I was born in my village Munganahalli at home and stayed there until I finished 3rd grade. Then I went to live with my uncle until I was finished my 6th grade. Then I was in my village with my parents again 7th through 10th grades. My 1st through 3rd grade school was in my village. 7th through 10th grade was in a neighboring village Batlahalli.
During these Munganahalli and Batlahalli school days, I had one classmate who was also from Munganahalli. His name is Narayana. He was my friend and enemy. I hung around with him and fought with him constantly. He would initiate the fights. He was much bigger than me (that is what I remember) and stronger than me. He would beat me to pulp unless my other friends came to my rescue.
Then, I went off to 11th grade in Bangalore and off to various colleges until I got my Ph.D in engineering. In the meantime, Narayana never left the village, stopped education after high school and took up farming in the village. He does not do farming now - he has sold off the farm - but works as a cook primarily at marriages and other functions. He is just able to sustain a living at the village and raise a family.
When I visit India, I always visit my village and stay in Narayana's house. I have no animosity towards him because of his torture during my childhood days. Interestingly, he is at least 6 inches shorter than me and looks like a weakling now. How did this happen?
When I visit my school where I run some scholarship programs, the school arranges a function with me as a royal guest. They arrange an elaborate lunch and I always see Narayana as the cook at these lunch arrangements.
This reminds me of the situation in "Back to the Future" movie, where a strong high school classmate constantly bullies Michael J Fox's character's father but ends up serving him washing his car as an adult.
This is not to degrade Narayana's current status. He may be a better person than me as a human being. This story is just to illustrate that people's fortunes can change dramatically.
During these Munganahalli and Batlahalli school days, I had one classmate who was also from Munganahalli. His name is Narayana. He was my friend and enemy. I hung around with him and fought with him constantly. He would initiate the fights. He was much bigger than me (that is what I remember) and stronger than me. He would beat me to pulp unless my other friends came to my rescue.
Then, I went off to 11th grade in Bangalore and off to various colleges until I got my Ph.D in engineering. In the meantime, Narayana never left the village, stopped education after high school and took up farming in the village. He does not do farming now - he has sold off the farm - but works as a cook primarily at marriages and other functions. He is just able to sustain a living at the village and raise a family.
When I visit India, I always visit my village and stay in Narayana's house. I have no animosity towards him because of his torture during my childhood days. Interestingly, he is at least 6 inches shorter than me and looks like a weakling now. How did this happen?
When I visit my school where I run some scholarship programs, the school arranges a function with me as a royal guest. They arrange an elaborate lunch and I always see Narayana as the cook at these lunch arrangements.
This reminds me of the situation in "Back to the Future" movie, where a strong high school classmate constantly bullies Michael J Fox's character's father but ends up serving him washing his car as an adult.
This is not to degrade Narayana's current status. He may be a better person than me as a human being. This story is just to illustrate that people's fortunes can change dramatically.
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