My Days at SFS
Its great to talk about the good old days, schools and to interact with my dear fellow Franciscans, peers, seniors and juniors.
Its a matter of great pride and pleasure to walk down memory lane and talk of my days at SFS(Oooooops ,I mean SFC)
SF was School when we were there!!!!!!!!!!! Its college now .
Walking down memory lane ,is probably a misappropriate term!
I really don't have to go back and try to remember anything!!
Its all there, as fresh as today, as if it happened yesterday!!!
Even though I left St Francis in 1975!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!(sounds pre historic!)
I joined SFC in 1968,in class three, after doing KG from Christian College and Prep and Class 1 and 2 from St Ann's
( Many of you would not have heard of this school-it was the boys section of Loreto Convent in the present building of Avadh Degree college and we were the last batch of students ,before the school closed down)
After leaving St Ann’s, most of us had only two alternatives Lamarts or SFC
Lamarts was more popular amongst the upper class of Lucknow as it was more British and had almost a complete Anglo Indian staff and above all had the reputation of supposedly brining out smart cool dudes with a greater stress on extra curricular activities and sports
SFS was the second best, in those days but still had a great crowd at its gates for admission, for three reasons.
It was a little more affordable than Lamarts, the academics were reputed to be better and it had an aura of an Indian English school which was a bit more friendly to the non Hindi speaking parents!
The reason why my dad choose SFS for me was different from these three. My brother had joined Lamarts a year back, and my parents were not happy with the academics. So I landed in SFC more by default than as a choice, and could never thank my dad for that more!!!!!!!!!
My stay of over seven years at the college, has been the best phase of my life, the memories of which are my most precious possessions. Besides developing a taste for specific subjects, interest in studies, it helped me to build my personality and bring out the best in me .My passion for stage emerged there, for acting, elocution and debating. And above all it brought me close to a great lot of wonderful teachers and some friends, a bunch of soulmates who have been the most precious achievement of my life, and are buddies for keeps!!!
I left SFC in March 1975, when I was in class 10Th. We were the first batch of ICSE ,and since I had to pursue a medical career ,I wasn't sure if ICSE would help me for CPMT. So I quitted SFS and joined Mahanager Boys High School, even at the cost of loosing 6 months, amounting to an year subsequently
The stay at SFS was a little more than seven years and its been over three decades since I left it, but the memories of those days occupy a very special and coveted place in my heart in terms of space, closeness, quantity and quality
They come alive when ever I interact with any buddy from SFC, and luckily have been in touch with many
Sanjay Lucknow
Sunday, October 4, 2009
HARASSED HUSBANDS !
India Today,in its last issue for Aug 2009,ran an article titled,UNHAPPILY HARRIED, which was a real eye opener,even for me,who always felt,that men,were tortured at home,more frequently than thought of.It focused on SAVE INDIAN FAMILY FOUNDATION (SIFI),which comprises of 25 NGOs and 40,000 members,all husbands,victims of domestic violence
Without sounding like a MCP or a Woman Hater,I extend all my sympathies to all these men,and to innumerable more,who don't muster the courage to come in public.I do not deny,that domestic violence,against women,is very rampant in India,and probably the whole world,but men being tortured is prevalent too,though may be in a lesser proportion.Though latter may exist in ant caste or religion ,or social strata,husband bashing is a little more common in certain states like,Bengal,Maharashtra and the eastern India .While it may often be in self protection,or in retaliation to a jobless drunken husband,who is only interested in the wives salary and sex,It is often,for other frivolous grounds.
But physical torture is not what I am concerned with ,men often have to undergo a lot of mental trauma,things which the woman often never understands.Not being Understood by the wife, is probably the main issue,or rather all issues summed up in one phrase,which can cause great mental trauma.It is men,who are jokingly and actually always at the receiving end,for being the careless,disinterested,non romantic,sex maniacs.The constant cribbing,the perpetual nagging,the explicit descriptions of purchases made by friends and relatives,perrineal shortage of adequate clothes and accessories,never ending lists of things to Buy,and forced window shopping can all be very torturing ! Hating window shopping is at the top of the list of all jokes on married men,but on a serious note,window shopping at times,can be actually demoralizing,when you experience the inability of being capable of buying things that your wife or kids want.
