As an Indian user of high technology products to interface with my top quality and latest Ubuntu Linux PC Desktop or Laptop Computer from high technology companies - I have started REJECTING those peripherals and those companies which have not bothered to release free and open source Linux drivers for their devices. As with the best printers and high performance graphic cards, it is always best to do some research on whether a foreign company well known for manufacturing and distributing.

Many white goods companies are going ballistic in advertising that they sell a ( High Quality ? ) product to Indian users and in Indian markets EVERY three SECONDS. But do these companies sell products that play well with your Ubuntu Laptop ?

Make sure before you buy. Let them WAIT for THREE HOURS before they sell a product to Indian consumers.

Olympus is one of those companies making small and tiny Digital Voice Recorders - (good for sting operations on Indian politicians who excel in buying Votes for Notes for Civil Nuclear Treaty and solving the power and energy crisis of Indians - hamara nara, ghar ghar mein bijli pahuchana .... )

Unfortunately Olympus has not bothered to release free and open source software drivers for their Digital Voice Recorders. As far as I am concerned Olympus Digital Voice Recorder is USELESS till it makes available free and easily downloadable software drivers to work with my UBUNTU Laptop running on BSNL Broadband Internet.

No point buying rubbish electronic junk and e-waste which DOES NOT work with Ubuntu Linux computers in India. And this will be public service of voluntary nature as Indian Ministry of Communication and Information Technology has hardly any guidelines for disposing electronic and computer junk and how to penalise those foreign companies which sell outdated technologies in India - Litter packaged up as Glitter . So before investing any rupees in more electronic junk and devices, ALWAYS check if it WORKS well with Ubuntu Linux.

The third one is a relatively popular video and many of you might have seen it before.. Its incredibly funny, though.. It has been shot by IIT Delhi students..

Another video from the guys at B.H.U.. A parody on Star News' 'Sansani' ..

Here's yet another video from the students of B.H.U.. Its called 'First Love @ IT BHU'..

And, finally, here's a video created by the students at Amity..check it out..
 

And yeah..there's one more thing.. here's the link to another video shot by some college students.. I think it was Galgotia's... Its your decision to view it or not...

The B.H.U. has been built over a huge, huge area...
A large temple is also within the campus...

And yeah, one more thing..the part of town outside the B.H.U. is called 'Lanka'. That, kind of, reminded me of someone I know...But thats another matter... 

Nishant Sir, our old teacher at Nishant Classes used to study at I.T., B.H.U... 

The temple

The square outside the temple which ( I was told by a student ) is a hot student hotspot.

The common traits:

• Some people pretend to be "peace-maroo" while some people are big time "peace-maroo"s.
• Noone bothers about the work as long as you finish it before deadlines.
• Atleast 60% are from KGP, 30% from IT-BHU.
• As you might have already guessed, the sex ratio is pathetic. (If you are waiting to see a HR lady, you have just a bunch of married women) :P
• Best timepass is Table Tennis.
• Arguably, I would say even the food is a bit pathetic.
• People are extremely friendly.

Turn-ons:

• Heard, the gross salary is really good
• The 1 month training for employees is supposed to be more rigorous than the coveted OP in KGP. (waah !!)

Turn-offs:

• The job-titles are really pathetic. (e.g. "Member, Technical Staff" is a fresh entrant gets)

Funda:

Why does this place have such a huge KGP population? The answer is quite simple. This company was started by a bunch of KGPians who believed KGPians are good and then the legacy continued. This actually started off as IKOS, a company which excelled in emulation software in EDAs. Supposedly Synopsys approached this company first to acquire it. But then, Mentor Graphics offered a sum that was agreed upon unanimously. So, here we are, working in a wonderful company. Find more of the story here.

Thats All Folks !!

    महुआ के बेतरह गिरते सूखे पत्तों के साथ - साथ उसके फूल भी टपकने लगते हैं । ' महुआ वीथिका' (चित्र २) की सड़क रस से चिपचिपी हो गई है । लगातार कमर झुकाए पत्ते बीनते जो मुसहर परिवार परिवार दीखते थे वे फूल बीनते नहीं दीखते । महुए के फूल बीनने वाले उनसे कुछ बेहतर स्थिति वाले हैं । महामना मालवीय के समय से ही इस परिसर में मुसहर परिवारों द्वारा पत्ते तोड़ने पर रोक नहीं रही । 'पृथ्वी प्रत्येक मनुष्य की आवश्यकता की पूर्ति के लिए पर्याप्त देती है।'।

   सेमर के पत्तेविहीन पेड़ों से रूई फूट फूट कर उड़ने लगी है (चित्र ८)। इनके लाल और दुर्लभ पीले फूल तो होली के पहले आ कर जा चुके हैं । जिन फल्लियों में अत्यन्त नरम रूई भरी है उनकी लम्बाई से बराबरी करती सैकड़ों मैना के झुंड इन विशाल नग्न सेमरों पर ही कलरव करते हुए आराम करते हैं ।

    वसन्त के इस दौर में मेहमान हैं रूसी हारिल (चित्र ३ ,४) । फ़ाख़्ते ( चित्र ५) - कबूतरों के भाई बन्द ।अत्यन्त शर्मीले। परिसर की सड़कों के जिन हिस्सों से सुबह टहलने वाले कम गुजरते हैं , उनके किनारे लगे दरख़्त हारिलों को प्रिय हैं । धनराजगिरी छात्रावास के सामने के महुए पर प्राय: इनके दर्शन होते हैं । जिस दिन दो कौए उस पेड़ पर होते हैं , हारिल मानो हेरा जाते हैं । मुम्बई के चाचा - भतीजे इन्हीं कौओं के गोत्र के होंगे । प्रवासियों के घरौंदों मे अपने अण्डे देने-सेने की फिराक में ।

    हारिलों के बारे में जिन सुबह टहलने वालों से जानना चाहा संयोग से दोनों पूर्व शिकारी हैं । रतन ने बताया कि कहावत है - ' हारिल-लकड़ी के अछूट रिश्ते की ' । पानी पीते वक्त भी इनके पंजे में कोई लकड़ी जरूर होती है । डॉ. सुशील सिंह ने बताया कि यह आहार बनने वाले परिन्दों में एक है ।

ISBN 0-471-95820-4

[Reviewed by Vikram Waman Karve]

Information Technology [IT] is the buzzword of today. IT is ubiquitous; almost everyone is connected with IT in some way or the other. A few years ago, till the nineteen eighties, there were courses in Electrical, Electronics, Communications and Telecommunications Engineering and later in Computer Science and Engineering, but now there are dedicated courses in Information Technology, and almost all Engineers, and even others, irrespective of their specializations, are rushing to take up jobs in IT and IT Enabled Services. The Management guys have also joined the fray and added a “management” dimension to IT by offering MBA courses in “IT Management”.

