UNDER DEVELOPMENT
PREFACE
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ANJAN BANIK
FOUNDER GENERAL SECRETARY
BODHJUNG SCHOOL ALUMNI, AGARTALA
WEB MASTER-EDITOR
www.bodhjungschoolalumni.blogspot.com
Myspace Stuff
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FOCUS 1
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: MAKE BODHJUNG PROUD :
: MAKE BODHJUNG PROUD :
SUBRATA BHATTACHARJEE Ph.D.;
subrata@thermo.sdsu.edu
http://sb.sdsu.edu
Professor of Mechanical Engineering,
San Diego State University, California, USA
First Batch (1976) of Madhyamik from Bodhjung School, AGARTALA
Thirty years ago,
there was only one famous private school in Agartala where all “good” students went. For the rest of us, there were government schools. When people saw us walking in the light blue and white uniform, they pretty much assumed that we were the average students. We used to talk in Agartala dialect, played football in the mud, did not have lunch boxes hanging from our hands or cool back packs strapped onto our backs. Even some of our teachers did not have much faith in us. I remember our geometry teacher explaining to us how a picky examiner might take some points off if he had to turn a page to reconcile a proof with a geometric construct. A valuable lesson no doubt, but then he added, “But for you people it does not matter, only those who aspire to stand in the board need to know this”. Although we heard about past glory days when we took a place under West Bengal Board, it was simply assumed that those days were gone.
Thirty year ago, in 1976, Tripura board held its first ever Madhyamik examination. When the results were announced, those average boys did some extraordinary things – we secured 3 of the first 10 places in Tripura, including the coveted first position. Almost everyone started yelling, “How is this possible?” Some even started gossiping about influence from our renowned headmaster Bomkesh Babu.
I still remember the day when I met Bomkesh Babu. Prayer time was one of my favorite. As an average student of class VI with no special talent, I used to admire students who used to be called upon to perform on the stage. I can still hear in my ears “Cholo cholo cholo Jai” by one of the ninth graders. Oh, how I wished I could sing like him (I still practice in the bathroom). One day, it was Khudiram’s birthday and the prayer teacher announced if anyone would like to come onstage and say something about any freedom fighter. I don’t know what happened to me, but I raised my hand. Long time ago I read about stories about freedom fighters and I thought I could share some of those stories with others. I walked up to the stage, and talked about why Khudiram was a terrorist for the British and a hero for us. Later when I was in the class, a messenger came with a little slip to my class teacher. Bomkesh Babu wanted me to be chaperoned to his office immediately. It was a huge honor but it also was like meeting a tiger in his abode, such was his personality. But the meeting went really well. In his characteristic style (I never saw him hesitate) he predicted that I would make him the school proud one day.
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Thirty year ago, in 1976, Tripura board held its first ever Madhyamik examination. When the results were announced, those average boys did some extraordinary things – we secured 3 of the first 10 places in Tripura, including the coveted first position. Almost everyone started yelling, “How is this possible?” Some even started gossiping about influence from our renowned headmaster Bomkesh Babu.
I still remember the day when I met Bomkesh Babu. Prayer time was one of my favorite. As an average student of class VI with no special talent, I used to admire students who used to be called upon to perform on the stage. I can still hear in my ears “Cholo cholo cholo Jai” by one of the ninth graders. Oh, how I wished I could sing like him (I still practice in the bathroom). One day, it was Khudiram’s birthday and the prayer teacher announced if anyone would like to come onstage and say something about any freedom fighter. I don’t know what happened to me, but I raised my hand. Long time ago I read about stories about freedom fighters and I thought I could share some of those stories with others. I walked up to the stage, and talked about why Khudiram was a terrorist for the British and a hero for us. Later when I was in the class, a messenger came with a little slip to my class teacher. Bomkesh Babu wanted me to be chaperoned to his office immediately. It was a huge honor but it also was like meeting a tiger in his abode, such was his personality. But the meeting went really well. In his characteristic style (I never saw him hesitate) he predicted that I would make him the school proud one day.
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When people saw us walking in the light blue and white uniform, they pretty much assumed that we were the average students. Even some of our teachers did not have much faith in us.... Bomkesh Babu was wrong! It was not I, but a bunch of jewels that made Bodhjung proud.
WRITES SUBRATA BHATTACHARJEE
from USA
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Bomkesh Babu was wrong! It was not I, but a bunch of jewels that made Bodhjung proud. Just in our batch in those simple boys from middle class families, we had cricketers (who played for Ranji Trophy), doctors (one of whom has become a legend in Tripura), engineers, entrepreneurs (who we call businessman), firefighters, bank officers, and a whole bunch of everyday heroes. Sudip was one of those. When the bullies (well, every school has their share, even Bodhjung had a few bad apples) tried to harass me because of my accent (arriving from Habiganj, I did not know that a bamboo cane in proper Bengali is called “kaim”, not “baansh”), he came to my rescue even though we did not know each other at that time. When I last saw him, he was trying to make life of homeless kids better at the expense of his own.
