�

The Players

This ain't no player list of any major league!! Just a grand name to describe the people who make up the batch of 1990. Among this list are all those funny and unfunny souls who made those bizzare times so.

Vinod Krishnan - Nicknamed Ennadhu Ennadhu for his penchant to request repeating entire jokes or conversations, he was another MFTG clan member. Known for his 100% marks or death approach, some of us even remember his shedding a few tears for a mark that most hadn't seen in their entire academic lives. Perfectionist? Dunno.

Vijay - a man of diverse talents and the super-stud among us (in terms of his running ability!), his wild and merry ways and a characteristic chuckle endeared him to many like few others. Nicknamed Thavale for obvious and not so obvious reasons.

Venkatalakshmi - �Venky� � If ever there was a detached observer to all the pandemonium around her, it was Venky. �Vicarious� pleasures her specialty. Until the day of the Ganga Saagar trip arrived. Then the veneer cracked. Venky�s stayed away, mortified at the thought of being �proposed to� by one of the class hooligans. Shame on the guys!!

Tanuja - We don't know if reading unabridged versions of classics affected her, but to this day, its kinda unanimous that she would have fitted perfectly in 16th ventury England. She somehow had a knack to see what most of us did not, and was prone to shedding tears when movie characters were being buried! It takes all types to make the world. She was definitely unique. Mega.

Sriram(achandra) - Perhaps the one with the longest and holiest of names of our batch, Sriram endured much in good spirit during his short tenure at Chinmaya. His take everything in his stride attitude - a marvellous lesson for all and sundry in this world.

Srinivas - Colourful he may not seem. His demeanour was quiet. Notwithstanding, incidents involving him attracted some high profile attention. The 'gozen' incident is legendary. He constantly riled up Cuckoo. His chess and mathematics skills were peerless.

Sandesh - Quiet, reserved and the appearance of a mind working overtime was just a false exterior of a fun-loving guy who saw things differently, and always loved a good laugh. He is convinced that his current route to nirvana is through a certain brewed liquid. We wish him luck!

Sunil Janardhan - A guy so gentle, it would take a cataclysm to see him explode! Very diligent and reserved, he was very much an enigma to many.

Sujatha - from the time she came in in the ninth standard, her academic brilliance put everyone, bar Bijoy, to shame. She blossomed into a leader later on, and her cheerful disposition was contagious. A hi-enthusiasm character then, a hi-enthu character now. The soul of our gathering. Enough said.

Satish M - The gentle giant, who delivers everything from a speech, a presentation, a marching order, and a volleyball smash in a neatly-pressed and unobtrusive way, he has a remarkable memory that recalls out-of-the-way incidents with incredible detail. Perhaps a secret for his academic excellence? He is a beautiful flavouring in our crowd.

Satish J - Kulla Satish to most of us, his busybody ways was liked by some, and perplexed others. He was one of the quieter voices in the crowd.

Sangeeta - Our beauty with brains, left many a broken heart from Anna Nagar to Chetput. Gallant Chinmayites fought off several unwanted advances from Sherwood Hall and MCC. ALways one to help a distressed soul, also one of the lucky few that seldom got into trouble, while enjoying the fun to the hilt.

Sailesh - A characteristic walk, an oily head and an expression that constantly said that he wasn't pleased with the world - that was Sailesh. He was known for his prowess in English and his helpful nature when it came to pulling us out of our depths.

Rajesh - If there was anybody who was the butt of more jokes, and produced more demented humour than Rajesh, we don't know him! Everybody has some experience with his weirdly funny ways. A character in every sense of the word.

Radhakrishnan - A man of many skills, this one-time MFTG clan member grew out of his parochial shell faster than a chamaleon changes colour. A true ladies' man, he also had excellent academic record, was a natural leader, an amazing sense of humour and a good sportsman. The spice in the bunch.

Prasanna - With a seat close to the window � she cheerfully took on the responsibility of courier of people�s shoes between the classroom and the dust outside. That is, when she could be distracted from the happenings on across the thatch roof over at Sherwood Hall.

Prabha - i.e. light. She shone like a beacon of perfection amid a set of hysterical goof-offs. Her homework always done, her textbooks in immaculate condition � brown cover and plastic cover and labels! Even the worst daredevil would think twice before messing with this lady.

Pooja - While her enrollment in Chinmaya was short (XI & XII), her attendance record was even shorter � the kind you call historic. A lady far ahead of our times, Pooja�s escapades, if to be described in the words of most students, would read..."what guts!�

Nandini - Our own Gabriella Sabatini with the infectious laugh. The uncontrollable laughter which often landed her and many alongside into more than a little trouble! Not to mention the ardent fan following from Nungambakkam to Gilchrist Avenue.

