Often when I have met a group of ex Bishopites , the topic of Boarders and day scholars has come up. We have discussed the pros and cons of life in the boarding at Bishops versus living at home as a day scholar. Strong points raised for both sides .
Boys have always asked me as to who I preferred - the boarders or the day scholars and I have never given a direct answer for obvious reasons . I meet up with so many of both .
Have thought long and hard about this one I have decided to put " fingers to the key board".
Now friends and guys- credit me with better sense . I am not going to give you an answer as to who my favourites were - just laying out some broad facts of my observations and thoughts - letting you come to your own conclusion .
The Boarders are obviously the ones I will give you info about first today - will write about the day scholars some other time . Not that I hold them any lower in my estimation - a number of great chaps indeed who I remember vividly for innumerable reasons .
I lived on the Bishops campus for 20 years from 1981 till 2001 , hence saw many boarders at close quarters for 12 long years - literally growing up before my eyes.
Many came in as toddlers - not knowing a word of English and left as Gentlemen - fluent in English and as polished as they come .
Others came in mid way - usually between grades 3 and 8 . Timid , awkward , shy and reserved . Needless to add , all those qualities changed within a few months and soon they were " one with the gang". No one messed with the boarders .
According to me the boarders were the tough ones . Left on their own from an early age they soon learnt to fend for themselves .
That meant many things - hide your tuck from the bigger boys( Read Table monitors ) , look after your clothes , eat what is served and enjoy it , become independent as soon as possible , fight off the thugs in your dormitory ( Read tough boys ) , cope with a cranky matron or an angry Prefect , learn to ignore minor ailments , cry at night when no one was looking , and study or fail .
THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY . Swim or sink without a trace .
Been reminded to write about 2 additional facets of a boarders life . The first was the COMMON ROOM - boarders enjoyed being there. - TV, Carroms, Ludo, Chess and movies . It was quite a dirty and untidy room with plenty of trash on the floor . At times the MOD got in the mood - caught hold of some boys and got them to clean it out . Am told some Adult movies were screened there as well - not sure - at times thought the door was bolted so I have my suspicions .
LETTER WRITING was another - every week boys had to write a compulsory letter home - they also wrote to various companies for freebies - MARS being one of them .
Almost all boarders were good sportsmen and boxers . In the boarding , despite what all schools say , it is definitely survival of the fittest . The quicker you toughen up and leant to adjust the easier you have it and the more you enjoy yourself.
Boarders are merciless and if you're weak , a cry baby , show that you are missing home , don't mix , don't play games , try and stay out of trouble, refuse to take risks, don't share any and everything you own , you will not be happy and the others will make your life a misery .
Boarders in Bishops were worldly. They were Men about town in every sense of the word .
They woke at the crack of dawn , made do in tough situations , learned to rough it out in the most difficult circumstances and yet were always smiling, cheerful and willing to help .
Were they cunning guys - YES YES YES ! They had to be .
It was difficult to fool a boarder - they were wise beyond their years .
Imagine some of the problems boarders faced- food , which after a while got tasteless and the menu monotonous . Dormitories without fans - so you wet your sheet with tap water and slept . Mosquitoes who feasted on you despite the nets , no water in the toilets in the morning so they went down to fill buckets . At times they bathed in the open, managing with water from the hand pump . What about times of sickness - lying with high fever in the infirmary or in pain due to an injury on the games field . Then there was the initial home sickness , the teasing , the occasional bullying and fighting .
They were awake from about 5. 30 am till about 10.pm with no rest in between - yes boarders had the stamina of horses !
Food was a much discussed topic so boarders found ways and means to overcome the problem - from sending for dinner from the market to cooking Maggi noodles with geyser water at midnight , to asking residential teachers to cook something for them - they learnt to overcome and overcome they did.
The clever ones managed their academics well- the weaker ones took tuitions , often failed , got the cane , studied at night while using a torch under a blanket and got help from clever friends. A number of boarders took private tuition ,often skipping all study classes in the bargain .
Boarders often became the class monitors and they sure knew how to take charge
When I joined in 1981 I was the class teacher of 5 A .
Remember 2 boys - Mangnani and Vivek Sood who managed my class - took the attendance , did the mark sheet , managed the stall at the fete - you name it and they did it for me .
There were many more over the years but these two were the first ans that's why I named them .
Boarders were always in the lime light during Founders week , sports day , the fete , the church service etc .
They were also the ones called out by Mr Roberts during mark reading - many of these poor guys failed in some subject or the other and the rest , as they say ,was History !
Bishops had a number of staff living on campus and so boarders and staff grew close , often playing games together . In fact I learnt to play TT and Volley ball from the boarders . We even played TT all afternoon in the dormitory on weekends and Volley ball all evening as well .
