When the classes seemed far from interesting...

   U wake up when the sun has already strolled past a quater of itz journey!! Recalling which hour might probably b the first, and whether it deserved ur presence, u reluctantly get dressed up and set out for college.....

   If it were the lecturers' luck, u step in wid at least 15 minutes to spare. U check in for the seat with the bunch of ur friends around.

   U take ur notes out and turn to ur neighbour asking "em chepthunadu ra mama"!!!! After scribbling a few points, u feel saturated and ur mind starts exploring the heights of ur imagination.

   U r suddenly asked a question for which u r not mentally prepared. The generosity of ur friends makes them prompt the answer which u blurt out.

   U repeatedly check ur watch and the minutes hand moves as though it had all the time in the world. U try out messaging if there's someone to chat and utilize the precious time.

   On finding none, ur mind goes numb and u start napping. U realize u r being watched, feel abashed, pinch urself and try and stay awake by talking to ur pal or playing BINGO.

   Time finds pace and u decide its time for the lecture to wind up. U raise slogans of "Saaaaaaar" to which the lecturer refuses to oblige initially. But then ur pressure over weighs his grit and he finally gives up taking the attendance (which is the only span with positive response and attentiveness from the class...) !!!!

(Excerpt from Reminiscences - Our Slam book in final year of Engg)

A.I.T.A - Tennis Tournament

Duty beckoned our efforts for the first time in our second year when Kamaluddin Sir announced the GITAM A.I.T.A which was to be held on 11, 12 & 13th July 2004.

It was an event of special importance as GITAM was hosting an All-India Tennis tourney (under 14). In spite of being the second years, we enjoyed the confidence of the faculty.

We were given the responsibility of dealing with the financial transactions and were assigned various jobs after being into various committees.

A committee was placed at the Railway Station which had the responsibility of welcoming the players with placards in hands and directing them to the bus.

The committee concerned with hospitality looked after the lodging and well being of the participants. Accommodation was provided in the hostel itself, with the hostlers adjusting four in a room.

The tournament went on well and closed in a happy note, with we giving it our best.

(Excerpt from Reminiscences - Our Slam book in final year of Engg) 

I.C.A.S.D.A - International Conference

     It was only a month after the tour that our department had organized an international Conference – ICASDA on 7, 8 and 9th of December, 2005. There was sense of unity in us and zeal to perform. Being the third years, we were supposed to frame the backbone of the organizing committee.

     We were divided into groups and made responsible to a lecturer, each group being assigned a task. Eminent international personalities participated in the event, of whom we were specially impressed by Mr. J.N. Reddy and Mr. C.M. Wang. They possessed immense knowledge, yet were humble at heart. We felt privileged extending our hospitality to them.

     Some of the seminars were thought provoking as we found them practical. We made it sure that the participants felt at home and even accompanied them on their visits to various tourist places in the city. The event was a success and the department and especially we received accolades from the college and the participants.

(Excerpt from Reminiscences - Our Slam book in final year of Engg) 

Dare Devils

There were quite a few testing times in our brief sojourn in the campus - Situations where we felt subdued and wronged. We always had two paths to choose from. One was to bend our heads and let destiny take its course; perhaps the easier one. The other was to stand undaunted and condemn the atrocity unanimously; which we did.

Two such prominent instances which deserve being recorded are the T-shirts issue and the Boycott of the Mid term exam.

• With whose permission?? No character!! Call your parents….

These chidings were showered on one of us for the crime of wearing a T-shirt when no rule of GITAM forbade us from doing so. The person concerned was not permitted to write mid exam even. This incident made us reflect upon and we decided that we were not going to keep mum.

For the very next mid, all of us (boys) turned up in T-shirts with an intension to proclaim that we were not to stay quiet when our rights were curbed. The unity with which we raised our voice against this injustice made the department think over the lecturers’ stand and he eventually had to take a back step.

• Machine design was the second mid exam of our 3rd year first semester. We, as a class had decided to boycott this exam for a common cause of the entire engineering students.

It was a non-cooperative movement against the management, for the weird notice which was sent stating

that we had to pay Rs 50 for each day that we were absent.

