George V High School by Dinanath Pathy
Summary
TLDRThis script from an alternative English class delves into the author Dinanath Pathy's memoir, 'Drawing Master of Digabandi,' focusing on his experiences at George V High School. It paints a vivid picture of the school's architecture and the distinct personalities of its staff, including the strict yet affectionate Headmaster Mr. Ramnarayan Paddy and the kind-hearted Assistant Headmaster Mr. Sanatana Kuzari. The narrator's own journey as a student, his artistic talents, and the challenges faced due to his impoverished background are highlighted, offering a nostalgic reflection on the school's influence on his character and the dedication of its teachers.
Takeaways
- π The class discusses a chapter from 'Drawing Master of Digabandi' by Dinanath Pathy, an Odiya painter and sculptor, who also attended George V High School.
- π« George V High School is depicted as a tile-roof school with three blocks of rooms, a large stone wall, and a wide veranda supported by round twin pillars.
- π¨βπ« Mr. Ramnarayan Paddy, the headmaster, is described as a strict disciplinarian with a powerful personality, yet also affectionate and hardworking.
- πΆββοΈ Mr. Paddy had a unique routine for visiting the toilet, smoking continuously on his way to an open field, leaving a trail of cigarette stench.
- π The school had two 'bosses', one of whom would drive buses and teach English when the driver was on leave, demonstrating the dedication of the teachers.
- π¨ The narrator, a painter and sculptor, received special attention from the headmaster due to his artistic talent and received drawing prizes.
- π Mr. Sanatana Kuzari, the assistant headmaster, was a soft-hearted, principled individual who used charts and maps for teaching geography.
- π» Mr. Kuzari was also a gifted artist and a sentimental person, often seeking guidance from his spiritual guru before making decisions.
- π The narrator mentions two incidents reflecting Mr. Kuzari's unjust actions, one involving an anatomy lesson and the other concerning a copied textbook.
- π Mr. Lottova But Nike, the seniormost teacher, was known for his attention to detail and discipline, often giving very specific instructions.
- πΎ Pandit, or the junior Pandit, was more concerned with collecting materials for his cows than focusing on the children's education, even during classes.
Q & A
What is the main topic of the class discussion in the script?
-The main topic of the class discussion is the chapter 'George the Fifth High School' from the book 'Drawing Master of Digabandi' by Dinanath Pathy, a noted Odiya painter and sculptor.
What was unique about the school buildings described in the script?
-The school buildings were unique because they had tiled roofs, a feature not commonly seen in modern schools, and were surrounded by a huge stone boundary wall. They also had a wide barranda and thick round twin pillars for support.
Who was the headmaster of George V High School during Dinanath Pathy's time?
-The headmaster of George V High School during Dinanath Pathy's time was Mr. Ramnarayan Paddy.
What was Mr. Ramnarayan Paddy's approach to discipline in the school?
-Mr. Ramnarayan Paddy was a strict disciplinarian who believed in maintaining discipline at any cost. He was known to identify and punish mischievous or troublesome students with a cane.
What was the unusual habit of Mr. Ramnarayan Paddy when he went to the toilet?
-Mr. Ramnarayan Paddy had the habit of chain-smoking cigarettes on his way to the toilet, which was an open field about four kilometers away from his house. The stench of cigarette smoke would indicate his presence.
What role did the school driver play when the headmaster was absent?
-When the headmaster was absent, the school driver would drive the buses, face the children, teach English at school, and then drive the children back to their houses.
Why was the narrator particularly favored by Mr. Ramnarayan Paddy?
-The narrator was favored by Mr. Ramnarayan Paddy because he was a talented painter and sculptor who received drawing prizes from Kesab Maharana's Drawing Masters Association on three consecutive occasions.
What was Mr. Sanatana Kuzari's role in the school and how was he as a teacher?
-Mr. Sanatana Kuzari was the assistant headmaster of the school. He taught science, geography, and non-detailed texts. He was a tender-hearted, soft-hearted, and principled person who used charts and maps to teach geography effectively.
What incident from the script highlights Mr. Pujari's strict adherence to principles?
