CHIMAERA BITS Pilani Alumni Magazine
Down the memory lane
S B L Mathur, 1946 Mechanical
“Dear Editor,
“Here I am with the article that my father dictated and I hurriedly typed in.
“Time has changed almost everything including BITS. Please take into
consideration that my father is talking of the times when the college
buildings were still under construction and the students more or less
studied in a gurukul style… under thatched roofs!
“Hope you find everything in order.
“Thanks,
Nupur Mathur”
friend lost no time, tasted the
I am now probably one of the Now when I remember those laddoo and began to pass them on
oldest of the alumni of BITS, days, I feel elated and would love to us all. We even offered them to
Pilani. It has been my fortune to to re-live that carefree life, the the other passengers and had the
have seen the Institute grow from days when I had no worries, no audacity to offer one to the
being merely a small engineering ailments and no shackles to bind unsuspecting Seth himself! We
college in a remote part of the me down. Life seemed to flow worked hard on the laddoos till
country to becoming a mammoth along like a song! we touched the bottom of the
of an Institute, whose fame has basket, after having thoroughly
spread worldwide. It was, of I was from Agra, and mostly enjoyed the feast and also the
course, the vision of one man travelled to & from college in mischief. As we neared our
initially, but has grown with the groups consisting of other batch destination, we readied to jump
help of competent staff and mates. There were several other out and run into the sanctity of
students through the years. boys from and near Agra. On one our college, before the ‘Seth’
occasion, while returning to realized what had happened.
Looking down the annals of my college after vacations, we got
life, the best years that I spent into a public bus as usual. All The ‘Seth’ must subsequently
were the ones at BITS Pilani. went well till one of my friends have guessed whose handicraft it
Those were the good old days, got the smell of something was that his laddoo laden basket
when life seemed lush and green. I delicious. He looked around and stood empty. He approached our
lived in an oyster of happiness found that it emanated from a Principal – Prof V
where gaiety and mirth basket kept above his seat. The Laxminarayanan to complain.
surrounded me. My batch was the aroma was too tempting and Our principal was a gem of a man
very first one at the college which finally, he took a peep into the and probably guessed the entire
was then called Birla Engineering basket. To his great delight, found situation. He requested the ‘Seth’
College. At that pioneering time, it to be filled with besan ke laddoos. to come back next morning when
every experience was new. My He looked around for the owner a recognition parade would be
batch mates and I were a vivacious and noticed an affluent looking held of all the students. Same
lot – all the times up to all ‘Seth’ dozing in his seat. The evening he came to us and
unimaginable pranks. We were ‘Seth’ wore a turban, had several without taking us to task, advised
230 students in Mechanical and gold rings on his fingers and the mischief-mongers to disguise
Electrical engineering streams. generally looked prosperous. My
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CHIMAERA BITS Pilani Alumni Magazine
themselves in some way during could collect the required the oil. I was furious and all my
the recognition parade. So, we Rs.550/-. The deceased boy’s pals had a hearty laugh. Never
dressed up differently, some parents were informed and from again did I dare to make fun of the
wearing a turban or a hat, there they took over. This was oil-sun bath of my hostel mates.
whiskers or beards and cake one of the most nightmarish
walked through the parade episodes that we all went through. We frequented Pilani town often
unscathed. The ‘Seth’ could not Who could tell that a simple bout – if only to gawk at the girls
recognize any of us and left chin of fever would turn out to be so there. We also visited a library at
down. grisly? Pilani town. The library needs a
special mention because other
Not to be outdone, we went a When our junior batch joined, we than the head librarian, there were
step further and burnt down his did not trouble them one bit, by no other employees to hand over
huge stack of hay the required books to us.
near the Pilani We made all the entries
town. If today my ourselves and the beauty
children or grand was that no book was
children were ever reported missing.
found to be up to We even visited Mr.
such a trick, I G.D.Birla’s mansion at
would give them a Pilani to meet
proper dressing Mr.Rajendra Prasad
down, but at that before he took over as
time we really the President of India.
enjoyed the Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru
incident. Never visited our college on the
again did our invitation of Mr. G.D.
principal mention it Birla.
or point a finger at
us. He was simply a BITS Pilani has
superb head of our progressed and prospered
institute. way of ragging, but had a special by leaps and bounds, from what I
function arranged where the hear. Today when I hear about its
On another occasion, my chum juniors were asked to introduce growth and achievements, I swell
developed fever just as it was time themselves and exhibit any talent with pride knowing that I am a
to leave for vacations. We made they had, like singing, recitation, part of its glorious past and a
arrangements and boarded the dancing etc. We were too busy in brighter future.
train along with the ill boy. But as our own world and mischief to
luck would have it, his condition hurt or trouble anyone. I wish my Institute, and all its past
worsened, and he developed a and future progeny and staff, all
very high temperature. The coach Another incident that tickles me the very best. My good wishes
attendant informed the next till date and yet gives me goose and blessings are with all of you,
station to have a doctor look at pimples is the one we had in the always. May BITS grow in terms
our ill friend. It was then that we hostel. Unlike other boys, who of its value and stature in the years
learnt that the ailing boy had oiled themselves with mustard oil to come and become truly globe-
tetanus and soon passed away. We and basked in the sun, I hated straddling in every sense of the
had no other option but to even the thought of it! My friends word.
remove his body away from the teased me over it but I shrugged
passenger coach. The attendant them off. One day, as I stepped
suggested we move his body to out of my room, they pushed me
the goods compartment. As onto the mustard oil which they
anyone can guess, returning home had poured all over the floor.
for vacations meant we had very They rolled me over and over
little money. We all pooled in and again till I was fully drenched in
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