Under the shade of the peepal tree

This photograph was taken around 1956 when I was 10-years-old and studying at Government Girls Middle School, Basavanagudi. It was clicked during a trip to Shivanasamudra electricity generation station.

My father had accompanied me to the school early morning and was waiting there in the evening to take me back. I had put on a ‘pyjama’, bush shirt and a hat instead of the usual long skirt and blouse. Everyone started calling me ‘Gandu Hudgi’.

One of our teachers, Radhamma, had brought a camera and taken this group picture, which I still cherish a lot. She was a talented lady and was always given the task of training students for group singing, group dance and other activities. I met Malathi and Sudha in middle school; we dispersed after high school and never met again.

This memorable photograph takes me back to my childhood days. I was a little girl who was very attached to her mother and loved playing with toys, dolls, planks and sticks. However, I didn’t like going to school and my mother accompanied me there initially for a week. My sister helped me in my studies throughout, from primary level upto PhD. My primary school was on the Gandhi Bazaar main road. My class monitor Lakshmi managed us very well in the absence of the teacher, either by narrating a story or asking someone to sing a song or making us recite verses from ‘Satyavan Savithri’.

Government Girls Middle School (popularly called ‘Tin School’) had a lot of space with several big trees like neem, gooseberry, peepal and guava. There were banana plants near the water tap. There was a small stone Basava idol, right opposite the entrance verandah. Interestingly, during examination time, many of us offered ‘arishina kumkuma’ and flowers there.

One day, students were asked to assemble and were briefed about the school trip to Shivanasamudra. On our way, we had a good time talking, singing and narrating stories in the bus.

After reaching Shivanasamudra, we were sent down in a trolley to see the electricity generating unit. At one point, we had to walk a few yards on a wooden plank bridge. Below the bridge, water was gushing forth with terrific force. Unfortunately, one plank was missing. The presence of mind of one of the students in front prompted her to caution the students behind her and saved us.

It was a new experience for all of us and we were amazed as we saw several giant machines used in generating electricity. After coming back up, we relaxed and relished some ‘bisi bele bath’, ‘mosaru anna’ and chips. It was an enjoyable trip indeed.

I was a ball-badminton player and represented my school as a girl guide. A song taught by our guide teacher was enjoyable. It ran like ‘one thumb, one arm, one leg, get up, sit down...’ Each word of the song had to match with the respective action, which was difficult; hence, a chance for all the students to laugh.

Later, I joined Government High School. A shortcut besides Geetha Restaurant led us to the school and on our way, we heard film songs as the restaurant radio was always in full blare. I responded to a circular in school, directing students to create some art models. I had prepared a ‘vuyyale’ (swing) using cardboard and jelly paper. I made stems of small red rose flowers with green leaves to put them around the swing. This was really appreciated.

I could do all this as my mother, good at crafts, had taught me ways of decorating ‘pattada gombe’ (dolls), enhancing the beauty of ‘gejje vastra’ (jewellery) using ‘chinnari’ paper and stitching table, teapoy or plate spreads with bits of cloth that a tailor usually throws away.

Competitions like recitation, fancy dress and storytelling were held in both middle and high school. I actively participated in them, securing several prizes.

At that time, craft development centres were rare and skill development was difficult. Many years later, I attended art classes conducted by The Indian Institute of World Culture, B P Wadia Road.

I finished my Bachelor’s degree from Maharani College and Master’s degree from Central College. I worked at the Bureau of Economics and Statistics and later on, in a few colleges. Then I got a job at APS Evening College. I joined MPhil and PhD courses during the day. I got a good opportunity to use the library facilities at various institutions, meet eminent scholars and widen my knowledge. Overall, my educational experience was an enriching one.

Also in those days, children could easily move around without any difficulty as vehicular traffic was almost nil. Now, Gandhi Bazaar has roads full of vehicles and footpaths filled with vendors. The volume of commercial activity has increased, new buildings have come up and the population has risen. With all this, can one expect the place to remain quiet and serene?

But when I look at photographs like these, I consider myself lucky to have experienced the simple pleasures of life, learnt some vibrant crafts and savoured the joys of a pure, unadulterated Bengaluru.

(The author can be contacted on 28603886).