A flashback(by Smt. Kapilabai Ramasesha Rao)

My joining Vanitha sadana as a nursery teacher  many moons ago was more accidental than a calculated move.  I was then about 20 years old and my first son Vasantha was 2 years old .  We were living next door to the  house of legendary couple Shri N. Nagesha Rao and Smt. Susheelabai at Jayanagar,  Mysore.  In those days the couple’s  house was a  nerve center of activities. A bunch of young kids and  toddlers from neighbouring houses   used to assemble in that house in the morning.  It was sort of a playhouse .  Mr. Vinayaka Rao, if I remember correctly, was supervising the children’s activities for about an hour.  Some ladies affliated to Susheelabai were also doing rounds, that’s how the school was run.  The house was also  used for teaching Hindi language class and ‘Bharata’ (Mahabharata told  in musical form) .  My son Vasantha and Smt. Tulasibai’s (Susheela Bai’s daughter)son Narayan (Nani) being of the same age soon became pals. Both of them could always be found either in my house or Susheelabai’s house.  This made me visit Susheelabai’s house frequently .  I often spent time looking at the small children playing in Susheelabai’s house.  Perhaps Susheelabai must have noticed me. 

  I loved children and enjoyed looking them play.  At some point of time activities shifted to the building at Krishnamurthy Puram where it stands today. I don’t recall the year when it was shifted. Over a period my visits, to Vanitha Sadana as an onlooker, became frequent and my face familiar to Susheela Bai. One day Susheelabai asked me to join for  ‘Bharata’ / Hindi classes run by them.  I liked songs having been trained in classical music.  So I had no hesitation in joining for ‘Bharata’ class. Later I joined for  Hindi language class as well. .  I passed both the examination with distinction.  This face brought me closer to VS.  Though I was not a teacher I was often addressed by small children as ‘Madam’ .  May be I was destined to become a teacher as soon Smt. Susheela Bai  asked me to look after the children  for a couple of hours on daily basis. I could not have said ‘No’ as I had developed sort of a liking to  children and the school. I became a part time teacher on temporary basis. There was adequate support from my husband Sri B.N. Ramasesha Rao who himself was a teacher.  This was how  I was baptized as a Nursary school teacher.

As a teacher   I used to supervise children’s activities  and the games which revolved around – playing in sand, playing around trees, playing with plastic balls, hide and seek games. etc. I also used to sing small verses. I taught them Kannada rhymes. Later in my service as a teacher I was able to write my own rhymes for the children. To recall one:

‘ Jhana Jhana Jhana

Jebu thumba Hana,

Mele yesalu, Kalege beelalu

Tan Tana Tana.’

All along my son Vasantha was attending the Nursery class  with me.

One fine morning I had some special guests at my home.  The guests included Mr. Nageshrao, Miss Grace Pitchmuthu, and Mr. Ghanekar (drawing teacher) .  My husband was also with them.  I was  bit surprised and anxious to see such a high delegation at my house. They had come with  a purpose. They told me to attend one year nursery training so that I could be a qualified teacher. They said since I was already attending the school it was only a question of formalizing the process. I was also told, in the list of nominees my name was on top. For a moment I was stunned.  But how could I say no  to the proposal made by such big wigs.  I accepted the suggestion.. Soon I started attending the  Nursery training  conducted at Maharani’s high school. It was from morning 8 to 10.  I passed the nursery training and was appointed as a regular teacher for a salary of Rs.25/-per month at Vanitha Sadana. Bacause I loved children , I liked the school also. 

I remember having escorted the  children to ‘Aakashavani’  for children’s programme.  The children were required to sing songs with actions. Often I was praised for my presentation.  Because of my knowledge of playing Harmonium  I used to give background music during the programme. I must thank my father who was instrumental in training me in classical music and playing Harmon ium.

My experiences as a student of Vanitha Sadan.

 

Our family i.e Sri B. N. Ramasesha Rao’ family had the unique distinction of associating with Vanitha Sadana in many ways.  My father was part of VS think tank, mother a teacher, and we the children were VS products. 