Not bothering about the internal marks we stood ready to sacrifice the remaining mid exams unless the notice

was annulled. There were 60 of us standing for the cause of 1600. Once again our unity forced the management to yield and all the fines were cancelled.

Cheers to our unity!!!

(Excerpt from Reminiscences - Our Slam book in final year of Engg) 

Punyagiri - Our first outing in Engg

After a bit of friction and opposition from our BELOVED sir we set out our first picnic - to Punyagiri. We were to go out together for the first time with our classmates; buddies with whom we would cherish memories of a life time.

We assembled at RTC complex in the wee hours of the day. We had a bus booked along with three sumos. All the girls were into the bus along with a few ambitious boys who had clinched the opportunity to interact with them for the first time. The rest of the troop followed in sumos. Lot of energy was exuded in the journey with songs being played and we booing each other at the stroke of every overtake.

As we drove along, the country side seemed wrapped in a sense of ineffable peace. On reaching our destination, we chose a place to sit around and play. We had all the fun that we could. After having our lunch, we set out on our adventurous expedition, holding each others hands and taking calculated paces, careful not to miss our steps. We went past tall shrubs and sloping valleys in small groups making weird noises and communicating. Having spent a few anxious moments, we finally reached the water falls. Each one of us got under the chilled water enjoying its freshness and splashing at each other.

All in all, a perfect ten for the first outing with class in our Engg. Life. This was the stepping stone for various such outings thus far.

(Excerpt from Reminiscences - Our Slam book in final year of Engg) 

World Cup blues

SHATTERED HOPES: India's loss in World Cup has disappointed many fans.

GITAM: In the wake of the recent cricket matches of the ICC World Cup, India had realised its worst ever dreams come true - a thrashing from the so-called grade-B team, Bangladesh, and losing an all important do-or-die qualifier with the Lankans.

The hopes of a million people were shattered and in a matter of a few hours fans turned into fanatics. Violent protests were carried out at various parts of the country by people who surely had a special taste for the game. Effigies were burnt and houses were vandalised. Dhoni, who had been an icon and so influential even in revolutionising the hairstyles of many youngsters bore the brunt. An appeal was made by the people to seize back the land gifted to him.

The recent revelation of the fact that Bob Woolmer was in fact murdered seems to be only the tip of the iceberg. But, is this irate response from the people justified and what should have roused their emotions to this extent? The reasons can be attributed to the cult - status which cricket has acquired. There is so much hype for the game and we have been so very obsessed with it that a loss in a crunch match cannot be assimilated, which instigates the people to treat their demi-gods as demons.

Yet, at the end of the day, it would be wrong to find the entire fault with the players. The people have the right to question and demand an explanation for the poor performance. But more importantly, they need to sit back and analyse as to what makes our team so very laid back when compared to other world-class teams - the invincible Aussies, for instance. It isn't that we lack the ability. There is bounteous raw force waiting to be groomed.

In a land where playing cricket as a kid is indispensable, why have we not been able to produce enough legends? It is the difference in what could be called as the "Cricketing culture" (I fear if I could use that term). An abstract noun for which the Indian cricket's Thesaurus fails to have got the right sense.

Australian great, Michael Bevan - one of the best ever finishers of the game was dropped and I wonder why he could never make it back to the team and eventually had to retire.

A newcomer doesn't require much time to prove his worth and to proclaim the world of his arrival since they are seasoned players who have come through the rigours of the selection.

On the other hand, India is stung by corruption. There is venality in every aspect of the game. Politics and recommendations have a heavy hand on the proceedings. The result being, the country doesn't get the best 11 and the team fails to perform. Ultimately, it is the people who are fooled to have laid their hopes on presumably their best team and to vent their anger, on losing, while the actual reason waits to be pondered. This has been the situation and would forever be, unless there's a miracle. Perhaps if a Lenin or a Martin Luther is born in Indian soil could fight for crickets' cause - a renaissance for the men in blue to overcome their world cup blues.

*****Please find below the link to the e-version of this article published in THE HINDU*****

http://www.hindu.com/edu/2007/04/09/stories/2007040907330600.htm