-An incident that highlights Mr. Pujari's strict adherence to principles is when he got late to school and instead of entering the school campus, he sent an application for casual leave and went back home.
What were the two unjust actions of Mr. Pujari mentioned in the script?
-The two unjust actions of Mr. Pujari mentioned in the script were: 1) Becoming angry and scolding a student for asking whether a skeleton was male or female during a science class, and 2) Throwing away the narrator's notebook containing copied lessons from the non-detailed textbook because he thought it was a printed book.
How did the narrator's financial situation affect his school life?
-The narrator's financial situation affected his school life in several ways, such as not having the required clothing for games classes and not being able to afford a non-detailed textbook, which led him to copy the entire book into a notebook.
Outlines
π« George V High School: A Nostalgic Glimpse
The script begins by introducing the topic of discussion, the George V High School, as depicted in the book 'Drawing Master of Digabandi' by the renowned Odia painter and sculptor, Dinanath Pathy. The school is remembered as a tile-roofed institution, a distinctive feature in modern times, and is described in detail, including its three blocks of rooms, the headmaster's office, science and art rooms, and the surrounding environment. The school's layout, including the theater stage, playground, and nearby pond, is also highlighted, evoking a sense of nostalgia for traditional educational settings.
π¨βπ« Mr. Ramnarayan Paddy: The Feared yet Affectionate Headmaster
This paragraph delves into the character of Mr. Ramnarayan Paddy, the headmaster of George V High School. Known for his imposing stature, strict discipline, and dedication, Mr. Paddy was a figure of fear and respect among students. His physical description, including his blue eyes and impressive mustache, adds to his authoritative presence. His method of dealing with mischievous students involved corporal punishment, a practice that was accepted and even encouraged by parents at the time. The paragraph also humorously describes his unique habit of chain-smoking during his daily walk to the distant toilet, leaving a trail of cigarette smell that announced his presence.
π The Multi-Talented Driver and Mr. Sanatana Kuzari: The Soft-Hearted Assistant Headmaster
The script introduces two additional characters: the school bus driver, who also teaches English and drives students when needed, and Mr. Sanatana Kuzari, the assistant headmaster. Mr. Kuzari is portrayed as a soft-hearted, principled, and artistic individual who uses charts and maps to teach geography. His devotion to Swami Nigamananda is highlighted, as he often consults with his spiritual guide before making decisions. The narrative also shares anecdotes about the school's atmosphere when Mr. Paddy is absent, suggesting a more relaxed and enjoyable environment for the students under Mr. Kuzari's lenient supervision.
π¨ The Artistic Narrator and Mr. Lottova: The Detail-Oriented Teacher
The narrator, a painter and sculptor, shares personal experiences with Mr. Lottova, the seniormost teacher known for his attention to detail and discipline. Mr. Lottova's meticulous nature is illustrated through his instructions for students to fetch his glasses and his involvement in school dramas. The paragraph also touches on the narrator's struggles with poverty, such as not having the required clothing for games and having to copy a textbook due to financial constraints. Mr. Lottova's strictness is contrasted with Mr. Kuzari's kindness, highlighting the different approaches to teaching and student welfare.
π The Junior Pandit: A Teacher with a Cow's Concern
The final teacher introduced in the script is the Junior Pandit, who is more preoccupied with collecting materials for his cows than focusing on his students' education. His behavior in class, interrupting lessons to remind students to bring straw or other items, is portrayed in a humorous light. The paragraph serves to illustrate the diverse personalities and priorities of the school's staff, adding depth to the narrative of the narrator's school days.
ποΈ Reflections on George V High School and Its Teachers
The script concludes with the narrator's reflections on his time at George V High School and the impact of its teachers on his life. The narrator expresses gratitude for the kindness shown to him due to his artistic talents and academic performance. He also acknowledges the emotional connection many people have with their school memories. The summary of the chapter serves as a tribute to the hardworking and dedicated teachers who shaped the narrator's character and contributed to his educational journey.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘George V High School
π‘Dinanath Pathy
π‘Tile-roofed school
π‘Mr. Ramnarayan Pati
π‘Discipline
π‘Sanatana Pujari
π‘Non-detailed textbook
π‘Skeleton
π‘Punishment
π‘Mr. Notoba Sar
Highlights
Introduction to the chapter 'George the Fifth High School' by Dinanath Pathy.
