Finishing School!

The final year of school was frenetic. There was great anticipation about what next? Engineering, medicine, commerce were the favourites (and they continue to be..?) Studies took lot more time - 6 subjects , 1200 marks at stake, guides, revisions, group study punctuated the journey. 

Practicals was another kind of fun - chemistry took the cake. Figuring out what chemical, guys going berserk with their creativity very often deliberately getting odd reactions/ compounds, breaking test tubes and messing up titration and teasing our Chem teacher Manjula who got tensed up easily (She's no more RIP). Our Headmaster who taught us Maths had one goal for us Centum. 

And outside school preparations for competitive exams also ran. I had taken a correspondence course (agarwal classes from Mumbai were the best then for JEE and Brilliant at chennai had started as a big challenger) that meant packets of notes and exercises, mailing back answer sheets which would get corrected and feedback will come in a month or so - was tedious but organised.  We used to cycle or walk around the 3 engineering campuses  PSG, CIT and GCT wondering if we will get in to one and which one.

But not all was about studies. We went to Chennai for a Science Talent contest/ exhibition. This was a wonderful experience over 2-3 days, at St.Beads in Santhome. We stayed at the Scouts dormitory on Marina nearby. Made friends from Chennai schools who remained penpals for few years. Vidyashekar our zoology teacher was in charge and had a tough time controlling us boys from a all boys school flirting with girls - and there were lot of girls schools participating. We won a few prizes and I was demonstrating how a gyroscope works.  We also participated in cultural events in colleges where the senior schools could participate- thought it was a good thing as it gave us a view of college life - we got booed performing in PSG Arts college.

  

In continuation of efforts to collect certificates - some of us were active in Rover scouts and interest was created about a President's award and as we had done many activities already a major countryside activity was to be done - cycle 400 km or walk 100 km in a week to become eligible. So bunch of us, if I remember right Bala, Mohanraj, Raveendran, Vivekanandan set on foot to Palani - foothills of Kodaikanal (100km from Coimbatore). It was a great experience as we could not stay at hotels and were backpacking. We walked through fields, bathed in streams, slept on verandahs of houses, ate in messes available in small towns. Got outlets to stamp and sign in a diary as record of our journey. It was fun. After the return we went to receive the President of Scouts for TN which happened to be the education minister. There was great fanfare and cordoning at the Railway station by scouts from schools all over the city. And then the man arrived drunk staggering to walk with cronies support. It was enough for me and a lot of us to drop off from Scouts. As we grew it was one of those first hand experience of position and person mismatches.

 

Call letter

The revision exams, public exams, JEE came with a long wait but sped away once they started. Gods, tutors, lady luck were all in great demand. Post exam one group would dissect and estimate while most were relieved it's over. I also took a few more entrance exams as advised by friends and family. For the ISM entrance I went to Cochin stayed at Venkatesan uncle's house gave the exam over 4 session over 2 days, enjoyed a movie at Shenoys with cousins Giri and Kishore and got back. The tea garden express from Cochin to Coimbatore gets in early morning. I overslept, was woken up in the yard where the train had reached for cleaning. Fortunately I used the airbag as pillow and still had it but the Topper chappals were gone - trekked back barefoot.

  

It was one of longest summers waiting for board results. The JEE results didn't surprise us. And then came the letter of selection from ISM.

ISM's fees - was it a steal!

Dad was at office, Mom in Chennai. I think I called Kumar Athimber the other mining engineer in the family and got assured it was a good institute and a quick check with well wishers gave a green signal. I think it was more of me wanting to go out and study in any good institute. The decision was made as we had to go all the way to Dhanbad in time, we had less than two weeks to respond and do various things and reach Dhanbad. Amma was apprehensive about sending me so far away, when the Board results were still to come. She let go reluctantly but I don't think ever agreed.

Prabhat Ravi Raghu Sundar Surya

Suddenly the ground shifted rapidly and time flew as one prepared to leave and bid good bye. Most difficult was saying bye to friends. We did not even have time to get together. I don't have photos at Sarvajana but this was a small group photo with close friends there which I think was taken in one of my visits back from college - impromptu by walking into a studio at Peelamedu - probably the only one I have with some of my close friend from school days.