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…)
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