KOCHI: Fifty summers and winters may have come and gone since they bid farewell to their alma mater, but memories of the good old days flooded back like a movie to a group of ‘grown-up students’ gathered at the Maharaja’s College on Sunday.The majority of the students of the 1962-batch of pre-professional course from far and near and even foreign lands converged on the Maharaja’s College premises to recollect those golden moments of yesteryear.“In those days we had a pre-professional course for students who came out with flying colours in Pre-University course and got admission to professional courses such as MBBS, BDS, veterinary science and agriculture. Today, the eight-month course is something unheard of and admission is based on entrance examination,” said Dr T S Bhaskaran who has been organising the Alumni meet since 1995.This was a rare occasion for them to unwind. Dr Vasanthi sang songs while the rest, mostly doctors, cracked jokes and discussed several things.They even touched upon the education today. “Most of today’s children are not interested in get-togethers or platforms to share their joy and issues. They have no time for anything and many are lost in the world of mobile phones and social networking sites which we did not have in those days. The unhealthy competition stoked by parents is adversely affecting the children now.Competition is good for improving performance, but teachers and parents should tap the potential of students and guide them to their calling instead of forcing them to take what they do not like,” they said. They were deeply hurt to see their beloved alma mater wearing such a filthy look. “The positive energy has vanished,” said Dr Devaki M N and Dr Rajeshwari.“The authorities hardly bothered to respond to our requests for a room to have a meet and so we moved to Century Club. Moreover, there are no decent toilets on the campus,” they said.Among the 35-odd old students who tagged along their spouses and children were state polevault champion Dr Vishwambaram C B, university volleyball team member Joseph K and basketball player Dr Joy P J.“Though we have attended professional colleges and other courses, we hold Maharaja’s close to our hearts which is evident from this get-together,” they said, adding that the thought of the next alumni meet is something that spurs them on.
Comments
0 comment