Bangalore-Madurai-Rameshwaram-Madurai-Kanyakumari-Madurai-Bangalore
5 – 8 July 2007 [Written 18 December 2007]
Our Madurai-Rameshwaram-Kanyakumari Trip Itinerary (4 nights - 3 days):
1. Bangalore --> Madurai (by Train overnight)
2. Madurai to Rameshwaram one day sight seeing and back to Madurai - night halt
3. Madurai to Kanyakumari - night halt - and return to Madurai next day morning
4. Madurai half day local sightseeing --> return to Bangalore (by Train overnight)
We had planned this trip few days before my in-laws were in Bangalore. We started as per our itinerary on the 5th of July, boarding the night train (Tuticorin Express) to Madurai from Bangalore, reached Madurai at around 7:30 am the following morning and leaving others at the station waiting area, I went in search of a tour operator and place to stay – All was finalized pretty soon and I came back to the railway station to move to the hotel in Madurai.
We started off for Rameshwaram the same day at about 10 am in a rented Indica. I was able to get a package-tour costing Rs. 4400/- for four people for our entire itinerary: Madurai to Rameshwaram - one day sight seeing and back to Madurai, night halt at Madurai, Madurai to Kanyakumari - one day sight seeing and night halt, return to Madurai next day morning, Madurai - half day local sightseeing, and final drop at railway station for our train (Mysore Express) journey back to Bangalore.
The road to Rameshwaram was pretty decent – it’s about 150 kms and it took us about 3 hrs to get there – stopping on the way for a refreshing flavoured (and over sweetened) lime juice and breakfast-cum-lunch of the regular idlis, dosas and ‘mini-meals’.
On the way to Rameshwaram one crosses over the 3-4 Km long ‘Indira Bridge’ from which one can see the older ‘Pamban Bridge’ - which connects the island of Rameshwaram and ‘Dhanuskodi’ (named after Lord Ram’s bow) to the main Indian peninsula. This is the longest bridge in India and it allowed meter-gauge trains to run over it earlier (The Indian Railways has plans to run broad-gauge trains over it now). One can have a beautiful view of the sea and adjoining landscape while crossing over this bridge.
Rameshwaram, itself is an island, the city is also an important south India pilgrimage spot. It is said to be the place from where Lord Ram built a bridge across the sea to the current Sri Lanka. Ram is also believed to have worshipped Lord Shiva to cleanse away the sin of killing the demon Ravan at a shrine called Agni-theertham, here.
Rameshwaram temple or the Ramanatha Swamy Temple, which was built in the 17th century, is situated close to the sea - this temple is famous for having around 1200 gigantic granite columns. The presiding deity is Sri Ranganatha, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas from Indian mythology. Rameshwaram is also popularly referred to as the ‘Banaras of the South’.
Interesting part of the visit to the Rameshwaram Temple is the ‘bathing’ ritual at the 21 holy wells, before entering for the main darshan – we had actually got ‘ganga jal’ from Varanasi which we offered to the deity (it is said that offering fresh water from the ‘ganga’ is specially pious as the deity there gets only the ‘salty’ sea water on a regular basis!!!)
Next day we were off to Kanyakumari in the same car. We were able to enjoy most of Kanyakumari’s sight seeing places: Ferry ride to Thiruvalluvar Statue and Swami Vivekanada Rock, Gandhi Mandapam, Aadhi Sankarachari Statue and the 18Ft Hanuman Statue Temple, not to mention the sun set and sun rise views from the sea shore.
My father-in-law was on a shopping spree throughout the trip – buying local stuff and that too in ‘wholesale quantities’. We got some 24 pieces of ‘Rameshwaram’ inscribed mini corn shells, good quantities of ‘kaju’ and a mini box of pearls (about 120 pieces), not to mention the cheap eye goggles for each one of us (which actually came in very handy as it was quite sunny there!!!) and other sundry items.
