About the Author
Hafeez Contractor is a super successful Indian architect who designs big and beautiful buildings all over the country. He was born in Mumbai and grew up loving games and drawings more than books. Even though school was tough for him, he found his true talent later in life. Today, he runs his own company and has created amazing places like the IIT campus in Jodhpur and the airport in Amousa. Hafeez believes every kid has a hidden gift inside, like a treasure waiting to be found. This chapter shares his real-life story through a chat with Bela Raja, who runs a school newsletter.
What’s the Story About?
This chapter is like a friendly chat, or interview, between a school newsletter editor named Bela Raja and a famous architect called Hafeez Contractor. It is not a made-up tale but a true story from Hafeez's life. Bela asks him about his school days, troubles, and how he became so good at what he does. The story shows that not everyone shines in books, but everyone has a special skill that can lead to big success.
Hafeez starts by saying school was no fun for him. In first and second grade, he did okay, but from third grade, he lost all interest. He hated studying and had scary dreams about math exams. Instead, he loved playing cricket—he was the team captain and a champion player. He also played naughty tricks on friends and teachers, like leading his gang in fights or starting games in class to skip lessons. Once, he turned the whole class into a game of "chor police" (thief and cop) for an hour! He even cheated in tests by copying, but still got average marks.
Teachers punished him a lot with a stick for not paying attention. His principal saw he was smart in other ways and told him in eleventh grade, "Now it's time for you to take care of yourself and focus on books." Hafeez listened this time. He started praying, eating well, and studying a bit. He passed his SSC exams with 50 marks out of 100, which was better than before.
After school, Hafeez wanted to join the army or police, but his mom said no—finish college first. He tried learning French but was bad at it. Then he switched to German and got into Jai Hind College with some family help. To practice French, he went to his cousin's house, where her husband was an architect. There, Hafeez saw some building drawings and spotted a mistake in a window design. He fixed it right away! The architect was amazed and asked him to draw more things. Hafeez drew quickly and well. The architect said, "You should study architecture—this is your talent!"
Hafeez took the entrance test and got the top score, an A+! In college, he and his friend Behram made models of forts, guns, and other cool things, always competing to do better. His old teacher, Mrs. Gupta, had always liked his drawings and pushed him to become an architect. After college, Hafeez started his own firm. Now, he looks at what clients want and sketches ideas super fast, like solving a fun puzzle. He says math, which he once hated, is now part of his drawings. School gave him okay marks, but real life taught him the most.
The story ends with Hafeez's big idea: Every child is like a special kid with a treasure inside. We just need to find what they love and help them grow in that. It is an inspiring talk that makes you cheer for kids who struggle with studies but shine in other ways.
Who’s Who in the Story
- Hafeez Contractor: The main person sharing his story. A playful kid who hated books but loved games and drawing. He grew up to be a top architect who designs amazing buildings.
- Bela Raja: The friendly question-asker. She is the editor of a school newsletter called Sparsh and chats with Hafeez to learn about his life.
- School Principal: A wise teacher who helps Hafeez by telling him to grow up and study harder in his last school years.
- Mrs. Gupta: Hafeez's kind teacher who saw his drawing skills early and always said he should be an architect.
- Behram Divecha: Hafeez's college friend who loved competing with him in making models and designs.
- Hafeez's Mother: A caring mom who stops him from joining the army right away and makes him finish college first.
- Cousin's Husband: An architect who finds Hafeez's hidden talent when he fixes a drawing mistake and pushes him toward architecture.
Themes and Moral
Themes
- Hidden Talents: Everyone has a special gift, like drawing or sports, even if they are not good at school subjects. The story shows how Hafeez found his love for building designs.
- School vs. Real Life: Books and tests are important, but learning from games, friends, and daily fun teaches us more about who we are.
- Help from Others: Good advice from teachers, family, and friends can change your path, like how the principal and architect guided Hafeez.
- Growing Up: Being naughty as a kid is okay, but listening and trying new things helps you find your way.
Moral
The key lesson is: Do not worry if studies feel hard—look for what makes your heart happy, like a hidden treasure. Teachers and family should help kids find their strengths, not just push marks. As Hafeez says, real success comes from enjoying what you do. So, chase your dreams, work hard at what you love, and you will build a great life, just like a strong building!
Important Vocabulary and Phrases
Here are some main words and phrases from the story. I explained them with easy, daily-life meanings so you can remember and use them.
- Treasure: Something very valuable, like gold or a special skill hidden inside you.
- Nightmares: Scary bad dreams that make you wake up worried, like dreaming of failing a big test.
- Detested: Hated something a lot, like not wanting to eat your least favorite veggie ever.
- Pranks: Fun but naughty tricks, like hiding a friend's book to surprise them.
- Fabulous sportsman: An awesome player in games, super skilled and full of energy.
- Caning: Getting hit with a thin stick as punishment in school, like a strict teacher's way to say "behave!"
- Gang leader: The boss of a group of friends who plan adventures or mischief together.
- Chor police: A exciting chase game where one kid is the "thief" and others are "police" trying to catch them.
- Brush up on: To practice and get better at something you already know a bit, like revising old dance steps.
- Spontaneously: Doing something quickly without thinking too much, just naturally, like drawing a picture on the spot.
- Entrance exam: A test you take to join a new school or course, like a gate to enter college.
- Personal experiences: Things you learn from your own life adventures, not just from books or class.
- Average grades: Normal marks that are okay but not the best, like getting 50 out of 100.
- Inclined towards: Feeling pulled or interested in something, like liking cricket more than homework.
- Paid heed to: Listened carefully and followed advice, like doing what mom says right away.