6. THE SCHOOL DAYS

   I was admitted to the Payyadimeethal Lower Primary School in the 1st standard when I completed five years.I went with my eldest brother on the first working of June.It was a rainy day.After the usual formalities the headmaster admitted me.The next day onwards I began to go to school.The school was situated under two banyan trees near the roadside.Hence the school was popularly known as Aalinchuvattil School as the Malayalam words for 'banyan' and under were 'aal' and 'chuvattil' respectively.During the intervals the students would sit under the banyan trees playing with stones or simply sitting watching others play.Sometimes the teachers themselves would take us to under those trees and tell us stories,

   I was one of the noted students in my class,not because I am clever or smart,but because I am calm and quiet attending the class regularly and promptly.Let me recall an incident while I was in the second  standard  which show how timid and reserved I was.One morning the students and teachers found some nightsoil in the class near the teacher's table.Our classroom was in an open shed.People belonging to some nomadic tribes from Karnataka were in our village for works such as deepening ponds and trenching wells,etc.Some of them were in the habit of sleeping in the school building.It may be their residues which we found in the classroom.Everybody stood at the entrance of the class covering their noses by towels or hands.There was no sweeper in our school.The teacher was angry not because it was found in the classroom,but nobody tried to clean it or at least communicate the matter to the teachers at the earliest.I felt guilty as was the first student to come ro the classroom.Besides I was one of the comparatively 'bigger' boys in the class physically.So the teacher asked me to clean the class.I willingly come forward to obey him.If not I knew the cosequences. I have never done such works at our house or watched anybody doing  such cleaning worksanywhere.I was  of the impression that I need not know such things any time in life.And really I did not know how to start and what to do first.At that time students of the fourth standard came to the classroom What I did was to bring two buckets of water from the nearby well.But I keenly observed how the cleaning process took place.One of the valuable lessons I learnt at schoo was this.

    Another incident took place when I was in the third standard.I usually reach a little bit earlier at school,coming straight  away from the madrasa.One day when I reached the school  I found nobody there.So I placed my bag in my class room and walked towards the urinal which was situated at the western side of the playground.When I was in the middle of the ground,a stone came from somewhere and struck on the back of my head forcefully.When I turned back and looked with excruciating pain I could see two persons, a man and a woman, running from the side of the school towards the road. After that incident I would wait a few minutes after the disposal of the madrasa classes so as to reach school along with ohers,

   Still another unfortunate incident took place when I was in the fourth class.I fell down from a rock on the back of the school with some injuries making me absent from the class for a couple of weeks.It occurred on a friday noon when we had two hours' interval.I along with some of my classmates after comng back from home taking midday meals.That day we climbed up a rock situated at  the backyard of the school.Almost all boys except two persons climbed it and down easiy.The other boy also braved the task,the only exception being me.So I felt somewhat ashamed of could not climbing it up.Hence I attempted it just before a few minutes before the bell to return to the classes.When I was on the rock,I heared the ringing of the bell.All boys ran to the classes.In my hurry to be down,I tried to jumb .But I fell down.There was nobody to hold me and help me rise up.I somehow managed to be up on the feet and splashed to my classroom.I could sit in my place before the arrival of the teacher.My left knee was bleeding.I tried to cover the wound with the cloth I wore.But it would not do to prevent bleeding.Blood was dripping in the floor.A major portion of my cloth became wet with blood.I sat in my seat without moving for about two hours.The teacher came and took class as usual.I was in the shade of a combination of shame and fear.When the long well rang all except me left the class.It became very difficult for me to walk a single step.Coming out I Simply stood near a shop at the roadside.After some time I could see my beloved father coming .I became shivering with fear.I did not feel the pain in my knee for the time being.My only thought was how to stand there without coming to the eyes of my father.On fridays my father had no work at his school and it was customary for him to go to the road in the afternoons on holidays.Now he was coming towards me.He stood in front of me  without asking anything.His face was red with anger and pity.At the sametime a man with bicycle came here and took me on it to a doctor at Palazhi.The  doctor dressed the wound and gave me an injection.I was all crying with pain and the awaiting 'treatment' from father and others at home.But when I was back home nobody,mother,sisters or workmates asked me anything.I had to confine to my mat for a few days.

