Down Memory Lane

Yesterday (Friday), we met up with Ritesh's uncle and visited the neighborhood where Ritesh lived as a little boy. It is in an area called Mazgaon, right near Dock Yard train station. This is the school he went to for first and second grade, along with his older brother:

The school is called Rosary School, obviously Catholic, and carries the motto of Amor Lucis - Love of the Light.

We were allowed in to visit after Ritesh's uncle introduced him as a former student.
Class was still in session at 4.30 pm

dance class in the hallway

the church to which the school belongs, on the way out.

This was all very moving, at least to me. Ritesh hated going to school here - he says they were very strict and in contrast to his older brother, who was a very good student, he always got in trouble for not doing his homework. His mom tells me he cried every morning when he was sent off. How he ended with a PhD is anybody's guess... :) At the same time, I'm wondering how many of his classmates who stayed in India were able to continue their education to that level.

Ritesh's family used to live right around the corner from the school, less than a two minute walk. His uncle still has a key to their place in this rent controlled building, and took us up to see it.

the inside of the flat, with uncle in the mirror

view of the back of the church and school from the flat

the lovely neighbors who invited us in for a chat, with Ritesh's uncle in the middle. Just for the record, these guys are Muslims - after everything I've been reading about the riots and the violence between Hindus and Muslims, it was great to see such warm neighborly relations.

the stairwell Ritesh used to play in

the street right outside the building

this is one thing Ritesh's mom talks about a lot and misses in the US: great, fresh veggies right on your doorstep