Murlidharan - Speaking in barely audible tones, our "man of the batch" who got his evening shadow on his chin very early in the morning, reminded a lot of the guys in the batch about words like musk, deodorant, etc.

Mohan - The muscle man long before most of us knew how to spell muscle, this pocket dynamite was a mischief-monger bar none! His varied scraps with authority and teachers are legendary. Now mellowed down considerable, his demeanour makes him a wonderful person to know.

Laxman - If you could understand what he was saying, words of wisdom were inevitably mixed with stuff that was beyond you and me! Our quick talking gentle classmate, known for thrwing punches that stop two inches short of target, has taken up law for a livelihood. There are complaints that the entire Bombay Bar Council talks way too fast! Kidding, of course. We wish him well.

Kavitha - Kesavalu named her �vayaadi� with reason. Her quickness with words only surpassed by the frequency with which she dispensed slaps to unruly, unsuspecting boys. If a girl ever made a boy cry other than of a broken heart, it was dear old �vayaadi�.

Karthik - The man to break down the Iron Curtain between the commerce and science streams, the once-upon-a-puny guy whose popularity is as big as his heart, is the cohesive force within the batch. His antics drove teachers as varied as Anjana Sapra snd Paulraj up the wall and never ceased to amuse and amaze the rest of us. True dude.

Kannan - A hi-enthu soul who always made his voice heard, and had an opinion about everything, he was one who could bond well with the lower-profile souls within the class! Among his more unknown daring acts were pissing in the Third Language class! Our Kanna-ku always had a following. A true opinion leader.....nevermind that his dimunitive size and squeaky voice ensured that this opinion was never heard widely!

Hemanth - Credited with the first motorized vehicle (with his Hero Puch) and known for his seemingly unholy alliance with Kesuvulu, this cheerful had a talent to find humour where none perceptible existed! Known for his unmistakable toothy (braced) laugh, and introducing smokes to the novices!

Gopinath - Outspoken, vociferous, often with the syllables sounding stretched and raped, Gopinath was a new boy who spoke his mind to the nth degree. Had he been with us longer, we would have all needed a refresher course in public speaking and pronunciation.

Gigi - Another short term resident of the school, her ability to sprint is only matched by her talent to rile up Kesavalu. For which she suffered through the showers of spittle when forced to become a front bencher as opposed to trouble maker. Her home -- the safest den to hang out when many of us were worried �my mother will see, my father will see!�

Ganesh - A brief stint in school, coming in from a rustic Karnataka background, he passed through it as quietly as he came - no ripples whatsoever. His objectives were a mystery and so was the fact whether he achieved those.

Davis Baby - One of those guys who loses themselves entirely to the rat-race, we may have lost him in the obscurity of the path he has chosen to go, literally and figuratively. Best known for his crossing swords with the chemistry teacher often.

Chithra - Our own Subbalakshmi, our own Rapunzel. Without her rendering her music so unselfishly to our heathen ears, we would perhaps not had a choir or even an assembly. Not to mention the only awards and prizes the class of 1990 managed to bag.

Alarmelu - �Alu� one of the brains of the class and a hot favorite for the exam unprepared to pester for answers during a grueling exam. One of the best sports the world has known, seldom if ever, seen in a solemn mood, survived a class of only guys (with the exception of Pooja on the days she showed up!) with sanity intact (??)

Abdul Raouf - The power of understatement personified. Behind those glasses lurked some sharp wit and creativity. From spoonerism for our undeserving seniors to content manager of this site, this guy knows how to get things done. Not to forget the ardent female following from Mahalakshmi flats!

Those in a tearing hurry, or who chose an easier pace

This is a list of those among us who may have graduated with us if not for their choice to see through their school days either in a different environment, or with a whole bunch of younger kids, or both!

Xavier - Legend has it that he corrupted the innocent and angelic minds of the batch. To his credit, it should be said that he did it sooner rather than somebody else claiming the credit later!

Venugopal - 'Delhi kusu' or Delhi fart, this know-all at the time was a popular figure among those who wanted to hear about his adventures in quaint lands! He was seemingly always saddled with a runny and red nose. A foreign voice in the vernacular plebian crowd.

Thomas - A very visible braces-clad Thomas got along very well with the likes of Anand and Sailesh, indicating he kept to the right side of the school code of conduct! Here in the words of Anand: "On my first day at Chinmaya, in the IVth Std., my first friend was Tom. He took me straight to the back and showed me a smelly building: "That's the boy's toilet da," he solemnly said. And that, sums up Tom. Practical to the point of death, willing to go to any length for a buddy. Always ready for a laugh, his easy-going exterior hid a fierce ambition to do well in life. Unbeatable in masala dosa-eating and sleeping contests!"

