What colleges have you attended?
The narrative reflects on a visit to Allahabad University, evoking nostalgia for the author’s student days at Muir Central College. The imposing architecture, memories of professors, and the vibrant campus life are vividly described. The author expresses pride in the university’s legacy and its notable alumni, wishing for its continued growth and success.
As the train enters the city from the eastern side, soon after crossing the Ganga, a dome and an accompanying tower attract visitors’ attention. The sight of the two structures peeping out from amongst the thick verdure tells them that they have reached a famous city. Running with the visitor, who watches the twin structures from the moving train’s window, the structures escort him until he reaches his destination.
The imposing dome fitted with glazed tiles and accompanying a majestic tower is the insignia of a city known for many things, including “Triveni”, the confluence of holy Ganga, Yamuna and invisible Saraswati rivers. It is Prayagraj (Formerly Allahabad), which is also famous for its university.
Photograph by Author
Standing at the entrance of a hall, watching and touching its walls and furniture, days became alive before his eyes. It was an experience inexpressible. Decades ago, the hall and the precinct used to be his world. He didn’t realise that it would be his cherished memory. He eagerly watched the lecture halls, laboratories and museum where he used to sit, watch, attend lectures and study.
People often overlook events and occurrences due to their routine nature. It does not matter when they experience those moments or do certain things at the time. Yet, after leaving the place and returning after a considerable gap, these moments become memories. Is it not paradoxical that the past becomes endearing, and people feel a bittersweet pain when reminiscing about it after a long time? What do readers feel and think? Kindly comment below in the comment box.
Standing before the iconic dome and the tower, his mind revolved around three hundred sixty degrees in time. It is Vijayanagaram Hall; he was standing in front of it. It is a part of Muir Central College (MCC), now the famous Allahabad University, his alma mater.
Photograph by Author
Passing through wide stone-floored corridors, his eyes gleamed as he slipped into nostalgia. Thick and meticulously carved blocks of stone laid one upon the other in the form of a graceful wall making a part of a classroom. The terraced benches for students, a large dais and a double-decker sliding blackboard…
The days become alive in front of his eyes. Fondly looking at the benches, he touched and felt the seat where he used to sit; when one of his professors had asked his well-known maiden question about birds in his first lecture. He felt that suddenly the class was filled with familiar faces of girls and boys. He sat down on a bench facing the dais where a professor was addressing them. Soon the faces vanished in the air leaving a wisp of sweet smell of simmering incense sticks. He stood up and came out of the hall.
As he sat on the bench in the lecture hall, memories of his past surfaced, bringing to mind the faces of his professors. Dr (Prof.) US, Dr Chattoraj, Dr Verma, Dr Kaul, Dr Prasad, Dr Nath and many more. After decades, he was feeling the same emotions as he would during his student life. The difference is in intensity. They used to take lectures on different branches of Zoology. Some were experts of insects; some were of worms while some were experts in cell biology and genetics. All of them were friendly and cooperative.
Standing beside the big skeleton of an elephant our hero became enthusiastic. Though he did not utter a word, he was visibly moved. Specimens, skeletons and fossil impressions repeatedly take him in time when he used to learn their names and try to remember them.
He leisurely walked ahead and came beneath the red tamarind tree. The tree that stood before the department was the point that used to give shelter from the scorching summer heat and also spending time apart from the studies. A vast barb-fenced field, the MCC Ground, was the place where occasional matches used to be organised. It was the ground where he often hung out with his classmates, especially enjoying the cosy warmth of winter sun. Gracefully curved stone staircases were the place where he spent time sitting and gossiping while sipping tea.
Once known as “Oxford of the East”, Allahabad University was conceived in 1886 by the then Lt. Governor of North-West Province, Sir William Muir. It was known as Muir Central College. Its foundation was laid in 1887 by Governor General Lord Northbrook. Later the Muir Central College lost its independent status after the University of Allahabad Act was promulgated in 1921.
The imposing and beautiful buildings of the University are simple and elegant. It is based on a blend of Indo-Saracenic and Gothic styles of architecture.
One of the oldest universities of free India, it is the fourth one after Calcutta, Madras and Bombay universities. Now a central university, the MCC houses Science faculty. A few yards away is the famous Senate Hall with a huge campus filled with green trees is the place housing the university’s administrative offices, English department, other departments and a vast central library.
The motto of the University is “Quot Rami Tot Arbores”. It is a Latin phrase meaning “As many branches, so many trees”. The alumni of the university have kept its slogan and lived it up.
Much of the water has flown into the Ganga. The students who happened to be classmates have been scattered. They became busy in their lives. They opted for jobs which gave them a name fame, and identity. Some opted for administrative jobs, some became teachers and Professors. Many students of his university are spread across India and even across the globe.
His alma mater has produced many illustrious people who served the nation and enriched it with their contributions. Some of them reached the top and became Prime Ministers of the country. Raghupati Sahay “Firaq” aka Firaq Gorakhpuri, Ram Kumar Verma, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, and Mahadevi Verma are but a few who copiously served the literature.
As a proud alumnus of Allahabad University, I feel elevated. The university, its campus, and the ambience have uniformly mingled with my psyche. Situated parallel to the famous Chandrashekhar Azad Park (formerly Alfred Park), the days spent here have become a valuable memory. I know nothing what it gave to me or what I have given to it but what it gave me outweighs everything. I wish that my alma mater progressively grow and flourish for all times to come.
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