Reminiscences

“It is with a heavy heart that I take up my pen to write these words.”
        - Dr. John. H. Watson in The Final Problem by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Now that our final exams are over, a tinge of sadness has crept in. I realize that my college life has finally come to an end. My job, in all probability, will start next month, and I shall be leaving behind old friends and acquaintances - people whom I have spent years with, sharing jokes, secrets, lunch boxes, assignments, presentations, practicals and many other things. Actually, to tell you the truth, the first thought that came into my mind as I finished my last exam was “Whew! Finally!”. I had spent three years doing a diploma in computer engineering, and three more in degree seemed to be too long. But as another chapter in my life comes to an end, I realize that my time spent in SPCE is full of memories – most of them fond, some unpleasant; but all of them vivid. As the curtains fall on my college life, I look back at my three years in SPCE.

The very first thing that comes to mind is the admission muddle for us diploma-holders. We had to go to Aurangabad for our centralized admission procedure; and as we reached there, we came to know that there was some problem with the computerized process (which was being introduced for the first time in 2002), due to which admissions were postponed for a few days, and so we left back for Mumbai. As soon as we reached here, the next day we read in the newspapers that the problem was sorted out, and so we left again for Aurangabad, wondering how many times we would have to go back and forth like a tennis ball! Fortunately, this time the whole procedure went off smoothly without a hitch. And that was where I met my first classmate – Kalpana – who was staying in the same hotel as me. It was another of my friends, Ruchita, who introduced us to each other.

Once I joined SPCE, I found out (to my huge relief, I might add) that the crowd over here was much more cosmopolitan than my diploma crowd… and I was happy to see “Mallus” too amongst them – Shrijit Plapally, Kalpana and the incorrigible Shamsher. However, at first I rather had the idea that we were not very welcome – the class was rather reluctant to accept new faces in the second year. And the last straw came when a possibility that people might have to change their batches because of us, reared its head. “Split the diploma people, I don’t want to change my batch!” was the general outburst. In the end, this opinion prevailed; people retained their batches and everyone cooled down. Finally, we all jelled together; and after the initial ragging-and-stuff, we were accepted. As Madhav puts it, “New faces grew into new friends…” And Aditya Mishra, Amit and Prateek were the new people in my “circle of trust”.

Feeling Corny: Me, Aditya M, Amit and Dinesh

A huge shock I got in S.E. (diploma-holders were directly admitted to second year) was during my first Maths lecture. As soon as ma’m entered the class, what does the class do but lift their collective backs and carry them out of the class! If ma’m was astonished, I was stunned! Astounded! Flabbergasted! One could have knocked me down with half a feather! After the mass exodus, the only people remaining in class were us diploma-holders and – no marks for guessing this one – Suhas!

Another thing that struck me was the number of college festivals and related activities – Nirmaan, Technobreak, SPACE, Bhavaspandhan, Freshies’ welcome… the list was endless…!! And the talent was amazing in our class – Prachi, Shamsher “Snake” Ali, Dikshita, Neha Ghate, Ajay… another endless list…!! In the festivals, I particularly liked the hierarchy of FE’s as volunteers, SE’s as organizers, TE’s as coordinators and BE’s as just participants (and mostly the winners too!). I tried my hand at organizing too – Word Quiz – and realized that the Technical Team wasn’t always to be trusted. It is best to be self-dependent.

Speaking of self-dependence, it was generally lost during assignments, practicals and experiments. Here I must mention a certain Rahul Gangan – what would we have done without him! Or Vidyalankar! And, of course, how can I forget my first exams in degree… hoping and praying to pass, half-expecting to fail! Finally we all managed to do well and secure a First Class! And I realized the importance of that magical figure 40 in an engineer’s life (though fortunately I never the exact figure)… something that diploma didn’t teach us.

All for one, one for all: Sumeet M, Rahul L and Me

T.E. loomed as soon as S.E. faded away. Subjects began to get more specialized, and workload definitely increased. GRE was at hand and people were anxiously memorizing flash cards, even during lectures, practicals and, of course, free periods (which were about as rare as a head cold!). Rahul Lele, Sumeet Maru and Dinesh were the new entrants to my friends’ circle. By now I had got quite used to the idea of bunking lectures (in fact I wanted to bunk more lectures than I attended!), putting proxies and sitting on the back benches. I had “changed for the good(!)”.

One clear memory I have of T.E. is waiting till 8:45 in the evening to set up Kalbande sir’s Wireless Laboratory for our Computer Networks practicals… and I topped in CN that semester ;-). But the high came when I had the honor of being joint-topper with Shamsher in Digital Signal Processing in the 7th semester (a fact he constantly reminds me of!)

B.E. was by far the most fun. It began with placements and projects. CAT and CET were around the corner. People found out new, innovative and amusing ways to bust stress. The sudden flourishing of various groups in our class (where do they get such names!) was rather… er… unique! Haga group, Talli group, Dibba group, Photo group, Good-for-Nothing (?) group, Kulti group… I don’t think you’d find them in any other college. The sudden flurry of cameras, digicams and handicams in the last year was also fun, although it gave one the feeling that it was all coming to an end.

The lass and the lasso: With Kalpana

My friendship with Kalpana also increased in B.E., especially after a joint DSP session. Well, if the friendship increased, then the teasing increased exponentially… but it was fun all the same.

Can you spot me?: Fourth from right, standing

The Goa trip was definitely the highlight of B.E. The whole trip – including the to and fro journeys – was amazing. Seeing the place where St. Francis was laid to rest – and hearing about how his remains came to be preserved in India – was illuminating, since my school was named after him, but in the 12 years that I spent there (including kindergarten), I never knew much about him. We also learnt a lot of new things about our friends (Psst… Sumeet snores! And Rahul Lele is OBSESSED with his sleep! And many of those purportedly ‘single’ girls really aren’t so!), and tried a lot of new things as well… water-sports, paragliding, and other stuff which I needn’t mention!

Jarring music?: Entertaining people with my mouth-organ in Goa

After our exams, there were the usual photo sessions, lunch at Vrindavan and a movie later. And some discussions about those who will be leaving shortly for either their jobs or their higher studies. The feelings are indeed mixed – we are leaving behind old friends, but looking forward to new, exciting prospects and avenues. No one knows where we will land up a few years from now. I wish my friends and peers ALL THE VERY BEST! The future may seem to be hazy, but I am sure it is bright! And as I look back, I realize that the last three years weren’t so long after all! This is one chapter that will remain etched in my memory long after it is scripted – a chapter that, though written only once, I would like to read over and over again.

Till next time.