Being a holiday, I got up only after the newspaper was slightly warm, due to the morning sun staring right on him in my balcony.

After breakfast, I watched Chota Bheem Aur Krishna with my son. Being a Karate buff, he was waiting for the next show – Chota Bheem and Master of Shaolin.

But I was waiting for the clock to strike 11. My friend Mahim had called me the evening before and told me about the Alumni meet to be held on the Republic Day at 11 in the morning at KVM…the three letters, in that particular order, brings back numerous memories!

On the way to school, I saw a flag hoisting ceremony taking place in an apartment complex. I stood on the foot path and sang the national anthem, with the elders inside. When I was nearing the school, I was not sure whether to go through the front or the back gate. But as they say, habits die hard. And I entered through the back gate, as I did years ago.

As I entered, I saw the tri-colour, and on the stage were seated Prabhakar Sir, as usual in a suit and coat (Retd. Principal) and Nagaraj Sir (Retd. Lab Asst.), Badri Sir (Physics), Vasanthi Krishnan madam, Mulgund sir, Kanthamani madam, Kulkarni madam, Jayalakshmi madam and Subhashini madam. Kusum Talwani madam and our beloved Satyanand Sir joined in soon. It looked like they hadn’t changed at all, since I last saw most of them, and that was years ago.

I was trying hard to recognise many faces out there on the ground. Most of them seemed familiar. Some seemed more familiar than the others. I could identify VVN Kiran, brother of VVN Anand, my classmate. I saw another face which told me I had seen a younger version of it a few years back… yes it was my super senior Venkataraghavan, ever chubby and plumpy! And it was easy to identify a couple more who it seemed had never changed, like Binu (Michael Jackson) and Sowmya (singer with cat eyes).

The meet started with everyone singing our school prayer. After that, a few known teachers and some unknown spoke one after the other. Badri Sir spoke of his KVM days, the disciplined students and his beloved colleagues.

As is his wont, Prabhakar Sir regaled us with his usual wit and memorable anecdotes. He started off with his signature style of tapping the mike, and wished us. He said, “Not much has changed since your school days…like the olden days, you students are still in the hot sun while we teachers are as usually in the shade (on the stage)”. He continued, “I usually don’t attend functions, but this one was a special one. A couple of years after I retired, I was called for most functions invariably as a Chief Guest. But since 1995, I told that I would like to carry lovely memories of this school, so please don’t call me. But today, I am enjoying being here. However big shots you people may become, you are still my students. That is the advantage of a mother and teacher. “

He also narrated the story of how the windows on the ground floor got a fence. It seems the constant attack by the cricket ball and football would keep breaking the glasses. And Prabhakar sir would summon the parents of the boy who was the offender to pay for the damage. And the parents would naturally crib, haggle, crib, haggle… To get rid of this problem, Prabhakar sir told he instantly took the decision, after getting consent from the Commissioner, to erect fences, which was done in a jiffy by asking a local guy to finish the job. He told there was no sending a letter to Delhi, getting sanction, inviting a tender…none of the formalities!

“…Most students here would either remember me for the slap that they received, or a prize that they received.” And when he asked “How many of you have received a slap?” quite a few hands went up amidst laughter.

Photos: Mahim | Design: RK

The current principal Meenakshi Madam was happy to see the old students. She thanked Ms.Sumalatha, an alumni, who is currently working in the school as a teacher, for this alumni meet. It was pure bliss to hear Kusum Talwani madam’s endearing Hindi amidst KVM trivia. She said it was Prabhakar sir who made her lose stage fear and be a good orator and told “Prabhakar sir jab hamaare principal the, woh KVM ka swarn yug tha!” In her typical style, she ended her speech with “Bharat ka swarnim gaurav Kendriya Vidyalaya layega”.

Nagaraj Sir spoke about the early days of KVM, when it all began in 1966. In his humourous speech in Kannada, he told if he started sharing anecdotes since 1966, it will be late evening. But he shared a couple of stories of how the headmaster from the opposite Government High School had helped by accommodating the KVM students in 5-6 classrooms where the present CET Cell is situated, when our school was yet to get its present building. Also, due to the lack of space, the primary students came in between 7 and 11 in the morning while the others came between 11.30 and 4.15pm, he said. He said, “During Prabhakar sir’s tenure, KVM was just like Vijayanagara during Krishnadevaraya’s rule. This is not an exaggeration or praise. He taught us how to be efficient and work in the right way that will bring accolades.”

When his turn came, Satyanand sir got the most cheerful welcome. He sportingly said, “I don’t know if you guys are cheering me or booing me!” He too said that he has skipped many a family functions, but he was not going to miss this one for sure, as KVM was so dear to him. He stressed on the fact that parents must inculcate good habits in children and tell them the importance of both academics and sports, as both are equally important. I asked him to say a few words about Shivanna Sir, who is not in the best of health. Satyanand sir told how he, Shivanna and some colleagues used to play for a few minutes after school, before winding up for the day. It seems Prabhakar sir also used to join for the volleyball sessions, but used to excuse himself saying “hands are paining, Satyanand…time to take leave”.

