Four years of togetherness, four years of seeing each other, still not being fed up,
but wanting to come back, over and over again…
finding yourself staring at the ceiling at 2:00 in the night and scared to even think that in about a month from now, you won’t be hurrying to reach the Quadrangle…
16 acres of the campus become dearer to you when you know that an official ‘Nirop’ is on the cards for you.
Life at VJTI had too many aspects to it. Broadly we can categorize them as academic, social and (ahem, ahem) romantic.
First let us be done with the sullen part of our academic life. As an Electrical engineering student, this part probably had less impact on my life here. First year was full of anticipation. Mass bunk was thrilling then. In the exam room, I was strictly restricted to my own business. In the following years, exams became more of a collaborative effort. Irrespective of how they went, a movie or an eating out always followed every petty MST or a much hyped EST. Laboratory sessions were when the lesser known faces of the class would make an out of the blue appearance. Workshops were literally amongst the ‘hottest’ places on the campus. Some labs gave us the chance to handle 220/440 Volts of electricity. Most of wisely decided to not take the risk and let the wires be! Clicking pictures in the lab was better fun.
In the 2nd year, our classroom was situated on the third floor. As an underweight student, I prevented myself from further losing calories by avoiding the staircase. The bulky ones didn’t work that hard to get to the top and so the perfectly fit ones also found themselves in the quadrangle as they missed their friends who had valid reasons for not making it to the class. In the 3rd year, we were placed well; on the first floor bang opposite the Quad. So, we took the less treaded path to the classroom with a higher frequency. In the final year, the classroom misses us a lot!
Note: if you are thrown out of the class, please carry your ID and bag. It’s easier to head to places like gymkhana, canteen or quad with these things in place.
Next in the line is our social life; the attributes of which are very appealing to my entire gang of friends. Ask us about festivals, and Pratibimb, Enthusia and Technovanza is what we will talk about. The four months of winter season every year gave us the warmest days of our lives. The dusty hub was where we spent more time than our homes. The colors, brushes, sponsorship deals and Rs.8/- food coupons (now Rs.10/-) meant a world to us! Year after year we found ourselves in the Fresher’s Party. 4 years weren’t long enough to make us stale!
Festivals also gave us a fair chance to skip lectures officially.
“Sir, I was a part of the event’s core committee”.
At this, the professor would smirk and we could get away!
One line can be so self-explanatory!
Lastly comes the most special aspect of our ‘Romantic life’. A few of us venture into this high-risk territory. Yet, college remains the place which probably gave you your first crush, first love; that special someone for whom you were waiting for so long…
Library would give you a good chance to 'study' together! Otherwise, getting caught in a library isn't good for your reputation.
On a Rose day, one brave heart would trudge ahead to make his first proposal and his naughty friends would be hanging in at the back to capture the image when his throat would go dry. A dull physics experiment would also seen enchanting if ‘he’/’she’ would be in your batch. Walking down the stairs or along the corridors would be breath-taking if you could get that one glimpse while both of you walked in a herd of people. Trad day would give you the golden opportunity to click a photo with him. Your photos with the other hims/hers would subtly camouflage your favorite picture!
Yet life wasn’t all that rosy. Heartbreaks, longings and break-ups were also a part of this amazing journey.
VJTI will remain the fondest part of my memories; a place which had so much to give each and everyone of us: a sense of responsibility, a sense of belonging and the ability to reach for greater success in life. Today we are wise enough to decide the course of our life, to switch cities and even countries. More importantly; we learnt to love, we learnt to share and we loved to care.
Thank You VJTI, for being such an awesome place!!!
