Guzara Zamana Bachpan Ka…
by
Madani Mohiuddin Ahmad
(King Saud University, Riyadh, KSA)
February 22, 2006
How
curious I am now to remember those unforgettable
days? It springs with all refreshing fragrance
even today giving a soft touch and sensitized
all the senses; rather a re-play of all but the
tragedy is: they are no more.
 MAIRWA,
my birth land 10 km away towards north from
Jeeradei (the home village of Dr. Rajender Baboo,
the First President of India Republic) was the
hub of colorful activities. Social, cultural,
religious and political: all were dignified and
graceful events. Beautiful images of goddess
Durga during DUSSEHRA, very skillfully made were
the images of the goddess Saraswati, dressed
magnificently in sari and the hectic preparation
to celebrate the arrival of Basant Panchami.
Folk songs, dance and drama performed by
students and local artists were highly applauded
by the audience in the jam-packed pandals.
Intermingled girls and boys students of the
school would stay back till late evening to
prepare their assigned work together fearlessly;
they were fearless because they knew their work;
they knew how to respect each other; they were
graceful and decent. No parents brought
complaints of any sort to the notice of the
school administration. Everything was fair and
transparent. And why not? Shri Baboo Banarsidass
(late), the headmaster of the premier institute
Hari-Ram Uchch Vidyalaya and (late) Shri
Yadunath Baboo were the persons glued with the
institute for its all-round development, very
particularly the academics. Shri Bachchu Baboo,
the disciplinarian, his movement in the school
corridor or anywhere in the campus was a
semblance of strict system. His teaching of
algebra and geometry are still afresh and that
is enough to the teaching of today’s children.
His simplicity and his pearled-writings in the
note book make me envious of his merit. Those
beautiful and simple girls that I realize today
could hardly converse with boys for a longer
period, was Bachchu Baboo standing or moving
around the campus. Yes of course that fear was
innocent and productive!!
The long corridor, arched and colored in
rose-red was the face of the school building;
non concrete roof about 15 feet high and
skillfully made were the cliffs tucked behind a
row of Asoka and eucalyptus trees; and behind
the building a pond which surround the entire
campus was everyone attraction. The pond
contained water round the year and the
blossoming lotus could be seen from every
corner. Every student through the windows of the
class room used to peep and take a pleasant,
soothing and panoramic view of the pond
especially at a time when the physics and
mathematics classes were just over. The
courtyard of the school building was full of
fruit giving trees which were planted by Banarsi
Baboo. One day I dared pluck some litchchis and
ate them in the class only when I found no
student was there. The next day, after the
school assembly, I was summoned by the school
peon, the puckered mouth Budhdhu Ji to see the
headmaster in his office. I was awestricken. The
reason was obvious: what will happen? Around 9
am I reported to the office with fear stricken
face. Baboo Ji said:
"Take these ripped litchchis and eat them with
your class-mates. If you need more, ask Budhdhu,
he will fetch you more. Now, you go to your
class."
Finally, the last day of the celebration came. 9
am 1975; clear sky of the Vasant Ritu; the
cultivating land was covered with glittering
yellow stars, they could be seen as far as the
sight could be thrown away, the sun rays
shimmering into the crowd of the jubilant
students were anxiously waiting Shri Punch Dev
Baboo to arrive; very respected one, not only by
the students but the entire people of Mairwa.
That great personality was my Sanskrit teacher.
M.A in Sanskrit from B.H.U and a gold medalist,
dhoti-kurta clad, Hawaii chappal as his footwear
and a gamchhi on his left shoulder eventually
arrived at 9:30 am. Thereafter hymns from The
Vedas started; the enchantments were clearly
heard by all present there. I still remember one
from them which I write here in roman script:
Etwa-madi-deiwah poorshah poorane
Etwamasswe vishwa-shwe-param nidhanam
Wettassi veddyam chaparam cha-dhanam
Etwamasswe vishwasswa param nidhanam
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