Me and Bhusawal (EK) - RANDOM THOUGHTS
Dwarkanath K Murthy
It was 1957 to 1959 I was away at Bhusawal under the care of maternal grand parents, where my grandfather was the town chief electrical engineer. Here is an account of my vivid recollections of the stay. I was admitted to St. Aloysius High School (Estt.1874) Bhusawal in class II. My maternal aunt also taught in the same school. It was a wonderful period to initiate my studies, my grandfather, a London returnee of 30s was a Hitler like but with compassion, under whose guidance I started learning English, which was beyond the class room teaching. Being a disciplinarian schedules were well - playing between 4.30 to 6, then study, dinner by 8, preparing bed by 8.30 go to bed by 9. I remember he had provided me a separate diary like book wherein I was supposed learn and write at least 5 words a day.
Being an electrical engineer visit to theatre was gratis, though not able to understand I was one with the group to enjoy the movies. The movies I remember are Madumathi, Survarna Sundari, Bhabhi, Zimbo comes to town, it was also a learning experience in a way, the song Asman Jukh Rahi Zamee Par introduced me to the term HORIZON by my grandpa. The town had four theatres Vasanth, Pandurang, Mamaji and Linda for English movies. Outings to river like Tapathi, adjoining Ajantha and Ellora caves and like were often, my grandpa being adventures. On the way with overflowing river on low lying bridges the tiny prefect ford used to get stuck, that hardly mattered for him. No way I have inherited this trait. It used to be a drop by car for me and my aunt to the school, a terrifying incident was on the way I saw myself sitting in the back seat leaning to the window which just got opened and me hanging to it, dare not tell my Hitler grandpa, it was my aunt who observed and saved the moment. Imposition for going on picnic was to submit a write up in my own words, here when I wrote "kannabd" for a sweet meat preparation, had a lesson and I learnt the word "porridge". This was after a visit to Ellora on my 10th birthday.
We are generally advised regarding food intake during eclipse, on a day when eclipse was there I bought pea nuts with 3 paise coin (brass circular one with hole in the middle) given by my mamma, just 7yrs elder. Nothing happened, but eclipse effect showed in way in 1980 for publishing a paper on solar eclipse, in my career - a move from campus to NC (in a lighter vein).
The most important jump was a double promotion from II to IV class, owing to the efforts of my aunt, training me with III class portion and making me write a special exam. I ought to remain grateful for life time, to my aunt. Today we are fascinated by Ganapathi processions, thanks to Chenna Reddy's acts which has spread over entire state subsequent to 1980. This was well established feature in Maharashtra and Bhusawal was no exception, on the immersion day it was a day out to view these. With huge Pratimas preceded by variety of dances.
Bhusawal being a railway junction, major part were occupied by railways. To mention about the phone, almost non existent there, was one at home connecting the Electrical office and Substation, hand rotate it once it is office, twice it's Substation.
One of the interesting book, I don't think it was school book, which I was made to read - a good book with moral values with lessons on Zoraster, Buddha, Thirthankara, Santh Tukaram, Jesus , Rama, Krishna, Gurunanak etc. A taste for film music was initiated there co listening along with my aunt and uncle, Ameen Sayani's Binaca geet mala between 8 to 9 on Wednesday on Radio Ceylon. It was loma time which was a standard. The last song invariably was "inaminadica daidamadica". My uncle was still a student making up and down trips to Jalgoan for his intermediate education. Being a maths student I used seem him working on slate solving problems which even our class I have left behind. The only friends I remember is Raju and Joey my neighbours.
Last but not the least had the ordeal of learning very elementary Marathi as a language in addition to Hindi. This went for a toss after repatriation, as I started learning kannada and working knowledge of Telugu.
With my grandpa retiring around 1959, my exile from Hyderabad came to a close and was repatriated to home at Narayanguda, Hyderabad, joining my five siblings and parents, of course two of them were born post 1959.
Interstate problems gave me one more double promotion jumping from IV to VI stabilising at Nrupathunga.
An ambition is to see the place which I left 57 years ago, hope I can make it.
