Some Old Men.
I think writing about some eccentric old men, my number should be first. But like other men I don’t admit to be an old man, so it is obvious that I am writing about other old men. When talking about old men, I remember P. Y. Joshi sir. He was supervisor in our school but his poise and gait was like a swash-buckling hero. Indeed he was hero and he proved that with every step he took. We were students of SSC then and with our half knowledge, we considered ourselves accomplished. We were 16/17 that time and just on the threshold of youth, bursting with enthusiasm. We admired Joshi Sir very much and watched him taking every step in the corridor while boring lecture was going on in our class. Opposite our class was tenth class and girls sitting in the windows were easily being watched by us. For three months, Joshi Sir was observing this when he passed on his rounds. One day he could not stand it any longer and came to us with his long strides and began firing us vociferously. “ What are observing you the girls for, you fools.” He bawled at us with so many expletives. His tirade was halted when somebody tried to explain feebly that we admired him. “ what for?” he shouted again. “ Sir, we admired you as our hero. We admired you for your gait and for your dress. Yes, Sir you are the best dressed person in our school.” Who does not like praise, he grunted some words and left. But this P. Y. Joshi was utter failure on the cricket ground and when it came to organizing cultural programs.
Our principal, R. V. Soman was simple khadi clad man so much fond of Gandhiji that our morning prayer was Vaishnav Jan to tene kahiye. A devotional song liked by Gandhiji. When he became very angry, he pinched the cheek of a student and boxed his ear lightly. It looked so funny that the student laughed uncontrollably when out of his office. But all the students respected him for his discipline. Our principal was fond of cricket and had purchased cricket kit to teach the students systematic cricket. The respect he commanded was envious and all other teachers envied him this. Even today, when I come across him while walking in the street, I automatically touch his feet. We are only sorry for we quarreled with him on trivial matter at the fag end of the term. R. V. Soman will be remembered by every student of our batch for the good habits he inculcated upon us. And that too without beating any student. Soman Sir or Ravi as we called him fondly on his back but his pen name was Taimurlung, because of he walked lamely. Of course the last name was used when we were angry with him. We salute you Soman Sir!