The smell of brand-new textbooks, the feel of a shimmering school uniform, and the fading sound of a bell hanging in the corridor always bring back some throwbacks to school days. There was a time when the concept of Indian schools was something particular, dotted with small traditions and large unforgettable routines-where e-notebooks would never take their place, and online classes would rarely diminish the idea of a classroom.
Notebook Covers: The Annual Art Project
Every academic year began with a ritual we all secretly loved — covering notebooks. Armed with brown paper sheets, label stickers, and adhesive tape that somehow always ran out halfway through, we’d sit down for hours transforming dull notebooks into uniform, rule-abiding bundles. Getting the perfect fold at the corners felt oddly satisfying. Some of us even added a layer of transparent plastic for extra shine (and bragging rights). And let’s not forget those handwritten name labels — “Class: VII-B | Subject: Science” — written with utmost concentration and zero spelling mistakes.
Ink Pens & Hero Pens: Graduation from Pencils
If there was a coming-of-age moment in these schools days, it was the shift from pencils to pens. Specifically, ink pens. Blue ink stained our hands, shirts, and sometimes even our faces — badges of honour that we wore with pride. Owning a Hero pen was a flex. The more rebellious ones moved on to Pilot V5s or coloured gel pens, which teachers were quick to confiscate. Who can forget the excitement of refilling pens with ink from a tiny bottle, only to end up with fingertips that looked like modern art?
PT Shoes: White Canvas, Eternal Struggle
White PT shoes were the official nemesis of every school-going child. No matter how clean they were the night before, they’d somehow turn grey by morning assembly. Weekends were reserved for washing them, followed by furious brushing with chalky white shoe polish that had its own distinct smell. PT periods meant running on sun-scorched fields, losing house matches by a single point, and pretending to be injured to avoid push-ups. But it also meant team spirit, laughter, and the thrill of getting a high-five from the sports captain.
Lunchboxes, Tiffin Tales & Recess Revelry
No schools days starter pack is complete without the humble lunchbox. Rattling inside our bags, often leaking slightly, they were mini treasure chests. Recess wasn’t just a break; it was a culinary exchange fair. Aloo parathas, jam sandwiches, idlis with chutney — every kid’s tiffin had a fan club. And the lucky ones who brought Maggi or cold pizza were practically royalty. Sometimes, our only motivation to get through double maths period was the promise of a good lunch under a shady tree with our gang.
Assemblies, Announcements & Anthem Duty
Assemblies meant standing in straight lines, adjusting ribbons or ties, and pretending to sing the national anthem louder than the rest. The “Thought of the Day,” school prayer, and principal’s speech were all part of a routine that somehow sticks with us even today. And if you were ever chosen to read the news or deliver a speech, you were basically a star for the day.
The Last Bell: The Most Anticipated Sound
No sound matched the joy of the final bell. It signalled freedom, the end of mental math and moral science, and the start of post-school adventures — playing gully cricket, stopping for orange candy outside the gate, or taking the scenic route home just to delay homework.
Even as classrooms go digital and school uniforms make way for home pyjamas, these little details — notebook covers, ink pens, PT shoes — continue to live rent-free in our hearts. They are more than just memories; they are time capsules of innocence, routine, and joy.
So if you ever find yourself missing simpler times, pull out an old notebook or that half-used bottle of Camlin ink. You’ll find those throwback memories waiting, just like old friends in your Schools days.
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