One ex-student gave the command ‘Schoooool, Raashtrageet shuru karegi, shurooooo karrrr” for us to start the national anthem. We stood still and sang it. After ‘School Veeeeeshraam’, we dispersed and met our teachers and friends. Pictures were taken, memories shared.

A memorabilia (with nostalgic pics and a 100 year calendar) was given to all those who attended the meet

Sumptuous lunch was awaiting us on the other side (at the front ground). Delicious Ladoo, Mouth-watering Puliyogare and cool-as-cucumber curd rice with pickles were served for lunch. Puliyogare was a blockbuster hit with the crowd!

Chatting with Satyanand Sir during lunch, I got to know that he still rides his light green Bajaj scooter 1098! Nagaraj sir told that the 1982 model scooter ought to be at Sri Veerendra Heggade’s Vintage motor collection at Dharmasthala!

Nagaraj sir said, “After a family function, we immediately leave after lunch. But here, we simply don’t feel like going”. He summed up everyone’s feelings in such a simple way.

Myself, Mahim and his better half went around our classes starting from 1 std. ‘A’ sec. Some classes still had the old furniture while some had new tables and chairs. Mahim even rang the good old bell!

A few changes are evident – like the enclosure which has been made where there used to be Ramamani madam with her Sanchayika team (next to the Staff room on the first floor), and an enclosure on the first floor next to the stairs. An entrance has been made to the cycle stand next to the rest room on the ground floor. The auditorium (a brainchild of Prabhakar Sir) on top has got a better false ceiling and the wooden stage has a neat carpet (than those thick red-green-blue striped jamkhanas full of dust…remember cleaning them with each one holding one corner and each one trying to put dust into the opposite’s eyes?!).

Titled ‘Reminiscences’, we saw some old pictures on the notice board and could see late SVL madam, Iyer Sir, Suleena Nair madam, Nalini Ravel madam, Baby Sir, Suryanarayan Sir, Ramamani miss among others. Taps look sleek and good looking, and less menacing than the ones we used to operate – during our days, some taps were so hard and difficult to press… but if you were successful at getting the water out, you could not stop the tap, and sometimes would jam your index or ring finger! It was a pleasant surprise to see less of water leakage all round the school.

It was late afternoon when we bid adieu to the place which had given us numerous memories – some good, some bad, some naughty, some adorable, some cheerful, some tearful, some lovely, some scary… the list is endless. With a heavy heart, we came back to the future out of the back gate.

RwB special: Posts related to ‘Kendriya Vidyalaya Malleswaram’

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Saw the Makara Jyothi LIVE programme on Udaya News. Actor Shivaram (guruswamy) gave a very apt and meaningful commentary. But what was irritating to see was when they showed Shivaram (in saffron robes as he is a guruswamy i.e. a senior guru who has been to Sabarimale several times), he was sitting with a background picture showing several skyscrapers of New York at night!

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‘Players’ fail at the box office and down under!

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In one poster of Sidlingu, Yogi aka Loose Maada looks so much like those typical faces one sees at Tirumala - clean shaven, thick eyebrows, lean face… Also noticed that the tagline under the name SIDLINGU is Rohini Nakshatra, Vrushabha Raashi.

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Another celebrity attack (again i ask, what’s new in 2012?)

Cartoon: RK

Also visit the Cartoon page on RwB.

Also visit the Cartoon page on RwB.

Also visit the Cartoon page on RwB.

For all you FB addicts, here’s a basic question. When you go to the FB home page, how many faces are there on the world map? (Aa Aah…no Googling to FB page!)

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What is the difference between a magnet and FB?

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In the Twitter logo, which side is the bird flying?
a. R to L
b. L to R

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If ‘Silk Smitha’ were alive, she might have loved these two places – one in Bengaluru, and one near Bengaluru. Which two places am I talking about?

Answers in the next issue!

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For a few years now, there is a board near the signal hung to the Police Chowki before Shantala Silk House (near Bangalore Railway Station). In English is written – Do not Drink and Drive. That is ok. The Thamashe part is where the same is written in Kannada. There are two lines (in two different colours), telling  us:

Madhyapaana Maadi
Vaahana Chalisabedi

When read together, it means Do not Drink and Drive.

When read separately (‘coz as I said, they both are in different colours and looks as if they are both unrelated), it means:

Have a Drink
Do not Drive a Vehicle

[If you can read Kannada, and get stuck in that signal near Shantala Silk House, don't miss that board].