The most cherished gift I have received from Bodhjung is my lifelong circle of friends. Wherever I am in the world, I know that I can count on their friendship. When I did not have lunch money, my friend Gautam would share the green peas he used buy for his lunch (it used to cost 15 paise). Even now, when I visit Agartala, my Bodhjung friends would make sure that we have a get together, they would insist on paying for the restaurant bill even though they know that I do have the lunch money now. If you have not kept in touch with your Bodhjung classmates, you are missing out on something big. It is never too late to get in touch with your childhood friend. You will be amazed how much and how fondly they remember you. If you are a student of Bodhjung today, take a look around you. Boys who you think are too cool to approach or too drab to mingle with, will be more reliable friends in later life than many interesting people you will ever meet in the future. The teachers that you find intimidating today will welcome you with a smile and turn into your mentor if you care to keep in touch with.
So, what can we do for Bodhjung? Anything that we do must be self-sustaining, not a one time generosity. I have been fortunate enough to visit many developed countries and have constantly asked the question why things look so much better over there? I constantly compare most people I meet from the developed world with my childhood friends. There is absolutely no difference in intellect or the ability to hard work. As evidence, compare the expatriate Indians with the population at large of the country they adopt – in all cases, you will find that Indians do way better than the general population. I strongly believe that every average Bodhjung student has the same potential as every average student of any similar school in a developed country. Then why does a school in US or Japan look so much nicer? It is easy to say that the developed countries have more resources to make better building, better roads, etc. And if that is not enough of an excuse, we can blame our politicians.
If you visit a small town in Japan, you will be surprised to find the roads there to be narrower than most roads in Agartala. There are no shining buildings, just simple houses, interspersed with small paddy fields or orchards. If you visit a high school, you will find a modest building with a big yard in the middle, much like any school in Agartala. But you will still know that you are in a developed country.
We have all heard from our childhood that cleanliness is godliness – and no where it is practiced more than in the developed world. No wonder God seems to be kinder to those countries – an average person lives longer, healthier, with more time to spend on things beyond basic necessities of life. I am convinced that it is cleanliness that makes a Japanese school stand out, a Japanese road looks so picturesque.
Here is my modest proposal. Let us give Bodhjung School the gift of cleanliness. No, not a fresh coat of paint, not chopping off all the green shrubs around the school; instead, making every class room, every hallway free of dust, scrap papers, plastic cups, etc. It cannot be done by hiring more janitors or custodians; it will require parcipation from all – students, teachers, and staff. Each. A little effort from each can quickly add up and the school can be made to look squeaky clean in a matter of weeks. But the effort has to be relentless and sustained to keep the school clean. If we can achieve that everyone can take pride in giving something back to the school. The alumni association can help, say, by supplying dust bins, mops, jharus and other supplies to every classroom. Of course, everyone will not share the same vision. But if a majority of students make a promise that “I will contribute in whatever way to keep the school clean”, this spirit of good will may infect others and make Bodhjung one of the nicest learning and teaching environment in Tripura. Cleanliness will not solve all the problems associated with a government school, but, in my opinion, it would be a great start. Any visitor to the school will say, “Something is different about this place!”
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THIS ARTICLE ALSO PUBLISHED IN BODHJUNG SCHOOL ALUMNI's OWN OFFICIAL SOUVENIR NAMELY "KALAKRAM"1ST ISSUE UNCOVERED ON 18TH JANUARY 2007.
ANJAN BANIK,
WEB MASTER,
http://www.bodhjungschoolalumni.blogspot.com/
Bomkesh Babu was wrong! It was not I, but a bunch of jewels that made Bodhjung proud. Just in our batch in those simple boys from middle class families, we had cricketers (who played for Ranji Trophy), doctors (one of whom has become a legend in Tripura), engineers, entrepreneurs (who we call businessman), firefighters, bank officers, and a whole bunch of everyday heroes. Sudip was one of those. When the bullies (well, every school has their share, even Bodhjung had a few bad apples) tried to harass me because of my accent (arriving from Habiganj, I did not know that a bamboo cane in proper Bengali is called “kaim”, not “baansh”), he came to my rescue even though we did not know each other at that time. When I last saw him, he was trying to make life of homeless kids better at the expense of his own.
