Ajit Vadakayil: OLD ALUMNI MEET, KENDRIYA VIDYALAYA NO 1 , KOZHIKODE- CAPT AJIT VADAKAYIL

In the picture above "yours truly" is right under the thumb --in shades and black spotted shirt.

14TH AUG 2011 -- OLD STUDENTS RE-UNION , CENTRAL SCHOOL - EAST HILL , CALICUT.

Cant put too many words in this mushy post--

The old Alumni meet of Kendriya Vidyalaya No1 , Calicut on 14th August 2011 , ( first at 0900 AM for a regular kids type morning assembly at school and then for a evening bash at Calicut Towers ) was truly a nostalgic affair --

-- rather one of quantum reminiscence.

Chanting the assembly prayer ASTO MA SADH GAMAYA after nearly 4 decades -- could not believe it was all lodged firmly in my sub-conscious. It flowed out like a river.

Ephemeral disjointed memories resurrected to their colourful old splendour.

Some of us were meeting after 4 decades.

It was magic weaving time, and this hardcore sailor felt truly vulnerable after a very long time.

What with my subconscious spewing like mad --

quantum waves of presence swirling around waves of loss--

my consciousness collapsing them for yet another one to rise ---

sentiments and remembrance tumbling over each other like crazy --

so much of clean bacchanalia -- leg pullin' , reminding each other of our first crushes and loves -- unadulterated fun--

my emotional chords doing the sweet twang all the while --

--and then old student and national singer Chitra Iyer with her killer eyes ,went on stage , and belted out the soulful Lagja Gale Laga --

and sprayed such sweet sorrow on us --

Jeez!!

Love is powerful enough, but if you mix it with nostalgia , it becomes too potent and gives you a dull pain on the left hand side of your chest.

Lyrics translated to English, as 80% of my readers are foreigners.

sweetheart come, take me in your arms -- we may never have such a lovely night again — we may never get such a chance in this lifetime — come into my arms — we are indeed fortunate to have this timeless moment — let us gaze at each other to our hearts contents — come to me sweetheart, let me cry once again in your arms — for I know not, when my tears of love will ever flow again--

Lag Ja Gale Ki Phir
ye Hasin Raat Ho Na Ho
shayad Phir Is Janam Mein
mulakat Ho Na Ho
lag Jaa Gale Se ...

hum Ko Mili Hai Aaj
ye Ghadiya Naseeb Se
je Bhar Ke Dekh Leejiye
hamako Kareeb Se
phir Apke Naseeb Mein
ye Raat Ho Na Ho
phir Is Janaam Mein
mulakaat Ho Na Ho

lag Ja Gale Ki Phir
ye Hasin Raat Ho Na Ho??

pas Aiye Ki Ham Nahin
ayenge Baar Baar
bahen Gale Mein Daal Ke
ham Ro Le Zaar-Zaar
ankhoon Se Phir Ye
pyaar Ki Barsaat Ho Na Ho
shayad Phir Is Janam Mein
mulakat Ho Na Ho

lag Ja Gale Ki Phir
ye Hasin Raat Ho Na Ho
shayad Phir Is Janam Mein
mulakat Ho Na Ho
lag Jaa Gale Se ...

Below: Having a tete e tete with my ex-principal Mrs.Vijayalakshmi -- student and English teacher, meeting after 43 years.

In the seventies, our school used to take the prize for all Inter school competitions, be brawn or brain.

I met two girls and when we reminisced , we realised that in the group photo with the trophy which came in the 1970 newspaper ( our school had won the district inter-school athletic championship at Mananchira maidan ) both were sitting right in front of me. My contribution was a modest bronze in the 200 metres race.

I felt sad to see my childhood hero, MV Prakash sitting quietly in a corner, away from the limelight. A lot was said that day about famous brother / sister combinations, in the quiz programme. Well what do they know?

Let me put on record via this post, that none can come anywhere near the Prakash/ Devprasad/ Srilata combination on the nineteen sixtees. The trio would come to school in a open Jeep with one of the brothers driving.

Prakash was the hero of Calicut, NOT just of our school, as his pole vault records were unsurpassed for many years. He would NOT compete in the heats and would say "pass" every time the bar was raised -- and when all the also-rans had fallen by the wayside, he would give that final Sergei Bubka vault, to set a new meet record. He used to be quite humble about the whole thing. And everybody knew he would do it. No hype, no hooplah, no victory laps. Devprasad , always smiling, was the Carl Lewis of our school. And Srilata was so shy-- she is still the same.

In the annual day celebrations, Principal OP Gupta would want a Kalari sword fight between the brothers Prakash and Devprasad. It was a indeed a terrific sight to see clanging swords and scattering sparks --

-- memories become alive , when you step back in time.

I HAVE A MESSAGE FOR ALL TEACHERS IN INDIA --

DONT RAISE COWARDS!

Let the colts run free-- do NOT crush their spirit --

there is zilch intelligence in turning the other cheek, after being slaves for 800 years--

this is what Abraham Lincoln told his son's teacher-- I will highlight a few neglected items--

He will have to learn, I know,
That all men are not just,
All men are not true.

But teach him also that
For every scoundrel there is a hero
That for every selfish politician
There is a dedicated leader

Teach him for every enemy there is a friend
It will take time, I know

But teach him if you can
That a dollar earned is of far more value
Than five found

Teach him to learn to lose
And also to enjoy winning
Steer him away from envy if you can
Teach him the secret of quiet laughter

Let him learn early that

The bullies are the easiest to lick

Teach him if you can

The wonder of books

But also give him quiet time
To ponder the eternal mystery of birds in the sky
Bees in the sun
And the flowers on a green hillside

In the school teach him
It is far honourable to fail
Than to cheat

Teach him to have faith
In his own ideas
Even if everyone tells him they are wrong

Teach him to be gentle with gentle people

And tough with the tough

Try to give my son the strength not to follow the crowd

When everyone is getting on the band wagon

Teach him to listen to all men
But teach him also to filter
All he hears on a screen of truth
And take only the good
That comes through

Teach him if you can
How to laugh when he is sad
Teach him there is no shame in tears

Teach him to scoff at cynics
And to beware of too much sweetness

Teach him to sell his brawn
And brain to the highest bidders

But never to put a price-tag

On his heart and soul

Teach him to close his ears

To a howling mob

And to stand and fight

If he thinks he’s right

Treat him gently
But do not cuddle him
Because only the test of fire
Makes fine steel

Let him have the courage

To be impatient

Let him have the patience to be brave

Teach him always
To have sublime faith in himself
Because then he will have
Sublime faith in mankind

This is a big order
But see what you can do
He is such a fine fellow
My son!

THE CLIP BELOW IS ALL ABOUT QUANTUM CONSTRUCT OF NOSTALGIA--

How will I describe the meet in one word?

Hmmm!

HEART WARMING !

and this is for my old classmates who have never met my family-- these pictures are ancient nostalgia - my elder son is now a computer engineer . In USA , the agents used to tell me that women with half my wife's flowing hair were winning competitions--

Wife Suchitra-- people still ask her how she got such a handsome husband. We have been married for 28 years . Since the past 8 years I call her JAI SUCHI, for she has crossed all hurdles , I threw in her path-- see what a gentleman I am!.