EARLY SCHOOL LIFE AND EARLY DAYS

Early days.

How to remember days of 75 years back. Very difficult. From 83 years, to recapitulate 1930s and 1940s.

I used to play football called cover ball in the playground near my house.
My father when he comes to Perambur, Madras, used to take me to the Butmod called firing range for police to learn shooting. That area was an open area for playing.. Today, it is called Jawaharnagar, close to Perambur Loco Works station. Today the bridge which was about 80 years old, is to be rebuilt next year.

My father used to bring cover ball, called as Tennis ball and put 20 stones and this is called wicket. I used to throw the ball from 30 feet and if the stone falls, it means I won and all will come to put the stones back and I will throw the tennis ball upon them. This is a childÂ’s game which my father used to organize for me..
Probably, I was less than 10 years in those days and at that time.
So, tennis ball for football and tennis ball for cricket on stones wicket.
I am telling you ,these are two plays of mine..

Something, about my teacher in the Rao Bahadur Calavala Cunnan ChettyÂ’s High School. Subbaraya Chetty was my history teacher. Alavandar was my Asst Head Master,. Ramakrishna Iyer was my Head Master. K. Hanumantha Rao took over from Ramakrishna Iyer later on. Rathnasabapathy Mudaliar was my tamil teacher. Sivarama Iyer was my Drill Master. Monday and Wed and Fri were drill period and it was boring and the other days are games days and those days are happy days as we were to play games.

I got proficienccertificatete for History by Mr. Subbaraya Chetty by presenting a book as the present. I kept that book for a long time and I donÂ’t know where it is now.

My school was not recognized for holding S S L C examination and so all the students who are to appear for the final year SSLC are given hall tickets to the
E L M Fabricious School in Purasawakkam to write the examination there in that center.

In 1937, when I was attending school, I was taken as a Volunteer for the Mahatma GandhijiÂ’s arrival in the Dakshina Bharat Hindi Prachara Sabha Celebrations at T/Nagar, and I was close to Gandhi as a volunteer. I started learning Hindi and passed Prathmic, Madhyama and Rashtrabhasha examination say in 1940s or so.
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2nd Oct 2006.
Today is Mahathma Gandhiji's birth day. Holiday mood in Madras. Sat was an holiday, Sunday was also an holiday and today Monday is also an holiday.
I did all work of despatching Rate Contract copies to Krishnarajapuram and Hubli. Went to the courier who is closed and came back without posting.
I went to sister at 95, as usual, to see her and give companympan;y; and good words. Surprise, Aruna and Mahesh came from Dubhai for the 60th celebrations of Mahesh's brother at HYD. Lavanya with her husband the baby child were also and I had a good company.
So, today is over with this note.
Venkat 8.52 pm Monday
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