Musings of a Journey
This part of the campus is actually beautiful
and this is good for I shall be spending coming 4 years of my life perhaps
making history in the building behind me...
This was a thought on a bright August morning as
I sat appreciating the dappled hues of green on the hill behind the clock
tower and staring occasionally at its reflection in the pond in front of me.
Albeit, it was not solitary, it came along with the wonderful stirring of the
nature lover inside me and a whimpering realization that the concrete bench
under me might still be wet with the morning dew. A few months ago, a professor
in the Physics department at Cotton College had asked me what I envisioned to
do with my future and my instantaneous reply was either of Computer or Chemical
Engineering. Unsurprisingly, I had a little idea about each of the two fields
and not the slightest hint that I will be standing here, yet undecided if this
is the best choice for my future. But then the dreamer in me tells me: How will
it be a future if you know all about it?
So this is how my life in Chemical Engineering at
AEC began. Again unsurprisingly, with some dreams that were, well, not totally
wingless, aspirations that seem so immature now, and for the sake of honesty,
my admission that I had no real clue what I was going to do! Yet when I look
back now, I smile with content that I began my journey with the enthusiasm of
an optimist.
To be able to take a step back in time and relive
my life at AEC was the strong motivation to do what I am doing now (writing). And
having suppressed the urge to write: “Reminiscences-
My life at AEC”, in the title section of this article, I think I
am ready to move ahead.
It is interesting that we spent the first two semesters
at AEC practically travelling through the campus, trotting from one class room to
another at its other end. But the most memories are from the remaining time that
was spent in our Chemical Engineering building. The early morning bus rides to campus
were followed by a practically regular trip to the terrace to enjoy the view of
Deepor Beel before classes for the
day began. With some fun, some argument and a little mischief, some problems were solved, some exams were conquered and some awards were won as
each semester rolled on. I sincerely thank all my friends and classmates
because in some way or another you all have been a part of the fun and/or
learning experiences that those four years brought me. Whether it was
hauling the massive solar dryer for our first term project, (that I hope with
utmost sincerity, my group has not forgotten), or refinery
internship, performing at the Department freshers/farewell night, or running
after a friend who had collected my marksheet before I even looked at it: each
experience had a distinct flavor yet each memory brings the same smile to my
face today.
From un-notified class quizzes to his crisp
remark about how I could not get the first rank in class and to his rare
appreciation that some class notes were publishable; I now realize that I
subtly admire Dr. Makhan Lal Das Sir's very 'different' way of
inspiring us to excel.
My favorite two memories during life at the
Department are quite contrasting. First, enacting the role of Runjun
mam (I was thrilled that I ‘the nerd' was chosen to play the role of
the best dressed and most admired lady!) for our classic skit.
And second, walking through a large hall filled with hundreds of
people from different departments at Gauhati University, to collect my ‘Best
Lady Graduate’ award.
There are several stories I have in my mind, some
sweet and short, some sour and therefore long but now each of them tells just
one story, that of life and its learning experiences. My life at Chemical Engineering,
AEC taught me a lot, although it took me a while to realize it did. I also
realize that we often fail to show enough appreciation for the wonderful people
who come to teach us and the other wonderful human beings around us. Today, I
want to express my perhaps unexpressed gratitude to each and every faculty
member and all my friends and class mates. Thank you.
From Chemical Engineering at AEC, my journey that
had just begun, progressed with my
Masters' at IIT Guwahati and continues with my PhD in Chemical Engineering at University
of Houston, sometimes gliding over and sometimes bumping against
hurdles yet surely carrying along everything that the four years I am
writing about have taught me. Life has taken different turns ever since and is
on an ever extending roller coaster ride every day. Yet some things never
change....
Several years ago, I was working late in the
night to complete my last minute drafting of engineering drawing assignments or
preparing for the exam tomorrow. Today, I put my 2 year old to bed,
fall half asleep with her but then start working late in the night to
write what I had promised myself and a friend to finish. And hope
that it is not too late for my journey called Chemical Engineering at
AEC to make it to the Souvenir that celebrates 50 years of creating many
memories like and unlike mine.
