First Day In The College Poem by Bashyam Narayanan

First day in the college

Two of our street mates got admission
In St Joseph's College Tiruchy
After finishing our school final
We both got the admission because
We got good marks in the examination
Me ranking third and the other guy ranking second
In the local school

He, being the son of the Professor in the same college
He was familiar with the college requirements
And he went to the college on his own
Leaving me alone to decide my way of attending

Elders at home were busy with their agenda
And none showed any sign of accompanying me
Or even seeing me off
As I left home for college for the first time

There was another reason also for
This unceremonius way

It was 25 June 1964
Was a full moon day
With a lunar eclipse on the card in the later part of the day
In our traditional belief it was not so auspicious
To start anything new on such an ecliple

But our college, as its name suggests, had no such sentiments

People at home were in fact more drawn to
Comply with the eclipse ritual specifications than to guide me
In this college entry process

Food was to be consumed before nine hours of the onset of the eclipse
And you can have your food only after the moon appears full
Timings with regard to all these find mention in our calendar
I had a very hurriedly prepared breakfast
And had to pass the entire day without food

I reached the college by bus
Took a long route into the premises
Not knowing there was also a short cut
I had a time table with me for my section in the pre-university class
And as per that I had my class in a room marked CH 20

I wanted to prove smart
And hence I just asked way for the above room
I was directed accordingly
I entered the room
It was not a room, but a hall with desks and benches arranged
On a gallery ascending toward back
For the faculty to be positioned at the lowest part of the hall

I saw a number of students, none of them familiar with me
I took a seat wondering at what were to follow
The faculty came and asked a boy to take attendance
He was reading a number and one after the other
Students were responding
Yes, I too had a number called departmental number
But my number was not called

I thought I should act now
I stood up
The faculty asked me as to what for I was standing
My problem was that
I could not convey my queries in English
As it was all Tamil medium I studied
I talked in Tamil telling that I was a new student
And I have joined the college in pre-university
Failing not to mention my section

The faculty was kind
He said that you new comers had a joint session in Lawley Hall
And directed me as to how to reach there

I felt so small for not being updated
I could only thank him with a gesture, not in words
I was cursing myself
As I walked in the direction mentioned by him

And a college peon
Helped my and showed the entry
When I opened the door
It led me to a dark narrow passage
With a big stage on left
And it ended at the beginning of a big hall
Which was fully occupied with students

A person standing in the entry point
Asked me about my purpose
I told him about my admission
And in which section of pre-university class

A tall gentleman with a gown and a broad red ribbon around his waist
Was addressing the gathering in English
Whom, I later came to know as the Principal
He looked at me
And asked my name
In a feeble voice I mentioned my name
He ordered me to be louder
I practically shouted my name
To the extent that the entire hall heard it

I quietly walked in the direction pointed out
By the person at the entry
And managed to get seated
I realized that entire gathering was looking at me
And, probably making fun over my ignorance

It all started like that
But ended only after six years
With my getting a post-graduation in the same college