South India Tour

Engineering College bus took was from Trivandrum to Quilon. We got in to a meter Gauge train. Perhaps the only Meter gauge tracks in India. It took us from Quilon via Shenkotta to Madurai. When the train went through tunnels we could see only Hari and Dili(may be black body radiations).The train rumbled to an early morning stop at Madurai. We all were dumped into a nice hotel (a rare thing at that time) in Madurai.
The day was spent visiting temples and may be a Light and sound show. It was about Cherans and Cholas. Madurai Meenakshi temple is an architectural marvel. Everybody made wishes. On the way Hari started Crying. He was saying that his pocket was picked and lost all his money. The rest of the tour he was fed and entertained by others. A sudden change of plan. We decided to go to Kodikanal next day. Our Train to Chennai was only at 8 PM next day.
Two tempo vans were arranged and next day 6.AM we all left for Kodai. Because of the time limit we did a flying trip. Saw all the beautiful places. Once a while there was a race between tempos. Some also tried to steal Oranges from a farm when we stopped for sometime. The First Tempo that reaches Madurai has to collect the Luggage and go to the station. With no-mobile phones, Communications was a big problem between vans. We all were able to catch the Train to Madras.
Tired some slept in the train. We were having an argument with the TTR. Finally we had to lock him up. Early morning we were approaching Madras. From the smell we know Madras is nearby.
Madras has lot of history. It became more famous when we reached there. We were put in some hotel. Everyone rushed in to different rooms. Some were seen running out to other rooms (Oops Dili was there). Everyone finally settled in. We had a trip to various tourist attractions in Madras. We also had a day out to Mahabalipuram where we met our mechanical batch. The experience was pleasant walking round the beaches and the small hills nearby. On the way back I was having headache, so I jumped in to the first open room to lie down. I realized that I was in the wrong room when one of the Bindu's sat on me.
Next day we left for Bangalore. We were staying in a nice place opposite to Majestic. It was New Year’s Eve. We decided to celebrate it. But trouble started with one person trying to act smart and telling off the girls not to attend it. All I know is Hari was violent and was screaming at everybody. Finally Upendran sir has to intervene and things were sorted out. New Year eve was a damp affair. Next day Bangalore became famous for Jayalekshmi's shopping. Every shop keeper was hurling abuses at her because Someone told her to do hard bargaining to get things cheap. The New Year celebration incident meant more troubles ahead...
We left Bangalore to Mysore. We visited Vrindvan gardens. The beautiful Vridavan garden was magnificent in the night with lights on. We were dumped in to a hotel. Next day was spent visiting Mysore palace, Nandi hills and various other places. New Year celebration incident picking up strength from a small fire it became a bit larger fire. The actors were the same but different stories started doing rounds. I think we had a very good Script writer (Please update me with your part of the story when you read this. It will be fun to know what happened after so long) in the group.
We caught the bus to Ooty. All the luggages were put at the top. Dili was very good in doing that. But on the way to Ooty we have to climb to the roof again as bags fell down, but not much of damage was done. New Year incident fire was more visible. Instead of a fun loving group we became splinters. The Bindus were isolated, I for one was also isolated as Ajith and myself were with Bindus. The script writer was doing a very good job. There were many beautiful sights through the forest. We also stopped to take some snaps at the water falls.
By night fall we reached Ooty. It was my birthday as well. We were put in to a hotel. My mates in the room were not my best friends. Someone was seen standing in the cold lake with minimum clothes. I think it was part of some bet. New Year celebration incident was more obvious. Some were avoiding others. Do I care? I decided to give the poor group company. Well I also became a part of the untouchables. Still we decided to celebrate my birthday. I cut a cake and gave to my friends. All my birthdays were part of the tour package.
Next day we did some boating. Anand and his group had some trouble with the People in the Boat club. I intervened to solve the issue and get the money back. We wandered around Ooty collecting everlasting (the flowers). We visited Botanical garden. We did some catching practice until the ball was stuck in the trees. Amir Khan and Madhuri Dixit were also there shooting for the Film 'Dil'. The Script writer was more active now adding oil to New Year celebration incident making it a big fire.
We left Ooty to Coimbatore by bus. We missed the ride down hill on the Hill train. As the bus wound down the hair pins hill train was seen disappearing in the mist. Finally we reached Coimbatore to catch the T-garden express to Kochi and then to Trivandrum. A weighing machine was seen ill treating Beena L and Ajitha. May be because of the weights. The tour ended with all us returning to Trivandrum and few getting down at Ernakulam

C1_1990_Part_1

C1 as the name stands is for Civil Class 1. C1-1987 was born after the second semester in Engineering college. All those who had Civil engineering as the main branch starting from Alphabet A and ending in J were made part of C1. Few H guys also slipped in to the C2 batch in the form of Hanish Mohammed as well. C1 began with Anand and ended with Jaideep. We were the Junior most senior guys.

