Final Year preparation

Each final year student was allotted a single room in Kuppuswamy Naidu Hostel to focus on studies and project work during 1967. Many of the final year students opted for staying in the hostel during the study holidays to be together, understand each other better and focus on securing maximum marks.  The taste of ecstasy of being in the final year and the feeling of impending separation from colleagues were weighing heavily on every one. The final year had a lot of leisure time and a project work.  Rangan had chosen “Air Conditioning of Dewan Bahadur Murugappa Chettiar Hall” within the campus to prepare a draft report on the feasibility, together with his close class mates. It was well appreciated as a group assignment. The final year examination dates were announced, starting from 15 th March 1967 to 30 th March 1967. Rangan used to study aloud, walking along the railway track nearby, adjoining shady trees.  Rangan used to study from 0800 am to 0800 pm only as rule, even during the examination days, scheduling the revisions. This happened on a day, just before the start of the final year examinations. He was studying for the Industrial Engineering Subject, walking along the railway track. By instinct , he noticed a shunting engine just a few feet away from him on the same track. Probably the engine driver, was pre-occupied with signals and not aware of Rangan’s presence. With a jerk, Rangan took courage and rolled down the ramp, as the engine was moving on an elevated track.  Without panicking, Rangan straight away proceeded to the Kali temple, where he used to offer daily prayers. He spent a couple of minutes in silence before the deity. In the meantime, a group of fellow students, stood silently by his side.  On hearing about the incident, the Warden Lecturer Venkatachalam came to the temple and consoled Rangan, after administering Tetanus injection. He said “Rangarajan! Do not ever think of the past. It is history. Do not think of the future. It is a only wish. Focus and do your best for the present. Everything will fall in line. My best wishes”.