Today’s Lucknow morning papers brought back ‘academic’ nostalgia through an article in TOI on Pg 17). Like lines from classic ‘Treasure Island’ : ‘I remember (it all) as if it were yesterday..’ ! Astonished that more than fifty years have elapsed when we’d entered the hallowed portals of that renowned seat of higher studies, ‘Lucknow University’ in 1971 for a BSc course. For me and many other classmates, it was just crossing the road (from our Alma Mater, Colvin College) but in terms of academics, it felt like a giant step with no hand holding from father-like figures who became our favourite teachers in School. We learnt to grapple with change & I spent five eventful years in LU, doing graduation, post graduation& research.
The article states it’s a journey through Lucknow University’s challenging decades and shares the personal experiences of two eminent Profs that it produced. In retrospect, ‘Established in 1921, LU as an institution has stood witness to waves of intellectual growth, turbulent student politics and determined efforts’. The more colourfully spectacular LU era of the 70s-80s that it speaks of, is almost the one we had shared also – replete with serious academics, low marks, some brilliant professors, the Co-ed scene & acquiring new friends, exchanging notes (not all being study material), elections & canvassing by student ‘netas’ and exams getting cancelled !
The experienceswere in form of new learning from exposure to‘higher education’ & ‘cultural and social’ effect it had on our lives. Somehow, the idea of fun for us, never included ‘bunking’ classes to see movies. Our close group of class fellows included theebullientwith their chatter and impetuous with fightsin the ‘Canteen’or in the class. In the 1970s, one never felt slighted trundling along to LU on the humble ‘Cycle’ though a few entitled ones rode in ‘gloriously’ on Mobikes& ‘Vespas’ creating waves. It wasn’t only the ‘nerds’ who’d frequently visit the famed ‘Tagore’ library. Few went in hope of meaningful friendships to blossom,and some to impresslady students and with disastrous results !
An experience special to me was the shift from the ‘Science’ stream to the Post Graduate ‘Arts’ side in ‘Economics’ & I started from ‘E’ as a complete novice. However, the two years were full of thrilling memories not only of Keynes, Marx& Friedman and of erudite professors who inspired through their lectures & tutorials.We had many of illustrious seniors (for their sheer brilliance we recall Rajiv Kumar, Gautam Chakravarty, Ajit Trivedi, Tyagiji& others) who’d regale us with notes& anecdotes. Fortuitously, many friends of our 1975 batch reunited later in 2014 and would share their thoughts in this WhatsApp group that was formed !
We would love to know the whereabouts of some who hit the limelight in the First Year (1974) -Hem Lata Rana, who had topped and shocked us all, might have settled overseas. I do recall my guide and first Eco. Teachers, late Dr.PDShrimali and late Dr.RS Mathur. ‘Jane kahangaya ye ‘Great Log’ ? It’s God’s grace that many of us are still around to reminisce those days.
Working on Living 