Memories Don’t Leave Like People Do.

Some days back, my friend and buddy Sajid Khan [70’s batch], President of the St. Michael’s School Alumni requested me [1966 batch] to jot down some memories of my from school life old St. Mikes.

They say ‘memories don’t leave like people do’. In many ways, I think it’s true.

Today when I around me I barely see or meet guys from my school years. They’ve all left for greener pastures years ago, scattered by the winds of change. Except me perhaps. I opted for what I call the green, green grass of home.

I’ve had my share of wanderlust and now that phase seems to be over.

Those were the days my friend:

Life was, and is still very exciting and challenging. I’ve had some real good times. I cherish memories of them.

I’ve also weathered tough times – they’ve taught me some valuable lessons.

The most memorable days in my life were the wonderful years I spent as a boy in St. Michael’s school.

I joined St. Michael’s School Kurji, way back in in 1956 or 57 - don’t recall the exact year. The kind and loving Br. Murphy CFC, took me in as boarder.

The Christian Brothers, inspired by the vision of their founder, Blessed Edmund Ignatius Rice, were instrumental in giving many catholic boys like me a sound education backed by moral values that have stood us strong through our lives.

In fact I’d loved to become a Christian Brother but the Lord did not give me such a vocation. The Brothers taught us to be honest men, loyal citizens and true friends.

The Band of Brothers

Some of the great principals of St. Mikes, whose memories still live on in our hearts today, were Brothers Ponies , Murphy, D.F. Burke, Moynihan, T.A. Comber and. Dineen [ I may have my spelling wrong here] . Under their able stewardship the school ran shipshape despite the many storms that buffeted it from time to time. I almost feel like standing on my class desk and crying loudly…’Captain, My Captain!

Among them, I feared and hated Comber. I suffered much under his hand. That’s another story.

I am truly blessed because I had the good fortune of being taught and groomed by some of the finest teachers of that time. [They don’t teachers like trhem nowadays] The names that come to mind now are , lBr. Carr, fondly called ‘Cop Car’. He was a big man with huge hands and a loving heart. He carried the head of a hockey stick that he used for striking the big brass school bell..

Then there was Br. Drew – he was my class teacher in VI and also my spiritual guide. I made my First Holy Communion under his guidance. Today if I can humbly call myself a good Catholic, the credit goes to this venerable teacher and friend.

Brother Lyng was the funniest guy in the campus. We used call him “Lingo’. He was short-tempered but always willing to forgive anyone when we reminded him that we had ‘ seven licks’ in his bank.

The other brothers were Donnelly [Called Zupsu Donnelly], Cahill, Brogran , Johnson, Cleary and others.

The Christian Brother that influenced that a gereat influence in my early life was Br. Akramattam Bosco [ nicknamed” Black Dad’]. He was my last teacher. In many ways he resembled the teacher played by Sydney Poiter in the movie ‘To Sir With Love” I leant to write English under the encouragement of this saintly brother. As long as he was alive, I made it a point to call on him whenever he touched Patna.

Br. D.F. Burke died in Ireland some years ago. I used to correspond with him. I was told that during his last days , when he was in a hospital suffering from cancer, some old Anglo Indian boys of Kurji went to meet him. He showed them a letter he had received from me and expressed his happiness that he was still remembered by a boy way back in Kurji

I also carry memories some lay teachers such as Mrs. Temple, Mrs. Temple. Mrs. Connelly, Mrs. Merrit, Mrs.Gambler, Mr. Daniel , Mr. Sinha, [ Founder of St. Severins High School ] , Mr. Smithe, Mr. Tileshwar Rai and many others. . Each one of them influenced us some way or an another.

Then there were the bearers like the lankyJohn who looked like Long John Silver. Laluwa groundskeeper who zealously guarded the school ground and kept a sharp eye on any one trying to across the wall near the mango topes.

Who can ever forget Harichand the tuck-shop man who often allowed those who had no poko [ pocket money ] to have the leftovers of his famous almond toffee.

There were tense moments too. If two guys were caught fighting, they were made to put on boxing gloves and asked to settle the matter in the boxing ring. After a few rounds they were told to shake hands and make up.

If a guy was caught fagging [ smoking] he had to bear the consequences of getting canned on the buttocks. The condemned guy would prepare himself for his execution by padding himself with two or three pants to counter the effects of the stinging Malacca cane.

Inspection was a daily ritual every morning before classes. We stood in a long line in the along corridor. The principal like General Patton, would march stiffly down the line examining our ears, nails, shoes.

Before inspection we would rub shoe flowers on our shoes to give them a temporary shine and escape detection from the eagle-eyed principal.

The original uniform of St . Mikes was khakhi. It was changed to white in the 60’s.

Showers were necessary. We would all go into the huge shower room [ wonder what happened to it ?] We would stand in our in our chuddies under the showers. The brother in charge would blow his whistle -signal to open the tap. Then a hundred showers would drench drench a hundred guys . [ Now ain’t that pretty fast?]

In winter we had hot water. This entire shower operation took less than 15 minutes.

Meals were served in the big dining hall. There were two kinds of boarders . The ‘special boarders” comprised of guys who were vegetarians and ‘ordinary boarders’ – the non vegs. The meals were ordinary, dull and drab but wholesome . No one of ever got sick by eating the food.