But the biggest insult,or mental violence that some husbands face,is the wives constant insecurity and the blame,that you don't love me enough. At times this constant doubt on the mans love,faith and trust,for his wife,can be very painful for the husband,who keeps going through this pain,for years,and even at times for life long,but still fails to convince the wife that he loves her
Women may be the victim of physical violence,but men are harassed too,less physically but more,mentally and emotionally ! And no NGO nor and association can help in this,except the one concerned-wife !
Sanjay Kapoor , Lucknow
India Today,in its last issue for Aug 2009,ran an article titled,UNHAPPILY HARRIED, which was a real eye opener,even for me,who always felt,that men,were tortured at home,more frequently than thought of.It focused on SAVE INDIAN FAMILY FOUNDATION (SIFI),which comprises of 25 NGOs and 40,000 members,all husbands,victims of domestic violence
Without sounding like a MCP or a Woman Hater,I extend all my sympathies to all these men,and to innumerable more,who don't muster the courage to come in public.I do not deny,that domestic violence,against women,is very rampant in India,and probably the whole world,but men being tortured is prevalent too,though may be in a lesser proportion.Though latter may exist in ant caste or religion ,or social strata,husband bashing is a little more common in certain states like,Bengal,Maharashtra and the eastern India .While it may often be in self protection,or in retaliation to a jobless drunken husband,who is only interested in the wives salary and sex,It is often,for other frivolous grounds.
But physical torture is not what I am concerned with ,men often have to undergo a lot of mental trauma,things which the woman often never understands.Not being Understood by the wife, is probably the main issue,or rather all issues summed up in one phrase,which can cause great mental trauma.It is men,who are jokingly and actually always at the receiving end,for being the careless,disinterested,non romantic,sex maniacs.The constant cribbing,the perpetual nagging,the explicit descriptions of purchases made by friends and relatives,perrineal shortage of adequate clothes and accessories,never ending lists of things to Buy,and forced window shopping can all be very torturing ! Hating window shopping is at the top of the list of all jokes on married men,but on a serious note,window shopping at times,can be actually demoralizing,when you experience the inability of being capable of buying things that your wife or kids want.
But the biggest insult,or mental violence that some husbands face,is the wives constant insecurity and the blame,that you don't love me enough. At times this constant doubt on the mans love,faith and trust,for his wife,can be very painful for the husband,who keeps going through this pain,for years,and even at times for life long,but still fails to convince the wife that he loves her
Women may be the victim of physical violence,but men are harassed too,less physically but more,mentally and emotionally ! And no NGO nor and association can help in this,except the one concerned-wife !
Sanjay Kapoor , Lucknow
OPERATION THEATRE
A beautiful piece written by Dr Kuheli,daughter of my very dear friend and batchmate,Dr Barnalu Ghosh Bhattacharya
One massive stage, a synchronised act of guts and glory, a play of dexterity and intense concentration..A stage set in the operation theatre..There is a set order , a certain protocol , when it comes to working in an OT setting. The operating surgeons,gallant and all powerful , the assistants, in subtle veneration , the nursing staff , the attendants, who slunk around like the invisible work force. There is order... A certain heirarchy, here iin the operation theatre..And then there is the great equaliser!!I love it, the sheer brilliance of the working in a government hospital. For all those who still haven't figured out what all this is about..lemme tell u.In all operation theatres we are expected to be in surgical scrubs, right?now in a govt hoospital these are supplied by the hospital, and laid out all laundered , on the day of your OT outside the theatre. now the brilliant thing is that All of us pick our scrubs from this laundered set, whether you are the big boss or the lowly under study! And every now and then you land up with the faded slightly scruffy looking scrubs..So you have the super suave consultant in his snazzy car, the lady anaesthetist with her posh hand clutch.. but once in OT , their style quotient is equalised by the uniform Green of the scrubs. Infact the ward boys have a much nicer shade of blue scrubs in our OT while the female attendants have a delectable pink ones.elegant fingers are covered in gloves, beautiful faces are covered in masks.. You are stripped of your identity as an individual, and all that speaks is your work. It's a level playing field. Yes, it's true a few get a away with mistakes, but all in all The operation theatre is a great equaliser, an open stage, where the heroic play of life and death is inacted every day.. and the best part is The actors are not allowed to wear make up.
