"patte aur phool and ghaas phoos"

Somehow remember the 1977 batch very well 'cos subrato-da used to speak so much about his classmates on our long walks each morning and evening to school (at least 30 mins each way). Almost feel i knew many of them personally. Also there was one more event that is unforgettable that happened with the 1977 batch. Here goes...........

Babla (Jayant Roy 1980) and I had "piled on" through our "contacts" in the 1977 batch, viz., Mahua Roy (Babla's sis) to an apparent botanical exploration and sample collection expedition to Yerada Beach by trekking across the hills behind our school. ASPRao Sir was to come with us. It was a Second Saturday and I was anxiously awaiting this "picnic" only to wake up to dark clouds and inclement weather. After a few phone calls to Jayanto, we decided to brave it along with Mahua-di. We arrived at school bravely only to find only a few other bravehearts like us from the 1977 batch, majority of them gals and just one guy (forgot his name now). ASPRao Sir had decided to call off the "picnic" quickly. Seeing all of us forlorn, he quickly showed off some his recently learnt magic tricks and asked us to go home safely back...... and he left. It was a moment that called for a decision for the Bravehearts. Do we all quietly disperse as advised or do we go thro' with the planned trip braving rain (which was still a strong drizzle). As they say, the "show must go on", right..? and especially when a bunch of 16 to 18 year-olds are involved. We decided to chance it and started our slow trek up the hills near Scindia in our canvas shoes and sub-optimal trekking attire. By now, needless to say, we were soaking wet but having read recently the English lesson of "Shackleton's great adventure" etc, we were not to be dissuaded easily. We made it across the hills and the most beautiful sights of the sea beckoned us from the beaches of yerada village. It was a quiet little hamlet with just a few fisherfolk and their kids and in spite of the fast deteriorating weather, we had the time of our lives. I remember 6 to 7 gals from the 1977 batch with us - only names of Mahua-di and Alka Singh-di come to mind now. I am not sure if Shubra-di and Medhavani-di came with us. We made it back with sea shells and a lot of "patte aur phool and ghaas phoos" to justify the botanical picnic tag to our parents. I arrived home knowing that retribution for my actions would be swift and painful depending on the mood I would catch my mom. Nonetheless, I did do one small thing on the way back - a la Hamid, the leading character of that wonderful Hindi textbook lesson Idgah (Munshi Premchand). I picked up a piece of flat stone from the hills for my mother as she had long been looking for one for making sandal paste from sandal wood for her poojas. I bravely walked into my home waving the souvenir (my saviour?) I had brought back for her. Her anger turned to one of skeptical curioisity as she carefully inspected the "gift" and dismissed it saying it would not serve the purpose. Not exactly the reaction of Hamid's grandmother, Ameena in the classic, i guess but good enough to save me from a sure thrashing. Got away with some strong verbal censure and threats of "grounding for the rest of my life" something that never got implemented like many other good schemes in India. Well, after a few minutes, of course, her motherly instincts kicked in and I got pampered well into the night, what with a sigri lit up with wood charcoal to serve as a makeshift hair drier and some incense powder rubbed on to my forehead and hair to assist it to dry and soak up the moisture. I survived though after a bout of bad cold, cough and fever that groounded me for the next 4 days.......

what memories.... any of the 1977 batch Mighties remember this?

Rgds

Sreeram (1980)