The People and Army are taking over the Bangladesh Government. We have to wait, see what unfolds.
The seeds sown in Sagar started making sense in National Institute of Technology, Warangal. Called Regional Engineering College then. First REC of the country. We were the first batch which moved from admissions based on Intermediate Merit to Entrance. No seat although I got a state rank. Could not take IIT for not getting in IITs nearby, in branches I like. Family, local friends, after Class 10, tried and failed to force me into polytechnic. In EAMCET, I got a rank card with a disappointing rank of 4 digits. On getting checked up, the authorities confirmed that I actually got the second mark, and rank 15. I could get any college and any branch. Now, the pressure was on going to Osmania. But, I was adamant on a campus with Indian microcosm, and chose NIT, and Electronics and Communications. Intense ragging of the time troubled us a lot. I could not bear it, and I went back home. After more than a month, I joined back with ‘appropriate protection’ from ragging. Incidentally, second year, I was in the anti-ragging committee, to ensure no such sufferings to anyone.
We moved from 4-member rooms in the first year, to 3-member and single rooms in the final year. Quickly learning English. Reading, writing, comprehending, discussions, conversations, and seminars. Fiction to nonfiction. Beyond Engineering, Technology, Society. Book a day fiction to Book a week non-fiction. Academics were in auto-mode, top rank was guaranteed. Co-curricular, extra-curricular took centre stage, extrovert in me taking charge. Responsibilities in Associations, anchoring local, national events. Fully active 16-24 hours a day. Activities, events, interactions, engagement, entertainment.
Most of us came from Boys’ schools and colleges to NIT. NIT is co-ed now. It was co-ed then too, but only 1-2% were women. These wonderful women have taught us how to behave rightly.
Biggest influence(s) was by our small teams across batches. Including dirty dozen, double dozen. Kept us on course, competitive, top of the table always, while being socially active, useful, relevant.
Our campus was a fort with police entering only with the permission of the Principal. Warangal was the founding centre of the people’s war group, a few NIT students and alumni were part of it. Rose in its ranks. Its influence on the NIT ecosystem was very high. NIT students at large were sensitized towards being socially relevant, useful. Inclusion, equity, participation, collectivization, organization (poor, vulnerable and marginalized in lead) were introduced. Inculcated in many.
By the time I completed engineering, it became clear the technology domain would not suffer with my absence. I could be more relevant and useful in other sectors. Direction of life was set. Through unimagined churnings spanning more than four years. Further explored – met IITians in IITs, doctors, writers, civil society, rural-tribal communities etc. Heard friends intensely – gentle persuasions, deep reprimands, blanket supports, co-journeys. Reflected, delved deep. Three possibilities – journalist; social worker; development management worker. Aptitude, competencies auto-chose the latter. Questions before me included – How would I transform into this? Should I join an entity right away, or get a license, some practice a priori? Of values, non-negotiables, tools, skills, core practices.
Can we live like this? Can we last in this till the end? Can we persist with true lifework, next pushkars?
Yes, we can. If we coexist, if the ‘12’ join hands in practice, in flow. In N? sahakarmayoga for 7L.
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