College  Zoo

My  younger daughter Sita  just graduated from a  Private college in Jaipur ( PC in short, no names).My friend’s daughter is getting admitted there, and called up daughter to ask how it is, and how was the expierence.Daughter replied that it is good, and being one of the topmost colleges of Town, sleek as they say, and the fees I remember for 1 year was around 18000/- ,which I found reasonable.

My elder daughter Radhika studied from Maharani’s College, which is a Govt aided college, right in the heart of the city, huge campus, and play grounds, the real estate worth more than a 1000 crores at today’s prices.Her College fees , in the year 2000, was around  1000 per year, yes u read right.Yearly Car Parking inside the campus was 100, and for a two wheeler  15/-.

The quality of education well decent, teachers remaining absent  often.Teachers there I heard were paid over 25000/- per month.It is still a all girls college, unlike Mumbai and Delhi where u have coed.I was more than happy for her, to be away from boys and their influence, being the conservative fellow that I am.

Her complaints were many.One day she said “ Papa, This college is lousy, u said only girls study here, but there are males too who come to study.I said not possible, I checked out the college when we went and  all I could see was a sea of young girls.

She said , papa, there is a male dog in our classroom (well she knew the difference, I told u my daughter is smart), and he comes and sits during the classes in one corner.And there is a monkey sitting wholeday on the window sill too ( They have a big tree, and monkeys climb and sit in her class.).Papa change my college , what kind of a college is this, am I in a Zoo or in college.

Well , I said, Rads what the hell do u expect from 100 per month fees that u pay to the college.and u take yr Car to college and have not even paid theparking fees.She said, Dad I go just once a week( she had taken Arts, and hence used to bunk but sit at home), so why should I pay the parking.Rads found even  30 paise a day parking expensive.Just like her Dad, a maha kanjoos miser.

Student Air Ticket – Rads wanted to go to Mumbai in her summer vacations to be with my parents and brothers and generally freak out.The college office in charge,one Babulal refused to sign her Airlines Form,which would entitle her to half Air Ticket, those days there were no Apex Tickets.She told me to buy her a full ticket, but I said let me talk to yr college fellows, and if they don’t agree, I will buy u the full ticket.

I met Babulal , and he said that as per law, she is a Jaipur Resident and  we only allow  the student to go to her home town.I took a last chance , and went to the Principle’s office.She was a strict looking lady in her mid fifties maybe, the kind of principals u see In the movies.I politely told her, that my daughter wants to meet her aged Aged ailing Grandparents in Mumbai,both paternal and maternal and this is the only time in the  year when she can go visit them in the holidays, and I put on my most mournful face, 100% sure that my request will be rejected, as laws are laws.

To my surprise, the Principal summoned Babulal to the office and gave him the firing of his life, and in her anglized tone told him “ Babulal how dare u refuse this young girl to see her ailing grandparents ( of course they were hale and hearty), how can you be so cruel. But madam………., but the principal would have none of it, and made Babulal sign the form in 5 minutes.

And while Babulal signed, I was watching the scene in their Grounds.Two Dogs, chasing each other, well I cant say the sex of both, as I need glasses, were chasing each other , and slopping thru water and mud, and monkeys moving around , feeling at home really.

And I have a feeling the dog and the monkey either must have been some students in their previous lives, and are catching up on their education now.Just today I read about a 60 year old woman, who passed her 10^th exams, with the help of her granddaughter.So this must be the case with these poor animals.Or some romeos, now getting a chance to eye the pretty college girls, but in this garb, they freely enter and eye the girls ! Who knows, anything is possible.

Lesson learnt – Never be scared of approaching anyone.You can only be refused, not slapped.And I saved a good amount of money too.

And  so when  Sita’s turn came for college, she did not choose Maharani’s , but this PC,where too the teachers though in college, bunked because they were doing other college activities.Here Sita cribbed, I said Sita yours is Arts, sit back and enjoy.And when yr papa is happy even with 60%, why worry.Have a Ball I told her.

And cant u learn these Shakesphere and all the dead poets from the net ? Just byheart and write.But she had to go to  college everyday, and come and complain .well she never listened to me .

And now she is off college and preparing for her CAT and MAT and all the AT’s that come with it.My best wishes to her.

I just feel  college life is the best time of thelife of a student.In our days, it was a chance to meet girls and see them  at close quarters, being from all boys schools.And watching movies, and bunking and that was the order of theday.

Today well everyone is going to some classes or the other, and life is a rush.There is more to getting big scores, than in enjoying the simple pleasures of life which colleges provide.

It pains me to see so many study related suicides.God bless the nation.and the students.

KAMAL MAHTANI