I made a trip all alone to Bangalore from Proddatur (in Kadapa district) in the summer of 1962 when I was barely 11 years old. In itself, the journey was adventurous. Our nearest Railway station, Yerraguntla, is about 12 kilometres away from Proddatur. Boarding the train at Yerraguntla, I had to change in Guntakal and board another train to reach Bangalore. Since my paternal grandmother was from Bangalore, I have scores of cousins in Bangalore. Since my trip was for holidaying, I planned to visit all my cousins as also visit all tourist places in and around Bangalore. By nature, I was adventurous and my 11 years age did not deter me from moving alone in public transport in Bangalore. Since I could speak Kannada fluently, I could converse with people around if I required any info or help. My cousins helped in guiding me regarding City Bus routes, bus stops where to board a bus or alight to visit places of intests. I thus didn't require anyone else to accompany me. So, independently I moved around. I even made a trip to Mysore by a tourist bus. One day I went to Cauvery Handicrafts Emporium (Karnataka Govt owned shop selling artefacts) on M.G.Road. Then strolling across Brigade Road, enjoying window shopping, I reached Cash Pharmacy bus stop (St Marks Road - Residency Road meeting point) in the afternoon. I was waiting there for a city bus. In and around that area many "Convent Schools" existed. Just then all the school children were trooping out from those schools, after the closing bell. Those days, "pick up" parents waiting outside schools in 2-4 wheelers for their kids were not a common sight. As school children crowded the bus stop chatting amongst themselves in fluent English, I watched them in awe. I too wanted to look like them wearing a smart looking uniform of a convent school, be able to talk like them in english. So impressed I was that when my father came to Bangalore after 2 days, the first thing I asked him was that he should enroll me in one of those convents. I told him that even if it meant that I had to join in 5th class istead of the 7th standard that I was to attend after the summer vacation in Proddatur, I was ready. He deftly handled my strange demand and dissuaded me in pursuing with it .... eventually I went back to my 7th class in Proddatur.
A few years later, I returned to Bangalore for my college studies. My class had several students from Convent School back ground which I had so much admired. I realised that generally their knowledge of English was abysmally low and the grammar was atrocious. Precis writing was an unknown art to them. They were not generally good in other subjects either. I was glad that my father had greater faith in Municipal High School teaching staff than in those who were teaching and running those Show Off Schools. He saved me from losing a few years (which I would have, if I had got into one of those fancy schools)
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