Dinanath Pathy was a noted Odia painter and sculptor.
The school, George V High School, was where Pathy was educated from class 4 to class 11.
Description of the tile-roofed school located at the southern end of the village.
The school had three blocks of rooms with a wide verandah and thick round twin pillars.
The first block housed students from class 7 to class 11.
The second block contained the headmaster's office, who was Mr. Ramnarayan Pati.
The third block included the head clerk's office, the science room, the teacher's common room, and the art room.
There were additional thatched houses for students from class 4 to class 7.
Prayer classes were conducted in the open, and there was a theater stage adjacent to the western boundary wall.
Description of the school's playground, bordered by a pond and agricultural fields.
The headmaster, Mr. Ramnarayan Pati, was a strict disciplinarian but also affectionate and hardworking.
Mr. Pati's unique habit of visiting an open field toilet 4 kilometers away while chain-smoking cigarettes.
Mr. Pati drove the school buses himself when the driver was on leave and also taught English.
Narrator's admiration for the dedication of teachers like Mr. Pati, who ensured education spread through their efforts.
Mr. Sanatana Pujari, the assistant headmaster, taught science, geography, and non-detailed texts using charts and maps.
Mr. Pujari was a tender-hearted, emotional person who played the violin and was a devotee of Swami Nigamananda.
Two incidents involving Mr. Pujari: one where he scolded a student for asking about a skeleton's gender, and another where he threw away the narrator's neatly copied textbook.
Mr. Lottova But Nike, a senior teacher, was disciplined, hardworking, and had an eye for details, especially in giving directions.
Narrator's experience of assisting in school activities like painting, preparing charts, and organizing exhibitions.
Emotional reminiscence of school days and the influence of teachers on the narrator's character.
Instances from the text showing the narrator's poor family background, like not affording specific clothing for games or non-detailed textbooks.
Transcripts
namaskar
welcome to the alternative english class
once again
today we shall discuss
another chapter
george the fifth high school
written by dinamath party
do you know my friends
who dinner party was
dinanath party was
a noted odiya painter and sculptor
this
present chapter
that we are going to discuss today
has been taken from his book
drawing master of biga gandhi he has
written a book
the title of the book is drawing master
of digabandi
and this is the chapter from there
the school that is mentioned
here
which school george v high school
was the school where he was educated
during his boyhood days
he studied in the school
from class 4 to class 11.
the writer describes that school
it was a tile a root school
which stood out
the southern end of the village
you don't find tile roof
schools these days
you find
pakka buildings these days
but
some 20 30 years ago if you went to a
school
it had tiled groups
or asbestos groups
and some 10 20 years before that if you
went to a school it had it it had a
thousand roof
charger
it had a fast roof
so but you know mr pathy talks about the
child ruth school
and the school was situated at the
southern end of the village
he says there were
three blocks of rooms
tide roof rooms
and there was a huge stone wall stone
boundary
around
these structures
it had a wide barranda
and
thick round
twin pillars
pillars were there
you must have seen pillars
pillars support supporting the roof
so tiled groups so naturally
pillars were required at places so that
they would provide support to the roof
in the first block
there were five to six rooms and these
were used by students from class 7
to class 11
so there were three blocks of rooms
in the first block
there were 5 or 6 rooms and in these
five or six rooms
students from class 7 to class 11
studied
the second block housed the office of
the headmaster
was the headmaster mr ramnarayan paddy
he talks about vistapadi sometime later
and the third block housed the office of
the head clerk
there was the science room there was the
teacher's common room and there was the
art room
so all these rooms were there in the
third block
later
the writer says
some thoughts houses came up
three or four
houses with fast troops they were made
of straw
no chopper
where students from class 4 to class 6
or 7 were taught
and
if you have read in government schools
you must have you you must have enough
knowledge of such types of
ah you know
houses or schools or blocks
prayer classes were conducted in the
open
and there was a theater theater stage
and this theater stays lay
adjacent to the western boundary wall
adjacent is next to very close to
it was very close to the western
boundary wall
and beyond that
there was the playground
after that
one end of the playground toss the bank
you know playground has four sides
on one side
there was a pond
there were three more sides on one side
there was this stage
on one side there was the village pond
