SIESHS -1969 Batch.... there is NO Match!

01.08.2020

We are a bunch of young ones

In our Sixtees, I say
Wonder why we are still schoolkids?
I shall tell...it's this way....

We were in the school in Mumbai
We studied for eleven years
We gave our SSC Exam together

Then... put our life in gears

We split, we just lost touch
And there was no big group
A few still got connected
But this was no large troupe.

For 39 long years we were apart
The bonding factor was the school
That got focused, so soon after
We met in our dear School!

February 24, 2008
The very first.... nostalgic one

The day we had our debut  meet

With endless smiles, hugs and fun

Mani, Shekar, Ravi alongwith

Vasantha, Bala n Santhanam

Had painstakingly planned the meet

To harness the energy n momentum

From then on, we all decided

To meet once every year

February  or March, annually

And catch up with happy tears

Deciding  an outing is no joke

Where n when, flight or road?

But we have meticulous planners

Whose mind is on an onward mode!

Every year we are anxious

To enroll, pay and participate

In traveling, singing, spending time

Being together, feeling great!

Now  we all know each other

Our family has grown BIG

With our wives, hubbies included

We meet, eat, dance and gig

These meetings are a great help

To keep our minds young

We have energy, we are peppy

Not stagnant, stinking like any dung.

We know someone will lend a ear

When we feel really low

We just call and pour it out

Our minds take a new flow

We feel lighter, happier too

We have someone there

A good friend, a companion

With whom, our words, we share

Like music there are differences

Different ragas, different moods

But then there is a beautiful tune... AND

We thank God for this fortune.

Happy to be a part of SIES-1969 gang! :-)

- © Shanta Ramakrishnan, Bhandup, Mumbai, INDIA

01-08-2020

In Memory of our Head Master 

Shri. T. S. Muthuswamy (aka Muthanna)

(On his Centenary Celebration at 

SIES High School, Matunga on 15.12.2012)

On this special event today

A few lines about Shri Muthanna, I say

As he walks nearby..... you STOP,

Nothing but attention, you pay !!

With  respect, fear or even awe?

Feelings mixed, you stand

Listen intently n follow what is said          

His wish is your command!

As I remember our HM those days

One might  think he is not there

When he nears you, you would know      

He has noticed something somewhere

Students were told to wash our cans       

From which we ate our meal

With fights and fun at the tap counters

 We would wash with great zeal

Because we knew we had to show -         

Open our cans as we pass HM

Sharp eyes, shrewd look, quick to see

Even a grain or dirt, with face grim

Murli would be told to leave the line         

Because his button was undone

Prema will be given a warning       

Because her hair had a loose ribbon

Length of skirts, tear in the uniform,

Upturned collar... all these were seen

The Supervisor would read HM’s look     

Or his nod, as it might have been....

Self discipline, Integrity, Respect to one’s duties

Are lessons I learnt along the way

Stern outside but sincere within   

A great teacher he was,  of the day

His Maths and ‘lessons' are still fresh       

His thoughts -  sharp and clear

There is no one like our Muthanna,

I bow in respect, my dears!!

--oo00oo--

 (Written and read out by Shanta Ramakrishnan

( SIES1969) at the school during HM T.S.Muthuswamy’s

Centenary Celebration On 15.12.2012)

(c) Shanta Ramakrishnan

SIES-1969 School Reunion...Down the memory lane

It was a reunion with a difference!! Many students who completed SSC (Std XI) from SIES High School, Matunga, Mumbai in March 1969, met after 39 years in the school premises on February 24, 2008. It was an emotional and nostalgic experience for all (now in 50s), who attended the reunion. Here is a recap of the event in my words. Shanta.

It all started with a mere phone-call

That was Vasantha, my SIES school pal

She wondered if we could all meet

Surprised, I thought, “What a treat!”

So Dr. Mani, Santhanam, Vasantha and a few

Started the ball rolling, and as if by cue

Many enlisted, ready for reunion

Happy and eager, that’s my opinion!

On Sunday morn, February Twenty Fourth

I had my heart pounding, as I set forth

Met a few friends, sooner than I thought

At Nahur station, the same train, we got

Ananthi, Janaki and Gauri were there

‘Hi’ and happy smiles, all of us shared

We moved real fast, not to be late,

Soon we were at the SIES gate…

From here on I express my own feelings

Going down memory lane… it was so reeling

With nostalgia, I stood a minute, transfixed

Those years in flash-back, in memory, fixed.

We entered our school, and saw a beaming face

It was Dr. Mani- Subbu, to friends of schooldays

Suddenly I spotted a familiar smile

R.Mahalakshmi’s, sure, I could tell from a mile!

C.E. Geeta, the lady from Syndicate Bank

My bench mate, we e’en shared some ranks!

Bhanu the fair dame, teacher from Bangalore

Who too was in Sion, I remembered for sure….

Then a dazzling smile hovered, and hit me hard

Mmm.. must be someone who takes you off-guard,

The lady’s elegance made me ponder

Yes, it was A. Radha!! I got my answer!!

Dear Rathi walked in with her quiet hubby

I thought of the days when she was very chubby

Slim, well dressed, her daughters married…

Now she is a grandma, a charming one indeed

We registered our contacts, met more classmates

Some arrived with spouses, their life-mates

We were then directed to the breakfast site

The food was delicious, we tasted every bite

When in school, we never talked to boys

Still, faces were familiar, of some of the guys

Soon we all connected, with laughter and uproar

The SIES-69 Reunion began to soar!

Teachers were escorted carefully to the seats

Most, in late 70s, were happy with this Meet

It was our privilege to have them over

To pay our respects to the teaching staff, ever

Vasantha graced by lighting the lamp

Amid hurray, cheers and loud claps

The meeting commenced with national anthem, then

‘Guru Vandana’ sung by daughter of Santhanam

The welcome speech, followed by SIES history,

Sri. Muthuswami Iyer’s photo, garlanded with dignity

The school’s growth was showed by a presentation

The visual ascent, with a catchy oration

We spotted chalks, duster and a black board

Algebra class of KRK Sir! We were not bored!!

Going back to our teens, we all sat down

Answering (a+b)2 in chorus, without any frown

We could feel the animation in Sir’s voice

Knew the commitment to his professional choice

He taught us Maths, contemporary style too,

The hall shook with laughter without any taboo.

The teachers were honored by a gift and bouquet

A token of respect from our heart, I say

Display of emotions unabashedly shown -

The eternal bond of Guru Shishya is well known!

Radha, Ravi, Shekar, Vasantha and a few

Exchanged views of SIES, then and now

Dr. Mani (Subbu) talked of commitment

As an active alumni, and got our assent!

Then the intro began, each one got a chance

To give a small gist of self, without any prance

Listening to the progress of family n profession,

We cheered everyone, at the good oration.

Our friend and batch-mate Selvaraj dear

Was the caterer, his profession was clear!

We went on to taste the lovely lunch laid

Amid food and chatter, compliments were paid

To continue this bond of Reunion Day

Each February we meet, on the last Sunday

This was the unanimously taken decision

‘ Giving back to SIES’ is our mission…..

With points coming up, as if by magic,

Discussions of donations n service were mere logic

A plan to lead, and be an active troupe

That will be our SIES-1969 GROUP!

Soon it was time for me to leave

Quite a bit in a day, we had achieved

My heart was full, and my eyes were moist

I consider this Reunion, a new flag hoist!

©Shanta Ramakrishnan (A.K.Shanta/SIES1969/XI-D)

24.02.2008