C1 began its life at room 105 in the Main Engineering block. Room 105 has library on one side and the College Entrance on the other side. Main block is a good place. It is bustling with activities and people. Other than the Civil department Lecturers Mathematics and Economics staff also taught us when we were S3-C1.Economic Lecturer happened to be my Cousin and he went and complained to my mother 'I am bit uncomfortable when Hilal is in the Class'. May be tensed on seeing a relative in the class. As we had a Junior batch my class mates and myself used to go and 'Interview' them once a while. This is a common thing. Seniors interviewing juniors.

Room no 105 was fun filled. We used to have Mass bunking of classes. I being the REP used to be the contact between Faculty and S3-C1.We decided to bunk the Engineering mechanics class. So I had to inform EM professor that no one is in the class. I have to tell the class that if I don't turn up in 10 Minutes time means the Professor is not coming. What really happened is I locked the class and jumped out through the window. But that Mass cut was successful. Gradually we had 2 new faces added to the Class. Hari.S.(later known as Wollen) and Liesel Das.

Our 3rd semester Trip was planned.-An All Kerala trip. A KTDC bus was hired to take us round kerala for 3 days. We visted Munnar, Moolamattam power station and few other Places.Started off from Trivandrum. Travelled a good strech of kerala to Moolamattam, then to Munnar. Shopping was at Cochin. We went for a late night movie. The trip was highly successful except the troubles when the accounts were presented. That is not a problem of our class. This is universal Mallu problem.

Liesel got 'Interviewed' by Baby from Computer Science thinking that She was from junior batch. She was in tears and finally I have to Intervene to sort out the situation. Baby apologised to Lisel. By the end of S3-C1 groups of friends were formed. The Ladies hostel Team, Men's hostel team. Classmates became small groups to hang around. Dili was an intresting charcater. He behaves as though he has no common sense. Only time he gets some sense is when some one decides to take his photo. Chitra beena and Devika was one of the gang(the saree gang). Bindus were one group. Asha Geeta Elizebeth and Binu and some others were a ladies hostel gang. Hari.G from Valikavu teamed with Ashokan which also had Anvar(referrd as janvar). I was stuck with Harikesh Anand and Harindranath. Baji Chandran was renamed as 'Makanaki'( Footballer from Cameroon) after the football world-cup. Jaideep started developing a resemblance to L.K Advani.

As Semesters rolled over we became S4-C1. We were moved to a asbestos shed near to the Planetarium. This was our nest for few years. Work load increased, projects combined study and combined drinking. Most of us learned playing cards the 12th subject. Afternoon was spend in the Sit out of the shed and near to the tree. Pulling each other's legs and telling stories was the time pass. Few classmates developed soft corners for others. Some became so famous that the names can be still found in Simla. Some classmates also developed rivalry for others. Well some was busy with other branches and juniors. Across the road from Asbestos shed there are few mango tress. This provided us with enough man gos during the summer time. Classmates named Harindranath as 'Kulathur kamalhassan' for his antics and not for acting skills. We had few drop outs as well Bavakutty decided to begin a new Career with Junior batch. A debutant teacher came to teach Harbour engineering. She was scared and every one was very naughty. To control the class HOD also joined he lessons, But she became nervous and decided not to invite HOD any more. A one day trip were arranged to Palaruvi which was very successful. The good thing is no one was taken by flash floods.

We had Surveying. The Short Krishan sir was explaining to us about how to level the instrument. I was sitting on the ground trying to adjust the levels. All I know is that after few seconds the whole thing was on top of me. Sangmeshri teacher had a habit of counting the number of heads after taking the attendance. She tried matching the heads and the numbers few times. But never matched. She grew wild and fumed out of the class, telling not to come again. Finally persuasion tactics worked and she was back.