Engg Memoirs

Engg College Days - II Year

2009-03-01T19:19:00.004+08:00

The second year saw us migrating into the great EIE department: the petite building hiding beside the giant ECE building and accommodating the most brilliant, young and vibrant of all the staff in the whole of the college. At least that's what I had thought at first. The host to welcome all of us was none other than Mr.Albert Raj, the HOD of the department. Yes we knew this only this semester since we were under an illusion that it was Mr.Jegan Singh who was the HOD in the previous semester since we had not seen the real department head then. Also his style with cooling glass and the bullet bike added to this delusion . It turned out that Mr.Jegan Singh was the lab attendant (with all due respect) .The first day in the EIE department I remember the HOD welcoming us in his usual style begining with a customary Yes. We were just waiting outside after 9 am to see if some one will show us the class. He was the youngest of the HOD's in our college and I had thought him to be much better than the others.
The lateral entries students were Ragesh Kumar, Shanti, Abilash, Umapathi, UmaRani, Renjith, Ismail and Raffi. They directly come to semester 3 after completing diploma. Ragesh kumar becoming Ambani and the reliance mobile phone double offer (phone for a phone) is unforgettable. Nitish's counting of Glan's ok's which was initially started by mech guys just continued in this semester too. And the records were maintained with half century hitting high normally in most of his classes. Jegan singh always commented on Moorthy that his uniform is not matching with others whenever he saw him. Moorthy was the only one guy who did not order the uniform from him. As always:odd man out! Abilash's self styled signature of the lab observations since only after this we could even think of writing in the record. Day by day he improved upon his skill and became a master. His customer base also grew stronger starting with millionaire Ambani. AK Senthil Rajan got the name "Auto Rajan" since he travels a lot in Auto. We started keeping in touch with the seniors in order to get some notes and to know more about the tests and also simply chit chat. The timing in first year did not allow for this then. Venketesh was the serious sort of guy in class and Anooj the coolest of the chaps.

By now cutting classes had become a way of life and the big names legendary. Naturally, Mohd. Raffi too joined this party of bunkers. Our class had admirers even from the staff. This confirmed our class in the first floor of the building near to the HOD's office and the staff room to have a closer look and also I had always thought it had something to do with Devi's seat near the door. The second sem results were out and Alagesan's Mecca-nical engg hit a new record -- a half century in the number of failures. Only 5 had managed to pass out all clear in sem 2.
Assignment writing! Oh gods that was a real comedy as expressed by Hari Vishnu in his blog. I was surprised to know that the same situation exists even in the NIT's which are considered to be the premiere institution of Engineering in India! It would be a last minute laughter when Anooj hears that assignment must be submitted in the next hour. But there was always David to help him out of such difficult situations.

Mr.Padmasuresh (MP's Padma) really made machines easy with his self styled study tips and short notes and the small tests. He made us all to study. And Glan did just the reverse. Such a simple subject like Signals and Networks was made into a complex and fearful subject that we all were afraid in the end if we can make it or not. But I passed may be because I have a liking for Glan and I studied or may be some luck. So did Shajila Ma'am. She had to rush in the end to complete the portions in DLTD and skip some main things in the end. The De Morgans Theorem is still in the back of my head. None can forget Prof. Sungunarajan blasting the other teachers in the machines lab and his knowledge is really good.
The TFM lab was really tough with more than 20 abnormal experiments for exam. I and Ambrose were in the same slot and he got a really tough experiment in the final. But that was Ambrose and he could manage even tougher things alone. Shameer was really helpful for this lab especially to copy the readings from seniors so that we could get a nearly correct result after the experiments. Introducing Ms.Lata in the Analog and Digital Lab. Jenkins always used to say "she has a special liking for both of us (he and Asir)" since she is from our own place. They did have their highly scrutinized place not only in lab but also outside. Kannan Sir was like some ET reading a special code of Communication from outer space in sem 4. Also Ms Sujatha Therese with EMT made me and Pravin go around all over the EEE department for a long time. Geraldin ma'am with ICP and Ms Joy with ADS and microprocessor were typical NI staff in their own unique style.

