அண்ணல் மாண்புமிகு சவரீசன் அவர்கள்

சவரீசன். நாகர்கோயில் பக்கமோ, திருநெல்வேலி பக்கமோ இருந்தால் இந்த பெயரை அறிந்திருக்க வாய்ப்பு உள்ளது. சமீபத்தில், ஏதேனும் பத்திரிகையிலும் படித்திருக்கலாம். இந்த பெயரை ஆங்கிலத்தில் (Savareson) தான் முதலில் படிக்க நேர்ந்தது. அப்போது சவரேசன்  என்று இதைப் படித்து 'என்ன டா பேரு இது' என்று நினைத்துக் கொள்வேன். “சவரீசன்” என்று தம் பெயரை சரியாக படிக்க, மாண்புமிகு சவரீசன் அவர்களே இதை சொல்ல வேண்டி இருந்தது.

செப்டம்பர் மாதத்தில் திருச்சி NIT இல், Festember என்கிற கலை நிகழ்ச்சியில் கலந்து கொள்ள எங்கள் கல்லூரியில் இருந்து நாங்கள் ஒரு 15 பேர் சென்றிருந்தோம். அப்பொழுது கமல்ராஜூம் நானும் தான் டீம் என்று பேசிக்கொண்டு தான் போனோம். அங்கே சென்ற உடன், சவரேசனும் நானும் ஒரு டீம் என்று சொல்லி விட்டார் எங்கள் தலைவர். 'யாரு டா இவன் சவரேசன் ?' என்று யோசித்துக் கொண்டிருந்தேன். அன்றே அந்த அரை இருட்டில், NIT-இன் தெருவிளக்கின் நடுவில் தான் சவரீசனை முதல் முறையாக அறிமுகத்துடன் சந்திக்கிறேன்.

அடுத்த நாள், எல்லா கேள்விகளுக்கும் சவரீசனே பதிலளித்ததும், ஒரே சுற்றில் பல புள்ளிகள் எடுத்து நாங்கள் வெற்றி அடைந்ததும் குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது. இப்படியாக அந்த போட்டிகளின் போது தான் எங்கள் நட்பு தொடங்கியது. சவரீசன் ஒரு அறிவுப்பசி மிகுந்த ஜன்மம். பஜ்ஜி சாப்பிட்டால் கூட அதை மடித்து தரும் காகிதத்தில் ஏதேனும் செய்தி உள்ளதா என்று படித்துப்பார்த்து தான் குப்பையில் போடுவான். அந்த வருடம் சில கல்லூரிகளில் நடக்கும்  "Tamil Quiz" போட்டிகளில், நாங்கள் தான் வின்னர்ஸ். பதினெட்டு பாகங்களாக பாடப்படும் நூல் 'கலம்பகம்' என்பது மட்டும் தான் நான் எப்பொழுதோ சொன்ன ஞாபகம் இருக்கிறது.

மிகவும் தீவிரமாக ஆனந்த விகடன், தினத் தந்தி, தி ஹிண்டு  படிப்பதில் இவரை மிஞ்சுபவர் என் வட்டத்தில் யாருமில்லை. 'சாமி' படத்தில் 'கோட்டா சீனிவாச ராவ்' சொல்வது போல, "தினம் 2 நியூஸ் பேப்பர் படிக்கிறேன்" லிஸ்ட் ஆளு இவரு. தினமும் 2 மணி நேரம் செய்தித்தாள் வாசிப்பார்.

வேலைக்கு சேர்ந்த புதிதில் சவரீசனோடு தான் தங்கி இருந்தேன். தினமும் ஆபிசுக்கு சைக்கிளில் தான் போக்கும் வரவும். நான் அப்போ அமைந்த சில பெரிய இடத்து நட்புகளால், 'Philharmonic Orchestra', 'Led Zeppelin' என ஐந்து பாடல்கள் கேட்டுக்கொண்டு சைக்கிள் ஓட்டிக்கொண்டு போவேன். அதே ஐந்து பாடல்களை தான் இரண்டு மாதங்கள் திரும்ப திரும்ப கேட்டேன். காலையில் ஒன்றாக தான் சாப்பிட செல்வோம். அங்கே அப்போதெல்லாம் ஒரு இட்லி இரண்டு ரூபாய் இருந்ததாக ஞாபகம். வெளுத்து வாங்குவோம்.

அப்படி தான் பல விஷயங்கள் பகிர தொடங்கியதும், "சில நேரங்களில் சில மனிதர்கள்" தொடங்கி "மாலதி டீச்சர்" வரை எல்லாம் படித்ததும். அந்த மூன்று மாதங்களுக்குப் பிறகு நான் மைலாப்பூருக்கு மாறி விட்டேன். சவரீசனுக்கு இன்னும் ஒரு மாத மென்பொருள் பயிற்சி பாக்கி இருந்தது. வீடு மாறிய பொழுது நான் அவர்களோடு செல்லவில்லை. நான் வேறு ஒரு குரூப்போடு சென்றுவிட்டேன். ஆனால், வெள்ளிக்கிழமை ஆகிவிட்டால், சபரி, சிவா, பிரபு, GS, நான் - ஐந்து பேரும் இரவு முழுவதும் ஏதேனும் பேசிக்கொண்டு உட்கார்ந்திருப்போம்.

இந்த குழுவுக்கு நாங்களே வைத்துக்கொண்ட பெயர், "மொட்டை மாடி இலக்கியக் குழு". சென்னையில் இருந்த நாட்களின் சாதனைப் பட்டியலில், இதை வாராவாரம் கூட்டியதையும், பேசித் தீர்த்ததையும் சேர்த்துக்கொள்ளலாம். ஏதேதோ பேசி பேசி, ஏதேதோ யோசித்து யோசித்து, நல்ல வருங்கால இந்தியாவை வடிவமைப்பதாக எண்ணி, நாங்கள் பேசாத தலைப்புகள் இருக்காது என்றே நினைக்கிறேன். அரசாங்கம், வரலாறு ஆகிய தலைப்புகளில் சவரீசன் பின்னி எடுப்பார். நமக்கு தெரியாத பெயர்களாக சொல்லுவார்.  நாங்கள் "ஆஆஆ..." என்று பார்ப்போம்.

சவரீசனிடம் இருக்கும் கெட்ட பழக்கம் இந்த இரவு கூடும் குழுவிற்கு வந்ததும், ‘பாப்புலர்' பாடல்களை போட்டு விடுவது. “Why this kolaveri”, “என்றென்றும் புன்னகை" போன்ற இரவு நேரத்திற்கு சற்றும் உகந்ததல்லாத பாடல்களை மட்டுமே போடுவார். இங்கே பிரபு வாழ்க்கையின் சுவாரசியங்களை அறுவை சிகிச்சை மூலம் பிரித்து, சாலையில் நடந்து செல்லும் எந்தவொரு பெண்ணிற்கும் மனதில் என்னென்ன எண்ணங்கள் ஓடும் என்பதை சொல்லிக்கொண்டிருப்பார். ஹெட்செட் வேறு மாட்டிக்கொண்டு, கணினி திரையை பார்த்து சிரித்துக்கொண்டிருக்கும் சவரீசனை கடுப்பாகி கெட்ட வார்த்தைகளால் திட்டித் தீர்ப்போம்.

சவரீசனும், சிவாவும், நானும் நான் கேமரா வாங்கிய புதிதில் ‘மந்திரகிரி மகாயுககாளி காமந்திஹாதேவி’ கோவிலுக்கு சென்றோம். பெயரை சொன்னால் சட்டென்று புரியாது. இது தாம்பரத்திற்கு மிக அருகில், சானடோரியத்தில் தான் இருக்கிறது. சனிக்கிழமை மாலை போகலாம் என்றிருந்த கோவிலுக்கு இழுத்தடித்து ஞாயிறு காலை சென்றோம். இப்படி ஒரு இடம் சென்னையிலா என்பது போல அமைதியாக, அதிகாலை குளிருடன் இருந்தது அந்த மலைக்கோவில். சவரீசன் பொதுவாக மகிழ்ச்சியை வெளிக்காட்டிக்கொள்ள மாட்டார். அவர் மலை மேல், சமவெளியை பார்த்து கையை விரித்து இயற்கையை ரசிக்கும் புகைப்படம் ஒன்று இருக்கிறது. வெகு அரிய புகைப்படங்கள் பக்கத்தில் என்றாவது ஆனந்த விகடனுக்கு அனுப்ப வேண்டும்.

