A 'Republic Day' with 'JES' After 15 Years !!!

A stranger on FB....but not so for a long time. Soon the common bond of JES made us plan for a get together on a Republic Day at our school. After discussions on call, FB and WhatsApp we tried to formulate something.We tried contacting as many people as possible and got few sure-shot enthusiasts (barring the 'Bolbachans' ofcourse). Somehow Mr.Virus caught the initiator Sneha of this grand idea yesterday and I was left alone to take the lead.

.Waking up at early morning that too on a Sunday is not my cup of tea (and surely not of  many others).However, after proper encouragement from the initiator of this idea, I decided to take up the challenge to wake up early. 

  
There was an urge to meet the old friends again...to the teachers who shaped our future....to those classrooms who were witness of our grooming...to those walls and benches who were our allies of our 'Creativity' during those days.....

Nicely Decorated Notice Board

So there was I in our school at 7.10 a.m inspite of sleeping at 1.00 a.m ;) None of my batchmates or from any other passed our batch were available. Our principal Mrs.Uma Basa asked me to hoist the flag and I was taken aback. I enquired with her about the availability of any other chief guest as it would have been very awkward for me to hoist the flag....as that right has to be given to an apt person who rightly deserves that.

 I am still small in front of those greying hairs of my teachers.....so she thankfully asked our school's management person Mr.Vijayan Sir to hoist the flag.

Then whatever things were demonstrated by our current breed of students made me dumbstruck. The school has improved a lot in terms of Republic day celebration. The overall aesthetics of the school has also improved a lot. The kids put up a very nice show. You can view the video at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mA3Utz9xcJ8&feature=share

Opening RSP Parade

Even though the teachers didn't remember our names, they were truly ecstatic seeing us. We were not much in numbers. 5 from our batch, and one from 2005. The biggest group was of 2009 passed out students who were merrily enjoying in their own World. The teachers were however interacting with each one of us, sharing updates of other teachers, their children, asking about us, telling about the good things and not so good things about the current situation of the school. Uma Miss, Nalini Miss, Diana Miss and Lata Miss were the ones left from our era.


After teachers went home, we roamed in few of the classrooms, re-visited the past memories, appreciated the positive changes in the school, sat in our 10th class where our batchmate Gaurav checked our Hindi grammar from a notebook of a student :) We were still good though !!!

Oh Mathematicssss....Not Againnnnnnnn.....

Sitting on those same old benches and taking snaps really made us nostalgic. We never thought that we have a member among us from another batch of 2005 as we all were happily traversing back through the time machine and wanted to be there itself.....

Creative Classrooms

Few important things which came up from the
discussion which we had with the teachers were as below:

1) The school is undergoing renovation. Once it is done, Uma Miss shall contact an ex-student who will design a website for our school. Anybody interested in this can surely contribute their thoughts and knowledge.
We suggested to add the information of passed-out students on the website who are well placed in the society. 

This will boost the morale of the current students and their parents too.Plus it shall attract others towards our school.

2) Uma miss told us about few needy students who are in a position of discontinuing their education or are barely able to afford the fees.So if anybody is really willing to help such students then do let me know. There are other passed out students who are already offering a helping hand to few of our students.

3) Do meet the teachers constantly and share your ideas and thoughts with them and moreover try to help them to come in reality.

4) If some of the passed our student can refer the relatives of the current students in their company then this can be a good gesture towards the school.

The only saddest part was majority of them enjoy blabbering on social networking sites about their love for the school...their personal pages on FB, WhatsApp are loaded with senti stuff and pics of school days but when the time comes for actual action, they vanish or keep mum.

Very few actually cherish those old memories and love for the school. And those few come from any corner of the World irrespective of their busy days and schedules. If not, they are atleast eager to know what they missed and how the current things are at school. Those are real school-lovers who don't require any 'Personal Page' on a website to showcase their love for their Temple of creation.

All Time Guarantors Of A School Visit

Anyways, I would like to thank all those who turned up just by a mere invitation on FB and WhatsApp. 

Omprakash, Chandraneel, Rajdoot & Gaurav

A friendly thank you to my batchmates Gaurav, Rajdoot, Chandraneel and Omprakash (in the order of their appearance in school ;) 

To Aafreen who was alone from her batch but yet stayed back and equally enjoyed roaming in the school with us.

