The unique feature in VIT

The only college I know of, that is separated by a train track, that is VIT. Life can come to a stand still but the trains cannot. They keep moving to and from Chennai to Bangalore and it's a wonderful view. The rumbling sound of the trains makes the place lively.

In moments when I felt lonely, the rumbling sound made my those wheels on the track, made me feel that there was not at end to life. It was irritating initially but at the end of three years it became a part of life.

If someone would ask me what I miss the most, my reply would be : ' I miss watching the train and hearing the whistel.'

The Central Library

THE LIBRARY BUILDING(MAHE)

In the first place comparing 2 big Universities is really difficult but I think there are striking differences as well as similarities in the way life moves. Both VIT and MAHE have attained the University status. MAHE is a group of educational institutions which iincludes engineering, medical, management, hotel management, jewellery designing, communication etc all spread around a huge area. MAHE is quite old. VIT is mainly an engineering college which includes others courses related to management and Life Science.

It is very difficult to compare educational institutions but I am going to start the comparison with the most important place, The Library.

The library is huge and spread in a large area. There are volumes and volumes of books, journals, magazines in both the libraries. If one considers the infrastructure, it is almost the same.

The only thing that would matter to any student is freedom. There are no restirctions in the timings. In VIT there is specific time for girls that is only till 10pm and for boys it extends till 12am but here in MAHE central library, the timings are the same for boys and girls that is till 11:30pm.

THE EDU BUILDING AND LIBRARY

The rules regarding the entry and exist is the same but there is one major difference.

Wanna know what????

In VIT we are constantly told, " Utilize the library, it has so much to give you."
But, how many actually utilize the facilities in the library.

In Manipal the no one needs to tell us to go to the library. In fact no one does. The pressure they give is so much that automatically the crowd ends up in the library studying. The library is the best socialising place in Manipal and I think after coming here library has become my second home but to add on I would surely mention I miss being in VIT library, the place which made me love to read in silence and the place where I actually learnt to utilize books.

VIT LIBRARY

THE INSIDE VIEW OF VIT LIBRARY

To the coasts of Karnataka( Day 3)

14-7-2008

This was the most crucial day for me. I was quite familiar with place by then but my dad still was confused. The arrangement of the buildings was like a maze. If one has a look at the map, there were buildings spread wide apart and it was not so easy to know the nook and corner of the campus. VIT had been built later and the plan was chalked out well. The major difference was that Manipal University was spread at a larger area than VIT but the way VIT has been constructed is good enough to attract the crowd. We were almost in time to the waiting hall when I met some of my friends whom I had met during the examination. There were new faces only and from different parts of the country. We entered the counselling hall. The procedure seemed familiar and even the staff were the same. When the Director Admission started announcing the rules, I started feeling void. They had not put the chart showing the number of seats available yet. That was unusual. Thirty minutes passed. I shut my eyes tightly. I didn’t know how to react. The number of seats would decide today whether I could make it or not. It was there the very next moment. My dad took out his glasses and started reading. My first choice was Bio Chemistry; it had 21 seats in Manipal and 25 seats in Mangalore. It was the same for others like Anatomy, Physiology, Microbiology and Pharmacology. Molecular Biology and Human Genetics had been reduced to 2 years and it had only 5 seats. I had no hopes with that though it seemed lucrative. After filling the forms they called out the ranks. It started with 17.

Phew... I heaved a sigh of relief. 16 candidates absent and I had better chances. I strained my ears to hear every part of the announcement they made. In another 20 minutes I was called. Now I was confident. The seat is mine. Still there were only 3 seats allotted for Medical Bio Chemistry. The seats got filled for Molecular Biology first then Microbiology started its pace along with Bio Chemistry. In between I was surprised to see that people were willing taking Anatomy and Physiology. I felt really good to see people with varied interests. I spoke to many in this 20 minutes wait till my name was called and of course my old friends were there who had written the exam with me at the Kolkata center. I was happy. My dad was still stuck to the screen but relaxed. I paid the fees, got my admission letter and then the first thing I did was I spoke to my mom. My dad kept watching people. He refused to speak anything. He told me, “Do your work fast. Don’t waste time in talking. I am sitting here.”

