Roorkee University in year 1959 onwards

Continuing the first year of university life I remember the winters used to be too much chill during those days .On holidays I used to come to Delhi and would bring so many books that I would study at home but all this was a futile exercise and to be honest I never opened the books and went back to Roorkee carrying all the holdall of books.The back journeys were by train and that too in the night .The train used to reach Roorkee in the morning at 4 am and the trains stop time was only 5 minutes and we used to throw our baggage from the train on the platform and then used to hire some rickshaw and reached room about at 5am .My ears and face used to be red red due to intense cold.We used to rush from one class to the other by bicycle and used to keep books or file on the stand of the bicycle.In Roorkee a strict restriction of dress was maintained .No student was allowed t walk on the road or in the campus wearing loose chapels or Pyjama Kurta.You were allowed to wear chapels only in the hostel corridors.Shoes without socks and coat without tie were not allowed.For sports you had to wear white dress,white shirt white pant and white socks and canvass shoes and blue blazer in the winters.While leaving the room every student was supposed to keep the bed quite neat and cover the bed with sheet keeping pillows under the sheet.In winters the bed would be covered with quilts.The shoes and chapel's would be on shoe stands.Every student would keep the room clean.There would be study table and table lamp and a chair to sit erect during studies.All the dusting work would be done by students by themselves.Due to shortage of accommodation there were rooms shared by two students.There were good games system you had to choose two games and it was mandatory.There were marks for games also .I remember there were about 30 marks reserved for games.At that time Professor Mahesh Chandra was our games in charge.I took gymnastics as one of the games and later on became secretary of gymnastics and got the colour and used to attach this colour on the pocket of my blue blazer.When I used to go outside I used to feel pride to wear Roorkee University blazer .Coming to dinner and mess rules I think Roorkee mess was a marvelous .As you enter you would find a Butler wearing a long white dress with shining belt and a turban of like Maharaja and long moustaches and pride and shining face.All the bearers were under him and he supervised the event very majestically.Seniors and juniors used to eat at same table.While taking dinner you had to keep the spoon and forks crossed and when you finished then the spoons and forks would be placed parallel.Once a week you would get a sweet dish either ice cream or Khir or gulab jamun etc.If by mistake you happened to place the spoons and forks parallel then the butler would immediately take away the plates from the front of you whether you had finished or not.When you had finished and you intended to leave you had to say Excuse Me Please to the student sitting next to you and take out your chair and then pushed back towards the table.Supposing you were sitting at end of dining table and the dish was away from your reach then that case you had to ask your fellow student like this " Pass on please' and in return you would say "Thank You"and in return the fellow student on the table would say "mention not" or " Its alright"Some times it was advised that there should be dinner suit which was to be creams in colour.In other words we were trained to be Sahib or the officer.We were not allowed to mix with diploma holders as were degree students and on getting the job diploma students get the subordinate posts and degree holders would get officer grade.This was only a notion at that time.As I opted gymnastics and swimming as my games .One day I went for swimming in the swimming pool of Roorkee and out of experiment took a deep dive from the height and as I jumped in the pool but got exhausted and I lost control and cried .Seeing me one of my class mate Sh S.C Kulshrest jumped and pulled me up.I am grateful to him and still cont forget him .Had he not saved me at that time I would had not been on the earth .May God less him and his family members as I had now last track of him.By coincidence It so happened later in my life when I was serving in Irrigation Department U P that I fell unconscious fell at gate of Lucknow office the same person took me to his house and got myself treated and accompanied me to Allahabad where I was posted.I bow my head for him under gratefulness and respects.During first year in 1959 Roorkee university opened a girls hostel and its number was hostel No, 44.There were only 4 to 5 girls got admission.Mostly in telecoms civil and Mech. streams. The mess had separate table for girls.Roorkee University used to show one picture per month in open air theatre.I remember once a picture Paying Guest by Dev Anand was shown.Once Punjabi poetess Surinder Kaur Had also came and sang poem " DUD PEE LEA BALMA MAIN KUDAUN DI KHARI"As Roorkee is a cantonment and in all the Cantonments there is Defence Cinema.Once I saw a movie at this picture hall named Horrors Of Dracula.This was a very much dreadful picture and I still remember the long teeth and how the Dracula sucked blood under the darkness from the neck of a victim.I could not got sleep after seeing it .As I was returning in the loneliness and passed by the bushes I was imaging that Dracula would come out from bushes .From that day onward I never saw any movie at that theatre. Continued...........