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Another signal trivia. Just down KIMS, there is a signal (to the right there is DG petrol Bunk).  When you invariably get stuck here, there is a wall to the left (BESCOM compound) on which are painted a few pictures related to medical sciences – someone looking into a microscope, a palm with a few tablets, syringes, a painting with a skeleton saying not to smoke…. amidst these, there are a couple of paintings of Michael Jackson – one with his arms spread and the other, an older MJ, waving at us . Don’t know if this was done intentionally or not…but in a way, MJ was also very closely associated to Medical Sciences… so not a bad choice in the end!

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Just like we say of a few artistes / singers, that even after their death, they are alive in the films they have acted, songs they have sung… in the same way we can say that there are a few names of theatres which are alive even today, even after the theatres are long gone. I still hear the conductor shout Swastik when the bus reaches Sheshadripuram Police Station or Central when the bus nears Nataraj theatre. The other day, I heard someone telling : After the Malleswaram Underpass, take left near Geetanjali and walk further. And most of us still refer to the junction near the other end of JC road as Minerva!

22. Matilda - I consider the best thing my uncle in the US ever did was to bring this ‘Belafonte At Carnegie Hall’ full-length gramophone LP and play it to us on the Grundig Record Player. I remember hearing this song when I probably was a two year old. I used to keep my ears next to the speakers (one song left speaker, the other right speaker) and used to think there are people sitting inside the record player and playing the songs.

Belafonte, in between the Matilda number, says these lines (which is what makes the song special):

All the big spenders… Matilda
People in the tears there… Matilda
Those people on Scholarship… Matilda
Women over Forty (I know they’re out there)… Matilda
Evvvrybawdy Hu One Two Three Four… Matilda

Even today, when I hear Belafonte sing these lines in between the song, it brings tears in my eyes.

23. Yeh Zindagi usi ki hai [Anarkali]– Associate this and the next song with Doordarshan. I saw these songs at my neighbour’s house on a Black and White Dyanora (with shutter doors). Haunting tune, simple beats, lovely voice.

24. Aapki Nazron ne samjha [Anpadh]– The tune is so mesmerizing. The minimal orchestration is such a pleasure to hear.

25. Aa Karnananthe [Karna]– This is a song from the movie ‘Karna’, where Vishnuvardhan’s family is short of money and he is on his way to donate his kidney. Being criticized throughout the film, it is he who helps the family at the critical hour. Very touching lyrics and tune.

26. Vidhi Vipareetha [Satya Harishchandra]– Admire Ghantasaala for the variety he has brought in this song! From the sounds of ghosts and grandeur of the palace (using sitar), to the raagamalike to match Hunsur Krishnamurthy’s superb lyrics. These are the lines (describing Harishchandra’s plight) which brings tears:

Chathurambhodhipareetha sarvabhuviyam taam staapisal
Rathnaraajita saddhandadharaadharesha
Karadol taanaantha kolondadim chiteyam talluta
Rudrabhumilihanaiyyo entha vaichitryavo

27. O Saathi Re [Muqaddar Ka Sikandar]– “Pyaar ye toote na, Tu mujhse roote na, saans ye choote kabhi na” and the seriousness that Kishore brings to the song at the beginning with the humming makes this song dear to me.

28. Olume Poojegende [Anupama]– One of the best SPB-S Janaki numbers. An unforgettable Ashwath-Vaidy compositions. The slow pace and the Hindustani touch in the tune takes you to a different time zone.

29. Neene Sakida Gini [Maanasa Sarovara]– A middle aged psychiatrist finds a young insane woman wandering aimlessly along the streets. He takes her to his abode for treatment. Slowly the woman recovers from her trauma. The doctor promptly falls in love with her and decides to marry her. In the meantime, the doctor’s nephew arrives and falls head over heels to her. The doctor cannot tolerate this intimacy and goes insane.

It is at this juncture this song is shown. Puttanna Kanagal, Vijayanarasimha, Vijayabhaskar – what a trio!

[Also, can't stop putting Puttanna and Arathi in place of Srinath and Padmavasanthi when I hear this song.]

30. Kannada nadina Rasikara manava [Ranganayaki]– SPB has rendered this number in a very sober way, that too for Ambareesh, coz Ambi was not yet a rebel star. Different moods are conveyed effortlessly. When SPB sings “Hogi baa”, tears appear!

31. Devasabhathalam [His Highness Abdullah]– Love this beautiful jugalbandhi song by Yesudas, Raveendran and Sujith. The trio sing “anuthathamudhatha swaritha prajayam thandava mukharalaya prabhavam pranavakaaram sangeetham aa nomtha nomtha nomtha aanandam ananthaanandham jagathaanandam sangeetham” in perfect harmony!

