The Bishops school Infirmary

Who among you remember the Bishops school Infirmary?

Were you ever taken there? Did you go there on your own if you were ill in school?

Were you ever injured in school?

Well to the beginning. The school infirmary for me is synonymous with two names – Mr Nair and

Mrs. Prema Dmonte.

During my time, it was in the old building that housed Jubilee Dorm and adjoining Class 9A. Actually to be precise, there was the first aid room and then there was the actual larger infirmary. Mr Nair who was the school nurse in the 80’s lived in quarters behind the first aid room

There was nothing fancy about either the first aid room or the infirmary. The first aid room had just one high examination table with a rexine top on which the patients were examined, one tin chair and a smaller rickety table   . There was also a small stand, which had a basin with water. An old wooden cupboard contained the medicines – basic again. Mercurochrome, cough mixture , Dettol , cough lozenges , crocin , some pain killers , Anacin and the like ?The were also syringes , needles and a few medical instruments. There was also a torch, which had to be banged at the back to get it to shine brightly.

The larger infirmary, where boys were admitted had about six beds and a table or two. There was also a small inner room, where boys with infectious diseases were admitted. This was a bit of a farce as these so-called boys, with infectious diseases, walked all over the school. Rumour has it that some boarders  , in order to get sick and miss exams,  went on purpose and sat with these boys in order to get sick themselves .  Maybe someone will clarify this doubt of mine.

Mrs Dmonte lived beside this larger infirmary.  Mr Nair and Mrs. Dmonte took turns during the day to look after the sick pupils. Both of them were strict yet kind and between you and me, if they knew you a little better (read boarders) you could visit their house to watch TV when you were admitted to the infirmary. This was only after rounds were over by Mr Beaman !

The boarders were the most frequent patients – fever , cough and cold , fractures , Measles, Chicken pox , Pneumonia , stomach aches , head-aches , influenza , whooping cough , typhoid , tooth ache – you name it and Bishops boarders had it .

We had around 250 boarders so for the nurses it was a full time job. After breakfast , during the morning break at 11 , the lunch break , during the games period , after evening baths , after dinner – these were busy times indeed .

Medicines were dispensed , injections given , dressing done , boils lanced , fractures examined , pupils taken to the doctor , the doctor sent for – you name it and it happened in those small rooms .

Funnily , at times , Mr Nair’s elder daughter / son also administered basic medication – Probably Mr Dmonte as well ! It was all done in good faith and we never had a problem !

Boarders were tough chaps. They took injuries in their stride- resolutely and often with a smile. I have seen boys bleeding profusely and carry on playing for class, house or school – such was their grit, determination and loyalty. At times if it became too much they would run off the football or hockey field, get the wound dressed hurriedly and get back on the field without a fuss. The small silver coloured tin box was carried by the school nurse everywhere – the Simba field, St Margaret’s field, the race course and the army grounds where the sports meets were held. Day scholars – some of whome were outstanding sportsmen were injured too and they got no special treatment. The same medicines and the same first aid. Back then, unlike today, no letters or permissions had to be taken from parents or local guardians  

Both boarders and day scholars loved the infirmary for another reason. It was the GO TO place to avoid tests and exams. Therefore, boys went with stomachaches and various other ailments. By the time they were attended to and diagnosed, the test or exam was over. They would then return to class, at times sheepishly and at other times brazenly and handed over the sick slip to the teacher. Impression marks was the term used as the pupil was given an average mark for the test or examination. For an average pupil or a pupil weak in studies this was a bonanza!

For boarders who were admitted it was fun. Whether they were sick or not, they would walk out of the infirmary in night suits, peep into classes in Lunn Block, read comics, go to their dormitories, play caroms, watch TV, they were provided with a special diet etc . Some also visited the tuck shop, got day scholars to share their lunch and in general made merry. What they did not do there was study. Irrespective of how sick they were, they would come to watch the Friday movie on the Uppers or even to Harding hall. Some wrapped themselves in the infirmary blanket while others did not bother .