Roorkee University in year 1959 onwards

During first year of engineering we stayed in C Block Hostel.Every room was twin sharing basis.We used to get up early and used to go to mess and our classes used to start at 8 am I had a bicycle for attending classes which were located in different blocks and these buildings were at distance of half to one furlong apart.After attending the classes there used to be tutorial classes in the evening.I had a interest in games and Gymnastics was my favourite.I could do exercise on Parallel Bars and Horizontal Bars and some of the floor exercises.I was appointed as the Secretary of Gymnastics.For gymnastics I got the colour from the University.In summer we had white dress and in winter We used to wear Blue blazer and tie and we used to feel pride when we wore the University dress with Lion mark embosed on the pocket of coat and written as University of Roorkee.1 year/2/final year .During holidays I used to come to home bringing so many books but I remembered it was a futile exercise as I did not open the books and just showed to the parents that we were over burdend with studies.Each time I came to home my bhabhiji used to say "Oh my son has reduced and as if I remained empty stomach in the University" As a matter of fact all the mothers think like and this is a universal truth.I bow my head in respect to my mother as I remembered him .May her noble soul rest in peace under the feet of The Almighty.I pay my heart felt sincere shardanjali to my mother .I still remember the winter night journey by train to Roorkee.The train
usecd to reach Roorkee at 4 am and the stopage as only 5 minutes and we used to throw the luggagenummed due to cold.Once I saw a picture in the Defence Cinema and The picture was HORRORS OF DRACULA and I was caming returning to my hostel I was so terrified and the picture scenes came to my eyes as if Dracula was coming out of the bushes in the nightand the scene of sucking blood from the neck flashes from my eyes. This was all the illusions and hellocinations withuot any back ground.I had a great memory at that time which has been reduced as the time passed.In the first year I felt a great difficulty in higher maths.I wondered that a teacher Mr Garg was M.Sc. Maths and taught us Maths and a student sitting next to me was also M.Sc. Maths and while I was only 10 plus 2.Any how I had do the great efforts and was successful in the First year { civil}

Roorkee University in year 1959 onwards

In year I was in the First year of civil Engineering and started living in the C block which was meant for Diploma holders.This was make shift arrangement as other hostels were being constructed.We had a ragging session .it was horrible as seniors use to disturb us in the name of introduction .It was presumed that after ragging the seniors become good friends.But as I remember this was not the case.I remember those who had ragged us never came forward for help the juniors.This was a bad thing in those days as is now.During in year 1959 when the First year students were staying in C Block of university I remember the seniors made us stand in the park near by and all the seniors with their mouths covered and uttering fake names just like corporal commander Sargent's, ordered us undress ourselves .What a shame to the reputed University? We were shocked and frightened and started to became naked.It was dead at night about 2 to 3 in winter season.All of sudden a n African student took the courage and he took out a long Knife and challenged the seniors.His name was EDWARD MUSAZZI .We the first yea students courage and started attacking the seniors.Seeing the unity of first year students the seniors ran away and some them got injuries.But on this bold step the ragging could not been done.Seniors complained to VC that juniors had misbehaved which was turned down by the administration .It was then decided that all the juniors would give introduction in the hall and seniors could get the introduction of the juniors.Every junior was called on the stage would tell his/her name from he /she was coming and from which institution doe 10 plus 2 and what were their hobbies. When a junior came to stage in front of VC and all the staff the whole seniors used to laugh and some might pass comments.I remember when I walked to the stage as I was on the stage a voice came to my ear look down My laces not tied and the laughter .Again look up see your pants button were open and again a laughter.Any way this was a good and cool method of ragging.Roorkee university was known as Thompson college of Engineering I have great respect for my university.Dr Khosla was VC and renowned engineer and later on became the Governor.

