After my father’s transfer to Amravati, I joined Saraswati
Vidyalaya, Amravati Formerly I had studies for eight long years in school at Nagpur.
It was 1stjuly, ’97 when I made a maiden entry in the premises of school. It has
a larger built-up area and a bigger playground than my former school. There was
a swarming flood of students on the ground. I found myself among strange faces.
While joy was overflowing through their speech and action. I was steeped in
nervousness. I stood as a stone and surveyed the spectacle at 10.30 A.M. a long
bell rang and terminated my tension. Students promptly stood in rows for
Saraswati Stavan -a hymn to goddess Saraswati before the commencement of
classes.
As it was the first
day of the academic session, students did not go to their respective classrooms
after the recitation of the prayer. A teacher, who appeared to be the
senior-most of the lot, took possession of the mike and declared that the
principal would address the students and advise them.Soon the principal came on the mike. His dress and address
made an indelible impression on my mind. He appeared to be an embodiment of ‘simple
living and high thinking’. He has put on the traditional Indian dress. His
voice was soft but clear. The tone and tune of his voice indicated his ardent
affection for all of us.
At the outset he accorded us a warm welcome. He asked us to
be particular about studies and punctual in attendance. He advised us to
remember that student life is a period of preparation, not of action. During the
period of education, a student must equip himself with knowledge received from
teacher, parents and society.
The principal pointed out that the school had provision for
feeding both mind and body. While it endeavour to make a student mentally
alert, it encourages physical fitness also. He directed the boys to derive rich
dividends form the facilities available for studies, games and sports.
Before wishing us all the best in our educational endeavors
and future life, he reproduces the sentences Napoleon uttered when he visited
his school in France, years after he had left it.
“Boys, remembers. Every hour wasted at school is a chance of
misfortune in your afterlife”.
After this the senior-most teacher took over from the
principal. He announced that the regular classes would begin with effect from
the next days. As I was happily pondering about the principal’s peroration,
someone patted me on the back. As I turned back, I was simply surprised. This ‘someone’
was no other than my partner in the opening pair of cricket-team of my former
school. I was happy to learn that he had joined the same class and the school
as mine.
My first day in the school began with suspense and tension. On
account of the principal’s speech and the meeting with my mate, the day ended
on a very happy note.
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