It’s almost 1.5 yrs old now, and we are
still going around happily! :) Like any other relationship, we also have some
disputes at times, some moments of despair but at the same time there are many
beautiful memories worth to cherish lifelong, which kgp has surely blessed me
with! And, alas this affair is going to last for ever in my heart :).
To start with, the beauty of this campus stole my heart from the day one (So yes, it can be called "love at first sight" ;) ). This lavish greenery, colorful lilies, beautiful sunrise view, awesome night lamps throughout the campus, view of rickshaws and rickshaw waala’s, loads and loads of bicycles, no irritating horns and traffic jams of metros, tikka & tikkawaala, barber and cobbler of tech market servicing their customers beneath peeple tree, working staff in my hostel giving a very pleasant smile at our very first meeting; made me feel as if I have entered into a plot of R.K Narayan’s Malgudi Days.
The memory of one glorified morning walk
in the alluring weather with droplets of rain playing hide and seek is deeply
intact into my memories. (Thanks to my sweetheart Kalpana and Kgp's ambiance
for turning a mere morning walk into such an astounding experience!)
Many a times, I crib that hostel food is
bad, life is too slow here, people are lazy with a laid back attitude,
professionalism lacks big time but on the other hand, contradicting this, when
I go to my current hometown Mumbai (Although I love being there), very soon I
start cribbing that life is too fast here, people are racing with crowded
locals since morning to evening. There are so many amazing places to visit and
enjoy, but the distance, pollution (Air, Water,Noise etc etc) traffic-jams, etc
just kills that pleasure. In short, the whole struggle involved in travelling
while in Mumbai, reminds me of the simplicity of Kgp and my bicycle: P.
Not just Kgp is simple as a town, the
inhabitants are even more simple (I don’t intend towards IIT students here ;D).
They are honest, innocent and sweet like mishti doi, just the Bengali pitch is
loud to hear at times :).
And my this statement comes after a sample
area survey (conducted by me :P ). My targets being the working staff of my
hostel ( always showing their concern, “didi aap thik se khaata kyu nahi hai,
kaisa aaya tha aur kaisa ho gaya hai” ,after looking to my room, "didi aap
shaadi k baad kya karega “ :D :D), receptionist didi, the mess waale dada ( who
always smilingly listen to concerns over bad food and calmly replies with only
one statement “didi hum kya kare, wo log humko aisa banana ka order diya”), the
nariyal paani waale dada, who always ask with a sweet smile, “didi bahut dino
baad aaya and often gives a discount to me :P”, the fruit seller and other
dada(s) of tech market, dosa waale dada, VS waale dada, cheddis waale dada,
watchman dada who obliged us with umbrella once at a very crucial hour, dada in
BC Roy, the rickshaw waalas, who never overcharge, etc etc. I was feeling like
we have been exported through some time machine from our era to the India in
its 50s-60s, which has very recently been bestowed with independence, atleast looking
at the locals here, their simple outlook towards life and satisfaction level, I
can vouch for that!
Along with these sweet gestures, I also
get frustrated because of some unprofessional things happening around, making
me say “Kya barbaad gaanv hai yaar, kuch nahi hai yaha, kuch nahi milta hai”
and on the other hand, cannot stop smiling when I get touched with the
simplicity, innocence and sweetness of the local people. I get confused at
times that should I get angry on some incidents and people or should I just
laugh over it. I asked one rickshaw waale dada once,
“Me: Dada aap yaha kitne saal se hain?”
Dada: replying with a giggle “jab se paida
hua didi, yehi hai”
Me: kuch badla hai itne saalo me yaha?
Dada: Bahar tou nahi didi, waise hi rehta
hai hum jaisa humara pehle log rehta tha.
Me: aur campus me?
Dada: "pehile jaada jungle tha…"
then with a deep thought…."ab yaha student logo k liye CCD hai.”
I couldn't stop smiling with his innocent
replies and can’t forget how happy he was riding his rickshaw, more than that a
BMW driver could be!
Seems like globalization, cosmopolitan
culture and the cut throat competition of the outside world have not even
touched them yet. They are somehow “used to” with the same course of things,
same machli bhaat and hence have another level of happiness and satisfaction
index. They don’t run behind money and do not believe in putting efforts for
improvement. For e.g., Tikka waale dada will never go for renovation, till one
“tappar” drops straight on his head :D .
I am trying to have good time in the
natural ambiance of kgp amidst all the screwing departmental pressures (which
has definitely been touched and shaken with the bad things of the outside world:
D).
I hope my beautiful home of memories go
stronger in my remaining time with Kgp. The magnificent illu way of celebrating
diwali in Kgp, bloated my eye lenses and undoubtedly made it the eighth wonder
of the world for me! :) . All such unique features of this oldest and first
ever IIT of this country, collectively makes Kgp stand apart from the rest. I
would always cherish the invaluable bonds and memories that I made, and all the
maggi and poshto that I ate here :P.
They say change is fatal; nothing is
permanent in this world of immortals. I believe, contradicting this wise
saying, kgp will still be the same even after 20 yrs,(for both good and bad)
and we will be here again to witness it. :)
