A CLOSE RACE ...

While I was wondering what to post on my blog, an article that my dear friend(also my crew mate in rowing) wrote to the Hindu newspaper came to my mind. It is about our race that we rowed in the Sub Junior Nationals in Kolkata in 2002. This is the best race I've ever rowed and every moment of the event is etched deep in my heart. Here is the article:

It was Sunday,July 7,4-30 p.m. I am sitting in a boat in Kolkata,with four other girls,from other schools in Chennai.
We are silent;our crew has returned after an aborted start,for the National Sub Junior Girls Fours Race.Equipment failure had brought us back.We are racing West Bengal 'A' for the National Title.We had earlier lost to them in the qualifying rounds,but beat Manipur,Assam,Maharashtra and West Bengal 'B'.
My mind goes back to the daily practice.Every morning and evening,instructions from our coach,manager,captain and senior oarsmen. I was new to the other girls,they had rowed before. Today,we are all wearing our State T-shirts,and are one crew and friends. No St.Michaels,St.Johns or Abacus.Our identities are now 'Tamil Nadu'.
We get ready to start.We trail the hosts at the midway mark. The cox is screaming - I hear her say "Go ..." or was it "Gold"? We are all working hard,the host teams boat is again in our vision,we have caught up.This will be very close.
The finish judge announces the end of the race.We look at each other,the rest of Tamil Nadu team,our opponents ... nobody knows who won. The officials announce the result "...Tamil Nadu has won...". We screamed with joy. We were thrilled.
We had earlier lost to their crew,in the qualifying rounds,but not today.Sport recognises only one winner,it was our day.

VASAVI SUNDARAM,
Sat,Sept 14th,2002.

CELL PHONE BAN

HOSTEL OR CONCENTRATION CAMP!?!

The hostelers residing in the hostels of the most prestigious Anna University are prohibited to use cell phones. What is wrong with the VC to stress on the rule of banning Cell phones IN THE HOSTEL!? The hostel-in-charge’s pose themselves like Devils; Stone hearted creatures standing in front of the hostel, indecently grabbing students’ bags to check if they’ve HIDDEN their phones. They walk inside rooms randomly n ruthlessly scream over to the students to SURRENDER their phones (as if they were holding a pistol with them to kill someone). The staffs in charge act silly n sickly. They are invading privacy majorly by barging into rooms when none of the students are there. They even open their bags without their knowledge! The officials act cheap by checking their person in public and talking ill about them when they know nothing beyond their identity. And what are male wardens doing inside girls’ hostel rooms!? All this is probably the worst anything can get to. Think practically! Guys, we all know its going beyond acceptance. Why can’t they be sensible! Ooph!! You see the frustration don’t you!? All this being done to Young Engineers aged above 18 … Sad.

Parents, friends and relatives ;just so many of them beyond hostel friends and college mates. Don’t the authorities understand this simple thought??

Ok, the booths are there. But still!! What if one wanted to simply talk to his/her mother at midnight just because something was disturbing his mind?? What if someone wanted to wish their friend, the first thing on their birthday!? These may sound like something that can just be passed off without a second thought, but all these small things make a big change. The hostel should provide a feeling of home to the students. Students will surely respect the rules n restrictions as long as the authorities are sensible at least to the least extent. If the authorities think of showing off their power in doing stuff like these it only disturbs the students more. They have no right to impose their personal likes and dislikes. They need to think of the betterment for the students. If they can do this the students will automatically respect them. The VC “must” understand all of these. It is a torture to the students.All this in TamilNadu's TOP technical University! Quite shameful!