See you soon, Mr Chips!

I recall this old movie, ‘Goodbye Mr Chips’, starring Peter O’Toole very vividly.?

The story line of the film is about a simple, honest, no nonsense teacher, who is elevated to the post of Principal of the school. His tenure is extended by the Great War, but soon it is time to move on.

The children, who have grown to be very fond of him, are distraught. They cannot imagine life without Mr Chips.?

The film ends on a very poignant note when Mr Chips bids all children a fond farewell. It is a farewell, because deep within, Mr Chips realizes that he will never see his beloved children again. And that is why the title, ‘Goodbye Mr Chips’.?

I first met Dr Saraswat in 2018, or 2019. I can’t remember the exact year. But the events leading up to that first meeting were very interesting.

I am an alumni of the Scindia School, and one day in Mumbai (my home), I received a call from RSP, who was the Vice President of the Board of Governors of the school. Himself an alumni of The Scindia School, RSP was an eminent person, having being conferred with the Padma Bhushan. RSP’s ask was simple.?‘Atul, someone referred you to me, and I would like you to help the school in its marketing and communications initiatives’.?

Not having been back to school for many years, barring a couple of re-unions, I said yes to RSP. And one of the first things that he suggested was a visit to the school to meet Dr Saraswat, and his team.?

That day, as I stepped back onto the fort, where the school is located, it really felt that I was coming home again.

Many old boys had told me that Dr Saraswat had joined the school after stints in a few other institutions, including the well-known school in Dehra Dun.

He had come to Scindia at a time when discipline was shot, results were poor, and the faculty hugely demotivated.?

However, the disciplinarian that he was, he had turned the school around in every which way possible.

A meeting was set up with Dr Saraswat, and I was honestly a bit apprehensive, having heard about his reputation as a hard taskmaster.?

The man who greeted me with a broad smile and introduced himself seemed like anything but what his reputation was made out to be.

Two cups of masala chai (which only his office assistant Dheeraj could make), and we began speaking like old friends. Dr Saraswat made me feel totally at ease.?

That first meeting, I was largely silent, preferring to let him do all the talking. He spoke of the children, how he cared for their well-being. He spoke of the school, and how fortunate he was in getting the assignment as the Principal. He also spoke of his background – he came from a family of teachers who had been practicing this noble profession for 7 generations. He spoke about the Geeta, the Upanishads, the role of karma…. though an atheist myself, I could understand where he was coming from, without quite understanding the verses he was reciting.

He then spoke of his vision for the school, and it was a sweeping one. A vision that excited me.?

Towards the end of the conversation, he explained what was required for the school from a marketing and communications perspective.?

We shook hands and he said,?‘Atul ji (that’s what he always called me), the next time you visit, you must get me some of the famous Nasik chivda.’

Having agreed to be associated with the school, it was not long thereafter that I found myself back – with his chivda. He was delighted and invited me over to his place for high tea.?

Later, I discovered that he was an extremely private person, and getting an invitation from him was something which clearly indicated that he had liked the ideas I had suggested. Possibly, I thought, he also liked meJ

Over the next few months, we built a team of teachers who were also good communicators. Many of that team have moved on as I write this, and a new team is being trained.

The most significant achievement of his tenure was the way he had transformed the school. From being an also ran, he and his colleagues took the school to the very pinnacle – and made it the best boys’ residential school in the country – not once but for 3 consecutive years. And much of what he and the team achieved was during Covid times.

One day he 'suggested', as was his style, that I might want to consider the role of Director – Alumni Relations for the school. That would entail me staying on the fort for 15 days a month, with the other 15 being spent in Mumbai with my family. I accepted.

Over the few years that I have known him, I am astounded by his simplicity, his ability to look at things beyond the obvious, and his graciousness, very often in the face of adversity. His quiet composure is another aspect of his personality many would do well to emulate.?

Two instances stand out which were perhaps catalysts in strengthening the bond between us.?

The first incident was when I was having lunch in Mumbai and I got a call from the Vice Principal, informing me that there was an exigency in Dr Saraswat’s family and could I go and meet a person close to him, who had been admitted to the Saifee Hospital in Mumbai. In a couple of hours, I reached the hospital and found that the patient was in the ICU.?

Dr Saraswat and his lovely wife came to Mumbai early the next morning. I picked them up from the airport and took them to the hospital. For the next 15 days thereafter, I used to visit the hospital almost on a daily basis. And both of would sit and drink chai and exchange thoughts on many subjects. Even then, the well-being of the boys back in school, the faculty and the staff were always on top of his mind. I like to believe that we came much closer in those two weeks that he was in Mumbai.?

The second instance which will always endear him to me was his humanity and humaneness. We have a lot of stray dogs on the fort. I remember that close to where I live on the Fort, there was a dog with a litter of 7 pups. Unfortunately, the mother died of snakebite, leaving behind 7 pups who were not even 2 weeks old. Dr Saraswat used to ensure that every morning and evening, food for the pups was sent from his home to feed the little ones. Being a dog lover myself…this gesture brought tears to my eyes. Two of the pups have survived and are growing well….in fact, there are two other dogs that Dr Saraswat adopted and has taken to his new abode.

The new abode is the Hyderabad Public School, where he has taken over as Principal only a few days back.?

Rewinding to a few months ago, when I had just accepted the role of the Director – Alumni Relations, a few of us were on a Zoom call. At the conclusion of the call, Dr Saraswat asked me to stay on the call. And then he burst his bombshell.?‘Atul ji, I have put in my papers and will be leaving the school by the end of March 2022.’

Frankly, I did not know how to react. The question ‘why’ was uppermost in my mind, but I realized that he will share the reasons for his decision with me over the next few times we met.

He did.?

But that in no way helped fill the void in my heart which used to keep me awake at night.

Life continued normally thereafter – with one difference. Whenever I was on the fort, Dr Saraswat used to spend at least an hour with me, every day, explaining the way things should be done in the marketing and communications space after his departure. My learning from that time spent with him will continue to inspire me forever.?

On the 30th?March 2022, the school organized a farewell for him. A dinner.?

I stayed there for a bit, and then quietly slipped away, because I am terrible at saying goodbyes! Particularly when it is to someone like Dr Saraswat.

The entire school had lined up on the morning of the 31st?March to give him a guard of honor. I stayed away again for the same reason.?

I really cannot put into words what he has come to mean to me.?

A simple person, a good human being, a great administrator, extremely warm hearted, and always ready to help. I was fortunate not to see the ‘disciplinarian’ in him, barring just once in these past years.

A song comes to mind here from the group The Alan Parsons Project. The song is called ‘Time’.

A part of the lyrics go as follows:?

‘Goodbye my friend, maybe for forever. Who knows when we shall meet again, if ever.?

Time, flowing like a river, to the sea. Time, it doesn’t wait for you and me…’

I will not end this article by saying ‘Goodbye Mr Chips’.?

But ‘See you again, Dr Saraswat’.