A golden Silver Jubilee Meet of BITS85BATCH

A logo par excellence

They were all born in different parts of India, studied hard (some might say they hardly studied but made it to BITS) at different schools and their +2 scores got them to study and play together in the year 1985 at BITS, Pilani – the abode of higher education. While some of them got into 4-year integrated courses, some others got into 5-year dual degree courses. 

The year 2014 marks the Silver Jubilee Year and the batch mates decided to have their SJM (Silver Jubilee Meet). That several Pre-SJM meets happened at different parts of the world as a precursor to the actual SJM stands testimony to the enthusiasm of the batch. The size of the batch is 564 and is spread across various continents. It is a humongous task to even communicate a message to all of them, leave alone the task of getting them together. But, thanks to technology that came to the rescue of the Organizing Committee (OC) in the form of Telegram, Whats-app, Google Groups, YouTube and Facebook to communicate and bring the batch mates on to one platform. Out of 564 batch mates, 196 of them were blessed to make it to the SJM that can be called as once in a lifetime opportunity. Friends from all across the globe congregated to enjoy the reunion. This reunion or the SJM of 85 Batch has sure set new benchmarks. From now on every reunion at BITS will be either called pre-85Batch or post-85Batch.

The OC comprising of Rajesh Balay, Smita Kolhatkar(Smokon), Bala Showry, Muthuram, Arvind Srinivasan, Sanjay Dutta Gupta, Paparaju, Ranjan Biswas, Manas, Bejoy George, Tarminder Singh and Vochak did a fabulous job of conducting the whole event that makes even the best organizers of international conferences of MNCs to want to learn something more. So meticulous was the planning that there was not a single glitch at any point in time. The whole event went off as a superbly orchestrated symphony. Adding sweetness to the planning was the thoughtfulness of the OC in each and every aspect of the REUNION. What planning and thoughtfulness went into the whole event is brought out in the below lines.

Every reunion is like reliving the past that is always pleasant and filled with sweet memories of people and places. Though some of the batch mates never spoke to each other while at BITS, there was nothing that stopped them from regaling and enjoying the company of each other. There was unbridled camaraderie across the batch mates that made the whole reunion feel like a family get-together.

The TREX journey and what prompted it

The year 1985 saw a huge rise in number of admissions from the south of India especially Andhra Pradesh (now split into Telangana and AP). The students from Telanagana part of AP used to travel by AP Express to Delhi and those from Tamil Nadu and Andhra used to travel by TN or GT Express. The journey by train in those days was full of fun as most of the berths were occupied by BITSians travelling to and from Delhi after holidays. Some of the 85 batch mates wanted to start reliving the past beginning with the train journey. Around 70 of 192 who attended booked themselves by TREX (Telangana Rajdhani Express). Such was the enthusiasm of the batch that several of them flew all the way from North India to Hyderabad just to travel with friends from Secunderabad to Delhi. There were few others who flew straight into Hyderabad from other countries to travel by TREX on 15th October 2014.

Love and friendship of the world got locked in two A/C compartments of TREX on that single day journey till the noon of 16^th October 2014.

The Final Pre-SJM bash at Radisson Blu

All the batch mates attending the SJM checked-in at Hotel Radisson Blu in Gurgaon where a grand pre-SJM party was organized on the night of 16^th October. On checking in, each one was given a SJM kit that had two T-shirts, a yearbook, a name badge, a personalized mug with name and ID printed on it, a table top gift with clock that had BITS main clock embossed in it. The T-shirts and yearbook were arranged according to pre-collected information on Google groups.

