DAYS OF YORE-1944!

PRIMARY SCHOOL AT KURUL, DISTT GARHCHIROLI,MAHARASHTRA.

In olden days children went to Primary, then Middle and then the High School. After completing his studies in Brahmapuri, a very small town, in Maharashtra, Narayan moved to Nagpur to study in the Patwardhan High School. He was a boy straight from the village and had a smattering of English. He was taken under the wings of Sakharam Meshram, who later became the Mayor of Nagpur. Sakharam Meshram was senior to Narayan and became his friend, philosopher and guide. Once while going somewhere, they came across the word palace written on a building. Showing off his knowledge of English Narayan asked, "Which king lives in this palace?" He was told that it was a theatre where movies were screened. 

The students of Patwardhan High school lived in the Chokha mela Hostel. Mr. P. G. Gavai, who later joined the IAS and retired as the Lt. Governor of Delhi during the days of the Emergency in 1975, was also in the same hostel. Mr. N. S. Tirpude who rose to become Dy. Chief Minister of Maharashtra in 1978, too was in the same Hostel. Narayan passed his Matric in the First division. He joined College of Science, Nagpur to study for his B. Sc. degree.

He was a hard working and bright student. Once while he was studying late in the night, he heard a voice out of nowhere, say to him dramatically from outside, "Kyon! Padh rahe ho"???? Narayan , a simple person ran straight into bed and covered himself from top to toe, not allowing even a little gap from where air could enter. He was terrified, as he thought it was a ghost! It was only much later that he came to know that it was a prank!
Narayan was also quite interested in sports and was the Captain of the Volleyball team. He had Vidyacharan Shukla and Shyama Charan Shukla subsequently a senior politician and Cabinet Minister of Central Government, and Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh respectively, playing under him in his team.

DADDY & MUMMY IN CHAIL-sometime in 80's.

Narayan did well in his studies but in his graduation, he could secure only 59.9% mark, and missed his First Class narrowly. In those days the Government of British India would select deserving students on an All India basis and would send them to England to pursue higher studies. I am talking of the year 1944.  Narayan was very sad because he would not qualify, as only those students were considered for this Scholarship who had obtained a First Class in Graduation. However, the British were a reasonable and just people. They called Narayan for the interview and granted him the Scholarship as he had barely missed his First Class marks. They decided that he was a deserving candidate.

Narayan was the first person to have thus been selected from his District. There was great rejoicing all round and Narayan became a benchmark for studies in the entire District.

Gomaji, his father and Renuka, his mother were very happy and proud of their son. Going abroad to study was a very major achievement in anyone's life at that time. It took a long time to travel and communication facilities were scant. There were no telephones in Narayan's Village  Kurul.  Narayan's parents knew that once Narayan was in London, he would come back only after completing his full studies of Engineering, which would be after three years. 

N G UKE IN 2005.

Life would be difficult and their beloved son would be away from them for a very long period of time. When the time came for him to go to London, his elder brother Janardan who was a tailor, very lovingly made a coat for him. There were lot of farewells all around and people from the neighbouring villages and small towns came to bid him farewell at the Wadsa station.  The journey would be from Kurul to Wadsa by bullock cart, from Wadsa by narrow gauge train to Nagpur, then broad gauge train to Bombay and then by ship to Southampton. His mother Renuka bai wanted to go to Nagpur to see him off. However she was told that she could not go as she would cry and that was not acceptable. The strong lady promised that she would not cry and so she was taken to Nagpur. At the Nagpur Railway Station again there were many people present to bid him farewell. His mother true to her words did not shed a single tear, although friends and their mothers could not control themselves and sobbed at the station, but Narayan's mother showed her true mettle. She kept her promise.

Renuka was an illiterate lady but she was a composer. She sang out her hearts outpourings. There was a song composed by her in Marathi which asked her family to put mirrors on the top of her house, so that from wherever she was, she would be able to see when her dear son Narba would return home. Sadly none of her compositions are written down anywhere. She sang beautifully. Narayan too had a wonderful voice. Narayan's younger brother Tarachand also sings beautifully to this day. 

I, the daughter of that great determined, meritorious student Narayan salute his memory today on 8th August his birthday. He would have been 87 today. I salute my  wise, intelligent and visionary grandfather Gomaji. I salute my daring, strong willed and bold grandmother Renuka. Narayan at a very young age had told his father to educate him up to Middle school, after which he would manage his further studies on his own.True to his promise, he always earned his scholarship and reached the pinnacle of glory, on his own caliber. I remember my uncle Vithoba following whom Narayan used to run to school. 8th August will remain a very important date in my life. I know each and every member of Narayan's family is shedding a silent tear and remembering the beautiful memory of that man who taught us to always move forward in life. Be honest, Never tell a lie, was his motto. Atta deep bhavo, be your own light. Never believe in fate, destiny, or luck. Always treat others with compassion, kindness and love. Forgive...always forgive. Be large hearted, be generous. Always remember that you are the BEST!

Words which are my guiding force. They guide me, ALWAYS. I follow them.

Love you Daddy! Miss you every day.

A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ALL OF US...!
REJOICE TODAY, HE LOVED US AND WE ALL LOVED HIM!