Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | NXg | Friday Review | Cinema Plus | Young World | Property Plus | Quest |

CAMPUS HANGOUT

Gossip in the air

Photo: R.M.Rajarathinam

Cool Unwinding

JAYARAM POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE

The hangout: A beautiful garden layered with trees and crotons.

Where it's at: Adjacent to the library, yet secluded from the main college building by a grove of neem trees that provide a shady respite to the students.

Rush hour: During tea-breaks, lunch breaks and any other time they get ‘free' from class

What's to love: Long unused cement slabs are liberally spread over the lush garden that is dotted with neem and tamarind trees.

The sandy surface of the ground is filled with small yellow flowers. Cool breeze greets the small gossiping group that is forever seen in this ‘hideout'.

So what is so special about this place?

“It is definitely the place to breathe fresh and clean air,” smiles Benedict Priyanka. Moreover, the place doubles up as a vantage point from where the entire campus and most importantly the staff rooms can be seen.

“It is so close to the classes that even after the bell rings we can walk slowly and still make it on time for the class,” Prakash casually points out.

“If the ‘annas' come to chase us away from the spot, we quietly slip into the library on the pretext of reading up,” chimes in Pavithra.

With the mid-semester exams weighing heavily on them, the youngsters make a picture of good-natured grumbling. “They should abolish exams,” says a grim Prakash. Nodding, Bhuvaneshwari echoes, “outcome of examinations is humiliation.”

“Results are the worst part. Not only do the lecturers read out the marks in class but they also send it to our parents,” notes Sujan in a melancholic voice.

While topics of discussion vary from rambling about latest films to the dress code in college, light-hearted banter is what these youngsters revel at.

Whats not to: As the hangout is an eternal favourite with students, they are likely to attract attention of the staff making the place ‘dangerous'. Impending assignments, deadlines for submissions of record books are all tabooed topics. “No one is allowed to wallow in self-pity over pathetic performances in exams,” asserts Sujan.

Alternatives: “The canteen is our last resort,” says Prakash. Empty labs, the library and of course the small tea shop outside college are other favoured hotspots.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail