COLLEGE Part 3

     Thus the college journey that was passing through with dissection, theory classes, and ragging,

(The song that comes to mind while writing the word journey:-

The journey, the journey, the beginning is the journey to the school, then the next is the journey of desire, the journey in the eyes of the young lovers, the journey in tears in that confusion, if God and man travel, who will win over whom and who will win?

     It is a Tamil Song going like this-  Payanam, payanam, aarambam pallikkup payanam, pinbu aduththadhu aasaiyin payanam , ilam kadhalar kangalil payanam, andhak kalakkaththil kanneeril payanam, iraivanum manithanum payanam seidhal evarai evar velluvaro, evarai evar velluvaro ?.... …. )

     

         about three months later took a turn. We had vacation about a month. We were given a welcome party just before the holidays or as soon as we returned to the hostel after the holidays.   ( One in the hostel and one more in the college). College (immediate seniors?) welcome party was in hotel Alankar, Gandhipuram, I think.  Having a nostalgic memory of singing a badaga language song, which begins with Kachchu semba, with drumming with hands on the dias . In the welcome party given in hostel, drama & dance etc were performed by us. The senior girls ( ladies? ) arranged the party.

                                        

      With these receptions the ragging came to an end. In spite of some difficulties, ragging was fun for the girls. But, it was somewhat more difficult for the boys.

      The next year there was an agitation against the opening of  private medical colleges. We also participated in hunger strikes and processions. There was an inter college meeting in our college regarding the proceedings . I remember a senior boy from Madurai Medical College saying heroically  "Right is might; But might is not right," . The hunger strike took place in the college premises itself. We sat for a lot of time without eating. The seniors stood and addressed.

      The sentences raised in the procession were, " Oh, Gandhi’s nation;  Isn't there justice? "  ( Gandhi desame, needhi illaiya? ),  "Eggplant two rupees , medical seat two lakhs" ( Katthirikkai rendu rubai, medical seat rendu latcham) etc. We went on a dharna in front of the Collector's office and were arrested. What is the arrest here? They just put everyone in a big van and took all of us to the police ground in Peelamedu.  There we were put in a small building at the end of the big ground. That's all.  They gave a food packet to every one and released us out in the evening.

     Evenings at the hostel were usually spent with friends. Sometimes we would eat tiffin, tea in the mess and sit under the roadside tree with the transistor in hand and listen to thirai isai, meaning movie songs in Tamil  - at evening 5.30.  Vasanthi and Radha were special in this. They would listen in detail and enjoy. There would be only three or four songs played in thirty minutes.

                                              

                                             

       Hostel day, farewell party, welcome party, etc., were the joyful celebrations. The festive mood would start in the morning itself. The evening we would dress up beautifully, would be watching and participate in cultural programmes, taking photos, having special dinner, watching orchestra, dancing and so on. Would go to sleep with super fulfilment. I had made my mother and sister attended to a couple of hostel day celebrations.