MY COLLEGE LIFE AND FRIENDS.

My world was a blank page when I first reached College of Dairy and Food Science Technology in Udaipur, Rajasthan, India. That was for the first time I started experiencing many new things; first travel in train, first time in Delhi, first time trying to talk in Hindi and first time away from Bhutan and for the first time entering into the place where average temperature was 40 degree Celsius. Moreover, it was for the first time I entered into a class with pant and shirt among other Indian classmates. The most embarrassing thing was when other college mates started staring at me at each step I took in the college. I guess that was how my college life chapter opened.

My Bhutanese senior, Dorji Rinchen came all the way from College about 8 hours travel by bus to collect me. I had never seen my senior until that day though I talked to him over phone. My nervousness and home sickness escalated as I moved far and further away from Bhutan. Though weak in the heart, I gathered my confidence and started thinking that everything was part of my life ahead.

On 13^th October 2008, I reached Udaipur accompanied by my senior and he took me directly to D.T Boys Hostel to his room. By that time, I was physically exhausted after days of travelling and obviously due to heat too. I went to take shower in the bathroom and I was so shocked to see a room full of DT Boys Hostellers who came to see me. All I can recall was my senior who was compromising with them to let me rest.

Next day, I went to College with my senior and he took me to Dean’s chamber, introduced me to H.O.Ds, Professors, lecturers and other classmates. My senior helped me to do admission formalities and also to open bank account in Rajasthan Bank Ltd. After all my admission formalities were completed, I went to attend my class for the first time. When I first entered the class, everyone started starring at me which I got nervous and cold sweat. Right after one class was over, every student in my class turned back to me and started asking my name, address and bla bla bla… Majority of them were talking in Hindi which I did not understand. Fortunately, a handful of students did talk to me in English.

My first day in the class and college is still vivid; Kailash Verma and Manish Parsoya sat next to me surrounded by others like Chandra Shekhar Salvi, Shankar Dayal Sagar, Purushottam Meena, Om Prakash Meena, Hariman Meena who all later became my close group friends. They helped me every time since then, and started to teach me Hindi. Some of our group photos are shown below;

University Campus

After getting selected during Campus interview.

University Road.

Holi Festival.

Picnic at Nandeshwar.

My friends came from different places under Rajasthan state; Manish Parsoya from Sikar District, Chandra Shekhar Salvi from Chittorgarh District, Shankar Dayal Sagar from Baratpur, Purushottam Meena from Kota, Kailash Verma from Rajsamand, Om Prakash Meena from Jaipur and Hariman Meena from Dausa districts.

Mr. Kailash Verma.

By the way, we had interesting nick names to our friends among ourselves; I was called as Captain, Ajay Devgan for Kailash Verma who was a great fan of Ajay Devgan. Kailash would maintain his French cut moustache style and hairstyle like Ajay Devgan. And yeah, he would also keep Ajay Devgan as his mobile wall paper. At times, Kailash would speak movie dialogues of Ajay Devgan. He would read notes prepared by Om Prakash Meena towards last minute.

Mr. Manish Parsoya.

Manish Parsoya, who we popularly called him as “Mr. Akon” was very interesting. We would sit down together and I still remember saying that he wanted to go till Mumbai to meet Akon when Akon came to promote songs of Ra-One movie which he sang. He was a true fan of Pitbull too. That was the reason why he would trim his hair so short all time. He would mimic dialogues and actions of many Bollywood actors and Comedian. We used to call him as “Nana Bhai”. Manish is one who, I have partied for most times and he taught me Hindi.

Mr. Hariman Meena.

Hariman Meena was called as “Professor”. There is a reason behind why we called him as Professor. Hariman Meena was a career oriented guy who would be with books all the time. And we found him in tension and worries all the time. He wears spectacles which resembles like our Professor, Dr Subramanium of our College too.

Mr. Purushottam Meena

Purushottam Meena was called as “Haroti Hero” as he was fun loving guy. But his mood used to swing everytime. I mean he was a moody guy. He loves partying everyday if not most often. His local dialect was Haroti and he would wear black goggles whenever he rode a bike.

Mr. Shankar Dayal Sagar. 

Shankar Dayal Sagar was called as “Shahid Kapoor” for collection of Shahid Kapoor’s wall paper photos. And Sagar was also a gym freak as I was. We used to frequent to gym as Gym facility was very close to our hostel. Sagar used to dress in Shahid’s style.

Mr. Om Prakash Meena.

                        

Om Prakash Meena was the shortest among our group friends. That is why we gave “Gutti” or “Rajpal Yadav” names to him. He never used to get annoyed whenever we tried to make fun of him. But he used to forget most often. I still remember calling him during lecture when his mobile was in ringing mode, and he was subsequently warned by lecturer.

Mr. Chandra Shekhar Salvi.

We used to call as “Mr Remo” to Chandra Shekhar Salvi as he would show his dance moves at any places; like hostel, canteen, tea stall, college corridor, and even on roads. He was also one of the busiest friends as he would go to canteen and tea stall frequently. He was a care free guy as he would write his assignments towards the last minute. He would be short of attendance and he approached me to write an application to Dean seeking permission and mercy to sit for examination. I still remember his dialogue, “Sonam, don’t fear, Salvi is here”. Riding bike with him was one interesting moment during college days. He would run after Hariman’s notes whenever exams approached.

We used to go out in the city together for movies, shopping and to visit places. The most enjoyable moments were picnic to Nandeshwar, Udaipur visit during first year, visit to chottorgarh fort, playing football in the rain, table tennis in hostel, cricket match against juniors, etc.

Another memorable moment was obviously the celebration of Birthdays where we used to kick and bash up birthday boy. Going for a late night walk inside University campus, celebration of Holi festival with colours, and grand party after declaration of academic results, compromising after misunderstanding, college politics, camp fire outside hostel, chess competition among hostelers were some important memories which are still fresh within me and I guess the same will be with those of my friends. Above all, gathering at a tea stall (Shivji Thadi) every evening and morning for a chat and cracking jokes and many more.

 During four years degree, we stood and stayed together. We really had a good time and today, they are working in different organisations across India;

1.      Kailsh Verma, ITC Limited, West Bengal.

2.      Chandra Shekhar Salvi, Mehsana Dairy, Gujarat.

3.      Shankar Dayal Sagar, Mehsana Dairy, Gujarat.

4.      Purushottam Meena, Kota Dairy, Rajasthan.

5.      Om Prakash Meena, Jaipur Dairy, Rajasthan.

6.      Hariman Meena, Electricity Board Of India.

7.      Manish Parsoya, Pursuing Masters Degree.

Therefore, I wish them a very Good Luck.