On return from Kanyakumari, the remaining day (of 8th July 2007) we spent at the famous Meenakshi Temple in Madurai. The Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple – is a marvel in architecture with abundant wealth of sculpture and long multi-pillared corridors with intricately carved archways and painting and colourful design patterns on the ceilings.
Other places of interest and for sight-seeing in Madurai are: Azhagar Temple, Pazhamudir Cholai Hills, Thirumalai Nayak Palace, Mariamman Temple and the Gandhi Museum. We being short of time didn’t actually see all these places – and as they say – keep something for the next visit!!!
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
Lifestyle: Hunt for a Home Theater
Hunt for a Home Theater
14 December 2007
As always we (me and my better half - Richa) started with the usual MR (market research) on this – the thought itself had been going on in our minds for quite a while now… I told my wife to visit some nearby showrooms (the likes of E-zone, Pai International, Sony World, Vivek’s which have omnipresent status in Bangalore) and do the basic ground work, while I did the same on the net… We had a meager budget, but wanted to see what can be squeezed within that…
We finally settled for the Philips ‘Room Micro Theater’ MCD106 model – a good compromise b/w a normal DVD player and a complete Home Theater system – its speakers are of 1200W PMPO apart from FM/AM with in-built radio included - and priced at Rs. 3500/- is good a value for money !!! We have been using it quite frequently since we got it and has been great in playing Audio CDs / VCDs / MP3 CDs and DVDs. Drawback is that it doesn't include a cassette player (who cares for one now-a-days anyways!!!), doesn’t support DivX format, and looks wise may seem a bit old fashioned... and maybe for many would lack advanced features like support for HD video (1080i), USB support and the like…
14 December 2007
As always we (me and my better half - Richa) started with the usual MR (market research) on this – the thought itself had been going on in our minds for quite a while now… I told my wife to visit some nearby showrooms (the likes of E-zone, Pai International, Sony World, Vivek’s which have omnipresent status in Bangalore) and do the basic ground work, while I did the same on the net… We had a meager budget, but wanted to see what can be squeezed within that…
We finally settled for the Philips ‘Room Micro Theater’ MCD106 model – a good compromise b/w a normal DVD player and a complete Home Theater system – its speakers are of 1200W PMPO apart from FM/AM with in-built radio included - and priced at Rs. 3500/- is good a value for money !!! We have been using it quite frequently since we got it and has been great in playing Audio CDs / VCDs / MP3 CDs and DVDs. Drawback is that it doesn't include a cassette player (who cares for one now-a-days anyways!!!), doesn’t support DivX format, and looks wise may seem a bit old fashioned... and maybe for many would lack advanced features like support for HD video (1080i), USB support and the like…
Parenting: Play School
Play School
June 2009 [Written 22 November 2007]
June 2009 – 2yrs 9 mths – old enough for ‘play school’?
Which one is it to be? Well it all started by seeing others in the family (my elder brother’s daughter and my sister’s daughter) and friends (our next door neighbour’s daughter Esha). Esha started going to play school in June 2008 – and since she is about 9 months elder to our Maahi – seems most likely that we should start at this time.
June 2009 [Written 22 November 2007]
June 2009 – 2yrs 9 mths – old enough for ‘play school’?
Which one is it to be? Well it all started by seeing others in the family (my elder brother’s daughter and my sister’s daughter) and friends (our next door neighbour’s daughter Esha). Esha started going to play school in June 2008 – and since she is about 9 months elder to our Maahi – seems most likely that we should start at this time.
The Name Debate
The Name Debate
22 November 2007
‘Niti’ was the first name that I proposed to name her. My wife didn’t like it that much but we did start with that initially. She had quite a few on her list (Navya, ….).
My in-laws and relatives from my wife’s side still call her ‘nanu’ / ‘nonu’.
I call her ‘Pooh’ or ‘Mahi Pooh’ at home and really we call her anything that seems right…
22 November 2007
‘Niti’ was the first name that I proposed to name her. My wife didn’t like it that much but we did start with that initially. She had quite a few on her list (Navya, ….).
