1955-60

1955-60

My eldest brother left after his course in electrical engineering. In the beginning he was my guardian in matters if money and outings. Most of the students from orissa were grouped together irrespective of the class. Later I had my own account with Rs 1500 for the whole year, out of which Rs 200 was the princely sum for the college / university. I managed with this for all years except final year in which I asked for another Rs 200 for all India tour.

  

After he left I felt lonely but independent. The closeness with the junior boys from orissa was absent whereas the boys from east Africa both the Indians and Africans became more friendly with me. We as a group were invited to USIS for competition and parties. In general knowledge I remained at the top, and used to bag all prizes and get books in bundles. Then I was also member of the public library and studied all subject including history. The last was to compensate the deficiency in school.

There was one survey camp, in which we had to stay in a remote place and do survey only for 15 days. The first time I cooked a pigeon in ghee tin borrowed from the cook and the resulting soup was delicious. The usual ncc camps once in a year, republic day parades and college functions used to be real thrill.