Year 1959 to 1962 life at Roorkee University

After entering in the cblock and ragging epsode the life at the university was very tough.We used to attend the classes in the morning and then rush for tutorials in th e after noon .The workshop period used to be just after lunch and Professor R.N, TANDON used to teach us . As for my memory goes most of class used to feel sleepy and relaxed.It so happened that When I joined Irrigation Department later on Life Mr Tandon was my SE in year 1965 onwards.He was a nice fellow and helped me when I wAs in Tubewells. I bow my head for the noble soul as he met with an accident.

After Partition-in year 1948 to 1954 hardships at KABRASTAN CHAMELIAN AND BARA HINDU RAO MANAKPURA

While going back to 1948 memories I remember that our family shifted to refugee market of Lajpat Rai Market near Lal KILA (RED FORT) as usual our family made cartons day night and used to go to the common toilet of the market.I still remember the sweet shop of Vij restaurant where the PURIES were of great taste.Near the market there was Electric tram station in Chandani chawk.Later on we shifted the work of card board boxes to Gali Telian near Pahari Dheeraj and Kasab Pura and I used to come to the factory by tram which had been running from RED FORT to Bara Hindu Rao Here we took one shop on rent to make the card boxes as the material like paper and card board were cheaply available there.We even used to buy the old clothes from Kutab Khana near Sadar.These conditions were due to poverty and we as were told by our fore fathers that we were the richest persons prior to Partition of 1947.Here we were helped by our oldest family friend Late Sh Lurinda Mal Sethi and Sh Sant Ram and Sh Sohan Lal.We were helped by some Muslim workers in making boxes.Now I have last the trail of those persons who helped us at hour of need we are grateful to them I cannot forget those days of partition and our stay at Agra where I worked under some Muslim trainer who used to beat me with a stick if I was late in pasting corners on the boxes (CHIPKIES) More so my trainer was not impartial as he was not so angry with other worker under him because he was Muslim by caste's used to give me only Chavani (FOUR ANNAS) for whole days work.While returning I used to purchase Kulfi or milk from Gali Seth near KINARI BAZAR AGRA.I am still satisfied that ours is a nation of great people who are great in culture who can lead India nay the whole world The whole families which shifted from West Pakistan saved their honour and never begged for alms and by hard work these Punjabi's have captured the business about 70 % in Delhi.Our business partner in Kohat sardar Bhayaji was a great source of inspiration who used to live in Pul BANGUSH near Azad Market.He was also very successful in the business along with his sons and I am proud in mentioning that one of his son is minister in Delhi State ministry. My respectful sharandjali to Sardar Bhayia ji.Here I remember with great respect Sardar Bhaiyaji Late Sh Hara Singh ji and Late Bhag Masi ji who used to visit our family as Pul Bangash was very near to Bara Hindu Rao was nearby.Our family was very friendly with Bhaag Masiji and our Tayiji (Sister of Bhaag masiji)whom we used to respect the most .Sardar bhayaji "s son Sh Prahlad Singh Sahni is my old childhood friend but it is since long we have met each other.I feel proud that he had won election as MLA and is holding the post of minister in the present ministry of Delhi state and recently I have come to know that he has received the ticket from congress for MLA seat from Chandni Chawk for the next election in year 2008 in Delhi. I wish him all the success. Now again after returning from USA, i sat down to recollect the old memories from school days to college days. I filled the forms for admission in engineering. I appeared in IIT and Roorkee exams I was selected in Roorkee and got the rank 13Th in admission test in IIT i got selected for Naval architecture. I also went to Jabalpur for getting admission in engineering collage there my elder brother also accompanied me for engineering admission as we had got no domicile of MP we were refused the admission. During interview the com mite asked some peculiar questions like were we belonged to and what were our Father's business or service we had in relation in Jabalpur but no property for domicile purpose was in our name as we were returning from Jabalpur to Delhi I purchased a newspaper
in the train and i was very happy to find my name in the result of Roorkeeuniversity in year 1959 but to my dismay my brother couldn't get admission in engineering and as such he was compelled to complete his B.Sc, but it all depends on the fate. I was preparing to join the Roorkee university so i was very much perplexed because I had never been studied outside Delhi, so our bauji went with me to Roorkee we stayed in some guest house till formalities of admission were over, as I heard that there was ragging going on in collage so I along with my father stayed in the house of Sethi Sardarjee who had a house near the Roorkee university in civil lines they were having a shop of clothes named Sethi cloth house in near Roorkee canal my bauji also introduced me to the manager of mess Mr Diwan and alerted him that he should take special care Mr Diwan and Mr Sethi happened to belonged to the same area before partition ie NWFP now in Pakistan after my father left Roorkee I was shifted to C block hostel my room partner was Ashok Malhotra and his father Mr NN Malhotra had written English guide and he was principal of S N Das Gupta college in Delhi Pusa Road.Raging was a very bad thing for which we were afraid of I still remember that on one night at round about at 2 pm mid night senior students thrashed our doors and they were uttering fake names just like corporal commander sargent and they ordered all the junior students to come out from their rooms and follow up in straight lines downstairs in the park and shamelessly they ordered us to undress ourselves and they ordered us to quick march naked to the Roorkee Canal.The seniors were afew and the Juniors were about 3 to 4 hundreds .All of sudden an African student Edward Muzazi took out the Knife and all the Juniors got courage and they caught hold of seniors and in the confusion and in chaos some seniors got injuried and they ran away and all the juniors put on their clothes and came back to their respective rooms too much frightened .Next day as we went to mess we found so many seniors with bandage on their arms and some injury marks etc.Naturally they were in anguish moods.Matter was reported to V C and it was decided that all the juniors would give introduction in the auditorium and each junior would tell his name , hobbies and home addres and college where they had studied etc.All the faculty and Vc and dean of students were present.As a fresher stood up the whole auditorium started laughnig .As I stood up and uttered my name a laughter was there and some seniors uttered please button up my pant and lace up my shoes as I looked down to find if it was so a great laughter again I was so much confused any way this type of introduction was quite cool.In Roorkee strict dress code and table manners were observed.Coat without tie was not permitted.During Dinner or lunch we were told how to use spoon and forks.and during eating these were to put as crossed and after finshing these were to be put as parallel.During dinner there was sound soft music just like Tune of picture COME SEPTEMBER an other English Music. As a matter of fact they tried us to learn decipline as the britishers used to have . We were shown one picture every month not regularly in open air theater .Once some Punjabi singers like Surinder Kaur came and she sang the song as under
DUD PEE LA BALMA MAIN KDAON DI KHARI .........DUD PEE LA .......BALMA
Next life in Azad Bhawan Roorkee