My in-laws and relatives from my wife’s side still call her ‘nanu’ / ‘nonu’.
I call her ‘Pooh’ or ‘Mahi Pooh’ at home and really we call her anything that seems right…
Maahi
‘Maahi’
22 November 2007
It’s been fourteen months and 20 days (one of the things that ‘parenting’ teaches is to calculate time first in weeks – that you are due, and then age in months and days), since we had ‘Maahi’. This period has been filled with ups and downs for both of us. Thrust into caring for the little one (our world now literally revolves around her), we unconsciously align our routine to hers – sleeping after she does, eating only after she has had hers, et al. Not that it’s bad, but definitely changes every fabric of our life.
She has since had four top and four bottom ‘milk’ teeth – and one smile from her, makes any effort seem little!!!
22 November 2007
It’s been fourteen months and 20 days (one of the things that ‘parenting’ teaches is to calculate time first in weeks – that you are due, and then age in months and days), since we had ‘Maahi’. This period has been filled with ups and downs for both of us. Thrust into caring for the little one (our world now literally revolves around her), we unconsciously align our routine to hers – sleeping after she does, eating only after she has had hers, et al. Not that it’s bad, but definitely changes every fabric of our life.
She has since had four top and four bottom ‘milk’ teeth – and one smile from her, makes any effort seem little!!!
That Night
That Night [2 September 2006]
It was the night of 1st September 2006, and I was at our home in Bangalore, back from work and had the tickets for the morning Air Deccan 5:50am flight to Delhi. I was on call with my father who told me that ‘it’ could happen anytime now – I already knew this. Next call was to my wife (Richa), who had already been admitted to the ‘nursing home’ there – she was fine and was consoled that I would be coming the next day.
I had been to Rampur just the previous week – on a short notice – due to ‘false’ labour pains which caused my in-laws to have Richa admitted to the nursing home. I was later told about the experience and details by my wife. The doctor there had tried all possible means to have the pains increased, but to no avail. She was later discharged with the advise to come back when the ‘pains’ re-appear.
They were back and Richa was also back to the nursing home. All said that it was to be a ‘normal’ delievery – but as it turned out – it was a C-section (as called in medical parlance).
It was easy getting up that morning (although I slept late – lazing about in packing the usual ‘big’ suitcase that I normally always carry with me), promptly as the alarm in my mobile went off at 3:45, got fresh, locked up the house, and was out to get to the airport in an autorikshaw.
The flight was uneventful (without any sleep even) – reached Delhi – took a bus to Connaught Place – a bus from the Shivajinagar stop to Ghaziabad – and another from there to Rampur. It had started raining by the time we were some way off Rampur – and what a rain it was – ‘cats and dogs’ and what not more!!! I got down at Rampur at about 17:05 pm and looked around for a rickshaw for our home – no one was in sight – decided to walk it out (it was still raining – down to a drizzle now) – by the time I had our home in sight the rain had become heavy again and I saw the power go out just then – climbed over the gate to enter the house – which was surprisingly filled with about 1 inch of water all the way from the road to the main door – and entering in from the bottom. (I later got to know from my dad that the carpet in the living room was floating in water and had to be moved!!!). I put down my bag – and went to the neighbouring shop to make a call (the shop-wallah recognized me as the son of my father – and allowed me to make a call from his mobile instead). My father answered in about 4-5 rings – briefly saying that I’m just outside and coming soon…He came in about a minute I got back to our house – breaking the news – ‘Ladki hui hai, aur operation se’. I looked at my watch – it was 17:55 – about 20 minutes back – ‘hum do se teen ho gaye’ and as they say ‘Life would never be the same again’!!!
I went to the hospital on the ‘Activa’ – that is when I got the first glimpse of her – she was already in her dadi’s lap sleeping as a baby only can. I stayed that night in the hospital – getting my first lessons in preparing a bottle with milk powder (making sure that it was not too thick!!!
