During 50’s & 60’s going to Municipal or Government schools in Madhya Pradesh by walk was a fun as there were no school buses or shared cycle rickshaws those days. School classes had no table chair but only gunny mats spread on the floor where we used to sit. Ball pens were never heard of. We used to write on a slate with a white a chalk pencil and used to clean the slate with wet cloth once a lesson or problem is solved. Later on, the slate was replaced by note books and we started writing with the help of ink & nib Holder but no pens. Bottle of ink and nib holders were carried in person along with the school bag or tin box. The nib used to be very important tool in improving the handwriting. Better the quality of nib better would be handwriting!
Studying in dim lights of kerosene lantern and subsequently brighter ‘Patromax’ had its own charm which can not even be imagined now. Those were the days when teachers used to be strict and corporal punishment was a normal feature. Despite the practice of corporal punishment, neither student used to get depressed nor parents used to get upset over the punishment meted out to the student. Committing suicide over such trivial issues was unheard of.
Pocket money was strictly No... No. but sometimes we do used to get few paisa on request from our parents. Otherwise we had to be contended with our own home made eatables which used to be carried in small Tiffin box. Bottled water was unheard of and we never used to fall sick even after drinking water from any tap, well or earthen pots kept in school premises.
Republic Day & Independence Day in all the schools used to be a big affair. Those days the whole atmosphere used to get charged with patriotism. We used to assemble in the school, and after unfurling the National flag and singing national anthem , all the students along with teachers used to go round the town in procession called “Prabhat Pheri”(in Hindi) in an orderly manner waiving the national flag and shouting ‘Vande Matram’ , ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ or singing patriotic songs. At all the strategic points of the town, patriotic film songs used to be played on gramophone over the loud speaker. After gong round the town, we used to re-assemble at the school to collect our sweet packet and to run for cinema theatre where any Children or Patriotic movie used to be screened free of cost exclusively for the school children.
Studying in dim lights of kerosene lantern and subsequently brighter ‘Patromax’ had its own charm which can not even be imagined now. Those were the days when teachers used to be strict and corporal punishment was a normal feature. Despite the practice of corporal punishment, neither student used to get depressed nor parents used to get upset over the punishment meted out to the student. Committing suicide over such trivial issues was unheard of.
Pocket money was strictly No... No. but sometimes we do used to get few paisa on request from our parents. Otherwise we had to be contended with our own home made eatables which used to be carried in small Tiffin box. Bottled water was unheard of and we never used to fall sick even after drinking water from any tap, well or earthen pots kept in school premises.
Republic Day & Independence Day in all the schools used to be a big affair. Those days the whole atmosphere used to get charged with patriotism. We used to assemble in the school, and after unfurling the National flag and singing national anthem , all the students along with teachers used to go round the town in procession called “Prabhat Pheri”(in Hindi) in an orderly manner waiving the national flag and shouting ‘Vande Matram’ , ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’ or singing patriotic songs. At all the strategic points of the town, patriotic film songs used to be played on gramophone over the loud speaker. After gong round the town, we used to re-assemble at the school to collect our sweet packet and to run for cinema theatre where any Children or Patriotic movie used to be screened free of cost exclusively for the school children.
(Published on 19/9/08 in 'Deccan Herald' newspaper)
Is it fitting to say 'good old days'?...Oh yes, it is!...we had a lot of time to feel 'time' pass in meaningful ways...getting our feet and hands soiled was such a pleasure...curling in bet with a book on a rainy day is today a luxury! But do I wish back those days? Oh No!...but I love those memories.
ReplyDeletenice....!
ReplyDeleteahh ... the good old days! I doubt if the present kids know something called patromax light :D... what a pleasure drinking water direct from the tap .. now I can't think about doing it ! Sweet memories!
ReplyDeleteAhh a nostalgic trip down the memory lane!!
ReplyDeleteChildhood memories are always sweet
Thank you all for the comments on this post.
ReplyDeleteHere is another comment ob Buzz-
By Padmanabha Vyasamoorthy - Great reminder of glorious days. Thanks. Some of the better schools in cities used to have uniforms to bring about equality. Teachers were a revered lot and they took personal interest in students. Lunch was almost always curd rice, lemon rice, or sambhar sadam. After play in the evenings everyone will go home when street lights are lit.
nice post... sometime, I feel we would been more peaceful in had be lived in 50's & 60 rather than been in this materialistic world and making life more complicated with so many things
ReplyDelete... in my hometown village children still walk miles to get to the only school in that area ... but yes that school is a proper school with proper furniture n teachers ... n it's true to no suicide no fall sick ... i guess that because of the growing population which increase the pollution ... n the rest all in place for worse !!
ReplyDeleteEvery adult will be nostalgic after reading this post, I'm sure of it :)
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting to note that the difference between the present and the past.This post brings me my childhood memories.
ReplyDeleteYes, the good old days were really golden. School was so much fun without all the 'luggage' kids have to carry these days, not to speak of mountains of homework! I am an old timer too! :) Do visit my blog
ReplyDeletehttp://cybernag.wordpress.com.
Rightly said. And one more thing is government school in cities had big campus with playground and provided fun. Now-a-days schools are set up in area that will be lesser than my house. School children are being deprived of fun and laughter.
ReplyDeleteA very different tale from what it was about ten years ago when I went to school. A really beautiful way you narrated your experiences.
ReplyDeleteKeep blogging
:)
Rinzu
Good Post, reminded me of my school days! I miss using the fountain pen so much, that recently I bought myself one. But the sad part is, that the keyboard has almost completely replaced all other writing implements.
ReplyDeleteSchool experiences of my dad came to my mind immediately :) Hope to read more such trips down the lane...
ReplyDeleteThe point that hit me was patriotism has somehow diluted considerably these days- even on Independence days in schools!
Beautiful write up. You rocketed me on the memory lane. But I was more comfortable with slate as I used to misplace my pen so often. My father finally made arranegement with my teacher who would keep my pen and give it to me whenever needed but with lots of taunts. I never improved. I still misplace things.
ReplyDeletethat time children were more disciplined,education system were more emphasized on moral values,trusting on teachers without questions,home made food in tiffins.........but now people are shifting to so called westernization and actually falling down somewhere anyway this post have some element that actually pull you towards your chilhood.
ReplyDeleteIt's really good
ReplyDelete