TRAVEL SoLo To INDIA

Travel SoLo Travel safe in India – tips

I am here to encourage you to travel solo in India. It actually liberates you. If you have ever felt limited or suffer from lack of confidence at any point of time, then you need to take only one small step to overcome it! And that is, to take the decision to travel solo   – to a place where you have always wanted to go. It might be with a group, but necessarily without an already known friend! Crazy, right? Well that is how we have always wanted to live, right?

INDIA IS NOT JUST DIRT, DUST AND DANGER

There exists numerous myths about India. But those who have traveled its length and breadths are the ones who have come to know that it is not what one thinks about it. The media is not the only thing that India is made of. It is made of colors and hues of human life – spirituality, festivals, yoga, mouth watering cuisines, diversity, colorful clothes, mesmerizing tea and so much more. These are the colors you add to your life when you set out to explore India.

CRAZY BUT NOT CARELESS!

Well we have decided to embark on our dream solo travel. So we take as much care so that we create the best memories. So we would take all possible steps to travel safe.

Here I would be listing down few pointers to take into account for your safety. Few points are in view of a female international travelers, which are equally applicable to all of us natives and to males also.

So, here are 14 tips for traveling safe and  solo –

CHOICE OF DESTINATIONS AND SEASON

India constitutes 29 states and 9 union territories. Each state has its unique language, custom and culture. They have different festival times. Unlike most othot countries, India celebrates festivals throughout the year, of different nature. The intensity of these festivals vary with the states. In some places the festival times are the most desirable whereas it is advisable to avoid few festivals in certain states. For example, it is better to avoid traveling to Northern states during the Holi festival (festival of colors). Thus I would suggest to browse through the internet for the said information. During Holi try to get out as less as possible from your place of stay.

Holi celebration

India experiences monsoon season characterized by rains during most of the times. Avoid beaches during monsoon to make the most of those places. We had decided to go to Andaman island during an off season to fit our budget. But we eventually dropped the idea as it would have jeopardized the very objective of being near the beach or into the sea. Whereas few hill stations like that of the Sahyadri range are best during the monsoon.

MOVING AROUND

TRANSPORT

Book your most Intercity transports and accommodation beforehand. Traveling for short distances will be more comfortable by rail than bus rides. Please know the various classes and their respective facilities of the railways before booking a particular class. Please note that unless ‘AC’ is in the name of seat category it would not be Air Conditioned. For example, the 2nd sleeper class does not have AC.

International travelers are always thought to be quite affluent. And Indian public transport is abound with pickpockets. Thus use a very ordinary and inconspicuous bag. This will help to keep the gadgets inside the bag safe from pick pockets. Also keep your money in different places. You can make pockets in your inner wears to keep money safer.

INTERACT MORE WITH LOCALS

When we interact more with the locals help us in more than one way. Try to interact with locals especially women. It will help to know what are considered kinda taboos for the place.

You can discuss the choice of routes to reach to your next destination or the preferred mode of transport or the rates of cabs and other alternatives of transport with your hotel manager. Most of them are more than happy to help. Many a times they know reliable cab drivers. So always communicate more and decide as your guts tells you.

In  public transport keep the conductor or the bus assistant informed where do you want to get down. Most times they will tell you once you reach the place. In case of any query always take views of more than one unrelated persons. This way you can be sure that one is not trying to mislead you.

LEARN THE 4W’S AND 1 H IN Local LANGUAGE

Learning few local words, like all 4 W’s and 1 H i.e. what, where, when, why and how will help you in the long run. For example, to ask direction for any destination for example, to understand what our cab driver is speaking on phone. Additionally, in India languages are much interconnected except the accent and little modification. So getting one language may possibly help you at other areas of the country.

PREFER DIRECTIONS FROM A TRAFFIC POLICE

In cities, it is the best to take the assistance of the traffic police for directions, choice of transport, distance to the destinations and many other information. They can guide you to available government facilities. Whereas, at deserted places or suburbs, listen more often to your gut, about every individual you interact with, even if it's a cop. 