One massive stage, a synchronised act of guts and glory, a play of dexterity and intense concentration..A stage set in the operation theatre..There is a set order , a certain protocol , when it comes to working in an OT setting. The operating surgeons,gallant and all powerful , the assistants, in subtle veneration , the nursing staff , the attendants, who slunk around like the invisible work force. There is order... A certain heirarchy, here iin the operation theatre..And then there is the great equaliser!!I love it, the sheer brilliance of the working in a government hospital. For all those who still haven't figured out what all this is about..lemme tell u.In all operation theatres we are expected to be in surgical scrubs, right?now in a govt hoospital these are supplied by the hospital, and laid out all laundered , on the day of your OT outside the theatre. now the brilliant thing is that All of us pick our scrubs from this laundered set, whether you are the big boss or the lowly under study! And every now and then you land up with the faded slightly scruffy looking scrubs..So you have the super suave consultant in his snazzy car, the lady anaesthetist with her posh hand clutch.. but once in OT , their style quotient is equalised by the uniform Green of the scrubs. Infact the ward boys have a much nicer shade of blue scrubs in our OT while the female attendants have a delectable pink ones.elegant fingers are covered in gloves, beautiful faces are covered in masks.. You are stripped of your identity as an individual, and all that speaks is your work. It's a level playing field. Yes, it's true a few get a away with mistakes, but all in all The operation theatre is a great equaliser, an open stage, where the heroic play of life and death is inacted every day.. and the best part is The actors are not allowed to wear make up.
Durga Pooja of yester years
DURGA POOJA OVER THE YEARS !
Even though I am not a Bengali,Durga Pooja ,has always been a special event for me,every year.Was born at Narhi,in Lucknow,where we lived in an area called Kali Niwas,which means the House of Goddess Kali,and as the name implies,it was a huge haveli sort of a building ,sprawling amidst three roads,which had been divided over four generations,housing at that time over twenty Bengali families,with we being one of the only two non Bengali occupants in it.So my child hood was spent amongst Bengalis,and it was natural for me to understand Bengali comfortably,and speak adequately fluently.More than the language ,it was the Bengali rituals,festivals and weddings that we grew up with,and Durga Pooja ,being the most significant
The preparation would start well in advance,specially in getting clothes stitched and in rehearsing stage shows,skits and even long plays for the Pooja celebrations.Stage being ,one of my passions,I was always actively involved in it.The pooja,of our colony,was held in the municipal school adjacent to the Kali Niwas,and each and every one of the colony was actively involved in it,and the main task being that of collecting chanda ( Donation/contribution ) for the celebrations.It was while collecting the chanda and distributing the pamphlets,that I understood the meaning of Shree Shree Durga Pooja.I used to wonder,why a double Shree,till I realized that one was for the Goddess,and the other for her pooja,which was as auspicious and reverent as the goddess herself.
The theme of the pandal and the colour combinations for the idols were planned well in advance and changed every year
During the pooja days,we would wake with the load mersmerizng chants of Ya Devi sarv Bhootey and when the pandaal was set and the Holy Idols had been established,our day would start very early.Have a bath,no breakfast,and rush for the pandaal.While the ladies prepared the prasaad,and the elder males,made the arrangements for the pooja and the marketing,we kids had two major tasks,to clean up the area,especially where the idols were kept and to prepare the prasad in donas ( small bowls made out of dried leaf )The simple prasad,consisting of boondi,chopped bananas and apples,along with a piece of coconut,distributed after Prabhataanjali ( morning offerings) use to be our breakfast.That little prasad in the donas,which had the earthly smell of dried leave,eaten amidst the aroma of the pooja essence,was a wholesome meal.