And last but not the least....to the idea generator of this concept....Sneha Kumawat who was the most eager person to come but unfortunately couldn't come as she was unwell. Had it not been for her call for the meet and encouragement to me, there would have been a big question mark on my visit too !!

One thing I forgot to tell that the students looked dashing and smart in the current dress code....

Kaash aisa kuch dress code hamare bhi zamaneme hota to hum bhi thoda smart vart dikhte ;)

Current staff of Teachers

Toppers Of Past 3 Decades (featuring my Sister's name too)

Long Live J.E.S !!!!!!!!!

P.S. Videos will be posted soon :)

A bullet that will pierce your heart - "To The Last Bullet" by Vinita Kamte

Today I finished reading marathi translation of a book "To The Last Bullet" by Vinita Kamte (co-authored by Vinita Deshmukh and translated in marathi by Bhagwan Datar).

Most of you already might be knowing this book and the motive of this book. For those who don't, this book gives the detailed description of what exactly happened during the 26/11 attack at Cama hospital which took the lives of our three great people Mr. Hemant Karkare, Mr. Ashok Kamte and Mr. Vijay Salaskar.

Established peace in Sangli & Wardha 

Personally speaking, I had no idea about the greatness of man Mr.Ashok Kamte. This book will give you his entire journey from his childhood, his passions, his consistency, his love for body-building, various sports and his achievements in sports as well as in his police career.

You will also salute to Mrs.Kamte for her efforts to seek the truth behind what exactly happened and how her brave husband and other 2 brave Indians lost their lives. When she didn't get proper support from police, she had to take support of RTI to get all the details of that unfortunate night of 26/11.

This book also raise many questions on the role of current ATS chief Rakesh Maria played during the attack at Cama hospital.

Mr.Ashok Kamte controlling a riot

I personally love Ramu's movie 'The Attack of 26/11' which showed Nana Patekar portraying the role of Rakesh Maria. But the actual facts from the book about Mr.Rakesh Maria and the one in the movie are totally different.

Anyways, if you want to see a hero and a real noble, brave man in real life than Mr.Ashok Kamte would be that man. Readers would love his bonding with his wife, his family, with his colleagues and with everyone where he went and interacted with people. A person can be equally good in many games, do body-building as well as be a true foody. A person can be brave-hearted with quick decision-making power yet soft-hearted on sentimental occasions. A person can be a good son, a nice son-in-law, a lovely husband, a friendly father, a true professional colleague and a mentor.

When all these qualities are coupled and grinded in a mixer, then you get an unbelievable outcome what is called as Mr.Ashok Kamte !!!

Body-building days of College

Not only Indians but everyone across the globe would love this book and the people in it.

The incident happened 5 years ago but when you are reading it, you will feel the heat as if it is happening around you. You will hate the circumstances when those 3 brave warriors laid down their life when they could have been saved.

This book will leave you with many questions in your mind. It will make you acquainted with a hero called Ashok Kamte.It will show what a real family is and much more.......

My 1st Encounter With Agatha Christie - "Murder On The Orient Express" !!

First time ever in my life I completed reading a novel well within one day....it was indeed a 'Mota Bhai' and I never thought I would finish it off in a single day.

"Murder On The Orient Express" by Agatha Christie. (1st time I attempted to pick her novel and read it).

I must agree that till date I haven't read a crime novel so fascinating as this one. 

My initial reading started with novels having sleuths in it, which were full of murder mysteries and unsolved puzzles etc. This novel took me back to my school day readings.

The number of her novels published are highest only after Bible and Shakespeare's literature. 

No wonder the World is still crazy for this 'Queen of Crime' of 18th century and no surprises that her novel sold in billions all over the World in almost 100 languages. 
A grand salute "Mr. Hercule Poirot" !!!

13 Beauties of 2013 - Happy New Year 2014 !!!

Who says '13' is an unlucky number ???

I certainly not when it caused below mentioned miracles in my life:

1) On 12th March-13, I started something which I never imagined I would ever do in my life even when it always tempted me :)

'http://saptasurtheenigma.blogspot.in'

Somewhere my writing was halted (by me/by external factors) and thus my blog opened a new avenue for me exploring a new technique of writing using pics from internet which would complement the article/matter.