வீட்டிற்கு சென்றால், மொட்டை மாடிக்கு அழைத்துச் சென்று, வடக்கு பக்கமாக நாற்காலியை திருப்பிபோட்டுவிட்டு, காலை தூக்கி திண்டில் வைத்து அமர்ந்து கொள்வார். “இப்போ சொல்லு…”, என்று அவர் சொன்ன பின் நீங்கள் ஒரு மணி நேரம் பேசினாலும் ஒரு வார்த்தையை விடாமல் திருப்பி சொல்வார்.

அதன் பின்னர், முன்னரே தீர்மானித்தது போல, சவரீசன் அரசாங்க வேலைக்கு படிக்க துவங்கி விட்டார். தாறுமாறாக தயாராகிக்கொண்டிருந்தார். "நடிச்சா ஹீரோ தான்" என்கிறார் போல "எழுதின குரூப் 2 தான்" என்று கம்பீரமாக TCS-இல் இருந்தார்.  குரூப் 2 தேர்வில் தமிழகத்தில் 300-ஆம் இடத்திற்குள் வந்து இப்பொழுது பச்சை Ink  கையெழுத்து போடும் அளவுக்கு பெரிய வேலை செய்கிறார்.

இப்போழுதும் தொலைபேசியில் அழைத்தால் அரை மணி நேரம் பேசுவார்.  இன்றும் காலையில் “என்ன தலைப்பில் எழுதுவது?” என்று கேட்டேன். “என்னை பற்றி புகழ்ந்து எழுதேன்?” என்றார். ‘சரி’ என்றதற்கு, “வேண்டாம். நீ அசால்ட் சேதுவ அழுகுணி சேதுவா எழுதிடுவ” என்று கூறினான். அப்படியா எழுதி உள்ளேன்???

இன்றளவிலும் இந்த ‘பாப்புலர்’ விஷயங்களை மட்டுமே பேசுவார். நாங்கள் அனைவரும் டாகுமெண்டரி பற்றி பேசிக்கொண்டிருந்தால், இவர் மட்டும் “எந்த ஹெல்மெட் வாங்குறது. ஆன்லைன்ல ஆர்டர் பண்ணலாமா?” என்பார். இப்படியும் மக்கள் இருக்கிறார்கள். ஆனால், இன்றளவும், “அரசாங்கத்தோட நேரடி தொடர்பு வச்சுருக்கோம்" என்று நாங்கள் மார்தட்டிக்கொள்ள காரணமாய் இருப்பவர், அண்ணல் மாண்புமிகு சவரீசன் அவர்கள் தான்.

பி.கு. புகைப்படங்கள் ஆர்டரின் பேரில் மின்னஞ்சல் மூலமாக அனுப்பி வைக்கப்படலாம்.

சூரியா

கல்லூரிக்கு முதல் நாளாக செல்கிறேன். இவன், இதோ… எங்கோ பார்த்துக்கொண்டு ஸ்கூலுக்கு செல்வது போல் பேக் மாட்டிக் கொண்டு, வகுப்பிற்குள் நுழைகிறான். சற்றே வயதான ஆள் போல தோற்றமளிக்கிறான். மெதுவாய் நடக்கிறான். மூன்றாவது வரிசையில் அமர்கிறான். விளங்குகிறது: பெரிய படிப்பாளி அல்ல; மக்கும் அல்ல. யாரிடமும் பேச விருப்பப்படாதவன் போல், இதோ... அமைதியாய்... எங்கோ பார்த்துக்கொண்டு... இவன் தான் சூரியா. சூரிய பிரகாஷ்.

முதலாம் ஆண்டு என்பதால் எல்லா வகுப்புகளும் நடக்கும். பொறியியல் என்றாலும், கஷ்டமாய் ஒன்றும் இல்லாதளவு, எளிதான பாடங்கள் – டிராயிங் தவிர. டிராயிங் என்றாலே எரிச்சலாக வரும். அதற்க்கு பரிமளா என்று ஒரு நான்கு அடி ஐந்து அங்குல டீச்சர் வேறு. கணிதம் பலர் கஷ்டப்பட்டு படித்தனர். டிராயிங் – அய்யகோ தான்.

எங்கள் வகுப்பு முதலாம் ஆண்டிலே கொஞ்சம் டெர்ரர். பல விஷயங்களில் மாட்டிக் கொண்டதால், இருபது எம் ஒன் அர்ரியர். கல்லூரியில் மதிப்பெண்ணுக்கு பெரிய மதிப்போன்றும் இல்லை. பாஸ் ஃபெயில் என்ற இரண்டே பிரிவு தான். தன்னாட்சி (autonomous) என்பதால், ஆசிரியர்கள் கோவமெல்லாம் மதிப்பெண்ணிலும் இந்த பாஸ் ஃபெயில் மாற்றத்திலும் மட்டுமே பிரதிபலிக்கும். உங்கள் பெயர் வாத்தியாருக்கு தெரிந்திருந்தால், அது எப்படி என்பதை பொறுத்து.

சூரிய பிரகாஷ் பாஸ் தான். அம்பத்தாறு மார்க் - எம் ஒன்னில். அவனுக்கு அது ஒரு மதிப்பெண்ணாக தெரியவில்லை.

“நான் நல்லா தான் டா எழுதினேன். என்னமோ, கடமைக்கு மார்க் போட்ருக்காங்க?” – அவன்.

சரி தான் இவன் சொல்வது. கடமைக்கு தான் திருத்துவார்கள். இன்னொரு நல்லா எழுதினவனுக்கு ஃபெயிலே போட்டிருக்கிறார்களே என்று நாம் மனம் குளிர்ந்திட வேண்டும். ஆனால் சூரியா அப்படி விடவில்லை. ரீ-இவேலுவேஷனுக்கு விண்ணப்பம் செய்தான். எண்பதோ எவ்வளவோ வந்தது.

     “நான் எழுதினதுக்கு கூடவே போட்டிருக்கணும். ஏதோ கடமைக்கு திருத்தி போட்டிருக்கானுங்க!”. என்று கூறினான்.

இப்படியாக நம் ஐயா சூரியா, மக்கள் மத்தியில் பிரபலம் ஆனார். சூரியா ஒரு டே-ஸ்காலர். அவன் வீடு கல்லூரியில் இருந்து நடக்கும் தூரம் தான். அதுவே அவனுக்கு மாணவர்களுடன் பழக ஒரு தடை போல் ஆனது. இரண்டாம் வருடம் ஃபர்ஸ்ட் ரேங்க் வாங்க முயற்சித்து தோற்று, இரண்டாவதாக முடிந்து, எங்களுடன் ஒன்றானான்.

இரண்டாம் ஆண்டு நாங்கள் படிக்கும் பொழுது ஒரு விடுதி தான் இரண்டாம் ஆண்டிற்கு. அதனால், மூன்று பேர் தங்குவதற்கு இடம் போதாதென்கிறது போன்ற இடத்தில், மூன்று பேர் தங்குமாறு ஆயிற்று. சூரியா அனைவருக்கும் நண்பன். வந்து விடுதியில் தங்கி, இரவுறங்கி என பல இருவுகளை விடுதியிலும் கழித்திருக்கிறான்.

