Nostalgia & History

Re-living BITS

The author returns to Pilani to find a lot has changed, and some things haven't

By Laxman Mohanty

17 years have passed. When I left Pilani for my PS-II station in Bombay, I had no idea that I would be coming back one day to this place where I studied less but learnt a hell of a lot about myself. After coming back and spending two months on this campus, I have a bagful of feelings and reflections.

In returning to a place which had important influence in one’s life, we risk that our carefully preserved mental images may be blown away. But surprisingly. Pilani has remained very much the same after almost two decades. This makes me happy as I know I can find my way out and even predict the dinner menu in the mess on a particular day.  But it makes me sad too.  When everything in this world is changing so fast, how can things here remain the same?

I’m not sure why I’m sad. Is it that we long for the “progress” and “change” that we never experienced? There’s another perspective – one can’t help but admire how the Birlas could build a campus that can still handle the pressures of a growing student population and the march of time. It’s only when I see professors with graying and white hair, I feel that time is passing.  This passage of time is also reflected in Pappu in SkyLab, who is no more the young boy that he used to be.

The other day I was sitting in the RBM mess and looking at the benches which have been proudly standing straight for so many years. Year after year, thousands of students have sat on them.  Now these students are gone. Many are highly successful, leading high tech companies, teaching at prestigious colleges and universities and carrying on many more challenging jobs. I wish these benches could speak of these people, their conversations, and their worries and thoughts when they were young.  These benches may have given us an inkling into what made these BITSians into the successful men and women they are today.

During my first innings here, we had only around 100 girls and 2,000 boys. But this mix has changed dramatically. I did not believe my eyes at first when I saw girls standing in front of boys’ hostels and looking for their friends. It makes me feel that you need not to carry out any serious research to find out if Indian women have really progressed in all these years. 

Today there are hundreds of cycles in front of the “insti”. Has Meera Bhawan moved far away from the clock tower ? Or do these bicycles in some way symbolize the new generation on the move?

The two most interesting spots in BITS campus remain SkyLab lawn and C’Not. After visiting many campuses around the world, I believe that every campus must have a place like Skylab lawn. Sky has come to represent a hub of community living. What better luxury than to lie on the lawn, sipping tea while reading a novel on a sunny glorious winter afternoon. I cannot imagine a better environment for debate and discussin than sitting around in a circle on the lush green lawns, with Pappu’s foot soldiers bringing you tea and shikanji. While the SkyLab lawn remains as glorious as it used to be, C’Not seems to be losing its charm. I miss those “moodas”, where I used to sit on one and put my legs on the other) and the crowds. Of course more of the same kinds of shops have come up. 

Some things have changed, though.  Blue Moon has stopped making its trademark “samosas” and the old man “Jain sahib” is no more visible lying on his “khatia” in front of his book shop. There seem to be a lot of STD/PCO booths around, signs that even this small place has become an integral part of the networked world.

Today one thing I miss badly is the cricket in the verandah. Cricket has moved to larger grounds; the open spaces within the hostel complex or the fields in front of the hostels.

In the last two months I have seen more cultural performances than what I saw at IIM Ahmedabad in a whole year. It makes me wonder how BITS has become so cultural, when all our cities and towns seem to be forgetting that we used to have a rich cultural heritage.  Only by preserving and enriching our heritage we can claim our rightful place in the world of nations.  Kudos to the students.

I remember that the reference library used to be the forbidden place for me. But today, its the place where I spend more of my time. This change in me only confirms that the old memories, priorities and things may not match the new realities about youself.  I can relate to the ref lib.  Its an owl, old and wise, maybe like me..?

Today, when I see wrappers of all kinds around, I fail to understand how students can be so lacking in civic sense. I don’t remember seeing garbage lying around back then.  Then again, I don’t think I ever thought about civic sense as a student here. Maybe it’s another thing about me that’s changed.

In coming back as a student, I find myself enjoying attending classes. It is almost diametrically opposite of what used to happen two decades back. Classes were like punishment and they were avoided at all costs. It may be because I am not moving like a subassembly on a conveyer belt. I am here because I wanted to be and I am paying from my own pocket for this opportunity. I wish there was a way for us to change the system so our education here does not be a burden, but instead be an enjoyable experience.

Today S-9 seems to be the hotbed of activity. It’s a sight to see so many big photocopying machines sitting majestically and churning out copies. I wonder how we survived without these things back then.   

While going through the systems and facilities I wish we could add a few things to BITS and make some improvements.  I don’t know why I feel like that. It may be because I have higher expectations now. Didn’t Buddha tell that the root cause of sorrow is desire? Maybe to lead a stress-free life, I need is to curtail my expectations!

In the two months I’ve spent here, I’ve had time for a lot of reflection.The BITS campus lets one do that.  I learnt a lot about myself the first time round, and in my second innings, I confirmed many of these truths.  This place is truly one for self reflection, with simple pleasures and uncluttered routines.  I can begin to understand why we all feel so passionately about Pilani even 17 years after leaving this place ■

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