My wife later gave me the details and her experiences. One thing she told me was that the rain that day, made all relatives and friends coming to visit her, come with a ‘change of clothes’ in a polytheen – so as to change from the wet ones on arrival at the hospital !!!
I stayed for two days before coming back to Bangalore – alone.
It was the night of 1st September 2006, and I was at our home in Bangalore, back from work and had the tickets for the morning Air Deccan 5:50am flight to Delhi. I was on call with my father who told me that ‘it’ could happen anytime now – I already knew this. Next call was to my wife (Richa), who had already been admitted to the ‘nursing home’ there – she was fine and was consoled that I would be coming the next day.
I had been to Rampur just the previous week – on a short notice – due to ‘false’ labour pains which caused my in-laws to have Richa admitted to the nursing home. I was later told about the experience and details by my wife. The doctor there had tried all possible means to have the pains increased, but to no avail. She was later discharged with the advise to come back when the ‘pains’ re-appear.
They were back and Richa was also back to the nursing home. All said that it was to be a ‘normal’ delievery – but as it turned out – it was a C-section (as called in medical parlance).
It was easy getting up that morning (although I slept late – lazing about in packing the usual ‘big’ suitcase that I normally always carry with me), promptly as the alarm in my mobile went off at 3:45, got fresh, locked up the house, and was out to get to the airport in an autorikshaw.
The flight was uneventful (without any sleep even) – reached Delhi – took a bus to Connaught Place – a bus from the Shivajinagar stop to Ghaziabad – and another from there to Rampur. It had started raining by the time we were some way off Rampur – and what a rain it was – ‘cats and dogs’ and what not more!!! I got down at Rampur at about 17:05 pm and looked around for a rickshaw for our home – no one was in sight – decided to walk it out (it was still raining – down to a drizzle now) – by the time I had our home in sight the rain had become heavy again and I saw the power go out just then – climbed over the gate to enter the house – which was surprisingly filled with about 1 inch of water all the way from the road to the main door – and entering in from the bottom. (I later got to know from my dad that the carpet in the living room was floating in water and had to be moved!!!). I put down my bag – and went to the neighbouring shop to make a call (the shop-wallah recognized me as the son of my father – and allowed me to make a call from his mobile instead). My father answered in about 4-5 rings – briefly saying that I’m just outside and coming soon…He came in about a minute I got back to our house – breaking the news – ‘Ladki hui hai, aur operation se’. I looked at my watch – it was 17:55 – about 20 minutes back – ‘hum do se teen ho gaye’ and as they say ‘Life would never be the same again’!!!
I went to the hospital on the ‘Activa’ – that is when I got the first glimpse of her – she was already in her dadi’s lap sleeping as a baby only can. I stayed that night in the hospital – getting my first lessons in preparing a bottle with milk powder (making sure that it was not too thick!!!
My wife later gave me the details and her experiences. One thing she told me was that the rain that day, made all relatives and friends coming to visit her, come with a ‘change of clothes’ in a polytheen – so as to change from the wet ones on arrival at the hospital !!!
I stayed for two days before coming back to Bangalore – alone.
Our Little Angle
Our Little Angle
2 September 2006 [Written 21 November 2007]
‘Mahi’ – is what our little angle is called – born on 2nd September 2006 at our home town Rampur in U.P. at 17.35 pm (the time that I was told).
Reminiscing on the ‘past’ again, let me put down what I remember…
2 September 2006 [Written 21 November 2007]
‘Mahi’ – is what our little angle is called – born on 2nd September 2006 at our home town Rampur in U.P. at 17.35 pm (the time that I was told).
Reminiscing on the ‘past’ again, let me put down what I remember…
Present [Started 21 November 2007]
Present [Started 21 November 2007]
This is sure to be ‘past’ even before I’m done writing it!!!
Will again take the ‘blogging’ way to write this…
This is sure to be ‘past’ even before I’m done writing it!!!
