Between the years 1972 to 1977 I studied in my high school in Valerian Grammar School by name. It is located at about 14 kms from the Secunderabad Railway Station.
The school is located in the midst of Cantonment area of Secunderabad. During my school days the school was surrounded on the north, the west and the south by open land belonging to the defense ministry. On the east there were grape gardens stretched for almost half a mile, most of them owned by Gujarati Business Community. Inside the school, the buildings were very modest, with single storied RCC structures. But the high school portion was newly constructed, and since the management did not have the necessary funds the construction was made with asbestos roofing. There was a small church in the middle of the compound built with Portuguese architecture.The the fees were kept at very nominal rates keeping in view that there were a lot of lower middle class colonies not very far off from the school. But the academic standards of the school were never compromised and were kept at the best levels. Importance was given to patriotic values and brother hood. In the assembly we recited the pledge everyday and sang the Vande Mataram. There was a spiritual richness in the school.
For me the memories bring back some beautiful pictures of nature. My school compound was filled with May Flower trees. It was a real beautiful sight in summer when the May Flowers used to bloom. We used to see different varieties of birds ranging from the smallest cuckoo to different varieties of parrots. I was enthralled to a specific species of birds which built its nest in sand and laid its eggs there. I do not know the name of this species but in Telugu we used to call it the “Budugu Pitta”. It is a colloquial term for that species. The grape gardens had wire fencing and along its border cashew trees were grown. In the rainy season we used to see different varieties of dragon flies.
Recently after a gap of more than thirty years I had been to see my school. Everything is changed now. Of course the defense land still surrounds the school on the three sides but there is fencing all around restricting the movement of the students into the open area. On the east the grape gardens have disappeared. In their place, gated communities of residential colonies have come up. Not a single piece of grape gardens has been left. Inside the school compound there are better structures of class rooms. The compound flooring has been concretized. The furniture is of better quality. The only old structure which is left untouched is the old church. The management has been changed and the Redemptorists had left and handover the school to the local archdiocese. I come to understand that the fees of the school are relatively much higher in keeping with modern standards.
There are no signs of the May Flower trees. The birds are no longer to be seen. No signs of even sparrows or crows for that matter. The air is relatively more polluted. There are no more dragon flies when it rains.
