Nostalgia #4

Nostalgia #4

It wasn’t just the classes I took that shaped me. It was everything else: those impromptu corridor chats, the friends—both mischievous and sincere—my benchmates, project partners, the lunch breaks, the industrial visits, the extra classes, and all the mistakes I made along the way. My circle included Keats, Ayub Guhan, Sandy, Jithesh, Mukhs, Amina, Gowri, and each of the 42 classmates who walked this journey with me.

I was lucky enough to have a wonderful bunch of seniors—Sathya, Nishil Bhayya, Sho Ka, Ravi Shankar, Tharani Ka, Shyam Sundar, Anand Shankars, Ezhil, Gomz Na, and so many more—who often tried to give me a piece of their mind. They helped me in countless ways, though managing me must have been a challenge! Then came the “little buddies,” my juniors, whose love was overwhelming—Niranja, Prabhu, Geetha Rani, Praveen, Sriram, Ranjith, Rowdy, Gomz Mach, Charles, Dhivya, Asokan, and many others. They showered me with so much affection, and I thoroughly enjoyed their company.

Spending time with PSS Sir was another highlight—he was a perfect role model in many respects, a flawless leader, and a vibrant soul. Just one encounter with his contagious smile could make anyone’s day. Then there were sessions with Dr. K.T., our principal, who taught us invaluable lessons in time management. He kept everything simple yet remarkable. From him, I learned important human values. And I can’t leave out N.C.B. Sir, our placement coordinator—had it not been for his contagious enthusiasm and wisdom, I wouldn’t have mastered the art of clearing interviews.

Even though I’m sad that the “heaven” called college life is over, and I’m no longer a student but an alumnus of KSRCT, I’m equally happy and satisfied with how things turned out. Those four years made me feel a hundred times wiser.

Now my status has shifted from “alumnus” to “distinguished alumnus,” or whatever label comes next. I’ll get calls from Prof. Karthik, the department alumni coordinator, asking if I’m free to attend meetups. Without hesitation—if there were any lingering egos, they’d vanish—I’ll smile with pride and joy and say, “Yes, I’d love to!” That’s the bond I share with KSR-DBT.

From here on, I’m an ex-student of KSRCT-DBT, Class of 2011. All I can do now is support the college’s growth and celebrate every success my alma mater achieves. One day, I can take my kids there and say, “My heaven once existed right here.” But I can’t be a student anymore.

DOT

Nostalgia #3

Tummy twists and turns—a strange, indescribable feeling. I was about to say goodbye to a place that had housed me, shaped me, and watched me grow. I was preparing to shed tears for the walls that witnessed my laughter, absorbed my sadness, and gently wiped away my tears.

Those days had been long, short, fun, and extraordinary—all at once. I made friends who stuck around, while some faded away. We laughed, cried, argued, supported each other, and roamed around causing mischief. We escaped trouble, got scolded, researched and made new friends. We dozed off in class (sometimes quite literally), and saw our campus grow from empty hallways to bustling crowds. We invaded the deserted canteen, the unoccupied labs, the silent classrooms, and the hidden seminar halls. With proud grins, we flaunted our identity from the Biotech Department, acting as if we were the only ones on earth doing real research—and then actually proving it. We felt privileged to have such an incredible set of teachers, sometimes even competing to be one professor’s “pet” or another’s “favorite.” Those four years felt as though they would last forever. “We” was the operative word—the 41 musketeers who made my life at KSRCT truly meaningful.

Suddenly, I realized I had grown up. On that last day, I understood that the Department of Biotechnology at KSRCT was more than a mother figure in my life. My eyes literally “sweated” when I stepped into the Microbiology lab and laminar flow chamber for the very last time. I knew I’d experienced the best years of my life in those four years. I felt tears rolling from my cheeks to my chin when the Microbiology lab was locked up for the final time; I recall asking my junior friend, probably Prabhu, to lock it only after I left. The thought of no longer debating science ideas with my HoD, having no more doubt-clearing sessions or scoldings, no more fun—was overwhelming.

Had it not been for that awesome group of faculty, I’d be worse off today. Without those four amazing years at KSRCT-DBT, I wouldn’t be writing these lines right now. I wouldn’t have learned what a real lab looks like, become a scientist, or discovered how research really works. I wouldn’t be able to offer you any “piece of mind,” wouldn’t have started my career at a biotech FMCG, and wouldn’t have the precious friends or the rich trove of memories I do now.

If it weren’t for Punieetha Ma’am, I’d never have learned to handle people, nor would I have dived into informatics. She was more than just a teacher—mentor, guide, confidante, philosopher—any wonderful adjective fits her. Dear Ma’am, let me say it now: I love you for everything you’ve done for me. I’m still proud to be connected to you in whatever small way.