Will again take the ‘blogging’ way to write this…
Infosys Technologies Ltd
Infosys Technologies Ltd
2 August 1999 – Till Date [Written 22 November 2007]
I had gone for the ‘Infy’ enterance test along with one of my friend and was lucky to be selected (my friend didn’t get the interview call) – after which there was a round of personal interview (in Infosys Barton Centre office in Bangalore). My job letter read ‘2nd August’ as the date of joining at the Infosys Electronics city office in Bangalore.
Training days in Infosys were quite hectic – we were the first batch of 100 plus joinees – which at that time was huge (Infosys has and currently handles training batches 10-15 times that size at their Mysore facility!!!). We had our trainings done in all smaller Infosys offices (Towers Office, BTM Office, Koramangala Reddy Building Office) in Bangalore, including ‘Bifora’ – a watch making company in E-city – some space in this was taken on lease by Infosys specially for our training!!!
2 August 1999 – Till Date [Written 22 November 2007]
I had gone for the ‘Infy’ enterance test along with one of my friend and was lucky to be selected (my friend didn’t get the interview call) – after which there was a round of personal interview (in Infosys Barton Centre office in Bangalore). My job letter read ‘2nd August’ as the date of joining at the Infosys Electronics city office in Bangalore.
Training days in Infosys were quite hectic – we were the first batch of 100 plus joinees – which at that time was huge (Infosys has and currently handles training batches 10-15 times that size at their Mysore facility!!!). We had our trainings done in all smaller Infosys offices (Towers Office, BTM Office, Koramangala Reddy Building Office) in Bangalore, including ‘Bifora’ – a watch making company in E-city – some space in this was taken on lease by Infosys specially for our training!!!
Geosoft Technologies Ltd
Geosoft Technologies Ltd
January 1999 – July 1999 [Written 22 November 2007]
Geosoft Technologies Ltd (I should still be having the company brochure that I got via post in response to my application for the post of ‘Management Trainee’), was my first employer in Bangalore (I had a very short sting with ‘Ashok Brothers’ in CP, Delhi). We were a joining batch of about 70 odd, from all over India and it was quite a bit of fun during the initial training days (the company has since shut operations due to lack of SAP related projects and inability to support the company’s workforce).
It was during this period that I met some of the nicest friends in my life so far – Ashu, Pinku, Akshay and Ningoo. We actually got to know each other at the first day since we were all looking for a place to stay in Bangalore (I was currently staying at my cousin’s place). We literally went about the nearby residential area (J.P. Nagar) by lanes knoking on door and small inquiring from little shops for houses on rent. We finally ended up staying on the first floor of a single-mother’s house in 5th Phase, JP Nagar – not very far from it office (it was actually about 2 Kms – but that didn’t matter then!!!).
Ashu (Ashish Bhati) is currently married and is onsite along with his wife in the US.
Pinku (Priyank Munjal) too is married and he too is onsite along with his wife in the US.
Akshay and Ningoo too are married and are settled in Mumbai.
January 1999 – July 1999 [Written 22 November 2007]
Geosoft Technologies Ltd (I should still be having the company brochure that I got via post in response to my application for the post of ‘Management Trainee’), was my first employer in Bangalore (I had a very short sting with ‘Ashok Brothers’ in CP, Delhi). We were a joining batch of about 70 odd, from all over India and it was quite a bit of fun during the initial training days (the company has since shut operations due to lack of SAP related projects and inability to support the company’s workforce).
It was during this period that I met some of the nicest friends in my life so far – Ashu, Pinku, Akshay and Ningoo. We actually got to know each other at the first day since we were all looking for a place to stay in Bangalore (I was currently staying at my cousin’s place). We literally went about the nearby residential area (J.P. Nagar) by lanes knoking on door and small inquiring from little shops for houses on rent. We finally ended up staying on the first floor of a single-mother’s house in 5th Phase, JP Nagar – not very far from it office (it was actually about 2 Kms – but that didn’t matter then!!!).
