Oak Grove In The Rains

Driving up the hills once again
Pakodas at Kolukhet
Time to take the right turn!
Yes, the right turn!
The road from Chunakhala to Jharipani
Our glorious valley green
The old faithful pines
Green, pristine, alive!
A closer look at the changing room
Principal's residence
The newly made visitor's deck
Front pitch -- damp, drizzled out, nostalgic.
Front pitch wall -- still un-plastered
A game of futta, anyone?
Who remembers this tree?
Who remembers this path?
Who remembers Dal Chand?
Lower pitch, now a basketball court
A walk back in time
Towards the Principal's Office
Way to Junior School
Principal's office
Down the rain-drenched path
Till we meet again!

My first memories of OG are of a rainy, foggy, green day. July 24, 1984 was the day I drove up the cloud-laden road to Jharipani via Barlowganj. All I could see was verdure, all I could smell were the mountains soaked in rain. And then, there was Oak Grove – all green, grey and brown. Moss, lichens, droplets clinging to rails, stone walls sprouting with life – and that moist air to breathe and walk into.

It had been many a year since 1984. It was time to pay another visit to OG in the rains.

These photographs are from a trip to Oak Grove School in August 2014. These were posted by Puneet Monga (1991) on his Facebook page.