We then got ready for the day and shouted,at each door and window,to collect the group.This ordeal,of collecting the 25-30 odd,boys and girls, ranging front 5 to 25 years would take almost an hour and then we would head straight to Bengali Club,at Hewwate road,which connects Hussain Ganj to Havlock road.Bengali Club was the main and biggest hub of pooja celebrations.After whiling some time,and dancing around on the music,we prepared the tables and arranged the chairs for the Bhog.These were only for the elderly and VIPs,rest of us,sat on the floor and ate.Poeple took turns in serving and eating,The taste and smell of yummy hot khichdi with cabbage,sweet chatni and begun bhaji ,served with salt and papad,ending with a gulabjamun or paisam is still so vivid in my mind.Post lunch we would go to visit the pandals at Vidyant college and kali baadi on Havlock Road.and occasionally to Model town area,which was the bengali area of Lucknow and then return to our local pandal,to set it for the evening
The tables were removed,and chairs were spread out,to convert the pandal into a mini theatre.We would go home,to change in our new clothes and return soon,to start the variety entertainment.Everyone was given a chance,and there was a small prize,even if just two morten toffees for every participant.We would wind up early here,then head for Lalbagh.The pandal at the park next to Darulshafa opposite the Lucknow municipal office,was always the most attractive ,not only due to the grand beautiful,bigger than life,goddess and other idols,but due to the big mela.( fair) The magnificent Durga,with her colorful clothes,dazzling jewelry,enchanting lotus eyes would almost come alive,at the beats of the dhool(drums) and the frenzied dance of the devotees with the earthen pots emitting the fumes of blissful divine aroma.Many ladies,dressed in their traditional cream silk sarees with red jari border and their big round red bindis, added to the festivityThe mela had everything-food stalls,games,swings and puppet shows.Hoopla,lucky wheel and shooting the baloons were most popular.After enjoying the games,and feasting on chat,biryani and ice-cream,we would land up at Bengali Club again,for a late night Bengali movie and return home past mid night.
On one of the evening we would go to other colonies,to present our,shows,skits and plays,and would get VIP treatment and special food to eat.This would go on night after night,and we would enjoy every second without even the slightest sign of tiredness.On the Bijoy Dashmi day,we would go visiting our neighbors to wish them and take their blessings.all would serve,delicious sweets,like sandesh,rosogulla etc,and the best part was that we were permitted to carry home,our share of snacks ,that we could not finish.
These wonderful memories of Durga Pooja are marred with two unpleasant ones too,related to the celebrations. The idols were immersed in Gomti river after Pooja,every year,usually at the Shaheed Smarak area. The idols were carried in the boats and immersed in the centre of Gomti.One year,on the day after emersion,it came to our knowledge to the utter shock to all ,that one of the boat guy,had taken the idols,and had them immersed at a place where the water was shallow and had subsequently removed the clothes ,ornaments and other offerings.He was bashed black and blue,till he hardly had a single unbroken bone in his body.but something worse,that happened was a real tragic incident,which I shall never forget.During emersion,two boats were moving side by side,and young men were dancing on the boats.Two of them dancing on either of the boat,tried to hold hands and dance,the boats got disbalanced and toppled and all on the boat drowned.It was a harrowing event...........twelve young men,three from the same family,loosing life together.The whole of Lucknow was drowned in sorrow !
I left lucknow to join AFMC,at pune in 78,but luckily didn't miss Pooja there too.Army Medical Corps,having its origin from Bengal Medical Corps,celebrates durga pooja with great fun and fervor,It was celebrated in the huge lawn outside the Command Hospital and was great fun.Being the dramatic and Hobbies secretary of AFMC,I was actively involved in the decoration and the daily entertainment programmes.One day's show,was exclusively by students of AFMC.We would get famous artist to perform every year,and I had the luck to watch Manna Dey,Hemant Da and dance performances of Ravi Shankar live there,besides some wonderful movies of Satyajeet Ray,including Jolsa Ghar .
Durga Pooja still remains close to my heart ,but in the Huge pandals,and the lavish celebrations of today ,I often miss,the warmth of those good old simple days and strong bonds
Joi Ma Durga ! Joi Ma Kali !!
Dr Sanjay Kapoor , Lucknow
Even though I am not a Bengali,Durga Pooja ,has always been a special event for me,every year.Was born at Narhi,in Lucknow,where we lived in an area called Kali Niwas,which means the House of Goddess Kali,and as the name implies,it was a huge haveli sort of a building ,sprawling amidst three roads,which had been divided over four generations,housing at that time over twenty Bengali families,with we being one of the only two non Bengali occupants in it.So my child hood was spent amongst Bengalis,and it was natural for me to understand Bengali comfortably,and speak adequately fluently.More than the language ,it was the Bengali rituals,festivals and weddings that we grew up with,and Durga Pooja ,being the most significant
The preparation would start well in advance,specially in getting clothes stitched and in rehearsing stage shows,skits and even long plays for the Pooja celebrations.Stage being ,one of my passions,I was always actively involved in it.The pooja,of our colony,was held in the municipal school adjacent to the Kali Niwas,and each and every one of the colony was actively involved in it,and the main task being that of collecting chanda ( Donation/contribution ) for the celebrations.It was while collecting the chanda and distributing the pamphlets,that I understood the meaning of Shree Shree Durga Pooja.I used to wonder,why a double Shree,till I realized that one was for the Goddess,and the other for her pooja,which was as auspicious and reverent as the goddess herself.
