We were on the subject of Jamui High School, where I studied from class 6th to 11 th. Those days matriculation will be after 11 year of schooling and higher secondary was after 12 years of schooling. I was sent to Patna for my 12th year of school .. that story later..
My initial schooling took place in Basic Schools (school based on Gandhian Philosophy where agriculture, spinning, charkha etc were part of curriculam) of Begusarai (my maternal grand pa's place) and at Jamui. I bunked classes to Jamui Basic school, I don't know what I did not like there. gardening classes, cleaning routines or just the face of teachers.. I don't know what I hated. Soon this was known to my father. He decided to send me to Jamui high school. Kirani babu or School clerk who lived near to our house was a close friend of my father and my father took his advise on important family matters.
Kirani babu or Kirani Chacha, late Sri Baidyanath Pandey's family had shifted to Jamui from UP. His father Sri Ramjash Pandey owned 3 houses in one his family lived and other 2 houses were on rent. Kirani Chacha had 4 daughters and 2 sons. While elder son "Gopal" was little mentally disturbed, younger son "Babloo" is a established contractor.
Kirani babu suggested to my father that I may be put to class 6th in June 1958. That year session was shortened to six months. I was in class 3 then. In admission test, I was asked what I knew best and I said "Tipu Sultan". I wrote what I knew and at the age of 8 years I was admitted to class 6. I was a good student from class 6 to 9 and stood 2nd or third in class.
Class 6's class teacher was Kamata babu a popular teacher. I was youngest in class (others were at least 10 year old). Kamta babu often asked me to sing the song " Sar jo tera chakraye". In fact he enjoyed my rendering "sun sun sun .. sun beta sun is champi me bade bade gun" I was a popular child who had to keep standing near the desk so as to write.. a feature which continued till class XII examination in Patna. I think I am going too lengthy .. shall I stop for today ?
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Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Pen "was" mightier than sword
From a small town boy to my retirement as an experienced professional, I have been privileged to experience an enriched life. Each step has shown me something new, something beautiful. I have long desired to share these experiences in my life with you.
These set of blogs will present before you a collection of my memoirs, not necessarily in a chronological sequence. Instead I will write as they come to my mind.
These set of blogs will present before you a collection of my memoirs, not necessarily in a chronological sequence. Instead I will write as they come to my mind.
Infact just yesterday a visit from an old friend brought back a amusing anecdote from my childhood. Satya Prakash Narayan and I have been close friends since our engineering college days. Our families have been good friends over all these years in Ranchi, often visiting each other.
As usual, yesterday, amidst a variety of topics, someone mentioned the phrase "Pen is mightier than the sword". We all had our opinions about relevance of this phrase in today's times, when I shared a story of my school days in Jamui.
My High School had been established in 1886 or so and at one time was the only high school in the area, now Jamui District. The school had 2 Hostels (now taken over or encroached), one bungalow for the Head Master and 2 quarters for Hostel wardens and one large sport field - part of which is taken over and converted into a so called stadium. The school also has a hard tennis court, where my father used to practice and a large Hall with a Balcony for ladies where cultural programmes took place in our school days. The school has its own share of legends and one particular one I remember is of Mr Ghosh a very strict head master.
Mr. Ghosh was one of the few headmasters of the school who managed to keep the unruly boys in the school under control. He was famous for his strict ways. The story goes that once a student, who had some animosity with him tried to attack him with a sword. Mr. Ghosh was urinating at the time and was in a crouched posture when the attack happened. Just as the pupil lifted the sword, Mr. Ghosh looked up and gave him his trademark stare. His stare itself was so powerful that the attacker did not have the courage to go through with the act.
As usual, yesterday, amidst a variety of topics, someone mentioned the phrase "Pen is mightier than the sword". We all had our opinions about relevance of this phrase in today's times, when I shared a story of my school days in Jamui.
My High School had been established in 1886 or so and at one time was the only high school in the area, now Jamui District. The school had 2 Hostels (now taken over or encroached), one bungalow for the Head Master and 2 quarters for Hostel wardens and one large sport field - part of which is taken over and converted into a so called stadium. The school also has a hard tennis court, where my father used to practice and a large Hall with a Balcony for ladies where cultural programmes took place in our school days. The school has its own share of legends and one particular one I remember is of Mr Ghosh a very strict head master.
Mr. Ghosh was one of the few headmasters of the school who managed to keep the unruly boys in the school under control. He was famous for his strict ways. The story goes that once a student, who had some animosity with him tried to attack him with a sword. Mr. Ghosh was urinating at the time and was in a crouched posture when the attack happened. Just as the pupil lifted the sword, Mr. Ghosh looked up and gave him his trademark stare. His stare itself was so powerful that the attacker did not have the courage to go through with the act.