The Trip

Seeing so much being said about the trip prompted me to write a blog on the Trip.
It was the year 1992 and we were in the second year of our Masters. For those who have spent the undergraduate years in the college the word trip would have given a vague remembrance as the last time they had gone for a trip was in 1988, the year we had joined the college and it was supposed to be a department trip which I had missed.
Over a period of time the College was going through an invisible change in the outlook and behavior due to the various factors like the change of administrative powers, the infusion of a new breed of students who seem to have fun as their priority than academics. Adding to the woe was the misbehavior of outside college students in Deep Woods show (that's a picture Glady shot during Deepwoods). All these factors sort of diminished the prospect of outings and trips.
It was in my second year of Masters that I was offered the post of class representative although I never understood the responsibilities of one. And it was during a casual discussion while sitting in a near empty class next to the department that the idea was born to plan an outing.
Being the class rep I approached VSV, the then Department Head and with lot of apprehension requested him to authorize one. I was surprised that he immediately approved and asked me to take either Prof. Arul or Prof. Franklin with us.
With that approval I thought that everything was done but I never knew that it was only the beginning. Believe me If I had put in the same efforts during my M.Phil I would have completed the thesis. I had to literally ask every member whether they would like to come for the trip and the responses made me just go mad, there was no consent from everyone uniformly. It was like what are the dates? Oh I may have something coming up around that time etc etc. With great difficulty the numbers slowly started to build up and now it was the time to collect the money. I never knew then that there were professional money collectors which banks use to collect their debts. Again another ordeal… Oh I forgot to bring money, don’t worry tomorrow I will definitely bring etc etc.
Finally the money was collected and it was time to book the train tickets and by then Grace had gracefully agreed to get accommodation in a villa through the Church which was a welcome relief for me. Until then Venky and Prem had not given their names and we were counting numbers without them. It was a long wait for the tickets in Egmore and the computerized ticketing was not all that computerized to book tickets from anywhere or I knew of any agent who can book the tickets over a telephone call. Finally the arrangements were all made and we were at the station. Then came the surprise Venky and Prem too were there. I thought maybe they came to bid us good bye. But they came with their luggage and until today I don’t know how they managed to book tickets in the same train and compartment for them.
The journey was uneventful and we were woken up early morning at Kodai Road station and we had to rush to get out of the train as the train would stop only for five minutes. Then we took the three hour bus ride to the Kodai hill top and this was eventful for many as the twists and hairpin bents in the road made them throw up.
Finally we reached the top and climate was freezing and I realized that it was not a good idea to come to Kodai in December and we split into 2 groups and rushed to the nearest restaurant to find some warmth and have breakfast. Then we hired some taxis to go to the Villa which was on the other side of the lake.
Only at the villa we realized that Venky and Prem are missing and we don’t know how they got separated while we had breakfast. And it just happened that they never knew where we are going to stay as I never told them since they were not coming for the trip. So I took the thoni (a small round shaped boat) to go to the other side and started looking for them at the taxi stand. I had to ask the taxi drivers”did you see a fat person and a lean person” Someone did remember and said that they have taken a taxi. I was greatly relieved. What had happened was that Venky and Prem did not have the address and they had to call Chennai at Grace’s residence to their dismay and ask for the location. That is how they managed to find the place and land at the villa.
I took the thoni back and it started raining heavily, having struck in the thoni I completely got drenched and came back to villa shivering. By then the fire place was up and it was a welcome break. The four days went in a jiffy and I am sure everyone had a good time and I am happy that it was a turning point for some in life.
The members were, Annie, Usha Sarah, Grace, Kavitha, Princy, Shoba, Maha, Gladson, Persis, Ghosh, Venky, Prem, Roshin, Pichandi, Amos, who else?