P. Vedanthan’s article  reminds me of my own tyre adventure.  VS Nursery had several of them-may be  8 to 10.  I took advantage of my mother’s presence there as a teacher and staked claim for  all the tyres-sort of ownership.  I used to stack all the tyres one over the other and sit on the top, like Hanuman so that no one came near it.  Only with my permission one could get a chance to play with the tyres.  

 

There was one Jumki Ratna Madam who wanted us to learn music.  But I flatly refused as I was of the firm conviction that music was only for girls.  She could not have been harsh with me because of my status as teacher’s son. She did not punish me directly but complained to my mother who in turn  admonished me. 

When I was studying at Vanitha Sadana there was only the pitch roofed straight line building.The U shape was added later after I left. The school had only nursery section. The primary section had upto 4^th standard.  There were only imaginary walls between the classes. We could otherwise peep and overhear what was going on in other classes.   When I got promotion from class 1 to 2 after 6 months I just had to jump and sit in the next room. I cannot forget the answer of one my class mates to a question posed by my mother who was incidentally the teacher for class 2.Her question was:

17. How do we get rain?

 

The answer was: 

1. “ I have a tall ladder at home; I climb up to the sky and open the taps and we get rain”.

 

There was another very enthusiastic girl who always jumped to her feet to answer any question but ended up saying “ oh! Sorry I forgot the  answer”. 

Vanitha Sadana was a model school, teachers were kind and never punished the students. When I joined  Lakshmipuram Boys School popularly known as Doddi school for 5^th standard, I was scared to  face the teachers and the tough  boys in a imaginary hostile enviorn.  So I coolly returned to  Vanitha Sadana and sat in the 4^th standard again for about  10-15 days and  heard  stories narrated  by Smt. Susheela Bharati which was always absorbing. Later I joined Marimallappa’s. 

      I used to proudly tell my  young son that I always performed well and ranked within the first five ranks.  The secret was  there used to be  only 5 students in my class. Of course I always let out the secret myself  

On a serious note I must confess that I had a  good time at Vanitha Sadana and it helped in shaping my character as I grew up. 

B. R. Narayana Prasad

Dashakada nenapu by Dr. B. R. Mukund

Fun fair picture-2010

Picture 1. Sri Rajashekhar koti inaugurating 'Fun Fair'
Picture 2. Sri Rajashekar Koti and others in 'Kala Kendra' : Printing Section at Sadan


Picture 3. Sri Rajashekhar Koti having a glimpse of the art 'Rangoli', which was a part of 'Fun Fair'


Picture 4. 1st Prize winner in Rangoli competition

Blessings from Murthy Sir

My dear 'Children'

 

I thought I would say Alumni but that sounded too impersonal and drab. After all, being old enough to be called  Tata  I opted for the above mode of address.

 

I must tell you that I am moved by the sentiments and deep feelings that come out of each of your writings and  I realize that we have a host of people (almost an army) to stand by us in our efforts to raise the Sadan to the position of pride it used to have .

 

Thank you all and God bless you.

Murthy

Vision Vanitha Sadana Invitation

T W E L V E Y E A R S A T V A N I T H A S A D A N A

 I joined nursery when I was three year old in 1973.  Nursery classes were in a big hall with one stage.  My sister had taken me to the school on the first day. I remember the very first day I had fallen while getting down the steps from the stage. Tulsi Bai miss and Katyayini miss were my teachers.  Tulsi Bai miss was also in-charge of CBC where I used to take books when I was in primary and middle schools.

All the teachers in Vanitha Sadana were dedicated. I remember the names of all my teachers from class I to class X who have taught me. In my primary school, Sharadamma miss, Parimala Bai miss, Vasundhara miss and Vishalakshi miss were my teachers.  In the Middle School, Prabha miss, Sheela miss, Krishnamma miss, Jayalakshmma miss and shanthamma miss were my teachers.  Lalithamma miss was our Head Mistress. 

In high school, we had a science club.  Lectures on various science topics were arranged regularly.  I used to participate in inter-high school competitions on Kannada debate and Sanskrit recitation for which I had very good encouragement and guidance from all my teachers.  Girijamba miss used to personally take interest and prepare me thoroughly to participate in Kannada debate.  I still remember when I was in IX standard our school had won rolling shield in Kannada debate held in Demonstration School.  In this context, we had demanded to declare holiday and wrote on the black board that ‘We want holiday’ and finally, the school authorities declared half-a-day’s holiday.

