It’s really really hard to remember anything common in our life after so many years. 12 years ago when I used to be in School, it is one of the best years I’ve ever lived. So what happened all of a sudden to get that nostalgia? Well, the answer is songs. Right now when I’m writing this blog, I’m listening to songs from Bollywood movies released in 2008. So how come there’s a connection between songs and memories? Medical science says there’s a strong connection but that’s not the topic. You can google for more references.
So without a further ado, let’s get a flashback.
Waking up as early as 5:30-6:00 in the morning, the first job was to reach the English tution at Munde Sir’s. It was a small scale tution class only for English grammar and not the curricular syllabus. Thus used to be comprised of students from 6th and 7th standard as well. At such juvenile age, who would ever feel special to have many female friends? Damn……I was so innocent…! One of those senior girls approached me all of a sudden in Pune back in 2018, I could barely recognise her.
I used to cycle my way to tutions and school. The bicycle was a ladies one, BSA Ladybird. But still I was happy because most of my friends didn’t even have one. And make no mistake, that bicycle was no less than a sports bike for me. It was very fast and lightweight, I could perform various stunts while driving it. Later in 7th Standard, I got a legitimate SK Bikes Volcano Shock Up, getting my swag to next level.
After English tution, I used to go to Math’s tution in the nearby area. The Ma’am, Mrs. Meera Bhujbal, conducted the tuitions till my 10th. She was like a kind hearted mother. So caring and loving.
Then I used to get to home again at 9 in the morning when my father would leave for office already and Mother would be getting ready for the same, after cooking the food for all of us. Till 11’O clock, I would complete the school homework (always leaving incomplete). By the time my elder sister would return from college and I used to leave for school at 11:30. I was in the Assembly Guide Team, I remained the face of it for nearly 5 years right from the 5th standard, so never really stood in a queue. I feel very proud that it was my voice on mike for National Anthem, Pledge, Prayers and News for 5 years. Thus, I’d always read newspaper and write 4-6 headlines to read them out in assembly.
Generally first period used to be Marathi. I was the class monitor. Marathi subject teacher was our class teacher back then, who is the most lenient teacher I’ve ever witnessed. At teaching, he was around average. So homework for Marathi was never an issue to be panic.
The real panic though, was Mathematics. The teacher was very nice at teaching but very much strict at punishments. But he did make our mathematics wonderful. Mule sir, I miss your teachings.
Amongst the other subjects, the most enjoyable was English. The English teacher, Naiknaware Sir, is still one of the best teachers I ever had. Really, a person full of life and having immense knowledge of the subject while keeping best teaching style at the same time.
Science was taught by Deshmukh Sir. Such a gentleman personality, so kind for students and very professional in the classroom. He would barely punish us, but there was no need. Everybody would listen to him very carefully.
Hindi was taught by Mrs. Neharkar Ma’am, another motherly figure in my teachers. She was very caring and friendly, but a strict punisher when it came to homework and personal hygiene.
History and Civics were taught by Mrs. Ugale Ma’am, she was strict and respectful. She taught very nicely.
Geography was taught by Vice Principal Gapat Sir. He was the most hated and trolled teachers throughout our school time, but still a gentleman. He would always listen to our demands and try to fulfill them. Gapat Sir is the reason I stayed in the Assembly Guide Team for 5 years and remained the face of it.
PT Teacher was Mr. Dongare Sir. Sadly he’s no more now. He was the reason school achieved many state level trophies in Mallakhamb, Kho-Kho and 4*100 Relay-Race. Apparently I was very poor at sports, it is because of him I stayed as a leading Lezim player for 4 years.
Don’t be surprised, till I left the school, there were no computer studies. There wasn’t even a computer lab. It came right after our batch left the school. Music teacher wasn’t available till I entered 7th so there were no music studies in 6th as well. What we had was an active sports department and a full fledged chemistry lab.
PT periods used to be fun. Mostly off during rainy seasons but damn exciting during the month of January. Preparations of Republic Day would begin and I used to practice for Lezim. Apart from that we used to play Kabaddi and Cricket.
Apart from studies and a little bit sports, I participated in almost every elocution and debate competition arranged in our school. I’m not bragging but I was so obvious at all those speeches that I was nicknamed “Bolaki Bahuli” (Talkative Doll) by Marathi Teacher Jogdand Sir in the same educational year.
Two trips were organised by the school in the educational year 2008-09. The first one was before the mid term so it precisely falls in 2008 while the other one was organised in February 2009. The first trip was a trek. Around 40 KM from my town is a sanctuary called “Ramling” which also happens to be a pilgrimage. We trekked a hill called “Durga Devi Hill” over there. The second trip went to a lot places in West Maharashtra which I’ll explain in a special blog.
After the school, I used to get back home, have some milk or tea and would go to play cricket with my best friend Atharva. We even played a lot video games in that time, GTA being the favourite.
During festivals and holidays, I used to have a lot fun, roaming around in town and touring the different Ganesh Mandals and witnessing every special scene. In 2008 I remember one of the Ganesh Mandals in Kaij made this real life scene of a long elephant faced cave. Enter in that cave and bow to 12 Jyotirlingas placed around 12 corners as you walk by. The last one was Amarnath before which you had to cross this swinging bridge below which the artificial Ganges flew. I visited that scene everyday during Ganesh Festival.
One of the foremost hobbies I had in those days was singing. That’s what I used to do in my study hours. My father was always lenient about this. I used to take his Nokia 5200 phone and record my own songs, sometimes listen to the bollywood songs as well. This is where the flashback started right? Listening to the songs was something I did everyday on 9XM, Zoom, Sony Music etc. God…those were the days when we had to wait for our favourite songs, unlike today when we have YouTube, Gaana etc. Some of the most favourite songs from that times were the Ghajani Album, Ye Ishq Haaye, The Singh Is King Album, Delhi 6 Album etc.
I never properly sat and completed homework in the evening when I was supposed to study. It would always be an 11th hour job. I never properly studied at home, at least till 9th was over.
I don’t remember I ever stayed awake more than 2 hours after dinner in those days. I was living every moment, unlike now.
I topped the school in 6th Standard.
Well that’s all about my 2008.
Warm Regards
Dnyanesh Make “The DPM”