2) Read 8 novels in the entire year. Eventhough I couldn't break the same record of 2011, all the books were worth reading and gave somthing new to my diminishing brain. 

Those who read a bit may like to know the list and so here it goes.

 a) दीपस्तंभ - प्रा. शिवाजीराव भोसले  
 b) The Intuitive Mind - Eugene Saddler-Smith
 c) Lajja - Taslima Nasrin
 d) I Too Had A Love Story - Ravinder Singh
 e) Can Love Happen Twice Ravinder Singh
 f) Love Stories That Touched My Heart - Authors - Various (Compiled by Ravinder Singh)
 g) Way To MTL-An Infamous Love Story - Pankaj Kumar
 h) नापास मुलांच्या गोष्टी : संकलन - अरुण शेवते 

3) Many Mr/Mrs Gayab friends from school or those who left the company few years back suddenly came into contact again  and not just in contact but we all enjoyed many memorable moments and now are in constant touch with each other.

4) Heard/Witnessed 'Good News (Pre and Post)' of many close ones.'Kids' were pouring this year :)

5) Encountered few strangers for a short time who left their mark in my life by their noble and matured behaviour.

6) Applied and got many important pending documents related to my 'Identity' !

7) Got an opportunity to learn a new game and also to play few old ones. Thus resulting in the arrival of my cool carrom board in our house.

8) Our society (people in my building) is finally blossoming now. The heart-throb 'Darshan' (Our watchman's child) always bring a smile on my face and I can surely bet that you won't have ever seen a cuter kid than this.

9)  Got leaves on proper time and fruitfully utilized them.
 This year's visit to our family goddess's (कुलदैवत) temple at Tuljapur was till date the one with least efforts and more peace. 

10) Visited few nearby places that always give peace and harmony to mind and  ofcourse some  food that's yummy for my tummy :D

11) Got a new addiction of watching short-films on You-tube. 
If someone really believes inme and what I say then please start watching them and then you would forget all respective 'XXXXWOODS'

12) Got promoted as a Team Leader just in the nick of time I must say.

'माता लक्ष्मी' was pretty much blessing me throughout this year :)

During the same time I got my coolest snap (as per me) which atleast tries to convery that I am a Team Lead ;) The same 'Smart Card Picture is not circulating everywhere...right from FB till Pan Card and Credit Card.


13) In an attempt to become a bit smart, I finally purchased 3rd mobile of my life which was 4 times costlier than my 1st mobile ;)  I hope my new Samsung Galaxy Core atleast now makes me a smart guy than earlier if at all I was !!!

Year 2013 and 13 best things it gave to me....thank you 2013. 

I hope 2014 also maintains the same momentum for all of us.

Happy New Year To All Of You !!!

"Happy Friendship Day To All My Viewers & Chewers and ofcourse my friends !!!"

Found an old poem of mine written for my friends on a F'ship Day in 2011......

August 7, 2011 at 3:29am

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खून के रिश्तोंसे हमारा भरोसा ऊठ  चुका था 
नाकारा, कामचोर, आलसी हर कोई हमें  चूका था 
अपनी परछाईसेभी शर्मिंदगी महसूस होती थी 
जिंदगी बस एक बेनूरसी अंधियारी गली हो गयी थी 

                                                               कहींसे अचानक उन्होंने हमें अपने दिलसे लगाया 
                                                               अपने भीतर छिपे  अच्छे और सच्चे इन्सानसे मिलवाया 
                                                               "I Am The Best" ये हमसे न चाहते हुए रोज कहलवाया 
                                                               बोरीयतभरी जिंदगी दूर करके पलमें अपना बनाया 

कोई उन्हें मसीहा कहेंगे और कोई उन्हें फरिश्ता 
पर सच कहूं तो खूनसे बढ़कर होता है ये रिश्ता 
हीरे-जवाहरात, पैसा भी इसके सामने है सस्ता 
' दोस्ती ' जतन करके रखो यारों, सबसे अनमोलसा है ये रिश्ता 

                                                     ~~~ Sur ~~~

" Meet The Freaks - 23rd Nov-2013 " !!!!

A small get2gedr with school friends and that too exactly outside our school....JES after 2.3 yrs....

