Tuesday, July 20, 2010

My First Love Affair – My School Textbooks

‘Let books be your dining table,
And you shall be full of delights
Let them be your mattress
And you shall sleep restful nights’

I think my first love with books began with the school textbooks. Aah! I know it sounds boring, but it wasn’t. Our English, Hindi and Marathi Bal Bharati texts had so many illuminating stories to tell. Some nice poems as well which I remember till this day.
I still recollect how we would devour the books till all the interesting stories were read. And all this happened in a couple of days from the purchase of the books. I would even complete the stories from my sister’s textbooks and she is 4 years older than me. She would read mine to go back in time.




There were some good one’s like the ‘the Duck and the Dachshund’ – an emotional story about friendship between a dog and a duck; ‘A letter from Mussourie’ – a letter from an elder sister to her younger sister describing the picturesque beauty of Mussourie and the clouds which she had experienced and realized it was mist; ‘Visraloo Vinu’ – a forgetful boy who once forgot to sow the seeds and continued to water the flowerbed till his teacher pointed it out to him.
Stories about ‘Sikandar aur Porous’ and ‘Shaikhchilli’ was also enjoyable.

And then there was this extremely hilarious poem amongst the stalwarts like William Wordsworth; W.B Yeats, Robert Frost, John Keats and W. Shakespeare.
It began something like this, ‘Okee Pokee Chinga ma ring; 18th wife of the mighty king’. That’s all I remember of the poem and how I went in splits when my sister was reciting it for her exams.
I wish I had paid more attention to the classic poems then. Sigh!
The only prayer song I know completely apart from ‘Our Father in Heaven’ is ‘Prarthana’ and started like this, ‘Hey bhagwan, mujhe is duniya ki seva ka vardaan do…’ This was the first chapter in the 6th standard Hindi text book; which I tend to recite unknowingly whenever tensed.



As I grew up, I enjoyed reading my History texts which had inspiring anecdotes and narrations about Indian history, freedom movements, sacrifices, famous leaders and martyrs, losses and victory. With each story I became more Indian and a patriot in every sense.
More than anything I loved the action, adventure and most of all rebel. I love rebellions! :)
And of course who can forget the famous slogans which erupted in the streets in captive India (and in our semester exams:) ‘Simon Go Back’; ‘Tum Mujhe Khoon Do main Tumhe Azadi Doonga’; ‘Inquilab Zindabad’; ‘Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna, ‘Ab hamare dil mein hai’.
The world history was as interesting and adventurous especially the chronicles on American history, Boston tea party, the cause and culmination of World War 1 and 2 being most interesting feature of the entire book.




Geography grew interesting when it spoke about various regions like Tundra, Coniferous forests, and Grasslands like the Savannas, Prairie. The books would describe the culture, habitat and food habits of various tribes and nomads like the Bedouins, Eskimos and Masais.
Oh! It was so beautifully described that I wanted to meet the Masais who drank a particular insect’s blood. It was all so fascinating.

But that was it. Parents and teachers don’t expect fascination; they expect good marks.
That’s where the problems begin; I somehow could never remember much of what I had already read :) 
I simply enjoyed.


34 comments:

  1. your post took me back in time. I stumbled across your post while looking for the story of "Duck and the Dachshund". I still remember how I felt after the teacher read us the story. I remembered the other mentions in your post as well. Thanks.
    However, I'm still scrounging the internet for the complete text of some of them :)

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    Replies
    1. Hey Neelesh, Sorry, for acknowledging this late. I'm glad this post incited nostalgia. I would love to collaborate with others and compile all Balbharti stories of 90s.

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  2. Your post was a relief after a long search for bal bharti text book. I went back to the nostalgic days of those recitations and the lovely textbooks that i used to read. Thanking for reminding of those days again. How i wish i could go back to school.....

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    Replies
    1. Hey Deepak, Sorry, for acknowledging this late. I'm happy it brought back memories.

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  3. Hi Suman, it feels like we are from the same school, i remember all the stories that you've mentioned. There are others too like 'Dabli babu' and 'Bimar na hone ka dukh' in which the author is dying to fall sick :)...

    Also another story in which the author's father was deaf and dumb and used to work in an upholstery store..there was a quote that said 'To be happy always, is not being happy at all' it is only now that i understand its true meaning. And there was this ukrainian folk tale about a little girl who gets lost and is looking for her mother: 'my mother is the most beautiful woman in the world' ..do u remember these ?

    I stumbled on this blog while looking for 'Okie Pokie Ching ma ring' havent found it yet though. BTW do you still have any hard copies of our school textbooks, please scan them and upload it would be a treat.

    Thanks for Sharing..

    Kartik
    kaykay186 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kartik,
      We can't be from the same school, I was in an all girls school. :) Pretty sure of similar age though.
      I'm so glad, I'm reading your comment again. So many stories still to be found again. I'm wondering where I can find old balbharti books.