It was all done by 1 pm. The hostel, the admission and we also got a chance to see one of the flats which we could get. The first impression of the look was: VIT hostels are the best. I still hadn’t visited many girls’ hostels but when I went to some they looked okay to me but not bad either. Still as I said, too early to say anything as I had seen only 3 or 4 of them. It was a relaxed day altogether. We also met a professor and for the first time I entered the Bio Chemistry Department. I realized that I was in a place with an atmosphere that made me feel I was in a hospital. All future doctors with lab coats and stethoscopes walking here and there, some with a badge bearing their names and some without them I liked it in fact I had always wanted to study this course in a medical college. Medical Bio Chemistry was something I had wanted from the time I was in B.Sc and my dream college was JIPMER, Pondicherry. Still, KMC was none the less.

I was on which cloud I don’t know myself. I don’t think it was 9. I beg to differ, it must be more.

Counselling@VIT( 24th and 25th June)

I am back again with my daily updates.


Phew!! I am done with the story. I am too lazy to type but blogging has made me do it regularly so at times I give my pen and paper some rest.


Last week I was in my college VIT for M.Sc Counselling. I had been called for attending it. My condition was still worse, I had got a pretty good rank in Manipal also and I had the course of my choice there but Manipal's counseling was scheduled after VIT's. I had no choice so I had to take chances in both places.


I went to Katpadi by Kovai express which is from Chennai. I was a bit late again and I had to wait for the local train which just left when I reach St. Thomas Mount.

My uncle said, " If you reach Park station by 6:05 you can catch Kovai otherwise you have to take a bus."

He started giving me options and I was not listening to them much because I had set one thing in my mind, reach Park and run............. I knew I would make it so I wasn't tensed. I was very calm.

The same thing happened. I reached Park at 6:05 and then I started running right from the moment I got down from the train. I had to cross the subway and then again run almost a km to enter Chennai Central. By then I was used to running but I was panting that day. Why? My legs gave away... may be because I had very less sleep or may be coz it was early morning and I didn't eat anything and neither did I have the time to drink water. I was gasping.. I looked at my watch, it said 6:09. I had 6 min. That was a lot.

I said, " Jai Bajrang Bali aaj mujhe shakti do and I ran again.

My muscles pulled and I wanted water but there was no time. Thanks to the biological system, my saliva was enough to quench my thirst. I saw the platform number in which Kovai was there. Seeing my destination nearer I slowed down a bit and got a bottle of water. It was 6:12. I had 3 min. I rememebered my coach number and seat number. I eneterd the train and sat. What a relief!! Again victory. When I was in VIT we took this train generally to reach college on time but we never sat. 2 hours passed just like that standing near the door , enjoying the fresh air in the morning and then paying the fine if the TT came. :)

That day time seemed to fly. I didn't get time to think. I took out my book ' Seizure' by Robin Cook to read but I didn not feel like. I closed my eyes and then I realized it was 7:30 already. How did time pass so soon?? Did i sleep? If I didn't then was I day dreaming?or was I in a lost world? By the time I realized Katpadi station was there. I didn't even see my college from the train!! :(


I luckily got my friend to accompany me in the auto. She had also come for the counselling. The moment we entered the campus the guard asked us in Tamil, “ID card enga ma?”(Where’s your ID card?)

We said, “Naanga VIT students’ ille anna.”(We are not VIT students.)