Our term exams were held in the EEE department. I found a very nice place to study in second year: the reading room just above the library. The library staff were pleasing and allowed us to check e-mails and log into the then new orkut account initially in sem 2 before it became a ban. I and Renjith used to go there to check mails regularly after lunch. Sometimes

Sajeev or Vinu accompany us. The library hour had some serious rush since the first persons to get there will get the pc which was around 20 in numbers. I and Renjith used to get it always since we will go before the start of the hour and be there. Abilash never worried about the pc since he regularly took a National Geographic magazine and reviewed the photos in it. He will discuss it with every body in the class during the library hour where we were supposed to be silent. The Xerox Kada and the adjustments made to get our work done first are all memories now. The pranksters were Umapathy over Abilash, Selvin over Santhar and Kapil and (Chittappu) Saravanan over Selva Moorthy. Always one or the other group will be filled with activities. Moorthy chasing some one after lunch became normal after a few classes. The class was void if Moorthy is absent for one day. An Auto getting the better of his legs when he was run over one day had wide reviews and comments. Everyone was worried about the Auto if it was still in good condition or not. Varun's gathering of all guys to beat Moorthy and still loosing in the end saw numerous ecstatic faces in the class. That day Kapil was the happiest person on Earth when somebody really gathered against Moorthy. And he was also the most affected in the end. It was no wonder that all the staff considered Moorthy to be the leader of the gang. Anything happened in the class and the question passes to Moorthy which will be answered with a "How do I know that, sir" or "I don't know about it" which will actually put him in a more suspicious position. Saravanlingom became the class rep by this year in the mid sem since Antony gave up this coveted post due to internal pressures. I lost the count of arrears that Akhilesan, Amith and Aravind got by this sem. They had actually skipped some exams for convenience. In the end Amith and Akhilesan had to quit and Aravind discontinue for a semester.

The small class tests actually improved mine, Selvin's and Santhar's group discussion skills. Pravin's logic using scale was an idea of a genius and still needs to be patended. The class bunkers got a blow and found their wits end when the maths teacher called them to write a test seperately in her staff room in sem 3. This was a disaster for the guys and any chance to get some marks curbed. Pravin's mini bus journeys needs to be made into a travelogue and it was a hit in the class. Especially Udaya used to shout "mini bus late" when ever he comes after the first hour. The guys normally entered the class without the notice of HOD (it was a sleek-peek crawl in front of his room). Once it turned out that the HOD himself was in the class when they entered and more than eight of them together in the second hour got the rave comment that the seniors are much better than this batch! Abilash's rapport with the PT teacher Dharmaraj is famous and him getting a price for light music at college day is an achievement for EIE department. Mine, and Renjith's mini project (Auto Hand dryer) for the exhibition failed in the last minute when the judges came to rate it. And we nearly burnt the plastic fan we used after two days of trial and had to adjust with Janaki Priya's Fan in the end which Pravin and Saravana Lingom somehow managed to get. Or did we burn her fan? I don't remember exactly. The class began with Glan explaining about Del of t and unit ramp and Nitish's count too began with the first ok of the day.