I must add that some were instructed to do their test/ exam in the infirmary – and they enjoyed this as they used their books and cheated. The elder boys also helped the younger ones.

Mr Beamon made it a point to visit the infirmary twice a day to check on the boys and when I took over I did that too – however I was often convinced that many boys  did not need to be there and were dodging !  There was no way to prove this though .

During the years, I was in Bishops – 1981- 2001, if I remember rightly, the Infirmary bearer was Girdhari – one of the few who grew his hair. He did umpteen trip to and from the infirmary and kitchen with the large tiffin of food.

There are a few details I must add if I was to do justice to the write up. Both Mr Nair and Mrs Dmonte were highly skilled and their diagnosis was rarely different from that of Dr Khatri the school doctor. They also gave quick painless injections. You may not believe this but I have seen them STITCHING up wounds in the school infirmary and I am sure they used no painkillers most of the time. The boy was held down by someone else and the job done with very little commotion or fuss!

They were also requested to visit staff quarters when a member of staff or a family member was ill and they did so willingly. Everyone trusted them to diagnose, prescribe medication and even give him or her injections.  

Anti- tetanus injections and another for throat infection with fever are two which I had frequently and so did many pupils and staff.

I once had a large boil on my thigh. So I trooped off to Mr Nair . He examined it, pressed it all over and told me he would settle the matter in a few minutes. He promised it would be a quick painless procedure. Also told me that pupils were outside so I should not make a fuss. Why I agreed still beats me .

Before I knew what was happening, he lanced the boil and squeezed so hard that I almost passed out.  He then dressed the wound, bandaged it and sent me on my way home. All this in a matter of 5 minutes.  I called him a sadist and used a few other choice words as I limped home, as the procedure was so painful. Two or three days of dressing and all was well!

Mr Nair and more so Mrs Dmonte were often summoned to the Bungalow to attend to Mr and Mrs Roberts and their aged parents who visited during the summer months. Needless to add they both were a big help on campus.

There was one very sad critical incident during the time of Mr Nair, which I will not put down here but I must say that Bishops was in very good hands.

I am sure some boys would like to share their stories too – go ahead gentlemen.

God bless Mrs Dmonte and Mr Nair  

The Bishops school Infirmary

Who among you remember the Bishops school Infirmary?

Were you ever taken there? Did you go there on your own if you were ill in school?

Were you ever injured in school?

Well to the beginning. The school infirmary for me is synonymous with two names – Mr Nair and

Mrs. Prema Dmonte.

During my time, it was in the old building that housed Jubilee Dorm and adjoining Class 9A. Actually to be precise, there was the first aid room and then there was the actual larger infirmary. Mr Nair who was the school nurse in the 80’s lived in quarters behind the first aid room

There was nothing fancy about either the first aid room or the infirmary. The first aid room had just one high examination table with a rexine top on which the patients were examined, one tin chair and a smaller rickety table   . There was also a small stand, which had a basin with water. An old wooden cupboard contained the medicines – basic again. Mercurochrome, cough mixture , Dettol , cough lozenges , crocin , some pain killers , Anacin and the like ?The were also syringes , needles and a few medical instruments. There was also a torch, which had to be banged at the back to get it to shine brightly.

The larger infirmary, where boys were admitted had about six beds and a table or two. There was also a small inner room, where boys with infectious diseases were admitted. This was a bit of a farce as these so-called boys, with infectious diseases, walked all over the school. Rumour has it that some boarders  , in order to get sick and miss exams,  went on purpose and sat with these boys in order to get sick themselves .  Maybe someone will clarify this doubt of mine.

Mrs Dmonte lived beside this larger infirmary.  Mr Nair and Mrs. Dmonte took turns during the day to look after the sick pupils. Both of them were strict yet kind and between you and me, if they knew you a little better (read boarders) you could visit their house to watch TV when you were admitted to the infirmary. This was only after rounds were over by Mr Beaman !

