I was a student of Ramakrishna Mission High School, Cherrapunji (presently known as Sohra)

There were two classrooms dedicated to Bengali and Sanskrit classes. We were in Class IX then. The latch fell in our adjacent class and the door couldn't be opened the next day. The Class IX boys were held guilty! We were summoned by the Headmaster, Swami Bikashananda Maharaj. He started spanking us straight away (without telling us why and without allowing us to defend ourselves) that too sadly in front of junior girls! I went close to him thinking that he would not be able swing properly! I got hit between my fore-finger and middle finger. The area had become swollen and in a month's time there was the Annual Exam. When we could somehow come, I went home and reported the matter to my mom. My mom along with a cousin of ours, who was staying with us then, went to straight away to Swami Bikashanandaji Maharaj to ask for explanations. My dad had to keep quiet for obvious reasons.

 Kong Iolin, a teacher of ours, 🙏 was wild. She got hold of all the Bengali students and asked them come out of their classes in protest against the incident.

Later, of course Swamiji realised his mistake and sent me toffees and iodex (an ointment). Later we became good friends and he used to coach (History) me privately. Much later, when I was doing my M.A., he had offered me a job in Purulia, where he was posted then.

 

I used to wear shorts till Class VII, which would bare my thighs. Our Mizo classmates used to slap on my thighs. This was real torture. Later, I got a pair of trousers, stitched by a tailor from Khlieshnong (name of a village in Sohra/Cherrapunji). In fact, as far as I remember he was the only tailor available around. We used to get our suits stitched by him only. Now, that trouser was more like a parallel pant. Of course, such pants were not known those days. Now, the problem was that most of my classmates would ask me if it was my grandfather's! 😂😂😂

 

So, ours was not the only batch to do similar things. During rainy days, hostellers would come and rub their clothes with ours, and we used to go to the headmaster for leave, saying that all the day scholars are wet. It was somehow the prerogative of Class IX students to ask for leave. When we were in Class IX, we secured leave on different occasions. But when we were in Class X, we observed that students of Class IX were not performing their sacred duty, Despite us repeatedly telling them to ask for leave. So, to teach them a lesson, we, the students of Class X, went to Swami Gokuananda Maharaj, who was the Headmaster and Secretary then. He was taking a class in Class IX. We were permitted to enter the class. After seeing an Application Letter in our hands, students of Class IX started whispering – holiday, holdiay, holdiay! After Swami Gokulananda Maharaj said, 'Sorry, it is an application for study leave for Class X students, before the Pre-test!' So, we got the leave for us and the students of Class IX were left deflated! Felt sorry for other students though! But it was not our duty ask for leave for the whole school, though!

I was in Class VII then. Sleepy me used to take down notes with my eyes open, with a hand on my forehead to hide my sleepiness! And guess what, what would happen to me when the exams came!!! 😂😂😂

On one memorable occasion, a friendly football match was organized between the teachers and the students. The headmaster took up the position of goalkeeper for the teachers’ team. It was obvious from the outset, that the students were the stronger side. However, none of them dared to score—held back by a mix of respect and fear for the headmaster. The teachers, too, failed to find the net. Then came the unexpected twist: the headmaster Maharaj, in a burst of mischief, tucked the ball under his lungi, walked straight into the goal, and calmly “scored.” Not a single student dared to challenge him! And just like that, the teachers’ team claimed victory.