Engg College Days - II Sem

2009-02-03T00:44:00.004+08:00

Enter Second Sem. Ya some changes. Class Regrouped. No more mixtures. All are now students from EIE and one floor down from the 'E' section. New Lab coat too.This was the colour of the coat. Also Enter Asir B Regin the to be centre of attraction of all. No not denouncing Moorthy. Moorthy was always there and will be. He was in 12th, in first sem and upto final year. He was literally unbeatable. Moorthy was alone and thats loud and clear. He never needed support. Exception Kapil and Saravanan supported him. But that too happens only once in a year. Asir's case is different. I will not say he created a new group and was the group leader. Actually the group was always there right from sem 1. Asir from Kaliakavila. Jenkins his right hand. Like Annan Thambi or Guru Shishyan? But Asir was never a leader. To brief about Asir is impossible for anyone because he is an essay. Ok whats the fuss? I always thought Asir to be the complete student. He was there in every fights, every problems, every solutions, every funny things that happened around. Yes all liked him - the colloquial Kaliakavila tongue; the makkale slang. Perfectly executed. He just expressed his words aloud. An open book where the mischeives comes out in full swing. Jenkins was just the opposite. No, never think him to be a saint. He never expressed. He is Asir's ideas concealed inside. And if Jenkins is his right side, Vinu, Selvin were always at his back. For every word Asir says there is a boomerang comment either from Selvin or Vinu. Udaya too joins the party, so does Varun, Jackson and Sajeev. Alex too, so does Nitish and Avodai, Senthil Rajan also(not AK). So I donot know a person who has not commented on Asir's accent in the whole class. Indeed he became the centre of attraction. His father-son dialogue with Christopher is famous (slang war).
Ok where was I during this time? I was never in Asir's team though we have played cricket in the same team. I was actually in a famed Tom and Jerry cartoon scene which just started and was to last for the next 3 years. May be 4 or even 5. No there is no end. It is continuous. No need to say who Tom is but Jerry was Jenin. Jenin Christopher. Jenin and Jerry. It rhymes. So what was I doing there? I was somehow caught in between them. I donot remember exactly how. Famous nicknames like Vettukathi, Captain Vijaykanth, etc flowed. Even me got a name!! AK Senthilrajan was the quietest in class. No he was actually thinking, how to improve our space programme?, what should be the angle of the next rocket?, etc.. Selvin named him "Kolanthai or Paapa" which means small child in Tamil. Also the pun "Senthil Rajan Chirichitaan" became the comedy of the year.
Girls hmm I cannot name all of them here. Archana, Devi, Parvathi, Subasree, Janaki Priya, Avila, Agnes, Jisna, Esther were a few amoung the 18 girls in the class of 60. There was Anooj and his Machan Ambrose. No Anooj is not a girl, never. He and his twin sister Archana was included everywhere. They never looked like twins to me. Identical or Non-Identical? I donot get it correctly even now. There was a malayali gang too. Our own Akhilesan and Amith (though they had to discontinue later due to lack of attendence) needs a mention here. Anyone remember Sujith? He too discontinued. Sree Hari and Shameer synonymous to learn and revise also came together. They were childhood buddies & from same area too. Then the jack of all trades - Avodai. A special mention here since he's the one who opened the Orkut account for me in sem 2. Also the Tirunelveli gang with Visu and Siva Shanker. Was Kandasamy their leader? Actually there were no gangs. We were all one and from the same class. Only to know better, this seperation was needed. Then the class Rep Antony Mahesh and future rep Saravana Lingom. Was he the hot favorite of all? Have to be debated. Or just ask Glan. Siva Shanker named Antony as Kalakkal Kabali (KK) because of his style in second sem and ofcourse Antony was a fan of MGR. At that time only. So where is Roson all the while? Yes he was in the class with others. So was Varun. And what happens to the day hops food? Missing again. Did the crow eat them or the rats? Guess my mango pickles were famous. I never find them in my tiffin box for lunch. No certainly not Moorthy. I guess. Sajeev or Avodai. May be. Visu or Senthil Rajan. Oh Please tell me.
As of Staff. Enter Mr. Jegan Singh. No words can explain him. His name is legendary. Ms. Subbulakshmi, Ms.Smitha for C & D lab, Mr.Algasen and his subject saw a record result, Mr.RSPK for EG and of course Ms.Uma Rani for Computer. She was the youngest of all teaching staff and a favorite of Alex, also David, for Ambrose, Asir and Jenkins ofcourse and Sajeev. Me too, Selvin also. Yes all the guys liked her method of teaching. Moreover all thought she was better than Ms.Sheela. Once Vinu caught his nose (held his breath) for the whole hour so that he can listen properly. Subbulakshmi or Subbu in short was a student here. Graduated from here and became a teacher here itself. Thats pretty good. She comes and goes. Nobody knows. What does she teach? Nobody cares. Mr.Algasen was partly responsible for mass cuts with his extra curricular activities. But as a part of overall development it was deemed important. Many failed in Ms.Smitha's lab that sem and some got low marks also. Ms. Ambika, Ms.Sudha and Ms. Seethalakshmi were always there.
This is the class that broke several records. First mark wise, Anna University Listing. Then Attendence wise - this was highly competitive. Harish broke his own record of sem 1 for taking leave. Anooj competed and broke this. Akhilesan broke Anooj's, so did Varun and Avodai.Sethil Rajan broke all this small records. But Amith emerged as the clear leader finally when it came to numbers. Also this class had the dubious distinction of cutting class in mass groups and getting caught too. I remember that day only 18 girls and 4 boys were in the whole afternoon session. A norm that continued later with this batch and other junior batches. But our Maths teacher Ms.Sudha took it seriously. So Mr.TVS Pillai had to summon every one's guardian the next day for an explanation. Vinu was laughing his way into the class the next day. Monday. The class starts at 10.00 am. Attendence taken 18 + 8 or 12. Vinu, Udaya and MC come at 10.20 am sharp. Thats Routine. Varun and Aravind is on the way. So the attendence was taken at the last 10 minutes after the class. Sivashanker does not like 1st hour. So he comes only from second hour. Daily. Anooj, Amith and Akhilesan where are they? Oh yes, bus strike in Trivandrum. But Archana is here in class! Senthil Rajan or chotta as he is called, he's in hostel. Rather May be. Alagesan's boys are always there for NSS camps. On Duty. Social service. How many left? 18 + 8 or 11.

