My School Years -

    My School Days - St. Joseph’s College, Allahabad 

Kanpur (Earlier known as Cawnpore)  is precisely 125 Miles away from Allahabad (I like to call this City by Allahabad instead of Prayag Raj).  Kanpur was famous for its Textile Mills, Iron Rolling Mills, Tanneries Moti Jheel, JK Temple & the Green Park Stadium (500 yards from my house). Lal Imli, JK Group HQ, British India Corpn, Muir Mills, Elgin Mills ,Swadeshi & Victoria Mills were some of the better known Industrial names. Sadly none of them exist now except for JK either because of the Labour/Power and Management issues. Popularly titled as  Manchester of  the East the city  fast faded from its glory, in its Economic status post 60’s. 

My father was also part of this then thriving business town and we were a resident of a decent residential locality where I was born and spent the early part of my childhood. 

Many of my cousins & brother (In fact all)  had moved to different cities for attaining School Education  at Nainital .

As my Father was very keen to put me also in a Hostel not just for superior education but, for making me into a fine and disciplined gentleman, hence,  I was next on his ‘Menu’ 

Fr.X was the Principal at SJC and my father met him during one his business visit to Allahabad and when he came back he announced  that my admission is done and that I have to move to Allahabad . As there was no place in the Hostel at the moment I will be staying at a relative’s place for a few months and then as soon as  there will be a vacancy I will be shifted to the School Hostel.

Two things happened – One I had just made friends with a few neighbouring kids with whom I used to play cricket and I definitely did not want to miss that and secondly I was overjoyed to be taking a train journey and will become an adult by staying away from my parents.  My mother was obviously not very thrilled and while I could not read her face at that tender age of 10.5 years, I could sense that she was kind of sad. My elder sis (7 Yrs elder to me) gave me a speech on my responsibilities and that how should I be on my best behavior in School as well as in my relatives place.  My Younger sis (2 years younger) did not realise much as she herself was grappling with her own medical issues of eczema which was causing a lot of problems for her. I was most disturbed that I would not be able to see my Younger bro (then only 2 Years or so) but now the bullet had been fired. I will speak  about my elder bro (10 Years elder) a little later . 

Next the preparation of the list was first in the agenda – Clothes/toiletries/School Uniform etc . I was overjoyed to visit the Navin Market, Kanpur for shopping of my clothes – both warm and summer wear . The tailor chosen to stitch my uniform -was also in Navin Market named “Kohinoor Tailors” (No idea if he is still around or not).  I recall my first bell bottom in sky blue colour with stripes . This was my prized possession for the next 1 year till it became too tight from the waist . Shortening of the length didn’t bother me.  

Soon one fine winter morning, I and my elder brother boarded the Assam Mail  (around 4PM) ex Kanpur to Allahabad. Don’t exactly remember which class but before I could do even complete a full yawn  we had reached Allahabad Station and were on way to our relatives house at Beli Road.

In the late 50’s Fr X was at St Aloysius School, Kanpur and my elder bro was in the same school till class 3 and my father had interacted with Fr X, hence the connection. Fr X was keen to meet my brother and my dad ensured that I be escorted by him. My Brother was on vacation at Kanpur while he was pursuing higher Management Studies at Ahmedabad .    

Next Morning sharp at 8 am we were both in the School premises – and I confess I was taken aback by the huge building, long corridors, big thick trees and the largest playground I  had ever set my eyes on . 

First thing we did was to meet Fr X and then Fr Rego (Headmaster) who gave me a pat on my back. Being a non boarder I was allotted section C while the Boarders used to be in ‘B’ Section. 

During Lunch  Time my elder brother who was still around and who treated me like a small kiddo took extra pain to introduce me to some other class friends so that I could be on a friendly ground. Among them I remember Rajesh Takiyar whom I bumped into again during my graduation days at Christ Church College, Kanpur .

After 2/3 days and giving me a lot of advice my brother left me alone at Allahabad and suddenly I felt lonely .  Believe me – staying with your parents and  in  the comfort of your own house, having the choicest of  food and having your own set of friends  is the biggest gift of God  & suddenly I was jealous of my younger sis who seemed to be enjoying all these luxuries    

My cousin Late Mrs Sheela Roy (God bless her soul) became my mother and she would give me the best of food and will also find me some friends with whom I could go and play cricket . 

The biggest worry was how to reach School as there was no School Bus in those days . My ‘new’ mother had a friend at Mumfordganj  whose children used to go the same School via an “Allahabdi Ekka” . And I was fixed as another passenger. Govind Saran was my partner in crime in these exciting rides.     