They were helpful and were often summoned by residential staff to help with chores - they did so willingly and more often than not enjoyed the same - especially when they had to miss study to help a teacher .
Boarders also made pals with some very special and important people on campus .
Can any boarder ever forget the guy called HANDSOME .
He was the barber who came in on weekends and his father had been the barber as well according to him . With his slick back hairstyle, clean shave and neat clothes he did look like a handsome barber . Obviously over the years he had earned the nickname. No one ever asked him what his actual name was .
He had just one style - the crew cut ( army NDA style )
If you went to Handsome he gave you a crew cut- no questions asked and no words spoken - for those who are not sure what it was - there had to be more hair on the ground than on your head - it was army style - short all over !
Some senior boys befriended Handsome ever year and got a better hair cut - some style and some shape - not sure if they tipped him or not but some Prefects looked pretty good after he had finished with them .
(Day scholars caught with long hair were often sent to Handsome during class hours and he made sure they learnt a lesson) .
Handsome told me he often did about 40 haircuts in an afternoon and that was no exaggeration .
Then there was Ramdass - he swept the campus clean but was a wizard at Hockey and the unofficial coach year after year . Boys flocked to him for tips and he ran circles round them with ball and stick . He had played in the nationals I am told .
The resident cobbler was also a well known character and an -integral part of a boarder's life often siting in a verandah in all seasons and toiling on manfully. Will someone please remind me of his name .( SudhakarArde tells me it was Moochi)
The dhobi was high on the list of important people too. Although the matrons dealt with him on a weekly basis , boarders were often seen rushing to him to get clothes ironed - more often smaller boarders with the clothes of the Dormitory prefect .
He obviously marked the clothes with Roll numbers and very few were mixed up or lost .( Devraj was his name . Thanks SUDHAKAR)
Here is a question - do you remember your Roll no - any of you ?
Boarders - more often than not, the Prefects, befriended one or two school peons and bearers . They are the ones who brought in food at night for a premium . Burgers were high on the list in those days .
Officially this was not permitted as per rules but we turned a blind eye to this one.
While most boarders banked money with their dorm in charge there was also the school pocket money ranging from rupees two to rupees ten . Correct me if I am wrong. Boarders lined up to receive the same and it was a ritual all boarders waited for - they then would dart to the ice cream vendor or the tuck shop .
Borrowing and lending was rampant and at times money was not returned as well .With the little money at their disposal they learned the art of being thrifty and stretching a rupee to the maximum . Many ran up large bills with the ice cream man , Manji and the tuck shop and not all paid up .There were complaints and settlements every year .
If there were willing workers - they were the boarders . Moving furniture , removing stones from the filed on sports day , carrying chairs before and after the movie on Friday and helping everyone on campus - the boarders did so willingly. Poor chaps- when they tried to dodge they were taken to task by the Prefects and that was tough indeed .
You would all remember the St Helena's and Bishops socials . As far as I know they elicited a great response from all Class ten boys - however the boarders took it a few steps further - they ensured their clothes were ready a week in advance and they spent a lot of time learning to dance in the dormitory.
With no YouTube back in those day it was often a case of the Blind leading the Blind but by D day everyone was brimming with confidence and ready to find a bride .
A few actually did . Any names guys ?
The annual dorm feasts in each dormitory saw talent and organizational skills of the highest order.
Collecting the money, budgeting , invitations , ordering food, organizing the entertainment programme , music, lights and performing - wow was the word. The programme usually lasted for about 4 hours , great food and entertainment. The invited teachers enjoyed the evening and there was great talent on display with the singers , dancers , actors and mimics wowing the audience .
Some boarders and day scholars grew pretty close with home cooked food often being the link . A few visited day scholars over the weekend as well .
A mention to be made of BIRTHDAY PARTIES IN SCHOOL . You know what I mean . You placed the order. Got your fixed items and enjoyed yourself with the fixed number of friends . Many others looked on with their tongues hanging out. The birthday boy owned the show.
Where games were concerned I have to say that the boarders stole a march over the day scholars .
Because they were so hardy and so fit they often monopolized most class, house and school teams . They practiced hard and put their heart and soul into the game . The same goes for athletics as well . I have to say that there were a large number of outstanding sportsmen who were day scholars as well !
All boarders were known by their surname and till date I don't know what many of your first names are .
Some boarders had a reputation - either they were outstanding sportsmen , great boxers, good at light and sound arrangements , very clever , great assistants to the teacher , often got injuries ( some faked it ) , always in trouble , known to bunk school at night , extra mischievous, failed in a number of subjects etc etc.
The boarding life in Bishops was fun and it made men out of boys . No boarder can forget his life in the boarding , even if it was just for a year .
