Pleasant Beginning

In these times in India, increasing number of first generation college-going students are going to colleges, arriving their colleges and hostels apprehensive of the likely trauma they might experience due to their modest family background, non-initiation to modern life style, possible ragging by seniors and similar situations. Generally, the authorities of educational institutions are insensitive to such apprehensions and do nothing to reduce the difficulties of such students. The result is highly traumatic experiences and even suicides by such students. To my good fortune and due to the magnificent office culture at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, I had a treasurable and pleasant experience, which I want to share.

I was a first generation and first year student at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore just arrived from my home town, Dholpur, Rajasthan in June 1952. I had had about 60 hour train journey in unreserved accomodation, fortunately in the accomodating company of my would be seniors and class mates, who I met in the Grand Trunk Express during the journey between Agra and Chennai(then known as Madras) and onwards to Bangalore. Also, I had their helpful company during ride from Bangalore City Railway station and the IISc campus, reaching about 7 AM. I had hardly disembarked from the ricksaw, when a distinguished looking person startled me by addressing me Sir! and saying he is the Warden of the hostel and is ready to allot me a double room. He asked me, if I have made any friend during the journey and want to have him as my room mate, he was willing to accept the choice. Then, I may go directly to my room and get ready for breakfast and for subsequent admission formalities in the office of the Registrar. Compared to the butterflies floating in my stomach regarding having to wait with my luggage outside the office of the Warden, till it may open at the standard time of 9 AM, without the facility of a wash up and light refreshment, this welcome by the Warden felt like being in a fairy dream world. I consulted my would be class mate and fellow traveller from Lucknow, Bishnu Saroop Atal standing near me and opted to be his room mate. The gracious warden allotted a room then and there and asked an attender to show Bishnu and me to our room. Same promptness and curtsy was extended to other new arrivals, about a dozen in number. The attender took us to our room, and explained politely the various facilities including those at the hostel mess.

More pleasant surprises were in store for the first year (fools) students.

After a 5-star breakfast, the first-years walked up to the nearby office of the Registrar and lined up at a counter. There were about 20 students in line waiting for their turn. Then, a surprise came. A 'peon' came up to the students and said politely that there was no need to stand, since there were enough seats to sit while you wait. When my turn came, I got up and completed the formalities at the counter. Immediately thereafter the same peon said that the Director of the Institute ( Prof. M. S. Thacker) wants to see me. Prof. Thacker was grace and warmth personified and asked me where did I do my earlier studies. He commented that I must have secured a high rank, because the Institute admits only the 'cream of the Indian Youth'. Professor wished a brilliant studentship and a pleasant stay at the Institute. As soon as I came out, the peon took me upstairs, where the Institute Library was located. The Librarian, Prof. Raghavendra Rao, soon found out from me that I have been a student of Prof. B. Dayal at the Banaras Hindu University. Prof. Rao said that as Prof. Dayal is his dear friend, I am like his own student. Immediately, he became very affectionate and said son!let me show you around the Library. He showed me the stacks for Reference Books, text books, general books and journals. He said there is no need to buy any text books beacause the library has several copies of each of them and one can reserve for an hour each day. Most importantly, the Library was open seven days a week from 7 AM to 11 PM.

Who will feel homesick or frigthened in such a place? Should we not have all educational institutions treat their new students with same warmth and care?