ஒரு மனிதன் எப்படி எல்லோருடனும் நண்பனாக இருக்க முடியும் என்பதை, இவன் சுய சரிதை எழுதினால் தான் தெரிந்துகொள்ள முடியும். யாராவது புத்தகம் பற்றி பேசினால் அவன் புத்தகம் பற்றி பேசுவான். யாரேனும் சினிமா பற்றி பேசினால், சினிமா பற்றி... கிரிக்கெட், ஃபுட்பால், பொறியியல், நவீன தொழில்நுட்பம், இலக்கியம், பத்திரிகைகள், காதல், திருமணம்... இன்னும் என்னென்ன வகையறா உள்ளதோ, அவை அனைத்தும். முழுதாக தெரியவில்லை என்றாலும், மற்றவர்களை பேச வைத்து கேட்டு தெரிந்து கொண்டேனும், அடுத்த முறை அந்த தலைப்பில் பேசுகையிலே நன்றாய், உற்சாகமாய், நிறைய பேச வைக்கும் விதத்தில் பேசுவான்.

எல்லோருக்கும் பிடிக்கும் என்றாலே பொறுப்புகள் அதிகமாகி விடும். சுதந்திரம் இருக்காது. நான் இவனுக்கு ரொம்ப நெருக்கமில்லை. தூரமுமில்லை. ஹாய்-பாய் ரக நட்பும் அல்ல. எல்லா நாளும் அழைத்து பேசும் வண்ணம் ஒரு நட்பும் அல்ல. இவன் தோழன். நல்லவன். டிராவிட் மற்றும் கமலஹாஸன் ரசிகன். என் நெருங்கிய எதிர்பால் உறவுகள் பற்றி இவனுக்கு தெரியும். நிறையவே.

எங்கள் கல்லூரியில் ஈ.ஸீ.ஈ டிபார்ட்மென்ட் பக்கத்திலே ஒரு அருமையான இடம் உண்டு. நாட்டாமைகளின் ஆலமரத்தடி போல சிமென்ட் பென்ச் இருக்கும் அங்கே, இரண்டு பழைய காலத்து போர் வாகனங்கள் நிற்கும். அர்ரியர் பாலா என்று அறியப்பட்ட பாலசுப்ரமணியன் எனற ஜியாலஜி வாத்தியார் அறை அங்கு தான் இருந்தது. இரவு அங்கே அருமையாக இருக்கும். உக்கார்ந்து கதை பேசி கதை பேசி தீராத தருணங்கள் அங்கே பல முறை முளைத்திருக்கிறது. எனக்கு தெரிந்த ஒரு நல்ல காதலின் ஆரம்ப கால நான்கு மணி நேர தொலைபேசி பேச்சுவார்த்தையும் அங்கே தான் நடந்தது என்பது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

நாம் பேசுவதை கேட்க ஆளில்லை என்று நினைக்கும் ஒவ்வொருவருக்கும் சூரியா நல்ல துணையாக இருந்தான். மனிதனின் மோசமான காலகட்டங்களில் அவனுடன் இருப்பவனை விட, அவன் சந்தோஷத்தை கண்டு சந்தோஷப் படுபவர்கள் கிடைப்பது தான் கஷ்டம். பிறர் நல்வாழ்வைக் கண்டு பொறாமை கொள்வோர் தான் அதிகம் இங்கே. சும்மா, காதலில் வெற்றி என்று சொல்லிப் பாருங்கள், எத்தனை பேர் சிரிப்பார்கள், தொடர்ந்து முன் போலவே நடந்து கொள்வார்கள் என்று தெரியவில்லை. இவன் சிரிப்பான். உறவை மேம்படுத்த டிப்ஸ் கொடுப்பான். அழுக்கற்ற உள்ளம்.

ஒரு முறை டிராபிக் போலீஸிடம் மாட்டிக் கொண்டான். மறந்துவிட்டேன். அவனிடம் ஒரு ஸ்கூட்டர் உள்ளது. அதை யாரும் அவ்வளவு எளிதில் ஓட்டி விட முடியாது. அதை அவன் ஓட்டும் அழகே தனி. அதன் சத்தமும், அதை ஸ்டார்ட் செய்ய அவன் படும் பாடுமே தமாஷ் தான். அதற்க்கு ஒரு ஹெல்மெட் வேறு வைத்திருப்பான்.

“தம்பி, ஹெல்மெட் எங்க?”

“இல்ல ஸார்”

“லைசன்ஸ்?”

“இல்ல ஸார்”

“வண்டி பேப்பர்ஸ்??”

“அதுவும் இல்ல ஸார்”

போலீஸ் நீண்ட நேர மனக்கணக்கிற்க்கு பிறகு, “ரெண்டாயிரம் ரூபாயாகும்”

“இந்த வண்டியே அவ்வளவு தான் ஆகும்”

ஏதோ, இருக்கும் கொஞ்ச நல்ல போலீஸ்களில், ஒரு போலீஸ் இவர். விட்டுவிட்டார்.

அவன் அப்பா, நாங்கள் மூன்றாமாண்டு படிக்கையில் இறந்து போனார். அவனைக் கண்டு நான் வியந்தேன் என்று தான் சொல்லிட வேண்டும். ரொம்பவும் சுய நினைவுடன், மிக சாந்தமாக இருந்தான். வேட்டி கட்ட தெரியவில்லை என்று சிரித்து கொண்டிருந்தான். நான் தான் அவனுக்கு வேட்டி கட்டி விட்டேன். அவன் அப்பாவுக்கு புற்று நோய். பல நாட்கள் கழித்து கேட்ட போது, “எதிர் பாத்தது தான் மச்சான்” என்றான்.

சூரியாவைப் பற்றி சொல்லும் யாரும் அவன் அம்மாவைப் பற்றி கண்டிப்பாய் சொல்லாமலிருக்க மாட்டார்கள். சூரியா அம்மாவை எனக்கும் பிடிக்கும். எனக்கு நெறைய நாட்கள் தோசை ஊத்தி கொடுத்திருக்கிறார்கள். எங்களுடன், சூர்யாவை விட சகஜமாக பேசுவார்கள். காதல் பற்றி, இந்த காலத்து பெண்கள் பற்றி எல்லாம். சூரியா அவன் அம்மாவிடம் எல்லாவற்றையும் சொல்லி விடுவான். என் எதிர்ப்பால் உறவுகள் பற்றியும் சொல்லி இருப்பான். என்னிடம் அவர்கள் ஓரிரு முறை கேட்டதும் உண்டு. இன்னும் ஒரு சிலருக்கோ, சூர்யாவை விட, சூரியா அம்மாவை ரொம்ப பிடிக்கும்.

கொஞ்சம் நாட்கள் எங்கள் ப்ளேஸ்மென்ட் ரெப்ரெஸன்டேடிவாக இருந்தான். பிறகு குடும்ப சூழல், அது இது என்று சில காரணம் வந்து எல்லாம் மாறி விட்டது. அவனும் நல்ல ஒரு மின்னணுவியல் துறை சார்ந்த ஒரு கம்பனியில் வேலைக்குச் சேர்ந்தான். அம்மா அவனோடு தான் இருக்கிறார். நன்றாக பார்த்து கொள்கிறான்.

சமீபத்தில் அம்மா சென்னை வந்திருந்த பொழுது, என்னோடு பேசிக்கொண்டிருந்தார்கள். “அவனுக்கு நான் இப்போ ஒரு எக்ஸ்ட்ரா லோட் மாதிரி. உங்கள மாதிரி பேச்சலர் லைஃப் அவனுக்கு கெடைக்கல. என் ஆசை இதான். ‘பை’ல காசு வசுருக்கணும். நெறைய. இப்பிடியே போய்டே இருக்கணும். எண்ணாம செலவு செய்யணும். இப்போ கெடச்சுருக்கு”. எல்லோரும் எல்லோருக்கும் சுமை தான். பேச்சலர்க்கு அந்த வாழ்க்கை சுமை. இப்படி இருக்கும்போது இது சுமை. அப்படி இருக்கையில் அது சுமை. அம்மா கண் நிறைந்து இருந்தது. அவர்களே துடைத்துக் கொண்டார்கள்.

“எல்லாம் சரி ஆய்டும் ம்மா”, என்று சொல்லி சமாதானம் செய்ய முயற்சித்தேன். இன்றும் பேசுகையில், “அம்மா கிட்டயும் சொல்ல முடியாத சில விஷயங்கள் இருக்கும். அந்த மாதிரி நெலமையில என்ன சித்தியா நெனச்சுக்கோ” என்று சொல்லும் சூரியாவின் அம்மா எங்கள் ஒவ்வொருவருக்கும் அம்மா தான்.

