As usual 8.30 class. I woke up at 8.10, grabbed my bag (that does not contain anything more than a diary where I pretend to write everything else) and ran for my life. Somehow managed to make it in time. There is a big advantage in having a single diary for all. One does not have to bother about the routine. I was still yawning as our great prof. (who also happened to be our esteemed HOD) arrived in class with his eternal sarcastic smile. Never exactly measured his height or his girth, but I am pretty sure one pound form him is enough to send a skeletal under-weight guy like me to the nearby hospital for a week or so. At least 5-6 fractures if not coma or death.
This was the third semester I had the privilege of attending our honourable HOD’s classes (before this I had him in 1st and 4th semester). In this period I have witnessed a gradual implementation of strange rules which are not even remotely related to the actual studies and the interesting thing is that all the rules were not enforced at a time (I mean in one semester). May be because that would have shattered the illusion of the so called liberty that we are supposed to get inside a national university. But wait, this particular professor is not so considerable....So that can’t be the reason. It’s all about style. Like they say: “Style main rehneka.....”. And this is no ordinary man style. This is our department head’s style. He does not really like the fast and furious Ninja way of beheading. He believes in slow and silent assassination (always incomplete without the sarcastic smile).
Anyway, the newest “no T-shirt allowed in class” rule of this semester was kind of heavy on my pocket. But that is not the issue here. It’s about the terror “DOM”. You read it correctly. There is no spelling mistake. Though the previous paragraph might get you thinking that what I actually meant is “DON”, but it’s actually DOM. Design of machines. We the great prospective Mechanical Engineers are learning Gear design this time. Believe me we are not doing anything related to designing. Rather the 1st standard kid who is concentrating on folding his paper-rocket properly is designing something better. There is a thick tome called ‘DATA BOOK’ and some more ancient ‘standards’ from where we have to copy some sh*t and that’s all we do. But still the stereotypical know-alls of our class take great pride in solving a 2 page problem in just more than 8 pages.
This particular class was a doubt clearing class. But my doubt was somewhat severe. Though I could not dare to ask in class, but the popcorns were still jumping inside my skull. Somehow the Socrates inside gave me enough strength to finally do it and I asked. . . I shall put the whole conversation in active voice which goes as: “Sir, I have a more basic doubt. I tried to Google whatever we learnt in class. Went to some manufactures’ websites, but did not find anything similar. All leading companies use computers and specific customised soft-wares that give far more accurate designs. . . Blah blah blah. . . Then why are we studying these methods?” I did ask, but can’t deny that I was scared to death. Surprisingly I got an invitation to go to his room and discuss with him about this topic.
As I attended the next three classes nothing went into my mind as it was fully jammed with speculations of my upcoming demise. There was no escape and backing out. The combatant had to march on. I met him in his room at 12.10 with a fabricated smile though my feet were shaking. The direction came. “Tell me”. I started blabbering again making my point and explaining. Next thing he told is: “See, may be these computer based methods are not accurate enough or more expensive”. I blabbered again about accuracy and speed but then eventually stopped when I sensed the arrival of the typical frightening sarcastic smile on his face. That was the time to say “Yes sir” only. He explained: “See, what we are teaching you here will not be used it anywhere as everyone has their own methods. What we are trying to do here is to “TRAIN YOU TO LEARN”. It’s an efficient training so that you can learn.” I replied: “Ohh. Ok sir”. As he began to speak again his facial expression had already changed and I was quite obviously petrified. But this time he just asked, “Satisfied now?” I lied: “Yes sir” and left as soon as I can. My heart beat was 1000. But I was alive.
As I was coming to my room I began to think again; in school till 12th I was told that I am studying all the subjects so that afterwards I can learn easily when I take up a specific course. Now that I completed almost 75% of that specific course, I am still at the receiving end of the same “Training to Learn” and still wondering when will I actually learn..!!!