All my teachers including HM in the High School were very kind and supportive.  They were very good in teaching. I remember Paapu miss who was very emotional had cried after completing the lesson ‘Kaabuliwalla’ written by Ravindranath Tagore. Leela miss who was taking history in IX standard had narrated Vijayanagar Kingdom story so well. 

Radha miss who was teaching Sanskrit had taught Sanskrit grammar to me and my classmate Roopashri even after we had completed X standard and left Vanitha Sadana.

I remember all teachers of my High School days and classmates whom I have not seen for many years and they may not be able to recognise me also. I have lost touch with my classmates (except Aryamba) and teachers as I am staying in Bangalore for the past 23 years .  Hope I would see them on July 3^rd during the programme on Vanitha Sadana for which I am eagerly waiting for. 

From.

RAMA.B.N. , Bengaluru.

In Golden Hindsight -An article by Mr. Seetharam

Today, as I strive to travel back half a century to my schooldays at Vanita Sadana, a virtual pageant of nostalgic memories (Yaadoan ki Jamboosavaari) invades my sinking skull, making it hard for me to present a cogent view here. At the vanguard of this procession is the annual Drama Festival (interschool drama competition hosted by Vanita Sadana), which was the talk of the town in Mysore in those blissful, pre-TV days. I particularly remember the evening when “Sohrab and Rustum” was staged, and I must say that one could hardly spot a dry eye in that audience, as Sohrab lay dying after being stabbed by Rustum.  

Sports, too, held centre stage in our life at Vanita Sadana, and there was an element of excitement even in our routine sports activities, as Red, Blue, Green and Yellow Houses engaged in a friendly competition for the top-spot, almost everyday.

Storytelling and storybook-distribution sessions constituted yet another “Vanita Sadana Special.” Unable to wait for these weekly events, I used to rush to the children’s library at Amma’s house every evening to grab books of my own choice -- a “mania” that was duly recognized and encouraged by the librarian.  Just like storytelling, singing too was a regular classroom activity and some of Rafi’s Jungli songs and PBS’s SwarnaGouri songs, neatly reproduced by my classmates, still resonate in my ears.

It might sound strange today that many of us pursued hobbies like collection of feathers, matchbox labels, emptied cigarette-packs and “cricket pictures,” apart from stamps, and there existed a barter system for exchange precious pieces of collection between two hobbyists.  

We used to make cotton threads on the spinning wheel Takali and this performance, along with our personal hygiene and classroom behaviour, used to be systematically assessed for recording in the famous Varadi Pustaka. 

Beyond the school hours, we were playing Goli, Bugari, ChinniDaandu, Gultoria (?!), Marakothi, KuntayBille, HallaGuliManay, Pagade, ChowkaBaara and a variety of other indigenous folk games, now on the endangered or extinct list. Many of us would make our own kites for the Patada Habba, and several were experts in making and using the “missile-launcher” Kyaataribillu (catapult). 

Was it, then, a life of “all play and no work”? Of course not, but academic work was not ‘celebrated’ at the expense of natural life experience in those joyful schooling days. And we certainly were never the weaker for it. 

We were about 40 (boys and girls) in my class and I have no doubt most of them will concur with the view I have painted here -- if they happen to notice it, that is. [At this distance in time, I can reel off at least 25 names from our batch. In fact, I can recall the names of a number of my juniors and seniors as well, particularly because, almost always, they happened to be the siblings of my own classmates.]  

Well, why should I presume that this view is proprietary to me or my batch alone? To be sure, there are thousands of happy, grateful VanitAlumni out there – right from pre-Independence to post-ChandraYaan era -- who tend to think “Bliss was it in those golden times to be alive, But to be in Vanita Sadana was very Nandana!”  

Come, let us form a thousands-strong Platinum Chain around Vanita Sadana and present a massed chorus of “Jai Ho!” to our Alma Mater.    

