Time to think in Ink – Part 1

Post date: Jul 23, 2012 6:39:51 AM

On this wonderful Reunion agenda, as one of my dear seniors and one of the most enthusiastic students I have ever come across puts it: 'Party like a rockstar' :) Btw, if you are still guessing...it is Ms. Neha Vijan (And Neha, the enthusiasm was well evident when you made me MIRA NAIR) :D

I think after living...enduring...four long years in the rocking institute called UMIT...that Rockstar attitude comes along ;) But I can only say that REUNION was one of the best things that has happened to the college after well, us STUDENTS ;) But it only makes me nostalgic...and here goes...

It’s a lovely flashback…

As a young 17 year old, I entered the beautiful college campus…not knowing what it had in store for me. I was a troubled soul accompanied by an all-the-more-worried daddy dear.

Standing at the grand culmination of four long engineering years…My O My! I am a Graduate now! … Sigh! And…Guess what… It has been one rollercoaster ride. Each moment of it has been a refreshing and a worthwhile experience that will be cherished forever.

I managed to collect the college life reviews from friends on the day of our farewell. Some were ecstatic to get free food in college that day, Some were worried about the scores, Others about placement, Those who were placed worried about a cute boss among many other things like pay, location, etc, Some were glad to just be done with engineering and now aim to start afresh (whatever that means?), Some weren’t really sure of anything I asked them except that they liked my farewell dress, Some almost harangued me and all I could interpret was that they were to take a detour to management, Many were worried about surrendering to the so-called-marital-bliss, Some realized their potential of doing every other thing but engineering, Some were loyal to the field and planned to research on the same, Some had found a new bread winner (ahem! They planned to settle down), Most of them wondered why I was being such a drag, and with some I sensed a get-lost vibe so I politely asked for a picture instead. That’s all I guess, a dire summation of my review! Which if you notice also describes in a way the ongoing chaos (may be organized, may be not) within a young women’s mind in the country.

But as they say…Things change, Life moves on, you study, you love, you marry, you study more, you love more , you marry…. You have another beer, and you say another cussword.

I knew the day I stepped in the college… that I had it in me to make it small but little did I know I was born to make it big! I distinctly recall, it was 15th of Sep. 2004 and majority of it was spent in the Auditorium. We all, the so-called freshers, had gathered to celebrate the foundation day of our college. Coincidently it was our first day at college. The new student council (2003-2004)was to be officially sworn in on that day. Sitting there, I vowed to myself that no matter how my Engg. Tenure shapes up; I would make a difference…to the institution and to myself. Even from the long distance that I sat, I saw the spark in the eyes of my seniors on the dais that could move a dead soul. I knew that very moment, that I wanted to be up there too. I knew I had to strive hard for it…real hard. Coz the odds were stacked pretty high against me: Away from Home, No more Army Schools, No more ghar ka khana, No more laundry service, No more momma-combing-my-hair days, (obviously no denying the new found freedom, no ménage chores), Official intro session ha! Can’t fool my friends! More so the unofficial Ragging, no more GUYS around (Ahem! actually I got my way around that one)…

But as the Satanic Verses speak at the onset;

To be born again first you have to die. To land upon the bosomy earth first one must fly. How to ever smile again, if first you don’t cry? How to win the darling’s love, mister, without a sigh?

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Meera Vesvikar