|
The feeling of coming back to my alma mater, where I have spent almost four years, is simply great.
The enthusiasm has doubled because my college is celebrating its 150 years of foundation today (Wednesday). I would cherish the rest of my life the meeting with old friends, with whom I had spent days playing and sitting on the banks of the Ganga.
Then, the college was very disciplined. Students and teachers devoted a considerable time to academic activities. Since I was a boarder at Minto hostel, my association with Patna College was stronger than the day scholars.
Everything in the hostel was followed by the rulebook.
We had fixed study hours in the hostel. Between 7pm and 9pm, the hostel entrance was closed and no one was allowed to enter or exit the hostel. After 9pm, we were served dinner at the hostel mess.
Students and teachers were so focused on education that rarely a class was suspended during my tenure at the college.
Since I came from a farming background from Paliganj in Patna, my focus was always on securing good grades. Though I was not an outstanding student, I was rated above average because I was disciplined.
Apart from educational activities, the college administration took keen interest in extra-curricular activities too. Students took great interest in participating in cricket, hockey, football and lawn tennis competitions held regularly on the campus.
The student-teacher relation was very cordial. We respected our teachers and seniors. They reciprocated too. It was like one big family. But students indulging in malpractices were taken to task.
Most students from our batch cleared the civil services examination. Former Chhattisgarh director-general of police Vishwaranjan and former chairman of Joint Intelligence Committee Ajit Lal are some of the students of our batch, who made it big.
In the sesquicentennial year, I pray that the college regains its lost glory and excels on all fronts for which it was called the Oxford of the East.
Rajyabardhan Sharma is a member of Bihar Public Service Commission and and an alumni of Patna College (1967-71) | 
