JOIN USThis is a class photo taken in my school, Kendriya Vidyalaya ASC Centre(S) in 1982. I was in the third standard then.
I remember those blissful days vividly. After school, we would walk back to our houses, throwing stones at ‘jamun’ and tamarind trees on the way. There was a vendor outside the school who sold guavas, berries and all. On some days, someone would get tamarind with chilli powder and salt from home. This will be passed around in the classroom.
On annual day, we would dress up like our teachers and mimic them. There would be cultural
programmes on the occasion. On sports day, there used to be intense competition between the four groups- Ganga, Yamuna, Kaveri and Saraswati. There were events for the teachers also while the peons took part in a 100-metre race.
I had a bunch of friends like Paneerselvam, Jerom, Jyothi, Alamelu and Jyotsna and we had our share of adventures and troubles in school.
Once, for my friend Abdul’s birthday, we went to his house and cut a cake. He liked a girl at that time and suddenly felt like going to her house to give her a piece of the cake too. We cycled to the Command Hospital Quarters, where she lived, and walked up to the door with Abdul asking all of us to stick with him. But as soon as he rang the bell, we fled! We waited for him outside the gate and when he came out after some time, he was furious. But no harm was done as the girl‘s father had just taken the cake and wished him.
Our teachers too contributed to making school such a memorable experience. We passed out in 1992 and this year marks 25 years after that. Around 46 of us got in touch through Whatsapp and social media over the past few years and have planned a small felicitation ceremony for 16 of our teachers. It is a humble gesture for all that they have done for us.
(The author can be contacted at sashikum@gmail.com)