5. HIGH SCHOOL YEARS
With sports interest especially on cricket taking over studies from 1972 to 1975, from an attentive student I turned into an average student. Due to demonstration effect, our wants started increasing day after day and meeting these was not possible for our parents, we became rather restless and looked for opportunities elsewhere.
I passed 8th standard (high school 1st year in April 1973 at Govt. Boys High School, Malleswaram 18th Cross) with good marks in the class examination, in the same fashion as did in 7th Standard public exams in 1971-72 academic year (Middle School).
Soon in the 9th standard, bunking classes regularly became the habit as our attention was very fast diverted to other activities (due to demonstration effect as said earlier) like playing games (especially cricket), watching cricket matches in Central College/KSCA grounds, stealing fruits from house compounds (as most of the houses in Malleswaram had huge huge trees of Guava, Jamoon, chikku, mango, custard apple, chakkota, gooseberry), swimming in sankery tank etc. I became an expert along with other school friends in climbing compounds, trees, swimming etc. However, we were reaching home at regular school leaving time so our parents could not doubt us. Even teachers were losing their grip on many students. As said elsewhere the teaching upto 8th standard was superb. Teachers were also happy to see that mischievous and trouble making students were kept away for completion of portions (now called syllabus) in time. Those days, there was no such thing like teachers-parents meet; however some times we were asked to take our parents to class teacher. This was not enforced strictly, so were escaping this scrutiny easily. Attendance was not an issue at all, as the roll was called only at the start and no where in the beginning/middle of any of the 7 periods of 45 minutes each from 10.30 AM to 4.30 PM (4 in the morning session and 3 in the afternoon session).
I remember hilarious moments we had in our Hindi classes then. Our Hindi Master was already on the verge of retirement, had the habit of closing his eyes for most of the time while delivering his lecture/explaining the subject. 90% of Hindi classes used to be scheduled for the afternoon last period session. At the commencement of the class, one could see some 30 students in the class, but after 10-15 minutes when the master opens his eyes, he would find only 10-12 students. Though the class was conducted in the first floor of the school building, we had the expertise of jumping from window to the ground by removing window steel bars. This Hindi Master was so jovial and down to earth person, punishment received from him was nice advise and good hindi story telling in our mother tongue. Though it was a Hindi class, we hardly used the same as we were conversing only in our mother tongue.
Many times, we were handed punishments by other teachers and on numerous such occasions, for no mistakes of ours. Punishments received for genuine mistakes were very few as most of the teachers could understand our living conditions and express solidarity with us. However, I cannot forget the severe punishments meted out to us by an english teacher, whose name I do not wish to make public now. He was punishing us for reasons like not wearing proper uniforms, not wearing slippers, not bringing proper text books/note books, pens etc. (which we could hardly afford much). His punishment was so severe (he was using home/scooter key bunch to hit and injure our palms and fingers) and we were bunking his classes many times fearing his heavy handedness. Unlike the present days, except for fixing a nominal school fee, nothing was freely provided to us by the Government.
With whatever we have learnt and written in the final class examinations, all of us (about 120 students from 4 sections) were promoted from 9th to 10th standard or SSLC in April 1974, (which was and is still considered as a stepping stone in a student's career). That time, there was a policy to promote the entire class with advisory to students from the Head Master/Class Teacher to concentrate on studies for future career etc.
Till 9th standard we had one teacher for each subject and that changed in 10th standard with teachers for each and every branch of Mathematics, Science and Social Studies. It was a first time experience for us then, as nowadays right from primary school, we have teachers for each and every branch of science, mathematics, social science etc.
The studies in 10th standard began on a very positive note with all of us taking the advisory from the Head Master/Class Teachers seriously. Except for NCC and playing cricket during lunch and after school hours, we devoted much of our time for studies. For the first time, we were taught quite brilliantly about functioning of calling bell (through diagram and construction), travel of light, sound etc. So was Pythagoras Theorem in Algebra. The teaching method was so refreshing, we had attended special classes on physics and Algebra (mathematics) to learn more of such things. We found chemistry and biology very difficult to understand as there was no lab facility in the school and these teachers were not accustomed to explain to us in local language Kannada, as done by the teachers of physics and maths. The other tough subject was English. Though medium of instruction was English, we were understanding English if explained properly in our mother toungue Kannada. Our mother tongue has played a great role in understanding the subjects properly. Even today, mathematic calculations are done, and english (though proficient now) are understood by lot many people like me in mother tongue only.
The seriousness shown by us in learning did make us deviate from engaging in other activities like bunking classes to studies. Playing cricket/sports was restricted to evening and holidays only. Parents too started showing up at schools to enquire about our progress. Nearby public library (city central libray) was helpful to us in providing many reference books.
The under preparedness in science (especially chemistry, biology and english) was bothering us too much and no help was forthcoming either from school or outside. Even private tuition was very rare in those days. With this background, and praying to almighty, we wrote the public examination in March 1975. As already feared, majority of us could not write confidently in science and english.
During the next one month of the examination, we visited most of the temples in Bangalore (then not a very big city). As the result day was fast approaching, fear started gripping and we had to face the reality. As expected, the result day came in April, and that day due to fear, I had not woken up even at 8 AM and my father was seen asking me repeatedly as to why I had not gone to see the results. With few of my friends came to my house (as we were staying just 2 minutes away from the school) to accompany, we made it to the school by 8.30 AM. There was a mad rush to look for the results on the board. While some were celebrating, others were seen crying. I could understand the situation. With lot of hesitation and fear, 4-5 of us went near the result board, by which time one more of my class shouted at me saying that I have passed. With a sigh of relief and water coming out of my eyes, I saw the board with my number appearing in just pass class. All the other 4-5 who came with me had also passed out in just pass class.
Of the 115+ students (total students 120 - a couple of absentees), there were 2 students in 1st class category (with 60% + marks), 5 in 2nd class (between 51 and 60%) and the rest just pass class (35 to 50 %). As anticipated, my scores in science and english were 35% (just enough to pass). My family members were atlast happy to see me through, with my mother happiest of all.
This just pass class has taught us a very big lesson in shaping our career goals. In the next 5 years that followed, we all converted our weakness into strength by hard studies. There was no one to approach for any help in our further studies. Life was not easy then and we had to look for opportunities/possibilities elsewhere to reach our goals. We had understood fully about our household conditions, where it was difficult to eke out living with a single man's earning. The time was when we were coming across Bangalore no-vacancy boards wherever you go as in today's no parking boards.
NEXT COLLEGE AND VERY HARD DAYS
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