Sundar - Kotte to those who knew him well, and to those who mimicked those who knew him well, Sundar was the most outspoken small body around. He commonly picked up scraps with those thrice his size (and that's half the population - the other half is twice his size or better!). His fights with Eli are legendary - Eli usually ended up picking him by the seat of his pants with one hand! Sundar, along with Ashok were the originators, and best exponents, of the squeaky sounds produced at the sides of the mouth, that served to confuse neighborhood dogs and rodents alike! A true comic.

Sridhar/Giridhar - This set of twins set themselves apart by their daring! To most of us, the stuff they did was looked upon with a sense of awe - not in a good way though. They abounded in stories of the naughty kind, and as expected, had many a keen listener.

Smitha - One remembers a pretty face and a quiet demeanour during her times with us. Never very vocal, Smitha stuck to a clique that finally ended up extinct before the times in Chinmaya was done. We wish her well.

Shrilekha - All one can remember of her is a whiny, plump girl who for some reason or the other, was always crying! Though among the quieter ones, no one dared to pick up scraps with her!

Shankar - Artist, staunch friend and die-hard Rajni fan. Shankar seemed to drift in and out of cliques with hardly anyone seeming to notice. A quiet, sensitive person who one hopes enjoyed the times he spent with us. We pray that he is happy, wherever he is.

Sashikanth - Unfortunately names "kozhi' thanks to the shape of his head, Sashikanth was among the lower profile guys with a loud and squeaky voice. He never got along with some teachers, and always complained about the world at large!.

Sanjay Kothari - One has to empathize with Sanjay - he was often out of sync with what was happening, and more frequently chose to view the world through his colored glasses. That the world found what he saw as funny was lost on him. He contributed enormously to the creation of his own legend, among them asking Abdul if he was feeling 'guilty' after a dizzying merry-go-round ride. He meant 'giddy', of course! A very pleasing character who genuinely helped you out in need.

Sajeev - Stout, oily-haired, and a laugh that would have the owls scuttering for cover, that was Sajeev. One can never have a memory of a serious Sajeev, coz that was never witnessed!

Raviprasad - Our daring man, who once repeated the word 'kunji' (hindi for key or guide) several times, and split up the others, and led Anajana Sapra to ask what was so funny! Raviprasad, with Pramod and Sajeev formed a rather unpredictable trio.

Ravi/Sasi - The twins were an ubiquitous two-some for much of our time there. The sight of one or both of them bewildered wasnt very rare. They enjoyed a good laugh, and were forever looking for one! Hanging around with Sanjay, they were never short of one!

Ramasubramaniam - A guy who's mouth seemed to be disproportionately out of sync with his small stature, he arrived loud, stayed loud, and left with a whimper! The lunch-movie sessions at his house was a hit among those who were invited, but his imitations of the history teacher wasnt! A true character, in all senses.

Rakhal - The enlightened soul in our midst, and one who was seen as a moderator between the students and the powers-that-be, Rakhal will always be known as a powerful voice in the squeaky cacophony. With a bowling action that kept you guessing which arm he was going to deliver the ball with, his cricketing skills was anything but great! Nevertheless, a great bloke, who allegedly quit Chinamaya for pursuits encompassing enrichment of the soul.

Ramkumar -Arguably the most popular guy during the lunch period, Bondey (because he looked like a Bonda with his hairstyle) never complained when the rowdy gang pillaged his lunch. The other side of his famous instigated fights with Ramesh, Bondey was a person good at heart. Not too many people invited their classmates over for their birthday parties, and Bondey seemed to have many in a year!

Ramesh - The guy with the exasperating expression "Sooopaaaerb da, even my cousin has it," Ramesh had a wild time during his stay with us. This made it unpredictable for the rest as well. And that served to endear him to many. Characterized by his oily, spiky hair, a wide-mouthed grin and a very distinctive voice.

Rajkumar - Lovingly called Eli by the whole bunch, this guy's size was anything but that of a rat (apparently the name stuck due to some other part of his anatomy!) The guy who complained that his mom said he was losing weight when some of us tried piling onto his lunch, he was unique in many ways. His affluent spending meant he always had a bunch of guys hovering around him! He is credited with Sherlock Wolammes and "'e 'it me 'ard on the 'ead, Miss" statements!

Rajesh Bellani - Our man with a huge build (more fat than muscle!) and a beard, came on in the 9th, and threatened to set new standards! There was a lot of fizz though! He clambered on to the cricket team with a lot of hype about himself, and came up a cropper. He was called the Father of the Batch for his apparent seniority. His gentle ways found him many friends.

