Members Write
Our Young Guns
By Kimberley Norman
“That that don’t kill me
Can only make me stronger”
-Kanye West
These well-sung lyrics by Kanye west aptly describe Gurankit and
Paarth, two of the record-breakers in this year’s Annual Aquatics Championships.
Gurankit Singh
From football to table tennis, Gurankit has done it all. At the tender age of seven, he was introduced to swimming by his father and younger brother at DI. The introduction, which meant being thrown into the deep end of the pool, was orchestrated by his then 5 year old brother. He happily recollects “unlike others I learnt to swim from the deep to the shallow side!” Even though he started swimming later than most children he soared ahead. Blessed with an athletic physique and bundles of talent,
Gurankit has managed to break all the records in DI with the exception of the breast stroke.
He dreams of making it big, swimming State and one day even National level. Passionate about sports he is quick to point out that swimming has deteriorated as a sport in DI. “Earlier we had swimmers like Arindam and Barry, now there aren’t enough kids swimming. The club has reduced many competitions giving more preference to football and other sports.”
Born in Ludhiana he has spent most of his school days in Welham Boys, Dehradun followed by La Martiniere, Kolkata. Presently he is completing his class 12 from Calcutta International School. He is prompt to point out that his inspiration is the spirit of the sport itself and his motivator is his teacher Mr. Biswajeet. To the youth he has something very simple to say— get more involved in sports, activities and games. To the club he says “Encourage swimming, have more competitions for younger kids and a small revamp for the pool wouldn’t be a bad idea.”
Paarth Sabharwal
Music and girls is the inspiration for most teenagers, but
Paarth is not your regular 17 year old. He has been swimming since the age of three with a little help from his mother about whom he says “my mother used to make sure I got up and made it to the pool everyday”. Although he has been a member of the club for only two years
Paarth enjoys swimming for DI. Music is his inspiration he says “good music can inspire anyone”.
Swimming was pushed on him and he didn’t take to it well but with time he found it powerful and was very glad that his parents had forced him into the pool. He took to breast stroke and has been successful enough to have broken the record in his age group. He is even part of a relay team which has been undefeated for five years continuous. He admits to not practising regularly and taking long breaks since the sport comes to him quite naturally. Working too hard or too long is not his mantra!
On being asked about the club he grins and says the pool can be made bigger but the changing rooms should be left alone. “I have too many memories there; we friends have had lots of fun in those changing rooms.” He adds that unlike tennis and football swimming is not a favorite at DI like it should be. He looks forward to swimming State level like his counterpart
Gurankit and is thrilled to have the opportunity to have a chance to swim with his friend. “I love to compete with
Gurankit and though he often beats me I still love the challenge, it’s a driving force to swim faster and better.” He agrees that though the club must encourage the sport, kids must be taught that it isn’t about winning or losing but, taking part.
One of his first and favorite memories is the first pagal pani he ever attended in DI where he was initiated by being hauled up and thrown into the pool; later realizing that along with him his phone had had a long dip in the pool too! “These are memories that will stay with me,” he laughs.
It is very clear that these teens have a lot ahead of them to explore and conquer, and we at DI take this opportunity to wish
Paarth and Gurankit the very best always.
DIAGON (Edutainment Centre)
By Christabel D'Gama (10 yrs)
DIagon is and has always been a place which is popular with all children. From infants to teenagers. Sometimes even adults pop in and out for a book or two. If you have never been there, then here is what goes on inside.
Infants are the youngest in the age group. They just roll about looking for a fallen Lego piece, then when nobody is looking, put it in their mouths and try to eat it. Sometimes, they have to be rescued when they get hold of an extra small piece.
Toddlers come next. They are the most interesting. They are just fascinated by the blackboard and you can find them trying to push another toddler out of the way, saying that it is their space. Then, we have a very unique type of fight. First, one writes on the other's so-called space. That one then rubs it off and writes on the other's space. This goes on till they start chasing each other all around. When one of them finally catches the other, they hug each other. They are also fantastic architects. They sit for whole hours to get one building made properly.
After that, there is the 8 to 12 age group. Here there are fights (real ones), talk, video games, reading (that's me) or just relaxing in the
AC. Finally, teenagers. They come to relax, gossip, help (by cheering when there is a fight) or just watch.
Often the DIagon is closed because the person in charge is absent but as soon as it is found open there is a rush to get in. Please come.
Lost and Found
By Kimberley Norman
As a child I visited the DI every weekend, built mud
castles and learnt how to swim. It was a chance to have fun
and wreak havoc! A few unsupervised hours were all we kids
needed in order to get upto all sorts of mischief. We used
to dilute soya sauce to look like whisky and give it to some
unsuspecting teenager. The look on his face after he took
the first sip was priceless!
Then came the years after, when I was whisked away from
Kolkata. I longed to meet all my friends at the DI. I missed
the fun and the rollicking time all of us had at the pool.
Everytime I saw a cat, it reminded me of the numerous cats
that flooded the Club. I missed the Children’s parties and
the famous fancy dress competitions. The hall would be
packed with proud parents and grandparents, boasting about
their little ones who were decked up in their best costumes.
However, what I missed most was Christmas at the DI. The
bright lights, the tall Christmas tree and Santa, who came
every year without fail, the scrumptious dinners, were
memories I cherished.
Ten years later, I was back in Calcutta and drawn back to
the Club. A lot had changed. The Bar and lounge had
undergone a tasteful makeover. The toilets had been
renovated and the club now had a gym. But many other things
hadn’t changed. I still recognized the stewards, bearers
and swimming coach. It felt like home. The same familiar
lawn now even had food counters. What a great bonus! While I
walked through the club greeting familiar faces, I felt like
DI had matured from being my playground to being a cherished
part of my family. My grandparents were devoted members, my
parents loved the club and now I had the privilege of
becoming a member. I was finally back for good.
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