I wore uniforms at both the schools I went. I cribbed about the routine. I hated donning the same dress day after day. Making sure it was laundered, ironed and ready for school. Polishing shoes was another chore I hated. Cherry Blossom Black Polish for black shoes and a thick white wet paint like polish for the white canvas shoes were purchased at Bata. On those days when the white shoes weren’t polished, we scrubbed white chalk on the shoes.

A haiku in memory of the uniforms we wore

Group emblem

Barriers they aim to break

Dressed alike in row

 

Button-down white shirts

Pleated, crisp pants, shorts and skirts

Uniforms for each school

 

Monday whites for sports

Checkered shirts and pinafores

Colour dress Wednesdays

 

 

Polished black shoes, white socks

Under the chin, knotted tie

Wearing with pride

 

Worlds to discover

With the uniforms we wear

Beyond the school walls