Revisiting the past always carries a mixed baggage and emotions for the most people and I do not wish to claim being a different person. As an alma mater of the University of Lucknow, India, I carry umpteen moments and sweet and sour memories of joy and sorrow during those formative years. I had joined the Science Faculty of the University in July 1972 as an undergraduate student, and had undergone ups and downs both personally and academically but ultimately came off with, so to say, flying colours in that I not only successfully completed my doctorate with a lot of appreciation from the thesis examiners for an excellent research work but also simultaneously cracked the Civil Services Examination, which, in India, is still considered the toughest competition and a prized profession with a career in the government service, offering a variety of assignments and opportunities to contribute for the growth and wellness of the nation.
As a student for an undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral studies, I spent about nine years in the University of Lucknow staying in a boys’ hostel (Tilak Hostel) for the science students, named after the renowned freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Just for the record’s sake here, this hostel had a legacy name of “Elphinstone Hostel” during the British colonial age, and now it has been earmarked for the campus stay of girl students. Such a prolonged period of stay at one place in the prime age of life sounds like an aeon with numerous sweet and sour memories to cherish lifelong. I recall after joining the research programme leading to a doctoral degree, the inmates of hostel seldom called me by name. The housekeeping staff used to address me with a nickname “70 Number Wale Babu” (My room no. in hostel) and boys as “Doctor Saheb” even though I was still only a research student among them.
The bloom of Information Technology since 1980s and advent of the social media platforms now such as “WhatsApp” and “Facebook” have made communication and networking easy and convenient albeit with many associated evils, too. So, when a couple of months back, someone introduced me to a WhatsApp Group of the alumni of the Department of Zoology in the University, I gladly accepted its membership though I rarely participate in day-to-day dialogues and messaging in the group. After I came to learn that the stated alumni association is also a formally registered body and some of our teachers are still alive and associated with it, I decided to formally join it taking the membership of the association.
I believe the primary object of the alumni meet in most cases continues to be to reconnect and reminisce among the former classmates and faculty, wherein people try to catch up on their lives and careers and relive shared memories of their time at the institution. However, it goes beyond the stated objective too because such occasions also provide an opportunity for the networking and career development to many people, using it as a platform for professional networking, mentorship opportunities between the accomplished and experienced alumni and current students/younger alumni, or even potential job placements in some cases. The experienced and influential alumni could also contribute to the institutional growth through volunteer support, guest speaking, and even facilitating funding, etc. Above all, such events certainly foster the sense of belonging, loyalty and lifelong connection between the alumni and their alma mater.
Recently, the aforesaid association organized first ever daylong meet of the alumni in the department premises on 22 November 2025. By temperament, huge gatherings and consequent commotion do not suit me; therefore, despite an ardent desire to see my alma mater I was initially not very enthusiastic about my visit, but thanks to some of my batchmates, their favourable vibes and persuasion worked in my favour. I recall after joining civil service in 1983, I had only twice visited the university and my department around the close of the previous century. While revisiting the past memory lane, I must admit that my alma mater had always been on my mind with fond memories and I always wanted to visit it to refresh and relive those memories.
I am aware from such exposure and anecdotes of many other colleagues and friends that people so often become emotional and nostalgic while revisiting past and narrating their heartwarming experiences from such alumni meetings as it certainly provides them an opportunity to reconnect with old friends and surviving teachers or even supporting staff there, reminisce about many shared memories, and knowing how much the alma mater has changed/evolved over a time. For many, it’s an opportunity to bridge the past with the present, and celebrate the journey since graduation.
The Alumni Meet started at 11.30 AM on 22 November at an open lawn in the department premises and continued till about 4.00 PM. The “invite” sent to the alumni had a tag line highlighting the purpose of the meeting as ”To Reconnect, Reminisce, and Relive Campus Memories and A Day of Nostalgia”. The programme started with the “lighting of the lamp” by the head of the department (HOD) and a few septuagenarian and octogenarian retired faculty members, followed by Ganesh Vandana by some students. A welcome address was made by the HOD, followed by sharing of wisdom by a few old and experienced (retired) faculty members, who also distributed degrees to the Ph.D. students. Other worth mentioning activities include a brief introduction of the faculty members, cultural items like a classical dance and singing, sharing of experiences and anecdotes by interested alumni, release of an official magazine, cake cutting, distribution of souvenirs, and finally the vote of thanks by the vice-president of the association. Needless to mention, regular tea and snacks, a sumptuous lunch, and finally a memento to each alumnus served well to the participants.
Considering the fact that this was first meeting of the Alumni Association, I admit that the number of participants and their enthusiasm was quite impressive and appreciable. Perhaps for the first time, a realization also came to me that with sixty-nine plus years of age, I am pretty old now. My association to the University of Lucknow and the Zoology Department goes back to the July 1972, when I joined the university as a B.Sc. (an undergraduate) student. It has been since more than fifty-three years and even the head of the department of Zoology, with due regards to his position, age and experience as well as other faculty members, would have joined many years later, following my departure. None of the stalwarts of our time, such as Professors & Drs. PD Gupta, BK Tandon, Ram Rakshpal, Premvati, SC Baugh (my research guide), SP Gupta, RS Tandon, RP Srivastava, SC Srivastava, KC Pandey, etc. seem to be alive now. Nonetheless, it was a pleasure to see and meet some of the teachers of the (then) younger generation, especially Prof. GN Verma who had left an indelible mark on my mind at that tender age and I always fondly remembered him; although all of them have retired now.