After Partitionin year 1948 to 1954 hardships at KABRASTAN CHAMELIAN AND BARA HINDU RAO MANAKPURA

While living in Manakpura I still remember that in those days there was .great advertisement of free style wrestling.The then wrestlers Sh DARA SINGH ,KING KONG ,RANDHAWA,FLASH GARDEN and Red Scorpion used to take round of all the bazars sitting proudly on the tangas or tempos .There was great noise of beating of drums and announcing the date of wrestlings and the the names of the main wrestlers.I along with my friends of Manakpura used to run behind these tangas dancing and collecting the leaflets.Those wrestling competition used to take place in the NATIONAL STADIUM at night time.There used to be great rush.I once saw the fight between DARA SINGH and KING KONG and finally DARA SINGH won and he applied a tact called the DHOBI PACHHAR on KING KONG.Public used to cheer so profusely when our Indian wrestler was a winner.This was our inner feeling of patriotism and I really appreciate this feeling Our Bauji was a very honest person I remebered once some body came to get his product and asked him to print as made in some foreign country .ON hearing this my Bauji immediatly turned him out and said he (BAUJI) would not do the dishonesty towards his country.Such was the character of our Bauji.,I bow my head in respect to the sacred soul.

After Partitionin year 1948 to 1954 and 1959 hardships at KABRASTAN CHAMELIAN AND BARA HINDU RAO MANAKPURA

Continuing the link of old memories when we stayed at Kabrastan chamilian and Manakpura we all were passing the difficulties to make both ends meet we had started to do stitching work of card board boxes at one of the rooms in our house .Our eldest brother used to sit on stitching machine and I along with brothers and sister s would fit the boxes and tie them in stacks and I along with my sister used to deliver them to the workshops.Mostly we used to manufacture the cartons of metallic toys of aeroplane and supplied these to the manufacturers of toys in SHIDIPURA near Manakpura.Our Bhapaji Late Sh.Sohan Lal Sethi and Late Sh.kishan Lal bhapaji also did the family work of cartons.There was no electricity in the house we used to the work at night with the help of kerosene oil lamps.Our childhood was passing and no play at all .We used to go to the school and after the school all the family members used to make the cartons and after that we could get the meals.After primary school I was to be admitted in 5 th class in Ramjas Higher Secondary School No5, Karol Bagh New Delhi 110005.Our Bauji took me to the school and test was conducted but as I was confused and I could not pass the test .My Bauji told the the Principal that I stood First in primary and if I was admitted I would stand first in future also.Any way I was waiting outside the room of the principal along with my father all