What exactly is IT? Maybe the phrase “IT” was coined to mark the convergence of two technologies that had been traditionally separate: “Computing” and “Communications” and the confluence of several streams of development including electronics, microelectronics, computer science, telecommunications, software engineering and systems analysis.

There are a large number of books and extensive literature on the content of IT. This book is a significant treatise on the context of IT. The principal author Peter Checkland is a pioneering researcher in the field of Systems Engineering and Management and has developed breakthrough concepts like Soft Systems Methodology [SSM] and written the seminal classic “Systems Thinking, Systems Practice”. The co-author Sue Holwell has a rich and varied professional experience in systems design and implementation, information strategy and communication networks.

This book has eight chapters arranged in four parts. In the first part on “The Field of Information Systems and its Problems” the authors deliberate on the basic concepts pertaining to Information Systems [IS] and Information Technology [IT], distinguish between the “Hard” (objective positivistic scientific) and “Soft” (subjective interpretative) schools of thought in the context of Management Information Systems [MIS], and introduce the reader to the fundamentals of Soft System Methodologies [SSM].

The “meat” of the book is in Part Two whose two chapters elucidate on the application of the developed Information System Management concepts to organizations and describe the “information continuum” – the linkages between data, information and knowledge. Parts Three and Four substantiate these hypotheses with experiential examples from as early as World War II and drives home the point that the evolution and development of the science of Information Systems [IS] owes nothing to computers which did not exist in 1940, makes it clear that IS is not the same as IT, reminds us that computers are a mere means of IS, and cautions us against falling into the trap of “technological determinism” resulting from the prevalent propensity to overly focus on computer-based IT and allow technology to take charge of our actions.

The book is aptly adorned with simple illustrations which facilitate ease of understanding. As the dust jacket says, the book is a work of conceptual cleansing and presents a well-argued account of IS and IT which is both holistic and coherent. I recommend this remarkable book to IT, Engineering and Management students and professionals – reading it will certainly enhance their conceptual understanding of Information Systems and Technology.

[Book Review by Vikram Waman Karve]

http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve

http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com

vikramkarve@hotmail.com

  vikramkarve@sify.com   

An outfit led by a Banaras Hindu University professor on Sunday announced a reward of Rs one crore to anyone who slaps Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray in public.

The North Indian-Marathi Unity Front floated by BHU political science professor Kaushal Kishore Mishra has also urged the people to come out in large numbers against the inflammatory statements made by Thackeray against north Indians and the "hooliganism" of MNS activists.

Swell! Indian politics never fails to entertain us. Far more entertaining than Bollywood. What say?

http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/02/an-excellent-reference-book.htm

Regards

Vikram Karve

 By

 VIKRAM KARVE

One of the things that deters smokers from quitting decisively in one go is the fear of withdrawal symptoms. This results in smokers resorting to half-baked remedies like gradual reduction, nicotine patches, low tar cigarettes and various other futile therapies. In my opinion this exaggerated importance given to withdrawal symptoms is just a big myth, a ploy, an excuse by addicts to avoid giving up smoking. The so-called withdrawal symptoms are nothing but craving. The best and most effective way of quitting smoking is to just stop smoking, totally, in one go, and then never to smoke again. Don’t be afraid of the so-called “withdrawal symptoms” – you can easily tackle the craving. You can take my word for it – I successfully did it and conquered the craving for smoking once and for all.

I’ve written earlier and described how I quit smoking. I’m sure you must have read it in my blog.

 [In case you haven’t read it just click the link below - but remember to come back to this article!]

 http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2006/12/how-i-quit-smoking.htm

 Now let me describe to you the day after I quit smoking. I woke up early, at five-thirty as usual, made a cup of tea, and the moment I took a sip of the piping hot delicious tea, I felt the familiar crave for my first cigarette of the day. I kept down the cup of tea, made a note of the craving in my diary, had a glass of hot water (quickly heated in the microwave oven), completed my ablutions, and stepped out of my house, crossed the Maharshi Karve Road, and began a brisk walk-cum-jog around the verdant tranquil Oval Maidan, deeply rinsing my lungs with the pure refreshing morning air, which made me feel on top of the world. The Clock on MumbaiUniversity’s RajabaiTower silhouetted against the calm bluish gray sky, was striking six, and I felt invigorated.

I had overcome my craving, and not smoked, what used to be my first cigarette of the day. I then went on my daily morning walk on Marine Drive to Chowpatty and on my way back I spotted my friends ‘N’ and ‘S’ across the road beckoning me for our customary post-exercise tea and cigarette at the stall opposite Mantralaya. I felt tempted, but my resolve firm, I waved to them, looked away and ran towards my house. They must have thought I’d gone crazy, but it didn’t matter – I had avoided what used to be my second cigarette of the day.

 I made a note of it my diary, as I would do the entire day of all the stimuli that triggered in me the urge to smoke – what I would call my “smoking anchors” which could be anything, internal and external, tangible or intangible – people, situations, events, feelings, smells, emotions, tendencies, moods, foods, social or organizational trends, practices, norms, peer pressure; and most importantly how I tackled and triumphed over these stimuli.

After breakfast, I didn’t drink my usual cup of coffee – a strong “smoking anchor” which triggered in me a desperate desire to smoke, and drank a glass of bland milk instead, thereby averting what used to be my third cigarette of the day. It was nine, as I walked to work, and I hadn’t smoked a single cigarette.

It was a long day ahead and I had to be cognizant, observe myself inwardly and devise strategies to tackle situations that elicited craving for smoking – recognize and neutralize my “smoking anchors”, so to speak. Anchoring is a naturally occurring phenomenon, a natural process that usually occurs without our awareness.

An anchor is any representation in the human nervous system that triggers any other representation. Anchors can operate in any representational system (sight, sound, feeling, sensation, smell, taste).

You create an anchor when you unconsciously set up a stimulus response pattern. Response [smoking] becomes associated with (anchored to) some stimulus; in such a way that perception of the stimulus (the anchor) leads by reflex to the anchored response [smoking] occurring. Repeated stimulus–response action, reinforces anchors and this is a vicious circle, especially in the context of “smoking anchors”.

The trick is to identify your “smoking anchors”, become conscious of these anchors and ensure you do not activate them.

