A sip from the silver cup

From the albums

This photograph was taken in 1962 when I was doing my final year BSc (PMC) at National College, Basavanagudi. It was taken on the occasion of our class socials. Ours was the last batch and there were no girls in it. Bangalore University was not yet born. The University of Mysore and Karnatak University at Dharwad were in existence then. Dr H Narasimhaiah was our principal.

During my days at National College, I used to stay with my uncle on Surveyor’s Street, near Gandhi Bazaar. My residence was only a few yards from the college and I used to leave the house just 10 minutes prior to the college bell. In those days, there was not much vehicular traffic and I would reach the college in six to eight minutes.

I remember going to Lalbagh during the weekends on the pretext of an evening walk. But everybody knew that the true reason was to visit the ‘Mavalli Tiffin Room’ for the ‘masala dosa’ and coffee which used to be served in silver cups. We also used to relish the tiny quantities of mouth freshener arecanuts.

Another peaceful and serene place, I made a habit to visit during my college days, was Ramakrishna Ashrama on Bull Temple Road. The tuneful ‘bhajans’ and the atmosphere were highly relaxing.

There were not many hotels in Gandhi Bazaar at that time. The popular ones were ‘Lakshmi Nivas’ (Bhattara Hotel) on Nagasandra Road (now DVG Road) and ‘Vidyarthi Bhavan’, near Gandhi Bazaar Circle. My close friends and I also frequented  ‘Harsha Stores’ in Gandhi Bazaar

Circle, just to have the ‘one-by-two’ bun and ‘one-by-two’ badam milk. The condiment store — Subbamma Stores — on HB Samaja Road had an identity of its own. It still does.
I passed my BSc degree from National College at the young age of 18. My father thought that I was too young to take up any job. Hence, in consultation with another uncle of mine, he got me admitted to PES College of Engineering, to pursue my BE degree in mechanical engineering.

Our section had graduates from different colleges. The college had opened in 1962 and we were the first batch to graduate from there.

Many of my classmates have held good positions in various government departments and private organisations. I feel proud to mention here that our classmate, Dr B N Suresh, retired as the director of ISRO, Trivandrum. There is always immense satisfaction in looking back and remembering the hard days we have gone through to reach the final destination of our life.

(The author can be contacted on 9886890021)