of a sudden the principal announced that those whose brothers were studing in his school could be admitted.As my brother Sh D.V. Sethi was in that school I got the admisson.I used to run to the school after crossing the Kishan Ganj and Ganda Nallah DCM Ram Lila park Jeewan Hospital and then to Ramjas Road daily.Sometimes the Ganda nallah was full in rainy days and I used to walk on the boundary wall carrying the basta on my shoulder.Once it so happened that my bag slipped from my shoulder and fell and I still remember that I any how stepped down on the slope by placing steps firmly and catching the grass and lifted the bag.While coming back to the house again I used to come back home and used to cross the nallah if dry and then to AjmalKhanPark through Tibbia college.Some times I used to stay at Ajmal Khan Park and used to study .At the evening I used to go to the park just for evening walk .I along my friend Uday chand used to listen the bhajans and Ramayan .At the evening I remeber that so many groups of elder people used to sit and listen bhajans and other spiritual debates. We used to distribute water to those who were partcipating in the Bhajans and worship sessions in the park.bb One day a Swami Satya Devji visited the park and I listend to his lectures.Sawamiji was belind by birth and he told that he had visited the whole world and gave his devine messages all over the world.He told that Garlic could be used for healing of so many deceases like heart etc.It can cure the skin deceases etc.Swamiji used to stay at the Kapoor Dharam shala and Ashram near the park.Our Bhapaji Late Krshan Lal ji used to attend the Kabadi matches and he used be raferee. One day I remeber that a fraud person tried to misguide me and I remembered that my father had gave me instructions not to believe strangers and did not accept any thing or gifts from them .This advice saved me and I ran towards my house and that stranger could not be seen later on.I still had the old memories of school days quite clear in my mind.Later on as my studies at the school was going on our family shifted to Alias Building Nai Basti Bara Hindu Rao.New Delhi.Here we shifted in year 1955 .Here our house was 5th out 11 houses on the first floor.These houses were consisted of one big room only with small kitchen and a small bath etc .All the ground floor was occupied by shops of old tyres and scrap dealers.All the 11 houses had same terrace.This building was called ALIAS BUILDING near Shafeeq Memorial School.and in summer vacation I used to go this school for studies as there was no space in our house for studies.I prepared a small shelter on the terrace for studies also.Here also we used to work in our printing press and studies.I had a great memory and usually I learnt about 30 essays and noval in english.Our teacher in English used to give 20 words each day and ordered to learn spellings My English school teachers name was Guru Datt and he had written English language guide.When I stood First in 10th class I still remember one Physics book was given to me as a prize by the then LT Governor of Delhi.In those years the boy of Ramjas School No.5 used to top in Delhi higher secondary exam.I cannot forget that when I was to appear in the final exam and an unfortunate happening took place .My eldest brother all of sudden fell ill so seriously that he could not accompany me to school at Ramjas NO2 situated at Anand Parbat.As I was ready in the morning at 8 am and the paper was of Physics .My Bauji accompanied me to Filmistan and tried for Taxi but could not get any.My exam time was sheduled for 9 am sharp and it was 9 and we were at Filmistan taxi stand.I became nervous and then all of a sudden my Bauji met a friend and he was on the bicycle.He was requested by my Bauji that I might be dropped to Ramjas no 2 and that I had a exam.As I was not knowing the driving of cycle I sat on the bicycle at the back seat.On feeling that the old man was not cycling fast I requested him to be fast he replied like this ." Kaka Itne Jaildi Ha to Khud Chala Lo' On finding this reply I jumped from the back seat of the bicycle and ran from Ganda nallah to the Anand Parbat school and as I reached exam hall I was gaspping and I was nearly at stage of collapsing.At that time almost half the time was over.The invigilater took me to