Those schoolboy days

 As a primary student  at St. Joseph's High school in Allahabad, I always dreaded the return to school after any vacation, especially Christmas. 

The joy of the winter holidays would vanish, replaced by the rigors of early mornings, shivering baths, and the daunting task of completing holiday homework. Packing bags, donning the school uniform, and climbing into a cycle rickshaw for the ride to school became the routine.

Allahabad was insanely cold and I believe it still is , especially on the days when there is a 'nahan'. It was usually cloudy and depressing . 

I vividly recall those cold January mornings when the mist and fog blurred the tree-lined streets and the sun struggled to shine through. Civil Lines shops remained shuttered in the biting chill, and the drizzle during nahan days only deepened my gloom. As i would pass by , I’d watch people gather around small roadside fires, sipping steaming tea, a scene that always seemed oddly comforting in contrast to the demands of school life.

Back in the classroom, teachers brimming with energy inspected our holiday homework, and new pupils timidly found their place. The bold and the clever always occupied the front benches- the rest of us slunk as far back as possible .  

The arrival of new teachers often struck fear into young hearts- I remember a few of that tribe .

Subjects like Math and Hindi felt oppressive, and Sanskrit, introduced later, seemed even worse. I was poor in Hindi to say the very least .  It’s curious how disliking a subject often goes hand-in-hand with disliking its teacher, though I’m still unsure which comes first.

The lunch recess offered some respite. We played on jungle gyms and swings, brushing off minor injuries without fuss. Boys who owned footballs or cricket bats became instant favorites. if you possessed a yellow tennis ball you were well known !  

 Water breaks meant crowding around a round tank fitted with several taps, some inevitably broken, adding to the charm of our shared school struggles. Not sure if it was ever cleaned but the water was fine- cool and refreshing .  

During the break we also attempted to break tamarind and when all else failed we ate tamarind leaves for their sourness . 

The end of the break was signaled by a long bell ringing, and everyone rushed back to class. The horrible stench of perspiration often pervaded the air, and no one seemed in the mood to study in the afternoon.

 We all impatiently awaited the final bell, which unleashed loud shouting and hooting as students rushed out to go home. Teachers tried in vain to maintain order, but the chaos was inevitable.

Looking back, those days, though challenging, were formative. The rhythm of school life, however reluctant we were to return to it, instilled resilience, camaraderie, and unforgettable memories.

ALLAHABAD CIVIL LINES  NOSTALGIC MEMORIES

St Joseph's College, Allahabad

ALLAHABAD

The All India Anglo Indian Association - Allahabad branch