      Delete
  4. Gosh! Kartik, you remeber a lot more stories. Now, that you've mentioned 'Dabli Babu' and 'Bimar na hone ka dukh' springs in my mind!! :)
    Of course I remember the Ukranian story. One of them that has always stayed in my mind.
    No, I haven't got a copy of these books. But since you've mentioned I'll think it will be sooper hunting for them. Will begin my search this year.
    I'm sorry for responding so late. Was busy writing for everyone else. Forgot to take a peek at my blog. :(

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  5. Neelesh and Deepak, thank you. If you guys do get text of some of those stories do publish them. Would love to read them all over again.

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  6. Do you have any of these old textbooks? If you do please upload scanned copies of those... Really want to preserve them with me in some form or the other...

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    Replies
    1. Sorry, I don't have any of these textbooks. I would love to collaborate with others and compile all Balbharti textbooks and stories of 90s.

      Delete
  7. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  8. Thank you Suman , I came across this post while searching for the hindi poem, 'Hey bhagwaan mujhey duniya key seva ka vardaan do..", wanted to know, if the entire poem was posted somewhere, I am so glad I stumbled across this post, brought back such sweet memories.

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    Replies
    1. :) Hi Guddi, I'm happy it brought back sweet memories.

      Delete
  9. "‘Hey bhagwan, mujhe is duniya ki seva ka vardaan do…’ This was the first chapter in the 6th standard Hindi text book; which I tend to recite unknowingly whenever tensed."

    Ditto..

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  10. Dabli was the saddest character of all Hindi Text books' chapters that I read. A bad example for students.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Nidhi, was it? I don't quite recall the entire story. Just loved the name Dabli.

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    2. Hiii Nidhi ....I don't think that Dabli babu was a bad example for students.
      I read that story in class 6th (1996)....
      'Dabli Babu', the story was about a selfless man, who led a plain simple life, nothing extra ordinary, yet even in his greatest miseries and sickness he didn't bother anyone and passed away quietly.

      And suman ...thanku for sharing this and making me feel nostalgic...missing my school days badly...we can collaborate and compile all bal bharti stories.

      Delete
    3. Ravish...glad you liked it...Would love to collaborate and compile Balbharti stories!

      Delete
  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  12. Good old days... does any one remember about Chudi wale baba??

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  13. Hi Suman, do u remember that prayer? He bhagwan muze duniya ki seva ... If yes can u pls mail me? bhavsarswapna03@gmail.com

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  14. Where is that poem
    Hey bhagwan muze duniya ki sewa ka vardan do....
    Will you please post if remember

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  15. I am in Pune, I am planning to visit Balbharati Office on senapati bapat road. According to my school friend (who is also a teacher now), balbharti office has retian all old books, and public can accesss them. So I plannig to visit the office along with my friend (he being a schook teacher brings some advantage), and will try to scan those 90s school book.

    I remeber stories like "neem and babul tree", "jataka tales", "ganga naadi ki baad"..several others i dont recall the names but i recall the story and images.

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  16. We can team up to recollect those 90s books.

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  17. Shriyash, did you get any luck here, i am very keen to reread dabli babu and ashutosh kaka story

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  18. Hey bhagwan mujhe duniya ki seva ka vardaan do.
    Dukhiyo ka dukh mita sakti main aisi shakti mahan do

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. हे भगवान, मुझे दुनिया की
      सेवा का वरदान दो,
      दुखियों का दुख मिटा सकूँ मैं
      ऐसी शक्ति महान दो।

      जो, आँसू से भीग रहे हों
      उन्हें हँसी की छाँह दूँ,
      बिना सहारे भटक रहे जो
      उनको सुख की बाँह दूँ।

      हे भगवान, मुझे तुम अपनी
      दया-दृष्टि औ' भक्ति दो,
      सदा बुराई से लड़ पाऊँ
      जीवन में वह शक्ति दो।

      Delete
  19. राजास जी महाली सौख्ये कधी मिळाली
    ती सर्व प्राप्त झाली या झोपडीत माझ्या

    भूमीवरी पडावे ताऱ्यांकडे पहावे
    प्रभुनाम नित्य गावे या झोपडीत माझ्या

    पहारे आणि तिजोऱ्या, त्यातुनि होती चोऱ्या
    दाराशी नाही दोऱ्या, या झोपडीत माझ्या

    जाता त्या महाला मज्जाव शब्द आला
    भीती न यावयाला, या झोपडीत माझ्या

    महाली मऊ बिछाने कंदील शामदाने
    आम्हा जमीन माने या झोपडीत माझ्या

    येता तरी सुखे या, जाता तरी सुखे जा
    कोणावरी न बोजा, या झोपडीत माझ्या

    पाहून सौख्य माझे, देवेंद्र तोही लाजे
    शांती सदा विराजे, या झोपडीत माझ्या

    'तुकड्या' मती करावी, पायी तुझ्या नमावी
    मूर्ती तुझी रहावी, या झोपडीत माझ्या

    ReplyDelete
  20. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid037PGZ48QgM6caNY7ppYuAN4YvBEoPmGuRDv65yqskunFEDGLjmFovkYyrjX5zUA8rl&id=266828310629163&sfnsn=wiwspmo