32. Hindanagali [Malaya Maarutha]–  Such meaningful words from the saint Akkamahadevi! And what a raaga to sing it in – Sahana. The notes in ascending and descending scale do not follow a strict progression, but are zig-zag. Hence the note phrases contain such vakra phrases, lending a unique beauty to this raga. When Sahana is playing, she makes the whole world stop and listen!

hinDanagali hiDivaDeda kunjara tanna vindhyava nenevante nenevenayyabandhanakke
banda giLi tanna bandhuva nenevante nenevenayya
kandA nInitta bArendu nimmandava tOrayya chenna mallikArjuna

33. Shiva Shiva Endare [Bhakta Siriyala]– Another sober SPB number I love to hear anytime for its unhurried and calm pace. When Siriyala (played to perfection by Lokesh) tells “Kayaka madutha endendu, Aatmanandava saviyutiru”, tears swell!

34. Ganesha Ninna Mahime [Ganesha Mahime] – Yet another SPB number sung in such earnest manner (composed by MSV). When we hear the flute bit in between the lines “Kangalalli swami ninna divya murthy tumbali” and “kivigalalli dinavu ninna keerthi thumbi kareyali”, it makes me emotional.

35. Aadisidaata Besara moodi [Kasturi Nivasa]– A rare time when we get to hear the maestro GK Venkatesh’s voice (before this, we had heard him singing Kannadada makkalella). I remember hearing this song a thousand times when Chi.Udayshanker passed away. The meaning of the song, and Rajkumar’s gait in this song are simply unforgettable! Raj has shown how to convey sadness in just the way he walks!

36. Poojisalende Hoogala Tande [Eradu Kanasu]– Rajan-Nagendra’s signature touch is evident right from the beginning when S Janaki starts the humming. The different ways in which she has rendered ‘Raama’, the line where she hums after ‘maanikyadarathi’ , and the line where she sings for the second time ‘Olidaru munichadaru channa’ makes me emotional.

37. Shakthi vadivelidum shakthi mayileridum Shanmuga [Thiruvilayadal]– KB Sundarambal’s rendition of the piece [before she starts ‘Pazham Neeyappa’] and the effortless ease with which she shifts to different ragas and octaves, and the alapane, makes my eyes moist thinking what a gifted singer KB was. A favourite of mine.

38. Anbaale Azhagagum Veedu [Pasanga]- James Vasanthan’s  idea of choosing legend Balamurali Krishna is a masterstorke. The lovely chorus of kids and the salient prelude played on violins weaves magic.

39. Kaliveedurangiyallo [Desadanam]– A memorable number from Yesudas. The scene from the film is also what adds to the emotions. The song revolves around the personal turmoil faced by the parents of a child who is to be inducted into priesthood by a monastery. The pain of imminent separation from their only child has been beautifully portrayed by the characters played by Vijayaraghavan and Mini Nair.

40. Jo Achyutananda Jo Jo Mukunda – A lullaby to lord sri krishna composed by saint Tallapaka Annamacharya in the melodious and divine voice of MSS.

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40 Songs that make me cry – Part 1

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Finally heard the ‘Kolaveri’ number. I liked the usage of the nadaswara. Tune is ok…something that grows on you. Lyrics are below average. Singing hmmm…. nothing special. But people have liked it. What more do you want?

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Security people at Malls act very haughty. They ought to be told to be polite and they should know they are security people, not school principals, nor are the public, school students. And WTH, they don’t even understand / talk Kannada. It’s really frustrating when you so very creatively scold someone and he can’t even appreciate the sarcastic humour!

s   r   g   m   |   p   d   |   n   S   ||

S   n   d   p   |   m   g   |   r   s   ||

All kids sing to the shruthi except Gunda.

Music Teacher: Gunda, which shruthi are you singing to? Notations are wrong too.

Gunda: Teacher, singing to shruthi with correct notations is old fashioned. Haven’t you heard the Rage song?

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Ganesh’s latest film ‘Shailu’ has a poster where he is seen holdiing a beedi and looking down. The poster doesn’t even have a statutory warning (not for the looking down part, but for the smoking part!)

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Yet to hear the ‘rage song’.

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They should have told ‘Speed limit for RING ROAD – 50 Kms… and so on’. Try breaking the speed limit on Goods Shed Road, Avenue Road, Cottonpet Road…  There are natural and eco friendly  speed breakers installed there – Cows and buffaloes, which will  not let you cross even 40!

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After Viru cracked a double hundred y’day, Yuvi - the big hitter who smashed a world record six sixes in an over off England pace bowler Stuart Broad during the 2007 Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa) has praised the feat on his Twitter page: “I say it again! I never saw Sir Viv (Richards) bat but I’ve seen Sehwag bat! What a player, 219 in a one day game is next to impossible!”

I bet this is highly possible with so much of T20 games going on (and influencing the way players bat on ODIs and Tests). Who thought 400 was possible in a one day game? I still can’t forget that Aus vs SA match where the Aussies lost it after posting over 400!