25 years and going strong!!!

I did not realize the next one year would be my golden year.  It started with 1987 being the Silver jubilee year of the department.  For some reason it was never revealed or the department was humble enough not to celebrate.

As a precursor to the 25 year celebrations a trip to Araku was planned and executed.  Though I missed out on the trip people ensured I did not miss out on the fun as they recounted the trip.  mmm...pssst.

In yet another stroke of brilliance, RC (Ramesh Chandra) formed ELITE (Enthusiasts Linked in Thoughtful Exercises), an informal club to enhance our public speaking skills.  UB and BTV were enthusiastic supporters of this initiative as we met after college hours.  I recall the card game where one set had the topic and the other, the audience.  The speaker is required to pick one from each and is given 30 secs to frame the details.  This was quite a challenge.  Sample this - Space technology to nurses, Industrial relations to housewives, etc.  While it may seem easy now, to some of us, I bet the foundation was laid 25 years ago.  (btw the second most feared thing in the World is public speaking.  First one is - death)

In one of our extempore sessions, Ravi (Vadapalli) titled his topic "Confessions of a Cynic" and spoke of how he fell in love with a girl at the bus stop, how he cart wheeled to woo her, finally managed to speak of his rich uncle who has no heirs to bequeth his riches, her sudden disappearance, and reapparance as Ravi's aunt !!!  (Age has not dampened his humorous cynicism)

The SJ (thanks Al for the acronym) celebrations started in a traditional way - inaguration of the new building (after we spent couple of months in there !!!) and speech by former Governor HE Kum. Kumudben Joshi (her soul rest in peace).  Prof. Lakshmi Narayan formally took over as the department head.  Prof EGP formally retired and the students were formally allowed in the new building.  This is when I took the classic picture on the steps to our library.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=4059137710609&set=t.1047138410&type=1&theater

Along with 50 odd classmates I started seeing new faces and for the first time I realized M.Com is part of our college !!!  While in Arts College the existence of M.Com was lost in the din we had created.  We made a sincere attempt to include them in our activities but for a handful, it did not work.  Despite all this it was decided to launch MBA's first Inter College Literary and Cultural competition - Biz Fest.

Next Penaz Masani and Biz Fest.....

Juniors !!!

Over the summer, and in yet another instance of our unique, entrepreneurial skills, we moved entire library from Arts college to the new building.  Many of us looked like

 after the heavy lifting!!! (sorry ladies I do not have a female Schwarzenegger picture)

It was with a heavy heart that we moved from the historic Arts college where many great men and women walked the hallways not to mention MA English girls.  The 'guard of honor' that was our routine would no longer be performed.  Lounge seemed to be a far away place.  'Canteen-under-the-tree' was even farther.

First few days of our 'senior' year was still spent in Arts college where we welcomed  'juniors'.  Not to allow what we did to our seniors, juniors were made to feel at home.  We asked one of our junior (I remember the girl's face but not the name) to tell us a joke

Junior: Why did John go to the school with ladder?
We: Dont know.
Junior: B'cos it was a high school.


Our expressionless faces and the awkward silence irritated the girl no bound.  We took all the juniors to the Canteen, bought them tea and brought them into our fold.  Down the road junior-senior relationship started blurring and our group seem to have just grown bigger.

The new building looked deserted, cold and lifeless but we decided to make a difference.  That is when we realized it was 25 years since the department started and EGP was retiring !!!

Next blog...Silver jubilee celebrations!