    Found it here

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  21. Hi Suman - I stumbled upon your post while look for the full text of 'Dabli babu' and can't thank you enough for writing this one. I totally agree that we had some of the best stories in our language text books(Maharashtra State board in 90s) I particularly remember these:

    English
    My son, the physicist
    Lantern as big as the house - part 1 &2
    Raju and the Tundra region
    Impossible dream
    Mowgli and the bunder log

    Marathi
    Takane lihileli ghosht
    Leheri raja aani mamledar
    Kaavre Dada aani chimni

    Hindi
    Sunehra murga, kala bandar aur lal amrud ka pedh
    Maje railway safar ke
    Tab yaad tumhari aati hai - poem

    Do you remember any of these?



    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Impossible dream.. the chapter that I loved most and will always stay with me.. somehow that impossible dream became my dream ..
      Well.. you just made me smile with this comment.. one step closer to the dream.. keep spreading happiness..

      P.S. I searched for this story so many times, but never found it.. if you have links to the Impossible dream, please share..

      Delete
    2. Here you go!

      An Impossible dream

      I was in New York the other day and rode with a friend in a taxi. When we got out, my friend said to the driver, “Thank you for the ride. You did a superb job of driving.”

      The taxi driver was stunned for a second. Then he said, “Are you a wise guy or something?”

      “No, my dear man, and I’m not putting you on. I admire the way you keep cool in heavy traffic.”

      “Yeah,” the driver said and drove off.

      “What was that all about?” I asked.

      “I am trying to bring love back to New York,” he said. “I believe it’s the only thing that can save the city.”

      “How can one man save New York?”

      “It’s not one man. I believe I have made that taxi driver’s day. Suppose he has 20 fares. He’s going to be nice to those 20 fares because someone was nice to him. Those fares in turn will be kinder to their employees or shopkeepers or waiters or even their own families. Eventually the goodwill could spread to at least 1,000 people. Now that isn’t bad, is it?”

      “But you’re depending on that taxi driver to pass your goodwill to others.”

      “I’m not depending on it,” my friend said. “I’m aware that the system isn’t foolproof so I might deal with ten different people today. If out of ten I can make three happy, then eventually I can indirectly influence the attitudes of 3,000 more.”

      “It sounds good on paper,” I admitted, “but I’m not sure it works in practice.”

      “Nothing is lost if it doesn’t. It didn’t take any of my time to tell that man he was doing a good job. He neither received a larger tip nor a smaller tip. If it fell on deaf ears, so what? Tomorrow there will be another taxi driver I can try to make happy.”

      “You’re some kind of a nut,” I said.

      “That shows how cynical you have become. I have made a study of this. The thing that seems to be lacking, besides money of course, for our postal employees, is that no one tells people who work for the post office what a good job they’re doing.”

      “But they’re not doing a good job.”

      “They’re not doing a good job because they feel no one cares if they do or not. Why shouldn’t someone say a kind word to them?”

      We were walking past a structure in the process of being built and passed five workmen eating their lunch. My friend stopped. “That’s a magnificent job you men have done. It must be difficult and dangerous work.”

      The workmen eyed my friend suspiciously.

      “When will it be finished?”

      “June, a man grunted.

      “Ah. That really is impressive. You must all be very proud.”

      We walked away. I said to him, “I haven’t seen anyone like you since The Man From LaMancha.”

      “When those men digest my words, they will feel better for it. Somehow the city will benefit from their happiness.”

      “But you can’t do this all alone!” I protested. “You’re just one man.”

      “The most important thing is not to get discouraged. Making people in the city become kind again is not an easy job, but if I can enlist other people in my campaign. . .”

      “You just winked at a very plain-looking woman,” I said.

      “Yes, I know,” he replied. “And if she’s a schoolteacher, her class will be in for a fantastic day.”

      Delete
  22. Follow this facebook page for old textbooks


    https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063714054226

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  23. Hi

    I stumbled on your post while searching for the Hindi poem he bhagwan mujhe duniya ki seva ka vardaan do. Remember only 2 stanza. I am searching for the rest.
    हे भगवान, मुझे दुनिया की
    सेवा का वरदान दो,
    दुखियों का दुख मिटा सकूँ मैं
    ऐसी शक्ति महान दो।

    जो, आँसू से भीग रहे हों
    उन्हें हँसी की छाँह दूँ,
    बिना सहारे भटक रहे जो
    उनको सुख की बाँह दूँ।

    हे भगवान, मुझे तुम अपनी
    दया-दृष्टि और भक्ति दो,
    सदा बुराई से लड़ पाऊँ
    जीवन में वह शक्ति दो।

    ReplyDelete