The moment I reached office I saw my colleague ‘B’ eagerly waiting for me, as he did every day. Actually he was eagerly waiting to bum a cigarette from me for his first smoke of the day [“I smoke only other’s cigarettes” was his motto!].

I politely told him I had quit smoking and told him to look for a cigarette elsewhere. He looked at me in disbelief; taunted, jeered and badgered me a bit, but when I stood firm, he disappeared. I removed from my office my ashtray, declared the entire place a no-smoking zone and put up signs to that effect.

The working day began. It was a tough and stressful working day. I was tired, when my boss called me across and offered me a cigarette. I looked at the cigarette pack yearningly, tempted, overcome by a strong craving, desperate to have just that “one” cigarette. Nothing like a “refreshing” smoke to drive my blues away and revitalize me – the “panacea” to my “stressed-out” state! It was now or never!

I politely excused myself on the pretext of going to the toilet, but rushed out into the open and took a brisk walk rinsing my lungs with fresh air, and by the time I returned I had lost the craving to smoke and realized, like in the Oval early in the morning, that physical exercise is probably the best antidote.

 People may think I’m crazy, but even now I rush out of my office once in a while to take a brisk walk in the open and not only do I lose the craving for a smoke but I feel distressed and invigorated as well. Conversely, once I rushed into a “no-smoking” cinema when I desperately felt like a smoke while strolling in the evening. Often, after dinner, when I used to feel like a smoke, I rushed into the Oxford Bookstore next door, for a long leisurely browse till my craving dissipated.

And, of course, one has to change his lifestyle, activities, and, maybe, even friends. Always try to be with likeminded people who you would like to emulate – if you want to quit smoking try to be in the company of non-smokers. It was simple after that, but my diary for that defining day makes interesting reading of smoking anchors – saunf or supari after lunch, afternoon tea, the company of smokers, paan, coffee…

But the crucial test came in the evening. My dear friend ‘A’ landed up for a drink. Now ‘A’ is a guy who doesn’t smoke in front of his kids and wife (I’m sure she knows!). So since he doesn’t smoke in his own home he makes up in other people’s houses. But mind you, he doesn’t bum cigarettes – in fact he gets a pack and generously leaves the remaining behind for the host.

We poured out a rum–paani each, clinked our glasses, said cheers, and sipped.

‘A’ lit a cigarette and offered the pack to me. At the end of a hot, humid and tiring day, the fortifying beverage induced a heavenly ambrosial sensation which permeated throughout the body and what better way to synergise the enjoyment than to smoke a cigarette along with the drink and enhance the pleasure to sheer bliss.

Till that moment, for me, drinking and smoking were inextricably intertwined – they complemented, accentuated each other and accorded me the ultimate supreme pleasure. I enjoyed my smoke the most along with a drink.

I realized that drinking was my strongest “smoking anchor” and if I had to quit smoking permanently I would have to give up drinking forever.

 So that’s what I did. At this defining moment of my life, I quit drinking forever. It’s been almost four years now and I do not smoke and I do not drink. I will never smoke again – I have quit smoking forever.

I may be tempted, but I know I can overcome the urge, for I have mastered the art of taking charge of my “smoking anchors”. And from time to time, I shall look at my old diary to remember and cherish that cardinal day of my life – ‘the day after I quit smoking’.

 Dear Reader, do comment and give me your feedback. Did this work for you?

 VIKRAM KARVE

 Copyright © Vikram Karve 2008 Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work

vikramkarve@sify.com

 http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve

 vikramkarve@hotmail.com

 http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com

Dell began offering consumer systems running Ubuntu in May 2007. Ubuntu’s Gutsy Gibson has been available on laptops since October.

The OEM and laptop testing teams of Dell have been testing the code and hardware drivers for several weeks and are ready to launch the Ubuntu 7.10 Laptop based on the free and open source Ubuntu Linux operating system.

“We believe Ubuntu 7.10 is a solid step forward <span style="font-weight:bold;">for both Linux enthusiasts as well as the mainstream consumer market</span>,” wrote Daniel Judd, Product Group Strategist on the Dell2Dell blog on Tuesday. “The answer is simple. With any operating system, we take gold code and take the time to do extensive testing on our systems to make sure that customers have as few issues as possible.”

Daniel Judd, Dell product manager has cited “cool” 3-D visual effects, easier desktop search for applications and the “ability to quickly switch between users and easily share a system with family members” as key new features of Ubuntu’s 7.10 release. He has also cited two minor Dell developed innovations much in demand by younger generation of laptop users — pre-installation of Flash and improved recovery options — as other significant enhancements for Gutsy Gibbon on Dell consumer PCs.

Judd also one key request was the ability to watch DVD movies from the Dell Linux desktop. “We totally agree and that’s why we now include built-in DVD movie playback with all Ubuntu 7.10 systems.The experience we wanted is simple — when you put a movie in, it plays. It is easy enough for a child and an example of the steps we are taking to make Ubuntu as enjoyable as possible.

http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com/blog/post/2007/12/catwoe.htm

Vikram Karve

Some people believe that ethics is of little concern to business people. “Ethics is ethics” and “business is business” they say. Thus many upwardly mobile managers of today tend to rationalize when faced with an ethical dilemma and take the position that they must wear two hats and cloak themselves with two separate but conflicting codes of ethics:  one code applicable to the professional or technical aspects of their work (Professional or Technical Ethics), and another for their business behavior (Business Ethics). This leads to the development of schizophrenic professional personality wherein a manager may strive for professional excellence and high ethical standards for one’s own self and within one’s organization, but resort to unethical practices to succeed in business at all costs.

This Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde approach is at the heart of many ethical dilemmas in managerial decision-making.

