Boomerang

This was in the late 90’s, with great difficulty I cleared my +2. The percentage was too low to get into any of the professional courses. Bachelors of Science seemed the next better option to make my career. Got the applications forms from the colleges which I thought was good in imparting knowledge. Amma always supported me in all endeavors. She accompanied me to MES College of Arts, Science and Commerce. There was a long queue on the fourth floor. We were about to enter into department of Physics where the admissions were held. Professors of various departments were screening the candidates. It was my turn, one of the personnel took the application, also attached was the photocopy of my +2 transcript. He glanced at my marks and said admission isn’t possible.

Amma was clueless, asked, "ಏನಾಯಿತು ಸಾರ್", "ಫೆಲಾಗಿದ್ದಾನಲ್ಲಮ್ಮಾ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮಗ", came the reply from the other end, "ಹಾಗಾದ್ರೆ ಫೆಲಾಗಿರೋರು ಓದ್ಲೆಬಾರ್ದ ಸಾರ್", she asked. Something altered in the mind of the other person, he wrote PMS on my application and directed me to the Dept of Mathematics. Amma and I walked in search of the dept, we found two elderly women who helped us finish the formalities. I was enrolled as a student of MES with Physics, Mathematics and Statistics as my majors.

Life wasn’t a cake walk at MES, slowly for sure got acquainted with the college culture. Class was divided into two, I was put in the batch which would have the physics lab in the morning. 7.30 AM to 10.30 AM was the slot to understand the nuances of physics. We had a very tough guy heading Physics, Prof T T Srinivasan, popularly known as TTS. I was/am a lazy bum, couldn’t manage myself to be on or before time. As a ritual I would stand near the entrance, and would seek his permission to enter in. Prof TTS would go ballistic, he would howl at me, he almost demonstrated Bhor’s atomic theory, [When an electron is exited to higher energy state, it would emit radiation before attaining the normal state]. I just had this experience once and dint give him another chance to howl. That doesn’t mean I mended myself, if I was late by a minute or two, I never entered his class!!!! I had my own version of an ideal teacher. A teacher should be calm, serene, approachable, friendly and should make the class interesting. To me TTS did neither of the above. A great man said, “You be a change you want to see”. It’s been two years since I managed to be in the same fraternity of TTS. I too impart knowledge. Started my career with a bang, came up with the self made slogans, “It doesn’t matter if I don’t get a shoulder to lean on, but, that should not stop me from lending mine”. “The life of people will definitely be better, just because I am around”. Also, since I was a bad student all my life, I thought I exactly knew how to make another Murali understand. I was satisfied, tasted the success. It gave me high. It was like I had an ontological orgasm after every class. Life was good, life was indeed good. Pete was envious, he said, “Murali, you will die a peaceful death”.

The other day i.e on 26 Aug, a class of civil engineering came up with a written complaint against me. They briefed that my class was not of any help and i would pick few kids and drive them against the wall. They handed my charge sheet to the Civil HOD. Professor who heads the civil department had a shock of his life. He handed over the sheet of paper to me, I glanced through the memorandum where all kids have signed signifying there approval to the complaint. I always believed customers are always right. Went back home, couldn’t get sleep until late in the night, was introspecting on what went wrong. I realized, I had become another TTS.