Actually we can't classify it as 'Small' since it gives U immense happiness, satisfaction, appreciation and strength to face life +vely. Although not a well-planned meet, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. 

With little hopes that I would be able to meet my batch-mates from school having a reputation of '11th hour Kalti', I left home. However not one or two but 5 of our heroes turned out excluding one who couldn't turn up owing to his "Mandatory Pre-marriage Last 'Solo' Shopping". 

The best advantage of meeting outside the school is that once realizes that all the memories are still fresh but hidden somewhere inside us just oozing to come out only in front of those who were a part of those wonderful memories...and that's what happened outside JES today as always.And these funny memories are not partial based on our grades achieved during our academics. They stay equally in everybody's heart and come out with same passion and truthfulness and ofcourse childishness as that's when they were imbibed in each of us. Those few hours of togetherness don't have any barriers of caste, creed, status, IQ level and all such crap. Those are just pure moments which everyone of us are longing for in today's hectic and pacy life.

Anyways the starcast of today's show was as follows:

Mr.Rajdoot Abane (नेहमी सचीनचे गुण गाणे)
Mr.Nitin Bhise (सदैव जोरजोरात हसे)
Mr.Chandraneel aka Tushar Belwalkar (शनिवारी तरी बायकोला विसर)
Mr.Gaurav Aher (मित्रांना देऊ नयेत लग्नात वात्रट "आहेर" ;))
Mr.Omprakash Swami (ना तुम्ही बदललात ना आम्ही)

Few of us called via their respective 'Smartiz' to those who couldn't come today and made them speak with others who made it for today's visit. I guess exactly similar kind of get2gedr of our 'Female Fraternity' was also happening simultaneously at the house of one of our batchmate. Both Male and Female fraternities exchanged few info/smileys/claps (courtesy 'WhatsApp') and both of them instantly saw photos of get2gedr of each other.
( I feel 'WhatsApp' shud be banned for refreshing old wounds !!! :) Now that's the reason I am still not on WhatsApp !!!)

Post-school, everybody becomes busy as responsibilities increase, our aspirations widen, our mindsets may change and our priorities may also change...but still those who really know the magic of those few precious moments spent with your old friends will always turn up frm any corner of the World come what may without giving any excuse...if not, others will go to meet the missing alibi :)

So that's what me and Omprakash aka Ompi/Santu did today. Once we all dispersed from school, we decided to surprise another schoolmate by visiting him near his house and thus we went to meet Vikrant Durge. We however had to inform him earlier that we are coming (to check his exact location)...

How ecstatic he was seeing both of us....आणि अजून एक मस्त मैफल आम्हा तिघांची पुन्हा एकदा रंगली !!! 

We get to see very few down to earth people around us who appreciate all the good things in U and very rarely criticize U unless it is really needed.U get very rare people who are mirror image of urs in every sense and that's what I felt meeting Vikrant after 14 bloody long years. Eventhough he has lost his weight a bit, he still carries his infectious smile and is more enthusiastic than what I had known him during school days. Got to learn few new things from him.(साला हम दोनो एक ही कश्तीमे सवार है!!) 
(Gals, if u are really in search of a very decent, good-looking, addiction-less, humble and smart guy then he is the man for U!!)

It gives u a very satisfying feeling when U know that all ur friends about whom u might have worried about their future while passing out from school are all well-settled today...and not only that, what pleases u more is that nobody has changed even a bit and are equally mischievous as they were back in your schooldays. They 4get that they are somebody's chubby hubbys or daddys of cute angels and easily switch back to that notorious yet constructive era of your life that created and moulded the current You!! 

Our next meet might be in Lallu's marriage next weekend. If all goes well then we all (Sorry Gals, meant only for Guys) might go to Dapoli as per our plan next month for overnight stay and Njoy various areas of Konkan.(खानापूर कॅम्प की यादें दोबारा ताजा करनी है) 

Earlier to this meet, I had met few of them on 15th Aug-2011 and it had given me exactly the same good feeling of being loved by others and that remembrance feeling by all for me and for our school.

Thank U all for coming today to JES and being the same old friends cum freaks as we all used to be during our school days. Hoping to catch U all in more numbers in Lallya's marriage !!!

Love U All !!!

A Tribute to my mentor of English Literature - RIP Chatterjee Sir

There is a bad news for all the ex-students of Jawaharlal English School....

