The university Dept Clerk advised my marks percentage as 52 and also about my third rank out of more than 300 English/Hindi/Marathi media students.- who appeared for the First year exam.. I was on cloud 9.
My father was not very happy about marks but felt OK.
Then disaster struck.
My parents decided to finalize my marriage with my Mama’s daughter. My 20th birthday was two months away. It was linked to my sister’s marriage. I was reluctant and cried silently for two days. A few days later my Mama/Mami came, performed a small engagement function. In a week’s time with a photo of my future bride, I left for Nagpur to complete my second year.
To my utter dismay, my studious room mate failed in 2 papers .The Land lady was surprised to the core after knowing the results and was not believing that “Ghoomnewaala” obtained a rank and “Padnewaala” failed in two subjects.
I joined another friend and took a room very near to Campus-one bus stop away — in a private hostel with neat surroundings with some nice trees.
Classes started and we used to have a subject “Political Sociology”. Prof Kini used to smoke beedis before coming to class. Being a non-smoker I had(have) a keen sense of smell and that beedi smell was nauseating . I was so fed up that I started to avoid his classes. I can not go to back benches as there are only 4 rows.
I was in a quandary. One day I shared my thoughts with Dept Clerk. He mentioned that there is a possibility of opting for a research paper in lieu of any written one — if Head of Dept approves/permits.
Bingo!
I searched the rule from old records and wrote an application addressed to Prof Murthy. He asked me why such liking towards research paper. I could not answer the truth. He insisted to know, as for many years, no one opted for Research paper. I blurted the truth. He said it’s a minor issue and asked me to deal with it. I stood my ground. Reluctantly, he decided to call for applications and wanted to hold a written test and viva .
Notice went up on the board and three students opted. A test of 3 hours. No choice of questions. — a single question was set which I vividly remember. “If you were appointed as UPSC chairman, what changes do you propose ? ”. First time I spent full two hours ( out of three) and wrote very lengthy coherent arguments. Next Day two of us qualified for Viva. Prof Murthy grilled me for 30 mts about UK constitution and the role of central planning in Indian Economy. Other girl was subjected to 15 min grilling on Rural dev admin. Next day only my name went up on the board permitting me to officially bunk Political Sociology Class for entire year and declaring me as — Research Scholar for year 73–74….Yahoo…
I was allotted a separate room next to Prof Murthy’s with a table,Revolving chair, Green Woollen table cloth and a standard glass sheet over the top of it with a ceiling fan and two Godrej glass/steel cup boards. The Room’s key was handed over to me. What a heady feeling for a 20 yr old having an own room next to HOD! I used to attend only one class a day and when I walk in the corridors juniors used to whisper..” he is research scholar- separate room etc”””
A week later Prof called me and asked topic of research paper. After lot of back n forth settled on” An Asst Stn Master in SC Rly-A profile in administration”,He immediately asked me to go thru First pay commission report, then second and Third. Each so voluminous carrying the report requires an effort. With a lot of hard work, I finished the research paper with grit and determination working flat out in holidays in Andhra Pradesh ( EG Dt)and sleeping overnight in railway station rooms interviewing Station Masters.
The entire second year, all my canteen bills were paid by classmates for a simple reason that they all copied my notes which was freely translated into Hindi and then into Marathi. We used to go to central Library , reserve 10 seats in a row(single chair/table) and I sit at the first table and all others go to canteen after drawing required books from Library as per my requirement. . I used write notes on ruled foolscape papers and after 30 minutes the gang comes with carbon papers and sit behind me and copy my notes using carbon papers ( no photocopying those days) then and there. As a reward, all my canteen /Icecream bills were paid by them for entire year.
During a particular week, I did not attend Univ. due to fever. One fine day,around 4 pm, 8 girls of my class descended on my room and made a fuss about my heath and next 3 days brought home cooked food, fruits and pampered me till I got back on my feet.
I applied for income tax inspector exam and went to Prof Murthy for attestation of certificates. He saw the application and tore into pieces and told me to apply for UPSC and not for other jobs.
Final exams- I studied very hard- 360 degrees change compared with earlier year — and secured first rank in second year. After adding first year marks, my rank got slipped to second.
The first rank was bagged by a lady with kids who fell ill and was not willing to write the exam. I went to her home and gave moral support to write exam. She surprised at my gesture and asked me if she did not write final exams , first rank will be mine . I smiled and said rank does not matter. She appeared for finals, bagged second rank and after adding first year marks she became first rank holder for 1974.
Two other professors surprisingly hugged me in the corridor as I scored some very decent scores in their subjects during my second year final exams.
The Research paper was adjudged best original work of a PG student and the remark was from Dr MP Sharma/HOD- Pub.Admin /Sagar univ — a renowned name in Pub Admin.
A professor whose home address I never knew, and not related to me in any way( caste,creed,religion) treated me like an equal, and guided me like his son.
ఈ రోజు నాకు నాలుగు వేళ్ళు నోట్లోకి పోతున్నాయంటే ఆ గురువు గారి దయ. నాలో ఏమి చూశారో? ఎంతో ఓపిగ్గా, ఎటువంటి ప్రతిఫలం ఆశించకుండా నన్ను తీర్చి దిద్దిన నా మాస్టారికి మరొక్కసారి పాదాభి వందనాలు…