தொலைத்தொடர்பு வளர்ந்து விட்டதால் இன்றும் அவனுடன் பேசும் இனிமை கிடைக்கிறது. சேட், ஃபோன் கால், எஸ்.எம்.எஸ்.... ஆனால், பலராக சென்னைக்கு வந்த எங்கள் வகுப்பில் இவனும் வந்திருந்தால் நன்றாக இருந்திருக்கும் என்கிற லிஸ்டில் இவனுக்கும் ஒரு இடம் உண்டு.

சொல்ல இன்னும் எவ்வளவோ பாக்கி இருக்கிறது. இவனுடைய அரை-நிர்வாண புகைப்படம், என்னுடைய முதல் வாசகன், பார்த்து டெஸ்ட் எழுதாத ஒரே ஆள், அவனுடைய வண்டிகள், அவனுடைய டிஃபன் கேர்ரியர், அப்பா, வீடு, கிரிக்கெட் ஆட்டங்கள், ஆச்சி மெஸ், மீசை, வாக்குவாதங்கள். இன்னும் எவ்வளவோ. இந்த கதை, இத்துடன் முடியவில்லை. சூரியா ஒவ்வொரு நாளும் உதிக்கிறான், இந்த தேவா மனதில்.

Bad Company

There are only few reasons for people kidding opposite gender people.

                -They talk over phone

                -They like each other for some reason

                -They both went out to buy something for a mutual friend

                -went to eat out in a restaurant, together

                -came wearing, same colour outfit, one day.

Some people are born rich and don't like living in ordinary surroundings. Some 'pannayaar' girls in tamil films may. Our heroine is not a rich girl, but doesn't like to live in normal environments. She made friends very easily and lived happily.

                Friends in colleges can happen in minutes. Some reasons to be friends in GCT are

                                -from the same district in TamilNadu

                                -same gender

                                -same batch in laboratory practical classes

                                -same room or hostel floor in the first year

                                -friend of a friend.

The same gender principle works well with girls. To be a friend of a girl, you just need to be a girl. That will do. That is how Deepa, Swarna, Janaki became friends.


                Swarna: Should I describe her? Ok. Fine. She hails from Thirupathur. I've had hardly 10 exchanges with her in college. Wheatish colour, with an ill matching spectacles. Many call her different name. CS was a familiar one. Another one I remember is 'nurse'. Ya! She'd look like those ordinary fat, wheatish coloures nurse with spectacles on, as we have seen in many tamil movies. And, she had nothing special to attract people towards her except for some talks that would hurt the bearer in a minute. Sarcastic - she and her friends thought so.


                All attention was given to her when she won an election to be the General Secretary for girls of EEE department (16 of them). What happened, how they won the election and all is coming up in another story later this year. She won the election and was the secretary till the next election happened.

                                *             *             *             *

"Hey Swarna... Can you please withdraw money for me, from my account using my ATM?", Sathya asked.

"Yeah!.. Why not? Whats the pin number?"

"...."

Sathya had some urgent work. She left. In the evening she got money from Swarna.

"Ey.. Thank you di..."

"Its ok.."

                                *             *             *             *

"Are you coming to college today?" - Deepa.

"No.. You all go. I feel very tired" - Swarna.

"If you had told us earlier, all could have bunked"

                                *             *             *             *

Girls in their hostels, will be very caring and affectionate to others in the room, floor or whatever. They care like mothers do, if the bearer is very close. You know to what extent they go? They get up early in the morning, get water(very rare phenomena) in a bucket, warm the water with immersion heater(that the hostel office has no records about. Power theft) and after the water is warm they wake up their loved ones with a smile.

                                *             *             *             *

"Hey... Wake up. The water is warm..."

It was a pleasant morning, in the month of September. Coimbatore will be like Ooty at 6a.m. in this month. In december, It'll be like north pole.

Swarna woke up from her bed. The cold pierced through her flesh and reaches the bone and that feels like she was placed in an ice-box. She rubbed her palms together and placed the warm palm on the cheeks. She felt better. The warm water helps you to refresh yourself a lot.

Swarna was living like a queen. Hot water, friends ready to take leave along with her, friends all around her for everything, friends all around to make her win an election. It was a great life for her.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Throw it to me"

"Throw what?"

"The key..."

She threw it. Swarna caught it and threw it back. Again Janaki caught it and threw it back... throw... catch... throw... catch... throw... miss... Swarna missed it. "Hey... You lost...", said Janaki, laughing at her proud win. The key had fallen to some remote place in the room and could not be taken immediately. It was left unnoticed.

                                *             *             *             *

"This semester I've saved two thousand rupees di", Deepa told very happily.

"Thats great", replies Swarna. "So, whats your plan?"

"My plans...", Deepa started telling her plans. Girls in general have this habit of saving money and gifting things to their loved ones - parents, siblings - something really good and memorable. While Deepa told her plans, Swarna was listening to it happily.

                                *             *             *             *

Exam fees. Rs. 800 + 75 + (100*(no. of arrear papers))

Every semester, the class representative and the treasurer will have to go to people, asking for money till the last date. Lucky for there is something called as last date. Otherwise, no indian would pay his bills.

"My money is missing di...", Janaki was searching, throwing her dresses here and there. A chain was lying down there, cut with a Hacksaw blade.

"What happened?", asked Deepa as she walked in. Suddenly, a lot of people came in. "What happened?" was everyone's question. Janaki was weeping like she had her death sentence tomorrow. "I had locked the suitcase with this chain and locked it. I had kept my semester fees in it. It is missing. See", she took the only note in that and said, "only 100 rupees is there". She was sobbing.

"Don't worry. You'd have placed it somewhere else", said Deepa.

"No di. I kept it here only. Its missing".

Swarna was searching for the money in the thrown, unarranged clothes. Janaki was weeping, lying on Deepa's shoulder and Deepa was patting Janaki on her head saying, "Its okay... Its okay..."

It was a few days later that Deepa lost her saved money. It was a clear case of fraud. Someone had taken her passbook and gone to the bank and had withdrawn money from her account.

Many girls lost their money. The room, the wing, the floor. Salwar - a brand new one of one of the girls' was stolen. she had bought it, not for her boyfriend. I think that was why it was lost.

Final year.

Seventh semester.

A lot of things had changed among people. They started understanding each other well. Placement funds were collected. This semester's vacation was going to get us job - In some software company. Boys collect it for boys and girls, for girls. There was no last date for this and some people like Mohammed Raffi have not paid it till now. If there was fine for late payment, his fine would have been more that the fees itself.

One Girl's placement fund went missing. It was not her's alone. It was a few people's money and any girl would have cried in this situation. So did she. The wing was raided. Everyone was asked if they had 500 Indian rupee note and the Hostel girls representative noted it down. During the regular girls hostel roll call, there was an announcement regarding the missing placement-money. The person who had stolen the money was given a legendary 'keep it in a public place' chance.

The representative went around asking for five-hundred rupees note. She did a very remarkable thing. There was a suspect in that wing and she memorised the number of the five hundred rupee note she showed her. Then, it was told to everyone that, no one was allowed to spend or change those notes till they are allowed to do so. The next day, when they were again asked to show that, she alone showed a different one.

“No. This is not it. I remember. The note had some number written on the white area. Which note is this?”

“This is one of my friend’s. I spent mine throwing a party at Mothi mahal”

“We told you to not spend it no?”

“Ya. But, I had no other go. I’m sorry”, said Swarna.

The representative called Mothi mahal and asked them if that rupee note was there. They went immediately to that place and collected it, giving them change for it.

                                *             *             *             *

I was wondering in my class, why Gopalakrishnan came only once a month to the class. He was staff for an Electrical science subject, that everyone will be reading one day before the exam to get a pass mark.

