Virtues Nursery!

 

Goswami Madam and mini Siddhi!

God cannot be everywhere so he created Parents and Teachers. Parents often see us grow all along but teachers witness us only for some years and then we grow up and move on to the next class and they are left behind with a new batch of students. My first school or now as they say playschool was ‘Virtues Nursery’ where I did my playgroup and nursery under the guidance and great teachings of my most respected and dearest Goswami Madam. The name of the school was a reflection of what we were taught, yes ‘virtues’ of respect, conduct, care, love, sharing and so much more. I still remember being taught how to sit properly, how to respect elders, how to eat food when sitting with a gathering alongside the alphabet, numbers and poems. After a certain point we are generally taught the syllabus of our curriculum, but it was in Virtues Nursery that lessons on life and the conduct of it were actually taught. 

Goswami Madam could teach us ‘Virtues’ as she herself practised those, her conduct is a walking example of all the values she inculcated in all her students. Some students have fared well and some are still trying to make their marks but everyone who passed from Virtues Nursery is a cultured individual for sure. Last year if you all remember I gave you a return gift on my birthday blog, it was a book recommendation of the book,’Tuesdays with Morrie’ by Mitch Albom. I read this book last February and while reading it, the only teacher who came in front of my eyes was Goswami Madam, I saw her in every chapter, and wanted to meet her since then. Today was otherwise a mundane day until afternoon, but as they say before a day is over there is always a chance you will remember it for something else. And yes I will remember today as the day when I got the best pre-birthday gift from God, as Goswami Madam and Sir came all the way from Vrundavan where she is now settled as she was visiting her family in Navi Mumbai and came to Panvel to meet us. 

Birthday Party at Virtues Nursery.

They got down from the rickshaw and Madam had tears in her eyes and hugged me tight, that was the warmest hug I have received in the longest time. Those tears silently spoke in volumes about the love she has for her students and loved ones. She has seen the 3 year old Siddhi and today when she saw the 23 years old Siddhi, her eyes welled up! She still remembers my first day of school, and that I had got dry fruits in the lunch box. We had a great time talking about the good old days in Virtues Nursery and how students and teachers have changed overtime. And how can the visit be complete without Madam telling a story, she narrated the story of Ram-Laxman and Raavan, the one where Ram sends Laxman to Raavan for getting knowledge, but he goes and stands near Raavan's head and comes back to Ram saying he did not like Raavan, so Ram says if you are going to get knowledge you should first respect the person giving you that knowledge and have humility, so instead of standing near his head you should sit at his feet and after doing that Laxman came back feeling fruitful meeting a knowledgeable man. Lesson learnt Madam!

Goswami Madam and Me now!

We also share the same birthplace ‘Gwalior’ our common thread, one of the reasons why Mumma got me in this school was because it was her native place too. Looking forward to meeting you again, and as you promised you are going to get me ‘cadbury gems’ next time around, I still like the blue ones more than other colours though now I know they all taste the same. Also that life is a little blue, your visit made it all the more colourful. This was like the best pre-birthday gift that God planned and Madam executed it with Sir, getting the blessings of my first school’s first teacher is divine!

Happy Reading,

-सिddhi Bhosale.

School Picnic.

Fancy Dress: Where I was Chef Sanjeev Kapoor
baking a cake!

Annual Day at Virtues Nursery.