In The Boulevard Of Unforgettable Memories….

May be it was around 8.10pm on a wet day. The rain gods were still pouring heavily. 22 guys had few moments left before they ended their 7years long journey and would disperse. It was all set to spend their last few hours of the so called ‘golden life’ on a beautiful island. They never knew destiny had different plans and that these friends would probably never meet again. They planned to spend their night in the most enjoyable way they can. This is how the next few hours went on.

It was our last day at JNV Chikmagalur. We had completed our board examinations that day. With all the absurdities on marks, CET, AIEEE and about our future, we made it possible to don a fake smile in front of our teachers. The whole campus was all busy with the talks on how the past few years were. We were given a task to fill too many slam books by our juniors as well. It was around 8.10pm we, me and my batch mates, were all sitting together to relish the rice and rasam with countless memories. After few hot discussions the agenda of watching movies the whole night was accepted almost unanimously and we headed towards MP hall. We somehow collected the cassettes of ‘Om Shanthi Om’ & ’Jab We Met’ and it was all set for the late night screening. I was in the middle of a gang which was together for a span of solid seven years and as I was looking at the TV screen, Shahrukh Khan wasn’t visible at all. All those damn memories at this wonderful place were flashing in front of my eyes.

It was on july 31st, 2001 I entered this place which I never knew would make a complete changeover to me. I had written the entrance exam just for fun but when I got to know that I was selected I was here desperately inspite of my parent’s opposition. For a person who has never been outside his comforts,this campus offered lot many things. Everything was really new. The campus was so vast and vivid.It was all painted green and watered once in a while by rains.The buildings,though being old,were all throughout the campus. All those quotes,paintings etc on the walls made it look great. The sight of triangular mountain from the flag post was a visual treat . I had so many friends around me , in fact rain was the closest of all. No wonder we were unhappy at times,as we were far away from our home. All the unknown faces became sisters within no time as we had food together in a large mess. The act of playing football with more than 100 people using a single ball was really strange. Waking up at 5.45am,running strenuous 4 rounds on a 200m track(incase if you aren’t “sick”),getting ready for school within 5 minutes and much more was part of our lives. The assembly programs were all damn different. The songs we sung were unique in their own terms-I can still recite most of them.I still can’t explain the pain in spending 90 minutes without doing anything during study hours. The evening sports hours used to make me go crazy . The act of rushing to library to grab a copy of magazine was really exciting.Playing games on a rainy day,waking up even before the sunrise,short naps after jogging and in the noon,cleaning the house, spadeworks on Saturdays and Sundays,the ‘second trips’ in mess,once-in-a-while baths were all part of our stay at this sacred place.We used to have a hell lot of competitions whether it was curricular or extra-curricular. It was great fun. I’m simply proud to say how each and every individual supported their house with no limits and great enthusiasm .This sometimes led to few disparities among us . I laugh at those fights now,which we had for silly reasons or may be no reason at all.The way we organized ganesh chathurthi,teacher’s day and various events really amazes me of our organizing capabilities. How can I forget those long chats, late night indoor cricket and football, brave acts of taking cold-water baths and washing clothes. I had started to grow as a very different person all together in this place. It would be really unfair if I don’t remember my teachers. Each one of them truly awesome. The ideals they followed still makes me give them due respect to what they were made up of. Every teacher had their own way, no matter we criticised them at that part of our life. But it doesn’t matter at all. Whatever we are today is all because of these special people and this very own divine place.

We all had made it to the end. I had seen many hard days as well as joyful hours. Got to relish some deep relationships, many friends, innumerable successes and very few failures, ecstatic moments as well as heartbreaking incidents. With my very short experience, i had learnt the art of attracting people, cracking a silly joke, making friends ,handling situations and people, being happy for no reason and many other things.It was one of the most amazing roller coaster ride ever. Remembering all those beautiful moments my eyes were all wet when my friend questioned ,“ ಲೋ, ಯಾಕೊ ಅಳ್ತಿದಿಯ Shaheed –Kareena ಒ೦ದಾದ್ರಲ್ಲೊ” Then I realized we had completed two films back to back while I was busy with my flashback. Then we decided to move back to our houses. That walk was one of the longest walks which I’ll never forget.

