Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai (SHP)

Mumbai, Feb 11: Visiting his alma mater, Balmohan Vidyamandir in Dadar (W) for a felicitation ceremony on Monday, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray reminisced his school days. Addressing his former classmates and teachers, Thackeray said, "I was happy getting passing marks," and claimed that he used to wonder why his batchmates cried cry over low scores.

The CM also admitted to helping his classmates copy and cheat in the exams, and being late to school. Alumni Thackeray (1976 batch) and NCP minister Jayant Patil (1977 batch) were felicitated by the trustee, Guruprasad Rege. Patil, who is water resources minister, confessed to getting 'prasad' (thrashing) from a teacher after he and nine of his friends shifted benches near the window to look outside while class was in session.

Revealing little-known facts in an 'interview' by his schoolmate and Marathi film personality Ajit Bhure, Thackeray recalled spending his first day at school crying. "I remember Ma taking me to school and me crying." In the rapid-fire session, he admitted that Matoshree would always be his first choice compared to Varsha, the official CM's residence, but did not have a clear answer when asked if his school or JJ School of Art had contributed in shaping his life. Thackeray had done a photography course at JJ School of Art.

Remembering the founder, Patil said Rege has inculcated the habit of reading and positive thinking among students, and 'every Balmohan student has been taught about values and cannot go wrong'.