and the two other sides
beyond the two other sides there were
the agricultural fields
one end of the playground toss it
towards the bank of a pond
and the other two ends were lost
in vast expanse of rice fields beyond
the other two sides there were
the rice fields of the village
on the opposite opposite side of the
school main gate
they are stood the office of the sub
registrar
on the right side of it
there stood the king's old kacheri
to the north of the subject registrar's
office
was situated the hostel of the high
school
so in the first few
paragraphs
the narrator talks about
where the school was situated
and how it looked
next he talks about
srina abnarayan who was the headmaster
of the high school what sort of a person
he was
mr ramnaran padi
was a very powerful personality
and
in your school days my dear friends you
must have been
afraid of your headmaster terribly
afraid of your headmaster
so obviously
students were terribly afraid of him
he was tall fair
he had curly hair
he had
an impressive mustache
nisha
and he had blue eyes
he was very strict
a disciplinarian
who is a disciplinarian a person
who loves discipline who wants that
discipline must be maintained at any
cost
so he was a
very strict person
but
affectionate
and
loving
and also very hard working
he had this ability to identify the
naughty children the mischievous
children the wicked children the foolish
children
who caused a lot of trouble
for all the teachers
and when he identified them he would ask
his peon what was the name of the pian
or gadu to bring his cane agado bring
bunch of sticks in his hands
and the headmaster would start beating
students till they played
there was a time when it was believed
that
spare the rod
spoil the child if you spare the soil
the
rod i mean if you do not use the make
use of the rod if you do not punish the
children rod is a symbol of punishment
if you do not use the rod you spoil the
child these days
the teachers can't punish the children
if they punish the children they have a
number written on the walls of the
school
children would ring up they would
organize a protest immediately
but those days children were beaten
till they blamed
and parents never interfered
they had given them full freedom sir
spare my child's eyes please see that
his eyes are intact
you can do anything else that you want
you can polish him the way you want to
punish
now next the writer talks about
his unique way of visiting the toilet
he says
the moment he left his house
for toilet
the toilet was an open field
it was some four kilometers away from
his house
and the moment he left his house he
would start smoking a cigarette
after some time the cigarette would
finish he would start another one he was
a chain smoker he would start one
cigarette
after you start smoking one cigarette
after another
he would start smoking one cigarette
after another till he reached an open
field that open field was very close to
a guest house next to the next to a
guest house
and it was situated at a place which was
some four kilometers away from his own
house
he would cover the distance every day
without caring for whether it was
raining now whether it was very
sunny or whether it was very cold
the stench of the cigarette spoke so
wherever he went
because he smoked cigarettes
continuously
wherever he went
the stench of cigarette smoke was left
behind so from that people knew that he
had gone to the toilet
so
this school
where mr paddy was the headmaster had
two
bosses
when the driver look at look at the
contribution of mr ramnaray and paddy
when the driver went on leave he would
drive the buses he would go and face the
children
then teach english at school
then again when the school closed he
would drive the children back to their
houses
so when the driver went and leave he
would drive the buses himself
and collect students then he would teach
students english for a couple of hours
before driving them back home
once again
narrator speaks very highly of him look
at the ability of teachers look at the
dedication of these teachers
you know because of them
education spread
the narrative received free scholarships
due to him
on school dramas goddess
independence day celebrations
the narrator was wanted by him why why
the narrator was wanted by him because
the narrator was a painter
he was a sculptor
the narrator received drawing prizes
from kesab maharana's
drawing masters association
on three
consecutive occasions
one two three
on three occasions regular occasions
consecutive one after another
so the headmaster was pretty happy with
him
right
so this headmaster took special liking
for him because of this
now
next
the narrator talks about mr sanatana
kuzari who was the assistant headmaster
of the school
mr pujari taught children science
geography and non-detailed texts
you know because he taught geography
he made use of a number of charts and
maps to teach geography
and
what was the specialty of the narrator
the narrator was a painter so he asked
the narrator to prepare the charts
and mr pujari himself was a gifted
artist
he prepared excellent charts himself
so naturally
