“Five years ago, on 19th July 2005, one student, having scored 87.06% in the SSC board, with a horizontally striped t-shirt tucked into his single colored jeans walks into one on Mumbai’s most celebrated college. Five years since, as he walks out, the only difference is that the same t-shirt is no longer tucked in. In the five years he spent in the college roll and two years physically in the campus, he met a lot of people, interacted with personalities he never imagined would exist, was smitten by the charisma of a few, came to detest a multitude and walk out of that place, with a head held high for all the five years have not made any significant compulsive impact on his intransigent mind.”
The experience of NM College has been a real roller coaster ride in itself. Perhaps there are not may facets of life that may come as a surprise to me after I walk out from here, or maybe there would. Nonetheless, I’d go as far as saying that the journey of five years is a sure precursor to the tour called LIFE! I dare not day that I haven’t gained anything from spending five years here, for that would be irrational vanity and I risk my blog begin for incorrect content. In fact, I have no moral right to say anything that suggests that the five years have been wasteful.
Certain crossroads and certain stops of the journey have been etched in my heart and come what may, they shall not be erased. During the five years, a lot of events and a few people tried to tell me lot of things I would never have conceived by myself. I listened to all of them, learnt from most of them, but haven’t accepted any of them.
Stop 1 - Professors
The professors in NM college are arguably the best personalities you would meet. For all that I am worth, I have seldom been belittled, but for the knowledge, intelligence, awareness and grace of these awesome people in here. All that you need to do is to be a part of the Planning Forum (Junior College) or participate in Youthfest or attend an I.P. lecture. Here, you will meet 3 women, in whose persona, you shall be seated with your mouth ajar. The mere exuberance and brilliance these women exude will make a lasting impact on your life.
Amita Vaidya – For me, she is the equivalent of the human form of God. A person who commands respect of the highest order with utmost humility – you will seldom see her speak more than required. Her intellect and grace is sufficient for anyone to take notice without she making any noise. Five years ago, in F.Y.J.C., G division, she taught Economics in the way nobody till date has. Five years since, I still remember most of it. I do not attribute this to me having a sharp memory, but to the passion and joy the Prof. Amita Vaidya shows when she speaks on the dais. Every word she uttered was like the Almighty narrating his own scriptures. Ever observer the smile on her face when a student question’s her. That day you will know what you mean by passion and love for teaching. Beyond teaching, a casual interaction with her is sufficient to tell you the practicality and pragmatism with which one ought to approach life. There is no scope for beating about the bush. There is no scope bragging. There is scope for only planned effective action.
Amee Vora – No less than a rock star, Amee Ma’am is the most radiant personality you will ever come across. Be it her approach to teaching in the classroom or the zeal with which she involves herself in Youthfest rehearsals, you will be amazed how can a person be so zealous after doing the same thing year in and year out, when supposedly young people like us get bored, feel uninterested, want a change of activity and atmosphere. There is no topic on which Amee Ma’am cannot have a more informed opinion on you. Just goes to show the inexhaustible reservoir of brilliance she is. I never in my wildest dream thought I would go to Mumbai’s most prestigious college festival, the best in terms of substance and quality and stand up to speak in Marathi, a language which I know, sufficiently well to only negotiate the Income Tax Officers and my neighbors, in front of people who excel at it. Coming out victorious from there was pseudo-optimistic. It was just the unexplored area that Amee Ma’am spotted.
Radhika Wadke – It is my hobby to pick up meaningful arguments with people. But it is fun to end up in a debate with Radhika Ma’am. The dimensions to the same topic she comes up with are unprecedented. Till date I thought psychologists are people who have nothing better in life to do, their life being so messed up that they go out to counsel and advice and study people. It is in her I saw a head-strong woman, with clarity of thought, self-defined parameter she would never breach and an outlook to life, which at least, can be termed interesting. Today I rue the fact I missed her lectures in plenty. No amount of cussing at myself can undo it!
