THOSE DAYS THAT BUILT THE BASEMENT...

DISCLAIMER: This post is useless to those people who can completely feel the depth and get restless in the first instance. This post is useless to those who even after prolonged thinking after reading it fail to understand. This post annoys a few (see the end). This post amuses only those who feel (or can feel) the insight!!!

Well all what I would speak about here is simply a replica of what is there in my mind. These are some glimpses of my study life between June 05 and April 07. These are only SOME of them; there are a HUGE number of them. These two years have been ENORMOUSLY eventful, and I don’t think I can get away without having a write up on it.

Hmmm IIT STUDY CIRCLE, popularly known as RAMAIAHs coaching, I proudly say that I was once a student in it. Located in Hyderabad, this institute has created a tremendous amount of energy in the society. The institute is known for its renowned training and impeccable approach to the big three-MATHS, PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY. To get into one has to clear an entrance exam, which I bet more than half of the lecturers in junior colleges will see their death, and now there are many coaching institutions that popped up to train people for this test. Bizarre isn’t it???

This institute is known for its exorbitant strictness and zany rules, you could expect that from an institute like this. Every day morning and in the evenings at around 4:00 am and pm one finds LONELY and silently WALKING students with artless attire and candid expressions, few with their bicycles/mopeds beside them and others plain (everyone has to WALK from the main road). There were spies arranged to observe the general behavior on the streets, so no escape. ANYTHING attractive was denied (be it dress or watch or even spectacles). NO shoes or any fancy chappal. The most preferred footwear is plain rubber slippers. NO sweater or jerkin of any kind what so ever!!! The gate closes at 4:30 am or pm, and 4:30 is 4:30 it is not 4:29 or 4:31. I don’t think I need to tell what would happen if you face the closed gate (head back home without making the slightest of noise!!!). In between two lectures there would be the so called break time. The break (I think) is for the lecturers and not for the students. You are not supposed to talk or go around or turn around or even look at others (why would you do this??? ). You CAN however go and drink water or go to the bathroom. There are specially appointed spies to check out the class behavior. So it would be a sojourn “chor-police” game. The police may look from the rear window, the front window or from any other place anticipating for our nightmare. You can always expect the unexpectedàcops firing abuses in the most hilarious English.

We the “CHORS” did find secret ways. Spectacles can be used to get a reflection of the gazing cops from the rear window. The place outside the toilet (where generally you find half the class during the break time) is one nice chit-chat spot. Inside the classroom put your hand on your mouth and keep gazing into your open notebook, keep doing some bizarre actions (as if you were the next Einstein) and talk to your neighbor in a meek voice……and so on!!! These rules might appear to be harsh but there was an element of enjoyment, thrill, fear and what not…??? The most memorable era!!!

Amidst all these mystics there were the rule makers cum the managers cum the owners cum the lecturing Gods cum … in one word EVERYTHING for the institute. Here I speak only about the better ones in fact the great ones, there were also few other doltish people who …….er I better speak less on it!!!

KOTESWARA RAO SIR: This is a man who I feel is the best ever I faced or would face in my life. He was a renowned mathematics lecturer. His lectures would melt through the mind faster than an ice cream on the hottest pan. Time would just evaporate. There was some special radiance around him. Whenever he comes in, you could feel the rays pricking your skin. It was not just maths to me. It was more than anything. The best orator I can think of. Today I stand in this position solely because of this man. The arrogance one needs to possess, the arrogance at work, the perfect attitude, that impeccable style, all of it bottled up inside his pot belly. His anger-tremendous, his smile-the best. Unfortunately the world can no more feel his shadow. On February 7^th, 2008 he breathed his last. It might appear that I exaggerated too much, not really look into this community in orkut, you will realize.

http://www.orkut.co.in/Community.aspx?cmm=11102081.

There is an infinite amount that I can speak about this maestro……….the least that I can do to him is to pay tribute in this fashion.

MADHUSUDAN REDDY SIR (popularly called Maddy, among the students): He is the lord of this hell or the heaven (that is, the institute). His appearance is very apt to the way he behaves. His beard bears the darkest color, his eyes bear the look of a king, and his gait resembles a leopard. Look into his photo. He teaches chemistry. Personally I don’t like chemistry. But all the good notions that I have about chemistry can be attributed solely to this man. Anybody caught talking (by the mentioned spies) have to face this lord. That would not be an easy task. The way he speaks in this regard is unexplainable. His abuses get all the shit out of our a@#. In my 2 years of stay I could never stare directly into his eyes. I miss all his fantasizing tales and queer English.

RAMAIAH SIR: The founder of this institute, now a member of the legislative council of Andhra Pradesh. Dr. Chukka Ramaiah, a mathematician, freedom fighter, erudite, graduates MLC and in a word a paragon of virtues from Andhra Pradesh, India. He is also fondly known as IIT Ramaiah, given that many of his students are now in various IIT's across the country. At the age of 77 (when he taught us) he would come to our classroom chirpily, he would take 43 seconds to enter the front end of a say about 40feet classroom (I counted once ). He would always be clad in a white dhoti. His explanation bore the oldish style, not much to the liking of the students (I personally did not like him much cozz I was sent out of the class once). He had all sorts of whimsical fantasies. He was very fond of the ribbon cutting ceremony, of photos and cameras and any interviews. Nevertheless he was surely one to remember and surely the present batches miss him (he stopped teaching after he became an MLC) !!!

I would like to add a few more lecturers there (especially my dear SURENDRANATH SIR and SIVA PRASAD SIR) and also othersàmy dear DEVENDER AND ALWAL REDDY. But …

This post I think (my guess) would amuse people who studied in this temple and annoy those who haven’t for having wasted their time…

Anyway thanx and sorry…… and I really miss this place. I don’t think I will get to face any such moments again throughout my life………………………