The boarders were the most frequent patients – fever , cough and cold , fractures , Measles, Chicken pox , Pneumonia , stomach aches , head-aches , influenza , whooping cough , typhoid , tooth ache – you name it and Bishops boarders had it .

We had around 250 boarders so for the nurses it was a full time job. After breakfast , during the morning break at 11 , the lunch break , during the games period , after evening baths , after dinner – these were busy times indeed .

Medicines were dispensed , injections given , dressing done , boils lanced , fractures examined , pupils taken to the doctor , the doctor sent for – you name it and it happened in those small rooms .

Funnily , at times , Mr Nair’s elder daughter / son also administered basic medication – Probably Mr Dmonte as well ! It was all done in good faith and we never had a problem !

Boarders were tough chaps. They took injuries in their stride- resolutely and often with a smile. I have seen boys bleeding profusely and carry on playing for class, house or school – such was their grit, determination and loyalty. At times if it became too much they would run off the football or hockey field, get the wound dressed hurriedly and get back on the field without a fuss. The small silver coloured tin box was carried by the school nurse everywhere – the Simba field, St Margaret’s field, the race course and the army grounds where the sports meets were held. Day scholars – some of whome were outstanding sportsmen were injured too and they got no special treatment. The same medicines and the same first aid. Back then, unlike today, no letters or permissions had to be taken from parents or local guardians  

Both boarders and day scholars loved the infirmary for another reason. It was the GO TO place to avoid tests and exams. Therefore, boys went with stomachaches and various other ailments. By the time they were attended to and diagnosed, the test or exam was over. They would then return to class, at times sheepishly and at other times brazenly and handed over the sick slip to the teacher. Impression marks was the term used as the pupil was given an average mark for the test or examination. For an average pupil or a pupil weak in studies this was a bonanza!

For boarders who were admitted it was fun. Whether they were sick or not, they would walk out of the infirmary in night suits, peep into classes in Lunn Block, read comics, go to their dormitories, play caroms, watch TV, they were provided with a special diet etc . Some also visited the tuck shop, got day scholars to share their lunch and in general made merry. What they did not do there was study. Irrespective of how sick they were, they would come to watch the Friday movie on the Uppers or even to Harding hall. Some wrapped themselves in the infirmary blanket while others did not bother .

I must add that some were instructed to do their test/ exam in the infirmary – and they enjoyed this as they used their books and cheated. The elder boys also helped the younger ones.

Mr Beamon made it a point to visit the infirmary twice a day to check on the boys and when I took over I did that too – however I was often convinced that many boys  did not need to be there and were dodging !  There was no way to prove this though .

During the years, I was in Bishops – 1981- 2001, if I remember rightly, the Infirmary bearer was Girdhari – one of the few who grew his hair. He did umpteen trip to and from the infirmary and kitchen with the large tiffin of food.

There are a few details I must add if I was to do justice to the write up. Both Mr Nair and Mrs Dmonte were highly skilled and their diagnosis was rarely different from that of Dr Khatri the school doctor. They also gave quick painless injections. You may not believe this but I have seen them STITCHING up wounds in the school infirmary and I am sure they used no painkillers most of the time. The boy was held down by someone else and the job done with very little commotion or fuss!

They were also requested to visit staff quarters when a member of staff or a family member was ill and they did so willingly. Everyone trusted them to diagnose, prescribe medication and even give him or her injections.  

Anti- tetanus injections and another for throat infection with fever are two which I had frequently and so did many pupils and staff.

I once had a large boil on my thigh. So I trooped off to Mr Nair . He examined it, pressed it all over and told me he would settle the matter in a few minutes. He promised it would be a quick painless procedure. Also told me that pupils were outside so I should not make a fuss. Why I agreed still beats me .