Ashu (Ashish Bhati) is currently married and is onsite along with his wife in the US.
Pinku (Priyank Munjal) too is married and he too is onsite along with his wife in the US.
Akshay and Ningoo too are married and are settled in Mumbai.
Allama Iqball Hall, AMU, Aligarh
Allama Iqball Hall, AMU, Aligarh
1996 [Written 17 February 2003]
This is an experience that I had when I was in the 2nd year of my B.E. (from A.M.U., Aligarh, U.P.), in the early winter of 1996. I still remember most of the details quite vividly, as it has remained in my mind ever since. I was all but 20 years old – just out of my teens and in the middle of my graduation. A.M.U., Aligarh, my alma mater has had quite a history and tradition of its own. It was on of this tradition that was to bring forth the dilemma that I was to be faced with.
I was a resident of one of the thirteen (a number which has swollen to almost twenty now) odd student hostels that our vast campus boasted of. This, the ‘Allama Iqbal Hall (A.I. Hall)’, just like the others was a mix of students from almost all streams and courses in the University (yes, we didn’t have separate hostels for even engineering and medical students !).
It has been a tradition and a religious obligation of our Muslim brethren, to observe fast in their holy month of ‘Ramadan’. It’s a period marked by great piousness and dedication of oneself to the followings of the holy book ‘Kuran’ and the teachings of prophet Mohammed. Now, during this month (to inculcate the religious spirit in all the residents – though there were quite a few that were against this as well) our hostel mess used to remain closed during the morning and day time, opening only to serve an ‘early’ dinner at about 6 p.m. and then go on to serve an even more ‘early’ breakfast at 2 a.m. Although, one could see a significant improvement in the quality of food served during this time, but the in-appropriateness of the timings used to call for most of us to discontinue the mess for this period. We were then left with the arduous task of finding food for ourselves outside the campus boundaries (there used to be a rule barring other petty tea-stalls and the like also to follow suit). This meant a long ride on our bicycles to the heart of the city, and that too at a premium (our mess charges were subsidized to the extent of 50% !).
Enter – Prof. Ali Siddique (name changed) – Provost, A.I Hall, and it all began to happen. I, and a couple of my friends had just the faintest desire that we might be given permission to continue with ‘normal’ breakfast and lunch in the mess, though in a secluded and oblivious corner, away from those peering eyes! Provost, sir, in one of his newly introduced tête-à-tête sessions with the residents of the hall, mentioned that this idea that was dormant in our hearts could be brought to life.
We were all to eager to pounce on the opportunity staring at our faces, the realization of which still looked a farfetched reality. More so, as we began to anticipate the obvious resistance that we would have to face. Our first primary hurdle was to get the ‘signatures’ of at least 20 residents for the daytime mess to be viable, in the first place. Then there was the more difficult one – opposition from others – defiance of tradition, and religious sentiments.
Armed with more that the requisite numbers (we were able to muster some 45 signatures) and a carefully drafted (taking care not to include any thing objectionable…), me and one of my other close friend, Ankit (name changed), entered the Provost Office, finally getting it ratified by him.
1996 [Written 17 February 2003]
This is an experience that I had when I was in the 2nd year of my B.E. (from A.M.U., Aligarh, U.P.), in the early winter of 1996. I still remember most of the details quite vividly, as it has remained in my mind ever since. I was all but 20 years old – just out of my teens and in the middle of my graduation. A.M.U., Aligarh, my alma mater has had quite a history and tradition of its own. It was on of this tradition that was to bring forth the dilemma that I was to be faced with.
I was a resident of one of the thirteen (a number which has swollen to almost twenty now) odd student hostels that our vast campus boasted of. This, the ‘Allama Iqbal Hall (A.I. Hall)’, just like the others was a mix of students from almost all streams and courses in the University (yes, we didn’t have separate hostels for even engineering and medical students !).