                                *             *             *             *

Evening, everyone arrived at the hostel and the representative asked her,”we remember, that this was one of the notes in the money that was taken. Now, accept your mistake and give the remaining money back. Swarna told,”I’ll vacate the hostel.Please don’t inform my home about this”. She gave the money and went out of the hostel.

                                *             *             *             *

One question remains. Right? How did they find out it was her? Who would manage to remember rupee note’s number? Let me tell that...

Sathya’s account was losing money periodically, after she gave the ATM to Swarna to withdraw money.

Janaki’s suitcase lock’s key was the one that Swarna missed and that fell into a very remote place. Later the money was taken, the key was lost and the chain was cut.

Deepa’s savings money was withdrawn using her passbook, signature and ID card. Who else could do it? There were a lot of other people who lost their money while living with her in the same room. All these were reasons for suspicion.

As I was thinking about Gopalakrishnan not coming to class, with 47 other people was Swarna, sitting with no knowledge of her bag being checked for balance money in the presence of hostel warden. They got it.

Now, Janaki and Deepa don’t talk to Swarna. When a chance to change ourselves is given, we must happily do it. Swarna was provided with one. But, she said,”I’ve been like this from childhood. I steal. I am a thief. You didn’t understand that. What can I do for that? Who told you to be my friend?” – She told this to her close friends. Very responsible answer.

When Swarna left the hostel, Janaki cried for 2 days. Probably, she had no one to prepare hot water for and wake up, now.

Negaa... Negaa... Mindublassting!!!

(My class means a lot to me. Yes, It was the real place of happening of many things. I've read novels sitting in the last bench, I've texted to people sitting inside the class, I've copied from fat books for the class test, I've taken a couple of classes. I've been there with them for four years. It meant a lot to me.


Now as a token of love, I'd like to write a series of stories about people who really influenced me. The people are not in order of these stories, but I'll always have you treasured in my heart. Welcome to my class, Adriostros(ஆம் ஐ கரெக்ட்?))


We were sharing pictures through IR. He wanted pictures of Gods.
"Krishna who advices Parthan on the battle field?"
"ya.. send"
"The child Krishna who is stealing butter?"
"yes..."
"Vinayaka is Pillayaarpatti ..."
"No.."
"Why???"
"I'm a veeravaishnavaite"
This conversation happened in the first year of college.

I was at home and my father was talking, "These guys are really great. Among all the other problems in the surrounding and world, they still have their line drawn on their forehead. Vertical or horizontal". All praise the people from these top of the society group, for they have a lot of struggle behind even an engineering seat!

When you first enter a college as a student, you'll have no prejudice in mind. Some people plan their lives from school and end up in the same college and continue to be as they were in school for those years. For many, the story is different. They come into college, and get new guys as friends and live the rest of the life with regular calls or meeting.

There are all kinds of people in the world. Some are very silly, for eg. my room-mete broke my bath tub, my 2H pencil is missing, I just got 84% in the semesters. They don't get friends easily. I had no prejudice while I started my college life. To me, all were good and some people, who faught their way to this college were very good.

He, the person with whom i was sharing photographs, was my first year hostel floormate. Once there was this b'day party of one of the other guys in my hostel floor, who was frieghtened of the events that could unfold, and went hiding in one of his friend's room - below the cot. A group of five searched the first year hostel completely twice to find him. They, dragged him to our floor, and celebrated b'day. You don't need a explanation on how b'days are celebrated in hostel. That day, it was very special and our hostel watchman(popularly known as 'thatha') came to spoil the party. Next day, warden visited the hostel. Routine.
"I could hear the sound in my house and I couldn't sleep all night. Who were all there? Tell me.."
His house is some two hundred metres away. But, all the guys on the floor were told to tell the same answer, "I slept early".

Unfortunately, 10 suspects were suspended. The talk of the hostel was that, the guy who got those pictures from me, gave a 3 page write-up on the issue. Everyone, including me had this doubt, "Did he name me?". Thus he got the badge - "Icon of Betrayal" I did not talk to him after this incident.

This happened around January of the first year. Then, days passed. We wrote environmental chemistry examination, semester holidays passed and college re-opened for the second year.

Third semester, is a good time with lot of intro functions and it is the time when we start to know our seniors. Every class in my college needs to have an IV rep, a treasurer, a secretary and placement representatives.

"So, you are the placement representative", I asked.
"Will it be 7 to 8 months since you spoke to me?", he replied. That conversation ended. Yes, I had not spoken a single word to him since that b'day party. Two days later, i asked, "I was angry because you gave it in writing to the warden!"
"How can you think that way? I just told. I didn't do anything abnormal. I know what students feel like", he spoke fastly. I knew, he was just being naive. That was because he grew up in one such atmosphere. I wanted to take off that tag from him.

He was not a very bad person. He started one of those much celebrated centence of our second year, "Do you eat rice or what they serve you in the hostel mess?" (சோத்த திங்கிறியா? இல்ல மெஸ்-ல போடுறத திங்கிறியா?). This was written on his hostel room wall just above the switch board.
Being first person in the attendance roll-call is very bad, at time. You have a big wall in front of you during exams. He was the first on attendance for our class and once this happened. The staff had some work for him and called out, "Achyuthan..."
"Present ma'am", came the reply. everyone in the classroom had a hearty laughter.

In the third year once i went to his room during the unit tests. Unit tests are the time when everyone atleast reads, and I get some browsing time as they are busy with mobile phones and books. Achyuthan used to be free because, he knows what to write or he can manage a pass mark. I was opening my blog and typing on how unit tests are conducted in my college. 

He suggested some corrections and as days went by he started blogging, which is really really good. Meanwhile, he did not continue with his placement representative posts and another election was going to be held. I remember, one of my seniors who was a PRtelling me, "You will not get a better PR than him". I don't know how good or bad that was.

In the final year of college, we had the same floor in hostel again. For the third successive time, he got a room near toilet. Russel Peters became our common icon. He used to talk many accents of english language - Steve Martin, Samuel Jackson etc. negaa... negaa... Time flew by and we had the final semester. Electrical Machine Design. The paper that stood between Me and Er. Me B.E. Till the very last moment, I was sure I'd fail. But, passmark was just two days of talks away. Achyuthan did help me - not to learn but to leave worries.

He was plaed in Ashok leyland.Two people went for the final round and he got placed. The best in the class. Toppers were not placed. One told me, "you know why he got in? Its the line on his forehead". I don't believe in that. But, if that is true, that line - the reddish orange vertical line, has given him enough hardships in the past which cancels with this easy placement. From the day he got placed, till TCS-the mass recruiter came, he used to send us texts on how to face interview. Some read it, some didn't, a few deleted on seeing his name. yes, he was bad to many, even then.

He could support his family single-handedly. His dad has peptic-cancer, since we were in the second year. He had no quality of a college goer when he joined this college. One boy's slam held these golden words which Achyuthan wrote, "Thanks a lot for transforming me into a normal human-being. I hope I get a person like you in my workplace. There are lot of achyuthans in the world. Transform more Achyuthans out there in the world. They are waiting for you". The slam was not mine.
                         ~முதல் பாகம் முற்றிற்று~

My f(unny)irst interview

It was a great day because they said the interview was on the next day. Mu-Sigma was such a terrible experience because… wait… Don’t be in a hurry… That’s what I am going to say in this post.

Mu-Sigma was the first company that always opens up for all GCT-ian. Well, it has been so for the past three years. Big names have gone there and the hype for the place was really high. Commvault came and they only wanted people who knew how a computer could dance. Hardly, any guy from other department gets placed and they only give a chance for the toppers to try their luck.

Coming into business, the first round had 20 questions. 10 apti, 5 read and write english questions and 5 data interpretation questions. Clearing this test would have been easy, even without attending those summer placement classes that my classmates took.

I cleared the first round. That night the results were out and many were selected from the first round. Then, sun was up again the next morning. Sickness was in the air. We went in a bus, a town bus that had lot of other people. Satheesh sent a lot of forward jokes, which were all of ‘prasuramaagavillai’ genre. Everyone was told that, ”The presentation will start at 8 in the morning. You must be there atleast ten minutes before that.”