Before I knew what was happening, he lanced the boil and squeezed so hard that I almost passed out.  He then dressed the wound, bandaged it and sent me on my way home. All this in a matter of 5 minutes.  I called him a sadist and used a few other choice words as I limped home, as the procedure was so painful. Two or three days of dressing and all was well!

Mr Nair and more so Mrs Dmonte were often summoned to the Bungalow to attend to Mr and Mrs Roberts and their aged parents who visited during the summer months. Needless to add they both were a big help on campus.

There was one very sad critical incident during the time of Mr Nair, which I will not put down here but I must say that Bishops was in very good hands.

I am sure some boys would like to share their stories too – go ahead gentlemen.

God bless Mrs Dmonte and Mr Nair  

Leadership

I have often been asked about Leadership.

What makes a good leader? How does a good leader become great? What are the tips, if any, to become a good leader? Can anyone become a leader? Are leaders’ born or made? Who is your favourite leader and why? Did you ever think you would be a leader in your own field?

The above questions were not all asked together, nor were they put forward by one person. They have come up in conversations, in class and business discussions and above all, during my long career in education.

I have thought about Leadership long and hard, read up on the same, used Google as a point of reference and spoken about it at length. Eons ago, I also remember using the very well known, Encyclopedia Britannica much before the era of computers!

If you Google the word LEADERSHIP, there are literally, millions of articles, quotations and references to choose from but today I am writing from my own experiences – simple and straight from the heart.

I do not profess an expert on the topic and you may not agree with my thoughts but then this is what Free speech is all about!

Did I want to be a leader? Not ashamed to say Yes- Definitely. I was not too sure about how to go about it but I believed that if I worked hard, grabbed any opportunities that came my way, thought things out clearly before acting on them and never took too many unnecessary risks, I would make it.

Did I make mistakes along the way – yes, I did. I guess that is part of the learning process.  If you are frightened of making a mistake, you will go nowhere.

I believe that most people are born with some leadership qualities within them- some go on to hone those while others are contented with their lot and that makes the difference.

Let me say it clearly here – not everyone has the ambition to be a leader and there is nothing wrong with that. Others have that fire burning within them and that is not wrong either. Each to his own I guess.

Lastly, there is a certain amount of luck involved so also being at the right place at the right time. I have never disputed or denied this fact.

As a Leader -:

            You must strive to leave a legacy behind you. You must strive to be a trailblazer, a game changer, a front-runner.

The book- MY STORY by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is one of the finest books I have ever read. It ends with TEN RULES FOR LEADERSHIP. - Serve the people. Do not worship the position. Set your plan. Monitor Yourself. Build your team. Innovate or leave. Communicate and be optimistic. Compete. Create Leaders. Go forth and lead a meaningful Life.

The book itself is a revelation and definitely worth a read

            Recently I read another book about a very special leader and it spelt out, rather effortlessly, the qualities of an amazing leader and someone I have always admired.

He was the son of a tribal chief & his father died when he was 12.  He graduated as a lawyer, had honorary degrees from over 50 universities, was an ardent admirer of Mahatma Gandhi, and was a nonviolent activist, politician and philanthropist.

He spent 27 years in prison & died at the age of 95.

 He is   Nelson Mandela.

            Mandela was known for his tolerance, integrity, consistency, optimism, servant leadership, self-confidence and emotional stability. Admirable qualities and worthy of emulation.

            He was simple & loving –   kind- yet determined to succeed.      You & I   may never be like Mandela but we must strive to be fair, just, tolerant and hardworking leaders – always putting others before ourselves.

            Even now, I work very hard to be a better leader every day than the day before. Striving to constantly improve is the key to good leadership. Keeping it simple is a close second. Continuing to learn is the third.  People unnecessarily complicate leadership with jargon and glib talk and that becomes so obvious!

            Therefore, we must strive to lead by example. Staying grounded and remembering where we came from is paramount.

