What can be more nostalgic than going to one's school after a gap of nearly 40 years? That is the experience I had recently.
I was invited to my friend's son's wedding in Ranchi in the same township that I grew up in - Shyamali colony. My friend works in Mecon and lives in the same township in which he grew up in and works for the same organisation that his father worked!
Five of our classmates with whom I am in touch decided to make the journey back in time - so to speak. I booked my tickets about three months in advance ensuring that I got reservations via Calcutta. The entire journey was by train and I enjoyed looking at all the stations that I had peered long ago. The only difference was that I travelled by AC coach, whereas long ago I travelled by III class sleeper or First class (if we were travelling on LTC).
Anyway, we visited our school, and were surprised that it has become huge and is decently maintained with a nice patch of rose garden.
I met the Principal and we sat and were discussing the various memories that we had; our teachers and the other students. One of my classmates who had also come was a school topper and we did mention that he was one and that his name was on the merit list board in the school.
The teachers and the Principal were quite happy to receive us in the school when suddenly the Principal took out a Guest Book and asked us to see the book. While we were flipping through the pages, I saw my father's name in the book. He had come with me on 01-Oct-1969 when I had been admitted to the school in VII standard. (His name was A.S.Dandapani and that entry can be seen in the photo alongside).
I was invited to my friend's son's wedding in Ranchi in the same township that I grew up in - Shyamali colony. My friend works in Mecon and lives in the same township in which he grew up in and works for the same organisation that his father worked!
Five of our classmates with whom I am in touch decided to make the journey back in time - so to speak. I booked my tickets about three months in advance ensuring that I got reservations via Calcutta. The entire journey was by train and I enjoyed looking at all the stations that I had peered long ago. The only difference was that I travelled by AC coach, whereas long ago I travelled by III class sleeper or First class (if we were travelling on LTC).
Anyway, we visited our school, and were surprised that it has become huge and is decently maintained with a nice patch of rose garden.
I met the Principal and we sat and were discussing the various memories that we had; our teachers and the other students. One of my classmates who had also come was a school topper and we did mention that he was one and that his name was on the merit list board in the school.
The teachers and the Principal were quite happy to receive us in the school when suddenly the Principal took out a Guest Book and asked us to see the book. While we were flipping through the pages, I saw my father's name in the book. He had come with me on 01-Oct-1969 when I had been admitted to the school in VII standard. (His name was A.S.Dandapani and that entry can be seen in the photo alongside).
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