Priya Nair - Among the more vocal and popular girls in the early high school days, she formed good bonds with a few of us. She left, hastily, for reasons unknown, or long forgotten.

Pramod Chandran - The skeptical and straight talkin Pramod was also among the most fearful bowlers in the cricket team. Always looking out for a good laugh, this stocky, swearing mallu was an extremely popular figure for his sense of humor and frightening laugh!

Narmada - This girl certainly enriched the class after she came in, and everybody vied to be in the joint projects or study groups with her. She always had a kind word of advice for everyone who asked for it, she left us for a better environment in Ewarts.

Narayan Rao - Nana was an instant hit after his tendency to speak in Hindi wore off (which incidentally gave him his nickname!). His brother's name Phani gave a new meaning to Nana's name - unfunny! His popularity kept him in touch with a lot of guys long after he left us.

Karthikeyan - Our musical genius, who had a profound talent in the use of the violin and his voice, he was constantly butted by the likes of Sandesh for it. A quiet and pleasant person, he sailed through and out of Chinmaya almost unnoticed.

Ishwar - The soft-spoken 'god' among the artistically oriented among us, his talent never seemed to come to the fore except for the annual exhibition. Left the school as quietly as he went through it.

Hariharan - The natural leader when there were none, Hari got along well with all the teachers and won their trust. Classleader for many a year, and a comforting voice to the newcomers, one never got the hang of why he ever went away before his time with us was done.

Girish - The first impression one gets of Girish is that of a simpleton. But probe deep and you get one who's gifted with a pure and simple heart. The guy who spoonerized "Wicked Old Thief" in Oliver Twist into a song "Thicked Old Whief" with a wild accompaniment of mock-piano on the desk, this guy found a butt for many of his jokes, besides the butt of many himself!

Ganesh - He came tall, stood tall, and he didnt back down for teachers, either! An intelligent guy, he changed numerous schools before he joined us. Predictably, he left to increase that number after just a year!

Dheeraj - He seemed to be in tearing hurry, and had grandiose plans. He ended up discussing this with all and sundry, and one hopes he has achieved some of those.

Deepak - Called vethila pak (or betel-nut) because his name rhymed with it, Deepak seemed to have trouble with the teachers on a never-ending basis. Got along very well with the Ravi-Sasi twins, and a host of others.

Chandrakanth - Called 'kozhi' thanks to the shape of his head, Chandrakanth packed a punch into his cricket (and throwing) that was fearsome. Not much else can be attributed to a guy who had a different idea of fun!

Bindiya - 'Bunsen Burner' to most of us, she seemed to be from an older order, and had a good grip on what was going on. Always moved around in a clique which she seemingly never wanted to lose sight of!

Bijoy - The man who came in in 9th and smashed all academic records, he was the benchmark for all academic performances from then on. The wildly flailing arms while walking, his mosquito-size handwriting, and his "if I could" type of reply to mundane questions served to endear him to many and not so to others!

Balaji - Affectionately called 'Balls' and 'Thonga' for his refusal to believe and endorse the products of the hosiery industry, this guy was unfortunately the butt of a lot of jokes. Continuously ridiculed, one wonders if he felt relief or pleasure when he left us after 10th.

Ashwini - Pretty, loud and sometimes crass, Ashwini was very easy to get along with! Her innocuous sounding questions usually ended up as the joke of the week. She was the one who exposed Srinivas' imitation of Annapoorni about the 'gosen!'

Ashok Varadhan - Kosha to many (his name reversed), his skills in scaling anything scalable was second only to his expression of bewilderment when caught! The guy who once, while examing a bunch of snakes from over the wall, contrived to fall into their midst (and struggled to claw back), one can be sure that there can only be one Ashok, and are we glad we had him in our midst! Lost him to the State Board-Central Board toss of the coin.

Anupama - Soft-spoken, helpful, intelligent and diligent beyond the capability of any others at the time, Anupama seemed to own the top rank for a long time.Often the benchmark for others' performances, and always willing to share her notes. She was a rarity of class among the crassy rest!

Anand - The kung-fu chapmion, who fortunately did not test it out on anybody, Anand was extremely vocal, albeit in his soft, quiet way. Was popular with the English teachers, and some of the intellectuals in the batch!

Those who imparted the Gyan

Cuckoo, Kalyani, Rathna Kumari, Usha Pandit, Nirmala Jayaraj, Kanthi, Kesuvulu, Natarajan, Swarna Prasad, Paul Raj, Raja, Geetha, Meenakshi, Vijaya, Veena, Annapoorni, Chamundeswari, Jharna, Uma Maheshwari, Anjana Sapra, Vasanthi, and Sathyamoorthy.

Those who presided while they did so

Govindachari, Ganesan, Cmdr. Krishnamoorthy

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�

