Uday had been to six schools which was normal with children of military families, but it was the last school, St Stephen’s in Chandigarh where he spent six years and graduated from, which was to mold him into the most friendly and popular kind of a person he was to become.
Uday started schooling in New Delhi in a Nursery School across the street from the front gate of the house- called Holy Angels which he joined in May of 1985 at the tender age of three.
His first report card reads – “An affectionate child who likes to participate in all activities”. After two years at Holy Angels he joined a regular school, Guru Harkrishan Public School in Kindergarten in 1987 and was promoted to Class One having obtained an A grade. However soon after Uday’s father was posted to another appointment in Jammu , and so Uday took admission in another Guru Harkishan School in Jammu in Class 1 (for the sake of continuity), however after two years as the parents were not satisfied he was moved to Army School in Class 3 in Aug 1990- but once again it was time for his father to be posted out to another military station when Uday had to also move and he took admission in St Mark’s School, Babina where he spent three years finishing class six successfully- and it was then that he moved to Chandigarh in 1994.
Despite the constant moving and change of schools, in all these years – his Final Assessment Reports were similar in that the remarks were always-“Well done”-“Good in studies, but can do even better” or “Performance has been good throughout the year, a hard working child” and “Very Good , keep it up” which was extremely satisfying. The father recalls that Uday was naturally very intelligent, because he never saw him either doing his assignments/homework or for that matter sitting down to read his books.
He started schooling with St Stephen’s , Chandigarh in class seven- where he grew from a young boy into a responsible and matured teenager- as once again clearly seen from his school reports for example, “Uday is a good student and always eager to improve”, to “Well done Uday”.
It was then by class ten (his sophomore year), that Uday started getting distracted as the reports indicate, “Uday has the potential to score better grades” or “You should strive for better grades”. The reason his father thinks, is not only about his friends both boys and girls and their exploits, but he feels that Uday seemed to be getting bored of classroom education- and he was always up to some kind of mischief or trying out new forms of entertaining himself including flirting with danger –as by now he had his own car and a motorcycle- and at that age –he was sixteen, speed is a thrill which all young people have experienced.
His father recalls that Uday persuaded him that he wants to take extra tuition classes after school with a particular teacher-much to his surprise, and he got to know later that the reason for Uday’s new found desire for extra tuition, was that some of the girls from his class were also taking these classes.
His father also recalls once hiring a tutor for Uday for extra coaching at home in Mathematics- and one evening by chance when he was on the road he saw a car which looked very familiar and closing in saw Uday at the wheel of his car with the tutor in it- and both having a great time apparently, and subsequently his father pulled up the tutor for negligence.
This incident shows how persuasive Uday could be, and was with his friends and those that came across him- he was gentle and kind yet always determined as to what he wanted. And he was always looking for thrills and fun.
His father also recalled that after Uday was killed- a friend of Uday met him, and while talking fondly about Uday, the subject of pocket money came up- and the father said that after some time Uday had stopped asking for spending money to be increased- to which this friend replied that Uday obviously did not need money from him- as he was making so much money by betting with friends at the pool table.
To sum up the very adventurous times of young Uday as a teenager- this incident is very apt as to how he was spending most of his spare time. The father said , that he was standing near the entrance to the house one evening when a very uncouth young man on a motor cycle stopped and asked for Uday- to which the father made no reply but told him to “buzz off”, and later on asking Uday about the type of company he is keeping, Uday said “dad “-come on these guys are not my friends as such- but since the brothers of some of the girls I know are not exactly friendly- these uncouth fellows on motorcycles help me to keep them away” . The father says he was impressed. Uday had all eventualities covered.
One quality that was very evident in young Uday as a senior at St Stephens was that of integrity, and undoubtedly that manifests itself into displaying moral courage.
He never lied and would always accept his mistakes and actions and take the punishment for which he never held a grudge.
He was obedient and respectful to all his teachers and the school staff- and was always proper and courteous to a fault. Neither was he arrogant nor was he a show off.
He was very fond of his car and motorcycle and music. After he had moved to the US, he was very angry with his father that why he has sold his car so soon, as he had all the fancy music systems fitted in it.
Uday was a good swimmer and was also very fond of the game of cricket and was quite good at it.
His attachment with the family and especially his ancestral home was very strong- as it held so many memories of stories shared by his grandfather and grandmother with him.
To sum up these years, suffice to say Uday had come into his own- and there were already glimpses of his amazing potential- despite all the adventure and daring exploits and at times flirting with the natural instinct of doing things other than the accepted normal.
By this time he had already visited the US and also worked at a McDonalds.
Uday was ready for greatness, of which the family had no inkling.