Our beloved English/History Teacher Mr.Robindranath Chatterjee expired on last Sunday (3rd Nov-13) ;( 

What an irony, the person who lit the light of English literature among the students, who initiated the sparks of love for subjects like History and Civics (Social Science) in his students was blown away on a Diwali Night :(

The best ever Teacher who taught History & English very passionately and actually had knowledge of both the subjects. But had to say that he was a victim of dirty politics of JES and never got the respect and place what he really deserved. 

I remember me and my ex-classmate had gone to his home and he said "Wait, don't tell me your names, let me guess....you are "Suraj Gaikwad" of 1999 batch" and also told the name of my ex-classmate. We also got a complement that ours was the last best batch which passed from JES. I have a habit of capturing such memorable moments in my camera as who knows whether we would get another chance of enjoying them...so fortunately enough, I had taken a photograph of him...to which he was shy and I convinced him that I won't put it up anywhere to which he agreed. I kept my words but now I can't resist putting it in this article for those who also really admired him and want to share a glimpse of him through his photo and it would also be a small tribute to him from my side....

Today whatever I write/speak a bit in English is the result of the passion and fire that was ignited by Chatterjee Sir in 9th and 10th Standard. We sometimes used to crack jokes behind his back but I personally always had a lot of respect for that man as he taught me directly or indirectly many things during the school days...

There are lot of memories attached to Chatterjee Sir. 

<> I remember he directed our play 'The Dear Departed' in 9th Standard. My 1st scary experience of acting in a play which had lengthy English dialogues at a tender age of 14. During the same period, I had scored 7 out of 10 in our English paper's grammar section. Usually I used to score 10/10 or 9/10 but this time my score dipped. Sir had commented in front of the class while announcing the scores that these days Mr.Suraj seems to be interested more in co-curricular activities. At first, I felt angry as why is he insulting me in this way but soon realized that I was also among the other English scholars in our class on whom his hopes were pinned. He made us love English literature than anybody else in school days via our favourite Bible of English Grammar "Wren & Martin" and its associated "Key" (both were red in colour if somebody has forgotten it!) 

<> Once an unofficial school outing was fixed by JES teachers for their family members to Mahabaleshwar. Me and few of my friends were asked if we too want to join it along with our parents which we heartily accepted. Sir had come along with his Wife and daughter. 1st time got a chance to see all the teachers along with their family members...their true colours which they showed in the bus which would never been known to me unless I was a part of that trip. Rashmi Miss and Munira Miss were pulling legs of Chatterjee Sir a lot throughout the journey by singing some funny song (non-filmy) which started like "Gaadime Chananana Chananana Hoye Re, Gaadime Baithe Do Bengali..." and then they would add some peculiarity of that couple in the next lines. Every teacher was a victim of this song :)
Whoever had brought some stuff to eat in the bus was passing it to all the teachers and their family members. That trip was like an extended family travelling together for the 1st time together.

<> Daily in the evening after the school was over, he along with his wife used to go for a walk in Maharshi Nagar area. I had accidently met him 2-3 times during those walks during my college days or even after that. We used to have a candid short talk which was equally pleasant for both the parties. The way students show respect for their teachers, their teachers also can convey respect and love for their favourite students is what I had learnt from those interactions. That same affection had taken me twice to meet him at his house.

JES had seen some ultimate teachers who were masters in their own subjects like Late. Dhonwad Miss (Marathi) who used to teach poems in very easy tunes which later I realized were tunes of famous marathi songs but it did help us in learning those meaningful poems easily. Love for poems started somewhere from Dhonwad Miss....which was shortly blossomed by Vaidehi Miss in her short stint in JES.

It had Kaveri Miss....another gem of Mathematics...especially teaching geometry was a child's play for her.

JES also had so many teachers whom all the students loved like Flori Miss, Diana Miss, Rashmi Miss (there were 2 with the same name and both were good), Annie Miss, Bharti Miss, Madhu Miss, Munira Miss and the list will continue.....

However it had very less number of Male teachers.....who really belonged to this field and shaped many lives in real sense of those who believed in him and his abilities.

RIP Mr.Robindranath Chatterjee...a real Maestro of English Literature and History..........JES and all the students whom you taught will certainly miss you Sir !!!