Without Kalpana ma'am , I never would have got a chance to understand experimentation, nor would I have known anything about the importance of documentation. She was , again, more than a teacher. She helped me stay grounded, she was strict, stoic with quite a temperament. But, now looking back, I know that "strictness", that "temperament" shaped me into a compassionate, well human being. To you, my dear Kappu Ma'am, I owe it - every step of my growth and life. I am just hoping to have you in every step of my life, till eternity!

To you, our CA sir a.k.a G.G Sir who had the toughest times with us being our advisor and we took him for granted. Those raiding of shops for a birthday card, and celebrating every classmate's birthday, made us friends. With you, it was more fun and frolic, and you became one of us. Your wedding times and when you brought Mrs GG when she said about all of us, we felt so so special!

To you, Arul sir a.k.a M.A. you taught me patience, practicality, and handling emotions in a perfect way. Your life lessons, helps me every single time, i face a strife and Gosh, I wonder how you handled us - all the 42, so well! I still remember, when you said, "In a class, there can be 4 or 5 different opinions, but with you guys I have 42 different opinions and I dunno whose side I had to pick! So, here I go giving my 43rd opinion!" Thanks sir for making memories with us!

Without Anitha Ma’am , I’d have no clue how to conduct a proper observation. Without SRS Ma’am or Ramya (Jee) Ma’am, I wouldn’t know how to handle situations diplomatically and remain unbiased. Nadhiya Ma’am’s PAGE work deserves special mention. Balki Sir taught me the significance of detailed paperwork—it was an eye-opener. Mohan Sir’s math sessions shed light on mathematical modeling, which is now one of my favorite interests (my CV runs pages on that!). Srinivash Sir helped me develop tolerance and confidence. Arutselvi ma'am, attending conferences with you and making you my official photographer was fun. Without LGM Divya Ma'am and Janani maam, I would have never stepped out of classes to perform on those stages. Thanks, P.P sir, for heading the department with so much to handle on your plates! 

I was also something of a favorite in the Science and Humanities department, teeming with Einsteins, Ramanujams, Mendeleevs, Shakespeares, and T.S. Eliots. I absolutely loved my chats with Radhakrishnan Sir, Mohan Sir, Mani Sir, R.P. Sir from Chemistry, Palaniappan Sir (AP sir), Geetha Ma’am, Mallika Ma’am, C.C. Sir, Vidhya Ma'am and so many others. AP sir and Geetha maam, helped me to grow even more fond of the English literature. They took time to read my sciblings those days and offered me good pieces of advice. Even though only a few of them actually handled my classes, nobody there felt like a stranger.  Or maybe I was a stranger to none! Without the S&H team, I might have lost my sense of humor and all those quality hours of sharing ideas. I only keep wishing that, I stay in touch with all of you till eternity. The time spent with you all are so less, but I will carry on the learnings from you for,  " அறிவை தருபவர் ஆசிரியர். அன்போடு, பண்பும், வாழ்கைவியல் கற்றுத்தருபவர் ஆசான் " 

But it wasn’t only about classes…

(…to be continued…)

Nostalgia #2

The first year featured an array of foundational subjects—true “starters.” We tackled applied physics with Mohan Sir, gained communication skills from Radhakrishnan Sir, studied chemistry applications under Parimam, dipped our toes into programming with Punieetha Ma’am, and explored electrical engineering basics taught by Krithika Ma’am. Mathematics became manageable thanks to Mohan Sir, Mani Sir guided us through nanoscience, Padmanaban Sir handled Environmental Science, and EGD was taught by some mechanical faculties (whose names, frankly, I still don’t recall!). These courses were just the appetizer of our four-year experience.

Then came the “main course.” We dealt with strain after strain—both in the lab and in our lecturers’ patience—while learning microbial staining from BB Ma’am. Ramya Ma’am introduced us to maternal inheritance and its biological significance. SRS Ma’am, with her imposing assignments, delved into the structural and chemical aspects of biology. Nadhiya Ma’am broke down DNA duplications and replications at a molecular level, while Punieetha Ma’am showed us how to apply technology and computing to biotech. Instrumentation classes came from Premalatha Ma’am, and Poongothai Ma’am taught us about plant cell culture. We explored equilibrium, enzyme kinetics, and thermodynamics with Kappu Ma’am. Then it was on to animal cell biology with Selvi Ma’am, followed by learning how such cells could turn cancerous from Subbiah Sir. Anita Ma’am took us on a culinary science journey (or “foodie sessions”), and Arul Sir, Ramesh Sir, Gnanavel Sir, and Srinivash Sir introduced us to reactor engineering—throwing in a neutral feedback loop to challenge our minds. Our HoD stepped in to refine our process engineering prowess, and after we had an ethics chat with Balki Sir, Arul Vel Sir gave us a taste of bio-entrepreneurship. Rounding out the list, Muththiah Sir guided us through clinical aspects.