S G Seetharam

(A relic from Vanita Sadana’s TreytaaYuga)

My Days by Anil Simha, Bangalore

My earliest memories of Vanitha Sadan are vague, mainly because they are as old as the venerable institution itself. What I say here about those early years is based more on what I have been told, ad-infinitum, by teasing elders in the family. I believe when the Shishu Vihara was started in Vanitha Sadan (1939?), I was a ripe candidate for admission as my parents (late Sri T. Krishnamurthy & Late Smt. T. Indira Bai) were very good friends of Smt . Susheela Bai & Sri Nagesh Rao and were, in fact “fellow travelers” in Gandhian ideologies & practices. We were at that time staying in a house on the lane opposite the Chamarajapuram railway station, a good kilometer away from the Vanitha Sadana located at the end of Weavers Lane, just across the railway tracks. An aunt of mine was deputed to escort me to the school each morning. I have some very vague images in my mind that the “class room” was in fact the spacious entrance foyer of their house. I have been teased for many years by seniors in our family that I was a very reluctant student and that I preferred to stay just outside the class room most of the times and any amount of cajoling by Smt. Susheela Bai and others would not get me to sit down in the class. Perhaps what fascinated me and held my undivided attention at that time was the opening and closing of the railway level crossing gates. I must have envied that man for his job!!! Smt. Sushila Bai’s eldest daughter, Chandra, apparently thought my aversion to the class room could be corrected if I spent more time in their house. So, I believe she volunteered to babysit me on a sleep-over at their home. Of course, I got up in the middle of the night and threw a tantrum and poor Chandra and Sri Nagesh Rao had to carry me home!!! My Vanita Sadana (for  some reason most people referred to the institution as SAMAJA) experience came to an abrupt end before the academic year was out as I fractured my shin bone while playing (more likely jumping?) on the slide in Vanita Sadan’s play area. By the time my injury healed we had moved home to Chamundipuram and so no more Vanita Sadana Shishu Vihar for me.

Years later, when I was in High school, I did three days of apprenticeship at the Samaja in their paper making project. I can not recollect who were the senior persons involved but I do remember helping them in various stages of producing hand-made paper. By this time the building next door was also part of the VS organization. During one summer break, (possibly still in high school) I also recollect having spent a week helping catalog CBC stock,  while my father did the internal audit work for Sadana. Still later on, when in first year college, I had occasions to visit the Samaja premises for Sri Nagesh Rao’s help with my English studies.

Looking back now, I am convinced how privileged I am to have had the opportunity to be associated with such dedicated people as Smt. Susheela Bai, Sri Nagesh Rao and their family. It is so heartening to know that Ms. Anasuya, Ms Bharathi (Papu to most of us) and Late Ms Tulsi Bai have so sincerely carried on the hard work to  make the vision of the founders in to reality.

DOWN THE MEMORY LANE- VANITHA SADANA

      Memories of my early days  in Vanitha Sadana are mixed-some vivid some murky. Let me see how much I remember.

      I studied up to 7^th    standard in VS, starting from my infancy.  Reason being my mother Smt. B.R. Kapila bai was a teacher in the nursery section of the school. She served for  about 7 years .   My late father  Sri B.N. Ramasesha Rao was also associated with the school.  He was an active member of the Children’s Book Council (CBC). I am told he campaigned for CBC, moved from place to place, village to village with audio visual aids to propagate literacy among the rural people.  His enthusiasm about CBC’s activities did reverberate in our home as well..

      My schooling at VS was quite interesting.  There was a personal touch in whatever the Teachers did. Perhaps they had taken a leaf out of the  founders- Sri Nagesha Rao and Smt.Susheela Bai. Susheela Bai used to affectionately call me Ravi Kutty and I liked it After all who does not like pampering. In fact all the members of the first family were known to me.. 

        My class had a  strength of about 18 to 20.  Most of them hailing from K.M Puram with similar back ground.  Every month we had tests on all the subjects which kept us on toes. I always stood third and could never make it to the 1^st position.  S.M. Venkatesh was   1^st and B.N. Satyanarayan was always 2^nd.  I distinctly remember Satyu always scoring 2 marks more than me and registering  the second rank. In one particular year may be in the 7^th  Satyu scored 357 / 400 and I got 355 and Venkatesh was 10-15 marks ahead.  This defeat went on to haunt me till I left the school.  But I took solace, in getting ahead of them in sports.  I loved sports and still do. Among my seniors I remember Sundru, Suri and Vasu in particular. In Sundru’s house we used to play hide and seek in the evenings.  

