Shanti Thokchom's Life Experiences
- Part 41 -
My old school mates of Nirmalabas

By Shanti Thokchom *

I have been mulling over for a very long time to have all my old school mates of Nirmalabas school, Imphal for a REUNION of sorts this year during summer around 4th or 5th June, 2011. I have even asked many young friends on Facebook & elsewhere if they could help me out spread the word/message to one & all if any of them knew anyone from that old batch of '74-'75. They could be someone's uncle, aunts, cousins or brothers or sisters, who knows!!!

This was the last batch of class IV before the new building was constructed and we all had to disperse to different schools. Some of our friends left before that too. This is a very dear batch of my school friends that I hold very close to my heart to this day!!!

I cant remember all of their names but would it help with the ones I still remember? Here it goes....
1) RK.KIran (Thokchom Leikai)
2) Priyovashini Ahanthem( Ahanthem Elang Leikai)
3) Surodhoni (Thangmeiband ..am not too sure )
4) RK.Rajshree (Uripok)
5) Pukninghuba Singh (Uripok)
6) Sushil Laishram (Uripok)
7) Suresh (I dont know his place)
8) Jibanlata Tongbram (Waheng Leikai...am not v.sure of the leikai)
9) Niranjan (Waheng Leikai)
10) Sashikanta (Waheng Leikai)
11) Ashalata & her brother..(dont know their place..but I remember them always being dropped off to school in a jeep..ha..ha..)
12) Gulapchand (Thangal Bazar)
13) Sobita Jain (grand daughter of PC&Co..news agent,Thangal Bazar)
14) Narinder "Nindu" Kaur (Thangal Bazar)
15) Suman Bhatia (formerly of Thangal Bazar..now married to a meitei guy ..dont know her real address)
16) Ravi (Thangal Bazar)
17) Peter Mao (Thangal Bazar)
18) Jacinta Mao (Thangal Bazar)
19) Asha Mao (of Naga Restaurant, MG. Ave..dont know it its still there or not)
20) Jasmeet Kaur Pasricha (MG.Ave)
21) Daisy Kaur (MG.Ave or Majorkhul)
22) Lanjaimei "Rita"(Majorkhul)
23) Langanglu (Majorkhul)
24) James Golmei (Majorkhul)
25) Benjamin Misao (Paona Bazar)
26) Neikim Kipgen (New Lambulane )
27) Gaichuiru & her brother (Kakhulong)
28) Tampha Golmei (formerly of Kakhulong but married2 a guy in Keishamthong)
29) N.Prakriti (of Sagolband..her folks used to own a shoe store near Pratap talkies)
30) Romi Ningthoujam (Lamabam Leikai)
31) Rachel Shimray (Lamphel)
32) Marcus Roy (Lamphel)
33) Rebecca Mao (Dewlahland)
34) Memcha Loitongbam (Lalambung)
& of course my younger sister Helen....and many others....

These are the ones I still know their names and it is my fervent request and prayer that I need help from all of you to trace /track them all down to make this REUNION this year a possibility. Sadly three of our batchmates are no more with us. They are Johny Ningthoujam, Jagjivan Singh & Boisy Haokip!!

We really want to get everyone together and honor them and also all our past teachers....like mother Jerome, Sr. Jeannette, Sr. Mariya, late Ms. Ranjana (our manipuri teacher )& Ms. Matrika Mao (our hindi teacher) & all other teachers whom I dont recall their names, please forgive me ya'll!!!

We had a very good schooling there and I give all credit to our strict teachers there for instilling in us all hard work and love of knowledge. I still remember sister Jeanette's pinches on our arms if we did our class work wrong or not listened to her. She would get furious and we knew she would calm down soon if we got our acts right.

Its due to her that I got to love reading books. Thanks to all her pinches. It was hurtful at that time but it was worth it!!! Mother Jerome was a very sweet soul for us all . She always taught us to sing songs. My goodness, she was tall & stately. We could hear her thunder from afar!!!

With her swish of her "habit" passing by us we knew she was after one of the ones who was in trouble for not listening in the class. One look from her would make your knees knocky!! But she had genuine love for us all..Thats all we know!!!

One time our school had gone for a picnic at Leimakhong ..I still remember vividly...how excited and agog we were all to climb onto a bus & be going out !!!! The teachers prepared us well ahead of time ..what to do...while in the bus...to stand in queue..to wait for our turns & not to be disorderly !!

My, my we learnt so fast as we really wanted to go on this outing that bad!!! So it did not matter what kind of instructions they put out,, we quickly lapped it up!!! much to the amusement of our teachers!!! They all agreed we were all partners in this big outing!!!

The morning of of the picnic day, all my friends were dropped off by their parents or guardians. As for me & my sister we walked as we lived near the school. Excitement was all over the place!! We could not even hear each others' voices !!! We could not wait till the bus finally tooted the horns & drove out of the school compound!!!

Freedom....ha..ha for the day!!! from the classrooms which were only partitioned by thin walls frome ach other. But we loved our school no matter what condition it was in!!

The younger generation of NBS students are very lucky to have the present new building to complete their high school there with top honors!!! All i should say is "Hail Mother Jerome & others " for their pioneering efforts to run the NBS & produce good students & be proud of!!! Sorry for meandering away !!!

To continue with what I was saying....... Mother Jerome led us all into singing from start till we reached the place. She had taught us all the other day what songs to sing on the bus. She didnt expect us all to learn that fast enough & but boy, we did sing with all our lung power..ha..ha..ha.!!! I am sure her head must have been hurting very bad from all of that!!! But hey, it was great fun!!! & it warmed the cockles of her heart!!! We just love her to death!!!

Then we got to sit in line on news papers & served boiled eggs, sandwiches,& fruits & juices. Who wanted to eat at that time anyway? We were so happy to be out of the class room & enjoy the beautiful place there !!! I must say our teachers were so hard pressed to keep us all in order and in line!!! Hats off to them all for their patience & great love for all of us!!!

We could not even sit still due to the excitement!! It ended so soon!! We were so sad....& all of us were much quieter on our return back to school because we wanted it to continue!!! All good things also must come to an end!!! Now back to school !!! We had lots to talk about the next day!!! Some got sick and did not come.I am sure they had "picnic" fever!!! We all stuck by each other all through!!

Thats why I would like the public help to find me contact all my friends and make this REUNION a possibility this year! I would really appreciate your help in this regard!!! The main contact person would be me or Memcha Loitongbam - memcha(at)gmail(dot)com

Is there any good samaritan manipuri brethren to help with this?

I will write more soon.....I know many of you have been asking when would I write the next one or so...Thanks for all your emails. I am so ever thankful to you all!!!!

To be Continued.......