The theme of the pandal and the colour combinations for the idols were planned well in advance and changed every year
During the pooja days,we would wake with the load mersmerizng chants of Ya Devi sarv Bhootey and when the pandaal was set and the Holy Idols had been established,our day would start very early.Have a bath,no breakfast,and rush for the pandaal.While the ladies prepared the prasaad,and the elder males,made the arrangements for the pooja and the marketing,we kids had two major tasks,to clean up the area,especially where the idols were kept and to prepare the prasad in donas ( small bowls made out of dried leaf )The simple prasad,consisting of boondi,chopped bananas and apples,along with a piece of coconut,distributed after Prabhataanjali ( morning offerings) use to be our breakfast.That little prasad in the donas,which had the earthly smell of dried leave,eaten amidst the aroma of the pooja essence,was a wholesome meal.
We then got ready for the day and shouted,at each door and window,to collect the group.This ordeal,of collecting the 25-30 odd,boys and girls, ranging front 5 to 25 years would take almost an hour and then we would head straight to Bengali Club,at Hewwate road,which connects Hussain Ganj to Havlock road.Bengali Club was the main and biggest hub of pooja celebrations.After whiling some time,and dancing around on the music,we prepared the tables and arranged the chairs for the Bhog.These were only for the elderly and VIPs,rest of us,sat on the floor and ate.Poeple took turns in serving and eating,The taste and smell of yummy hot khichdi with cabbage,sweet chatni and begun bhaji ,served with salt and papad,ending with a gulabjamun or paisam is still so vivid in my mind.Post lunch we would go to visit the pandals at Vidyant college and kali baadi on Havlock Road.and occasionally to Model town area,which was the bengali area of Lucknow and then return to our local pandal,to set it for the evening
The tables were removed,and chairs were spread out,to convert the pandal into a mini theatre.We would go home,to change in our new clothes and return soon,to start the variety entertainment.Everyone was given a chance,and there was a small prize,even if just two morten toffees for every participant.We would wind up early here,then head for Lalbagh.The pandal at the park next to Darulshafa opposite the Lucknow municipal office,was always the most attractive ,not only due to the grand beautiful,bigger than life,goddess and other idols,but due to the big mela.( fair) The magnificent Durga,with her colorful clothes,dazzling jewelry,enchanting lotus eyes would almost come alive,at the beats of the dhool(drums) and the frenzied dance of the devotees with the earthen pots emitting the fumes of blissful divine aroma.Many ladies,dressed in their traditional cream silk sarees with red jari border and their big round red bindis, added to the festivityThe mela had everything-food stalls,games,swings and puppet shows.Hoopla,lucky wheel and shooting the baloons were most popular.After enjoying the games,and feasting on chat,biryani and ice-cream,we would land up at Bengali Club again,for a late night Bengali movie and return home past mid night.
On one of the evening we would go to other colonies,to present our,shows,skits and plays,and would get VIP treatment and special food to eat.This would go on night after night,and we would enjoy every second without even the slightest sign of tiredness.On the Bijoy Dashmi day,we would go visiting our neighbors to wish them and take their blessings.all would serve,delicious sweets,like sandesh,rosogulla etc,and the best part was that we were permitted to carry home,our share of snacks ,that we could not finish.
These wonderful memories of Durga Pooja are marred with two unpleasant ones too,related to the celebrations. The idols were immersed in Gomti river after Pooja,every year,usually at the Shaheed Smarak area. The idols were carried in the boats and immersed in the centre of Gomti.One year,on the day after emersion,it came to our knowledge to the utter shock to all ,that one of the boat guy,had taken the idols,and had them immersed at a place where the water was shallow and had subsequently removed the clothes ,ornaments and other offerings.He was bashed black and blue,till he hardly had a single unbroken bone in his body.but something worse,that happened was a real tragic incident,which I shall never forget.During emersion,two boats were moving side by side,and young men were dancing on the boats.Two of them dancing on either of the boat,tried to hold hands and dance,the boats got disbalanced and toppled and all on the boat drowned.It was a harrowing event...........twelve young men,three from the same family,loosing life together.The whole of Lucknow was drowned in sorrow !