Well I think that sort of sums it up - I could go on but I will stop here .
Cheers
Boys have always asked me as to who I preferred - the boarders or the day scholars and I have never given a direct answer for obvious reasons . I meet up with so many of both .
Have thought long and hard about this one I have decided to put " fingers to the key board".
Now friends and guys- credit me with better sense . I am not going to give you an answer as to who my favourites were - just laying out some broad facts of my observations and thoughts - letting you come to your own conclusion .
The Boarders are obviously the ones I will give you info about first today - will write about the day scholars some other time . Not that I hold them any lower in my estimation - a number of great chaps indeed who I remember vividly for innumerable reasons .
I lived on the Bishops campus for 20 years from 1981 till 2001 , hence saw many boarders at close quarters for 12 long years - literally growing up before my eyes.
Many came in as toddlers - not knowing a word of English and left as Gentlemen - fluent in English and as polished as they come .
Others came in mid way - usually between grades 3 and 8 . Timid , awkward , shy and reserved . Needless to add , all those qualities changed within a few months and soon they were " one with the gang". No one messed with the boarders .
According to me the boarders were the tough ones . Left on their own from an early age they soon learnt to fend for themselves .
That meant many things - hide your tuck from the bigger boys( Read Table monitors ) , look after your clothes , eat what is served and enjoy it , become independent as soon as possible , fight off the thugs in your dormitory ( Read tough boys ) , cope with a cranky matron or an angry Prefect , learn to ignore minor ailments , cry at night when no one was looking , and study or fail .
THERE WAS NO OTHER WAY . Swim or sink without a trace .
Been reminded to write about 2 additional facets of a boarders life . The first was the COMMON ROOM - boarders enjoyed being there. - TV, Carroms, Ludo, Chess and movies . It was quite a dirty and untidy room with plenty of trash on the floor . At times the MOD got in the mood - caught hold of some boys and got them to clean it out . Am told some Adult movies were screened there as well - not sure - at times thought the door was bolted so I have my suspicions .
LETTER WRITING was another - every week boys had to write a compulsory letter home - they also wrote to various companies for freebies - MARS being one of them .
Almost all boarders were good sportsmen and boxers . In the boarding , despite what all schools say , it is definitely survival of the fittest . The quicker you toughen up and leant to adjust the easier you have it and the more you enjoy yourself.
Boarders are merciless and if you're weak , a cry baby , show that you are missing home , don't mix , don't play games , try and stay out of trouble, refuse to take risks, don't share any and everything you own , you will not be happy and the others will make your life a misery .
Boarders in Bishops were worldly. They were Men about town in every sense of the word .
They woke at the crack of dawn , made do in tough situations , learned to rough it out in the most difficult circumstances and yet were always smiling, cheerful and willing to help .
Were they cunning guys - YES YES YES ! They had to be .
It was difficult to fool a boarder - they were wise beyond their years .
Imagine some of the problems boarders faced- food , which after a while got tasteless and the menu monotonous . Dormitories without fans - so you wet your sheet with tap water and slept . Mosquitoes who feasted on you despite the nets , no water in the toilets in the morning so they went down to fill buckets . At times they bathed in the open, managing with water from the hand pump . What about times of sickness - lying with high fever in the infirmary or in pain due to an injury on the games field . Then there was the initial home sickness , the teasing , the occasional bullying and fighting .
They were awake from about 5. 30 am till about 10.pm with no rest in between - yes boarders had the stamina of horses !
Food was a much discussed topic so boarders found ways and means to overcome the problem - from sending for dinner from the market to cooking Maggi noodles with geyser water at midnight , to asking residential teachers to cook something for them - they learnt to overcome and overcome they did.
The clever ones managed their academics well- the weaker ones took tuitions , often failed , got the cane , studied at night while using a torch under a blanket and got help from clever friends. A number of boarders took private tuition ,often skipping all study classes in the bargain .
Boarders often became the class monitors and they sure knew how to take charge
When I joined in 1981 I was the class teacher of 5 A .
Remember 2 boys - Mangnani and Vivek Sood who managed my class - took the attendance , did the mark sheet , managed the stall at the fete - you name it and they did it for me .
There were many more over the years but these two were the first ans that's why I named them .
Boarders were always in the lime light during Founders week , sports day , the fete , the church service etc .
They were also the ones called out by Mr Roberts during mark reading - many of these poor guys failed in some subject or the other and the rest , as they say ,was History !
Bishops had a number of staff living on campus and so boarders and staff grew close , often playing games together . In fact I learnt to play TT and Volley ball from the boarders . We even played TT all afternoon in the dormitory on weekends and Volley ball all evening as well .