The bus went as slow as it could and threw us away in front of PSG tech. We asked where this happening was going on. Some people directed us in a way and we were walking through corridors of width smaller than my hip size. Mind you- Its PSG and Mind you- my hip size is 4_

A dimly lit hall with a projector on one end opened to us through a small door. There were some 10-15 people from the company and around 50 students sitting in that hall. We came in and took our seats in a row and started talking about when they would leave us.

“Good morning fellas…”, said the mike bearer. No response.

“So, how many from CIT?” 30 among 50 in front of us lifted their hands.

“GCT?”, it was him again. The rest of us lifted our hands up.

“PSG?” None. “We’ll wait for another 10 minutes and then start”

This happens everywhere we go. They say to wait for ten minutes as if they have sent them to buy tea and biscuits for us. Then the presentation started and slowly the lecture hall started to fill up. They showed us a scatter diagram, which I knew was a scatter diagram eight months after it in a TQM lecture. They told us about their work and what their requirement was.

Then was the questions session…

“What do we need to enter your company?”, asked a student.

“Well, you need to be 6 feet tall and must have a French beard”, said the mike bearer mockingly. But, you’ll soon understand the reality of this statement. The talk show came to an end. It would have been good if the pre-placement talk had some elimination too. That day would have been better.

Then we went on for the group discussion. And the topic to us was, ‘Should ragging in colleges be made legal?’… Before I entered for the group discussion six batches had already come out and Barath was telling ‘machi’ for the 117^th time, the most vaseegaristically. He had not opened his mouth in the GD inside. He was not allowed to infact. Every batch had 4 GCT students and others were filled from PSG and CIT. The common comment was, “The PSG guys are dominating! You must talk a lot louder and sharper”. If you have seen Guru- the Manirathnam movie this dialogue, “Jagadheesaa, naama innum nallaa kathanum” would surely have come to your mind by now. GCT-ians are very soft GD speakers. They don’t speak very harsh, loud or out of the box.

I entered the room with 8 PSG guys and four GCTians. And I had my roommate Kamal sitting to the left side of me. We had planned a lot like, Kamal will start speaking immediately after I stop to talk etc. The topic was given and all the eight students from PSG started scribbling in their notepad. There were lot of opinions and arguments. After 10-12 minutes of talking, only 8 had spoken. The conductor of the GD asked the others, do you have anything to say. They just said nothing. I was one among that eight and I had used some comedies like connecting morning’s happenings at the pre-placement talk with ragging. There is nothing worse to your comedy being taken seriously. I promise I was not at my best and it was my luck that there was a GCT alumnus in the panel. Moral of the paragraph: If there is an alumnus of your college in the selectors’ panel, you only need to be the best from your college. They have this gratitude towards the college and they’ll pick atleast one.

The upset was that the ratio of first round clearers to the second round clearers was too high. It was 119:23. Adding fuel was my department’s ratio of 19:3. Now a question to you reader. If you are from a company and there are 30 people from an other, which is 7-9 km from the place of interviewing what would you do? Ok, leave that… Then we wore a neck-tie.

It was 3’o clock in the noon. I was lucky, because I knew how to knot a tie. Soon it was four ‘o clock. Then it was long before it was five… Girls were attending interview and leaving. Our turn was like the arrival of some long running trains. {The train number 99999 is running 5 hours 45 minutes late. The slight inconvenience is deeply regretted}

“Baskar from GCT”, was the call... He went in. the man who called him added loudly, “everyone must have one passport size photo of yours” ,and went in.

“Next will completely be our college guys”, said a vice from our group. Everyone smiled for the first time in two hours. Baskar came out. Obviously, we asked him what they asked him inside.

Question 1: (As Baskar enters) Whats your height?

Baskar: Something above six.

Question 2: A puzzle

Baskar: Wrong answer J

Interviewer: you may go…

Then slowly, the number of boys from GCT kept increasing like the cricket scoreboard when Dravid is batting. Very very slowly…

After each boy came out, he told about what puzzle he was asked. There were so many common questions. The common comments were

*the interviewer was very simple

*he asked my hobbies and interests

*he asked me to solve some puzzles

No on had any clue on what basis the selction was. There were 190 students and one panel of interviewers.

Then it was eight ‘o clock, slowly nine and nine forty-five.

“Raghunath, Sabarivasan, Rahul Raj, …….”, he called and went in. By then, I was mentally tired and was already thinking of living alone in B’lore.

I went in to the interviewer…

Interviewer- I Me- A

I :aham… Ok, you are Raghunath… Tell me…..something about yourself…

A :I’m Raghunath. Did my schooling…… joined GCT…….. …like management..…. So, if you can tel me, on what area you want to know about me, I’d elaborate more on that.

I :Ok! Leave it…..

A : {why? Shall I tell about my neighbour? That might be of some interest to you… maarujaadhi marriage}

I : So, you are a member of the college mime team and Thamizh mandram?

A :{that is what is written in the CV, you idiot}

{smiling…} y… yes sir…

I : So, why do you want to get into mu-sigma?

A : {sight seeing, enjoying the climate of B’lore} I want to be a good leader and manager sir!

I : Even companies like HCL and Infosys gives you chance to be a leader? Why particularly Mu-Sigma?

A : {This is the first company that came to take us} In IT companies leadership is like leading a flock of sheep. We don’t have work for the right brain there. I don’t want such a work.

I : Ok then. Can you solve some puzzzles???

A : Ya… Sure sir…

I : Ok… you have a pond….

A : The flowers in it double every day… I heard this outside sir!

I : Who found the answer?

A : They all know it. Even I knew the answer already.

I : Ok! Leave that. You have nine balls…

A : { J that’s great } two sir…

I : No, nine balls…

A : The answer is two sir…

By this time a lady came and knocked the door. She was below than average tall and not beautiful.

L : Sir… Dinner???

I : Ya… I’m coming…

A : { idiot who didn’t know the difference between supper and dinner was the one interviewing me}

He gave me my file and told me to leave. Once I came out, I knew I’d not be given that job. But, my placement representative was a very strict man and was one among this 3 in 19:3. So, I had to sit tight for another five hours. At 2 ‘o clock in the night we went to the placement officer of PSG.

“Sir, its already two ‘o clock. When are you going to let the results out???”

“You are here for only this day! This is my daily routine. What will I do?”, asked the PO.

I don’t know what came across my mind suddenly, in Vadivelu’s slang I said, “ungala paakkavum paavamaa dhen irukku!”. Everyone around me started to laugh and we left the place.

In between all this we had a photo session and many exchange of stories. I had Hari Prathap with me. He was the only person in the group who had similar mindset of mine. What we both wanted was liberty for the past five hours...

The inteview briught Hari and me very close. We had some real good time then on (who knows? Some of my stories have his influence in them). We- the three of us from our department and Hari came back at 3.30 in the morning to the hostel. Mu-Sigma picked up four students from our college.

Anand (ECE) - IIM

Venkatraman (ECE) - Huawei

Baskar (CSE) - Authenahealth..

Vigneshwari (CSE) – MuSigma

Dedicated to my juniors who are now going to attend their placements...

I have a story to tell

The final day of college… Due to the state elections, the security was tight in the campus. The final year project viva-voce, was on the last day. So, everyone in the class had to come. A group photo with all of us was still a dream. The class had sixty students and one group photo with all members in these four years was not possible…

I knew it was not possible even today. According to girls, the prime usage of photograph is to smile to a lens. That purpose would not be served on this day. Almost all had worries and tears. The thought in everyone’s mind was separation and loneliness.

But, there was one boy who had no worries and tears. He was happy to go out of this campus. I don’t know if it was his maturity or idiotism. But he was a man of totally different character. This boy had had enough in this campus. The prime learning of his being in college was solitude.

Many have shed a lot of things with these four years. Some people have lost their anger in these four years. Short temper, cheating, telling lies, laziness- there are quite a lot of virtues that entered and left people in these four years. The best time in a lifetime- 17 to 21, and he utilized it very well. He never missed anyone and always had a smile in front of others. To the boys, Govind was a boy who had no worries.

