The MCC years

I am also tempted to take a trip down memory lane...

When I was doing my BA, my dad told me that he would send me to a college in Madras to do my MA if I scored good marks in the final exams. That promise had inspired me and a good friend of mine, whose dad had studied in MCC. So I dreamt about MCC in my BA final. JNU also was a fascination until my dad said he has no plans of sending me there since students there lived like 'in the films'.

But by the time my BA results came and dad went to Madras to check, classes had started in MCC. But Pr0f. VSV was interested in my case and offered to enrol me (he always referred to me as the Kerala Professor's daughter). Dad however tried to dissaude me especially as I had got admission in the Kerala colleges I applied, and also since the MCC women's hostel was full. I insisted that I want to go to Madras to study since I knew it would give me some exposure. Studying English Literature in a closed society like Kerala has its limitations.

I got admission and joined the class one month after classes had started. I also found lodging in a nun's hostel in Pallavaram which had good rooms with attached bathrooms but bad food. I also had to walk a good distance to the railway station to catch the train to Tambaram but it was fun. Most of my room mates were in MCC too but in the continuing education dept doing one-year diploma courses. I wasnt homesick because this was what I had wanted. My friends joined in colleges in Kerala itself.

I was told by the stout and stern lady at the Dean's office that my class was in Selaiyur Hall. I found some of my classmates in the corridor to the hall with Prof Jayaraman in their midst taking class. While in Kerala teachers expected students to stand up when asked questions, here I had a prof (SVF) telling me that I made him nervous by standing up. I learnt to live life casually soon. I most loved classes by Profs. VSV, Francis Soundararaj, Dorai and Ganesh. Initially it had been tough as I hadnt done linguistics or Am. Litt. for B.A.

I coped though I had people making fun of my Malloo accent or the food I brought from hostel. (Annie wondered if I had no tastebuds or how I could write well when I couldnt speak as fluently as she could etc.) But Usha had been kind and supportive throughout, which is probably why I looked up to her for support/refuge and why I always kept in touch. Thank you, dear friend.
Most of the class guys save for Miller and Rajeev didnt talk much to the girls. Indraneel Ghosh, one year senior to us, who happened to be in our class for MA studiously kept away till II M.A. when Rajani's casual teasing during a class set off a hot romance in the class (it had a sad ending though). I initially couldnt stand the sight of Prem and Venky (sorry to say that) with their wayward attitude to studies and life but slowly got to know and like them. I still remember Venky calling us "prurient adolescents"...

The Kodai trip in II MA was fun. Prof. Arul was in charge though he wasnt our teacher, but having him was a blessing (for him and Maha too) as he joined in all the fun and revelry. There was this lovely cottage we stayed in courtesy Grace's father. It was a season of romances - old ones grew stronger and new ones blossomed.

I remember the trek to Suicide Point and the lift we got in a Malayali couple's Maruti car on the way back. Some 6 of us had fitted into the back seat tho initially they had been reluctant to give us a lift.

On our last day there, me and Maha were ready before the rest were. Arul sir came out and asked Maha if she would like to go for a walk. She casually asked me if I would like to come along and I declined. A good thing, since she said that it was then he proposed/expressed his love for her. They were late in returning, and everyone chided Maha not knowing the decision of a lifetime had been made then...

Some old faces left and new faces joined us in the MPhil years. We had to sign the register like professors. We changed the nutty thesis topics we gave at the interview and chose more challenging ones. Life got busier after we cleared the theory papers and began work on our dissertations. Some were preparing to make the marriage vows. Princy left half way as she was in the family way.

Murali was called the Krishna of our MPhil batch by Prof. Rajani since he was the only visible male face around (Rajeev working at IE and Miller getting to know Griz were busy); he would say that he just needed a murali (flute) to be the Krishna. Sir would smell Murali's palm to check if he had had his lunch!
http://dosamma.blogspot.com/2007/07/tagged-8-random-things-about-me-college.html