The Gang of Electronics
It must have been early August, Thursday morning, it usually is a free day for me or that is how I prefer to keep. I got the call from the HOD that I should go to 2nd year class and manage one lecture as someone from the staff was on leave and was difficult to adjust with others. I just went in and casually turned to the right side of the classroom. The writing was on the wall, no obscene language, no vulgar comments, huge font, no sentences, nothing but names only, Karan, Himanshu, Ankush, Imran, Manas, Nikhil, Ravi, Himanshu(another)............ I immediately got the clue. It was the last batch, while going out they ensured that they make their presence felt later also. At first sight it was annoying, as it happened for the first time in the department when students or shall I say the passing out batch was so explicit in declaring their identity but was amused at the boldness of the action, no inhibitions, no hidden agenda, all open, strong claim of being different, being superior and want to have the lasting impression, so we had the wall written all over.
Right from the second year when they entered the department they made their mark. They captured the attention for all the wrong reasons. Their movement in the departmental corridor smacked of who-cares attitude. In their second year I don’t remember having coming across them but in the third year I did for short duration. They were very active in the elections for departmental cultural body TREES. They also seemed to relish the notoriety of giving hell of a time to some teachers while in the class. I could never verify the incidents that created unease in staff and put the stamp of trouble makers on them.
When they came to final year my interaction with them started in true sense. I do remember being told by a student that with this group you are in for big trouble, I realized I had well wishers in the students so much so that I was alarmed to be alert to their nuisance. When they came to final year mood was obviously jubilant. The party really started with the elections for TREES. Key post of president was won by Karan. On that day itself, after declaration of result the trouble began on accusations of derogatory comment by victorious party against the rival. I being reluctant in charge of TREES could see the trouble brewing. The eternal local versus hostellers divide was undoubtedly widened. Every move by one was seen with suspicion by other, claims, counter claims, briefing against the office bearers was all in the air.
I was exasperated by all these. Once or twice I tried to advice them of being accommodative, how you should evolve as a leader but it was in vein. They have their own agenda to follow, problems to address. The troubles only got multiplied. The wall magazine committee was appointed considering the lingual and editing credentials. There also trouble started in allotting funds. It reached to peak when as a part of disciplinary action, it was decided not to take Teachers’ day invitation from the students. Since the function is always organized by TREES, it was a snub to the group. But on the day in the guise of release of wall magazine a small function was organized bypassing TREES. It was clear the group was terribly hurt. Next day in the class I sat near Karan and talked to him, he confirmed. Looking back I do feel it was a mistake on the part of the department but such was the fragmented image of this group that nobody felt otherwise at that time.
There often were unconfirmed reports of their arrogance, misbehaviour in and out of the class. In all, the image that was built was disastrous. The majority of staff wanted to put some kind of a deterrence to avoid repetition of undesirable incidents of past, some wanted strict disciplinary action, many felt they were out of control. Yes, often they looked uncontrolled because they followed unconventional path. While celebrating the freshers’ day they ensured the placement of the entire group. But the programme was well organized, the dissenting elements saw in it the unusual ways, slightly out of tune with what we wanted. At the time of their farewell they wanted it in their own way. I still remember, along with Thawari Sir getting annoyed, for they were taking too much time to get into auditorium, dancing outside, simply not caring anything, just living the moment they wanted to keep with them forever.
While giving the speech I gave them a tough talk, as expected there was hooting but I continued, simply putting that you had to listen to me being your well wisher. My advice was straight change your attitude, build relations, you have no shortage of talent, so don’t waste it, they listened quitely. When Karan came to deliver his speech he had clear idea of what they had done all along. He mentioned that he often would go to Dhankar Sir with all the crazy ideas some of them did materialize. There was no hint of any negative character in it.
After the results one fine day I was on my bike going to college. “How are you Sir?” I saw Karan on his bike. “Fine.” “How are you?” “Fine Sir.” It continued. Then came the question, “How is the batch Sir?” I paused for a moment but heard, “Must have been better than us.” I was not surprised. For all their arrogance I must admit that they have never been unfair, abusive, rude to me. They in fact were receptive to some of my ideas like movie club, aptitude club… In the class there did come moments of friction but nothing unusual, they were pretty modest with me. I don’t know what they thought of me behind but even if they did differently what’s so special in it, even when I was student I was no different. Giving nick names to teachers is as old as education system and these names range from decent to funny, at worst vulgar.
My diagnosis was that they had a feeling that they didn’t need anybody, so they did not try to build relations with the department. One thing that I came to know about them was that they were together from school days; obviously strong bonding existed among them. Or was there another angle that their aspirations, dreams with which they came were incompatible with what was offered in the department? They were supremely confident and that confidence originated in their self belief and emotional attachment with each other, not surprisingly they acquired arrogant overtones in dealing with others. But at that age who is not rebel, dissenting? Why expect too much of maturity? In that sense there was not so much uncommon in them. Everybody at this age know and seek fun in using all vocabulary of ‘M’ and ‘F’ words the problem was they were more explicit in the use, no firsthand experience but this was how we were informed.
As a group they were closely knit. It was not that they did not face challenges but the group stood together, faced the challenge from others and according to them the wrath and apathy of the staff, digested the contempt during cultural week and ultimately came victorious by claiming most coveted Champion of the Champions trophy, that in fact was the biggest challenge they faced, their all prestige was at stake. For me they qualify for the status of gang solemnly pledged to the unwritten oath of friendship. They stayed together, enjoyed, had lot of fun, fought adverse situations and of course …….. hunted together. How easily they could demolish the barriers of caste, religion, region…..I wonder, as they belonged to diverse backgrounds ranging from business to teaching to politics.
Must be,a year ago Himanshu came, talked a lot, was full of enthusiasm about what he was doing, he told me that he was writing on psychology, time was changing. Karan is now doing MBA, Ravi is working in a company, Himanshu (second one, a movie buff, a common thread with me) working in Mumbai and ….., all have been following their own path. When I started the bog one of the first bloggers who read and commented were Karan and Himanshu. Once while chatting Himanshu wanted me to write on GenY a nice topic and a bold one Live in relationship. On GenY I certainly will but still to make up my mind on Live in relationship owing to the inherent boldness in it. Recently he sent a message on facebook to read a blog he has written on Anna, Karan has written on Gandhiji full of introspection, I read, good articles, and am so happy about it, once labeled differently the boys are turning intellectual. Manas, a fabulous dancer he was and still is, is unbelievably maturing as a lecturer in the same department. The time hides so many surprises but they come out at the right time. They may have been little bit aggressive, obsessive about themselves, somewhat arrogant, mouthful of avoidable vocabulary at times but it is not so uncommon, most are like this only at their age but were brilliant in organizational skills, had the stomach to digest new ideas, desperate to make mark through work, anxious to be remembered for whatever new and good they have done, the only gang that seems to have survived after passing out and above all the only…. Yes the only gang,…. that gave us shock, when most forget even to meet lecturers after the final result, they came to the department, all of them, touched our feet, sought our blessings……stolen a space in my heart. The writing is still on the wall. God bless the gang of Electronics.
