05 December 1994 | HSC Days
This day | 27 years ago...
#memoriesfromdiaries 💛
Alarm Clock
Today, I woke up sharp at 4 am to the chiming of the good old analogue alarm clock – and then, started studying in right earnest for my Chemistry Practical Exam that was scheduled for us for the day!
Table Lamp
The first thing we usually did, on waking up, was to turn off the alarm clock and then to turn on the table lamp – those gooseneck lamps of yore - and start reading by the focused rays of the table lamp’s yellowy lights of yore!
These table lamps were a real blessing to us back then, since they didn’t disturb the deep darkness of the dormitory and the sleep of fellow hostellers as well!
Competition for the Day’s Newspaper
Since our cubicle was given just one copy of the day’s Newspaper – ‘The Hindu’, there was a gentle competition of sorts - between Sai Kumar and me - on who would get to read the newspaper first! Today he got it!
‘DSP, 2 Others Abducted by Veerappan Gang?’ – When Sai read out this news headline, there were some innocuous guffaws all around! (how naïve of us, back then!)
‘T. N. Seshan cancels ‘Madras’ visit on Sunday’. – Yes, back then, it was called Madras!
Skip School Assembly
School Assembly was a weekly ritual that happened every Monday.
However, hostellers usually gave a dignified slip to the General Assembly, since we already have our routine morning roll calls and Assemblies early in the morn, each and every morn!
Today, when General Assembly was happening, Raymond and myself, we were busy completing our Physics Records, and yes! finally we had managed to submit them as well!
Caught Studying for Chemistry Practicals during Math Period
Today we had our Chemistry Practical exam, and so we were quietly studying for the same, during our Math period, when Math master caught us ‘red-handed!’
He then asked us to leave the class and asked us to stand outside for the remaining duration of the class!
Two Boys Awarded Zero for Copying!
Two of our classmates were awarded a ‘zero’ for copying during Chemistry practical exam. (by Manikavachagam Master)
Words Disrespecting Elders
During our English class, a Tamil pundit came and gave us renditions of songs with morals and values.
One such song was ‘Ye, perisu’ (a disrespectful way of addressing elders), through which he called out the younger generation’s lack of regard and respect for their elders.
Zoology Class – I Feel Sleepy and Master’s Response!
Mr. Soundarrajan, our Zoology master was also a renowned body builder.
Since I had a good lunch at the hostel mess, felt a bit drowsy during Zoology class, and so keeping my head on the table, face down, I was gently trying to enter la la land, when there was a huge knock on the desk – a knock that startled me out of my stupor to such great lengths!
But Mr. Soundarrajan wasn’t harsh on us anytime!
He said – quite gently – patting me on the back, not to sleep during class hours.
Physics – Darshan interrupts Master
Physics master never allows interruptions of any sort. Our class monitor Darshan was a very mischievous guy.
Knowing full well that Master doesn’t like noises of any sort, especially when he is on lecture mode, he deliberately moved the bench with his legs, thus distracting and disturbing our Physics Master (Nedunchezhian Master).
Physics ‘Imposition’ for Two Boys!
Two boys were asked to write down the entire lesson as imposition for failing to bring the Physics Class work and Text book.
Had Math Class – ‘Boring!’
Math classes were boring for many of us, especially when they were in the last hour or on the penultimate hours.
Per chance it was our Math master’s lullaby-like voice that put us on ‘bore mode’? Well, we ain’t and can’t say that now! Sat near my bestie Sunil during Math class.
Besties - the Best Bet for a Boring Hour!
Well, whenever we sat near friends during a class, it meant we were bored stiff and so we were longing for means and ways to have some little fun and sweet distractions with friends. Hence it was, that I hopped a little, jumped a little, inching my way towards Sunil my bestie during this particular hour for our own little quota of entertainment!
‘Frutang’ Time
Evening’s refreshment time was something that everyone of us – hostellers - longed for.
So the moment Math class was over, Sunil and I, we rushed to the evening canteen to quench our thirst with the good ol’ Frutang - using up our canteen coupons!
Well, the Frutang was a refreshingly yummy mango drink that was served chilled, and hence students always made a beeline for this particular mango drink!
Did Math Problems
After Frutang time, we both finished working on our Math problems ahead of time, since the evenings and the nights were reserved for ‘all play and no work’ in the hostel!
Sunil Beats Me for tearing his Letter
Sunil usually hands over his letters to me to read them aloud to him. And today was no exception. But since I couldn’t open it properly, he beat me at the back! So I didn’t read the letter for him, and went to my cubicle and started doing my homework! He later came and apologized.
For more diary reads on Sunil, you may want to read them HERE
Sunil Runs Off with ‘Champak’
Bed times were for Champak or Tinkle or Tintin!
Today I decided on Champak, and sharp at ten, on bed, here I was, lost in my own world, reading Champak, enjoying every cartoon, every illustration, every word and every line of every page, quite happily, when all of a sudden, from nowhere, Sunil popped up - and... plucking off the Champak from my hands, he ran off merrily to his cubicle, shouting, ‘Good Night, see you!’.
Annoyed to the core, I got out of my regal recline, and tail-gating him straight to his cubicle, got my Champak back from him!
Well, you see, nights back then, [on student-mode], were incomplete to the core without our quota of Champaks and Tinkles!
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