DRESSING/FASHION TIPS

Dressing tips are more for the female travelers. Please excuse me if I sound like a MCP  

But the truth is that many more than one international travelers would have experienced ogling gazes from Indian males.

Try dress as much possible as the land you visit. The closer you look like a localite, the less you are likely to stand out as a foreigner, and thus sound a less novice to the land.

Different states have different local costumes   In such case let me give you an universal formula. Get yourself the costume called ‘Salwar kameej’ meaning a ‘pant and a long top’ from local market. Its preferable that the kameej/Kurta/shirt has sleeves (not a sleeve less one). The long kurta alone can serve the purpose with the usual trouser beneath.

Especially during nights wear clothes with least display of skin, like short skirts or shorts. Do not bother if Indians around you are wearing them.

(Source: https://breathedreamgo.com) 

GET INTERNET CONNECTION FROM RELIABLE SERVICE PROVIDER

Get a reliable internet connection from a good service provider of the country in order to remain in connectivity as much as possible especially when you are in move. Currently, BSNL is doing fairly well. It depends on places also.

UNCONNECTED JOURNEYS

If you have to travel alone in private vehicle, then it has to be only at day time. Check the driver’s credentials before getting on-board. After getting into the vehicle, the first thing I do, is to check if the door can be opened. This ensures that there is no child lock applied to the doors.

Secondly, share about your next destination and vehicle number with your close friends before you start the journey and before you go off the connectivity network.

Save the Google map directions before embarking on such a journey. Before you start your journey ask the driver about the route he is going to take. Remain attentive towards milestones and match them with your map.

FOOD AND DRINKS

Never accept any food items from strangers or newly acquired friends. Keep your food items always with you. Always have bottled water with seals. This expense will prevents you from having bigger expense of ill-health. Indian foods are spicy. Latin and baked dishes are safe bet. Also, “south Indian food” like dosa and idlis are also not spicy.

Avoid having drinks or intoxicating objects. It is better to have them alone in your hotel room where you can ensure your safety. Never have intoxicating things with strangers or newly acquired friends, however noble they might be.

PRICES

The Indian rupee being lesser in value than the USD. In order to get a fair deal, take rates from more than one place and bargain the cost.

ACCOMMODATION

CHOICE

Do an extensive research on internet to get reviews of the place, and the accommodation. Have your parameters very clear and search accordingly. Travel sites, reviews and blogs are very helpful in getting an all round idea. Look out for any other solo traveler’s review. Decide only after reading multiple blogs. Do not book because the reviewer liked it. Also, you might want to refer to a review from your country-person. Don’t let your parameters go out of mind. Refer latest reviews because they may very well vary with time and seasons. For example, in a busy season the service or taste of food might go up or down than other times.

LOCATION OF YOUR STAY

If you find your accommodation is located at an isolated place please change it. On the very first day, at a new place, manage your schedule in such a way that you reach the hotel before it’s night. This will help you to gauge the surroundings of your stay in a better way.

ROOM AND BATHROOM

Check the mirrors that they are real mirrors and not two way mirror. You can do the fingernail test to ascertain it. 

(http://www.wikihow.com/Tell-if-a-Mirror-Is-Two-Way-or-Not)

Many bathrooms in hotel or during travel may not have tissue rolls. It is advisable to carry it.

ACCESSIBILITY

If you are traveling and staying alone at a place, it need to be easily accessible from the main road. When I was traveling to Kerala, I like a place very much due to very good reviews. But I noticed that it was situated in a sort of an island. To be able to reach the main road, one needs to take a boat to cross a backwater stream. My movement would be constrained by the availability of the boat. Thus I dropped the idea of choosing that place to stay.

AVAILABILITY OF VEHICLES NEARBY

On similar lines, it is also advisable to stay at a place which is near to a vehicle depot or stand. It makes it easy to commute to various places on rental vehicles like rickshaws. And, it would be easier for you to travel back to your hotel as the vehicles would easily agree to go to such a place.

WHAT’S IN THE PURSE?

What to keep in purse – id cards, name, phone number, local emergency phone numbers, phone numbers of family and close friends, pepper spray, phone charger, band aids, other frequently used medicines apart from cosmetic bag.

