Down The Memory Lane

Today I was just wandering through my archive mails. When you revisit such messages from past you ought to have a simple yet deep smile in your face and have your brain running faster than ever trying to fetch memories from the farthest corner of mind. So, I was doing those exercises as usual. All of a sudden mails from Illumine'08 (Bi-annual reunion of I.T. Department, Jadavpur University, W.B.) came into view and I went into a trance to remember as much as possible of my college life! Then I found this treasure, I wrote for the souvenir for Illumine'08. This is dedicated to all friends of I.T. Department at Jadavpur University with whom I've shared one of the best time in my life...

JU SL campus garden: brings back the sweet memories...

There are lots of moments in our life that we love to remember lifelong. First day at the college is one of those unforgettable moments. To me it was really touchy. It was a rainy day. The storm was getting stronger and stronger. Gulping the breakfast quickly, just putting on my shirt I left for college, speeding along the road. It was my first day in college. When I reached the class room, the room was filled with freshers and seniors! I chose the last bench just behind a tall boy hiding like a hare. I didn't know any of the students of my class. But I could easily distinguish the seniors easily from the scratch. When I looked at the desk a boy of my class (I guessed) was giving his introduction to the whole class. He was very slim and I thought he was fortunate that the room was well covered to resist the storm outside. He was sweating badly and looking around nervously.

“Hello!”

I broke up from my trance. It was from my neighbor, a tall boy wearing a formal shirt.

His formal dress told that he was from my class!

“Hi! How do you do?”

We introduced each other. That was my first talk to a classmate, the first friend of my college life.

My turn for the introduction had not come that day. So it was not much of a bother for me that day. It’s always good to see others in uncomfortable situation especially when one does not know who they are! But just the day after there was a lot more waiting for me!!

Next day I got to college in time as usual a first year student does. I saw a large crowd in our class. I got settled in the last bench. A mock marriage ceremony was taking place in a nearby bench. A football match with a coin of five rupees was being encouraged by a group of seniors in the desk. A boy was driving an imaginary motor cycle in the passage between the benches. I was truly enjoying the moments. Then came my turn, in my life for the first time I got aware of fashion. A senior didi taught me how to do a cat walk. And I did it for the first time in my life.

In the afternoon, for the first time I looked at the college ground. It was just awesome.

The sun was just setting down, spreading its red sunbeams, giving a magical beauty with the clouds. The scene just enchanted me. I was heading for the hostel. That was my first day at the hostel. I had to share my room with one of my seniors. He was truly generous to me. After dinner, there began a typical ragging session. I went through a physics lab examination under supervision of two seniors. I had to measure 'g' with the help of my wrist watch! It was a tough job indeed. Dropping a pulp of paper from a height and measure the fall time with wrist watch was never easy for me. I remember the value to be 16 m/Sec2! Then I had to seat in another test in astronomy and had to explain the methods of determining the density of the earth. That day I was really afraid of everything but when I reminisce the moments, I really enjoy them. Thanks to those seniors for giving me such memories.

Then there’s the memory of my first class in the university life. It was a lecture of Electrical Engineering. I was a bit late for the class. I as usual chose the last bench (It was my home in those days). I missed first two lectures and that third lecture was my first.

“Hello! You boy, would you please introduce yourself to us?”

I was surprised. Sir asked me something for the first time in my college life. But he asked me in English! I was confused if answering in English was mandatory. But when I looked at him it answered for me and I had to answer in English!

Yes sir, I am ... “

After our first meet I cannot remember when I talked to him in English. But that day was quite a different. It didn't take me much time to get along with my classmates, seniors, teachers and all. I can never adequately thank those people for their help and support.

Time passed and also I rode up in classes. Then the day came for which these all studies and struggles, the day for the placement interview. It was April fool day and TCS was coming to fool us. The night before the placement interview was unforgettable, living in a trance of half awareness. In the morning dressing up like a joker (read formal dress) I went to the circus (read placement). In the pre-placement talk the company officials tried to convince us to join their company by giving us every detail of the company. I fear that they would realize that we were even more interested to join them.

Then after the written test formalities we reached the interview stage. Finally I reached the interviewer. He was middle aged and very friendly. He gently asked me in which semester I was studying. It’s not a question at all, rather forming a question base platform. But I was too nervous.

“Sir I am now in 5th semester.” I said boldly not thinking what I was saying.

“Uummmmmmmm...” he hesitated at my confidence!

“Oh! Sir it’s my 7th semester.” after suddenly discovering my fault.

“Are you sure?” He was pretty much confused.

“Oh! Sir ........”

At last I corrected. The first step was pretty slippery for me. But fortunately, rest of the thing went well.

One morning I along with two of my friends were waiting for bus in the bus stand. We were going to attend a seminar! It was on Electronic prospect in West Bengal. This was my first seminar even in life. The hotel, the arrangement, and the speakers all these as if were in my dream. Even though most of the lectures were not made for me, I enjoyed the atmosphere. I remember a gentleman encouraged us to set up our own firms and build our future in our own hand. That lecture was the best for me. May be because it was the only lecture I understood fully! Perhaps I would attend many seminars in future. But the feelings I felt when that day I entered into the seminar room, would never ever be felt.

In school life I had my golden period of life. But the college life in its true sense is much better in every aspect. So much of first experience happened in this phase of my life. This would come to an end one day. Now I am in the verge of leaving the college.

And all of our friends will diverge with our own purposes. Perhaps we will separate only to reunite.