AFGJI (back to school ..)

9.25.08 - 4AM

Day 2: Visiting Air force Golden Jubilee Institute

Has it only been two days since I got here - I feel adjusted to this city already. I enjoyed the Metro ride to Cannaught Place yesterday, had lunch with a friend, and wandered around for a bit. I'm not sure if one likes or dislikes Delhi, but you definitely experience Delhi. 

Growing up, we lived in NOIDA about 17 years back. Judging from the scale on Google maps, it is roughly ~20 miles from Delhi. As a 14 year old, I'd only traveled by myself to Delhi (Subroto Park area) on our school bus with a ton of other students - never by myself and certainly not on an autorickshaw. 

Yesterday, I decided to visit my old school: Air Force Golden Jubilee Institute (AFGJI). My friends guided me and said an autorickshaw would be most convenient - certainly a first for me! I must stress there is nothing complicated or difficult about flagging down an auto, negotiating a fair and getting around; however, not being in Delhi from the age of 15 to 32, it felt like a tremendous experience for I was going to travel by auto, in Delhi, on my own. Exciting! 

Off to Subroto Park - both the Air Force schools are located on this Air Force base. Since it is an Air Force base, not everyone can freely enter and exit the area. The people, however, are courteous and friendly and the Jawan (soldier) at the gate informed me I could go in and visit my school, however, I should pop in and pick up a visitor pass first.

"Hello, I was a student at AFGJI about 17 years ago and I'd like to go visit my school if that's possible. My father was in the Air Force, and I'm staying with friends that are also in the Air Force. I'm simply in the area and would like to visit here."

"Madam, what's your business here?". At this point he is mildly amused by me and does have a smile on his face. He's certainly polite and helpful, but he's interested in filling in his paperwork which only has a small region in which he must succintly write down my long winded reason for visiting.

"Well, as I explained I am a ..." and off I went again. "I also have a friend's daughter in school, Mallaika Bhatia, whom I'm meeting."

"Name, address, .."; "Purpose of Visit: to meet Malaika" - uh, clearly there was only a short space for him to write my long winded story - at least he was amused.

Being in AFGJI after so long was an interesting experience - as I walked down the steps and into the courtyard. I saw the students playing badminton, I was tempted to jump in and ask if I could have a turn. The 12 year old jasmine had surfaced, at least for a brief moment. I remember the canteen, the hulla-gulla (noise) of the hallways. A worker at the school who saw I was out of place promptly asked if I needed help and asked which teachers I'd like to meet etc. As I rattled off a few names, she said Kusum Madam was still here and showed me her office.

There were three teachers chatting around a table, as I knocked on the door and entered. I see a familiar face as Kusum Madam leans over and looks at me - my face broke out in a big smile as I said "Hello Kusum Madam, recognize me?" Within an instant and a somewhat surprised expression, she says "Jasmine?". Wow, I can't believe Kusum Madam remembered me! She was our Biology teacher, and also taught us Chemistry for sometime. She taught us a trick for remembering how elements combine to form compounds so we got the formulas just right - infact, it's a mnemonic I taught students in my chemistry class in my US high school. And I also remember she was a little nervous about teaching Chemistry as Biology was her subject - a dedicated teacher - aren't they all.

"I can't believe it, Jasmine" -- neither could I, it was such a delightful experience. I told her all about my life, threw in a few of my accomplishments, sharing with her didn't seem like showing-off and of course, she was so genuinely delighted to hear about it all. I told her I'm headed to the mountains next week for some trekking and mountaineering. More surprises! "Really" - followed by, "you were such a sweet girl, I can't believe you're doing all these tough things." Evidently I 

wasn't a quiet kid, I used to talk even back then, but somehow it was different. Of course, 17

years is long time :-)

I had snapped a photograph of her on my last day in school, when she was expecting her first daughter. I'd mailed it to her from the US along with a long letter. She reminded me of the letter and found my old address from washington in her diary, which I promptly updated. She took me into class 12 to talk to students about my work and things I've been doing. The students clapped and cheered when I talked about NASA, the Mars Exploration Rovers project, my work at Lincoln Labs. I could see myself in their faces - some of them talked about their own aspirations. I remember how excited we were when a visitor dropped by to break up the monotonocity of a school day in India - there was a sense of awe - and that visitor was ME, I can't believe it. In that brief moment, I could see myself sitting on the other side along with the students, listening with interest at this alumni's stories about working at these well known institutions and climbing mountains. It was surreal.

I also visited with Singla Madam, who also remembered my brother fondly, Mittal Madam, Pratul Sir. Mittal Madam and Singla Madam had kids in our classes who are also settled abroad, so they certainly remembered us from yet another perspective.