    The teachers who taught me at the L.P.School were Ramanunni Master,Raman Master,Narayanan Master,Kareem Master and Gopalakrishnan  Master.All the teachers knew my father and they had special attention for me.I stood first in the class in quarterly and half-yearly examinations.I readily studied everything taken in the class daily and did the homeworks regularly.There were many boys who copied not only from my notebooks but from my examination answer-sheets and presented to the teachers as their own.Though this created some problems I never earned the displeasure of my mischievious classmates by divulging the truth to the teachers.As a students ,I had some inhibitions and limitations.I never asked anything to anyone or resorted to any kind of malpractices even though I got chances.I do agree that a student must ask the teachers and clear if he has any doubt.It was one of the drawbacks of my life.My father himself has advised me reminding repeatedly that 'ask and ask you can reach at the heaven'.I was very reluctant to tell anything I wanted as part of my studies.Once a teacher had to punish me by asking me to stand iin the class for the whole day for not bringing the transcription book continuously for four days.The true fact was that I had no transcription book with me.If I had one with me I would have promptly written and showed it.Then from the next day onwards I did not go school for two days.Finallly I expressed the matter to mother and brought before the father,got a new transcription book and went school only to face an angry teacher and laughng co-students.

   Sometimes other students would try to fool me by taking my towel with which I cover my tonsured head and hiding it somewhere.I failed to find it out.I would run here and there in panic for sometime.Finally someone would take it out from my bag itself.I would wonder how it happened to be in the bag without my notice.

   There would be celebrations of Independence Day,Children's Day and School Annual Day.Flag hoisting,cleaning,taking out processions,speeches by teachers would mark the Independence Day celebrations.On Children's Day,there would be sports competitions.School Day would be in the month of March before the closure for the summer vacations and would be in the evening attended by a chief guest.Speeches,prize distribution and variety entertainments like dance.drama,etc. would be there.

   I began to read newspapers when I was in the fourth standard.The daily newspapers available in our village were Mathrubhoomi,Malayala Manorama and Deshabhimani.The historic events occurred while I was in the primary classes were the Indo- China war in 1962 and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy of U.S.A.in 1963..The death of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru ,the beloved first Prime Minister of India occurred on 27h May 1964.All the newspapers published bold headlnes with black borders and his large -size photographs. Profiles of Nehruji along with photographs showing important events in his life were also there.I felt a great loss in the death of Chachaji.Lal Bahadur Shasstri became the second Prime Minister of the country.His death after one and a half year was another sad event.

   In 1965 I was admitted to the Puthurmadam U.P.School.It was in this school my father worked as a tacher.So in that school I got a special 'consideration' from the teachers as the son of their colleague.The school was situated at about two kilometres.I walked the distance morning and evening along with others.My experience there on the first day was not happy.I vomitted there ahd had to come back home without attending the cass.My class teacher in the fifth standard was the late C.K.Padmanabhan.He was not only a good teacher,but a person honestly interested in the affairs of the common people.He was a member of panchayat.He taught us English and Mathematics.He would recite and expain the poems of Changampuzha,the great romantic poet of Malayalam.It was from him I heared for the first time the lines of 'Ramanan','Vazhakkula' and 'Spandikkunna Asthimadam'.Our social studies teacher was K.E.Kunhahammedkutty was a close friend of my father.He has good general knowledge and family and social connections.Other teachers who taught me at Puthurmadam included Madhavan Nair(headmaster),Ahammed Master(class teacher of the seventh standard),Kuttan(class teacher of the sixth standard),Pillai,Vasudevan,Nambeesan,Chandran Master  and Khader Master.There were two lady teachers,one for Hindi and the other for crafts.It was here I first appeared on the stage for the first time.participating in the monthly 'Sahityasamaiam'.The topic given to me was 'students and discipline'.All the students and teachers were assembled there.When my name was called I went to the stage and spoke two-three words and not getting anything more, stood there some seconds and came back to my seat.While standing on the stage I was shivering nervously.I forgot everything I learnt by heart by days of hard work.The things I said on the stage was not sensible and literally correct.Then I took a decision that never to appear on the stage,if it is such difficult.But later I had to change my decision and spoke on several stages for hours.

   It was while studying here I became interested in reading books in Malayalam.I read some of the novels of Uroob,S.K.Pottekkatt,Vaikam Muhammed Basheer,Kesavadev,Mottathu Varkey,Takazhi and M.T.Vasudevan Nair.I also read some of the poems by Kumaran Asan,Vallathol and G.Sankara Kurup.I regularly went through the Mathrubhomi Weekly which my brother brought home for reading.Sometimes I read the Manorama weekly also in which I liked the cartoon story and the humour page.Besides I read all pieces of printed papers I got.At evenings mother would tell us several stories on animals and spirits.Though she never got any formal education she was well-informed and a voracious newsgatherer.