Leadership is all about people, about colleagues and friends. It is about helping, understanding, motivating & mentoring. It has a lot to do with give and take, praising, being firm& assertive & apologizing when necessary. It is about kindness, going that extra mile and giving credit where credit is due. It is about being goal oriented & sharing the glory with the team.

It is about taking responsibility and being ready to take the blame when things do not go according to plan.

Leaders must learn to communicate well. The key to that is reading as much as possible, writing whenever the opportunity presents itself and speaking eloquently – brushing up on these is helpful.

            Leaders must not take up aboard in an ivory tower in the true sense of the word – being approachable is the key. – I have also known leaders who are too backward to come forward, stand up and be counted.

 Leaders must be visible and available when needed. Remember – everything you ever do as a leader is based on one audacious assumption - which is, that YOU matter and it is not being vain or egoistic to believe this thought.  

            Before you can lead others, you have to lead yourself - you have to believe that your words matter and your actions can move people. You have to believe that what you do counts for something.  

            You have to believe that leadership begins with YOU – self-belief is paramount.

Leadership is definitely not easy. Uneasy is the head that wears the crown.

“ If your action can inspire others to dream more, learn more , do more and become more , you are a leader”  John Quiny Adams

             

Leadership

I have often been asked about Leadership.

What makes a good leader? How does a good leader become great? What are the tips, if any, to become a good leader? Can anyone become a leader? Are leaders’ born or made? Who is your favourite leader and why? Did you ever think you would be a leader in your own field?

The above questions were not all asked together, nor were they put forward by one person. They have come up in conversations, in class and business discussions and above all, during my long career in education.

I have thought about Leadership long and hard, read up on the same, used Google as a point of reference and spoken about it at length. Eons ago, I also remember using the very well known, Encyclopedia Britannica much before the era of computers!

If you Google the word LEADERSHIP, there are literally, millions of articles, quotations and references to choose from but today I am writing from my own experiences – simple and straight from the heart.

I do not profess an expert on the topic and you may not agree with my thoughts but then this is what Free speech is all about!

Did I want to be a leader? Not ashamed to say Yes- Definitely. I was not too sure about how to go about it but I believed that if I worked hard, grabbed any opportunities that came my way, thought things out clearly before acting on them and never took too many unnecessary risks, I would make it.

Did I make mistakes along the way – yes, I did. I guess that is part of the learning process.  If you are frightened of making a mistake, you will go nowhere.

I believe that most people are born with some leadership qualities within them- some go on to hone those while others are contented with their lot and that makes the difference.

Let me say it clearly here – not everyone has the ambition to be a leader and there is nothing wrong with that. Others have that fire burning within them and that is not wrong either. Each to his own I guess.

Lastly, there is a certain amount of luck involved so also being at the right place at the right time. I have never disputed or denied this fact.

As a Leader -:

            You must strive to leave a legacy behind you. You must strive to be a trailblazer, a game changer, a front-runner.

The book- MY STORY by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is one of the finest books I have ever read. It ends with TEN RULES FOR LEADERSHIP. - Serve the people. Do not worship the position. Set your plan. Monitor Yourself. Build your team. Innovate or leave. Communicate and be optimistic. Compete. Create Leaders. Go forth and lead a meaningful Life.

The book itself is a revelation and definitely worth a read

            Recently I read another book about a very special leader and it spelt out, rather effortlessly, the qualities of an amazing leader and someone I have always admired.

He was the son of a tribal chief & his father died when he was 12.  He graduated as a lawyer, had honorary degrees from over 50 universities, was an ardent admirer of Mahatma Gandhi, and was a nonviolent activist, politician and philanthropist.

He spent 27 years in prison & died at the age of 95.

 He is   Nelson Mandela.

            Mandela was known for his tolerance, integrity, consistency, optimism, servant leadership, self-confidence and emotional stability. Admirable qualities and worthy of emulation.