The party at Radisson set the ball rolling for the next 3 days. After 25 years there are a lot of physical changes that take place in a person. There were of course some friends who defied age. They remained young as ever. Most become bald, some other become plum, some others’ hair gets a tinge of grey (of course, there are some of us who dye to let not the grey show!!). So it becomes very difficult to recognize your own friends when they pass in front of you. Here is where the OC applied their thoughtfulness. They got made individual masks for each of the participants with their BITS face. The masks idea was suggested and executed completely by Rajaram with an instant approval from OC. When you study in the same campus for 4 years, it is not necessary for one to be your classmate to recognize him. It is sufficient if you stepped out of your room and hallooed outside even if one didn't attend classes. Wearing the mask with BITS face enabled everyone to recognize each other. But just recognizing won’t help; you need to put a name to that face. The OC had thoughtfully given a badge to each participant with their name that freed up communication between friends. After a grand gala night of songs and dances, exchanging of pleasantries and whereabouts, the journey to Pilani was scheduled for the next day morning i.e. 17^th October.

Day 1 – An epic journey after 25 years from Delhi to Pilani

Four buses started off at the scheduled time carrying the stars of BITS 85 batch. All of them wore the light grey-colored T-shirt that read “what a long strange trip it's been - bits pilani 1985“ with a cute camel face in the middle. As they all got into the buses in a similar t-shirt, it was a treat to the eyes and felt as if the honeybees have changed their color to grey.  

The grey for Day 1

The journey to Pilani took a long time with the usual Gurgaon toll gate traffic eating into the precious time but that was not a botheration for the 85 junta as they were all blissfully immersed in the pleasure of having met their old friends and the excitement of reaching their alma mater in a few hours from then. The entourage stopped at a resort called The Village in Narnaul,Haryana where the OC had organized for bread pakoras and tea for all. It kept hunger under control till the buses rolled into Pilani. This was again a case of great thoughtfulness.

As the buses moved into Pilani town, there were loud cheers from all. Lunch was arranged for all and by the time each had their lunch, the rooms were allotted and all the participants were accommodated either in VFASTGuest House or the new C V Raman block. The crew was pleasantly surprised to notice a Café Coffee Day counter serving unlimited coffee to all at the dining hall of the Guest House. This is thanks to the generosity of A.Venu Madhav, one of the 85 batch mates who presently is serving as the CEO of Café Coffee Day.

The batch mates proceeded to Skylab, a famous hangout joint for every BITSian where the present lot of students were guided and counseled on various streams of career and growth options. It was so lively and lovely to see the interaction between the old and the new generations. The OC had suggested this route of interaction instead of a lecture room session so that there was more openness and informality in knowledge transfer. While the session was in progress, several of the 85ers got themselves treated to ‘Shikanji’, ‘fried maggi’ and 'samosa' of Pappu, the king of Skylab who is liked and loved by every BITSian. The interactive session went beyond the scheduled time with lot of present BITSians wanting to learn more from the 85ers.

Getting ready for basketball match

After the session, there was a basketball match (or should we say ‘unmatch’) between 85ers and the present BITS team members in well-lit and newly made basketball court. Though age has eaten into the reflexive abilities of 85ers,they have a given ‘tough’ ‘fight’ to the present team comprising of players like Dabbu and Riddhi who were too good with the ball. Day 1 of the SJM ended with the start of a dinner and Karoke after maintaining a two-minute silence as a mark of respect to eight of the batch friends who departed early to reach the abode of God. Lot of friends wished each other good night only at 5 am on the next day i.e 18^th October.

Day 2 – The day belonged to the past

Psenti flex board

The Orange for Day 2

The second day of SJM started with a 5K run with most people preferring to walk than run. The route was marked in advance and covered the hostels, temple and the main building. One of the most touching arrangements by the OC was the flex boards in front of each hostel with the photographs of the participants who first stayed in those hostels on stepping into BITS. It is informed to me that Muthuraman thought of this and Spy executed it. (Incidentally Spy also made the logo for BITS 85Batch SJM). The OC team deserves a big 'bang' of appreciation for this. Soon after the run and breakfast, 85ers gathered for a group photo on the lawns of Skylab in front of the G D Birla Memorial Hall. Dressed in orange coloured T-shirt, they looked like a big bunch of ‘Swamijis’ from Silicon Valley (not Himalayas). After a lively photo session, batches of 85ers were escorted by current students to show around the campus and the changes that have taken place in the last few years. While walking through the corridors of the main building and workshop, most 85ers were filled with nostalgic feelings. The feel was more at the workshop when they saw the same lathe machines that they used 29 years ago. The new library building bowled them over and everyone felt the urge to study again at BITS.

