Whistle Podu!

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!!

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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?