He always had a smile in front of others. While not in front of others, he often keeps thinking of something. To him, nothing in the world mattered. His college, friends, studies… But, there was this girl- ‘Anu’, whom he liked a lot. He talks to her a lot of time. He wanted to live with her. But, something was stopping him from taking this to the next level. Family and society. He had no idea of marriage with her, but he wanted her always very close to him, as a friend.

Once when Anu was asked if she liked Govind, her reply was, “Yes. But, not as much as I need to marry him”.

Their friendship, they say so, was really good and admirable. The happiness they shared was endless and their worries were very less. Their fights and quarrels didn’t even last for ten minutes. They had good understanding within them, and they cried for each other’s success and failure.

Govind was very sensitive and would cry the moment, he was hurt by her. But, she was a very strong girl, mentally. She’d hurt him a lot and wipe off his tears. This, she said, was to make him a stronger man, emotionally.

His days usually started with a ‘good morning’ followed by a smiley. The smiley was a very important aspect of his day. When it was a ‘good morning’ alone, his days were usually bad. He kept thinking about something that happened in the past.

The smiley made his day better than anything else. Govind had a lot of bad habits. As any college student, he was lazy, would not shave regularly, taking bath regularly was very hard for him and didn’t wash his clothes regularly. When she told him to do these, he obeyed. She never yelled at him for anything or compelled or complained. He obeyed to what she told, better than he obeyed to his mom.

I’ve seen him a couple of times outside the campus. Well… not alone. Everyone mocks at him with her name. He didn’t like it. His best defense was silence and vanishing from the spot. He changed into a normal human being from a child, and into a matured person because of her. He owes a lot to her.

The day before the final day, they were set to meet. He was there, 4.30 p.m. sharp!

“Sorry, had some work”, she told in between her rapid breaths.

“It’s ok Anu. Sit…”

“Ya!”, she sat and after a little relaxation asked, “Why did you call me?”

“Tomorrow we depart. What is your plan?”

“Separation. We knew this tomorrow was coming!” she replied and turned to the waiter and ordered, “Two coffees…”. Then she turned to him and said casually, “hope you still don’t drink tea!”

After watching all this drama, “Anu, how can you take it so easily?” asked Govind.

“Do you think I’m taking it easily? What is the point in a second person knowing our worries?”

“Am I a second person in your life? We know each other than we know ourselves”

“Govind… understand one thing! Even if it is your mom or dad, Husband or wife, any other person is not you yourself! He is some other person… Let no one know your worries!”

“What is the point in doing so? Why should me- Govind, be another person in life?”

“Govind… You must be out of your school boy shoes. Remember… You are out of your teens now… In a couple of years, you’ll be a man!”

“Anu… Don’t you feel worried? This separation…” He sobbed. Tears started to roll down…

“What do you want me to do? Do you want to see Anu crying?”

“I don’t want to see that in my life! You know what I live for. Never cry. I’m always here for you” said Govind, wiping his wet cheeks.

“I don’t want you to hide your feelings Gobi… I just want you to be a person, as you want me to be… It is tough, but possible”

That struck him really hard! “A person like he wanted her to be”… He never wanted her to cry, wanted her to express her thoughts freely and be happy always.

………………………………………………………………………………………….......

He was packing for the last time in her thoughts. The mobile beeped…

“My boy… Are you happy?”

He was packing very slowly. Tears rolled down his cheeks. He replied, “I’m not sad. Don’t know if I’m happy!”

He carried only these two bags and a brain full of memories. More than half of the brain was her- Anu- the girl who changed his life, atleast a little.

Semester Feelings

Certain things have got my attention these days... Its long since I keyed in... Lazy and not interested in thinking because of tension, the semester gives:-) Ya! Sleepless nights, and good for nothing books. Tomorrow i've an exam, but typing in, what i feel is not a big problem. Too lot to tell....

IPL:

Is it the class of the game or the runs scored that mattered??? hitting like the boar head... Earlier, cricket was like: “bowlers bowl, batsmen bat and fielders stop the ball and take catches”. But, in the IPL, “bowlers bowl, batsmen hit as if they had gone mad and fielders either watch the ball going over their head for a six or they drop catches”... The poorest form of cricket anyone would see... there were atleast two drop catches every innings and there were average of 5 sixes every match. Now, if bowlers are for empowering the batsman's record, poor fellas... everyone was hit for atleast one six... And, there were more teams that were equally qualified for holding that cup... Knock out is the most idiotic technique... If luck is your way, even your team can win an IPL T-20 match.

There were instances of political segregation during this one and half month. Mr.Commissioner is watching the match on the screen of his 3G mobile, lying in a room in the stadium. But, me being in hostel, had to hear to mob cries and shouts... Chennai being in tamil nadu, fans were too many and harsh... There is a TV room in hostel that can accomodate 50 people. But 200 stand in it and the sort of shouting and whistling that happens, is clearly why British gave us independance(If they had not, they would have, that day)... They were also calling for every one to standin queue and ...............(censored) Everyone was deaf(they were shouting as if)!!! Once, my friend was telling me, he had to go to every state in India, everyt city here... But not Mohali, for his enemy (since the IPL started), was a big fan of Yuvraj Singh.

Tea shops in Thadagam road are all talks on this, because they want Chennai to win... It goes like Thamizhagam--> india--> mankind... If your opposite team is being supported, mankind even goes beyond this level. No mercy for anti-chennai fans!!! This is the rule here. There are dogs in my hostel, especially the one before Raveenan's room, even they were afraid of this mob, who were shouting, like they had got a microphone and loudspeaker... Dogs, they also made me think this way.......

Dogs:

There are two dogs of same age in my hostel. You might have seen what two dogs do when they are together. They, play(!!!) play, run, run... They don't have any work. We are having semesters. These living beings don't. I remember in smaller age, when dogs where doing 'something' and running all along the roads, and if we ask anyone at home what are they doing??? The reply would be, “adhu velayadudhu”(they r playing)... These seem silly. They were not playing, they were learning skills of life. But, dogs are really blessed... They don't get bored of the same subject (I think the subject is interesting) and they don't have the pressure of exams... well they pass even if exams are held.

Semesters come, senmesters go... We need to hang around forever. This will also pass away, But why not semesters..? Now for those who await my two days Oracle experience... “Please wait” I'm working on it.. I lost the script...

Thats what is Oracle

It is 9:26… I entered the auditorium, which is decorated with a background, which clearly says that it is a function called ORACLE X. The chairs were arranged properly. Auditorium is almost full. They are playing tunes of ‘academy award winner’ from the album ‘taal’. Mr. Prasanna Moorthy is shouting for more population in the almost full Audi, so that at least 5 clap out 300. As usual it started off with a wrong announcement. “Students who do project and paper presentation have a breakfast”. The mistake was with the hall number. Agenda said inauguration function timing as 9-11, it is already 9.33 and it has not yet started. The stage is set with 6 chairs and 6 Kinley water bottles worth rupees 72. Why all this? No one would drink a drop of it. Is placing water bottles from which no one would drink called hospitality??? ‘Syscom’ is now playing tunes from ‘Indian’. Everywhere one turns to, it was Lijosh. He was really busy making this a success… Well, before the screen works…

It is 09:45… 105 minutes since I woke up and 19 minutes since I entered this auditorium. Nothing is happening here. Everyone, but, is busy walking from syscom desk to the rear door of the auditorium. It’s 09:49… “Senthaazhmpoovil vandhaadum thendral…” But the stage still holds the 6 chairs and those bottles… everything untouched and undisturbed. At last… no don’t hurry up, chief guest has not yet come, he is a little busy man… at last, the bottle count reduces to 5. Now, 6 tumblers appear and they get filled with the 6th bottles water. Good job miss. Meena Priya…
Oh!.. Now its 09:55 and they finally told,”good morning one and all”. As usual, the entire crowd is tired and the MOC that has no life starts off with a language that very few identify is English(Usage of uncommon words of English is popular in GCT- I request the government not to delete portion “the art of public speaking” which in-fact is the only candid English essay in the +2 books… Dear seniors and friends, ‘Lucidity makes your speech go places’). If any of you reader were in the Audi, answer me sincerely… Were you able to understand what they were speaking in the morning from the emcee desk???