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS

All said and done, gut instincts are stronger than any facts. So rely on them.

Amazing Andaman

Our Andaman visit date: Feb 6th – 13th 2017 (Please take note of this especially for estimating the present costs)
Climate and geography – when to visit
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands is located in the east of the Indian mainland geographically, in the Bay of Bengal. They have a tropical climate. The South-west Monsoon sets in Andaman Nicobar islands towards the end of May and the North-east Monsoon in November. So those who are traveling for the first and probably the last time (like me ;P), please avoid visiting during May and November.  Divers can enjoy the best during December to April when the water is free from the monsoon turbulence and sea life is clearly visible and the bird watchers can make the most during winter.
Normal rainfall at Port Blair : 3900 mm
Minimum Temperature : 23.2° C
Maximum Temperature : 25° C
Mean relative Humidity : 80 %
Administration
Administratively, the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has three revenue Districts. Port Blair– the capital and gateway to the islands lies in South Andaman Island and falls under South Andaman District. The latest North & Middle Andaman District with Mayabunder as headquarters lies separated from South Andaman District by a creek. Car Nicobar is the District Head quarter of Nicobar District. Source: http://www.andamans.gov.in/html/andamans.html
Places of interest

Usual costs
Accommodation:
Port Blair: From few hundreds to few thousands – all kinds of hotels are available in Port Blair. Both AC and Non-AC hotels are available. That is the reason of such a wide range of costs. AC accommodation with overlooking the sea costs higher. Circuit house and PWD guest houses are available to government employees on a nominal charge. further details are given in the itinerary below.
Food
Food cost is average – about Rs. 450 for two person. South Indian and Bengali food are more easily available.
Transportation
Transportation charges are on the higher side. But most sight seeing places would require the transport facilities. In case you want to hire an auto rickshaw, you can either have an idea from the managing desk of your hotel. Get quotes from various tour operators before booking transport in order to get a good deal.
Money Saving Tips

• Do not take travel agents. You can request the hotels you are staying if anything needs to be arranged
• Travel off-season: Avoid going during Dec-Jan during the Christmas holidays
• Stay at humble place at Port Blair because most of the times you will be out of your hotel for sight seeing.
• Travel by Government ferry to Havelock and Neil islands
• Take bus to go to Baratang. We hired a taxi. So I do not have enough information for going by bus.

Top Attractions
1. Cellular jail
2. Jolly Buoy Island
3. Baratang
4. Havelock Island

Quick Tips
What to pack

• ID-CARDS, PAN/VOTER/AADHAR CARDS +FEW PHOTOCOPIES OF THEM. These are required at many places.
• Rugged Rubber slippers
• Swim suits
• Sun glasses, hats, sun screen lotions
• For kids – Take many thin cotton dresses because they soil them in every beach they go. Lifebuoys are available near most beaches

Quick tips tourist attractions 

Cellular Jail

No requirement of guides. The exhibits are self descriptive. The light and sound show explains further.
 
Jolly Buoy Island: cleanest beach, cleanest water, 2nd best corals in the World

• This island remains closed for sixmonths a year from May to November. At this time Ross island is opened for tourists. But this island is best    So plan accordingly
• Need special forest department permit: It can be from the Forest Counter in the Tourism Department office near the High Court building one day prior. The permit cost around Rs.50/- and the boat fare  about Rs.750/- per Head. To attain the permit one should apply with the ID proofs of all the visitors.

• The ticket & permit can be taken on same day at the Wandoor Jetty too but the numbers are very less, hence the chance are feeble. During peak season get the ticket and permit in advance. We had hired an agent who did it for us. You can ask your hotel do it for you – might be by some extra charge of around Rs. 100/- per person.