They were helpful and were often summoned by residential staff to help with chores - they did so willingly and more often than not enjoyed the same - especially when they had to miss study to help a teacher .
Boarders also made pals with some very special and important people on campus .
Can any boarder ever forget the guy called HANDSOME .
He was the barber who came in on weekends and his father had been the barber as well according to him . With his slick back hairstyle, clean shave and neat clothes he did look like a handsome barber . Obviously over the years he had earned the nickname. No one ever asked him what his actual name was .
He had just one style - the crew cut ( army NDA style )
If you went to Handsome he gave you a crew cut- no questions asked and no words spoken - for those who are not sure what it was - there had to be more hair on the ground than on your head - it was army style - short all over !
Some senior boys befriended Handsome ever year and got a better hair cut - some style and some shape - not sure if they tipped him or not but some Prefects looked pretty good after he had finished with them .
(Day scholars caught with long hair were often sent to Handsome during class hours and he made sure they learnt a lesson) .
Handsome told me he often did about 40 haircuts in an afternoon and that was no exaggeration .
Then there was Ramdass - he swept the campus clean but was a wizard at Hockey and the unofficial coach year after year . Boys flocked to him for tips and he ran circles round them with ball and stick . He had played in the nationals I am told .
The resident cobbler was also a well known character and an -integral part of a boarder's life often siting in a verandah in all seasons and toiling on manfully. Will someone please remind me of his name .( SudhakarArde tells me it was Moochi)
The dhobi was high on the list of important people too. Although the matrons dealt with him on a weekly basis , boarders were often seen rushing to him to get clothes ironed - more often smaller boarders with the clothes of the Dormitory prefect .
He obviously marked the clothes with Roll numbers and very few were mixed up or lost .( Devraj was his name . Thanks SUDHAKAR)
Here is a question - do you remember your Roll no - any of you ?
Boarders - more often than not, the Prefects, befriended one or two school peons and bearers . They are the ones who brought in food at night for a premium . Burgers were high on the list in those days .
Officially this was not permitted as per rules but we turned a blind eye to this one.
While most boarders banked money with their dorm in charge there was also the school pocket money ranging from rupees two to rupees ten . Correct me if I am wrong. Boarders lined up to receive the same and it was a ritual all boarders waited for - they then would dart to the ice cream vendor or the tuck shop .
Borrowing and lending was rampant and at times money was not returned as well .With the little money at their disposal they learned the art of being thrifty and stretching a rupee to the maximum . Many ran up large bills with the ice cream man , Manji and the tuck shop and not all paid up .There were complaints and settlements every year .
If there were willing workers - they were the boarders . Moving furniture , removing stones from the filed on sports day , carrying chairs before and after the movie on Friday and helping everyone on campus - the boarders did so willingly. Poor chaps- when they tried to dodge they were taken to task by the Prefects and that was tough indeed .
You would all remember the St Helena's and Bishops socials . As far as I know they elicited a great response from all Class ten boys - however the boarders took it a few steps further - they ensured their clothes were ready a week in advance and they spent a lot of time learning to dance in the dormitory.
With no YouTube back in those day it was often a case of the Blind leading the Blind but by D day everyone was brimming with confidence and ready to find a bride .
A few actually did . Any names guys ?
The annual dorm feasts in each dormitory saw talent and organizational skills of the highest order.
Collecting the money, budgeting , invitations , ordering food, organizing the entertainment programme , music, lights and performing - wow was the word. The programme usually lasted for about 4 hours , great food and entertainment. The invited teachers enjoyed the evening and there was great talent on display with the singers , dancers , actors and mimics wowing the audience .
Some boarders and day scholars grew pretty close with home cooked food often being the link . A few visited day scholars over the weekend as well .
A mention to be made of BIRTHDAY PARTIES IN SCHOOL . You know what I mean . You placed the order. Got your fixed items and enjoyed yourself with the fixed number of friends . Many others looked on with their tongues hanging out. The birthday boy owned the show.
Where games were concerned I have to say that the boarders stole a march over the day scholars .
Because they were so hardy and so fit they often monopolized most class, house and school teams . They practiced hard and put their heart and soul into the game . The same goes for athletics as well . I have to say that there were a large number of outstanding sportsmen who were day scholars as well !
All boarders were known by their surname and till date I don't know what many of your first names are .
Some boarders had a reputation - either they were outstanding sportsmen , great boxers, good at light and sound arrangements , very clever , great assistants to the teacher , often got injuries ( some faked it ) , always in trouble , known to bunk school at night , extra mischievous, failed in a number of subjects etc etc.
The boarding life in Bishops was fun and it made men out of boys . No boarder can forget his life in the boarding , even if it was just for a year .
Well I think that sort of sums it up - I could go on but I will stop here .
Cheers
