24 November, 2007

Technology Helps

In day to day’s life we come across changes in Technologies. Though there had been talks about certain disadvantages of technologies I have been experiencing few advantages for the past few years. Does technology lead to destruction? That is debatable. We can say yes/no. That is not my point here now. I wish to share how it has helped me in the last few days.

After a row of meetings at work, I went to my seat to have my lunch. Casually browsed my emails and saw a mail with a funny mail id. Fearing it to be suspicious I thought for a while. The subject was not as one of those dodgy mails. So I opened it up and was excited, thrilled, etc..etc. It was from nobody than one of my class mate who had studied almost 30 years before in my high school. It was an invitation to few classmates for a meeting in Chennai. Though I could not attend I just responded. We had very few email ids in the group. Then we suggested to have a common group and started a group.

Believe me or not! Within a couple of weeks, we could collect more than 20 email contacts of our classmates who are spread over every corner of this world. The past two weeks had been very busy receiving few phone calls every evening from one of them. One of my class mates was kind enough to sing few favourite hits for everyone at home. He called us from Dubai. Suddenly another friend forwarded the contact of our favourite school teacher. He said that the teacher has an email id and is very receptive to students, though he is retired now (naturally!). Guys started phoning him up as well.

Due to the time difference I could not call him in the week days. I sent him a mail in advance during the weekday and called him on a Saturday. I woke up very early as early as 2.45 a.m. on a Saturday. I called him and just said my name. He recollected every minute detail about me. I was just flabbergasted. We went on and on. We exchanged our wishes. I conveyed my sincere apologies for not able to contact him all these days. He replied, that he was very delighted that at least few of us have recalled after 30 years of school life. He felt a great sense of satisfaction that he could contribute something good for the society and felt very happy that students who studied under him are well placed and leading a good and great life.

He said
Last week was a special week in my retired life for I received a few calls from my students that is 1976-78 batch to whom I was the class teacher in the gallery class. Remembering the teacher at your age of 40 plus and that too after a gap of 30 years is quite unimaginable. I was filled with emotions when I heard the voices followed by their e-mails and it gave me a sense of satisfaction and fulfillment for which God has created me. It is really gratifying to note that majority of the students of that gallery class are well placed and well settled in life and they remember their teacher who has contributed a little for their betterment.

I thank all of you for this lovable gesture which I cannot very easily forget. Now I am retired and God has given me a peaceful retired life. I love to meet you all and share the pleasant experiences and moments we had in 1976-78 at Corley. Joys are doubled and sorrows are diminished when shared. If you happen to visit Chennai do call me and feel free to visit me.

My warmest Greetings once again and I would definitely remember you and your family in my daily personal prayer for I know that more things are wrought in prayer than the world dreams of.”

All these days I have been feeling guilty for not having contacted my teachers who had brought me to this stage. But last week I had my greatest satisfaction in my life for conveying thanks to our old teacher. Now, within 2 weeks we could establish contacts with 24 of our old class mates, and the joy brought over exchanging e-mails, calls, news, and photos is unexplainable. Each one of us remembering our childhood acts and even the words, nicknames, fights, jokes and exchanging them when our kids are in our teens is great. The highlight was one of our classmate sent a group photo of our class taken in the year 1973 and there had been flurry of emails amounting to more than 200 within a couple of weeks. We laughed at ourselves for how we looked and how much of hair each of us has lost. We have changed in shape, looks. But while talking about the school days we all are same. Till today none of our old classmate has declined to meet or be in touch with our group when approached. That is the spirit!

Now you know why I appreciate the technology and why I was missing in the blog world for the past few weeks. Hope to get back to blogging and you can see my comments again in your posts. All these were possible just at a click distance.

30 comments:

Unknown said...

enna Balaji Sir, where are the photos of you in the 70's ?

bell bottom pant photo ellam poda poreenglaa ?

eagerly awaiting..

:)

Jeevan said...

Amazed with Technology, there were minds still craving to contact the old friends where and how in this large world… this internet brings the lost loved ones by few clicks. Very happy for your converse with class mates and teachers, hope you where wandering with memories that where in exist and excite now.

Pls try to bring our small age balaji here through the school pic. I wish you have and more to have pleasure! Hugs.

Swamy Srinivasan aka Kittu Mama said...

balaji,
casualla vandhaen..ippo oru nalla friends padam paatha feeling.

im also happy for you. technology has been the main reason for all of us to get shattared but technology is bringing us back in one way or the other...infact my college mates are also planning a meet at chennai in 2010. Everyone one of us are excited and believe that all of us would get together from different parts of the world.

after all, the majority of our good and happy thoughts have taken place when we studied. it would be a great pleasure to meet and talk to such friends. if it goes back to schooldays, thats even better, for it can kindle those teenage thoughts too :-) ...

wow, what a life we all have...lets pray to god that each and every one that we know from those days lives happily.

great post balaji...

Balaji S Rajan said...