   I began writing(better use the word 'scribbling')something on this or that in a smal ntebook made by foldng some sheet of white paper.Later I prepared a manuscript periodical(monthly) entitled 'Vidya' which contained news,articles,stories,poems,etc.A page of it was exclusivly for children.Though I am truly interested in acquiring knowledge I was not a best student of school as per the system of evaluation prevalent  at that time. But I got high marks in some subjects.Once I have been beaten by my class teacher while studying in the seventh standard leaving the class without permission.The same teacher (Ahammed Master) later wrote in my English answer paper thus :"very good,I appreciate this paper very much".He was a good teacher and a strict disciplinarian.And it was a rare gesture of appreciation for a student.He was mainly responsible for my base in English. He also took Mathematics in which I am only an average student.The same Ahammed Master patted me on my head once when I visited him a few weeks before his death.He expressed that I will be proved correct by the world in due course when I narrated to him the story of  my unique and unparallelled quest in life which none   has done.

    I had very few friends there.One of my closest friends was a Namboodiri boy who was very bright and handsome..He was the son of a college teacher.II could hear later that he died in a young age.There were some other friends with whom I went school and came back.Some of them were from some wealthy families of Kuttikkattoor.I had to quarrel with one of the walk-mates on the road for which I felt very sorry and ashamed.Though I never liked such incidents,I became involved in unavoidable circumstances.

    At school,there were periods for physical training,crafts,work experience,drawing and music which I attended enthusiastically.We had mass drill at the in the P.T.period. besides football and volleyball.During music period,a Bhagavathar would impart training in Karnatic music with the help of a 'sruthippetti'(harmonium).In the craft class we would make something with coir or such materials.In the drawing class I drew pictures of animals like elephants,cow,etc.and flowers and other objects.On rainy days there would not be P.T. and we would remain  in the class and the teacher would tell us interesting stories.In rainy season, the road through which I usually go to school would be under water and father would take me through another route

    My daily regimen had to be adusted while studying at schools away from the village where our house was situated.I could not come for midday meal.It had to be taken from a hotel nearby the school.I would take tea and tapioca with fish curry.Sometimes there would be 'kanji'(boiled rice in water).After taking the noon meal,I would go to the nearby mosque for performing midday prayers.But I was not happy to take the ablution(the customary wash before the prayers)because into the small pond everybody would gargle and spit as part of the ablution.When the school would be closed for a month in connection wih the Ramadhan fasting I would be very happy  The summer vacation for the Puthurmadam school was only for the month of May. While studying in the seventh standard I could not attend the class for about a month due to chicken pox.Besides I could not properly prepare and appear for the annual examination due to sore-eye.One notable event at our school was the annual inspection of the school by the AEO.Elaborate arrangements would be made by th manager,staff and students to make the inspection a success.The officer would assess the functioning of tne school and the quality of teaching.The teachers would do no stone unturned to see that everything was perfect.All the students would be asked to wear neat dresses as early  as possible,the classrooms and the premises of the school made clean and tidy,the classrooms would be decorated by hanging charts ,maps,etcThe teachers would come well-prepared and well-equipped,at their best. Above all, a sumptuous feast would be arranged for the inspector at the manager's house.Thei inspector would come to the class and sit in the teacher's chair The teacher would stand.If the inspector asked any question to any student whch he could not readily answer,the teacher would  give some clue(not orally,but by poibting to some chart hung on the wall.If the student failed to answer the question ,the inspector would look at the face of the teacher sternly.After the inspector had gone the teacher would scold the student who did not answer the question asked by the inspector .If there were surprise nspections instead of arranged ones,the quality of our schooling would improve much more.

    One of the events which was celebrated at our school at a grand was the independence day.All students and teachers would reach the school in the morning.Small flags ands pins would be given to all students.There would be flag-hoisting,speeches,procession and sweet distribution.We would be really proud of our great mation and salute her with great patriotic fervour.I had been leader of one of the classes.But the real leader of the class would be a student detained in the class.He would be the de facto ruler of the class in the  absence of the teacher.But the teacher would not recognise him and he would sit silent obeying the teacher.The student whom the teacher punished most would be him. 

  Poverty and diseaes were familiar to me from my childhood.Besides I had severe and complicated problems in family,and had only very limited freedom of movement,expression and ation.The marriage of my elder sister and that of my eldest brother took place while I was studying in primary classes.Father had major operation at the Medical College Hospital for piles.During my childhood,there was no latrine attached to my house.We went outside to answer the call of the nature.I was very relucant to do so.There may be persons coming and going through the places I usually use for it at day-times(at night no problem).There may be persons cutting grass for their cattles,women collecting wood-pieces and workmen.So  on some days when I could not go out for that purpose(due to some reasons beyond me) would go school suppressing the natural urge.till I could be back home in the evening.It was a very difficult which cannot be expressed in words.On such days,I,could not concentrate on my studies,could not concentrate on anything.I had to do so for many years.Only after many years,I could learn that it was extremely harmful to health.Premature greyness and baldness are its visible consequences.It may adversey affect the functioning of the brain,the sense organs and glands.Later some developments  took place in the house.The upstairs were modified,a latrine was constructed, the kitchen repaiired and an extension was also done.But we got electric supply only by 1971.Before it we have been  listening to the radio programmes with the help of   a transister.We would use an ironbox putting burned coconut shells when we wanted to press our dresses,that too only on specal occasions like Id,marriages,shool day,etc.The electricity connection led to spectacular changes in the life of the people of our village.I went Calicut city twice while studying at Puthurmadam school ; once to appear for the Residential School Scholarship Examination and another time to appear for the Upper Primary Scholarship Examination.Both the times I became sick on reaching the city travelling in bus and a vomiting I cannot properly appear for the respective examinations.

