13 I go to School and Thereafter

I was about 6 years old when I was put in School as per the earlier philosophy, unlike today when toddlers aged 2 years are put in a pre-school! As we were staying in Mahim, my Father was keen to have me admitted to the Bombay Scottish Orphanage School as it was known then. My Father took me along to this School on Cadell Road, but we were informed that he should have registered and enrolled my name immediately after I was born! Such a disappointment!

My Mother’s cousin was a teacher at another School nearby called the Victoria School. She arranged an interview with the Principal, a Roman Catholic priest who readily gave me admission to the Kindergarten Class. So my Father escorted me to the school one day, and placed me in the designated classroom. I was extremely brave unlike many of the other kids who were bawling away when their parents tried to leave! I still remember my Father anxiously trying to reassure me but I found this very irritating and wanted him to leave me alone! 

I enjoyed going to school and I lapped up all that was taught with great gusto. I remember going with my Mother to Anand Book Depot, the book shop and stationers close to our home, and my Mother purchasing notebooks along with the brown wrapping paper and labels. I recall vividly the smell of these new notebooks, the brown paper and the glue even today! Though my Father had undergone the appendix operation, he still felt weak and had not fully recovered yet. My parents decided that we needed to go to Bangalore to recuperate for about 3-4 months. So once again we travelled by train to Bangalore, this time with my Brother, Sister and Grandmother!