The most cherished gift I have received from Bodhjung is my lifelong circle of friends. Wherever I am in the world, I know that I can count on their friendship. When I did not have lunch money, my friend Gautam would share the green peas he used buy for his lunch (it used to cost 15 paise). Even now, when I visit Agartala, my Bodhjung friends would make sure that we have a get together, they would insist on paying for the restaurant bill even though they know that I do have the lunch money now. If you have not kept in touch with your Bodhjung classmates, you are missing out on something big. It is never too late to get in touch with your childhood friend. You will be amazed how much and how fondly they remember you. If you are a student of Bodhjung today, take a look around you. Boys who you think are too cool to approach or too drab to mingle with, will be more reliable friends in later life than many interesting people you will ever meet in the future. The teachers that you find intimidating today will welcome you with a smile and turn into your mentor if you care to keep in touch with.
So, what can we do for Bodhjung? Anything that we do must be self-sustaining, not a one time generosity. I have been fortunate enough to visit many developed countries and have constantly asked the question why things look so much better over there? I constantly compare most people I meet from the developed world with my childhood friends. There is absolutely no difference in intellect or the ability to hard work. As evidence, compare the expatriate Indians with the population at large of the country they adopt – in all cases, you will find that Indians do way better than the general population. I strongly believe that every average Bodhjung student has the same potential as every average student of any similar school in a developed country. Then why does a school in US or Japan look so much nicer? It is easy to say that the developed countries have more resources to make better building, better roads, etc. And if that is not enough of an excuse, we can blame our politicians.
If you visit a small town in Japan, you will be surprised to find the roads there to be narrower than most roads in Agartala. There are no shining buildings, just simple houses, interspersed with small paddy fields or orchards. If you visit a high school, you will find a modest building with a big yard in the middle, much like any school in Agartala. But you will still know that you are in a developed country.
We have all heard from our childhood that cleanliness is godliness – and no where it is practiced more than in the developed world. No wonder God seems to be kinder to those countries – an average person lives longer, healthier, with more time to spend on things beyond basic necessities of life. I am convinced that it is cleanliness that makes a Japanese school stand out, a Japanese road looks so picturesque.
Here is my modest proposal. Let us give Bodhjung School the gift of cleanliness. No, not a fresh coat of paint, not chopping off all the green shrubs around the school; instead, making every class room, every hallway free of dust, scrap papers, plastic cups, etc. It cannot be done by hiring more janitors or custodians; it will require parcipation from all – students, teachers, and staff. Each. A little effort from each can quickly add up and the school can be made to look squeaky clean in a matter of weeks. But the effort has to be relentless and sustained to keep the school clean. If we can achieve that everyone can take pride in giving something back to the school. The alumni association can help, say, by supplying dust bins, mops, jharus and other supplies to every classroom. Of course, everyone will not share the same vision. But if a majority of students make a promise that “I will contribute in whatever way to keep the school clean”, this spirit of good will may infect others and make Bodhjung one of the nicest learning and teaching environment in Tripura. Cleanliness will not solve all the problems associated with a government school, but, in my opinion, it would be a great start. Any visitor to the school will say, “Something is different about this place!”
___________________________________________________
THIS ARTICLE ALSO PUBLISHED IN BODHJUNG SCHOOL ALUMNI's OWN OFFICIAL SOUVENIR NAMELY "KALAKRAM"1ST ISSUE UNCOVERED ON 18TH JANUARY 2007.
ANJAN BANIK,
WEB MASTER,
http://www.bodhjungschoolalumni.blogspot.com/
_______________________________________________________
Myspace Stuff
_____________________________
FOCUS 2
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"I again want to go to school"
BY
AMITABHA KAR
I.G.P.
TRIPURA POLICE
I again want to go to school
I again want to go to school at least once.
I again want to go to school at least once.
I want to rush and sit on my usual bench, each morning
And sing the national anthem in a coarse voice.
I want to write my name on the first page
Of the new notebook, smelling it.
I again want to go to school at least once.
Balanced to the weight of my responsibilities,
However heavy my school bag may be -
I want to carry its weight on my back.
I want to sit in the classroom with no fans,
And windows open; howsoever warm it may be,
It’s better than sitting in an AC office.
Even if the school bench is not worth sitting,
With two friends on a double bench
I will be cosier than on a cosy chair in my office.
Now I have started knowing slightly
The gists of Saint Tukaram’s verse, “God, give me childhood”.
To ask if it’s right or not,
I again want to go to school at least once.
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THIS ARTICLE ALSO PUBLISHED IN BODHJUNG SCHOOL ALUMNI's OWN OFFICIAL SOUVENIR NAMELY "KALAKRAM"1ST ISSUE UNCOVERED ON 18TH JANUARY 2007.
ANJAN BANIK,
WEB MASTER,
http://www.bodhjungschoolalumni.blogspot.com
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