It was the month of June in 2005. After months of hard work, sacrifice and dedication, I had finally managed to receive the offer letter from one of the leading engineering institutes in Asia – Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. After completing B.Tech in Chemical Engineering, I had always dreamt of getting into an IIT to complete my Masters. The day had finally arrived when I would arrive at my dream institute.
On July 21st, 2005, I got down from Poorva Express at New Delhi railway station at 9.50 in the morning with loads of luggage including bedding. Before leaving Kolkata I had caught viral fever, and had to take 2 Crocin tablets a day throughout my journey. I hired a coolie and somehow managed to reach the auto stand with my body temperature soaring high. The auto-wallah dropped me inside the IIT campus at Jwalamukhi Hostel where all new entrants were supposed to report. There were seven boys’ hostels and the eighth was being constructed at that time. I was dying to get into my room and just lie down. I did not even have the physical strength to carry my luggage into my room.
Guess what!! The hostel coordinator informed that currently there were no hostel rooms available and we have to stay in an apartment within the campus, known as Indraprastha (IP) Apartment for 2 weeks. IP was about a kilometer away from Jwalamukhi at the opposite corner, and I had to take an auto to go there!! I was just not able to even stand on my feet, forget carrying luggage. When I reached IP, I found that 2 people had already reached the apartment that was allotted to me. It was a 2-room apartment of about 800 sq ft, and 4 people were supposed to stay in there. Finally I received a cot for myself and just lied down for 1 hour without even speaking a word.
At lunch I met my first friend at IIT Delhi – Sharad, who was from Gwalior. My fever was slowly starting to recede, although the weakness was still there. I had taken one more Crocin after lunch. In the evening, the Department of Chemical Engineering had hosted a small tea party for all freshers, where all professors and students were supposed to know each other, at least by face. Besides Sharad, I also met my other classmates, from different parts of India, who eventually turned out to be outstanding buddies. We introduced ourselves to the professors, and the HOD at that time, Prof Barun Guha, was very warm to all of us. It was here that we received the schedule of events, including Orientation Ceremony and Course Registration, which was supposed to be followed before classes began 2 days later.
After food, all of my friends and me went and sat in the garden till 10.30 pm, had a lot of laughter and shared past experiences, and hence got to know and understand each other even better. The day, which had started disastrously, starting from not getting a room in the hostel, to travelling to IP with all luggage and 102-degree fever, ended in a grand fashion. IIT Delhi was slowly putting its arms around me and telling that “Hey buddy, do not get bogged down by so little physical pain….the toughest times are yet to come…the toughest professors are yet to be encountered….and life’s toughest lessons are yet to be learnt… .” I smiled and absorbed every word.
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