Sunday, January 05, 2014

A letter to my dearest school


My Dearest School,
Here is an honest confession coming your way from one of your progeny. I am writing an open and heartfelt letter to you for the first time in the last 25 years. My sincere apologies for the inexcusable delay and no words can undo this thoughtless inaction of so many years. Albeit awfully late, by the time you finish reading this piece I am hoping you would have softened your stand towards me.
Indeed a very long time to connect back to you, my alma mater, a very beautiful and prodigious institution. And what better occasion than now when you are completing 50 golden years of your remarkable existence.

As I sit down to write to you, it has instinctively opened the floodgates of all the sweet and delightful memories of you and everything that’s part of you. For me, you are like this great matriarch watching protectively over its little children all through the day. Sheltered by your discerning eyes, whether when we are running and playing with gay abandon, outside on the vast playground or studying in the close confines of the classroom, whether when we are carelessly experimenting with beakers and tubes in the labs or during the recesses when we tumble out with unbridled enthusiasm. Your solid silent protective presence, I feel even today.

There are also some fun and childlike moments I carry with me, about my growing up times with you. It was the time of homework - not always completed on time, sitting on the last bench in class– chatting and hoping that me and my friend won’t get caught, black polished shoes/white clean socks – an intense regime for me, red hairband – that never stayed on the head, PT exercises – and the art of slacking off slyly, short and long recess - sharing interesting stories over tiffin boxes with my school buddies, being in the classroom during sessions – and sometimes not really being there (figuratively speaking), being an outstanding student -for truly standing outside class(thankfully, not many times), Ranks and Report cards – The moment of bitter truth and many such indelible memories that have stayed with me even after all these years.

Another great quality about you is that you are truly all-encompassing. A precise reflection of our city- Mumbai, the real melting pot. We the students come from all cross sections of life, diverse social and economic backgrounds, different classes, castes and what not. And yet, you embrace all of us with equal magnanimity and affection. We children never ever feel different from one another in your loving hold in spite of the inherent differences within us. That is a wonderful trait very few schools can either embody or boast of.

You are the epitome of dynamism and silent fortitude, brimming with energy of thousands of kids cozily ensconced in your warm embrace. Whether learning by rote systematically in class rooms or shouting out to each other from school buses, whether singing harmoniously during prayer time or kicking up a ruckus on the playground for no rhyme or reason, whether marching in a synchronized upright stance in their NCC and RSP uniforms or cheering on top of their lungs for their favorite Kabaddi team, whether somberly answering the exam papers for unit tests or final exams or bustling with renewed energy on hearing the last bell ring for the day. The energy and exuberance of your lively environment can never be replicated by any other.

You, my dear school always encourage and inspire us to do well and perform to the best of our capabilities. Whether it is the English or Math scholarship exams, singing, dancing, elocution or drama competitions, Cricket or Kabaddi inter-school tournaments, handwriting or craft competitions or quiz contests you push us to do our best. Always nurturing and growing new talent under your able guidance. It’s no wonder then that many great stalwarts and luminaries from various spheres of life have been conceived and born out of your hallowed womb and continue to do so.

And so finally, I find myself asking this hard question to myself. What have I given you (my dear school) in all these years? Well, all I can say is that I have only taken you and your existence for granted, like we do all those who we truly love and can’t do without. But still, you never ever complained. You always personify the grace and poise befitting a noble matriarch.

So strong is my feeling and attachment for you my dear school that I cannot live without feeling fervently or impassioned for you. I adore you, lovingly complain about you, I am passionate about you, reminisce about you, also sometimes (yeah, sometimes) talk judgmentally and critically about you but at the end of it all I am happy that I am a part of you and I sincerely am proud of it!

It’s been an incredulously long 25 years from that momentous day when I crossed over the threshold of your sheltered, carefree and happy upbringing which I enjoyed for more than a decade. It just seems like yesterday that this misty eyed adolescent looked back with a twinge of sadness to bid adieu to you and the entire ecosystem that was Indian Education Society, English Medium School aka King George English Medium School. How time flies! Though it was with a heavy heart that I turned around the corner and simply lost sight of you so many years back, I am very sure that you stimulate the same warm feelings in thousands of children who came before and after me in the last 5 decades. Providing relentlessly the same motherly guidance and affection and help them soar to greater and new heights in their life.

As you complete your 50 golden years of your remarkable existence I can’t help but salute and thank you my dear school, you have been the beacon of wisdom and inspiration for me and many generations of students. This letter also cannot be ever complete without me saying a big thank you to all the wonderful principals, teachers, administrators and staff of the entire school for their steadfast dedication and tremendous contribution to the field of education, and society as a whole. And more importantly, for touching our life beautifully as only they could.

To the mother of all schools, Maa Tuzhe Salaam!

Last but not the least; I would like to close my letter with these beautiful lyrics from a popular song which aptly personifies my feelings for you, my beloved school.

Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.
It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
but I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.
I would be nothing without you.


Thank you,
Yours sincerely,
Priya Wagle Awasare – Batch of 1989


 Above : Early evening of 4th Jan, 2014 with the ex students just about pouring in to celebrate 50 years of IES English Medium School now known as V.N.Sule Guruji Vidyalaya
 Above : Sameer gets to fulfill his long withheld yearning, finally!
 Above : Mrudula, Shruti, Chandani, urs truly, Anita, Amita, Vaishali, Sameer, Amrita, Swati and Nilesh. The gang of 'B' division poses outside its class...but misses the charm of the open balconies which have now been grilled.

 Above : A little fun in the corridor where some were involuntarily declared 'outstanding students' many moons back.

Above : Reliving the moments of the past...sitting in the same classroom as we did 25 years back. Though this time breaking the ritual... guys and girls actually sitting together on the same bench. :)


Image Creative courtesy: Aparna Wagle Telang
Pics courtesy: Chandani Fernandes, Mrudula Kulkarni and Sameer Warik