Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Flirtation from Chemistry to Literature- My First Daughter’s Academic Journey

Today I stumbled upon this piece amongst the academic debris. This was written by my first daughter (moderated and edited by me), soon after her graduation from Barathidasan. Thereafter she joined Pondicherry University and pursued both M.A and M.Phil in English literature..
In the last fortnight, there were many farewell parties, saying good byes. I too went to a few departments and shared my feelings.

I am sure this poem will propel our students to recollect and ruminate over the past, which cannot be a false memory.


I remember the first day
I went to school very sad
When I think of it now
I feel very bad.

As I went to school one day
Without home work done
My teacher’s face was red
Like a sun.

Friends were many in school
Years slipped away like days
Time was consumed away
In innocent laugher and joy.

At long last came,
The date with final examinations
Thinking about this thought
My heart throbbed in anticipation

Like an ordinary human,
I had great expectation
My performance was below my potential
And the examiners had passed judgment

Honey moon with chemistry came to an abrupt halt
Thereafter my flirtation with literature commenced
With reluctance and diffidence

In retrospect it appears,
I have lived through many lives
And appropriated the treasure of
The true philosophy of life.

Transition from St Joseph to Bharatidasan
Was neither smooth nor pleasant
I could see the age of innocence drying up
The wry face of adolescence revealing itself
In all its infinite variety.

Will three year subsidized college education
Inculcate in me a sense of concern
And respect for fellow humans?
Understand the trials and tribulations of
The underprivileged and downtrodden,
And share their sorrows and sufferings?

We have had our quota of fun and thrill
In the class room and on the verandah,
Soon this pleasant phase of life
Will become yesterday
Never to come like past history

Friends will drift in different direction
In search of job and higher degrees and
Or get married and bear children.
I wish them good luck.

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