What BIT Means to Me

What BIT Means to Me:
This is Piku, Civil 86. I was mostly seen on my off-white LML Vespa scooter busy in extracurricular activities in the campus. Reena, Rana and Priyaranjan were my group mates, who used to give me all possible help to successfully complete the sessionals and somehow clear the examination. Shailesh, Shanker, Rathoresir were source of distraction. I don’t know what happened to me in third and fourth year, I also started studying occasionally. Anyway, before taking the final degree, I was in U.S. – The FIRST EXPATRIATE OF OUR BATCH on 2nd December, 1990.
On 4th , I was sitting at Penn State University waiting for my turn to meet student advisor, not knowing where to stay in the chilly winter night. America was different those days; having very less Asian population. Very limited and expensive communication mediums (India $ 4 a minute). Yes, we could feel the distance at that time. At 6 p.m. in the evening, I could see the professor. I knew nobody in Philadelphia. I was scared, didn’t know where to go. Good hotels might cost dearly – cheap hotels may be dangerous. I did not know about America those days, which had negligible presence of Indians compared to present. I had a torn piece of paper where Dr. Vinay Prasad, our English professor, has written –few names and numbers of BIT alumni. I was trying to feel remaining currency of 1800 (USD) given by my father. I had already spent 200 dollars in commuting. Suddenly, I realized my stomach is upset due to acidity – could not eat anything during the day. Forgetting other vexing issues, I rushed to Ruby Tuesday and had something vegetarian (could not make out what dish it was). Then, took a bus and came back to New York. I reached Manhattan at 3 a.m. , waited till 7 a.m. and called up my only known person with whom I had a talk from India. His telephone was out of order. I tried to locate the address – address was incomplete. I had another interview at Columbia University in the evening. Dragging my big desi bag full of outdated clothes and books, I reached Columbia University at 11 a.m.. I saw few Asian faces there and tried to be friendly with them. They understood my problem and preferred not to come close. My reserve was depleting fast and was left with $1600, a chit containing name and telephone numbers of few alumni of BIT and one soft bag weighing 20 kg containing my junk clothes and old books. I was wearing a sweater which was not enough – wind chill factor was in negatives. I came to the Engineering school – sat inside a building and started thinking about family, friends and BIT. I felt like crying loud and I did cry my hearts out for almost an hour remembering faces very close to me. My turn to see the professor was over - I was sitting at wrong place. Dejected, tired and hungry, I was all alone. I saw a public telephone nearby – without even thinking twice, I took out numbers of BIT alumni. My four quarters got wasted – numbers were changed. Finally, I could talk to one Mr. Ravindra Kumar of 79 batch. Our conversation was very short. He just asked me to remain there. Within 1 hour, Ravindraji was in front of me with his wife. I hugged him tight and felt the warmth, very much needed at that time. He took me home. We had aloo paratha together. He was curious like a kid to know about my father, BIT Sindri, India... and I discovered home in America.
I did my masters from Brooklyn –Poly, NYU and later did Comp Sc. From Columbia and CUNY. I worked for different companies in different countries, held high posts .... Earned little money. First thing I did; took a four bed room large home equipped with all luxurious fixtures. My wife was studying medicine in India, I was alone. I was a fully satisfied person, when I started calling students from India to stay with me, when they first arrive at USA. I use to put flyers in Universities, in case a new student needs help. It was ultimate eternal pleasure to help many of the newcomers from BIT, Sindri. I consider it as one of the biggest achievement in my life.
Now, things has been changed, world has become a global village. Surprisingly, yesterday, I got a call from one of my senior, Mr. Rajesh, who got a guest from India. The guy, looking for a place to stay, is also from BIT Sindri (probably 2005-2009 batch) and is trying to get into Stanford University this Fall. Rajeshji is also from BIT and I am sure that guest from BIT Sindri has found a new home in USA.
THIS IS WHAT BIT MEANS TO US

Posted by Naresh on Behalf of Pikku