We said that as we didn’t have any other go then. We didn’t have the time to explain to him that we were pass outs and had come for the counselling, so that we become a part of this university again. I was feeling so bad when I said that but it was a fact. There was no proof that I was a VITian once except the student records bearing my name. I could actually take advantage of it too. The guard knew our face so he looked at us again mysteriously but didn’t say anything. We had to assemble near the Anna Auditorium for our counseling. We met some of our classmates who had joined VIT for MBA. There was so much of commotion near ANNA that we had to make our way through to find out what was the reason. There were six to seven big notice boards with the names of the candidates called for the counseling along with their rank. It was an alphabetic order so I didn’t have much problem. There was my name with rank-7 written beside it. Whoa!! I got an All India 7th rank. Good one but we know how easy it is to score in VIT if one works for it. My friend was also not far away. She got the 12th rank. Mostly VIT students only in the top ranks but the 1st rank went to someone else. Surprise actually, but good that someone else got it but no use, none of them came so it was only the VIT students who entered the counseling room first. We took our course and then went for the medical check up.

It was very organized and at every step I went I could only get one question, “Nee VIT student thaane? (You are a VIT student only, right?)

“Yes ma’am/sir”, was my answer.

I was happy to meet many of my classmates as well my roomie Aashi after long. It was somewhat exciting but still I wasn’t feeling so comfortable. I didn’t know the reason why?

This process got over and I was roaming with Aashi as she wanted to pay the fees for hostel and tuition that day itself. We had to run up and down as usual according to VIT. They make it a point that we loose some calories. Things aren’t that easy. Then I went to the Student’s record to collect my TC as well as Transcripts. Our certificates weren’t ready so if we had to get something it had to be through this so called ‘running procedure’ which means, get signatures from at least 3 authorities.
That was normal as we had mastered this act after 3 years.


I was actually seeing this kind of counselling procedure for the first time. I saw the number of seats reducing and the LCD monitor was showing it. There was no organization after three hours had passed. It ought to be. 790 students had been called for the counselling, though all didn’t turn up. There were parents who had come from different states and from places I had never expected. I was the first to finish with my work so I started talking to every parent who seemed confused and didn’t know what to do. When I told them that I was VIT student they felt all the more relieved. Questions about the college, faculty, placements etc etc. I could answer them in a very brief way telling them what was the actual picture and I felt happy doing that. Most of them were complaining of the disorganization but I consoled them saying that this system wasn’t there when I was taking admission 3 years back. At least they had something better this time.

I was on the stage where the crowd was more. One of the authorities whom I knew was seeing me there from quiet a long time. He called me and asked me, “Your counselling got over long back I think. Then what are you doing here? Go home.”

I said, “Yes sir. I am done but I am helping my friends.”

I saw some students whom I had met in some of the examination centers where I had gone a month back to give competitive exams like JNU, Pondicherry University, Manipal etc. I spoke to them and got an idea about their plans. They actually loved VIT . It was all done by 5 pm.

Aashi’s hostel admission was still going on and I was waiting outside ANNA when a slim girl came up to me and said, “Did you recognize me?”

I was actually confused. I generally don’t forget people or do I forget the faces if I have spoken to them but this time, I actually took time.

“Hum Pondicherry exam ke time mile the. Yaad hai?”she said excitedly.

“Oh!! Haan yaad aaya,” I said getting the whole picture clearly.

“Main tumhein poore campus mein kal se dhoond rahi hoon aur aaj tum mili ho,”she said.

“Kyun? Kya hua?”I asked her.

“Tumhein thank you kehna tha,” she said with a smile and brought three more girls who were standing nearby.

I didn’t know what was happening. I asked her, “Thank you kyun?”

“Tumhare chalet hum sab ka yahaan itne achche college mein admission hua hai,”she added.

Then, I got the point. I was in Kolkata for the Pondicherry University exam and there in the examination hall I started talking as usual to the people around just to get general information about them. This girl was interested in doing Bio Medical Genetics so I told her that VIT had no entrance exam and it had only admission only on the basis of marks. M.Sc BMG in VIT is quite good so I suggested her and gave her the website. I was also supposed to take her phone number but they went out of the exam hall very early and I lost track. After one month this girl comes up to me and says this. I felt so happy that I was of some good.

She said, “Achcha tumhara naam kya hai?”

