Mount Carmel – in the 70s and 80s.…

By Sreelatha Kumar ('85 Batch)

I remember the one and only time, in 8^th std I suppose, when we practiced the traditional Kerala Thiruvathira Kali. Our school (MCC) had this ‘refined atmosphere’ where I think we thought we were freshly imported from England- we spoke entirely in English, read only English novels, sang English songs, wore western clothes - I think we effectively forgot that we were part of a predominantly Malayalam speaking society. So doing Thiruvathira Kali was definitely out of the ordinary.  Sreevidya was one of those who taught us the steps. My frustration at being unable to get even one step right still lingers in my mind.  My mother helped with the make up, which is the only time I remember her having stepped into the portals of our new school block. (Just think of the number of PTA’s we attend for our kids today!).  

I remember sitting with my friends near the grotto eating our packed lunch, from where we could hear the roar of the waves hitting the shores in the background.  I can still visualize, the grainy beach-sand coating our legs, as we watched the kindergarteners climb up the scratchy surfaced sand-coloured playground slide. I remember the novelty of our batch being the first one to incorporate the ‘extra’ subject in ICSE and the choice of P.E, and Home Science, the coming to school on Saturdays for basketball, learning the rudiments of Volleyball. For some reason Mary John’s face comes to mind, maybe she was a good volleyball player? I remember enjoying our 10th std, feeling seniormost in the school, taking on the extra workload of studies and the sheer fear gripping me as the public exams approached.