  Each person, entity, group, institution or constituency that is likely to be affected by the decision is a “stakeholder” with a moral claim on the decision maker. This stakeholder concept provides a systematic way of perceiving and resolving the various interests involved in our ethical decision making. There is an ethical dimension to every decision. Thus any of your decisions, which affect other persons, have ethical implications, and virtually all of your important decisions reflect your sensitivity and commitment to ethics. In summary, as you perform your job in your workplace, what are the ethical dimensions as you deal with your superiors, peers? Subordinates and others connected with your work. Different stakeholders have different ethical perspectives. For example, take the case of organizational romance. Whereas, some organizations [and stakeholders] may feel that there is nothing ethically wrong with workplace romance and many even encourage organizational romance / marriage among colleagues by giving various perks / incentives, some others may discourage or even prohibit workplace-romance. Of course, sexual harassment would be universally considered unethical.  One useful technique to resolve such ethical dilemmas is the CATWOE model adapted from Systems Management. Ethical dilemma occurs due to mismatch in ethical perspectives of various stakeholders involved in the ethical situation. A CATWOE analysis helps the manager identify all stakeholders involved in a decision and their respective ethical perspectives. CATWOE is an acronym to categorize various stakeholders:  CATWOE MODEL  C = CUSTOMERS, OR CLIENTS OF THE DECISIONA = ACTORS, OR AGENTS WHO CARRY OUT THE DECISIONT = TRANSFORMATION PROCESS, THE DECISION MAKERW =WELTANSCHAUUNG, WORLD VIEW PREDOMINATLY HELD  O = OWNERS / OWNERSHIPE = ENVIRONMENT / ENVIRONMENTAL IMPOSITIONS  To elaborate a bit: C:   The ‘customers of the system’. In this context, ‘customers’ means those who are on the receiving end of whatever it is that the system does. Is it clear from your definition of “C” as to who will gain or lose from your decision?  A:   The ‘actors’, meaning those who would actually carry out the activities envisaged in the notional system being defined.  T:   The ‘transformation process’. What does the system do to the inputs to convert them into the outputs?  W:   Weltanschauung - The ‘world view’ that lies behind the root definition. Putting the system into its wider context can highlight the consequences of the overall system. For example the system may be in place to assist in making the world environmentally safer, and the consequences of system failure could be significant pollution.  O:   The ‘owner(s)’ – i.e. those who have sufficient formal power over the system to stop it existing if they so wished (though they won’t usually want to do this).  E:   The ‘environmental constraints’. These include things such as ethical limits, regulations, financial constraints, resource limitations, limits set by terms of reference, and so on.   CARDINAL ASPECTS OF ETHICAL DECISION MAKING   All decisions must take into account and reflect a concern for the interest and well being of all stakeholders. Ethical values and principles always take precedence over non-ethical and unethical values and principles  It is ethically proper to violate an ethical principle only when it is clearly necessary to advance another true ethical principle which, according to the decision maker’s conscience, will produce the greatest balance of good in the long run  THE FIVE STEP ETHICAL DECISION MAKING APPROACH Step           Action 1        Identify and classify the stakeholders in the situation using CATWOE and understand their ethical perspectives  2        Identify their dominant ethical perspectives 3        Construct an ethical conflict web, mapping different ethical perspectives [CATWOE – six nodes] 4        Identify those strands of the web where no significant conflict may be assumed to exist. These may be removed from the ethical decision making model. 5        Concentrate on those strands where conflict does exist. Use a conflict resolution techniques to achieve the “overall good” for the system    Ethical decision-making involves the process by which a person evaluates and chooses among alternatives in a manner consistent with his or her core ethical values or principles. Thus when you make an ethical decision you: (a) Perceive and eliminate unethical options(b) Select the best from several competing ethical alternatives. 

Ethical decision-making requires more than a belief in the importance of ethics. It also requires sensitivity to perceive the ethical implications of your decisions; the ability to evaluate complex, ambiguous and incomplete facts and the skill to implement ethical decision making without jeopardizing your career. Ethical decision-making requires three things; ethical commitment, ethical consciousness and ethical competence. The CATWOE model will help you in Ethical Decision-making.

    VIKRAM KARVE  http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve  http://www.ryze.com/go/karve  http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com  vikramkarve@sify.com  vikramkarve@hotmail.com 

By

VIKRAM WAMAN KARVE

Baramati. My birthplace. Baramati – half a decade ago, the then dusty mofussil town in the back of beyond, where I was born on the 12th of September in 1956, which has now metamorphosed into a vibrant oasis of agriculture, education and industry.

We visited Baramati on Saturday, the 1st of December 2007 – a visit so memorable, so delightful, so enlightening, and so nostalgic that I must tell you about it.

It all started on the spur of the moment, when my 75-year-old mother, who is suffering from an advanced stage of Age Related Macular Degeneration [ARMD] of both her retinas and is fast losing what little remains of her eyesight, suggested we visit Baramati, so that we could see the memories of her childhood. I too was keen to see my birthplace, where I was born and spent some of my earlier holidays, evoking in me nostalgic memories of the fun and frolic, the hurda parties at my grandfather’s farm, and was especially keen to see the much-praised state-of-the-art campus of Vidya Pratishthan and its modern College of Engineering at Vidyanagari about which I had heard so much.

We started off from Pune in the morning at eight thirty in our dependable Santro, picking up an ex-Baramatikar Bipin Pole, who had so readily agreed to accompany and guide us along, hit Shankershet road, crossed Hadapsar, and turned right and sped towards Baramati via the Saswad, Jejuri, Morgaon route. It’s a smooth drive, and soon we were negotiating our way up the Dive Ghat, glancing at the once brimming with water, now dry, Mastani Lake or Talav, down below to our left, crossed Saswad [where we would stop on our way back to meet my uncle], and soon could see the majestic Jejuri Temple atop the peak straight ahead. Crossing Jejuri, a pleasant drive, and soon we saw the famous Ashtavinayak Morgaon Ganesh Temple [where we would all pray and pay our obeisance].

At Morgaon we turned left on our final leg towards Baramati, leaving the Indian Seamless Metal Tubes factory to our right and as we crossed Medad Fort to our left we started to get a feel of the transformation seeing the excellent quality broad roads. As we approached the town I experienced a sense of déjà vu [I was visiting Baramati for the first time since the early nineteen sixties – after almost forty five years] as we approached Dr. Atul Pole’s dispensary opposite the then Shyam Talkies [now replaced by the modern and elegant Vidya Pratishtan Office Complex but the road is still known as Cinema Road]. It was almost noon; we’d covered the little over 100 kilometers distance in three hours.

Dr. Atul Pole [son of the illustrious “Pole Doctor”] and his charming wife were waiting for us with delicious upma and refreshing piping hot tea, and after refreshing ourselves we were off towards Vidyanagari, the campus of Vidya Pratishthan. Turning right on Bhigwan Road, past the canal, and the once narrow gauge [I remember traveling by the Daund – Baramati Toy Train] railway station adorned with its commemorative little steam engine as a remembrance of its heritage, we drove smoothly on the broad top quality road past the elegant court building and swanky well laid out colonies and soon reached Vidyanagari. It’s a pleasure to drive on the smooth spacious traffic-free roads – the roads here are certainly better that the roads in Pune.

