A SOJOURNER’S TALE: THROUGH THE LOVELY WOODS.

Every time that I have had to step out of the campus of Madras Christian College, I always knew that I would come back. And this sense of returning always gave me hope and strength. But this time, when I step out… when I step out for the last time, things will be different, I am not sure of a return. As I trace the footsteps of these familiar paths one last time, all that I know, my world and my time here will fade away to mere dreams and memories.

A dream that saw its origin three years ago, when I first stepped into the lush green campus from the sweltering heat outside. The first thing one would inevitably notice is that the inside is considerably a lot cooler than the outside. MCC is by all means a shelter for all who choose to abide in her. The first walk was lost in awe as I marvelled at the beauty that enfolded my path. The silence my mother observed during that walk seemed to concur with my thoughts. 

And then as you take the first left that comes your way, you see it. Way ahead, lost in the shrubs that arch the roads, a structure that marks the destination of your journey. As you walk the distance and come closer, you see it emerge, from the foliage and finally; standing tall and humbly in the 365 acres of history, she is an awesome sight that I can never forget. But please don’t be misled; my first impression of Selaiyur Hall was nothing more than ‘just another residential facility’. I’ve been in boarding schools since 8^th standard and this SELAIYUR HALL seemed nothing more.

 

Over the span of three years, she wrapped herself around me, as anyone who loves this place will confess. I lost myself in this place, and in that process I FOUND myself as well. Food, fun and friendship became a way of life. Strangers became friends, neighbors became close buddies and life just got a whole new dimension to explore. From nothing we learned a lot of things, and most of all we learned to differentiate, to accept what was required and to reject what wasn’t. To find out our true self through obstacles and to hold on when faced with challenges.

Initiation and Terminal dinner were taken seriously and held very close to the heart. I remember sitting in class holding sheets with hall facts written on them and trying to memorize them as my accountancy professor took his lecture. Those were the days indeed. 

The first night in Selaiyur hall is a memory etched in rock. As a senior came to me and asked “do you know the ARC convenor’s number? I replied in the negative and he gave me a number and asked me to memorize it and feed it in my phone. And next day morning I get a call from the “ARC Convenor” asking me to come to room 145. It was then that I realized that it was his own number that the senior had given me. He had called me to iron his shirt. Whew that call actually scared the hell out of me. 

It is said that memories make a life-time.They definitely made mine in this place. I had always questioned the restrictions imposed on the juniors, like wearing full-sleeve shirt, bathroom slippers. Being sent out for “odd jobs”, sure the freedom of choice was there, but it was more like take it, or walk out the door. But I realized that one can never truly value the freedom unless he has a taste of restriction imposed for some time. And because of that I fully enjoyed the freedom and the privilege that came with it in my 2^nd and 3^rd year; the room on top and being able to walk around in just boxers. Those were Wonderful memories indeed. Sneaking out at night and paying a visit to the lake, road marking for cross country races and cycle race. When you ask yourself where else in the world do you get a 400 acre forest of a campus to roam about at mid night? Nowhere else I assure you. 

This is a place with 75 years of heritage and traditions, where victories are celebrated in unison and the efforts undertaken as a hall. Where fruits are reaped as a team and celebrations conducted without inhibitions. Where every block, ever stone has a tale to recite. Where the people come in as … well I wouldn’t know what all they came in as but they definitely leave with the essence of Selaiyur in them. They leave as gentlemen. This is the place where people walk with heads held high and proclaim themselves as SELAIYURIANS.

So dear Selaiyurians, enjoy this gift, don’t question and try to find answers that will qualify as ‘intellectual’, cause you will never find such an answer. Instead let the experience and transition speak volumes for themselves. Give it a chance. I am now at the dying moments of my Selaiyurian life, but like they say ‘once a Selaiyurian. Always a Selaiyurian’… right? So till we meet again, best wishes guys. Keep up the name and the traditions. Take care of the hall. ESSE QUAM VIDERI.

Yours truly,

Forever a Selaiyurian

Nidhin George.

This was something I wrote during my final few days in Selaiyur as a student. Although I don't exactly remember why I wrote this, I do know that this was an emotional spilling of my inner thoughts. Perhaps I wrote this as a letter to the future cabinet, or maybe as an article for the magazine. It brought back memories as I read it, almost 3 years later, thought I should publish this.