A Trip Down Memory Lane

I'm at home, the place where I spent more than 20 odd years. Once I try to look back 10 years in the past, I find the world has changed a lot for me. 10 years back I was a student of a local village school. With a clean school uniform, a bag packed with notebooks and tiffin (of course) used to head for the school before 11 am. Days were quite long since the last bell used to ring only at 4.30 pm. Then there was a destination I never missed, the playground, even if I miss the school. I can remember that we used to bunk classes to play in some cricket matches. All sorts of games, viz., football, badminton were equally interesting. I thought the world was no bigger than my village!

Days passed, and I realized my stupidity! The strange thing was even after being so interested in things except study, I somehow managed to pass the exams. To day I realize that a good study should always be spiced up with things that will keep you physically and mentally fit. Fitness of body and mind comes before anything no matter how big scholar one is. So the normal notion of study-study and no games doesn't really help. I feel lucky to have a life like that.

Anyway I got into a good engineering college (I feel greatly honored!), and the periphery of world expanded a bit more. I started believing the college is the world. Here I came closer to some eminent teachers and some great co-students. I sometimes feel fish out of water when I remember about the people I studied with. How come a charcoal is put in the same place with some diamonds?? Some of those students are abroad, for some of them I had the privilege to have a closer look. I wish all of them a very happy and prosperous journey of life and DEMAND some payback to our poor nation. The steering should be in the hands of some efficient people, isn't it? This was the story at Jadavpur University. The engineering curricula is a heavy one, and I hardly got any chance to exploit my hobbies. I can't really remember how the 4 long years passed so early!

It was during these days I realized that the future is of taking pressure and responsibilities. Unless we plan it properly, we'll not be able to do it. I was never a very studious student, lacking in concentration. That's where the Indian Institute of Science played a big role. Initially I was perplexed how to handle the pressure of 2 years here just looking at the 1st semester. The training I got here was not to loose the nerve and make one prepared for any situation, however critical. It taught me how to think and concentrate and presented challenges. People who clear challenges successfully often say they like taking it. But even after not clearing those challenges with much success, I still believe one should take on them to prepare oneself against all odds in life, even though one mayn't clear it in style! That's how I'm, I like challenges!

There were few books and some improvising people who had shown me the philosophy of life. I feel greatly indebted to all of them. I don't know whether I'll be able to carry on my studies, but I know what I should do! I'll always try to do something for my nation, however small it might be. The simple driving philosophy behind it is because the nation has taken my care. I won't have been an engineer, had the people of my nation not been with me! So it's payback time. I'll try to do that with my might. Take it as a promise and I dream of a nice and peaceful India.

So far I have been a bit abstract about myself. But believe me, the personal life also puts a lot of challenges. To me, the order of responsibilities starts with family, goes down to society and nation. People at home doesn't like me being away from home for long. Neither do I, but when the other responsibilities beckon, how can I optimize?

If the reader is able to observe the philosophy, please comment. And if you agree to this, pray to the almighty so that I can carry on doing my duties.