It has been a tradition and a religious obligation of our Muslim brethren, to observe fast in their holy month of ‘Ramadan’. It’s a period marked by great piousness and dedication of oneself to the followings of the holy book ‘Kuran’ and the teachings of prophet Mohammed. Now, during this month (to inculcate the religious spirit in all the residents – though there were quite a few that were against this as well) our hostel mess used to remain closed during the morning and day time, opening only to serve an ‘early’ dinner at about 6 p.m. and then go on to serve an even more ‘early’ breakfast at 2 a.m. Although, one could see a significant improvement in the quality of food served during this time, but the in-appropriateness of the timings used to call for most of us to discontinue the mess for this period. We were then left with the arduous task of finding food for ourselves outside the campus boundaries (there used to be a rule barring other petty tea-stalls and the like also to follow suit). This meant a long ride on our bicycles to the heart of the city, and that too at a premium (our mess charges were subsidized to the extent of 50% !).
Enter – Prof. Ali Siddique (name changed) – Provost, A.I Hall, and it all began to happen. I, and a couple of my friends had just the faintest desire that we might be given permission to continue with ‘normal’ breakfast and lunch in the mess, though in a secluded and oblivious corner, away from those peering eyes! Provost, sir, in one of his newly introduced tête-à-tête sessions with the residents of the hall, mentioned that this idea that was dormant in our hearts could be brought to life.
We were all to eager to pounce on the opportunity staring at our faces, the realization of which still looked a farfetched reality. More so, as we began to anticipate the obvious resistance that we would have to face. Our first primary hurdle was to get the ‘signatures’ of at least 20 residents for the daytime mess to be viable, in the first place. Then there was the more difficult one – opposition from others – defiance of tradition, and religious sentiments.
Armed with more that the requisite numbers (we were able to muster some 45 signatures) and a carefully drafted (taking care not to include any thing objectionable…), me and one of my other close friend, Ankit (name changed), entered the Provost Office, finally getting it ratified by him.
Aligarh - 1991 - 1998 [Written 22 November 2007]
Two years of +2 Program (11th and 12th Standards) and Four years of B.E (Electronics) is the time that I spent in Aligarh – Room No 165, Allama Iqbal Hall, AMU, Aligarh.
(In case you were wondering – the one intermediary year, 1994, was spent in Bareilly (U.P.) preparing for Engineering entrances).
I had written the following anecdote while doing my part-time ‘distant’ (Satellite-based) PGCBM program from XLRI, at the Huges-Direcway Centre in Jayanagar, Bangalore. This is reproduced here, as it gives an interesting account of my life in A.I Hall, Aligarh…
(In case you were wondering – the one intermediary year, 1994, was spent in Bareilly (U.P.) preparing for Engineering entrances).
I had written the following anecdote while doing my part-time ‘distant’ (Satellite-based) PGCBM program from XLRI, at the Huges-Direcway Centre in Jayanagar, Bangalore. This is reproduced here, as it gives an interesting account of my life in A.I Hall, Aligarh…
Past - Nigeria 1981 - 1987 [Written 22 November 2007]
Port Harcourt, Nigeria (a West African nation) was the exact place where our family spent some 7 and a half odd years (I was all but 5 years when we moved over there). Our uncle - my father’s elder brother – a Doctor and settled there for the past 2-3 years, was who had invited my father to come over to Nigeria and have a job as a teacher (in Alama Secondary School, which was some 80 Kms from where we lived – my father and later on my mother who also joined as a Mathematics teacher in the same school, would drive in our – and my favourite Beetle – orange coloured and pretty old but still going strong!!!), more on the be-hest of my mother, who felt that making ends meet in Rampur was getting extremely difficult by the meager agricultural income – that too shared between my father and my ‘chacha’ – his younger brother and family.
