NOT JUST A MOVIE REVIEW!!

Lourdes High School 2K Batch Reunion

1^st September 2013

Dr. Omkar Halwai

When Benjamin called me a few days back and asked me to write this piece, I said Yes but to be very honest I had no clue where to start…  I was like… kitna time ho gaya school chhod ke yaar…. Ab main kaha se shuru karoon!!!

I was in a state of limbo for a few days.. but then the original thought struck me again….Kitna Time??? and it made me realize something. Friends, most of us are meeting after 13 long years… most of us are on the doorstep of turning 30…. But I realized that still we have spent 14-15 years i.e. more than half of our life in our Lourdes… 7 hours a day five days a week … Lourdes had been our second Home.

Right from the time most of us took reluctant toddler steps through our school gates holding on to our parents hands crying desperately  “Mummyyyyyy, main nahi jaaonga/jaoongi”  till the day we passed our SSC exams into an unknown  but exciting future, Lourdes saw us all through it.

And what fun days were those yaaaaaarr,

Doston ke saath Apne exam pads aur plastic balls ke saath ground pe cricket khelna,

Pen fights and book cricket in class,

Recess ke baad freeze bell mein prefects ki nazar bachaake canteen mein jaake dheere se kehna “Aunty, ek aur bhaji pav do na, plzzzzzzz”

Apne dost ka tiffin recess ke pehle hi…… are nahi nahi, recess ke pehle hi kya, first period mein hi saaf kar dena J

Eighth standard mein pehli baar full pant uniform mein school jaaneka maza,

Punishment ke liye teacher ne class ke bahar kneel down karaya toh dhyan na rehte bhaag ke ground pe jaake khelna

Do period ke beech mein dhamachowkdi karna,

Compass se bench pe naam likhna,

Exam mein apne paper se zyada apne aagewale ke paper mein dekhna,

Making Best Friends for the rest of our lives!!!

Aur dost to dost , teachers ki kya yaadein kum hain…

Bhupinder Miss ka Hindi mein Ki ki matra galat hui to daantna,

Nalini and Clara Miss’s wonderful stories,

Pani Peene ki permission puchne par Ravi Sir ka “Maybe Child come tomorrow!!!”  kehna,

Aleyamma Miss and Carmeline Madam’s pinches,

P.T. teachers Punches!!!J

Father Paul D’Souza ke Moral Stories aur unka trademark Kurta,

Nazish Miss ka Mustufa ko “ Mustufaaa, Mustufaaaa” Gaake chidhana,

Julie Miss ke singing periods,

Wagh Sir ka “Parade Vishram!” aur “Parade Savdhan”,

Maths teachers ka “No silly mistakes!!” kehke hamare papers mein red pen se bade bade ande dena!!

Jokes apart, Our teachers taught us many life lessons…. Lessons which have held us in good stead since then.

Ours was truly a unique school….. and I am not just saying this for the sake of the Occasion.

I remember that when other schools used to have Extra Classes for their toppers so that they could break into the coveted merit list…. Our school teachers were taking the same for the slightly weaker students so that they could improve their grades!!! I think that’s what is truly commendable!!

Our teachers always encouraged us to participate in Extra Curricular activities and hone our talents.

But most importantly, they taught us Life’s biggest lesson –

 Although it may be a rat race out there, that does not make us rats!!!

That instilled a sense of humanity as well as strong self belief that no one can steal or oppress… even during tough times!!!

And for that we small children would like to say to our teachers –

                                           THANK YOU

And for my friends, I would like to end with this apt poem from the movie Udaan:

Chhoti Chhoti Chitrayi Yaadein,

Bichi Hui Hai Lamhon Ki Lawn Par,

Nange Pair Unpar Chalte Chalte,

Itni Door Aa Gaye,

Ki Ab Bhool Gaye Hain,

Joote Kahan Utaare The.

Edi Komal Thi Jab Aaye The,

Thodi Si Nazuk Hai Abhi Bhi,

Aur Nazuk Hi Rahegi,

In Khatti Meethi Yaadon Ki Shararat,

Jab Tak Inhein Gudgugatee Rahegi.

Sachhh……… Bhool Gaye Hain…. Joote Kahan Utare The!!