• Carry food and water as there is nothing available on the island. Alternately, you can pack food from the stalls just in front of Wondoor jetty where we have to be in a queue for going to Jolly buoy. Milton bottles are available on rent at the gate. Carry lots of water (2 bottles for 3 adults).
• Reach Wandoor beach a bit early and don’t miss the museum. You get to know the name of many of the corals and that you see them live at Jolly Buoy. If you are short of time just see the last exhibit of the museum which is an interactive display of various corals. It will be of help to identify while snorkeling and glass bottom boat ride.
• Snorkeling is must. Its super easy also. My 65 year old mother also did  
• There you will get changing rooms, bathrooms, shacks to rest and eat (see pic). Nothing else. No you cannot stay there after 3  
• Visit Wandoor beach for sunset after Jolly buoy trip

Quick tips - Baratang:

• It is a total of 12 hour trip. The phases are : Drive from port blair to Jirkatang (3 hour) – drive in the convoy through the jungle – ferry to cross the river to get to a jetty to the other side – speed boat to inside mangrove forest – walk to reach the limestone caves
• If you take 6 am convoy you need to start by 3 am in the morningfrom your hotel and you will be back by 3 pm in the evening.
• There are 3 convoys that go to limestone caves – 6am, 9 am, 10 am. The earlier the better because the sun is really scorching after 9 am.
• Before each convoy starts, there is a queue of vehicles at Jirkatang. The earlier our vehicle is in the queue, the better it is so that you can aboard the ferry sooner and we can be ahead of time so that we need not rush throughout the visit to catch the returning convoy of 12.30 pm.
• Idlis, vadas, tea are available at Jirkatang gate. So have breakfast there.
• Go to toilet at Jirkatang only. Else you will get toilets near Limestone caves after about an hour of walk.
• Take a really high speed boat (ours was very slow)
• Take water only for the final stretch of 1.2 km walk. Sun glasses and hats not required for limestone cave because the walk is shadowed by forest trees. But hat is required for Mud volcano visit. So leave your bag with the high speed boatman (yes, they are safe with them)
• Mud volcano is on a hill. Its worth going if you have enough energy to climb the hill after visiting the caves.
• Carry sun screen lotion is a must that day.
• You cannot plan for any other thing that day because you will be dead tired after Baratang

Quick tips - Ferries

• Ferry: take the low cost class to avoid sea sickness at upper decks which are high cost. Choice of seats: ‘Premium deluxe’ left side, at the front and window seats (if you are taking Makruzz ships. Right side is exposed to sun for the entire trip)  
• Take food/snacks because inside ferry the food costs double

Quick tips - Havelock Island
• Enjoy Nature’s beauty to the maximum
• Elephant beach has water sports.(we preferred to enjoy at the private beach of our hotel instead of visiting the elephant beach. And that became the most memorable time of the trip)
     
Quick tips -  Neil Islands

• Reach as soon as possible because the sea retreats at noon. Bharatpur beach has water rides.
• After sea recedes, go to natural bridge formation. Hire a guide there. He will show you various kinds of corals there
• Wear a strong rubber footwear because the corals and stones are very sharp to walk on
• Sun screen is a must especially because you will be visiting in noon

OUR ITINERARY

Day	Place of visit	Stay at	Place of stay	Contact details and Tariff	Attractions	Note
Day 1	Port Blair	Port Blair	Circuit house for govt employees	03192-231014 03192-232051 (fax no.)	Carbyn's cove Beach, Light & Sound show at Cellular Jail*
Day 2	Wondoor - Jolly Buoy Island *	Port Blair	No place to stay there	-	Glass bottom boat /Snorkelling Wondoor beach for sunset	1. Needs special permission from forest department. Hotels do that
Day 3	Baratang	Port Blair			Limestone caves, Jarwa tribe, mud volcano
Day 4 & 5	Havelock Island	Havelock Island	Dolphin Resort (their rooms are divided among the ANIIDCO and tourist department) Whereas tourist department have 3 kinds of rooms. They are booked by emailing them at accomodation6@gmail.com/-	Tourism Dept. S.Valliyappan 03192- 232694 accomodation6@gmail.com Tariff: Super Deluxe rooms: 4000/- per day +Tax 50% of the total room tariff in the form of Demand Draft within 15 days from the date of the receipt of the email	Radhanagar beach, Elephant beach (we did not go)	Scuba – do from a reputed company. Ask them about the area of coral reefs they have in their under Elephant beach – water rides
			ANIIDCO have all rooms of deluxe category only. They can be booked online.	Refer ANIIDCO website for more details. Tariff: 4700+850 (tax)
Day 6	Neil Island*	Neil Island	Hawabill Nest. Need to be booked through tourist department by emailing them.	Semi Deluxe rooms accomodation6@gmail.com/- Tariff: 2000/- +tax	Lakshmanpur beach No.1, Laksmanpour beach No.# 2., Bharatpur Beach, & Natural Bridge formations on the sea-shore
Day 7	Shopping and misc.	Port Blair	Port Blair		Chidiyatapu for sunset
Day 8	Port Blair	Flight back early morning		Holiday Home, Rajajinagar bhavan@430=1720/-

