The good old gong bell, STS' prized possession

"…. H₂SO₄ + V₂O₃ = V₂(SO₄)₃ + H₂O ….. Balance the equation…. "

Mrs Chatterjee’s voice sounds like an echo. As if she is announcing the rise of teacher’s reign from a faraway castle. The students are digging so deep in the mine that we can’t hear the news either.

“Hello you sleepy head. Why are you eating moongfali (peanuts) in the class? This is a chemistry class, not the lunch break, let me call the principal..” 

I could see her thin pursed lips with red lipstick mouthing some words, apparently meant for me. 

“…Did you hear what I said…” 

A poke of the chalk woke me up from the dreamland. My eyes were wide open, as if I was just up after 6 months of hibernation. It took me good 10 seconds to realize I was sitting in IX – C, studying Chemistry, Mrs Chatterjee was glaring at me, and the whole class was in no mood to react.

Suddenly my eyes darted outside the classroom. A senior was walking past the room, and as per her monthly duty, she was going to ring the bell!!! Oh my God. What a relief. The electronic bell switch was opposite our classroom. Therefore the relief of “class over” used to dawn on us a couple of minutes before the rest of the school. How privileged we felt. But, but I couldn’t hear the bell ring. Oh have I really gone deaf? What happened. Did the senior go to the water cooler!! No, goodness gracious, help me.

Mrs Chatterjee stood there checking my notebook. Thanks to my genes, I was sharp enough to learn quick. All my work was complete, except the last two equations, just when I dozed off in eternity. Some murmurs in one corner of the class… 
“bell, bell, ring ring…”.. 

she glanced across the room. Silence!! She was not completely flattered by my notes, but I could see some empathy towards all the students, who were longing for a break after a double period of our favorite subject, “Chemistry” (pun intended).

My mind went back to the mystery of the non-ringing bell. Well, I was spared, and as soon as Mrs Chatterjee turned to walk towards the board, for yet another equation, it went 

dong dong dong dong dong dong dong dong

There was no current/ electricity, and therefore the old gong bell was brought to our rescue. Relief!!  Mrs Chatterjee threw a cursory glance at me, with a secretive smile. She was hungry as well. :) 

The good old rusty brass gong BELL, was STS’ prized possession. It had witnessed almost 60 years of schooling, girls in ponytails and tunics to girls in skirts with hair styles. Not that it was unkempt. It had a special green colored pedestal, made of brick and mortar. And the bell hung from there, relieving us from teachers, exams and theory classes.

I wish I had a picture of the STS bell. Unfortunately, I don’t have any. Rings a bell, a visit to Alma Mater is due!!

A new middle school wing, next to the canteen

PS: I adore Mrs. Chatterjee. Chemistry wouldn't have been the same without her. :) And ma'am knows it. 

This post is dedicated to the A-to-Z blogging challenge - the largest Blog Challenge in the history of Blogkind. My selected theme is "memories of St. Thomas' "- my Alma mater. This is the second post of the challenge, and is linked to the letter B - B for Bell. The good old gong bell, STS' prized possession.

  

Linking this post to UBC too. 

My name is Arpita, and I am a Thomasite

St. Thomas' Girls School, Mandir Marg, New Delhi, India

Fall of 1982. A two and a half year old toddler steps in the 50 year old institution – St Thomas’. Little did my mum and my grandpa know that this respectable school will be their child’s identity. I was known as “gentle”, that’s my nickname. Strange enough, no one had given me a name till then. I wonder what they thought. Gentle!! Sounds like a fabric softener!! The realization dawned on my mum when the school’s admission form needed a name. In a span of 15 flat minutes, my name was decided.

“Arpita” – To give something to someone. 

Anyways, that’s the first thing I am thankful of. My name seeded in my alma mater. Blessing. Post the interview (details in later posts), I happily skipped out of the room. My name was the first on the result list – thanks to my name – Arpita. First letter of the set of alphabets.

