Subrata Chattopadhyay
Age: 57 years
Of: Cluster IX, Purbachal
Went to school in: Burdwan
Experience: I grew up in a remote village called Lohar, in the district of Burdwan and the secondary school closest to my home was 2km away, in Manteshwar, the nearest town. We would cycle during summers when the roads would be in the best shape. Once the rains started, the roads would just disappear under water. The roads were actually mud roads, so the rain would make them clay and we would inevitably slip even if we tried to walk on them. Cycling wasn't an option. So, we would walk along the raised boundaries of the paddy fields. Many a times, we would slip and fall and our uniform would be all dirty. We would take a dip in the nearest pond, go to school and take off the shirt and let it dry under the fan! It was quite an adventure.
Nandita Ghosh
Age: 77 years
Of: FE Block
Went to school in: Konnagar
Experience: I have the most pleasant memories of walking to school with friends. This is something my grandchildren miss out on as they take the car. The way to our school was through a residential area and I remember a “phool dadu” we would cross who would give me flowers from a lovely garden. I would in turn gift them to my teachers.
On rainy days, our parents would send us out with umbrellas but naughty as we were, we would open them up only at the school gate. Seeing us soaked to the bone, the teachers would ask us to go home and take the day off. What fun!
On the walk back home, we would stop to climb kul trees. My friends would be scared of the thorns but I would climb up and pluck the fruits for them to catch. It was their job to keep the salt ready and we would then sit down to eat the salted berries. Of course, I would be given the lion’s share!
Suchitra Binani
Age: 63 years
Of: BE Block
Went to school in: Sikkim
Experience: We would walk half an hour to school, through hills and valleys, flowers and streams. People go to Sikkim on vacation but we would see the Kanchenjungha walking to school everyday!
On the way, we would buy cucumbers, plums and nashpatis for 5p and relish them despite teachers calling them unhygienic. It would usually rain on the way home but we hardly ever opened our umbrellas as we loved getting wet. There was also a football stadium nearby and we would run to watch games there instead of heading home.
I would walk for half an hour to reach school on foot. Now it takes my grandson the same amount of time to reach his school in the heart of the city, by car.
Renu Verma
Age: 62 years
Of: CL Block
Went to school in: Munger, Bihar
Experience: We would have to walk some 15 minutes over mostly unmetalled roads to reach school. We would cross shops and vegetables markets on the way and go chatting with siblings. On the way out from school we would stop for phuchka, chaat or toffees. In summer, it would be extremely hot and in monsoon the streets would get puddled but we never complained as that was the only life we knew. We never knew there was a choice.
Kali Prasad Saha
Age: 63 years
Of: CE Block, New Town
Went to school in: Murshidabad
Experience: We would walk to school but it wasn’t too far. Our school was simply a building without any field so on the way back, we would make detours to the banks of the Ganges and play. During the rains the canals would rise and —though they wouldn’t flood our streets — we’d sit to fish Chang machh. We would also play danguli and marbles.
There was no concept of pocket money back then but in case any guests or relatives gifted us some, we would buy ice lollies, hojmi and makha bonkul while walking out of school. We don’t find any of these now in New Town.
Tombisana Yumnam
Age: 40 years
Of: AJ Block
Went to school in: Imphal, Manipur
Experience: The walk to my school was beautiful! There were hills and paddy fields as far as the eyes could see. We would cross a bridge and toss pebbles into the river below.
While going to school, my siblings and I would discuss what snacks to buy from the shops on the way but on the way back there would be no dilly dallying as we would rush to jump into a pond and swim.
Chandrasekhar Bose
Age: 99 years
Of: IB Block
Went to school in: Khulna, Bangladesh and Gaya
Experience: My grandmother would walk me to my Khulna school when I turned five. Those days even slates were not available. I would carry rolled-up taal pata to write on along with bamboo pens and charcoal powder to be used as ink.
Then we shifted to Gaya where my brother would walk me to the only Bengali school in the area. It was through the narrow lanes that Gaya and Varanasi are famous for.
Nandini Sen
Age: 63 years
Of: DA Block
Went to: Loreto House, Calcutta
Experience: When we shifted to Lake Town from Ballygunge, going to school started taking over an hour. VIP Road had not been built and I had to take Jessore Road and travel via Maniktala and Beleghata to reach Middleton Row. When it rained, boats would be out in Lake Town’s water-logged streets and the car could not come. So I had to wait in school till my father could pick me up after work in the evening. The nuns kept me company, helping with homework and offering me snacks.
Share memories of your trip to school. Write to The Telegraph Salt Lake, 6 Prafulla Sarkar Street, Calcutta 700001 or email to saltlake@abp.in