    I was very poor as far as my health was concerned..I was one of the permanent outpatients of the Medical College Hospital for many years.The hospital was only two kilometres away from our house.I would walk the distancce with some others.I had to make adjustments in accordance with with the changes occurring in the conditions,arrangements and conveniences of the elderlly members of the fanily and the events taking place in my house,neighbourhood,mosque,village or school.Sometimes I felt I was lonely and aloof even in the family or community.My father scolded me severely once when I became going to watch drama staged by a local arts club at Payyadithazham,a nearby village.The same was the response when I attended the anniversary function of our school.  

    During schooldays I would be back home by 5 pm.After taking the food items available at home,I would go to the roadside shop and stand there waiting for the father.I would bring to his notice the goods to be bought for that day.It was the practice of our house for years.There would be rush at the shop at that time.I would had to wait for an hour on some days.I would go through the newspaper available there if my father is not there.He would always be hot on me and my standing there for buying goods.At the same time if I was not present there he would be angry and it would finally result in a quarrel between father and mother with all its bad consiquences.An helpless mother had to wait without doing anything (not having any edible items,not even rice at home)until she got something.I had to waste my precious time simply waiting at the roadside for father.My could not manage to buy anything because she had no source of income.She would sell one or two coconuts and buy some essential goods like sugar,jaggery,sweet potato or tapioca powder.

   After passing the seventh standard, I was admitted to the eighth standard at the Pantheerankave High School.The school is situated on a small hill in a beautiful and salubrious environment,three kilometres away from our house.Looking from there one could see the moving waves of the Arabian Sea at the far western horizon.The functioning of the school was different from the primary school.At the high school,the student wings of some political parties were there.Some of them requested me to attend their meetings.I did attend them,but never joined any organisation.Sometimes I happened to observe  whatever transpires at such meetings held at Friday noon when the school had two hour interval in view of the Muslim weekly prayers.The meetings were attended by the leaders of the respective student organisations.I had many classmates who later became active political workers and leaders.Though I had chances to enter politics as the top leaders of our political system did through student organisations,I discarded them due to reasons : firstly,I found no such an exigency to enter active public works at that stage as in the case of the freedom struggle ,secondly none of my family members want me to enter politics at the time schooling.There was justification for our youngsters to leave schools and colleges and rally under the Indian National Congress for the achievement of independence.But after independence  the case was entirely different  and there is no meed of the students  working on political lines whatever may be end-objective.They must study and understand everything on our political processes.Politics must be for some selfless ends.But nowadys politics has degraded to be another business to earn and save something and ensure a safe future for one's own people.

    As a student  I had the habit of maintaining a news diary as part of my studies.It really reflected the heart-beats of the nation and the society ifrom various perspectives.I began to keep a personal diary also from 1971 which is  a solitary youngman's quest for justice and values in life. My teachers at Pantheerankave included the headmaster,P.K.Padmanabhan Nar,K.Sreedharan Nair,Unni Raghava Kurup,Prabhakara Kurup,Jayakaran,Manukkuttan,Choyikkutty,Sadanandan,Saraswathy,Menon, Moosad,Kunhanandan,Thampuran,Krishnan,Namboothiri,James,Narayanan,Velaydhan and Korappan .Among my classmates were persons of all sorts and working in various fields.They included P.T.Moosakoya(Professor ,Farook College)who was killed in a road accident,V.M.Gpalakishnan,teacher poet and science writer,Moosa Pantheerankave and M.Bhaskaran.labour officer.

    I appeared for the Secondary School Leaving Certificate Examination conducted by the Government of Kerala in March 1971.Pantheerankave School was not a centre.So we had to appear at the Govt.Ganapath High School,Calicut.I became sick on almost all days after a tedious  journey in a jampacked bus.I was standing the whole way from Medical College junction to Palayam buss tand. and began vomiting after getting down from the bus.I could not write the examination properly.It adversely affected ny future career.That year one paper was cancelled and examination conducted later due to leakage of the question paper.The results were published in the last week of May.I passed the examination without the much expected first class.I was extremely sorry and ashamed at this.Anyhow the all-important examination which have far-reaching importance in one's life was over.It was the end of one chapter and the beginning of another  eventful one in my life.