The Beginning
With T20 gaining popularity, the loud cheering and whistling too
is now mainstream - so mainstream that there is actually requirement for
Whistling officers, Whistling executives and Chief Whistle Officers. The demand
is so much that Chennai Super Kings with the slogan "whistle podu' alone
requires more than 100 whistling officers.
The Whistle Curriculum
Govt of Tamil Nadu has taken note of this surge in whistling
interest that it decided to introduce "Whistling" as a Subject in the
University Curriculum. A think tank was formed at the very top level to frame a
curriculum with CSK as their advisers. The whistle curriculum committee came up
with the following core topics to teach whistling as a subject in colleges:
1. Defintion of Whistle / whistling
2. Who invented Whistle /whistling
3. In which year whistle was invented
4. Main types of whistles
The committee also recommended the following as the answers that
need to be further elaborated through power point presentations:
1. Whistle is the sound made by humans and animals especially
birds when they are happy and extremely excited
2. Whistle was invented by Capt. Vizlosky of Serbia during the
cold war
3. It was invented in the year 1642
4. There are more than 100 types of whistles, but the main 5 types
are:
a. Silent Whistle b. Violent Whistle c. Screaming Whistle d.
Soft Whistle and e. Melody Whistle.
Students Feedback
The brand new curriculum has been approved in record time and now
there are full time students specializing in Whistling. According to reliable
sources, the students found the subject interesting and the practical’s which
involves measuring and recording the dimensions of different types of whistles
and drawing a picture of the whistle -very stimulating. In the 1st semester,
students have scored 100% in whistle subject. Recently, a student Vizilmani has
submitted a thesis for his P.hd on the topic "Comparative study of whistling behaviour of CSK & RCB fans"
The Interview
On the insistence of CSK, a campus recruitment was organized for
the sole purpose of recruiting various levels of whistling trainees, officers
and executives. On D day or shall we say W day, the students in their interview
attire lined up. Vizilmani was the first to be interviewed. He entered the room
with confidence, shook hands and sat down with great expectations.
Interviewer:
Thanks for coming for the
interview. Please can you whistle for me?
Vizilmani: Sir? What sir?
Interviewer: Whistle?
thambi, whistle podu! Please whistle loudly!!
Vizilmani: (wiping sweat from his brow) Sorry sir..OUT OF SYLLABUS!!
....................
Bottomline:
I narrated this "Whistle" Story at a recent seminar for
College students. I gave them a short “lecture’ on Whistle and also asked them
to write down answers to the 3 questions. 90% of the students had written
verbatim what I just spoke to them. Then I called a boy and a girl who had scored
“100%” in the exam on stage. Everyone applauded on their ‘achievement”. I gave
the mike to them and said, “Please whistle for me” They remained silent. The
dean and vice principal sitting in the front rows, nodded knowingly. Some
students applauded and even whistled (from the back benches of course) to show
their understanding.
I was shocked and surprised when at the end of the seminar, one
student walked up to me to ask. Sir, you
told about the CSK job offer. Can you tell me when is the interview?
