Into my third year at college, I've got a pretty good understanding of the way things work here, rather, how they don't! All through my 2 years at this institution, I've been a silent observer to all that was happening around me. I just watched from distance, people working towards a goal, may it be the betterment of the institution, the success of an intercollegiate event, or just a hope of earning a name for themselves! I was never driven to do something, to change what I felt was wrong. Probably because I never felt a sense of belonging to this place. But now that I've out grown that feeling, I can see what I've missed out on, but more positively I can see what I CAN DO.
I've started to look at the world around me differently. Things that were routine, and almost always neglected, have started to intrigue me. I've now started thinking about why a particular system is in place, is it really serving its purpose, and if it isn't what can? For example, I've never really enjoyed eating food in the mess, (and i believe almost everyone who's lived in a hostel would agree, it is by no means a offence to the food, but just that the mess is not a means of enjoyment, its just a means of survival!) this semester I took over the responsibility of deciding the menu for the entire hostel. I figured that it's impossible to please everyone with the menu, but its not really that difficult to make it acceptable to most.
This year I've also been given the responsibility of being the editorial secretary of my college's technical journal, today I had an intense brainstorming session with my colleague and the chairman of the editorial board of the journal, as to how the journal could be made more attractive, and since its gonna be commemorating the platinum jubilee of my college, what change can be made to the existing format! We had a nice discussion and now we have to work hard to get that 'from paper to reality'.
Later in the day I was at my ISP's office and he gave me a pamphlet of new usage plans that had just come out. None of them was very attractive on paper. I told him as to how the old plan was better and the new ones did not really make much of a sense. And then the topic drifted onto the DC hub that I run on the LAN. Few weeks back he'd directed me to just shut it down because he was facing some bandwidth problems. Initially he was dead against me ever running it again, but then he said he might lemme start it back again. I'd been patient through this, but whenever I got a chance I always put it across that the students would really appreciate the hub being back online. Guess it paid off, he changed his mind and lemme run it, not fully, but for a part of the day, when he had some bandwidth to spare! I certainly got the change I wanted!!
On my way back, me and a friend of mine were discussing as to how the internet facility in the hostel should be, and given a chance how we'd like to change it. We'd just started planning the details, but then we reached the hostel! And then we just stopped thinking about it...
Looking back on it at the end of the day, I realised that I knowingly or otherwise am involved in so many changes around me! I can now the possibilities of changing so many things, rather there is this want to change so many things, but then reality strikes, its useless to just dream about change and not actally doing anything about it. Thats what I and most people around do most of the time, just THINK about what should be different. Though i like everyone else will say that i'll make a sincere effort to make an effort! Only time will tell if those dreams ever materialise! Another reality is that these two semesters in front of me are the most crucial of my entire college life. So there is an added burden (I know thats not the right word, but its the first that comes to your mind when you are in mood as i am rite now!) of the acads. Its really unfair that you get to have the responsibility, the authority on the one hand, and also a load full of other "more important" things on the other!
It was a pure co-incidence that i watched the movie "V for Vendetta" on the same day, today! Thats when i actually thought of writing all this.... For all those who have not seen the movie I recommend that you watch it, and those who have, well they can understand what I mean!
What I also believe is that no system is perfect, we have to constantly try to move it towards perfectness, but what seems perfect in our times, need not be, and most certainly will not be seen as perfect in the future! So the cycle of change has to go on, and even if the change that you bring about is not gonna be permanent, you should work your best to make it happen, coz that is what you believe in. Your beliefs are your character, you must always stand by them.
I'd like to sign off with a dialogue from the movie "Rang de Basanti"
"Zindagi jeenay kay don hi treekay hotay hain.....Ek jo ho raha hai honay do bardshat kartay jao.....Ya phir zimadari uthaoo usay badalnay ki"
