Congratulations On turning 50 -NIT Trichy!!

Some time in late April 2010(I was in my final year of under graduation), an Alumni day was organised at NIT trichy, my undergraduate Alma Matter. The podium was set, decorated by many distinguished alumni and a very important person as the chief guest (I actually forgot who it was!!).  The top performers in each department were honoured along with several other awards for students who excelled in different areas like sports, culture, arts and science. And then there was me. As my name was being blared out on the microphone, the chief guest who was giving the award was quite bemused. He could hardly explain a huge grin on my face or the happiness and eagerness to get the certificate, and once again confirmed with the student assisting him, whether he read the award right? "Anand Chidhambaram Alumini Endowment award", for the "TENTH RANK HOLDER IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AT NIT TRICHY" (I knew in advance about this ofcourse).  Yes there was an award for coming 10th in a class of 40 odd students. I have no idea who Anand Chidambaram was/is or why this award is being given (will for sure find out some day), but there can be no better worthy candidate for the award than me.  Average in studies, absolutely nil extra curricular activities whose work spikes up during 2/3 particular times in a year like NITTFEST, Pragyan and department symposium, spending most of the day playing football either on computer or on the field, you could easily classify me as an "ordinary student".

 So why is this extra –“ordinary student" writing this piece? Nit Trichy is celebrating its golden jubilee year this July and unfortunately I won't be attending the facilitation function. I do feel bad for not attending it, And hence I am writing this l piece to show my gratitude to the insti. Its not a rehash of sporadic personal events (those things are truly personal only matter to me and my eclectic band of maverick buddies), but a practical look back at my time at NIT Trichy and what I learnt from it.  Its been 4 years since graduation, but the institute is a part and parcel of my life. There is a low motivation for being there in person as no professor would recognise me and I am not overly attached to any of the concrete structures there (possibly the CEESAT building and garnet football ground).  My personality that I would carry on to my grave was shaped at this haven, in the 4 uneventful years that I spent in Trichy.  

July 2006, I entered NIT Trichy straight from the highly competitive Tamil Nadu Higher secondary education system, as an awkward 18 year, not interested in anything other than studies, an introvert lacking confidence, with minimal English language skills, without an iota of an idea about my future and 4 years later left the place as an young man , who spent most of the last 6 months doing mostly stuffs – “extra curricular”, very confident about what I can do and what I cant, unafraid to try out new things in life, not intimidated by high IQ or opulence and ready to take on the world as I knew it that day or my dear readers, I left the place educated. If I can point at two things that made my life interesting at NIT

Ø   People:  If you need a beacon of diversity, you need not look further than NIT trichy. Students from all over the country, ( every state had a compulsory quota, sadly this has been scrapped)  attend this school. It is located in Tamil Nadu which is quite different from the rest of the country starting from language to mentality of the people. A simple yard stick for diversity is, in a class of 40 students in my department, students could speak 20 different languages. With diverse personalities, one starts appreciating the importance of cultural diversity. Ofcourse, its not always for the good, but the overall experience is amazing.

Ø   Independence:  The amount of free time that was available during my college days is scary (this a paradox though, when you are in a grt group even this time flies).  Every person can be what he wants by his/her choice.  There are not many places, which provide this luxury in a platter.

Unlike Sir Humphrey Appleby, I can list out the things I learnt at NIT Trichy and after in the following points,

1)           Survival of the fittest : It’s a belief that “survival of the smartest” is right way of life. Spending a semester at  NIT Trichy will easily burst this bubble. Its always the survival of the fittest -> the perfect concoction of smartness, hardwork and adaptability. If a person is deficient in one, it can be easily compensated by other.   

2)           Live In The Moment: Try to embrace how exciting life can be when one truly lives in the moment. Try out new things.

3)           Technical Education : It does not matter that much.  If one has the basics right, it’s the easiest part of the college education.

4)           People : First time off the supervision of the parents, in the first few days at NIT Trichy I met 100s of new people. What I learnt is that – “people of generally good, but its only a few with whom we are compatible”.

Ofcourse things were not all rosy. The heat, powercuts, mess food, lack of internet and trees, shabbily maintained campus (we should bear part of the blame), RGing among students, lack of infrastructure and research etc etc. But inspite of all these, after NIT Trichy days like most of us I missed it so much, still do.  I so much missed the place that I went back there the very next day after I packed up from the hostel (Yes I lived only 4 hrs away).  But then we miss things only after we lose them, a dangerous but perfectly normal human behaviour.  But now 4 years down the line I look back my days at NITT with great pride. And ofcourse I have some observations here also.

1.       The cycle: Keep in mind that you've missed things a thousand times before, and it always becomes easier. It may take weeks, or months, but it always does. Whether it's a place, a person, or your favorite food.

2.       Balance: Try to find a balance between the past and the present. Live in the moment, but never fully let go of your past. Keep in touch with old friends, and remember the events that made you the person you are today.

3.       Be Realistic: The most dangerous part of nostalgia is the tendency to romanticize. When you look back, look back on the past as it actually was. Doing so will prevent you from ranking the past as better than the present.

4.       Look Forward: Avoid excessive planning, but have a good vision. Your grandmother is right when she says you have a lot to look forward to. Be excited for, and do not fear, what lies ahead.

Recently I ran an half marathon, at Leiden, Netherlands,(for those of you who can recognise it, it’s the NITTFEST’10 Tee) and I dedicate my run to NITT. Ultimately what I want to thank NIT Trichy and its people for making me the human I am today. Even if I don’t find a place in the annals of NITT’s history, the annals of my history is heavily influenced by NITT.