The moment you reach Vidyanagari you feel as if you have entered another world. Vidyanagari’s truly impressive pristine, lush green, verdant campus, echoing with elevating silence, engenders within you that unique sense of tranquility and academic ambiance which is a sine qua non of a genuine learning environment. The museum is truly inspiring and exquisite – you’ve got to see it to visualize how dazzling and awe-inspiring it is. I was overwhelmed with a wonderful feeling as we strolled leisurely through the scenic soothing green campus.

Outside it had the old-world charm of the beautiful serene university milieu of yesteryear; inside the facilities and infrastructure were most modernistic high-tech state-of-the-art. A lovely symbiosis of nature and technology indeed!

In the good old days premier residential engineering colleges like Roorkee, BENCO and even the earlier IITs were located in self-contained campuses far away from the hustle-bustle and distractions of city life in order to facilitate holistic learning – the Vidya Pratishthan’s College of Engineering at Vidyanagari has similar favorable environs and academic atmosphere conducive to peaceful undisturbed learning and all round development.

We walk past students in their smart college T-shirts, admiring the rambling playgrounds, the superb well-stocked library, the neat hostels and faculty quarters and the impressive VIIT building and reach the magnificent College of Engineering building where we enjoy a fruitful interaction with a most pleasant, knowledgeable and enthusiastic senior faculty member Prakash Gogte who tells us all about his premier institution. As we leave, I wonder whether someday I’ll be back in Baramati to be a part of this wonderful institution.

We now drive around the new parts of Baramati and arrive at the Maalya Varchi Devi temple and offer prayers. Then we drive back into the old part of Baramati, past the erstwhile Siddhaye hospital where I was born, down Station Road to my grandfather’s ancient majestic house which still stands strong. [My grandfather came to Baramati in the early 1920’s and his address was simple – KN Gokhale, BA. LL.B., Pleader, Station Road, Baramati].

Tears of nostalgia well up in my mother’s eyes as she goes around the ancient house – her childhood home. A school classmate and some acquaintances come to meet her and they are all so happy reminiscing and exchanging notes about their friends and families. Seeing the joy on my mother’s face I am glad we came to Baramati.

We see the important places nearby –the Siddheshwar temple, Bhuikot Fort [the earlier location of the court where my grandfather worked] and drive on the banks of the Karha river. It’s late afternoon now, and my mother has to be back home before dark owing to her vision deterioration, so we head back for Pune.

I’m glad we visited Baramati. Truly admirable breathtaking development and a marvelous transformation from the fleeting memories of the once dusty little mofussil town I had in my mind. I’m going to visit Baramati and rediscover more of my roots again and again – maybe next time by train via Daund. I hope they start convenient fast trains from Pune so that Baramati is as easily accessible by rail as it is by road.

VIKRAM KARVE

Copyright © Vikram Karve 2007

Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

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रात्रि साढ़े ग्यारह बजे हमने रेलवे स्टेशन की ओर कूच किया| शिव गंगा एक्सप्रेस करीब एक घंटा विलम्ब से आई परन्तु हमने समय कुछ ऐसा काटा कि पता नहीं चला| खैर प्रातः ९ बजे हम बनारस पहुंचे| थोड़ी जद्दोजहद के बाद एक होटल में कमरा लिया और तरोताजा होने के बाद सारनाथ की ओर प्रस्थान किया| सारनाथ में हम मंदिरों के अतिरिक्त संग्रहालय भी गए| नीरज भारत सरकार के द्वारा किए गए संरक्षण प्रबंधों से काफी प्रभावित हुआ और बोला कि हम लोग बेवजह ही सरकार कि हर बात पर निंदा किया करते हैं|

अपराह्न में हम काशी हिंदू विश्वविद्यालय (बी. एच. यू.) गए और काशी विश्वनाथ मन्दिर में दर्शन के पश्चात् अपने पूर्व शिक्षक श्री राम शरण सिंह से भी मिले| सर के साथ करीब डेढ़ घंटे तक हमने विभिन्न विषयों पर विचार विमर्श किया| सर ने हमें रात्रिभोज पर आमंत्रित किया जिसका हमने भारत व आस्ट्रेलिया के बीच ट्वेन्टी-ट्वेन्टी मैच के साथ आनंद लिया| इससे पहले सायंकाल हमने अस्सी घाट से दशाशमेघ घाट तक नौका विहार का आनंद भी लिया|

अगले दिन प्रातः ही हमने इलाहाबाद कि ओर चढा़ई कर दी| प्रातः अल्लापुर स्थित मामा जी के आवास पर नाश्ता करने के पश्चात् हम नीरज के अंकल जी के साथ संगम नहाने गए| नीरज के अंकल जी दरअसल एक रोचक व्यक्तित्व निकले| जीवन के अनेक पहलुओं पर हमने उनके विचार सुने| उन्होंने हमें ब्रह्म विवाह, अष्टावक्र गीता, स्वस्थ जीवन शैली इत्यादी के बारे में बताया| उनकी सभी बातों से मैं सहमत था यह तो नहीं कहूँगा परन्तु हिंदुत्व के बारे में काफी जानने को मिला|

संगम स्नान के बाद हम मुग़ल सम्राट अकबर के किले में स्थित अक्षयवट देखने गए| इस वृक्ष का मुख्य भाग अब किले के सेना अधीन क्षेत्र में है जो कि आम नागरिकों के लिए निषिद्ध है| कहते हैं आदिकाल में जब जलप्रलय आई थी तब इसी अक्षयवट के सहारे ही कुछ लोग बच पाये थे| खैर प्रलय तो क्या गंगा में भीषण बाढ़ आयी होगी| सायंकाल हम लोग शिवकुटी स्थित ज्ञानदत्त पांडे जी के आवास गए| थोड़ी मशक्कत और कुछ फोन कॉल्स के फलस्वरूप हमने ज्ञानदत्त जी का घर ढूंढ़ निकाला| उनसे हमने रेलवे से संबंधित कई शंकाओं का समाधान किया | उन्होंने रेलवे-लालू किस्से पर भी प्रकाश डाला| वे हमारे शोध कार्य के बारे में जानने के लिए भी काफी उत्सुक थे | नीरज ने उन्हें गैस हाईड्रेट्स के बारे में बताया तो उन्होंने काफी दिलचस्पी दिखाई|

रात में हम इलाहाबाद-मथुरा एक्सप्रेस से वापस कानपुर लौट आए| अंततः हमारी तीन दिवसीय थकान भरी पूर्वी उत्तर प्रदेश की यात्रा समाप्त हुई |

