It was our last day at school. After ten years of stay which had grown into a deep attachment we were leading it. Every face looked sad. The headmaster was in his best dress but we missed that joy which his face had worn on other occasions parting is no joke.

At 9 a.m. we assembled in the school-lawn for a photograph. The chairs were reserved for the teacher and the back benches for the tall boys. Being short in stature I sat in front, cross-legged. Every one tried to put on the best look. Some paraded their watches, other their fountain-pens and yet other lovely flower. The camera man carried us through regular gymnastic exercises. At his behest we tried to wear smiles on our faces, though there were no smiles in the hearts. The camera clicked and all was over.

Thereafter we retired into the school hall where covers had been laid for two hundred persons. The ninth class had stood a party to us it was a sumptuous party-sweets, fruits and my favorite curd char. The headmaster, our dear old man went from seat patting every boy. He has me an extra dish of chart which I accepted so gleefully.

We then went to the meeting-room for the farewell function. The proceedings began with a delicious song of farewell by a ninth class student. It was so full of pathos that tears came to every eve. One of us actually began to sob. The song was followed by a speech by the monitors of the 9th class who read out from a manuscript. He referred to the happy days that we had all spent together and exhorted us to remember the school and our companions.

There was then skit on ‘life at school’. One student tried to parody the science lessons. There was a roar of laughter when in one breath he pronounced calcium carbonate, sodium phosphate, and milk chocolate.

The monitor of the tenth class thanked the teachers the parental love with which they had taught us. The function was wound up by the headmaster who in a brief speech advised us to work hard because the country needs work and yet more work. We should always place our country before self he exhorted us to be karma yogis.

At the conclusion of the function a copy of the Gait was presented to each outgoing student as a souvenir.