      VS encouraged us to participate in drama and other extra curricular activities.  I remember having taken part in “ Nanna Gopala and  Vishwamitra.” Of course my roles were secondary, the heroes were invariably the ‘chosen’ ones.   Every year VS used to hold sports competitions in which teams from other localities would participate.  Kho kho, Kabbaddi and athletics were part of the  competition.  Vanitha Sadana invariably did well.  Events like Republic day, Independence day , Founders day were   our annual features..  There used to be a early morning walkathlon (Prabhat-pheri) on Independence day which was always exciting. 

        Some teachers in particular impressed me a lot. They were dedicated and sincere to the core. We had a personal relationship with them. In effect they were part of our family by extension.  Some names which immediately come to my mind are.- Smt. Susheela Bharati  our H.M., Sarojamma, Nagamani, Tulsibai, and Papu..  

      We had what was known as ‘Varadi Pustaka’(Report Book) .  This book had to be carried  to the school daily  in which the teachers would give marks for  our cleanliness , behaviour , and activities on a scale of 5. We always aspired to get 5/ 5 in all the three segments.  The teacher would inspect our dress, teeth, shoes, nails for cleniness before allotting the marks. This system  instilled a sense of cleanliness and good healthy habits in our young minds .  I feel it is not a bad idea to introduce to the students of VS today.  VS also taught us ‘Takli’, Tailoring/ stitching which were unique to our school.  Habits die hard I can still produce a needle and thread if someone is in need.  Thinking of my classmates I recall the names of Satyu , Venkatesh, Prasanna, Uppi, Murali , Sujendra, Jairam and T. Purushottam (TP) .  TP was slightly older to us. while not very good at studies he was exceptional in extra curricular activities. I recollect having met TP in Delhi after about 10-15 years when he was “cycling India on Bike”  I have lost track of him. Chandrika and Vijaya are two female classmates I remember.  Hopefully with Vanitha Sadana going internet I should be able to reconnect with my classmates.   

      Its not an exaggeration if I say the education imparted in VS was near total- be it     academics, sports, extra curricular activities and  discipline - it was all there. 

      Perhaps it is pay back time for all of us who were greatly benefited from this great institution. 

      More in next. 

BRRavi

An article by Smt Ambujakshi

This is my sweet and 60 years old experience at my favorite, prestigious and one of the oldest schools of the Palace city of  Mysore – The GREAT VANITHA SADAN.

This school was started probably in the late 40’s or early 50’s. This is an affectionate outcome and loving baby of Smt. Suseela Bai and Sri Nagesha Rao ,who were addressed to as Amma and Anna by the staff and students of the school. I am Dr. P.K. Vedanthan’s (Vedu) older sister. We both studied in this school, of course in different classes. It was an uphill task for me to drag him to the school every morning. The school was a 15 minutes walk from our house that used to take 30 minutes or longer to reach but just 10 minutes for the return trip as he couldn’t wait to get home!

I was a shy natured girl, quite and well behaved, liked by teachers. I still remember the love given to us by the teachers. I remember Tulasi teacher who used to be very strict.

In those days UNICEF used to supply milk powder to all the schools for children. We were forced to drink at 11 am during our 1^st break which I used to hate. Since we were supposed to show our empty glasses to the teacher as proof of drinking it, I used to stealthily feed the plants with milk and show the empty glass to the teacher. Once I was caught red handed and pulled up badly.

During those days teachers were given full liberty to pull up the children to put them straight and at the same time we were given a lot of affection and attention. We used to give more importance to our teachers than to our parents.

Right now that is all I remember about the school. Since I am ageing, I might get some more things to my mind slowly. I will get back to you ,till then bye.

                   

KUDOS TO OUR GREAT VANITHA SADAN

                                                                                                                   

Yours,

                                                                                                              

 Dr. P.K. Ambujakshi, Bangalore

                                                                      Shivanna

                                                                        Acchamma


Few more faces who have been a part of Vanitha Sadana's hard work and success since long year.