            He was simple & loving –   kind- yet determined to succeed.      You & I   may never be like Mandela but we must strive to be fair, just, tolerant and hardworking leaders – always putting others before ourselves.

            Even now, I work very hard to be a better leader every day than the day before. Striving to constantly improve is the key to good leadership. Keeping it simple is a close second. Continuing to learn is the third.  People unnecessarily complicate leadership with jargon and glib talk and that becomes so obvious!

            Therefore, we must strive to lead by example. Staying grounded and remembering where we came from is paramount.

Leadership is all about people, about colleagues and friends. It is about helping, understanding, motivating & mentoring. It has a lot to do with give and take, praising, being firm& assertive & apologizing when necessary. It is about kindness, going that extra mile and giving credit where credit is due. It is about being goal oriented & sharing the glory with the team.

It is about taking responsibility and being ready to take the blame when things do not go according to plan.

Leaders must learn to communicate well. The key to that is reading as much as possible, writing whenever the opportunity presents itself and speaking eloquently – brushing up on these is helpful.

            Leaders must not take up aboard in an ivory tower in the true sense of the word – being approachable is the key. – I have also known leaders who are too backward to come forward, stand up and be counted.

 Leaders must be visible and available when needed. Remember – everything you ever do as a leader is based on one audacious assumption - which is, that YOU matter and it is not being vain or egoistic to believe this thought.  

            Before you can lead others, you have to lead yourself - you have to believe that your words matter and your actions can move people. You have to believe that what you do counts for something.  

            You have to believe that leadership begins with YOU – self-belief is paramount.

Leadership is definitely not easy. Uneasy is the head that wears the crown.

“ If your action can inspire others to dream more, learn more , do more and become more , you are a leader”  John Quiny Adams

             

My Equestrian pursuits

Have you ever ridden a horse?

Well I have always wanted to but unfortunately have not had the chance. I have been around horses at the Poonawalla stud farm in Pune, studied them at close quarters, fed them hey, taken photographs on a box camera but never ridden one.

However, I have ridden a pony – once and only once and I do not intend riding one ever again

So let me start at the beginning.

We were masters in The Bishops School, Pune – Alan Seymour, Michael Gomes and me. Life was full of adventure. We were young and eager to go and do stuff. One holiday took us to a hill station in Maharashtra – Panchgani .

Panchgani is a hill station southeast of Mumbai in India’s Maharashtra state. It is known for the Table Land, a huge volcanic plateau. Lookouts like Sydney Point and Parsi Point offer views of the large lake and Kamalgad Fort, used as a prison by the British in the early 19th century.

After a day there, we travelled up to Mahableshwar by a rickety old state transport bus.

 Mahabaleshwar is a small town and a municipal council in Satara district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is a hill station located in the Sahyadri mountain range.

 We visited the Strawberry Farms and enjoyed honey sweet strawberries. We also shopped at the Mapro Food Gardens and then later in the evening decided to try boating at the Venna Lake.

A road on two sides surrounds the lake and there is a large open area where shopkeepers have set up temporary stalls selling snacks and soft drinks. There are also swings, a merry go round, a mini Ferris wheel and of course ponies for people to go around the lake on. The whole area is well lit and a festive atmosphere prevails.

Well this was the early 80’s, we had to take a call between the pony ride, and the boat ride as money was not very plentiful. The boat ride was relegated to second place because the ponies were where all the action was (read crowds of tourists)

After some amount of bargaining , I managed to get hold of a grey pony and was helped on. The two young boys looking after the animals were cunning and drove a hard bargain. Rupees two for a 15 minute walk round the lake or something to that effect.

I also saw a few children – quite young- being walked around the lake on ponies.

I had barely gone a few meters when I decided that enough was enough and I wanted to gallop rather than being led around “like a kid”

The young boys who were in charge of the animal  asked me if I was confident of going off alone,  to which I scoffed at them  and nodded confidently .

