'Gong'-ho

Students from 15 schools had an unusual experience the other day when they got to ring the closing bell at the National Stock Exchange. As part of a ceremony to honour the winners of a countrywide project-based contest called Funancial Quest in which 225 schools across India participated, the students were also allowed to play the gong, which is otherwise used to announce the listing of a new company. The closing bell was rung as usual at 3.30 pm, but the presence of their parents and teachers and the sheer excitement of being part of a memorable occasion prompted the students to take turns ringing the bell till 3.45 pm. No one was complaining, though.