LAST DAYS........

The pain of parting, yet the thrill of a new beginning,
A dream accomplished, yet millions more to accomplish…
These were the thoughts as I entered the gates of one of the best technical institutes of the country as a young, immature 18year old. The view of the old Insti Building lit by the August moon, the Main Insti Building which has shaped some of the finest personalities of India, the 2.2 Km Scholars Avenue adorned by the various Halls of Residence on both sides were enough to make me take pride in my accomplishment and look forward to my next four years stay at IIT Kharagpur.
On my first day, as I walked through the hallowed corridors of S.N.Hall with hesitant steps, lost among a myriad of girls from different parts of the country, I met my batchmates and seniors, who would become my ‘friend, philosopher and guide’ within a few days. The ‘Unconventional’ welcome we received from our seniors, working day and night wiring diyas, being a part of each and every dramatics event-be it Hindi, English, Bengali or Choreography, campaigning for friends during elections were some of the highlights of my first year at S.N. Hall. Through all these, I met new people, made new friends, learnt new things and imbibed new qualities.

Come second year, and suddenly I found myself addressed as a senior. SF, Inter IIT, Inter Halls, Elections, EE Department-priorities were redefined and timetables set haywire. The day I joined the SF Team as a member in my second year was one of the most defining moments of my stay here. 6 months of endless meetings, niteouts, treats, the calling queues at RK and KAT booths, the never ending calling lists and trips to different parts of the country…and then 4 days of revelry, of stars from home and abroad, of people from all over India, of a plethora of events and of a fest which Kgp has celebrated since its inception. Inter-IIT was another wonderful experience-going to Mumbai, playing for my insti and meeting new people. Although we couldn’t manage a podium finish, the memories of this extravaganza will stay with me throughout my life.

As with almost everybody in KGP, my stay here was shaped by my hall. Living away from home for the first time in my life, S.N.Hall became my second home. Surrounded by friends 24X7, discovering a new family in my wingies, being involved in a host of events throughout the year-my hall has given me some of the best moments of my life, taught me to believe in myself and explore new paths, and unravelled hitherto unknown talent in dramatics (never mind the language), fine (and allied) arts, basketball, diya wiring, rangoli….the list would never end. The euphoria of Inter Hall wins and the pain of losing, the tempo shouts, wiring diyas for an entire month and then the spectacular sight of thousands of diyas lighting up simultaneously, living in the suffocating common room for 7 days straight and watching the 400 square feet rangoli come to life….sweet memories unique to Kgp. The twin wins in Illu and Rangoli in my final year is one of my best memories of Kgp.

KGP has given me my best friend, awesome wingies, the coolest Bhaiyya and amazing depmates. KGP is about Akriti, Sneha, Sheetal and Heena….the bestest friends ever. Its about a narcissist cutie and singer, a multitalented beauty, a health conscious foodie and awesum cook, and the sensational Deepika. Chandipur, Kolkata, VIBGYOR, 70s heroines, treats at TP, PD, Park, LS, Birthday Parties at Hall and VGSOM, JCB, Billoos, Sahara, Cheddis, Tikka the summer months and placement season…memories that will stay with us and make us smile forever. KGP is about cooking food in the room, 5 people eating from 1 plate, the entire wing living in one room, spending an entire afternoon searching for clothes to wear for a 3 hour treat, the entire wing sharing everything from clothes and accessories to buckets and brooms, gtalking each other although we live right next to each other, religiously visiting the Xerox shop before every exam, rakhi, friendship day n valentines day, boyfriends, niteouts for no reason, dance parties, movies, photo-sessions, 2.2, and ofcourse BigB ().

Kgp is also about my bestest friend ever, of going to BigB three times in 10 days with him for no reason, of painting T-shirts just to make his wish come true, of making his next 10 birthdays special, of making elaborate sorry cards to make him happy again, of eating from the same plate and with the same spoon, of brand new SIM cards just to talk to him throughout the day (and night), of RDC, GolB, Church and the wish granting temple, of studying together through phone and gtalk, of taking the same subjects, of always being on the phone, of smiling and crying together. It’s also about someone going all out to make me happy, of someone never sleeping before me because I am scared of the dark, of someone always walking on my rightside, of someone gifting me a teddy, of someone who would wait the whole night just to talk to me, of someone who believes in me always, of someone who’s never bored of listening to me, of someone who always saves his chocolates for me and of the one whos always there for me. Thanx buddy, you are the most awesome person I have ever met.

Kgp is also about Niraj, DebC, Rathi, Akriti, Manish, Romil, Avinash, Bhaiyya, Vikas, Mishra, Raghav, Dadhich, Somani, Sheva, Aritra, Sneha, Mona, Krit and Rajat. Blessed by mummy, papa and bhaiyya, this small but happy ‘close-knitted Instru parivar’ is one of the most amazing branches in the insti-we set our own rules, and decide our own deadlines. Not even the fact that we belong to the most dreaded department in the insti can make us attend classes or submit assignments or start studying two days before an exam. Shankarpur, Birthday Treats, Hall Days….we enjoyed all these and many more during our four-year stay here.
KGP is also about the seniors that were and the juniors that are. I have been lucky to have some great seniors and equally amazing juniors, with whom I have lived, worked and learnt.

Today, as I near the end of my four year stay here, I realise that I have been lucky to come and stay here, and experience these four years. There have been both happy and sad moments, easy-going and difficult times, but through all these we have all stood together and leaned on each other, providing solace and support. My four year transform has equipped me to face the future, come what may, given me friends for life and memories to keep me going throughout my life. As I leave Kgp to explore new fields, I will miss my wingies, friends, juniors, dep mates, SF, Inter IIT, Illu, Rangoli, GC but above all, I will miss KGP…the place which has given me all these and much more…..