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काशी विश्वविद्यालय

यही है वह जगह

जहां नामालूम तरीके से नहीं आता है वसंतोत्सव

हमउमर की तरह आता है

आंखों में आंखे मिलाते हुए

मगर चला जाता है चुपचाप

जैसे बाज़ार से गुज़र जाता है बेरोजगार

एक दुकानदार की तरह

मुस्कराता रह जाता है

फूलों लदा सिंहद्वार

इस बार वसंत आए तो जरा रोकना उसे

मुझे उसे सौंपने हैं

लाल फीते का बढता कारोबार

नीले फीते का नशा

काले फीते का अम्बार

कुछ लोगों के सुभीते के लिए

डाली गई दरार

दरार में फंसी हमारी जीत - हार

किताबों की अनिश्चितकालीन बन्दियां

कलेजे पर कवायद करतीं भारी बूटों की आवाजें

भविष्य के फटे हुए पन्ने

इस बार वसंत आए तो जरा रोकना उसे

बेतरह गिरते पत्तों की तरह

ये सब भी तो उसे देने हैं .

अरे , लो

वसंत आया

ठिठका

चला गया

और पथराव में उलझ गए हमारे हांथ

फिर उनहत्तरवीं बार !

किसने सोचा था

कि हमारे फेंके गये पत्थरों से

देखते - देखते

खडी हो जाएगी एक दीवार

और फिर

मंच की तरह चौडी .

इस पर खडे लोग

मुंह फेर कर इधर भी हो सकते हैं

और पीठ फेर कर उधर भी

इस दीवार का ढहना

उतना ही जरूरी है

जितना कि एक बेहद तंग सुरंग से निकलना

जिसमें फंस कर एक जमात

दिन - रात बौनी हो रही है .

किताबों के अंधेरे में

लालीपॊप चूसने में मगन

हमें यह बौनापन

दिखाई नहीं देगा .

मगर एक अविराम चुनौती की तरह

एक पीछा करती हुई पुकार की तरह

हमारी उम्र का स्वर

बार-बार सुनाई यही देगा

कि इस अंधेरे से लडो

इस सुरंग से निकलो

इस दीवार को तोडो

इस दरार को पाटो.

और इसके लिए

फिलहाल सबसे ज्यादा मुनासिब

यही है वह जगह .

           — राजेन्द्र राजन

वसंतोत्सव

वसंतोत्सव यहां नामालूम तरीके से नहीं आता . वसंत पंचमी (१९१६ ) इस विश्वविद्यालय का स्थापना दिवस है.स्थापना दिवस के दिन छात्र - छात्रांए अलग -अलग विषय चुन कर झांकियां जुलूस की शक्ल में निकालते थे. जैसे १९८६ के स्थापना दिवस की झांकी में आचार्य नरेन्द्रदेव छात्रावास (सामाजिक विग्यान संकाय के स्नातक छात्रों का ) के बच्चों ने स्नातक प्रवेश के लिए परीक्षा को ही विषय चुना था .एक ट्रक पर विश्वविद्यालय का सिंहद्वार बना.द्वार के दो हिस्से थे.ग्रामीण पृष्ट्भूमि के छात्रों को भगा दिया जा रहा था और शहरी पृष्टभूमि के कोचिंग ,क्विज़  के अभ्यस्त बच्चों का स्वागत किया जा रहा था.सचमुच केन्द्रीय बोर्ड के पाठ्यक्रम पर आधारित प्रवेष परीक्षा के जरिए दाखिले शुरु होने के बाद पूर्वी उत्तर प्रदेश और पश्चिमी बिहार के अपने अपने बोर्ड की परीक्षा में अच्छा करने वाले छात्र भी छंटने लगे और औद्योगिक शहरों के केन्द्रीय बोर्ड के पाठ्यक्रम पढे बच्चे बढ गये.स्थापना दिवस की झांकी पर उस वर्ष बर्बर पुलिस दमन हुआ.अब झांकिया नहीं निकलतीं स्थापना दिवस पर.

यादगार और ऐतिहासिक स्थापना दिवस तो पहला ही रहा होगा.विश्वविद्यालय के संस्थापक महामना मालवीय ने अंग्रेज अधिकारियों के अलावा गांधीजी ,चंद्रशेखर रमण जैसे महानुभावों को भी बुलाया था.

गांधी जी का वक्तव्य हिन्दी में हुआ .मालवीयजी को दान देने वाले कई राजे -महाराजे आभूषणों से लदे विराजमान थे .गांधी ने उन पर बेबाक टिप्पणी की .उस भाषण को सुन कर विनोबा ने कहा कि ‘इस आदमी के विचारों में हिमालय की शान्ति और बन्गाल की क्रान्ति का समन्वय है’.लोहिया ने भी उस भाषण का आगे चल कर अपनी किताब में जिक्र किया.

गांधी एक वर्ष पूर्व ही दक्षिण अफ़्रीका से लौटे थे और भारत की जमीन पर पहला सत्याग्रह एक वर्ष बाद चंपारन में होना था.’मालवीयजी महाराज’ (गांधीजी उन्हें यह कहते थे) की दूरदृष्टि थी की भविष्य के नेता को पहचान कर उन्हें बुलाया.

गांधीजी के भाषण से राजे महराजों के अलावा डॊ. एनी बेसेण्ट भी नाराज हुई थीं.इस भाषण के कुछ अंश तो अगली प्रविष्टि मे दूंगा लेकिन पाठकों से यह अपील भी करूंगा कि ‘सम्पूर्ण गांधी वांग्मय’ हिन्दी मे संजाल पर उपलब्ध कराने की मांग करें.सभी १०० खण्ड अंग्रेजी में संजाल पर हैं.

राजन की कविता

राजन की कविता पहले पहल तो पर्चे में छपी थी.’किताबों की एक अनिश्चितकालीन बन्दी’ के दौरान.पर्चे की सहयोग राशि थी २० पैसे.मेरे झोले में करीब बत्तीस रुपए सिक्कों में थे जब उस पर्चे को बेचते हुए मैं गिरफ़्तार हुआ था.चूंकि विश्वविद्यालय के तत्कालीन संकट के लिहाज से यह ‘समाचार’ था इसलिए समाचार - पत्रिका ‘माया’ ने इसे एक अलग बॊक्स में,सन्दर्भ सहित छापा.’माया’ में वैसे कविता नहीं छपती थी.