The fact that we would never be together in future was still troubling me deep inside.

And today we all are far away from each other(yet connected). Every one misses this place very much. Never a day goes by without remembering this paradise.

Proud to be a navodayan.

And it all happened.....!!!!!! (Silver Jubilee Celebrations at Namma JNVB on Dec 3rd & 4th 2011)

If there is anyone who still wonders whether JNV is a place of talents, who still doubts that there is an intense bonding between JNVians, who still questions the supremacy of JNV Balehonnur…SJC is your answer.

I packed all my things for the next two days and went to bed by 11pm.No matter how hard I tried to doze off,I couldn’t.The fact that I’m going to the place where I spent the most happiest days of my life made me smile,jump out of joy . Somehow the time passed and it was 5.30am in the morning when I woke up (15minutes earlier than JNV schedule).I boarded a bus with the nameplate Hassan to chikmagalur to balehonnur to sringeri…

Inside the bus…

Lady conductor:” ಎಲ್ಲಿಗೆ??”

Me:” ಸೀಗೋಡು“

She again asked me “ಎಲ್ಲಿಗೆ??“

Me:” ಸೀಗೋಡು…..ಬಾಳೇಹೊನ್ನೂರ‍್ next stop-uu”

Conductor: “Oh ನವೋದಯನಾ….89rs. ಕೊಡಿ ”

And the ticket read Hassan to Navodaya…

(I had been once scolded by the conductor for asking a ticket to ‘navodaya’,because at that time very few knew the name of JNV…but today we are (quite) famous)
My face was all lit up by this thought.

Few other JNVians joined me at Chikmagalur. I couldn’t wait for 2 more hours to see my heaven.We all introduced ourselves and started our never-ending-talk on namma JNV.The roads reminded me all those days where I used to pray god so that I wont get punished for my undone,incomplete assignments and holiday projects.The coffee smell was bursting out at Balehonnur when my friends who had reached JNV started making calls to me.And we reached JNV by 11.20am.As soon as we stepped out of the bus the huge banner in front of the main gate was calling me inside and I was surprised to see an auto-stand besides naveen uncle’s shop and the under-construction overhead bridge.

We entered a place where you get too many 5.45ams,hear too many whistles,3pm means sharp 3pm,achievements are an obsession and ……I was overwhelmed to see many teachers, seniors and my friends talking to each other. I met my friends and we talked for few moments when our senior asked,” ಲೋ ಹರೀಶ,first registration ಮಾಡಿಸ್ಕೊ...ಆಮೇಲೆ ಮಾತಾಡದ್ ಇದ್ದಿದ್ದೆ”(discipline first).I registered and was given an identity card which said that I was an ‘alumni’.Sampath anna came to me and complemented heavily for my article in front of everyone (omg!! I felt so good).Though we were meeting few seniors for the first time there was an unknown bonding and an unexplainable chemistry(JNV is divine)

Jnv was a bit different.There were too many sheds,drinking water facility,hot water for bathing,study rooms inside the dormatories(once were stinking toilets),sophisticated toilets and bathrooms,newly erected blackboards(in fact green in colour) and too many things.

Then I joined my batch mates for after-a-very-longtime JNV tour.We met all the teachers and many seniors. It was so nice when an old teacher and your senior remembers your name.Few teachers made remarks on my mischiefs,oration skills and my leadership qualities .Rekha madam even complemented my looks( only person who has admired me so much).

Our first destination was academic block. We meet 12th students and talked for a while.It was great when they remember your name and recollect few moments spent with you in their own language(though I couldn’t recollect their names).Few juniors reminded me about how I had punished them with an innocent smile and made me feel famous among my friends(one of the prominent use of being a school leader is that you are remembered for a weird reason).Then we went to class 6th to learn how smart and active they are.We were stumbled (and happy as well) to see their spirits, confidence levels and love for respective houses.We all conducted a poll on ‘Which is the best item served in our mess??’ Chitranna and chapathis got the maximum votes.We went to the music room and recited many songs(from ‘hindh desh ke nivasi’ to ‘pillallaara’ to ‘chandan hai is desh ki’).Then we had lunch. The taste of food was all the same and tasty(kind of).After that we all played fun games.In between these events we all had great masti.Each and everyone was having a wonderful time.We played basketball with my friends(2000 & 2002 batch…because our batch had the least strength).

