Dnyanam Paramam Dhyeyam
I had awaited the last weekend since the time I had joined my job in bangalore... Though I have stayed away from Mumbai for longer periods of time, I had never felt as homesick; probably because I had known exactly how much time there was to return back to Mumbai... But after joining the job, parting with Mumbai for an uncertain period of time had made me instantly homesick and I was awaiting the convocation on 11th August, an excuse to catch up with Mumbai for a few days....
And flying back from Bangalore, I had an upbeat feeling... Meeting my family and friends and coming back to Mumbai with my first salary... Though the waiting time was extended by delayed Air Deccan flight (they seem to say we are sorry for the delay and inconvenience as a matter of habit), it was wonderful to land in Mumbai at 2am in the morning and go straight to IIT, the place where I had spent and enjoyed the last four years of my life and made some wonderful friends for life...
Meeting with old friends and spending the night chitchatting about life and new events made us forget time until we realised it was 6am in the morning and we ought to sleep so that we can remain awake during the convocation ceremony.. :D
The convocation ceremony went about quite well and I have lost count of the number of hugs I had during the time... receiving the degree on stage was a special feeling and a moment to cherish... The pledge that followed later was something special to me and I sincerely hope that every IITian is able to live up to it... Singing the national anthem in the convocation hall made me aware of my responsibility to our society and I hope I can give something back to India through my life and career...
The evening was spent with my special friends and wingmates and we had a memorable time loitering around in our convocation dress in Galleria, HN and then going to CCD in Huma...
We returned and spent a couple of hours close to nature at the Boathouse near Powai Lake and it was a night well-spent... I felt that I should have visited the place more often during my stay at the insti... But then, it is the absence of something that makes us realize its value...
The convocation time is really the last time that we had to meet with our college friends and many will soon be flying to the US of A for further studies... Still others like me will get back to the job they have joined and will be back in their quest to build a successful career.. One line that comes to mind at this stage is the definition of success (which varies from person to person certainly) as seen on a tantra tshirt... "Success is not having to wear a suit all your life!"
Well, whatever the definition of success be for each one of us, I hope that we don't forget the line that describes our alma mater, that is, Dnyanam paramam dhyeyam (knowlegde is the ultimate goal!)
