Tsunami......

We were the first batch of +2 system as the government detached pre-degree courses from colleges and added to schools in new name +2. So after 10^th we were still on schools. Two more years in school left with us prior to the college entry.

In engineering college, there was a new system waiting for me. The attendance system. In schools there is no chance of class bunks. But you can bunk classes in colleges on a condition that 75% attendance to be maintaned to register for the semester exams. So on getting new freedom, I started roaming in campus without attending classes. After 6 or 7 months of 1^st year classes, in February our physics professor asked me “are you new admission?? I haven’t seen you in this class before “. That was me. As everyone expected I got my first warning for attendance shortage on first year itself. Our teachers haven’t given much attention to the problem in first year and allowed all to write examz, a smooth escape for me. They might have thought that students will be regular by second year.

But people like me will never change. The same scenario (attendance shortage) happened with me in the third semester too. But by adding tour days and some technical event days as present, I managed to get 75% - the critical limit. A narrow escape in second time too. By fourth semester we applied our mathematical and statistical skills on attaining a pass mark in attendance. Only 30 students were there in our batch. So proxy’s are not at all possible. Above that the teachers know each and every person separately. So you have to be there in the class. On continuous observations I found that some lecturers have a habit of taking attendance before starting lecture and some after lectures. Those who take post lecture attendances I entered classes too late, means 20 or 30 minutes after commencing the lecture. For those who take pre lecture attendances I made an entry along with the lecturer itself. After 30 minutes as planned, someone from outside will call me out by saying some reasons to the lecturer. So whoever be lecturer, without loosing any attendance I bunked the classes.

But the system was getting tougher. Our principal found a new way to stop class bunks. Apart from each hour attendances taken by lecturers, another marking will be taken by the office staff. The office attendance will be counted for exams. Once in morning and evening sessions the peon will come to note the absentees. There is no specific time for him to come. If he comes in the first hour, I have an option to bunk the remaining two hours. If he hasn’t come till second hour it needs to wait till third hour so that I will get counted. So the new system was named as “Tsunami”- as it comes unannounced and gave catastrophic effects on us. A solution to this problem was terrifically needed. Thus from the calamity affected students a solution derived. We made settings with the “regular” students to pass message to the people outside about the arrival of tsunami. Thus for the first time in the history of “mobile communication”, mobile phones were used for tsunami alerts. Missed calls were sufficient for us to run towards our classrooms. The impact of tsunami alerts worked well. I continued bunking classes and haven’t got any problem of attendance shortage after third semester.

PS : last month one of the professors in our M.Tech department asked me.. “Why you are starting your works in first year itself?? You have one more year left naa”

Once in a life time offer…..

“ Hey, are you using passport for a domestic travel… that too in train?“. My fellow passenger asked me while my journey to Kerala in last November. Actually I booked my ticket through irctc – a website that offers railway ticket booking. It asked my identity proof details. I gave my passport, as thatz the only thing with me at that time. I need to keep the identity proof with me while the journey. This made my fellow passenger to make a comment like that. I replied him with a smile. Actually I was thinking of the passport that I am having. How it has reached me.

While I was in the last semester of B.Tech, The postal department conducted a “passport mela” in our college. Many of us decided to apply for one. But we were having some problem. As we were staying in the hostel, it needs our hostel address to be filled in the temporary address column. And our home address in the permanent address column, given in the second page. As going for our project works, we will not be available for police verification. if I give the hostel address, along with a verification in my home the police will come to my hostels too which was unacceptable for me at any cost. But the postal department is not ready to accept the form without our hostel address filled. So an end to the controversial thoughts running in my mind, I decided to fill the temporary address column.

Two weeks later I got a call from my college saying that I was asked to come to the police station with my certificates. Actually after two days I was leaving for my project to Delhi. So the time left with me is very less. I called my friends and asked whether they got any call or not. Even many of them too filled the temporary address column with their hostel address. But except one all others told me that they haven’t got any call. The one was my classmate. And many of them added that being our applications are sent via college identity, the police verification will be done only as namesake and that too merely verification of college records. So there is no chance of calling someone to a police station or something like that. That increased my heartbeats. What may be the reason for my special call to the station. I started rewinding the incidents that happened in the college days but found none which may develop to a police issue. So what may be the problem ???. At last I decided to go.

The very next day I went to the station. My friend was also with me. We took all our documents - starting from birth certificate - with us. That was the first time we were to a police station. By 10.30 in the morning, we reached there. Except two constables and one guard at the gate, the police station was empty. We headed to a constable and told him our full “curriculum vitae”. He asked us to wait till inspector comes. I was thinking that for a simple work of checking our certificates why an inspector is needed? Or apart from checking our certificates is there anything left?? Any red mark in our service book? A number of questions were flashing in my mind.

After half an hour the most awaited person came. We were totally frustrated. We don’t know whatz going to happen. He called us to his cabin and asked to show the certificates. My friend gave his certificates first. He took one big file from the cupboard, and started searching in it for the application. Finally he took one and placed on the table. It was my friend’s. He took the SSLC certificate, ration card and checked the permanent address written in them. They were different. Ration card was having old house address and SSLC and the application has the new home address. Inspector asked him to give a certificate from village office and submit to him as early as possible. Finally he turned to me and asked for my certificates. He again took the big file and searched for my application form. He returned with one and started checking that with my certificates. After some time he asked me to spell my name. I said “R – A – N – J – I – T –H “. He showed me the application that he is having. In the name column it was written “R – E – N – J – I – T – H “…Yes it was not mine… it was some one else’s. And it was having a problem with mismatch in date of birth in application and SSLC… Actually I was expecting a problem in the address column as like my friend’s. But as it is sent via college, they haven’t given importance to that temporary address column. Mine was already sent with the label “all clear”. Neither the person from police station nor the college clerk gave attention to the spelling on my name. Thus a wrong call came to my home. The simple mistake made by them made me frightened for more than 24 hrs and forced me to enter a police station.

PS: After one month I got my passport via post. Surprisingly it’s having my temporary address - college hostel address - written in the place of permanent address…..