New Library Block

The yummy potato fries

A sumptuous old-style meal

Amul's Cassatta

The best part of the SJM was yet to come until the lunch time on the second day when everybody gathered at RPA mess for BITS Mess style lunch. They were all treated to a ‘nostalgic’ lunch (if it could be called that way) by the mess servants. The OC ensured that they got the same menu that was loved during their days at BITS. The potato fries tasted the same and are far superior to the SOP-driven McDonald’s French fries. On the vegetarian side, there was red cherry pulao, poori,roti,curd,cauliflower fry and brinjal curry that tasted like heaven and every one of the 85ers were transported back to 85-89. The casatta dessert of Amul completed the experience of enjoying a complete mess meal.

In the evening there was a felicitation function of the faculty in one of the halls at the new block. The present Director Prof. Raghuraman delivered a ‘youthful’ talk welcoming and energizing the 85ers. Prof. K.E.Raman reminisced on why he had to be a disciplinarian and the importance of discipline regaling the audience with his usual wit and wisdom. This was followed by 85ers felicitating the OC. The efforts of each one of the OC members were sincerely acknowledged and appreciated. Each of the OC members did their bit and it was a complete team effort but there is always a team leader and she got a standing ovation for all her efforts along with her team. She led from the back and from the front. She is none other Smita aka Smokon. The honors were done by Vijay Anand Guntur on behalf of the participants. Deepa Krishnan spoke on how BITS had taught her to face the tough side of life when she had to teach 10 seniors at USA while being a Teaching Assistant.

Music Nite

The second and final day's SJM ended with a Music Nite at the audi where Ranjan Biswas, Paul Prashant and Shaky literally shaked the audience with their ‘instrumental’ skills and Ajith, Shruti with their sweet singing. Bejoy and LV entertained the audience with their jest and zeal. The juniors too from the Music Club chipped in with their bit of talent which was truly commendable.  Thanks to another batch mate Alagu and his company Bluejeans the entire Music show was webcast to 85ers who could not make it to SJM. This is a first of its kind for the SJMs at BITS.

To conclude or not to conclude

The batch that met with light in their light-hearted souls had to part ways with heavy hearts on the morning of 19^th October. Each one of them knew that all good things have to come to an end but they were also aware that there is always a golden opportunity to meet again in 2039 for the Golden Jubilee by which time most people would turn 73 years of age. While some may make it on their own, some would need the help of their children or grandchildren to escort them for the GJM.

Till then,it is the SJM memories that each one would love to live with and some occasional pre-GJM meets happening here and there. One may earn millions of rupees or reach pinnacles of career in one’s lifetime but such SJMs are only for a few lucky souls as it is just IMPOSSIBLE to get back those moments in life how much ever money and time one spends after those crucial days are gone. While the 85ers who attended the SJM will lead a life of complete satisfaction, those who have missed it for whatever reason, personal or otherwise, would regret not because they missed it but because of the way OC conducted and the way batch mates enjoyed it. 

I end this with my tweet which I did on 19^th October while travelling back from Pilani to Delhi:The most precious gift you can give to the ones you love is your time. Everything else is secondary. 

The front page of the 85 Batch Year Book 

Every member of the Organizing Committee lived in word and deed by the above tweet and every 85er who attended positively amplified the efforts of the OC with their active participation.  

The Mug - An extension of Mumbai pre-SJM meet gift

The Memento

(Dis)Claimer - Any omissions are purely the mistake of the author. Some selfless services of the excellent OC members like SDG and team are intentionally not mentioned here for obvious reasons.