I tried to pick up a proper snap of the Ekka but could not download an actual one but sharing the above snap closest to it . In this Ikka there must have been about 12/14 kids and on several occasion the mare (I think her name was Mumtaz) use to stand up on its two hind legs and we used to have a tough time in staying put amidst all the screams and cries . This will be a permanent memory etched in my mind . Kids of today cannot even imagine this hitech horse ride.

Very soon I realized that the Boarders were being treated with extra respect (in fact they were considered bullies)  by the day scholars and they had always had the first choice even in the drinking water areas. This was a new learning and I was learning fast .

My First Lesson: 

Exactly after 3 months, Fr X kept his word and I was moved into the Boarding Hostel on the first floor . I moved in with my pig skin leather suitcase and with lot of eatables like biscuits, jam, marmalade and cheese and I was given a corner bed in the dormitory . AS I was not in the habit of locking my suitcase(Initially lying under my bed) next day, when I dug my hands inside  to pull them out all my eatables were missing . 

Lesson Learnt: Be self reliant & take care of your own stuff

My Second lesson:

This  was in the changing room . Being shy in getting exposed in undergarments I used to hide behind some wall and then change when I was told by other Members that it was considered “unmanly” to hide and change. 

Lesson learnt : Shyness will not take you anywhere

My Third Lesson :

 I used to get Rs 10/- as pocket money every Sunday which in those days was quite high and I spent all of it on icecream the very same day, bought from the ice cream cart located within the School compound . That was my best weekend luxury . One of my friend advised me to eat one ice cream per day so that I could have one every day till the next Sunday (the day when we were getting pocket money) . 

Lesson Learnt : Save for a rainy day

 My Fourth Lesson:

The Sports Time used to be from 4 to 6 Pm and I played Football/Hockey and Cricket . One incident I distinctly remember was while playing hockey I accidently hit the ankle of another player Desh Ratan who was a year senior to me but a very good friend . His ankle was broken and he was hospitalised in the School’s Infirmary for nearly a month  This was mentally taxing for me as I considered myself responsible for the same . Due to acute embarrassment and shame I did not even dare to show my face to him in the Infirmary for a number of days and this used to give me restless nights. After gathering a lot of strength and cajoling by other friends I went, and lo and behold Desh Ratan greeted me with his million dollar smile  which signaled how happy he was to see me . His eyes were clearly telling me that my dear friend does not hold any grudge against me. Phew what a relief. We embraced each other and stayed the best of friends till we eventually lost contact. 

Such are the SJC Alumni who gave me the best lesson on friendship . Friendship is selfless & timeless.

Life in the Hostel

·       Once in a fortnight  there was a luxury of a movie which used to be played in the Junior section . This was the best entertainment which we used to look forward to. I remember seeing “Born Free” and falling in love with Elsa the Cub.  

·       The Dining Hall – was a noisy place where there was supervision by the Hostel Prefects only who mostly hovered around the senior boys and we would regularly see chapatis being used as flying saucers . The only time I didn’t see them as flying saucers was when once a week we were served pooris instead of chapatis.       

To be part of the Team one had to exhibit some  kind of a macho image to be accepted as an adult and I distinctly recall one incident 

In one final year Exam there was some strike by the Allahabad Univ or the like and all School exams were cancelled and the School was closed . The Boarders had to stay back as the Report Card had to be distributed in the next 10 days. With some friends we went sightseeing around Allahabad with due permission of Fr X (The Warden) and we saw Khusroo Bagh, Fort , Civil Lines and some more which I do not recall . I remember one gardener in Khusroo Bagh kept my muffler with him as I was not able to pay him for the Khusroo Bagh Guava which I had plucked without his permission. But let me share another incident . Some senior boarders wanted  the Team to do something daring and the idea floated was to go for a night show movie 

With no other thought in mind and having a single minded purpose to see Dharmendra in ‘Jugnu Movie’ as well as to be treated on equal footing with adults I got my name enlisted . Finishing dinner by 8 30 PM and arranging a few pillows and covering the bed with a sheet the 17 of us escaped and enjoyed the movie on that frightfully chilly night. What we forgot was that Father X used to come every night around 10.30 Pm to check if all are asleep and that all was well. Invariably he was always greeted with a few coughs and strange noises and he had become quite used to it . That night at 10.30 PM was different  & he was greeted by a “Sound of Silence”.   Soon he came to know why, when he lifted the sheets and found the boys missing . Around 12AM when all of returned we were welcomed by him “warmly” and the rest of the story I leave it your imagination.  All I can say it was not very pleasant but the experience was overwhelming.           

Tarun Srivastava

Certified Executive Coach & Mentor/Sales & Corporate Consultant & Advisor on upskilling Branding/Team & Distribution Management     

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