And time was racing against us.It was already 6.30 in the evening.We were all sitting to watch the cultural programmes.I was given a task (by diganthanna) at technical batch.What should I say about the evening.The prayer song (this time it was not ‘ಎಲೆಗಳು ನೂರಾರು’)started the proceedings.Chiranjeevi and Vinay’s solo dance,RCB’s performance was fun,manasa akka’s song,Soujanya akka’s ‘dum maaro dum’ was scintillating( unhappy that she didn’t sing ಅಮ್ಮ ನಿನ್ನ ಎದೆಯಾಳದಲ್ಲಿ), Evolution skit was amazing and unique(my favourite),’maar daala’ group dance & still-dances were stunning(my juniors rock), group dances,songs,performances by teachers made it a memorable evening.A sixth class kid stole everyone’s heart dancing on-stage .After dinner the programmes continued in the name of ‘camp fire’.Though the programmes were not all that great we still enjoyed every bit of it(I have no reason ).And we saw the biggest burst of crackers in namma JNV.It was already 11 when we dispersed.Then me,punith ,faruk and ramswamy again had a long walk in the campus accompanied by our memories . We moved to 2nd plot (Nilgiri house) and were treated royally. Here started another conference about JNV which lasted till 2.30am.This conversation enlightened us too many things like…students carry memory cards,pendrives(which we saw only after leaving JNV),use Facebook(I got my gmail id in class11th),6th students submitting their assignments in CDs,Grade points system,housewise games(shivalik is the champion from last 3 years) and too many things.

I woke up at 8’o clock (thank god…no jogging or spade work).We started our next day by having “ಉಪ್ಪಿಟ್ಟು,ಕೆಸರಿಬಾತ್”. One of the most memorable days of my life was here.We were all high to meet all the teachers.It was one of the biggest events that JNV balehonnur will ever witness.It was so heartening to talk to them.We took snaps with them.Few teachers wanted us to be in their snaps as well.I never ever thought I would meet all those teachers who played a vital role in my life. Few teachers gave their contact numbers and told us to meet them once in a while . At some point of time I confirmed whether this was all happening.It was such an awesome dream,a dream-come-true.We all had lunch (curd rice was nice).

There was a photo-session with the teachers.They announced 2001-08 batch.We were on-stage within no time.Umapathy anna announced ‘ಎಲ್ಲಾ ಒಂದೆ ಸರಿ ಬರ್ರೊ...ಎರಡು ಸರಿ ಬೇಡ...’.I replied ‘ನಾವ್ ಇಶ್ಟೆ ಜನ ಇರೊದು’ (I was pissed off…but made it possible to don a fake smile).We were only 7 people (next time we will be more in number).But I was jealous of other batches which were in good numbers.I’m particularly happy for our juniors(2002) and our seniors(2000)who turned in large numbers and included us in their group…we had great fun(you guys are bloody cool).Nobody is a stranger in JNV.We got a copy of magazine and a memento(the carry bag was fashionable..)

It was time to leave this place.So we took a glance of our school and moved towards bus stop.We did not miss to have ಕಡ್ಲೆ ಮಿಟಾಯೀ at naveen uncle’s shop and coffee, ಭಜ್ಜಿ in the hotel(charan took a pack of mixture & chaklis). We postponed our departure from 4.30pm bus to 5 bus to 5.30 bus to finally 6pm bus.I was so happy to be with our seniors(2000batch) again in the bus and Ganesh Hegde sir(what an amazing speaker he is..hats off) was also there. We had a great time throughout the journey(our seniors are awesome and are nice to be with..jealous of you as well).

And no matter how many times you say, “JNV balehonnur is the best” it never becomes a cliché.