I left lucknow to join AFMC,at pune in 78,but luckily didn't miss Pooja there too.Army Medical Corps,having its origin from Bengal Medical Corps,celebrates durga pooja with great fun and fervor,It was celebrated in the huge lawn outside the Command Hospital and was great fun.Being the dramatic and Hobbies secretary of AFMC,I was actively involved in the decoration and the daily entertainment programmes.One day's show,was exclusively by students of AFMC.We would get famous artist to perform every year,and I had the luck to watch Manna Dey,Hemant Da and dance performances of Ravi Shankar live there,besides some wonderful movies of Satyajeet Ray,including Jolsa Ghar .
Durga Pooja still remains close to my heart ,but in the Huge pandals,and the lavish celebrations of today ,I often miss,the warmth of those good old simple days and strong bonds
Joi Ma Durga ! Joi Ma Kali !!
Dr Sanjay Kapoor , Lucknow
MACBETH at LORETO,LUCKNOW
MACBETH AT LORETO LUCKNOW
At the onset,my apologies,for being late,which was due to many reasons.Besides being busy ,had been out of Lucknow several times in recent past,but above all was suffering from a major Writer's Block!
It was a real double treat ,when lucknow staged two English plays in one month,Unfaithfully yours by ACTORS and then MACBETH,by TALL ( Teachers Association of Loreto ,Lucknow ) I bought the ticket well in advance,lest I miss,seeing it,and waited anxiously for the day
Watched the play with mixed emotions.Was feeling really great,visiting Loreto,and that Auditorium,after many years,probably decades.( last being in 74 ) I not only have great fondness for the school,but have special attachment ,with that auditorium,where I made my stage debut,in 65,almost 45 years ago.Theatre at Loreto was really active in those days,and there was something or the other,going on,round the year.We had permanent stage props,several backdrops, and a large wardrobe with a wide range of costumes.Their were two permanent tailors,who use to stitch and alter dresses and curtains etc for the performances.After leaving school,I did continue to go for plays,whenever I could,and last was in 1975 ( I think it was The Circle ) I really felt great,sitting in that auditorium,after so long a time,and even though I was alone,I had no time to feel lonely as I was continuously thinking of the past,and the plays that I had seen there.At the same time I felt a little sad too,as nothing seemed to have changed.Infact the furniture in the auditorium ,had been replaced,by chairs of inferior quality.I was expecting the auditorium and the stage,to have improved,over the years,befitting the expected changes in the auditorium of the leading convent school of the city,to keep abreast with the changing times
Watching a play,is always a treat for me,and that too in your old school,couldn't have asked for more.But was disappointed a bit.The play,Macbeth,a farce revolved around a scenario,where during the staging of Macbeth,everything goes wrong,including an accident of the actor doing Lady Macbeth,compelling the male director to pitch in for that role .The play somewhere missed out ,in bringing out the comedy and the much desired impact.Old fashioned start,improper sound and light effects,in appropriate costumes,lack of coordination , average acting and an overall casual attitude contributed in making the performance,deplete of the essentially required flow and entertainment
I may have sounded harsh,but having said that,I would like to compliment the complete team,for their effort in this maiden venture,and their enthusiasm,to put up the play,in a short period,in spite of their busy schedules,and duel responsibility of college and home.Above all,they were handicapped by the poor audiovisuals of the auditorium.
But I still enjoyed those two hours ,and would look forward to more performances,in that hall.which is so close to my heart.
Sanjay Kapoor , Lucknow
At the onset,my apologies,for being late,which was due to many reasons.Besides being busy ,had been out of Lucknow several times in recent past,but above all was suffering from a major Writer's Block!