We had spoken so much but didn’t know each others name. We exchanged our numbers and then she said, “Tumhara college bahut achcha hai yaar.”

I was all the more elated. I felt so proud when I heard this from her. It was a good experience for me. I felt, TALKING helps.


The next day, my cousin brother was also going to take admission in VIT for MCA and I was roaming with him too for the campus tour. Anyone would like. VIT is like that.

I actually got a chance; I went with him to the BOYS HOSTEL. It wasn’t in a bus but by walk. I was walking very proudly and all the boys who came from the short cut were looking at me as if I were an alien. I had my aunt there so I had some support. Some, whom I knew exclaimed seeing me, “Tum kaise???? Who bhi yahaan?”

I was the happiest. It was my wish always to explore that part and here I was. I didn’t miss anything; in fact I went to ENZO or NZO whatever they call. I don’t remember the spelling. I went near J and H block and I was at the entrance. Of course I had to be stopped at some point but it was fun. I think at that time I was the only girl there who was a VITian. It might seem kiddish but I felt so proud to be there. I explored every nook and corner that could be explored by visitors.

Finally I did what I wanted to. Must thank my brother for it.

Nostalgia........

With Riviera'08 coming up, i have got something that takes me down the memory lane.....

The whistle blew…. it was just that moment…. as if back to reality.
People walked past in black, in blue’s……some with tags and some without them.
I stopped near the central place….just in front of the main building… stranded;
As the train went off, I took a deep breath….
In that rumbling sound, I found, I had gone far… a lot….ahead.

The sound that I felt was so unfamiliar….something so close but it was usual,
Now it seemed as if I was missing a train…
My soul was running behind it…. I ran … I ran….but couldn’t catch it.
My VIT life … was running far ahead and I was left in the place, I was in.

This is how things will go on;
We got to move on.
I will carry back the moments of that journey, the passengers, the stoppages, the breaks, the jiffs and the jerks….everything.

Someone just rushed past me… and I was propelled and ushered into a dingy room by a strong hand……
It was the feel of Riviera… ‘Riviera -The Life’.

I was back to reality with the smell of fresh grass, the atmosphere, the chattering, the laughter, the smell of paint and the intoxicating smell of coffee beans.

Who’s a senior who’s a junior.. No one knew.
All had but one thing in common: ‘ The Riviera Tag’.


A year long wait and the countdown begin…
One question in minds,
Oh !! when? When? When will it begin???
This is what my heart keeps singing.

I am excited , anxious, elated;
Hoping it never becomes belated.
The cheering-jeering, the selections, the sounds from the auditorium, music, theatre, artists, budding talents, cosmopolitans…room for all;
We are together… we become one… lest we may fall…!!!
A mingling atmosphere, never seen before but only in one such grand event… “The big Success,” … always ……..

10 days, 20 days, 56 days, 90 days????.....
It all begins from the time the previous one ends..
A great beginning, the rapturous music, 4 days of fun and frolic;
You eat, sleep, drink, play, enjoy, cry, wile away and wait until you see the magic.
None to bother, it is all a ‘We’ that becomes ‘us’
Life is spicy;
We make it icy.


I stand with folded hands, still I get pulled….

“Come on… dance”,
“Come on… sing”, “Come on… work”,
“Come on… laugh”,
“Come on… just live life like a king…..”
We are on a spree;
As we are free.

We realize, we are the ones who can bring a difference… ‘ A transformation…’
There’s color, there’s wonder;
VIT says, “Come and ponder.”

The yellow buses, the horns, the whistles, all are replaced by the flickering light;
That blinds my sight.

Woooooooooooo all shout.. all jump,
The rock nites.., the musical roller coaster, the foot tapping numbers….
We go on…..
The dark sky, fully illuminated, shines and all faces shine along….
We hold hands, in that madness;
To sing the song of ‘ Togetherness’.

The reel like life rewinds……..
It’s the stadium… with thousands… cheering.
The journey ends ends for some….
There’s another waiting but none better than this one………….!!!!!!