My Model School always mesmerized me.
I did my schooling from sixth
standard to the tenth standard in Government Model High School in Trivandrum.
It was the only one Model School in Kerala and the name is worthy enough that
the school always topped in the SSLC examinations with many ranks and distinctions. My thoughts take me now to an old English
bungalow in the school campus where I did my sixth standard. There was a well furnished English styled bath
room with tubs and taps (a rare site for us in the sixties) by the side of the
class 6 F. This building was painted yellow during the sixties and the window
panes were just different. Some of the panes were French windows and some
English style where in one can adjust the flow of winds and lights by driving
down a wooden lever. I was positioned in the last bench (fifth row from the
front) for I was not so bright at that time. Smarties were given the front rows
and average guys sent to the back. In Model School, I had the feel that
children of parents employed in descent levels were given some special previlege.
I was the son of a farmer and that too from a village, around 15 kms away from
the city. I can boldy write here how I felt the discrimination during the
school days. I used to get good beating from my class teacher whenever I came
late to the school. It was not deliberate as the late arrival was due to the
erring public transport service of KSRTC those days.
The distance of 15 kms from my home
in Oorutambalam is not a far distance these days when we cover it in 15
minutes. Those days, the bus used to take 45 minutes to one hour to the city.
However whenever I came late, the class teacher will ask me every time about
the location of my house. He will show a gesture on his face that clearly
reveals why this boy from the wild is here.
With all those discriminated
experience in my sixth standard, as I moved to the adjacent long white two
storeyed building for my seventh class, things started changing in my way. Mr
Moses my class teacher then, who is still active in teaching in Christ Nagar
school in Trivandrum, was a wonderful teacher who identified my talents in
public speaking. I place my tribute here for that great human being whom I
remember still in my prayers.
His English classes were superb and I
still recollect his way of teaching. I could deliver speeches in my class as he
prompted students to speak every week. My first speech was on " People of
the East and West", which was prepared by my father. He before taking to
farming was a Havildar with the Royal Indian Army Records in Nagpur. He had
travelled to the Persian Gulf ( Now gulf countries) during War periods.Though
he did not complete his matriculation, I am proud to state here that he had
good English with good vocabulary and top class Grammar. His observation powers
and good perception brought light to me and started kindling my thoughts. I
would have taken to a bigger career if he would have been alive. I lost him
when I was in my first year degree classes. Mr Parameswaran Nair, my dad only
got me admitted to the Model High School in Trivandrum which was the rank maker
and trend setters till the 80s. My Amma,
Sulochana Thankachi, who was my mentor and everything after my Dad’s
Death was a teacher then (retired as Headmistress later) and her connections
got me admission very easily to this BIG school. Model School of Trivandrum, a sought
after educational institution where Stalwarts
taught and young bright scholars studied. Salute to this great altar of
education. What now seems to be funny is my engagements during intervals. During 60s and 70s, it was Manian at the
Sasthamkovil side gate (no gate now) and
Swami at the Eastern gate who were running shops , frequented by almost all
students for toffees, coconut cookies, chickies, bubble gums, sodas, lemonades etc.
A cople of cyclewallaha will also be at the gate selling ice sticks of all
flavours. Come noon intervals, most of the students will be at the gate
flocking round the shops and cyclewallahs for the preferred purchases. Manian
was friendly, while Swamy was a strict person more reserved. The
icecreamwallahs were arrogant. I used to be everywhere with friends tasting
things without the knowledge of my parents. I JUST UNROLLED BY MEMORIES.
MY MEMORIES FLOWED DOWN AUTOMATICALLY
BY SEEING THE PICTURE OF WHITE BUILDING.
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