As they say friendship improves happiness and abates misery by doubling our own joy and dividing our grief. Whenever there is a college reunion my mind immediately travels back to my alma mater earlier known as the Madras Law College. Though it boasted of innumerable prestigious alumni including a former President, Chief Justice, Chief Minister of the state, Finance Minister, Attorney Generals to mention few, somehow those days it dint exactly seem to enjoy the reputation akin to any prestigious international ivy leagues. In the late eighties when I stepped into the portals of Law College with lots of trepidation unlike the present day where the field of Law has evolved into a first career option those days many including me joined as a default after not being able to get a seat in some of the coveted medical colleges due to some intense competition. Way back the college was known more for all its violent strikes which happened almost every other month. I still vividly recollect that during the first day of college my mom had actually accosted me till the classroom lest I may be spared of ragging by the supposedly unruly students.
The following days I used to take the bus at the scheduled time only after I ensure that my lady classmate also is tenaciously perched in the corner in the bus I manage to board. 😊As days passed I realized that the college was indeed different from the reputation it carried and it was a safe haven for the ladies too as I felt quite undisturbed in the premises and found my group of friends who at least shared similar interests and the five years went like a breeze. Honestly I was busy attending every intercollegiate quizzing event in the city and used to pile up books for only a last minute study on the eve of exams. I seemed to be very curious about what is happening in every other field and found the sections of law too tedious and cumbersome for a creative mind. Another surprising fact was that the unyielding and inflexible groups formed at least amongst the ladies in the formative years still seem to continue in the reunions too after 30 long years. But the nice part is that technology and whatsapp brought together many of us scattered all over to try and explore, revive and relive the past and also to contribute meaningfully to the present. Of course for some they always wanted to look ahead and wanted to have no connection with the past and dint find much enthusiasm to be part of people they grew up with. Sure they may have some strong valid reasons for that. Well when all of us formed a group at least virtually sure there used to be lots of debates and discussions and sometimes discard , dissonance and cacophony when it comes to matters of religion , political and party affiliations and many even left the group in revulsion only to be brought back into the fold again.
As for me I felt so blissful to see the growth and success of all in their own field and areas of practice. Based on how I speak and write many in my corporate life have always asked whether I studied in National Law School but I used to proudly say that I am from Madras Law College, a place which produced several stalwarts and legal luminaries to say the least. Seriously there was no proper system or serious training given to us and most of the time we would be asked to leave the campus due to some protests by the students. But glad that despite the absence of any rigorous systems or training several of my classmates have distinguished themselves in their chosen area and have managed to climb the highest echelons of the judiciary, academic field and the corporate world. I would always remain thankful that the foundation for all our success and glory was laid in that distinguished fiery red brick building. Little did we know what we will set out to achieve in the real world but I am glad we are able to realise now what the college education did to each one of us. Loved the common connect we all shared and how we help each other in this crazy impractical world and friends sure are an antidote to our everyday stress. Though opinions may differ for those who think they have outgrown the college days and are always aiming for the stars going or getting back to your roots is a feeling one needs to occasionally experience and explore for sometimes the priceless moments in life comes from the most simplest of things. I strongly believe that a good friend is a well established connection to life in general and a key to sanity in the sometimes insane world. Some people go to priests, others to poetry and I to my friends said Virginia Wolf and I couldn’t agree more.
Beautiful experience about the college days though each one was not known to each other personally, were friendly with each other whole heartedly which helped to unite in the ‘IT’ era now through the social media.Thanks a lot.💐🍁🌺🌼🌻🌼🌻🌻🌻🌼🌼
Thank you Prabhu for your detailed comment. Sure each of us had different experiences.
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