“THE FOURTH YEAR BONANZA”

Let us play cards; can we play volleyball; shall we go to Ramnagar or should we enjoy the sunrise at the ghats….on and on…..

What am I talking about?? Folks! Welcome to 4^th year… As we reach the fag end of the 7^th semester, we wish to make each day special and more thrilling. Why not? This is the last time we are mobile, in other words, we can talk and move freely. After this our life will be fraught with formalities and gradually we will transform into professionals from amateurs. In simple words we will become uncle(ji)s.

Even if this is our last year, we are not left to go scot-free… There are plenty of exams & classes. Adding to that, we are the renowned metallurgists of India. We reside at the “MECCA” of metallurgy, right!! (at least that’s what our teachers tell us). Wait a second! Did I tell renowned metallurgists? Oh yes, that means almost every day you have to attend classes, try to generate enthusiasm (the same enthusiasm that you had when you attended your first lecture at IT-BHU) and interest towards the subject and listen to the teachers. I can compare our classroom décor with hanging gardens of Babylonia where the flowers (rather the budding flowers like us) are rooted to pots (we on our benches), which are arranged on a stairway. Class room scene is routine, the first benches are occupied by the students who want to concentrate in the class and take notes so that they themselves and the other students reap the benefits of their notes during exam time. Second benchers also take notes, but are selective and choosy i.e. to say based on subject and teachers interest is kindled inside them. Third benchers are those who are interested in everything but metallurgy. They read novels, magazines, write reviews (as I am writing this in the middle of a class) or play some small games. They are good actors as well and come completely prepared so that the teacher feels as though they are atleast listening to the lecture, if not taking notes. Then comes the fourth benchers, “The abode of Saints”, who have already attained salvation (moksha). Most often than not, they are in the dormant state. Metaphorically these four years can be compared to four years in our engineering tenure. First benchers are like 1^st yearites, serious in studies and craving to create an impression upon teachers…Same analogy can be drawn to the other three rows. Is it not a wonder..like the ancient gardens of Babylonia!!

Next is the GRE and MBA syndrome. Barring a few, students neither prepare for MBA nor enjoy properly. They are entrapped in between which results in a bit of anxiety.

We are like a bunch of buccaneers trying to steer our sheep towards a safer place away from the police (classes and teachers) and thunderstorms (CAT exam). Apart from the aforementioned two factors there is no hindrance to our great voyage of enjoyment.

Many of my friends are busy making videos and publicizing it. Some are busy in planning for weekends, yet some are preparing a long itinerary for visiting distant places in December. Each one is trying to make each day special so that he can cherish these nostalgic memories in the years to come. The discussions in the batch, run from cricket to F1 race, from serials(not hindi serials, ofcourse) to business and anything in this world that can be discussed is invariably discussed.

I have noticed a change in 4^th year. Classmates tend to get closer to each other, forgetting their past differences (what ever little they had) which is quite unavoidable. 32 students with 32 different mindsets are bound to have difference in opinions. But at the end of the day, nobody wants to leave the college having a bad taste in his mouth about anybody or anything. Thus everyone joins in to celebrate the great 4^th year bonanza.

I feel a little apprehensive about our last day at IT-BHU. I can’t imagine parting from my dear friends or BHU. The BHU campus is beyond comparison, and is the best campus in Asia. I will miss my nocturnal errands to Lanka where we sip in mostly tea.., and also the Saturday “The Experiment Day” nights, we try out different hotels and restaurants…sometimes we get delicious food and sometimes you know what..!!

In these four years, each day was ushered in with new experiences (pleasant or unpleasant) for life. I am going to miss each and every moment of my BHU voyage but change is inevitable….Life goes on and life moves on.

If at all I can rewind my college days back!!