his class was quite different from or
the way he explained things to students
by displaying charts by showing them
charts
he was different from others
he was a tender hearted person very
soft-hearted person and he was a devotee
of swami
nigam
he was a he was a he was an emotional
kind of person a sentimental kind of
person and withdrawn
i mean he remained silent most of the
time
he played the violin very well he played
the violin very well
and he was very principled person
if by chance he got late
someday
he would not enter the school campus
he would send an application for cl
casual leave
and he would go back home from
if a cat chased a chameleon he would say
no no no no cat please don't do that
he was so kind-hearted he didn't want
any harm to come to the chameleon so he
would ask the cat he would stop the cat
no don't do it don't chase after
the chameleon
now whenever mr ramnara and paddy went
on leave
he remained in charge of the office of
the headmaster
on such occasions
children
would have a lot of fun because he was
very kind-hearted ramnara and paddy was
a very strict disciplinarian he wanted
that discipline must be maintained in
the school
and whenever he was absent
and mr pujari was in charge of the
school children found an occasion to
have some fun
so they would come to mr pujali and say
sir we want to play volleyball today we
want to play football today
on such occasions two groups of students
should approach him
to organize a volleyball or a football
match
he would ask the children to wait for
some time
and he would say okay
let me consult my gurudeva
swami niger he was a devotee of swami
nigamanda he would say okay let me go
and talk to him if he says if
gurudev says
go and allow the children to play
football
or volleyball then i will come back and
i will allow you to play that
but you would most of the time come out
and say
gurudev refused i am sorry gurudev
refused to let you play today i can't
allow you because gurudev has refused
now he talks
now the narrator talks about two
incidents
in which he and
one of his friends
were involved
and mr pujari was also involved
which he did not like
what are the two unjust actions this
will be the question what are the two
unjust actions of mr pujari
that the narrator mentions
the first one
one day sanatana sir was teaching the
class science
he was explaining the anatomy of human
body
and he had taken the help of
a skeleton
now while he was explaining things the
narrator's friend will say
he asked the teacher
whether the skeleton belonged to a male
or a female whether it was a male
skeleton or a female skeleton
whose skeleton it was
for some reason the teacher perhaps the
teacher thought he was making fun fun of
him
so the teacher became very angry
so the writer says the narrator says now
there was nothing irrelevant about the
question if you have a skeleton it must
belong to either a male or female
so what was so irrelevant about this
question
so there was nothing irrelevant or
unscientific about the
question
but for some reason or the other the
teacher became very angry
and he scolded that himself
and drove him out of the glass
that day
on another occasion
his behavior was very heartful mr pujar
his behavior was very helpful to the
writer
to the narrator
the narrator had copied the entire
non-detailed textbook
my dear friends those days
people usually were very poor most of
the
people were very poor
so families could not afford they could
not pay money parents would not pay
money for the education of the child
they could not buy books
so
what the narrator had done the narrator
had copied the entire non-detailed text
and the title of the text was letters
from father to
his daughter
that was the name of the text he had
copied everything all lessons from there
in a notebook
and he had done it very neatly
very clearly very nicely because he was
an artist himself so he must have a must
have an artistic handwriting
he had done it neatly
but the moment the teacher found it out
mr pujari found it out that it was not a
printed book
he snatched it from him took it away
from him and he threw it
so the narrator says i felt very hot
i and i felt very slighted i felt very
slighted means i felt very small
i felt offended
i felt very bad that
teacher did it simply because i thought
i was poor child i belong to a poor
family i could not
he made fun of by by throwing it
throwing the book away notebook away
he made fun of my poverty
so
so he says i felt very
hot and slighted
there was another person another teacher
in the school
who was mr lottova but nike
he was the senior most teacher
the narrator says he was very hard
working very disciplined
and very principled
he had a sharp nose
boney face
shrunken eyes if you have a bony face
your eyes
you know
look as if they have gone deeper
so shrunken eyes
he told children up to class seven
mr potnik
had an eye for details
the writer narrator gives an amusing
account of
how he heard how mr fortnite had an eye
for details
if he needed someone to go to his house
and face something
he would give him a detailed account of
the direction in which he had to move
