The Story of How "Vi-passed-Na"**

Warning:- Some incidents described in the post should not be copied/repeated during normal times at SCMHRD. If copied, the author(Shankar Iyer) shall not be held responsible for the consequences of the same.

Request:- Please generously hurl bricks, bouquets to the post in the comment section if you have any!

Circa 2007- Date- 22nd April

Venue:- Plot No 15, Rajiv Gandhi Infotech Park, Hinjewadi

The Guest:- Leader of Opposition:- L K Advani

The Occasion:- Convocation of class of '07

The prime Attraction:- Wearing the coveted robes and Hats and signing off in style and also for the "last time" listen to the Directors "exciting" speech.

Much Awaited Release:- Release of the Batch Yearbook Titled -"Plot no-15"

Much Awaited Event:- After two years of rules and regulations, girls to be allowed in boys hostel and vice-versa on the day before the convocation.

One Important concern:- The robes were of the same size and how the hell are they gonna fit Saloni (One of the shortest members of the batch) and also GPS.(the opposite!!).

One Disclosure:- Apparently one of the smaller members in the batch did confess that they had worked on the robes in the night

Arrangement for parents:-Parents of girls are put up in Girls Hostel and that of Boys in Boys Hostel.

The Previous Days:- Campus is unduly Calm during the day time,since parents start arriving and "disciplined" students take their respective parents to guided tours around campus. Everyone at their behavioural best!!

The Night scenes:- Post 11PM in the night ......the scenes change....some memorable instances do happen

The Director and Faculty busy with the preparations and the college is being decked up to every extent possible. Apparently they stayed on campus till about 3 AM.

A troop of unruly and excited girls about 25-30 in Nos armed with Cameras, Video Cams break into the boys hostel precisely around 12.15 a.m. and try and break in all rooms in which there are guys. Some of the rooms though were shown by special guides(read boys) who wanted their rooms to be graced by this unusual crowd. One could hear screeches of laughter and shouting girls in the corridors of the boys hostel-a rare sight indeed at SCMHRD. I am sure Vishnu AG, Deb, RG, Swetank who were chatting in one room were too surprised to see these girls at this hour. The girls like some alien objects in a museum checked out these guys in their “normal” attire.

Seeing the Boys hostel get invaded some eager 15-20 guys too sneak into the girls hostel with special guides(read girls). The excitement lies in pointing to the lady guards (who have relentlessly ensured that guys dont venture near the girls hostel) that the girls hostel is being invaded. Memorable pictures were also taken on the beds of some memorable girls. Idea Courtesy-Mohit Arora

Some observations:- Girls hostel-Thoroughly clean and one can even see one's face on the floor in the corridors. Nicely decorated rooms with nostalgic birthday decorations in many rooms.

The parties and time pass went on till wee hours of the morning since everybody had by this time realized that this was the last night when everyone was together. The Infosys tapri was also a favourite hangout at late hours(3-4 AM) with Tea and Maggi along with Gup-shup.

Early morning:- All decked up in Full uniform and the robes are worn, The photo clicking starts right away with everyone keen to get a snap of his/her.

The Moment:- The batch is ready on the specially made deck for the batch photograph. The wait in the scorching heat for the Chief Guest (who by this time was late by half an hour) was unbearable but the Aptes (Sivaram Apte and GP Apte- Professors of Marketing) made sure that we have our share of liquids by running and getting some Mineral Water Bottles and throwing them generously at the crowd standing on top of the decks for the pics.

Kunal, Karan (the guys who on most occasions have made the batch laugh) were in blistering form, which ensured that everyone stays entertained.

The Click:- Soon a sight of Diro Subbu running and approaching us with signs of the Chief Guest having arrived...the car surrounded by Commandos arrives very near to the deck. The guests (Advani and S B Mujumdar)get down, get seated and then the grand photo.

Ten Minutes and everyone is seated ( as per the roll numbers) in the grand pandal made specially in the basket ball court with Display Screens, Coolers and Fans.

The Speeches:For Advani's Speech:-Please use the link as follows covered by some leading media houses

http://www.indiadaily.com/breaking_news/88802.asp

http://www.hinduonnet.com/holnus/486200704221962.htm

But the speech the batch was eagerly waiting for was of the Director and he too surely did not disappoint addressing the Batch as the "Chosen Ones"***. He had some important points for us to remember along with nuggets of wisdom. Also he mentioned that he knew the abilities of many in the batch to sore high but it was important at the same time to have fun in life and a lot of it!

The End:- The Degrees and Awards given away..............................."Journey is the Reward!"

Lunch and distribution of yearbooks follow:------------

The sight:- People winding up and many of them engrossed in reading the yearbook, perhaps trying to remember those moments...the golden ones.

Earlier in the day:- Subbu released the first copy of the much awaited yearbook.

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Acknowledgements:-

**Title Courtesy-Sriram Rajaram from his Short Story Vi-Passed-Na in the Yearbook after Vipassana, which I have generously borrowed.

*** The Batch was selected finally by a round of Director's Interview during Admissions-2005. Hence the name.