Infirmary days:

When we fell ill we were sent to the infirmary [sick dock] which stood in the south-west corner of the campus. I remember the two nurses who took care of us. One of them was Sister Rita.

There was this guy called Edwin Roumold who had devised a unique plan of landing in the sick dock thus escaping a tough exam. He would out an onion under his armpit for some time. His body would get warm. He was rushed then rushed to infirmary…..lucky Eddy!

There two days in the month we dreaded most . One was ‘salt days” when we al had to line up outside the infirmary and guzzle a dose of the nauseating Epsom salts to clear our bowels. The salt was virtually forced down our throats. That day the toilets [bogs] would be heavily booked …house full. In winter we had to line up for a glass of that bitter drink called chiraita.

Meet me behind the bogs:

The spot behind bogs ( or toilets) at the northern end of the school was regarded as the official battleground. If a guy wanted to settle a dispute, he would tell his opponent to meet him’ behind the bogs’ after school. Each one would take a partner as referee and fight it our there. No one sneaked squealed. A squealer was ostracized by everyone.

Thank you for the music

Today, in my own school, the kids sing an Abba number that goes like this:

Thank you for the music

The songs I’m singing

Thanks for the all the joy they’re bringing

Who could live without it?

I ask in all honesty.

Without a song or dance what are we?

So, I say Thank for the music

For giving it to me.

The above aptly describes what music meant to us.

One of my first loves in school was music. I had a good voice and I was chosen in the school choir. Brother Johnson was our choir master.

We used to sing most of the church songs in Latin and so I picked up a little bit of Latin also . My favorite hymns were ‘Ave Maria ‘ and the Handel’s ‘Alleluia’

There were many Anglo Indian boys from St. Mary’s Dumdum, St. Patrick’s and St. Vincent’s Asansol. They introduced pop music.

We were all fans of Elvis Presley, Cliff Richards, Pat Boone, Little Richards, Paul Anka, Billy Vaughn, Jim Reeves and the Beatles. We used play the S.P.[ standard playing ] records on the old winding gramophone. The first boy to own a transistor was a guy called Murthy

Fun and frolic:

There were many fun days in school. We had great fun going on picnics to places like Maner and Ragir. The school had an old Studebaker bus driven by one Wajid. For long distances we used the buses of Ram Motor Transport Company.

We usually armed ourselves with catty or slings . Some us carried air rifles. We shot parrots, pigeons and doves .We also caught fish in the river near Maner.

We enjoyed playing football and hockey matches with schools such as St. Vincent’s and St. Patrick.

Our rival in Patna ws St. Xavier’s. We were looked down by boys of St. Xavier’s because we were rough and tough and because we used to go to their school in tum-tums . I really don’t recall ever being defeated in a single match by St. Xavier’s .

There were proud moments when we marched behind our captain carrying our House Flag in the march past on Sports Day. We felt proud and looked smart

marching to the tune of the military band under the baton of Major Gurung. The favourite marching tune was the “ Colonel Bogey’s March’ from the movie Bridge on the rive Kwai.

Once in while, we were allowed to go to socials at St. Joseph’s Convent. Many seniors groomed themselves and prepared for this event. Everyone hoped to impress the girls and wind their hearts.

School Anthem

I remember the first school anthem which went like this:

Cheers, cheers for Good Old St. Michaels's

Sing of the glory of former days,

While her loyal sons go marching

Onwards to victory…….

This anthem is still being sung every year at old boy’s reunion in England. It has an emotional effect on any St. Mike boy even today.

Later . the lyrics of the anthem was changed by Brother Johnson .

The School Motto:

Right on top of the entrance gate our school motto read:

QUIS UT DEUS

[ Who is greater than God ]

I loved the words. I have adopted it as my personal motto

One for All and All for one:

One of the most important aspect in our school life was the bond friendship and brotherhood that we forged. This bond of friendship was unlike any other; for it was tried and tested throughout our school lives .

Like the Three Musketeers, we also pledges

“One for All and All for one”

The bond of friendship remained true all through our lives.

Living learning fighting and loving together forges a bond of brotherhood that stands through all time . I know this to be true. Thanks to the internet today, I am still in contact with so many of the old St. Mikes boys of the Christian Brothers Era.

Practically every year I manage locate one or two guys in some remote country.

Conclusion

There is so much more one can write about the wonder years at St. Mikes. It would take pages and above all, I am not a writer in the real sense, like the illustrious eat Vikram Seth who is also an alumni of St. Mikes.

I sign off by quoting the lyrics of a song that was very popular during our school days:

THOSE WERE THE DAYS - 25/09/1968

Once upon a time there was a tavern
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Remember how we laughed away the hours
And dreamed of all the great things we would do

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way

Then the busy years went rushing by us
We lost our starry notions on the way
If by chance I´d see you in the tavern
We'd smile at one another and we'd say

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose

Just tonight I stood before the tavern
Nothing seemed the way it used to be
In the glass I saw a strange reflection
Was that lonely woman really me

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

Through the door there came familiar laughter
I saw your face and heard you call my name
Oh my friend we're older but no wiser
For in our hearts the dreams are still the same

Those were the days my friend
We thought they'd never end
We'd sing and dance forever and a day
We'd live the life we choose
We'd fight and never lose
Those were the days, oh yes those were the days

Allen Johannes

St. mary’s Primary School

11-D Rajendra nagar

Patna 800016

Bihar, India

Phone: 09334331428