Stop 2 – Umang
This is the only aspect on NM college is have come to detest with the fervor Nazis hated Jews. The entire set up is nothing but an assembly of children of rich parents, who think they are cool and above the others, but unfortunately fail miserably at even appearing level-headed. Umang is no less than an orchestrated pandemonium, which is completely devoid of substance, but is only noise! The concept of Umang is nothing but a vanity-filled, overly-funded attempt at trying to compete with Malhar. It is a different league altogether. Its like Indian Idol competing with American Idol! I understand I will have irked the ire of a few hardcore Umangites, but this is purely my opinion and I am in no way labeling or branding the event. I make no judgment, for it makes no sense to bang your head against a stone wall.
Stop 3 – Library
This is my second home. Given the choice, I would bar everyone from entering the place (not based on attendance of course) and stay in it myself. If today I feel a swell of pride seeing my ICAI rank certificate, it is because I spent 4 months in the quiet of the best library in Mumbai. I cannot forget the arguments with the watchmen for not opening the door at 8:00 a.m. sharp of shutting them at 6:55. They are my friends now. Lol! Today, as the maniac principal imposes some irrational barriers on the entry into the library, I actually feel so homeless. I say this not as an exaggeration, but as someone who is direly missing the calm and peace of that place.
Stop 4 – The TYPICAL NM-ITE
The sole purpose of his/her life is to have a 85%+ score in every exam attempted and tally the Balance Sheet. For whatever reason, you happen to have a non-academic book in your hand, you will be advised to instead read Ainapure or MICHAEL VAZ (this guy has some talent… can write on all subjects at all level) because that’s what’s going to fetch you MARKS! I have tried in vain to convince these people that scoring 84.9 % doesn’t not make you less intelligent or scoring 85.1% is no certificate of your brilliance. There is more to life than having an impressive academic track record. The people who claim to be the city’s best commerce student, and invariably end up pursuing CA are all at sea the first time they see a real Balance Sheet, something in which they have unparalleled experience. It doesn’t even hurt them for they have 85% in SSC and HSC and are from NM COLLEGE. Get a life guys! The college doesn’t make you. You make the college. Stop resorting to the brand YOU have created to save your ass!
Stop 5 - Hot or Cute Girls
The one place where NM is extremely scarce in resources is hot or cute girls. Five years have been like an agonizingly futile efforts to come across one girl who substantially satisfies the criteria to qualify as hot or cute. However, the biggest irony struck when three of the cutest in the college end up being your best friends!! :P (dont kill me for this)
Stop 6 – My BEST Friends
Friends are perhaps the best thing you can take from college. All said and done, its undisputable that friends are the most important aspect you need to feel belonged to a college, full of people, who are, at best, impersonal. There is a difference between acquaintances and friends you ought t draw. Maybe this is the first lesson in learnt from college. Until then, I treated all as acquaintances.
The NM college group on my cell phone has 213 contacts. A few more hundred, whose contact numbers I do not have. From all of these, there are just 4 people with whom I would want to maintain the equation I have till the last drop of blood in my body. It is not to demean or malign the others. I would not be audacious to assume such infernal impudence. I have had a lot of good times with them all and many of them have volunteered to go out the way to stand by me, whenever they felt I wouldn’t be able to go through something comfortably by myself. All that I am saying is that these FOUR people are those to whom I needn’t ever justify what I do, never tell them what I am thinking and these are the people who can blackmail me. I shall not name any for those who are the FOUR know it and for the others, I do not intend to give a free topic for gossip! The LITTLE ANGEL is perhaps surprised. The CHUBBY DOLLY BEAR and the CUTE DUDE WITH DOODH obviously know it.
As I just come out from nostalgia to reality, I would with all humility and the most meaningful words want to acknowledge the contribution of all NM-ites, directly or indirectly, which has gone long way in making me think more than once, if not influencing it greatly.
There is one thing I learnt in college – LIFE IS MUCH MORE THAN ACHIEVEMENTS!!
1 comment:
soo well written!! super! :)
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