just like that

Starting with this post, I plan to begin a new series of 'campus updates'. This I decided based on two things - one based on a scolding from one of my seniors with regards to the lack of updates and two I need to know whether I really write anything of substance apart from campus happenings. So hereafter the 'campus' series will cover campus events only. Lets get started.

Well, one of the most striking things as far as the last term went was the arrival of our junior batch. Ever since our seniors left in March beginning, the campus was ours to rule. So when the juniors arrived in the last week of June, suddenly it felt a bit odd. They were also the first batch of 180, so for the first few days any place you turned in campus, it was swarming with them. I once remember a particular lunch time when I was the only PGP2 in the mess and believe me, for a moment, I didn't know where to go. Of course, once the initial ice was broken I was as good a friend with lots of them as Iam with my own batchmates.

As a part of the tradition here at Planet-I, we also had the inter-section cultural stand-off popularly known as the 'Talent night'. Aimed at building section and batch unity, the performances are typically from the PGP1 side. And boy were we in for a surprise this time around! The performances put up by them was simply mind-blowing both in terms of variety and quality. Fashion shows, skits and videos were only a teaser for the big things to follow. The light music (I wasn't sure what to call it) performances really stole the thunder. The singers, the guitarists and drummer really made us feel that we were witnessing a professional show by experts. There was also this great dancer(Vivek Johar, if Iam right) who did a Hrithik performance. At the end of it all, we were pleasantly shocked, surprised and in awe of what we had just witnessed. Seriously, this batch can go on to do bigger things.

( For the record, Section B won the competition :) )

Moving on, the PGP1 had their elections about a month or so after they landed here. The elections for the various student body committees were well contested and certain committees like hostelcom and messcom which have rarely witnessed competition in yesteryears had many nominees. Overall, I got the feeling that the batch was a bit too political with all those manifesto presentations :) Anyways, in most of the initial elections like these, it is the more popular guys/gals who get elected(Nothing wrong here - it is completely natural). My best wishes for the elected representatives - u have an important role to fulfill for your batch.

Apart from these, the term in general was a very hectic one for most of us. Came as a real shock to many who were expecting a far lighter second year after all the slogging in the first year. It could probably be attributed to a relatively shorter term and the fact there were three compulsory courses in addition to the electives. Infact, during a particular stretch of fifty days during the term, a sizeable number of people in the batch didn't have a single holiday. Of course, the academic load did not in anyway affect the other life at I . Be it quizzes, club events or full-night parties - it was as always at full flow.

Now as we begin a new term, there are a few important things that lie ahead of us. Apart from the studies, there are

1) The exchange students from France and China (Our guys have gone to USA and Newzealand in addition to these two countries)

2) The Business plans and paper presentations

3) The summer placements for the junior batch.

4) The mother of all events, Iris (this November, experience 'larger than life')

And of course, lots of birthdays, lots of parties and loads and loads of fun :)