now suppose i live in the colony in the
teachers colony here
i want somebody to go to my house and
face something
suppose my glasses i can't do without my
i'm sorry without my glasses
so i send somebody i tell okay you go to
this place of this colony
and my quarter number is this
madam is there at home ask madam to give
i have a tail madam that i have sent you
and ask her for the glasses
but look at how he sent somebody to his
home
he would say go straight from the school
to the bazaar
take the left lane from there
if you take the left lane you would
arrive in front of the
table
go straight to the east
i'm sorry
after crossing half the distance you
would see a house with a high miranda
the house has stone steps and it is
surrounded by toggle plates
go up to the buranda
knock at the door with your right hand
knock at the door with the help of a
iron chair
which is fitted on it with your right
hand
my uncle will open the door
tell him
that i have sent you
on a team box kept in my bedroom
you will find my notebook
having a blue cover
look at the detail
how he is talking about the details
then
on the notebook
i have left the dark colored cover of my
glasses
if you don't have the glasses
it's a problem for you
i can't manage without my glasses
suppose i have not brought the covers
i could go back home after the school
but over
get it and come back soon
he would then ask the students to
narrate the whole thing okay tell me
what you have to do where you have to go
and if the student made a mention
suppose the student forgot
one or the other step
he would ask him to repeat the whole
thing
you made a mistake tell the whole thing
once again
when a drama was performed he would be
in charge of the green room
where the characters decorated
themselves
the narrator his elder brother and
october assad they would be in charge of
makeup
actually what did not versa do if the
narrator lost some makeup item
he was very particular
i have just told you how how particular
he was while he sent a child to his home
so whenever you know the narrator says
we artists are very forgetful people
whatever task is assigned to us we do it
very carefully but after that assigned
job is over we usually forget things
so we often misplace the brass and
collars
not our server was very particular about
what the narrator had taken from him
and he would remind hey
you are taking the brass from me
you are taken a needle from it needle
from me
remember to return it to me
even if he had borrowed a needle
not towards sar would remind him
frequently till he returned it to him he
was so
particular right so another character
was there
he was pandit
or the junior pandit he was also called
the junior pandi
most of the time he was concerned about
collecting straw starch and shop
for his cows
he was less concerned about the
children's education
he was more concerned about collecting
things from it for his cows
even while
teaching he would make a mention of all
those things
he would remind someone to bring him
these in the middle of the class he
would say hey
you boy you come here
last time i had asked you
to tell your father to bring me straw
for the cows did you ask you you know in
the middle of a song he would ask the
child in the middle of the class he
would not wait for the end of the class
in the middle of the class you would ask
that particular child
now finally the narrator says he was
very close to not our sir
because he helped him in painting the
doors windows of the school
and the blackboard
he would prepare charts and maps
he would draw the images of goddess
saraswati goddess lord ganes
he would decorate the school rooms
he would arrange exhibitions during the
visits of
ministers
so
you know usually when we talk about our
school we become a little emotional
so in this chapter
he talks about the school in which he
studied
how the teachers they are where
how they contributed to the shaping of
his character
how
hard working they were
how dedicated and devoted the way
they were
he talks about he reminisces reminiscing
is thinking about the past narrating
about the past he reminisces about his
you know
those days school days when he was a
student of his school
he read from class 4 to class 11
in george v high school
and you can also have a question
uh
give instances from the text that saw
that the narrator belong to a poor
family
the narrator says
that he didn't have any white swords and
vests which were required
for the games classes
so if you have games period you need
special kinds of clothing so the
narrator says no no i didn't have any
special clothing but my teachers were
very kind
because i was a good student they
allowed me to use the clothing that i
had
he would
put on a coarse cotton towel around his
chest
it's about
that non-detailed textbook because his
family could not afford
the non-detailed textbook they could not
buy it he had written all the chapters
in his special notebook
so
i hope
this helps you
thank you very much
in my next class
we shall discuss one more chapter
thank you very much
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