Apart from the formal and mandatory activities mentioned in the foregoing paragraphs, a considerable slot was earmarked and spent for the alumni to interact among themselves to share share their experiences and anecdotes. The oldest alumnus and retired faculty member from the yesteryears belonged to 1964 batch. Considering the large number and past years, alumni belonging to the particular year or the decade as well were called together to introduce and express their views. I recall we were about forty-five or so in our MSc class and four of them, Dr Shailja Bhattacharya, Dr Mohit Tiwari, Ms. Durgesh Nandini, and of course I attended the meet. It was heartwarming to note that from the 1970s decade, other than four of us, 1977 batch (many of them well known to me) too had maximum participation. A large number of alumni belonged to the batches of more recent decades viz. the year 2000 onwards.
On my turn, I spoke very briefly like an old ex-student, consciously avoiding any significant reference to my civil service tenure, and various positions and achievements while serving the government for over three decades. But I made it a point to highlight two things which have remained close to my heart all these years. First, the personal merits of my teacher and research advisor, Late Dr. SC Baugh, and his influence and contribution in shaping my persona in those formative years; and the second, my own life mantra “walk your talk” which I religiously applied on self all along because it has been my conviction that very few people like sermons or dictates. Instead, if you are seen doing yourself what you ask others to do, it is more likely that people will naturally accept it and willingly follow your footsteps. While mentioning Dr Baugh, it also reminds me of his invaluable contribution to my research work which was vindicated through the reports of the external examiners on my Ph.D. thesis (1981-82). Never did it in the past but here just to illustrate my point, I am tempted to reproduce a few excerpts from the report of an American professor on my thesis:
“…a very creditable job, reflecting favorable upon the professional reputation of the student, his advisor and their University.”
“It is a solid piece of work, meticulous and cautious enough to be almost entirely free of errors, even trivial ones.”
“In my years as a member of the graduate faculty, I have served on many committees for advanced degree candidates, as well as external examiner for Ph.D. candidates abroad, I do not recall a candidate whose thesis embodies more work and whose data were better presented… …”
As I wanted to make maximum use of the time available to fulfil my own curiosities and interests in the department, so, I had quietly slipped for some time to have a round of the departmental building and facilities, some of which included my classroom during the post-graduation course, lecture theatre for the BSc class (suffice to accommodate the students of all four sections: I was in C1 Section), the Museum, the Library, my own research lab/desk, our fisheries practical lab, and so on. Visiting the museum was particularly a thrilling experience, and I was so happy to learn that it has been reasonably well preserved and maintained all along, and now named after my venerated teacher and research advisor Dr. SC Baugh. I have shared above images of complete skeleton of a few large mammals as also a panoramic view of the preserved animals. Ever since, the object and use of some of the rooms/halls and other facilities of our time have been reappropriated for different uses with the changing time.
I do not wish to be perceived as a critic yet humbly record a few not so admirable facts. When we were students, the education sector suffered with several ailments and deficiencies. For instance, teachers’ salaries and prospects of career advancement following the initial appointment as a Lecturer (Assistant Professor) were not very satisfactory, funds/grants and other resources were not sufficient to create a good infrastructure and working atmosphere, including equipment and associated articles for the science laboratories. This position continuously improved since mid-1990s and more particularly during the last two decades, may it be salary and promotions of the teachers and supporting staff or funds and grants to improve infrastructure, work and research facilities in institutions every where. But I didn’t have good feeling to see general condition of the building, our postgraduation classroom, undergraduates’ lecture theatre, and quite a few other facilities as well; and this despite the fact that now the University has an A++ accreditation by NAAC (NATIONAL Assessment and Accreditation Council), an autonomous body of the University Grants Commission (UGC) in India.
During my long years in bureaucracy, I had over a dozen transfers and opportunities to serve in different ministries, departments and organizations. Apart from the routine work which everyone engages in, I remember that in every assignment I took personal initiative and tirelessly worked to improve the infrastructure and work culture of the office/organization. The advent and application of the information technology came handy in improving work culture of the offices/organizations with requisite speed, efficiency and accuracy while mobilizing necessary financial resources and other support through fresh proposals (schemes and projects) helped in improving infrastructure and working conditions. Two most common factors for a poor infrastructure in institutions are 1) the lack of funding or insufficient financial resources, and 2) inefficient management and maintenance owing to inadequate or poor planning and inefficient use of resources. Having noticed it, I informally conveyed my concern to the General Secretary (who is also a faculty member in the Department) of the Association, after I returned back from the Alumni Meet.
Finally, I wish to record a few feelings and general observations that overwhelmed my mind and thoughts on the occasion. The visit to the alma mater itself had swamped my mind with a wave of nostalgia igniting many old sweet and sour memories. Stepping into our department, old classrooms and lecture theatre, walking past the library, watching museum and other familiar facilities, and the presence of the batchmates and teachers gave a sort of emotional feel as if I was a student again, and as if time stood standstill. The initial hesitation and awkwardness about the place had quickly vanished once we started conversation and sharing experiences and anecdotes, which inter alia included subjects like our classroom events, our careers, families and personal growth since postgraduation. Though initially, I was a bit sceptical about visiting the alma mater and its aftermath following such a long gap but, at the end, it was indeed a pleasing experience for which I am largely grateful to the presence and company of some of my own batchmates, our teachers, present faculty members and students, and overall ambience provided by the event organisers.
Image Resources: My own and shared by other alumni
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