Sundarji,

Early 70's I was wearing shorts. One of my old school mate sent me a picture and it has brought atleast 26 of our classmates together. A great photo.

I do not have a picture of those bell-bottoms. I remember having a long one and my friends used to tease me.

Ravi said...

Balaji Sir,
Almost all of your posts re-kindle nostalgic memories. Though I read every post of yours, whenever I do so, I drift into my own memories and I end up not commenting. This post was one of that kind too and the message from your teacher was very touching. Goes to show how, many times, the little things we do makes a deep impact on others. Thanks once again Balaji Sir for a lovely post (Here I go drifting again...).

Swatantra said...

That's superb! All of you has done an amazing thing by making your teacher feel special and great! Now a days in the crowd we really don't make efforts for these small things.. but they really matter .I believe making someone special is the most simple thing to do...

Great!

Balaji S Rajan said...

Jeevan,

Yes.. many of my classmates are thrilled equally. Some are excited and calling me from whereever they are. I shall publish my 6th standard photo sometime later.

Balaji S Rajan said...

Kittu,

Well said. Yes, technology has done plus and minus. WE should be grateful to the technology. I could not believe. Especially talking to childhood friends of school, is something great. We can pick up easily from where we left.

Balaji S Rajan said...

Ravi,

Thanks a lot for your comments. I know that people like you read my post and you are equally good in your posts too. I try to live presently with the essence of the past. Many of my friends are enjoying our company and we have exchanged hundreds of mails within these few weeks. Oh..god I cannot explain.. we all are feeling as if we have gone 30 years back. The best part is I got some one through internet who was my classmate. I just had a wild guess and sent him a mail and he responded with few more identification and there started the reunion. It is great.

Balaji S Rajan said...

Swatantra,

Thanks for your comments. Yes we are equally happy in conveying what we had in our mind. It gives a great sense of satisfaction. That is why I published my teacher's reply too.

Neha Nair said...

hey .. i think every new invention has its merits and demerits.. n how much ever we crib abt tech being a source of destruction .. we are the ones who land up using it more. and u can add me on to the list ..of ur 70's photos :)

Rama said...

This is absolutely true. This technology is truly amazing. I am in touch with some of my friends with whom I had lost touch, but they are all very few. Hope to get in touch with many others soon. Another nice thing is that I am in touch with many from my extended family , thanks to orkut and facebook whom I had known only by names. Through blogs, I have made some very nice friends like you

This is again a good one from you

Ra said...

So very true Balaji, you . I was so happy to find my old class mates on Orkut. It does feel good to step back in time, and what could do that better than pictures. I had uploaded my yearly class pics that I could find on Orkut, and my buddies got a kick out of this as they hadnt seen some of those pics.

Anonymous said...

cooooool :)
i could imagine your feelings..
ore autograph thaaannu sollunga!

*ahem, mallika teacher kaiyaala ethanai adi vaanginenga in your school days..? :D

Kavi said...

So very true ! I am in the process of connecting up with old friends sometime back. And the feeling is so very unique and undescribable !

Thanks for sharing ! It is such a pleasure to read about the innumerable pleasures that simple things bring to life !

R Girls said...

hi balaji... hey so blessed are you to get in touch with olden days folks...this is what look back should give, the pleasant memories... hope after 20 years we still catch up with each other..how are your kutties...
thanks for the great extended courtesy during my visit to ur place...Happy new year to you and your family

Kavi said...

Wishing you a great year ahead Balaji !

Swatantra said...

Happy new year Bala!

Wish you and family many more moments of happiness and togetherness in the coming year and as ever!

Unknown said...

hapy new year, Balaji Sir.

:)

Jo said...

Wishing you and your family a peaceful and prosperous year of 2008.

Balaji S Rajan said...

Neha,

There are few which we crib and still use without any other alternative. Your request has been considered and I shall put that photo.

Balaji S Rajan said...

Rama,

Thanks for considering me as a nice friend. I feel the same from my end.

Balaji S Rajan said...

Ra - Thanks and I could understand the kick your friends would have got out of the old photos.

Balaji S Rajan said...

Ambi,

Thanks for visiting after a long gap. Yes.. It is just another 'Autograph' thaan.

Oh..no.. I have never got any beatings from Mallika teacher.

Balaji S Rajan said...

Kavi,

Thanks for your comments. I am sure that you would have had the same pleasure as me and my friends when you revived your old contacts.

Balaji S Rajan said...

Barbienan,

Thanks for your comments. You are such a lively character and I will be really glad to be in touch with for many number of years. Thanks for your wishes and wish you the same.

Balaji S Rajan said...

Kavi,

Thanks and wish you the same.

Balaji S Rajan said...

Swatantra - Thanks for your wishes and wish you the same and your family.

Balaji S Rajan said...

Sundar - Thanks for your wishes and remembering me during this day. Wish you and your family the same.

Balaji S Rajan said...

Jo,

Thanks and wish you the same.