And so, I did my schooling in Nigeria from 1st till 6th class. My brother had moved over to a different school after his 5th class in my school (Army Children’s School – GRA, Port Harcourt, Nigeria). My next school, which was pretty far from our house – involved a lot of travel for me – in fact I used to be picked and dropped half way (at Savana Bank) from where onwards I would take a ‘mini-van’ type of bus quite popular there as the form of public transport (they had a unusual way to collect money for the ticket – no ticket was issued – but one had to pay 20 Kobo [100 Kobo = 1 Naira – the currency in Nigeria] after a fixed number of stops, irrespective of wheather you had to get down or not, then again 20 Kobo after some stops and so on till you got down – innovative? maybe? But at least they were able to avoid people travelling for free for short distances!!!) to my school.
Best part that I remember, at least of my later schooling days in Nigeria, was that, we had a lot of ‘non-regular’ (at least from Indian context) subjects – like typing, shorthand, and carpentry workshop. These (as I now realize) have inculcated a ‘jugaar’ (jack of all trades) type of nature in me – which helps in me doing many weird and petty small home jobs even today!!!
The other side of the coin was that, in my last year at school there, we were made to cut grass using long blades with a rubber strip wound on to the bottom as a handle) in a long swirling motion to get the long – and sometimes the ‘elephant grass’ variety of grass cut.
Another part that I remember and cherish even now, were the trips our family would make to India, almost every year. In between were times when we would travel via different places on the way. I still have faint memories of our trips to London and Paris during one – which was to be the ‘final’ one back to India. I remember myself yearning to get a overcoat in a ‘Mother’s Care’ store in Paris and showed dissent to my mother by laying down on the store’s floor – till my mother yielded and got me the ‘slightly smaller size’ coat – one that wore proudly for the rest of the 3-4 days trip.
And so, I did my schooling in Nigeria from 1st till 6th class. My brother had moved over to a different school after his 5th class in my school (Army Children’s School – GRA, Port Harcourt, Nigeria). My next school, which was pretty far from our house – involved a lot of travel for me – in fact I used to be picked and dropped half way (at Savana Bank) from where onwards I would take a ‘mini-van’ type of bus quite popular there as the form of public transport (they had a unusual way to collect money for the ticket – no ticket was issued – but one had to pay 20 Kobo [100 Kobo = 1 Naira – the currency in Nigeria] after a fixed number of stops, irrespective of wheather you had to get down or not, then again 20 Kobo after some stops and so on till you got down – innovative? maybe? But at least they were able to avoid people travelling for free for short distances!!!) to my school.
Best part that I remember, at least of my later schooling days in Nigeria, was that, we had a lot of ‘non-regular’ (at least from Indian context) subjects – like typing, shorthand, and carpentry workshop. These (as I now realize) have inculcated a ‘jugaar’ (jack of all trades) type of nature in me – which helps in me doing many weird and petty small home jobs even today!!!
The other side of the coin was that, in my last year at school there, we were made to cut grass using long blades with a rubber strip wound on to the bottom as a handle) in a long swirling motion to get the long – and sometimes the ‘elephant grass’ variety of grass cut.
Another part that I remember and cherish even now, were the trips our family would make to India, almost every year. In between were times when we would travel via different places on the way. I still have faint memories of our trips to London and Paris during one – which was to be the ‘final’ one back to India. I remember myself yearning to get a overcoat in a ‘Mother’s Care’ store in Paris and showed dissent to my mother by laying down on the store’s floor – till my mother yielded and got me the ‘slightly smaller size’ coat – one that wore proudly for the rest of the 3-4 days trip.
My life Chronicles
It’s never too late to start? Is it? Penning the chronicles from my life is a little boring for me as I don’t remember much out of the blue happening to me – so would pardon the reader if you decide to leave it in the middle!!!
Starting on 21st November 2007, the best way to go about this would be to begin with three sections – more past (one that I need to get more on from my family), past (one that I remember about and is worth writing), and present (one that inspires me to begin this work today)
So here goes…
Starting on 21st November 2007, the best way to go about this would be to begin with three sections – more past (one that I need to get more on from my family), past (one that I remember about and is worth writing), and present (one that inspires me to begin this work today)
So here goes…
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