Before I could say Jack, my pony took off at full speed.

Now I had seen jockeys push their knees against the sides of the horse and hold the reins   while bobbing up and down on the saddle – those thoughts and images flashed through my mind. I attempted the same maneuver with little success.  

The only problem was that I was not a jockey and that was a 4-foot high pony – there were also people walking along, roadside vendors and a lake close by.

My heart skipped quite a few beats and I held on for dear life, slipping and sliding on the little saddle as the wretched animal charged madly towards the edge of the lake. Then just when I thought that all was over & I was about to meet a watery grave, it stopped dead in its tracks.

 The young lads who had helped me on to the pony had meanwhile scrambled to my side and they grabbed hold of the reins grinning from ear to ear.

A few giggles and guffaws were heard from passersby, as I paid up and slunk away. I had ridden the race of my life for barely 5 minutes and nearly died or so I felt.

 Apparently, the boys used the same ploy on unsuspecting foolish tourists like me, who attempted to show off.

As soon as the person decided to go off alone, they would twist the tail of the horse causing it to bolt uncontrollably. Thus instead of fifteen minutes, it was just five and a win situation for them.

My friends laughed themselves silly as we headed home and I made them promise never to repeat the story to anyone.

SO much for my equestrian pursuits and me!

My Equestrian pursuits

Have you ever ridden a horse?

Well I have always wanted to but unfortunately have not had the chance. I have been around horses at the Poonawalla stud farm in Pune, studied them at close quarters, fed them hey, taken photographs on a box camera but never ridden one.

However, I have ridden a pony – once and only once and I do not intend riding one ever again

So let me start at the beginning.

We were masters in The Bishops School, Pune – Alan Seymour, Michael Gomes and me. Life was full of adventure. We were young and eager to go and do stuff. One holiday took us to a hill station in Maharashtra – Panchgani .

Panchgani is a hill station southeast of Mumbai in India’s Maharashtra state. It is known for the Table Land, a huge volcanic plateau. Lookouts like Sydney Point and Parsi Point offer views of the large lake and Kamalgad Fort, used as a prison by the British in the early 19th century.

After a day there, we travelled up to Mahableshwar by a rickety old state transport bus.

 Mahabaleshwar is a small town and a municipal council in Satara district in the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is a hill station located in the Sahyadri mountain range.

 We visited the Strawberry Farms and enjoyed honey sweet strawberries. We also shopped at the Mapro Food Gardens and then later in the evening decided to try boating at the Venna Lake.

A road on two sides surrounds the lake and there is a large open area where shopkeepers have set up temporary stalls selling snacks and soft drinks. There are also swings, a merry go round, a mini Ferris wheel and of course ponies for people to go around the lake on. The whole area is well lit and a festive atmosphere prevails.

Well this was the early 80’s, we had to take a call between the pony ride, and the boat ride as money was not very plentiful. The boat ride was relegated to second place because the ponies were where all the action was (read crowds of tourists)

After some amount of bargaining , I managed to get hold of a grey pony and was helped on. The two young boys looking after the animals were cunning and drove a hard bargain. Rupees two for a 15 minute walk round the lake or something to that effect.

I also saw a few children – quite young- being walked around the lake on ponies.

I had barely gone a few meters when I decided that enough was enough and I wanted to gallop rather than being led around “like a kid”

The young boys who were in charge of the animal  asked me if I was confident of going off alone,  to which I scoffed at them  and nodded confidently .

Before I could say Jack, my pony took off at full speed.

Now I had seen jockeys push their knees against the sides of the horse and hold the reins   while bobbing up and down on the saddle – those thoughts and images flashed through my mind. I attempted the same maneuver with little success.  

The only problem was that I was not a jockey and that was a 4-foot high pony – there were also people walking along, roadside vendors and a lake close by.