 राजन ने यह कविता समता युवजन सभा के अपने साथियों को समर्पित की थी . राजेन्द्र राजन किशन पटनायक के सम्पादकत्व मे छपने वाली ‘सामयिक वार्ता’ के सम्पादन से लम्बे समय तक जुडे रहे.आजकल ‘जनसत्ता’ के सम्पादकीय विभाग में हैं. ‘समकालीन साहित्य ‘ , ‘हंस’ आदि में राजन की कवितांए छपी हैं . छात्र राजनीति से जुडी एक जमात ने यह कविता  पर्चे और पोस्टर (हाथ से बने ,छपे नहीं ) द्वारा प्रसारित की.उस जमात का छात्र -राजनीति की मुख्यधारा से कैसा नाता होगा,इसका अंदाज लगाया जा सकता है .

बहरहाल, पिछली प्रविष्टि में स्थापना दिवस पर गांधी जी के भाषण का जिक्र किया था.गांधी जी के चुनिन्दा भाषणों मे गिनती होती है ,उस भाषण की  .वाइसरॊय लॊर्ड हार्डिंग के आगमन की तैय्यारी में शहर के चप्पे - चप्पे में खूफ़िया तंत्र के बिछाये गये जाल ,विश्वनाथ मन्दिर की गली की गन्दगी से आदि का भी गांधी जी ने उल्लेख किया था .यहां उच्च शिक्षण की बाबत जो उल्लेख आया था,उसे दे रहा हूं :

“मैं आशा करता हूं कि यह विश्वविद्यालय इस बात का प्रबन्ध करेगा कि जो युवक - युवतियां यहां पढने आवें , उन्हें उनकी मतृभाषाओं के जरिए शिक्षा मिले.हमारी भाषा हमारा अपना प्रतिबिम्ब होती है . और अगर आप कहें कि भाषांए उत्तम विचारों को प्रकट करने में असमर्थ हैं ,तो मैं कहूंगा कि जितनी जल्दी इस दुनिया से हमारा अस्तित्व मिट जाए उतना ही अच्छा होगा . क्या यहां एक भी ऐसा आदमी है ,जो यह सपना देखता हो कि अंग्रेजी कभी हिन्दुस्तान की राष्ट्रभाषा बन सकती है? (’कभी नहीं’ की आवाजें ) राष्ट्र पर यह विदेशी माध्यम का बोझ किस लिए ? एक क्षण के लिए तो सोचिए कि हमारे लडकों को हर अंग्रेज लडके के साथ कैसी असमान दौड दौड़नी पडती है . “

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ऊपर इसी चिट्ठे पर मेरी तीन शुरुआती प्रविष्टियाँ हैं । इस चिट्ठे पर प्रस्तुत गत एक वर्ष की सभी प्रविष्टियों की सूची नीचे दे रहा हूँ :

कविता/कवि

काशी विश्वविद्यालय : राजेन्द्र राजन , पूर्णकालिक कवि-कार्यकर्ता : ज्ञानेन्द्रपति , कवि ज्ञानेन्द्रपति से वार्ता : बौद्धिक सृजन का काम जारी रहना चाहिए , कवि ज्ञानेन्द्रपति से वार्ता (२) , कवि ज्ञानेन्द्रपति का ‘पहल’ द्वारा सम्मान,एक कविता , आभासी नाता , राजा की शान , उदयप्रकाश , बुखार पर्व उर्फ़ आस्था के सवाल के सबसे ऊँचे तापमान पर - राजेन्द्र राजन , खेसाड़ी दाल की तरह निन्दित : ज्ञानेन्द्रपति , पहला नशा ,पहला खुमार , अशोक सेक्सरिया की दो कवितायें , हर लमहा ख़बरदार है अखबारनवीसी : सलीम शिवालवी , ‘मेला लगेगा यहाँ पर..’ : दुष्यन्त कुमार ,

लोहिया

हिन्दू बनाम हिन्दू : डॉ. राममनोहर लोहिया , हिन्दू बनाम हिन्दू (२) : डॉ. राममनोहर लोहिया , हिन्दू बनाम हिन्दू (३) : डॉ. राममनोहर लोहिया , राम , कृष्ण और शिव : राममनोहर लोहिया , लोहिया : मर्यादित , उन्मुक्त और असीमित व्यक्तित्व (२) , एक कौम : उसकी हँसी , उसके सपने ( लोहिया : ३ ) , दो माँ , दो बाप , दो नगर , दो प्रेमिकाएँ या यों कहिए अनेक ( ले. लोहिया) , देश की पूर्व - पश्चिम एकता का देव : कृष्ण (२) : डॉ . लोहिया , पटना-गया की मगध-धुरी , हस्तिनापुर-इन्द्रप्रस्थ की कुरु-धुरी : कृष्ण(३) : लोहिया , कृष्ण - कृष्णा सखा-सखी ही क्यों रहे ? : कृष्ण (४) : लोहिया ,

विविध

वसंतोत्सव , राजन की कविता ,

उपेक्षित स्थानीय निकाय , स्थानीय निकायों के अधिकारों में इजाफ़ा , गंगा , चाय बागान और काशी विश्वविद्यालय (गतांक से ) , होली : प्रह्लाद,हिरण्यकश्यप और होलिका , नारायण देसाई को मूर्तिदेवी पुरस्कार , जीना ने ताने और गालियाँ सबसे पहले सीखीं , नाम : स्फुट विचार , नाम - विचार के बहाने , " बन्दर का दिया खाते हो ? "  , वे जिन्दा हैं : ले. सरोजिनी नायडू , १८५७ से ७६ साल पहले ,

चित्र

” डाल पर इठला रहा है ,कैपिटलिस्ट “:निराला , पडोसी पंछी ,

चिट्ठेकारी

‘ फ़ैब इण्डिया ‘ से मेल खाते कुर्ते के बहाने , काएदे कानून समझाने लगें हैं : दुष्यन्त कुमार सावधान ! , पचखा में नारद ,दुष्यन्त के सहारे ,

ITBHU  

Institute of Technology

Banaras Hindu University

Varanasi

India

On what basis do you judge an educational institution – an Engineering College or a B-School? In today’s world there is just one criterion – market value – the starting salaries and campus placement the students get – the more outrageously astronomical the pay packets, and the greater the percentage of lucrative campus placements – the better the institution. And with the increasing commercialization of education, many institutes blatantly compete, advertise, and focus on these materialistic aspects to attract students – it’s a rat race.

I feel the cardinal yardstick for appraising the true merit of an educational institution is the value-addition it instills in its alumni – and I’m not talking of utility and materialistic values alone; but more importantly the inculcation and enhancement of intrinsic and intangible higher values. The student should feel he or she has changed for the better, professionally and personally; and so should other stakeholders observing the student from the outside be able to discern the value enhancement.