It was a real double treat ,when lucknow staged two English plays in one month,Unfaithfully yours by ACTORS and then MACBETH,by TALL ( Teachers Association of Loreto ,Lucknow ) I bought the ticket well in advance,lest I miss,seeing it,and waited anxiously for the day
Watched the play with mixed emotions.Was feeling really great,visiting Loreto,and that Auditorium,after many years,probably decades.( last being in 74 ) I not only have great fondness for the school,but have special attachment ,with that auditorium,where I made my stage debut,in 65,almost 45 years ago.Theatre at Loreto was really active in those days,and there was something or the other,going on,round the year.We had permanent stage props,several backdrops, and a large wardrobe with a wide range of costumes.Their were two permanent tailors,who use to stitch and alter dresses and curtains etc for the performances.After leaving school,I did continue to go for plays,whenever I could,and last was in 1975 ( I think it was The Circle ) I really felt great,sitting in that auditorium,after so long a time,and even though I was alone,I had no time to feel lonely as I was continuously thinking of the past,and the plays that I had seen there.At the same time I felt a little sad too,as nothing seemed to have changed.Infact the furniture in the auditorium ,had been replaced,by chairs of inferior quality.I was expecting the auditorium and the stage,to have improved,over the years,befitting the expected changes in the auditorium of the leading convent school of the city,to keep abreast with the changing times
Watching a play,is always a treat for me,and that too in your old school,couldn't have asked for more.But was disappointed a bit.The play,Macbeth,a farce revolved around a scenario,where during the staging of Macbeth,everything goes wrong,including an accident of the actor doing Lady Macbeth,compelling the male director to pitch in for that role .The play somewhere missed out ,in bringing out the comedy and the much desired impact.Old fashioned start,improper sound and light effects,in appropriate costumes,lack of coordination , average acting and an overall casual attitude contributed in making the performance,deplete of the essentially required flow and entertainment
I may have sounded harsh,but having said that,I would like to compliment the complete team,for their effort in this maiden venture,and their enthusiasm,to put up the play,in a short period,in spite of their busy schedules,and duel responsibility of college and home.Above all,they were handicapped by the poor audiovisuals of the auditorium.
But I still enjoyed those two hours ,and would look forward to more performances,in that hall.which is so close to my heart.
Sanjay Kapoor , Lucknow
HAUNTING MEMORIES OF ST FRANCIS
The Haunting Memories of SFS
Its unbelievably strange,but I remember everything of SFS ,in my mind as crystal clear,specially the classes where I spent most of the day during those seven odd years
I not only remember the classes,or my seats,but even the seats of some of my other class mates!
Class III B was on the ground floor of the old primary building, to the right as you enter,after the Staff accommodation block(it was demolished and the new double storied primary section came up in 1970 at the same site)
Class IV was on the rear new block,ground floor,second from the toilets,facing the rear field
Class V and VI were in the rear block too,but on the first floor of the extension block to the rear wing
Class VII and VIII were on the first floor and IX and X on the ground floor of the main block
The staff quarters as we entered from the main gate,and the administrative block and principle office behind the primary section
The Canteen and Staff room were in continuation and behind this building with the chapel on the first floor
The Gym and the PT Instructors office were to the right of the main block with the Head Masters Office(The Forbidden Danger Zone-Tigers Den) in it under the steps going to the first floor of the main block
The Hall (Auditorium) was to the right of the main block with the Sceince Labs behind it
The Dormitories for the hostellers were on the first floor of the rear block and the cookhouse and dining hall for them,on the ground floor ,of the same building,at the far end,towards Cathedral School
There was a so called swimming pool too and a basket ball court
Have I missed out anything
and has anything changed/ any additions?? or demolitions ???
Prof Sanjay Kapoor
Its unbelievably strange,but I remember everything of SFS ,in my mind as crystal clear,specially the classes where I spent most of the day during those seven odd years
I not only remember the classes,or my seats,but even the seats of some of my other class mates!
Class III B was on the ground floor of the old primary building, to the right as you enter,after the Staff accommodation block(it was demolished and the new double storied primary section came up in 1970 at the same site)
Class IV was on the rear new block,ground floor,second from the toilets,facing the rear field
Class V and VI were in the rear block too,but on the first floor of the extension block to the rear wing
Class VII and VIII were on the first floor and IX and X on the ground floor of the main block
The staff quarters as we entered from the main gate,and the administrative block and principle office behind the primary section
The Canteen and Staff room were in continuation and behind this building with the chapel on the first floor
The Gym and the PT Instructors office were to the right of the main block with the Head Masters Office(The Forbidden Danger Zone-Tigers Den) in it under the steps going to the first floor of the main block
The Hall (Auditorium) was to the right of the main block with the Sceince Labs behind it
The Dormitories for the hostellers were on the first floor of the rear block and the cookhouse and dining hall for them,on the ground floor ,of the same building,at the far end,towards Cathedral School
There was a so called swimming pool too and a basket ball court
Have I missed out anything
and has anything changed/ any additions?? or demolitions ???
Prof Sanjay Kapoor
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