*tariffs can differ for international tourists

Additional Info:
• Agents we got in touch during our trip and had a lovely experience (in order of preference)
   1. Sagar: 9531937593 (Bengali)
   2. Sanjit Debnath: 80001400026
• You can do one side trip on ship that takes around 3 days (http://www.andamanbeacon.com/andaman_ship_schedule_fare.html)

Why would you love to settle down in Andamans
As a traveler you will love the white pristine beaches (still clean unlike many Indian beaches), dense rain-fed, damp andevergreen forests, 270 species and sub-species of birds, 96 Wildlife Sanctuaries, nine National Parks and one Biosphere Reserve.
You cannot get tired oft he beaches and the islands. You would love to settle down here for the rest of your life. The city dwellers include mostly inhabitants migrated from either West Bengal or Tamil Nadu. The populace is very cleanliness aware. You would not find any plastic or wrappers on the streets and on the beaches. Most islands are plastic free zones.

Trekking - it's life like

I went to my first organized and an ambitious trek on 21st - 25th August, 2018. Soon I started to learn how life actually is.... It is just like the trek.

1. It's most important to know the self - in order to succeed. One, who knows his/her strengths and weaknesses can use this knowledge to his/her benefit. Some leverage on strong legs, whole another might take advantage of the breathing abilities. Again, success is defined by self. It's not the same for everyone. For some, it's reaching early to the summit means success, while, to another, being able to complete is success. 
2. However seasoned a trekker might be, it does not guarantee his or her success to the current trek, though the chances might be  high. It depends a lot on how sincerely we take  each trek. Even a person who has not been very strong, but, by diligent preparation and with skillful management can sustain through a trek, which an experienced one might fail to. 
3. Our lives has to go on - even if our nearest and dearest ones are left behind. We have to keep going. 
4. During the path we come across people who possess the same speed or spirit as of us and we move together to some extent. During that either we are learning or we are imparting. Finally we also get aloof at some point. 
5. Only that person sustains, who is steady.

May the enlightenment stay. But it doesn't. So let's trek more often 😀

Backwaters in Kerala

Time and day offs are the scarcest resources apart from finances 😊

Grabbing the Opportunity

Kerala Backwaters was always in my bucket list. And somehow it earned a jinx that however I tried it was eluding me. This year I again got the chance to visit Kerala.

It was one of my close friend's marriage. The invitation made was an amazing mix of request and an exercise of her right on me so much so that in spite of no leaves left at the end of the year, with 2 small kids to be taken care of at home, I commited to her.
So I had 5 days in hand - 3 days for tourism and 2 days for my friend.

Prioritizing is the mantra

Tips on 'Parameters to consider for planning trips' in order of importance - 

1. Nature of travellers (backpacker/leisure/luxury, etc.) +
2. Interests + 
3. Similar places already visited in lately+ 
4. Research and reviews from internet + 
5. Finances

Breaking down the parameters as my example - 

1. I decided to travel alone, which meant indefinite freedom with little caution
2. I had been to Darjeeling only a month ago - so no Munnar for me as both places have sprawling tea gardens
3. Main interest was the backwaters
4. Reviews suggested canoe for boating which I also liked. Houseboats were out for me - I wanted to spend only on the time spent out on the boat, not in rooms in the boat.
5. I wanted to not deviate much from Kochi - Thrissur circle. So no Trivandrum/Kovalam which is very southern was not for me.

