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.