Hence began my journey of being a Thomasite: my experience of being the first name on the roll call in the school registers - being Arpita.

A lot of us (I am confident enough to drag you in this) in today's world, are earning bucks the "unhappy" way. Money overflows, luxury fills your life, but it doesn't satiate your soul. 

"Choose a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life." - Conficius

I am a live example of "total career turmoil". Not delving into details, in short I should have been a student of literature, because of the sheer joy of reading the crisp paperbacks - the more yellow they are, the higher it leaps on the satisfaction scale; and penning down my thoughts views, and whatsoever possible. I hereby started blogging. 

Rant over!! 

I shall write next 26 blog posts dedicated to the A-to-Z blogging challenge - the largest Blog Challenge in the history of Blogkind. My selected theme is "memories of St. Thomas' "- my alma mater. Each post will be linked to a letter of the set of alphabets. This is the first post of the challenge, and is linked to the letter A - A for Arpita. That's my name with a connection to my alma mater.
Best wishes to all my fellow bloggers. As Conficius says, if you love it, you shall do it. YES, WE CAN. 

  

Linking this post to UBC too. 

Being me..

I stand and see the years flow by

Learnt to walk with head held high,

Learnt to foresee, learnt to speak 

Learnt to selfsame in trough or peak. 

And then it's me who lived along

I dream of life like a bonita song,

I love, heart full of compassion

I smile, live life, its my passion. 

Penned for “BEING ME- THE HERSTORY MONTAGE” hosted by Indiblogeshwaris. 

Alma mater so dear and old!! - A-to-Z challenge (belated) theme reveal

My roots are in Bihar. The district of Buxar, to be precise. Buxar and Buxarites, as we love to call ourselves, are know for three things - battle of Buxar in 1764, sohan papdi, and late lateefi (not punctual). So I prove it here.

I am late for the A-to-Z theme reveal. I had decided it way back. But I belong to the "express through actions" school of thought. And I failed in this exam. 

Better late than never. So here I am with my theme. A theme very close to my heart. 

Memories of St. Thomas' 

St. Thomas School, my alma mater, where I spent 14 golden years of my life. Fortunately or unfortunately, I have never blogged about my school. And 26 posts are not enough. But the theme is enough for me to successfully complete the challenge. 

A lot of you will so totally relate to my anecdotes about school. I hope you will come back to read them everyday. Sometimes it may be hilarious, sometimes intriguing, sometimes sad. But I promise, there will be no fiction, all truth, for the love for the red bricks.. 

Yonder are the bricks of red

Guarding our dreams and hopes

Alma mater so dear and old

Whose motto we do uphold!! 

Along with the A-to-Z challenge, which will keep my, as a working mom's handful, I have plans to give UBC a go. I definitely need a lot of luck!!

Knocking on heaven's door

No, its not your birthday.  Its not 16th June, neither its 8th November. No its no special day. I am just angry. You still haven't accepted my friend request on FB. How rude. Sampath Atmakury, I will never forgive you, sachhi. 

Do you even remember, stud? I was the one who completed your 1000 scraps on Orkut. You made me write 58 scraps to attain that feat!! huh!! Sab bhool gaya na? Now will you come back, and do the needful on FB? I promise I will spam your timeline totally, till you tell me to FO. 

Well, to tell you the truth - I stalk your FB account, and feel so miserable because I can't message you, or write on your wall - privacy, huh? I feel so jealous of your friends on the friend list, who can message you, and talk to you. Now will you kindly oblige? 

I saved this one, sorry, what a stalker I am. Thank god, some of your pictures are open for public viewing. 
Who suggested you to "knock on heaven's door"? God is super Sampath, he hears our prayers way too quick. Don't do it again. 

Come back soon, ab bahut hua na. You didn't go for such a long trip, did you? I miss you Samzie. 

Left me in tears? You couldn't see me cry!! 

Jai Sai baba!!