So I had Kochi, Kumarakom/Alleppey thekkady, Thrissur, Athirapally on my wish list but narrowed down to a backwater and one forest visit for me.

Blogs vs. other sources

There are innumerable guidance on the internet. I find the blogs more informative than tourism sites.
Kerala Backwaters

Backwaters

Alleppey or Kumarakom: 

Primarily two places are famous for backwater - Alleppey & Kumarakom. As I understood, Alleppey is at par with the water level and Kumarakom is at a height from the water level. Alleppey is quite commercialized whereas Kumarakom is less. I would have preferred for Alleppey homestay with water caressing my feet while I sit on the verandah. This I could not get at Kumarakom. The next morning I had to reach Thekkady by 10. So I went for a homestay at Kumarakom called Coconut Creek. 

Homestay

The homestay was clean, provided all basic amenities like geyser in bathroom, towel, etc. The food was very delicious. The only drawback was its location. It didn't onlook a river or the backwaters (don't fall for the picture of a canal in front of the homestay shown on the website. It's just a drain now infested and clogged by weeds). I was there for just an evening so I managed with it.

Houseboats

There are primarily 3 kinds of boats - 1. Houseboats /the rice boats for overnight stay with 1 or 2 rooms, single or double storey with some place to sit outside. The more the facilities the more noisy the diesel engine. 2. Canoe or country boats, with no roof over and rowed manually, 3. Shikara kind of boats, with a roof and driven by diesel engine.

The choices are very personal.

I chose not to stay in the houseboat because inside it will be just like any hotel room. At nights the boat is anchored mostly at places which is quite crowded and depots of similar boats with mosquitoes. So no advantage of night stay in the boat. Another aspect I discovered when I went for boat ride, was that, the tremendous noise the houseboats make due to the diesel engine used to power up the AC and other amenities going. The noise not only disturbed the people on board but also on other boats and the environment in a huge way.

The sound of silence

I went for a 2 hour boat ride in shikara type of boat. My preference was a canoe based on many reviews and blogs. But it was late evening and shikara boat was the last and only option. It was a boon in disguise. The path of boat ride is through a narrow canal with houses on banks. After about 2 kilometers the route opens into a vast backwater with only water in all directions till the horizon. There is only one sound - the sound of silence (provided you are lucky enough to not have any diesel operated boats nearby). I had requested my boat man to put off the engine to enjoy the serenity and boat been drifted by the air. Here you can hear even the sound of wings of a flying bird. I lied on a leaning chair for 2 hours in midst of the vast water. The only sounds I could hear were of the ripples and my heartbeat, yes it was gleefully beating. 

Date of travel: December, 2016

Being Mother-to-be

Its an amazing experience that I thought I would never be able to understand..... forget about enjoying


It begins with feelings.........a bit happy, a bit of apprehension, a bit shy,
and bit of fear .... "kahin meri nazar mujhe na lag jaaye".
What is "responsibility" - you know it now.
Earlier.........slow walks - Oh! How people afford them!
Now..........Careless steps - I can't afford them now

Its now the middle of it.......
I have never thought that meanings will change!!!!!...........
Dancing.........not good
Shape and figure.......... its delight to see myself go out of shape!
Happiness.......what will make him/her happy and do it come what may
What's tasty..........only the right stuff (milk and sprouts tasted better) and Mc - D's........its bad!!
Rounds of doctor....... perhaps in this time's sonography I will be able to take a good peep
TV shows..... crime thriller is bad
Laziness........ its painful
And then the final blow...........
Someone kicking you........... every time is an experience!!..........I love it.........I look forward to it. If he/she doesn't I try to poke :)

The final wait.....
(to be contd....)

Paisa or Passion?.....Motive for Doing Business

Few days back I was thinking to start my own entrepreneurial venture. Ask me why?.....I want to earn lots of money and I think that entrepreneurship makes it happen. Well I know that needs lots of patience and commitment also.....So that led me to my next question....Will it be for passion or for paisa?
If it is for passion....then good..... because I will be able to sustain for a longer period. But what if my passion is paisa? Won't it be as good?
If yes, then what should I sell?

