Writing about paintings brought back memories of Narendran. When I was in grade 8th, he was my classmate. He hail from a middle-class family. Though he was a mediocre at studies, he was exceptional in drawing skills. He could draw a picture very close to its original. Moreover, he can also draw things with his own imagination. Whenever there is an inter-school drawing competition, he will be sent by the school and he will surely get a prize. There was only one person whom I knew from my school who could do better than him, his elder brother. Drawing was pretty much a hobby for me but it was his passion.
I should say that I was even a bit jealous that he could draw much better than me but it was really out of amazement than anything else. Since we both had similar interests, we eventually became close friends. We use to spend time together roaming around our school, buying eatables and discuss about drawings. We also found a place where we could buy all the necessary materials like canvas, oil paints, water colors, poster colors, brushes, pencils etc. Actually, he is the one who taught me some basic techniques to make a sketch look better. I can say that my interest towards drawing was at its peak during those 3 years.
Once there was an inter-school collage competition. Each team consist of two members and there were about 20 teams from different schools. We were given a common topic "Future India" and we were asked to make a collage within 2 hours. We won the first prize and the trophy is still sitting in my shelf. We also had chances to participate in many drawing events like the long banner with paintings insisting "World Peace" sent to the President of India.
10th grade board exams were there and we had to put all our focus into studies. Exams were over and summer vacations started. After the vacation, I came back to school to check for the board exam score. I searched for Narendran but couldn't see him there. I continued to study in the same school. I didn't see him after that.
He always mention that he wanted to go to Chennai to join the college of fine arts. Hope he achieved his goal. I also hope I will see him again one day.
Update (14th July 2016): Ha, after all these years (15 years after school), I could connect back with Narendran, thanks to the blog on "My memories from Suburban high school days" (http://ramvenkat-1983.blogspot.se/2016/07/my-memories-from-suburban-high-school.html). He is indeed an artist as I expected and wished and it was awesome to get back in touch with him through Facebook after many years. We will try to meet the next time I visit India.
Corrections: I have a poor memory, I thought he left Suburban after 10th, but indeed he was there until 12th grade and we never met after that. After talking to Naren, he refreshed me with the incidents and I am able to recall now.
Update (14th July 2016): Ha, after all these years (15 years after school), I could connect back with Narendran, thanks to the blog on "My memories from Suburban high school days" (http://ramvenkat-1983.blogspot.se/2016/07/my-memories-from-suburban-high-school.html). He is indeed an artist as I expected and wished and it was awesome to get back in touch with him through Facebook after many years. We will try to meet the next time I visit India.
Corrections: I have a poor memory, I thought he left Suburban after 10th, but indeed he was there until 12th grade and we never met after that. After talking to Naren, he refreshed me with the incidents and I am able to recall now.
Hi My dear Friend.
ReplyDeleteFeeling happy and proud to comment on this post. What a fresh memories, I love those days. I too shared those moments to my close friends in college.
As you guessed , I am an artist now . Also as I said in my school days- completed master degree in the same Chennai College of fine arts, But I got seat in that college only after 4yrs after 12th completion !!!!, That is separate story.
In addition, I am Adding my memories of that same events. I never forget that collage competition in my life. Its an awesome team work in that age. In that same time competitions were held like a festival. Nearly 20-25 competitions in different skills with in 2 days of time. But we 2 participated in 3 competitions.
1. Collage - won 1st prize. (My brother won 3rd prize in the same)
2. Drawing - we both missed to achieve .
3. Paatu potti - One of the lovely memories in my life. It is also a competition for 2members teams. As usual we two were a team. Since nearly 1000 peoples were applied to participated. There was a written test round initially :P. successfully we crossed that level. I still remember few questions in that.(like - in which movie SPB appeared first as an actor !!!- Do you know Now ? :P) . But In the first round of singing level we got eliminated.
One Big correction in your memory da. We both knows from 8 th think so. but we are friend from 10th because you sat in front bench of mine. Still remember that class and bench. But in 11th I have continued on the same suburban school and we both become close friends in the 11,12th only . Also we won that collage competition in 11th only, check if you have that certificate. In the end of 12th last few weeks I didn't speak with you properly. Because of large no. of other friends team. I always etches my heart. I thought I will get relived from that feeling only on the day when I Speak with you . Finally that day arrives today.
Happy to have you again da