My heart skipped quite a few beats and I held on for dear life, slipping and sliding on the little saddle as the wretched animal charged madly towards the edge of the lake. Then just when I thought that all was over & I was about to meet a watery grave, it stopped dead in its tracks.

 The young lads who had helped me on to the pony had meanwhile scrambled to my side and they grabbed hold of the reins grinning from ear to ear.

A few giggles and guffaws were heard from passersby, as I paid up and slunk away. I had ridden the race of my life for barely 5 minutes and nearly died or so I felt.

 Apparently, the boys used the same ploy on unsuspecting foolish tourists like me, who attempted to show off.

As soon as the person decided to go off alone, they would twist the tail of the horse causing it to bolt uncontrollably. Thus instead of fifteen minutes, it was just five and a win situation for them.

My friends laughed themselves silly as we headed home and I made them promise never to repeat the story to anyone.

SO much for my equestrian pursuits and me!

The days of Cycling

Sometimes when I have a little extra time on my hands I sit down and reflect. The reflections vary. Often it is about my hometown Allahabad & my student life in St Joseph’s & The Boys high School.

In the same vein, I suddenly thought about my cycling days.

As a new cycle was not something that could be afforded , I was informed that the old  ladies cycle in the store room was going to be repaired and painted for me to use .

I vividly remember the storeroom being opened, boxes and boxes of old stuff being taken down (The reached until the ceiling), and the cycle being pulled out.

It was a red Raleigh cycle. It must have been in that storeroom for years as my mother supposedly used it. It was a rim; it had handlebars, a bell and nothing else.

Out of now where, a cycle repair man was at the door early that evening. He gave one look at the cycle and enthusiastically said he would make it new again.

To say I was thrilled would be an understatement. Let us cut to the chase. A few weeks went by and then low and behold one morning the cycle arrived.

New tires, chrome shining, a new bell, a new seat (which I hated) and painted as well. It looked kind of new to my 13 year old eyes. I immediately took it for a spin and returned satisfied. The person was paid some money – I think it was 50 odd rupees and there I was – proud as punch with a cycle.

It did not matter whether it was old, new or repaired – I was now mobile! A trifle late compared to friends and classmates but better late than never.

I cycled all over – to church, to the market, to school, to meet friends – there was a newfound energy in my stride and a willingness to do errands – for which my aunt tipped me at times!

I spent hours on weekends washing the bike, polishing it with shoe polish, greasing the bearings and keeping it sparkling. The bike also had a carrier and some pretty girls got a ride as well!

Mind you, it was a LADIES bike.

I then graduated to a BSA Hercules. It was a sturdy bike, black in color and looked good. I must add that I purchased it second hand from my salary as a young teacher   . If I remember rightly, I purchased it from an old gent for rupees 100 which was quite a princely sum for me back then.

I rode to work on this bike, parked it in the cycle stand, locked it and would swing the key chain with pride.

It served me well. Long rides for fun were quite common in those days. In fact when calculating now, I probably rode many miles a day.

There was often a danger of trousers being caught in the chain so I had a sort of clip to wear on the trouser leg to prevent the same.

Two things about cycles, which I must refer to.

The first was a punctured tire for which you had to find a repairperson and walk until you found him. If it was a lonely road or after dusk when all such roadside shops closed, the journey home, on foot while pushing a cycle with a punctured tire was a pain.

Secondly, if one cycled too fast, there was a danger of the chain slipping off. This was disgusting to say the very least as to put it back on again caused your hands to get greasy and black. Not very funny if one was going visiting or to a party!

There were a few funny things, which were quite the craze those days

One was a FIXED WHEEL. It was a small gear, which could be fitted on the back wheel. THEREFORE, you pedaled slow but moved quite fast.

The second was removing the mudguards to make the cycle lighter for racing. Lastly, were low-slung handlebars for a similar purpose?

Torrential rain, burning afternoon sun or biting cold, my simple cycles served me well – probably kept me fit too!