The full-course meal concluded with “fortune cookies”—practicals, projects, mini-projects, reports, and theses. Oh my, the references, results, observations, and records—it was quite the marathon.

For dessert, we had seminars, conferences, in-plant trainings, symposiums, and all those academic extras. We also enjoyed a few “gala sherbets” in the form of annual day celebrations, cultural fests, and those fun industry visits we called “tours.”

This was a period when we were barely out of our teens, squirming in classroom desks, swaggering through corridors whenever juniors passed by—only to shrink back if a senior strolled by and put an abrupt halt to our bravado. Sometimes, we wanted to storm out of the department altogether because it felt like “too much.” Saturdays and Sundays made us lazy; scorching heat on the quadrangle tanned our skin; dozing off in class got us scolded; and we snacked openly despite strict rules. In truth, we turned the classroom into a place for almost everything except attending lectures—trying out sorority-like outfits, formal wear for placements, lab coats, and fancy hairstyles.

An “organic, healthy feast” awaited our batch in the form of our college going autonomous—and we were the first group under that system. Abrupt changes took all of us by surprise, and it seemed like nobody really knew what was going on. Even politics had a hand in the shifting educational landscape, altering affiliations and the university name itself. We couldn’t tell if we were affiliated, autonomous, or stand-alone. Were we on a semester system, a trimester system? Class committee meetings, Board of Studies discussions, and interactions with HoDs and the principal left us puzzled by all the new “curriculum changes.” Out of the blue, we’d be asked to choose an “elective.”

Eventually, we navigated all those hoops. After writing the final theory paper, we experienced a giddy sense of having accomplished something we’d once thought impossible—graduating with no arrears, and some of us even securing distinction. I had that moment of awe, finishing exams, going off to the movies, celebrating at theme parks, and hanging out with my besties. I don’t recall a sigh of relief upon leaving college. Instead, a sudden fear crept in—a void, a feeling of loneliness took root. My stomach felt like it was knotting itself in circles, a strange sensation of…

(…to be continued…)

Nostalgia #1

Nostalgia #1

When you distance yourself from the chaos of the outside world and gaze deep—deeeep—within, you realize how those four years of college life as a grad student filled the pages of your story with soooo much. Call it a throwback session or a moment of reminiscence, but every time you think of those fun-filled undergrad days, you’re flooded with mixed emotions.

I can hardly believe it’s been this long—about four years since I stepped out of the heaven where I spent my eight-semester stay at the Department of Biotechnology, K.S. Rangasamy College of Technology. How I wish I could reverse time and relive some of the best moments there! My memories include an abundance of pleasant experiences, a fair share of scoldings (for my mischief!), numerous leaves (for health reasons!), a string of mini-projects, a double string of conferences and awards, endless assignments (no escape!), countless internals and retests, a dozen symposiums, and too many guest lectures to emcee.

Despite the time that’s passed, I vividly recall the first day I walked into the college to check out the facilities. There was this glimmer of pride as I set foot in the biotech department, where I met our then-Director, Dr. Kannan—a man in his 60s but practically radiating youth. He welcomed me with a gentle smile and immediately began talking about my passion: Biotechnology. It was a thrilling experience, especially when he introduced me to the faculty. Everything felt great!

During those initial, ice-breaking moments, certain people stuck in my mind—especially Prof. Dr. Punieetha Ma’am and AsP. Mohan G., who were introduced to me as senior faculty members. I remember offering them a shy smile, all the while thinking about how I’d soon be attending their lectures. Then, as I toured the labs, marveling at the equipment and possibilities, I thought, Yes, this is it. I’m going to be a graduate student here!

Before joining, I barely knew the institution, but from the very minute I stepped into the School of Biotechnology, I felt a strong sense of ownership and pride—like I truly belonged. I realized I was entering a campus brimming with people who would form my community for the next four years, a community steeped in academics and research. Sure, I was nervous and had a “butterflies in the stomach” feeling, but I also sensed I’d grow, stumble, prune, and eventually flourish in this environment.

Many individuals tolerated my silly pranks, patiently guided me, or even lost their cool when I pushed them too far. Yet I always felt cherished, never once feeling away from home. Back then, Facebook was still somewhat new, Orkut was our go-to social platform, we used to scrap each other’s profiles, and group texting was made cheaper by rate-cutter recharges. We had the freedom to share entire lesson summaries via SMS, plus random meetups with conference friends, batchmates, college mates, and hostel roommates. Looking back, I’m so grateful for all of it—life would’ve been harder otherwise.

Personally, I had some truly spectacular times, and I also had my share of miserable flops. Along the way, I crossed paths with many people: some became good friends, a few led to pointless clashes, some came with fleeting crushes, others for random connections, and a handful grew into deep, lasting friendships. More than once, I got in trouble for being “the naughtiest of the naughty,” pulling off stunts that were “the craziest of the crazy.” But that was my life—a medley of everyday adventures and mischief.

(…to be continued…)