the examiner and he inquired me what was the reason of being late to this I replied that the bus no 27 was late that it came from the route of Bara Hindu Rao.To this he told me that he would write to DTC bus authorities whether the bus in question was late .To this I begged the examiner that the reply would come late but the exam would be over in 2 hours.I also uttered the words " To err is and to forgive devine'On hearing this he gave me the question paper and one our teacher I supposed Sh Bhatnagar also tried to convince the examiner that I was a brilliant student of school and that I might get position .But all was finished as I was not sure how could I get position.Later on When the result were declared I got only the 1 division and no position.When the results were going to be published I was not going to purchase the news paper as I was disappointed.After this I got admission in Delhi Polytechnic Kashmere gate and passed the exam of PRE ENG in 1959. During the Pre Engineering classes I used to go to Kashmere gate by bicycle and used to wear Khaki dress during workshop periods and uptil pre Eng I used to wear Shirt and nicker etc.I had a stand in front handle of the bicycle for carrying my books and bag etc.After higher secondary It was my aim that I should learn bicycle as it was the great draw back due to which I lost the position .
While remembering I rec0llect that Swami Satya dev ji used to say that "Life is an art shaped by a man who lives it"Swamiji had also used to distribute the books like " LASSAN KA BADSHAH" and others.Unfortunately I lost those books .I have lost the track of my old friends of my school days.Some of my friends I still remember were Sh. Ranbir Singh sethi,Sh Uday Chand Jindal,Sh Subhash sahni ---and some of my friends during Pre Eng classes like Shyam Sunder ,Sh Ashok Malhotra Sh Ramesh Sabharwal Sh Uday Chand Jindal etc.Some the teachers at Ramjas whom I respected most were Sh Anant Ram Chadha our Maths Teacher.Sh R S Bhatnagar drawing teacher, Sh.Sanyal another drawing teacher Sh Mohan Lal Our English teacher when I was in 6 to 8 class and sh Guru Datt ji who had written an English Guide for Higher secondary in those years .He taught English subject in 10th to 11 th class.I still remember the shop in Karol Bagh from where I used to purchase the old and new books for our school.Its name was Rattan Book Depot and it was near Roxy Dry Cleaners Shop.I still remeber some of the books which were difficult to understand .One of such book was The MYSTERIOUS UNIVERSE and this book was regarding describing-the theory of relativity by Albert Einstein.My favurite subject was machine drawing and workshops I appeard in all India engineering tests of Roorkee.I I T and School of mines Dhanbad after the Pre Engineering exam.
in 1959.I also applied in all other Engineering colleges.I along with my elder brother went to Jabalpur (M.P.) for getting admission in Engineering college but we could not get admission in Engineering college there.During interview I was asked to notify my home address.I replied that I lived at Deihi .The principal of the college sh Chakraborty rejected us on the plea that we had no domicile of M.P.As good luck would had it I was selected in the Roorkee University and got the 13 th position in the competition.When the time for sending the fee for Roorkee came there was a great discussion as to how to manage the amount?.At one time it was being resolved not to send myself to Roorkee for studies due to financial hardships.I remember Mr Gulati who was running the business of opticals near our factory,told my Bauji and eldest brother that they would commit a great mistake if they did not send me to Roorkee.He then offered that he would bear the expences of Roorkee and the matter was solved.Had that noble person was not there I would had not been a civil engineer and life would had been a different one?.I have learnt now that Mr Gulati had expired long back as such I send my heartfelt condolences to the noble soul.and may God give his family to bear the great loss My brother studied B Sc and later on worked as rubber technologist and enjoying his retired life in Faridabad . May God give him a long prosperous life along with his family.It is our wish while writing the diary.

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