“My first experience..my college life”

Sat 03-01-2010
16:34 hrs


Hello again..I dunno what’s got into me..for I am writing a lot these days. If only, I would have written so much during my semesters, I wouldn’t have landed up into a supple..
Well forget it..it’s a different story, to be told later.

Coming to the first day..why does it always happen that we remember our first day of anything very clearly. Be it, the first day of school..first day out with friends..first day of college..first day of job..and many other first days..!!

Well again..my first day of my college life..the life where I just screwed around..!
I got into NIT Durgapur..Electrical Engineering branch..purely by luck..or to say it the way I see it now..maybe..by purely bad luck. I had appeared for my 12th from Nagpur, Maharashtra. So in according to the rule’s then, I had to go for my counseling in VNIT Nagpur. As I entered the NIT in Nagpur, I was astonished. It is such a beautiful college. It’s main gate itself was very imposing. It felt as if I am in different world when I entered. I could already feel knowledge flowing into me..[:D]..lozz..

So..it was a very good college..my counseling preferences and orders and choices were already decided by my dad..and I had very little sat in it. After all, he is the one who is going to pay my fees and expenses..!! So, when at the choice locking counter..as I say it..my dad asked me to put NIT Durgapur Electrical as the first choice and then the rest, and the person behind that counter did the same. It was 8th of July 2007..the beginning of my miseries.
As CCB does it..it puts it..the result on the website on the net before the actual time to check it whether it is correct or not (they want no mistakes..many lives depend upon on it..!). So they put results over the net in the night around 11p.m. My younger brother who is too stubborn kept on pressing reload tab and finally he got my result out. I had got into NIT Durgapur Electrical Engineering.
Everybody was happy..me too..
I was happy for the fact that college would be as good as Nagpur for it was NIT too..and it would open door of opportunities for me and what not all…!
We left for Durgapur..the next day..on 9th July. We reached Calcutta and stayed at some guest house of some company there..and we went to Durgapur next morning. We took a cab to NIT after reaching Durgapur station.
All my hopes of seeing good college were washed..by a flood..leaving no traces of any hope at all..!
It was a rickety..rusting..old gate..with old withered and patched road beyond it. The road side..covered with weeds and wild grass. The playground..it was almost covered with almost 3 foot high wild grass.
I knew..I was screwed for the next four year of my college life.
The academic building..it was as old as the oldest building in my living memory..of course not as old as the broken forts..! We got into that same building for admission procedure and the moment I stepped into it..I saw cob webs all over the place.
I told about my feeling to my dad..he replied..” Don’t worry beta..it’s a government university..it is supposed to be like this..!” And then he began..as always..a never ending lecture..over the state of the college in his days..!!

We were there before time for admission..almost by 2 hours..thanks to dad for all that hurry and anger over getting late..arrggghhhh….!
Then ay dad asked me to take a walk in the hostels area and around the campus. I was in no mood..firstly..my dreams of a good college were just now shattered and secondly it was too hot and humid outside. Still my dad was persistent and when I saw his glaring eyes looking towards me..all the heat outside was gone..! I went. We took a long walk to see old hostels with leaking drain pipes and withered and broken plaster and algae covered walls..ahh..it was enough..it couldn’t take it anymore..I checked the time..we were now late..for the admission. We rushed back to the admission hall..did the with the admission procedure. I was ready to go..but my dad wasn’t. he took me the library and then we went to the hostels were 1st years were supposed to stay.
Hall 9..it had a long tongue twisting name..which I can’t remember..! We entered this one..it was in better condition then the other hostels(I later learned it was constructed recently). I stood in the porch area..while my dad went to inspect the hall. I was waiting there and waiting for him to return..but soon I heard some voices..I figured out..one was resembled my dad’s..! Soon after I was certain..it was my dad’s..! I thought he got into another argument with someone. He has been getting into a lot of arguments lately. Sometimes with shop keeper, sometimes with police men, sometimes with some office clerk..for that matter anybody he can argue with..!
I went inside to check out. I could see him nowhere. I saw a room open..I went in. I saw my dad sitting with some guy who was covered in towel and a vest, sitting casually. My dad introduced me to him saying he is my senior. I didn’t like him..for the way he was sitting..the way he was talking to my dad. I wanted to say “Man you are sitting in front of my dad..you need to give him respect. Whatever he is..he is, after all my dad.”
Anyways I talked to him. He asked me my state of eligibility. I told him I am from Maharashtra. He told me you will be known as “Matthu” in this college. And that “Matthu” are the one who are ragged the most in this college. There was it..the final nail..in the coffin of my dreams..! Well..I heard all the crap he wanted me to listen to. And I listened..intently!

We, finally went to the station..discussing the college. We went back to Calcutta and then to home..me pondering over my recently broken dreams..and worried about the ragging and the life at college.

Guys..what I want to say is that..college is a stepping stone towards a more professional life. It has to make a good impression or else you will just not want to be a part of it. As always said..you need to be a part of something if you want to excel in it. Hope you guys..get the college of your dreams..;)

Take care..
Later..:)