Going down the memory lane brings memories of the past and makes you nostalgic.
The Delhi University Campus in the 60s was a fascinating mix of the stunning beauties of Miranda House, the brainy nerds of St Stephen’s, the talented artists of Kirorimal, and the sporting athletes of Ramjas.
My time as a post-graduate student at Kirorimal College brings a flood of memories. Kamala Nagar coffee house was the place where all the moonstruck couples would meet to whisper sweet nothings over endless cups of Assamese brew.
Time was when Kirorimal College was famous both for its bevy of beauties and lovely gardens. Students like Amitabh Bachchan (Bollywood movie legend, famously called Big B) studied there. Bachchan went on to become one of the most inspirational icons of Indian cinema. Along with him were persons like K. Bikram Singh, the great documentary maker; Dr Harbans Lal Mukhia, the historian; V. Vasudeva Rao, the well-known Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) activist; Kamal Kapoor, the popular film maker; Lalit Mohan Jain, the former chief secretary of Haryana, and a host of others who did the college proud by excelling in their careers.
It was indeed a treat to watch Big B on stage, acting in English skits. His first experience on the stage was the part he played in the drama The Death of a Salesman.
Girls fell head over heels and vied with one another to get a date with the ‘lamboo’ (the tall one) as he was called even in those days.
Tall and handsome, Bachchan was a good tennis player — a southpaw with one of the most-feared serves on campus. Whenever he played, the tennis stadium was filled with the ladies of the college. Despite all the attention, he never had a steady girlfriend those days from Kirori Mal College.
We always suspected that he had a partner near his home which was at the Defence Colony. Bachchan outshone others to continuously win the annual award for best conduct.
Lalit Mohan from Kirorimal was also another tennis talent. He was the captain of the college team who could overpower all else except those of the famed Stephanian team.
Gopal Banerjee of Ramjas was another tennis ace, the Delhi University champ. My close association with Lalit Mohan, enabled me widen to my circle of friends — many of whom would later on rewrite the script in their chosen fields.
Never a dull moment
There was never a dull moment with a number of pretty young things on the campus. One of them was Sharda Malhotra — adjudged ‘Beauty Queen’ of Delhi University. Ram Butani was a quiet student of economics, but give him a guitar and he would regale us with some scintillating music. Harbhajan Singh would dissect frogs in the Zoology lab by day, but by evening he had one of the sweetest voices that landed him many trophies in college functions.
Arun Bhagat from Hindu College was well-versed in Shakespeare and one of the most peaceful souls on campus — nobody would have ever guessed that he would later on hold one of the most powerful positions in Delhi as the City Police Commissioner.
While I currently enjoy a quiet life in my hometown, Muvattupuzha, I frequently let my mind wander down those winding memory lanes. All the stars come waltzing before my eyes.
Thomas Matthew is a freelance writer based in Kerala, India.