I studied for my B.Tech. in Electronics Engineering at ITBHU from 1972 to 1977 (first batch IIT JEE) and I experienced the well-rounded value addition I have mentioned above. Later in life, being academically inclined, I continued studying, completed many courses, a Post Graduate Diploma in Management, an Engineering and Technology Post Graduation [M.Tech.] at a premier IIT and even taught for many years at prestigious academic institutions of higher learning, but I shall always cherish my days at ITBHU the most. I knew I was a better man, in my entirety, having passed through the portals of ITBHU, and I’m sure those scrutinizing me from the outside felt the same way.

ITBHU was amalgamated by integrating three of the country’s oldest and best engineering colleges: BENCO ( Banaras Engineering College ) – the first in the Orient, and certainly in India , to introduce the disciplines of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, MINMET – the pioneer in Mining and Metallurgy in India , and College of Technology – the first to start Chemical and Ceramic Engineering. Indeed these three institutions were the harbingers of industrialization in our country.

In my time ITBHU was indeed a center of excellence, an apt institution to study in, and a lovely place to live in. The vast verdant lush green semi-circular campus at the southern end of Varanasi , the largest university campus I have ever seen, with its pleasant and relaxed atmosphere was ideal for student life. And being a part of a premier university afforded one a consummate multidisciplinary experience.

It was a delightful and fulfilling experience I will always cherish – learning from erudite and totally dedicated Professors, who were authorities in their fields of specialization, amidst excellent academic facilities and ambience, elaborate labs and workshops, lush green campus, well-designed comfortable hostels, delicious food, expansive sports fields and facilities for all types of sports, the beautiful swimming pool, the unique well-stocked and intellectually inspiring Gaekwad library, and the exquisite temple that added a spiritual dimension to the scholarly ambiance. One could learn heritage and foreign languages, fine arts, music, indology, philosophy, yoga, pursue hobbies like numismatics – the avenues for learning were mind-boggling. The idyllic environs of BHU helped one develop a philosophical attitude to life.

Like all premier institutes ITBHU was fully residential, which fostered camaraderie and facilitated lifelong friendships amongst the alumni. I can never forget those delightful moments in Dhanrajgiri, Morvi, Vishwakarma, Vishveswarayya and CV Raman hostels, mouthwatering memories of the Lavang Lata and Lassi at Pehelwan’s in Lanka, the Lal Peda opposite Sankat Mochan, and the delicious wholesome cuisine of the city, and the cycle trips all over Varanasi, Sarnath, and even across the holy and sacred Ganga on the pontoon bridge to watch the Ram Lila at Ramnagar.

Way back then, in the nineteen seventies, ITBHU was a wonderful place to study engineering and live one’s formative years in. I wonder what my dear alma mater is like now!

VIKRAM KARVE

http://vikramkarve.sulekha.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/karve

http://www.ryze.com/go/karve

vikramkarve@sify.com

vikramkarve@hotmail.com

Alma Mater

ITBHU  

Institute of Technology

Banaras Hindu University

Varanasi

India

On what basis do you judge an educational institution – an Engineering College or a B-School? In today’s world there is just one criterion – market value – the starting salaries and campus placement the students get – the more outrageously astronomical the pay packets, and the greater the percentage of lucrative campus placements – the better the institution. And with the increasing commercialization of education, many institutes blatantly compete, advertise, and focus on these materialistic aspects to attract students – it’s a rat race.

I feel the cardinal yardstick for appraising the true merit of an educational institution is the value-addition it instills in its alumni – and I’m not talking of utility and materialistic values alone; but more importantly the inculcation and enhancement of intrinsic and intangible higher values. The student should feel he or she has changed for the better, professionally and personally; and so should other stakeholders observing the student from the outside be able to discern the value enhancement.

I studied for my B.Tech. in Electronics Engineering at ITBHU from 1972 to 1977 (first batch IIT JEE) and I experienced the well-rounded value addition I have mentioned above. Later in life, being academically inclined, I continued studying, completed many courses, a Post Graduate Diploma in Management, an Engineering and Technology Post Graduation [M.Tech.] at a premier IIT and even taught for many years at prestigious academic institutions of higher learning, but I shall always cherish my days at ITBHU the most. I knew I was a better man, in my entirety, having passed through the portals of ITBHU, and I’m sure those scrutinizing me from the outside felt the same way.

ITBHU was amalgamated by integrating three of the country’s oldest and best engineering colleges: BENCO ( Banaras Engineering College ) – the first in the Orient, and certainly in India , to introduce the disciplines of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, MINMET – the pioneer in Mining and Metallurgy in India , and College of Technology – the first to start Chemical and Ceramic Engineering. Indeed these three institutions were the harbingers of industrialization in our country.

In my time ITBHU was indeed a center of excellence, an apt institution to study in, and a lovely place to live in. The vast verdant lush green semi-circular campus at the southern end of Varanasi , the largest university campus I have ever seen, with its pleasant and relaxed atmosphere was ideal for student life. And being a part of a premier university afforded one a consummate multidisciplinary experience.

It was a delightful and fulfilling experience I will always cherish – learning from erudite and totally dedicated Professors, who were authorities in their fields of specialization, amidst excellent academic facilities and ambience, elaborate labs and workshops, lush green campus, well-designed comfortable hostels, delicious food, expansive sports fields and facilities for all types of sports, the beautiful swimming pool, the unique well-stocked and intellectually inspiring Gaekwad library, and the exquisite temple that added a spiritual dimension to the scholarly ambiance. One could learn heritage and foreign languages, fine arts, music, indology, philosophy, yoga, pursue hobbies like numismatics – the avenues for learning were mind-boggling. The idyllic environs of BHU helped one develop a philosophical attitude to life.

Like all premier institutes ITBHU was fully residential, which fostered camaraderie and facilitated lifelong friendships amongst the alumni. I can never forget those delightful moments in Dhanrajgiri, Morvi, Vishwakarma, Vishveswarayya and CV Raman hostels, mouthwatering memories of the Lavang Lata and Lassi at Pehelwan’s in Lanka, the Lal Peda opposite Sankat Mochan, and the delicious wholesome cuisine of the city, and the cycle trips all over Varanasi, Sarnath, and even across the holy and sacred Ganga on the pontoon bridge to watch the Ram Lila at Ramnagar.

Way back then, in the nineteen seventies, ITBHU was a wonderful place to study engineering and live one’s formative years in. I wonder what my dear alma mater is like now!

VIKRAM KARVE