotonin, generating feelings of happiness by overcoming fear.
By this time teachers too had joined the conversation, suggesting that hugging can have a positive impact on mental and physical well-being. If you’re feeling down or stressed, consider reaching out to a loved one for a hug to feel better! Should hugging be a normal practice at home, parents can free themselves from forcing restrictions and stricter surveillance on their children. Everybody agreed that hugging could be a no-cost effort to promote harmony and boost creativity.
The headmaster offered his appreciation for an engaging discussion on a subject that neither occurred to any of them as a problem nor was considered a solution to many life challenges. The teens were to stun me and their teachers no less, as each one came forward to give me a warm hug. The gesture was overwhelming and moving, with the teachers' mute witness to the prodigious moment. I could only suggest that the idea of voluntary hugging be encouraged.
Schools all over promote e-learning in a dedicated digital lab. Technology is meant to take things forward and compete in the world of immense possibilities. Having gone through the unbelievable impromptu hugging experiment, for me e-learning should mean emotional-learning, as that is the only missing tag in our life. And children are indeed ready for it. It seems a glimmer of hope in a society that is increasingly being polarized.
First published in Deccan Herald on May 25, 2024
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