The year was 1970. Three years in Ananthapuri, at Mar Ivanios College, was the most memorable time of my formative years.
Our batch of students thought we were privileged to be part of the ‘Special BSc. Programme’, an experimental undergraduate programme concentrating on science subjects introduced by the University of Kerala. It was touted to be analogous to honours degree studies.
As the programme was implemented without much consultations and studies, there were uncertainties about the future of the students, and the programme itself.
United, we protest As the graduation year approached, Special BSc. students joined together all across various college campuses and conducted letter writing campaigns, publicity work, meetings, one-day walkouts and so on to build awareness and to get a clear answer about our future from politicians, educators, and university officials. I remember being part of a sit-in in front of the Senate Hall, joining hands with students from various colleges. The programme failed, and was discontinued after our batch. As usual, educators failed to define ‘special’ or what it entailed from a future perspective.
There were 16 students in our batch from all over Kerala. We formed a special bond that flourishes even after 50-plus years. Those were three incredible years with phenomenal memories: good, bad, and extremely sad ones. The saddest part was saying goodbyes.
Final year college ‘social’, aka get-together, was a penultimate affair before the examination. After three years of closeness, and affable interactions, it was time to say goodbyes and part ways to an unknown future.
We secured a hall, arranged food, and clicked photographs of the event. One could feel the sadness in all of us. There were pastries, cakes, and ice cream along with promises of lasting friendship. By the time, the social started and the dinner served, the ice cream had melted and we had fun drinking the ice cream. That was an icebreaker moment!
Many students made short speeches, many reminisced about the three years, the bond and the camaraderie, and many became emotional.
My brief speech was about the rumoured retirement of our Principal Fr. Panicker. I wondered aloud whether it was an excuse to stay out of the ever-increasing militancy among the students.
We never had any issues with religion, politics, cast, creed, or colour. We all stayed together, played together, studied together, shared pranks and good times, and enjoyed life as students without much worries.
We all were serious students, responsible (when it came to studies), yet a fun loving bunch. We were, to a certain extent, aware of the family and social values and responsibilities. Yet, we behaved like any other college student of that time: spendthrifts, and with an attitude of invincibility.
Reality check I bid farewell to my beloved grandfather during that time. My cousin Prem and I took a Fast Passenger bus from Thampanoor to Kottarakkara, waited a few hours to get the next bus to our village. It was a sad scene; I saw my grandmother very distraught, visibly shaken, and uncontrollably weeping. I had to return to the college due to imminent examinations, and left after the pyre was lit. It was the most difficult moment since it was a reality check, a transition point from dreams of invincibility to life’s realities. Days and nights just slipped away one after another. Three years went by like a whirlwind, but leaving everlasting memories.
My friends all moved on, and branched out into many professions. Many of them opted for medicine; a few others switched to other fields, such as IT, accounting, policing, business, teaching and so on.
Alex, Jayakumar, Antony, Jose, Soman, Samad became doctors. Devassia went into business. I believe Mathai went into policing, Mathew became an accountant, and Mary M. took up teaching and became a professor.
In spite of the 40-year gap, we, at least a few, keep in touch frequently.
I remember Professor Sebastian, a fatherly figure, and young lecturers George, Baby, and Mercy, et al. Our Principal was Rev. Fr. Dr. Panicker.
Names, numbers, and faces might have faded away as time passed on, but the memories linger. No one knew what the future would bring at that time, but fate has many ways of connecting the dots. That is another story.
Proving the adage, ‘you can’t take India out of an Indian’, my affinity to India continues. The Hindu , other newspapers, TV, and the Internet keep me linked to my ‘mother country’.
(Sasi Kumar is a senior IT consultant in the provincial government service in Canada. Additionally, he does provide volunteer services in the fields of IT, and Project Management in association with the Project Management Institute, Canadian Information Processing Society, and the International Organization for Standardization)
[This article was mailed by the author after reading the column online]
(A column to commemorate the platinum jubilee of the University of Kerala. Eminent teachers and people from different walks of life talk about their student days in various colleges under the University.)
Do you have campus memories to share? Write to us at tvmmetroplus@gmail.com