Semester Acheivement Award: Harish for his Speech (Elocution Competition) without mike because there was a power failure and he literally began with a strong note.

Engg College Days- I Sem

2009-01-21T15:01:00.003+08:00

Noorul Islam College of Engingeering or NICE in short is situated in the hills of Kumaracoil the southern parts of Western Ghats in Kanyakumari District. Noorul Islam means light of Islam explained my uncle who has a flair for languages. My mother and aunty dropped me at the college in the first day after praying at the Murugan Temple. I saw Manikandan my school time buddy and S.K.Rakesh and a host of others there. My first class was at the E section of the first years block. It was seperated from others (seniors) because of the fear of ragging. It was a mixed class with students from CS, EC, Mech, IT, etc..studying with us. Many students were from EI my own department so there was always company when we actually get separate class the next sem.I was seated in the last bench with Sajeev and Pradeesh a guy from mech. I knew Sajeev and Selva Moorthy and Sudhan earlier from tuition and these were the guys from CSI a school near to the one I studied. Ofcourse Roson and Ganesh were school mates at primary level. Udayakumar, Ram Ganesh, Viswanathan, Abu, Joselin Issac, Shameer and Jenkins are the other guys I met. Bemila, Sowmya, Gandhimathi, Vadana and Divya were some of the girls in the class. And of course Niyasa who we used to tease Roson with for one day we saw her gazing at him for a long time in chemistry lab.
Some of the staff worth mentioning are Ms.Seetha Lakshmi for Physics,Ms.Sudha for Maths,Mr.Komba Rajan for chemistry,Mr. Kaleel Rahuman and Ms. Ambika for English and Ms. Sheela for computer science(MS Powerpoint and Word to be specific)and she never taught excel. She was different from others as she used to ask questions before start of class and without giving time for any one to answer will ask the next person and the next. The punishment is imposition (100 times) and it was so absurd that I had to draw keyboard 10 times in the beginning. Thank god my sister drew for me as some of the guys got it 20 times the next day for not drawing. Joselin used to get the first question as 52 was her favourite number. Many liked Kaleel's class as his way of teaching was different with a voice fluctuation changing well. Shanavas who took engg mechanics was another person whose class we all hated because the subject was tough and none understood.Vignesh one of our class mates used to imitate his style of teaching in class. There were two labs for physics and chemistry with experiments to complete and we had to get the observation signed in the lab.Once the observation note is signed , only then the Lab Record note will be signed or even the entry for next experiment is allowed. Here lies the difficulty: even though the experiments are easy we had to get it signed in the same week to attend the next lab. If not we are out and then it will be two experiments pending.Was there anyone who really did not finish? I myself was there and many others too especially in Physics.Very few of the batch mates especially girls got it signed within one week. We were outstanding students after all.So was the case in the computer lab with Ms.Sheela behind us. But it was fun since there was always company and a lot of us will be out rather than inside. We just chat outside the labs and finish the observations from outside, such were our talents.
One of the main unforgettable event that happened in the first sem is the re-exam of engineering mechanics. It is a shame that the reason for re-exam was question paper leak. It seems that some students got the question paper before the exams and that is really unfortunate for others who did not get it.
(with valuable comments from Santhar and Roson)

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