Alma Mater Matters....

The preparation for the Golden Jubilee (GJ) celebration of IIM Ahmedabad was going on since more than a month. Ongoing preparations for the same were being continuously communicated through emails by Prof. Atanu Ghosh.

I was dead busy, since the time I joined my present job. Gakkai and household responsibilities were happy add-ons. Somehow I couldn’t feel the heat of the GJ celeb. All cold reasoning …….. I am residing in the same city and can anytime visit the dorm I stayed in, meet the profs I warmly remember of…. or it might be the give-up attitude due to the office workload that never loses weight and leaves negligible time for peeping into my heart to know what it actually loves to, or…… an apathetic feeling that “Who knows me neway and how my participation matters to the celebration?”, “none of my friends will come leaving their important life”, etc. etc. I might be the only one feeling so detached about the event….blame it on my insufficient bonding with my classmates during the 2 years of study.

Bidisha and Suhruta who were always senti about the insti informed me that they will be coming. I was excited about the only fact that I will meet my old buddies….. Yes, I ate with them, ‘drank’ with them, mugged with them, cried with them, got Ds in quizzes with them …….. with them I could be ‘me’…. which seems to be a rare event in this campus. Now, they are married to ‘God knows whom’ (I mean I only knew their names) so I was excited to meet them and their respective spouses……expecting to see them happy with their new lives.

The D-day approached….both of my friends landed in the city. I started to feel the heat now J All the nostalgic feelings started pouring in….. yes it’s my Alma Mater and I should visit it especially in event of such a big celebration…..I received so much from it….. come-on, it is a lifetime thing etc. etc.

I went to the campus on 25^th hoping to find the LKP flooded with Alumni. As soon I reached LKP I was amazed……the only thought that crossed my mind was a saying in Bengali… “Loke Lokaranyo Jano Manob Shunyo” (people people nowhere). On top of it only a handful of the current students could be seen among the participants or in the organizing team.

What could be the probable reason(s) behind such a poor turnaround? Even during Chaos so many alumni turn up. What had held so many of them back on this eventful occasion?

No marketing about the attractive events like Abhijeet’s performance/ was it the heavy registration charges/ wrong timing during the commonest holiday time…..WHAT has failed in this Great Institution??????

During the power packed Abhijeet’s performance I terribly missed the Tempo shouts which I expected to echo till the next 50 years. Where was the tempo of –

“WIMWI ka Tempo high hai baki sab ki …….” gone???

On the other hand, batch ’91 was celebrating its 20^th year and Alumni of that batch had come even from overseas. Their tempo was at their all time high. They were shouting, dancing and celebrating. What was their motivation? And how was it different from the Golden Jubilee celebration?

Reasons still continue to be at large about these contrasting events …. Hope this institution takes the cue and does some evaluative exercise. Then only it can survive the next 50 years with the Glory intact.

On a positive note I could meet several of my classmates and dorm mates (someone mentioned that our batch turnaround was the maximumJ)

Again on this day this insti gave me the opportunity to hear Abhijeet that too like a Chief guest (sitting in the third row and no money ...he he he). The '91 batch was dancing ...... seemed they were on a real high :D..............I was missing Bidisha and Suhruta soooo......much as I knew they would have definitely been there with me for dancing :)

But finally he sang the dance numbers........... Not able to hold back I joined them......many (read few) other alums also joined in and I could dance just 4-5 feet away from him:) Though Abhijeet strongly dislikes a crowd dancing so close to the stage but....... as he repeatedly mentioned......IT WAS IIM-A and thus so many flexibilities!!!!!! One of the gr8 '91 batch requested to sing with him.....and guess what.......he let that happen too!!!!!

My takeaway......I learnt that , I do care and have atleast some sentiments about my Alma mater….thanks to Bidisha and Suhruta for being the catalyst. And yes.....their life partners scored 110 out of 100 on my chart :)