The old Days

In the early 6O's SJC was co-ed, something that is strangly rare even in 21st century India. We had arrived from Simla where my brother and I studied. Dad was in the army and all that existed on Idgah Hills was School, the tekri hill gurdwara, and the masjid with the idgah. Thats it folks. Yeah there were houses at the very bottom of the hill, where Capt Baker the then Chief Pilot of MP Govt lived. Next to his home was Mr Clive, whose lovely daughters Asha and Renu studied in our school. The TB hospital was all there was on the other side of the Hill. Sultania Lines where we lived was just old delipitated barracks.
We trekked up to school and mind you that was some walk since we who were pukka Simla wallahs found the warm climes of Bhopal stiffling. Eventually mom convinced our father to let us go to school by bus. Anyway those early days were fun as we were able to enjoy the amazing view as we climbed higher and higher. Bhopal was not so huge and sprawling as it has now become.
Being from the batch of 64 we were the early lot and Mother Margaret Mary was Principal. I remember one day she asked my mother if she could help out with teaching music. Mom was busy looking after us boys and could not spare time, though she incidenlty was a trained music teacher on piano from the Trinity College of music, London. I think Mrs Byrne ended teaching music. What I wanted to mention was that we had this lovely little upright piano that Mum decided to donate to the school. She called it 'Huckellberry Finn' since like that wonderful character of Mark Twain the piano in typical waif manner had been dragged around from place to place when ever my Dad was transferred. Depite the love mums ahd for the instrument and music she felt Huck Finn would be put to better use in our Convent. I wonder how many of you young and not so young ex SJC ladies and alumni learnt their music to the accompaniment of that piano. Huck Finn ended up in Campion School when Father More who was busy setting up that wonderful school needed a piano. Surprisingly the instrument survived one more move though a short one, from one end of Bhopal to the other. Arera Colony was just comming up then. Well thats the piano story.

Boys will be boys as many of you would have discovered to your chagrin. Whether its your sons, brothers or even hubbies. You know lots of men rarely really grow up. Heh Heh, I feel all you wonderful ex students of SJC are wondering how me, one of the ex boys can speak out. Well I am not like most males anyway so read on and enjoy.
We were growing up in the 60's and most of us were really shy when it came to even being friendly with girls. There were about 6 to 8 of us army sons in the convent and some girls thrown in also. We were a wee bit more aware of 'life', sort of more 'girl aware' I will call it. Whatever that meant then but most of us were considered 'forward'. So yours truly who was quite shy actually mooned over who ever caught my fancy then. Age really was no bar and even someone from a seniour class sort of tickled the cockells of ones 'heart'. Tejinder Bhakshi was quite the 'cassanova' then and I recall the tensions sister stanislaus and miss attique went through shaperoning the girls. But more of this later.