It’s been two days already and I’m still unable to come out of the dream( who wants to).Facebook is filled with updates on SJC. SJC was grand,thrilling,superb,emotional and more than anything else it was heart touching.I’m very happy that I was a part of this event. I feel pity for all those who didn’t attend the the event.You all missed a thriller.

Heartfelt thanks to all the teachers who attended the event,to all my lovely seniors who organized this event,my batch mates(so special for me),and all jnvians…We guys (who are still studying) couldn’t take part actively in organizing but from next year we will be there. Let us make this a bigger organization and give back to the institute which really needs us.

See you all at next year’s IGNITE and annual Alumni meet.

World's Cheapest Game !!!

Let me tell you about the world's cheapest game. No matter how many games are played in this universe, this one is the cheapest. You can take a guess if you wish. If you think its cricket….sorry your guess is wrong. If you think its gambling…no! It’s not just about the number of players who play it, or the apparatus required, or the venue, but the overall concept of the game. I was referring to the ultimate game of democratic nations ‘POLITICS’. No space for ethics, lawfulness, rules… it’s all about being false, unlawful, cunning and unfair.

{With due respect to the founders of democracy and very few honest politicians this world has ever seen, here goes my write up on Politics.}

I was in 8^th standard. Our Hindi teacher had once asked us about our dreams and what we want to do in future. We all came up with ‘I will be an engineer’, ’I want to be a doctor’ and few ’Not yet decided’ answers. She gave a lecture after that which I still remember. “You all want to be engineers, doctors, scientists etc.. that’s  all fine. But what this country really needs today are social workers and honest politicians. Not that we don’t need others but the need of the hour is something very different than we think.”

Democracy is a form of government, a way of life, a goal or ideal, and a political philosophy. It is considered to be the most respected form of government as well as highly favored. The whole idea of democracy is to form a government of people’s choice. Virtually, everything is decided by the public opinion. Here, each and everything is by the people, for the people, and of the people.

US President Abraham Lincoln described such self-government as “government of the people, by the people, for the people.” I keep laughing at this definition whenever someone quotes it. Today POLITICS is considered to be the dirtiest aspect and politicians have no value at all. In fact the youth is afraid to join this morale-less domain. Most of the cartoons, tweets, jokes are based on illegal acts of politicians. Politics is the last resort of scoundrels. Someone has rightly said, “Power Corrupts”. False assurances, corruption, changing parties and all those negatives describe today's politics. But just think for a moment, worst politicians are never created on their own. We create these ruthless bodies. If they are wrong ,we are directly responsible for it. It’s not a fact that all politicians are bad, still good ones do exist. Sir Winston Churchill once said, “Democracy is the worst form of government.” Today India is suffering from the political crisis. Eligible candidates are not selected in most of the cases. Caste politics, money power, criminal influence etc are playing a vital role. I can name a list of scams worth thousands of crores by these politicians and parties. Many villages still don’t have basic facilities like roads, water, sanitation, medicine and few more. The rate of criminal activities are rising day by day. Bad government policies, senseless administration, and ethics-less politics is harming this nation in a dirty way.

We have reached a position where we have started accepting things; good or bad. Everybody in this world is upset over the growing trends in politics but no one is ready to rectify these. We watch news channels, read newspapers and debate. But no one is ready to take some steps to change things. It’s time for us to make a change. Let us start a revolution to change. First of all, let us believe that change is possible. If a single person decides to be right there will be an idiot less in this world. Let us make it a point to participate actively in the elections and choose best ones. Stop talking about all the negatives and start emphasizing on positives. That is actually the hard way – much much harder than fasts. Much less glamorous than tearing and burning bills. And it will take much longer than a few months of protests…and no amount of burning paper is likely to get any of us closer to that. To face  up to India’s myriad challenges – and let us face it, corruption is just one part of it, we need a new set of people in the government,who are really eligible. It will be a long haul. I don’t think there is any other way. But it can be done.  Let’s redefine POLITICS .

“Hope is a good thing, may be the best of things, and no good thing ever dies”