Part IV: Allahabad: Beginnings of a new trail
Life takes so many twists and turns. Civil Engineering School Allahabad was only one advertisement old. There was no building. There was no equipment. There was no staff. There were no students. There was no bank account and finanacial resources. The process for running of the institution and its formal recognition was shrouded in some distant future. That was the time, when I was catapulted into the office of Vice Principal and Head of Institution of Civil Engineering School Allahabad in October 1955. The country was trying to get on to its feet after independence and the process of planning was still in its infancy. There was wide spread unemployment almost everywhere and the young boys coming out of schools were finding it difficult to see some sort of glimmer at the end of the tunnel. That may be the reason that there was tremendous rush for admissions in professional institutions. Apparently, the applicants were talented and seemed to be happy and keen to have a splash in the unknown waters, for getting a chance to turn the tables. The expectations and happy glow in their eyes was an open invitation to the institution for taking charge and for accepting the responsibility for the fulfillment of their nascent dreams.
Following chapters discuss these in detail:
- Allahabad
- Destiny has its own ways
- Civil Engineering School Allahabad
- The institute starts ticking
- Opening year of the institution
- Outdoor games and sports
- Second term begins
- Gearing for the new challenges
- Final year of the first batch
- Project work of the final year
- Bhoodan
- My last days at Allahabad