The highlighter was that dignitaries went on to the dais, and not even a single hand that was already there or that Prasanna Moorthy called clapped. Again only the emcee desk gave them a warm welcome, well off their voice. I suggest, the next time give proper instruction to the 98% population of the Audi to clap when required or when it’s ‘essential’. The unoccupied chairs got its occupants. The HODs, General Secretaries, Principal and the person who made us wait this long- Our chief guest. Even then these emcee desk guys don’t give up… This time the pity is, even the ‘so-called’ dignitaries were not listening…

Its 10:02 and all stood up for the prayer song, which alone made some sense among so many things the emcee desk spoke. But, this time singers got it wrong. It wasn’t a prayer song. It was the “Thamizh thaaai vaazhthu”. Then Kuththu velakku ethunaanga, sorry sorry… Kuthu velakku thirikku neruppu vachaanga. I don’t know if the HOD and we have any connection… The emcee desk says that she is the secret of our success…

Then on it were speeches of every person on the stage… First it was EIE HOD. Her bold start in Tamil was great, cool and commanding…. She spoke in good Thamizh and it was the best welcome address anyone would have heard in months. Hats off…

Then EEE HOD spoke. He tried his luck in Thamizh. But, it didn’t get rite. “Sir, sodhappiteengalae… therinja baashaila pesa vendiyadhu dhaane? Oru vendu goal sir… Ini Thamizh la media pechu pesaadheenga. Yaarukkum, edhum puriyala… Kai thattunadhu ellaam kelamba sonnadhukkaana pugazhaaram. Varuthathudan nu cultural pathi sirichutae solreenga? Konjam serious a varutha pattirukkalaam. Sir got over with his speech. Uhhhh!!!!
Magazine release. Indha varusham magazine oda oru cd mutrilum ilavasam… appa magazine??? Ada, adhu eppavumae free… Kungumam paravala!!! CD la enna??? Nithya… cha, Nithya madam nadathuna classes ah??? By this time, chief guest also got tired and wiped off his face with the hand-kerchief he had…

Principal started off, and spoke a set of high quality jokes… To mention some… i) idhu oru vithyaaasamaana function nu nenekkuraen ii)EEEIEA neraya symposium last year la nadantirukkaanga. Avungalukku staff support neraya irukku iii) indha symposium moolam naattirkum, kalloorikkum pala perumaigal. Idhukkappuram MOC thanks vera sonnaanga… uhhh!!! Mudiyala…

EEE GS started off the best among the previous three… but, as he gathered pace, he went at a very high speed and was more idiotic than the emcee… He gave an intro about our chief guest and he welcomed everyone once again… I don’t know why he welcomed every one again…
Mr.Thirumoorthy gave a good class on power system management which, I don’t know if Rajeswari madam was benefited with. No one was listening!! All were tired, and by now, it was time for snacks distribution- the much awaited event of the morning session. He had good knowledge but no common sense. He is the one TCS is looking for… Sir, run away… emcee struck me again. They said it was impressive. My mind voice said,”buddies, he was giving no inaugural speech here”. Then emcee got into their top form. I think they had no written document for this line. They made two grammar errors in one line. 80 stationery kits were distributed to poor and needy. A good deed… hats off… then stage la maathi maathi momento kuduthukutaanga. Lucky, emcee had the list of who gives who!!!

Then it was the EIE GS who spoke a vote of thanks. Rajinikanth would have been better on stage! But, the way he put his speech was really good. Then the dignitaries went off the dais.. ahaah, two are sleeping, sitting just in front of me. What an inaugural function… When everyone thought it was over….

EEEIEA welcomed its own members once again. And there was a welcome dance. They were really welcoming every person in the auditorium. Real beauty, and all those who were in cloud nine after all this, were thinking of moving out. It was a classical delight for a western beat. I think the music was again the academy award winner’s…

The moment the emcee announced, “the next event is paper presentation” there were enough people to keep the auditorium silent… I wasn’t one among them….

Present mam...

ATTENDANCE- THE REAL APPROACH

Recent events have been teaching me a lot of things. In particular ‘attendance’. There have been many incidences in the past one week relating to this thing, Attendance… What does this mean?? Attendance- it is all about giving your presence, where it is needed!!! For a college going guy or girl attendance means a lot. In our ‘Glorious GCT’ and till our batch, we have to get a 75% attendance to write exams. That’s it. And that is why we go to college here. Else who wants to go the hell here? This year we got a good HOD, who wanted every hour to be engaged. All of a sudden all hours started to be engaged. And obviously, our guys got a little angry, frustrated, annoyed, vexed, disappointed, irritated and dissatisfied. I was after everything, laughing for crazy things happening. Lecturers who had no idea if the classes were square or rectangle in GCT; if there were more than 50 students in class (They just want the benches to be filled); if students had any idea about the title of their subject. Some are even good that they don’t know if they have a class this hour. But, when they come, it’s tough time. And many time some silly ladies who do masters in their stream in this college do things as if they are principal of this institution. Let me explain this with two excellent examples!!!

First, let me start this with the permanent staff thing. It was last Thursday and I was getting ready to go to the laboratory half-heartedly. I actually had no plans of going. Then somehow, making my heart agree with the brain I went there. It started off well and all of a sudden, there was a call for all guys. Excluding those very few ‘Mr. Perfect’s all were standing on the other side. As I didn’t write the observation notebook that day, I was still standing outside the room where they all stood!!! I had still to decide, if I should go in or to the Hostel. Then, when I went through the other door, it was closed! Alas! Now my only hope was to go into the room. I went in. The problem there was that students were present without proper uniform… My case was ok! I had no belt, shoe, had not tucked in the shirt, etc. But, Venkatraman was out of count for wearing brown shoes. That was the top of all accusations. Our dear lecturer marked absent for all but four boys and one girl. Girls were also wearing cut-shoes, canvas… But, that’s a golden rule. Girls are exemplary creatures. They never sin. I didn’t tell this, it’s pre-told. So, finally all but few were marked absent and we were told to sit in the lab for three hours i.e. till the end of lab hours. This was one incident that wasted my half a day leave. In GCT casual leave supplies our living. And, my half-a-day’s leave was gone.

Another incident happened, one of the ladies who does masters in ’power electronics’ in this college, handles a subject that only god knows for what this 63 are studying. In fact only god knows why the previous set studied this; why it is still in syllabus from 2003. And she comes to class taking some papers and she makes us write everything she has written in her sheet. Her grammar is too good. You want some examples...? here are some

“From this, you can understood that…”

“It can be able to easily solve…”

“It has been occurred…”

“We will be going to scan the program…” [Mind voice: Where??? Ithaca??? Or Albania???]

“It will moves on…”

Now, after an hour of this sort of English, I don’t know if any English would be left within us. I’ve read my brother’s English paper and felt very sorry for those staffs… They had to study English to correct these papers that had no life and flesh. Coming back to story of our lady- her grammar is too good. So, it’d be as if all are listening. And writing down around 3 to 4 pages in a 45 minutes class. Isn’t that too much??? She tells every word in it. I don’t know the objective. Is it to teach us about the subject or to make us go for a ‘short-hand’ writing course? Amidst all this a complaint has landed in our class teacher’s ears. It came from her mouth. It’s that we are not allowing her to continue with this sort of a class. And coming back to the main story, I went to her class, late by 40 minutes (I’m sorry telling you that the class is for 50 minutes). I asked her attendance. I’d not have in normal cases. But, as I came to know that she was standing in front of the class, all that 40 minutes correcting unit test note-books, I wanted a present. She said, “How could I???” My mind-voice was telling, “Who gave you Bachelor degree??” and I just smiled, my lips starting to say, “F off” and came to hostel to sleep the entire noon.

These incidents made me think a lot on the definition for attendance. Oxford told it as, “Being present somewhere for a purpose” So, what is the equivalent for attendance if there is no purpose???