Ramble ...


I have been going through a phase of inactivity, generally described in low frequency blogger circles and in Calcutta government office parlance as a Writer’s Block (did you get that one?? .. did you? did you?? .. aah never mind, that was too Bong a reference anyway ..). The concept is best described by a C&H gem unearthed from forwards long gone and buried.

My case, however, is slightly different. Its not that I have been groping for words; have never really had that particular problem (long suffering friends and comrades shall testify). Let me explain by example:

Official mail #1– “Pfa, The stable model .. This is not to be confused with the stable model which deals with equestrian housing and such like stuff …”

Official mail #2 – “Today is a red letter day in the short history of our lives .. R**** is actually working .. Well at least gesticulating to the whiteboard on his own at any rate ..” (R**** = co-worker from the client side)

Official mail #3 – “Here’s the final model, I wish there was one for me also … of the non-excel sheet variety .. :( …” (mail sending out financial model for errr .. that’s where things start to get all confidential and cloak-and-dagger-ish)

Talking of wisecracks, one of the most unlikely but prolific professions for spawning ‘wise-crack’ers galore is apparently, the noble profession of teaching, based on evidence gleaned across 18 years of typical formal education.

So there used to be Mr. Talukdar in school, who had some classics to his credit – “Eyyuu .. kip quiet .. the principal is vibrating in the corridor” … this used to alternate with principal ‘rotating in the corridor’ based on mood / position o f stars / breakfast had et al. He was our chemistry teacher and frequently gave us instructive insights on formula pronounciation .. “H2O .. wachhher” he used to say .. . “eh sir . u mean .. water ??” .. “No .. wacchhherrrrr”

Then there was also Noyon sir .. “Oxy –zaayynnne, oxy-what .. tale me now … ?” .. we all used to chorus ozy-zane after that .. good, solid, clean fun – before life got complicated with the net and dplaystations.

Talukdar sir, it is rumoured, in his heydays had been a karate / taekwondo types (talking of martial arts, I assume you have seen the taekwando-do scene from Ice Age; if not, stop reading right now and go watch it, its one of things which complete life) .. he however frequently commented on general lifestyle and well-being as well with equal panache .. “Eyyuu .. open the window, let the climate come in ..” Yes, there was this thing with chemistry teachers – I think the formulae and reactions and stuff get to you after a while.

Teachers got mostly monochromatic after my school days, though. Somewhere down the line, institutes also stopped celebrating Teachers’ Day. The pace of the earth catches up with everyone I suppose.

But, School was thorough fun. Mostly.

I have been to school just twice in the last 8 years or so.. Both times, it was like entering an island which time had chosen to flow around. Yet, most of my teachers had gone, the ones who remained had more grey hair now – and much softer smiles .. Ramlal’s canteen had been revamped, the students now carry cell-phones, the parent’s shed has been changed. In spite of all this I like to think that somehow, inexplicably, James’ continues to remain my school.