Feeling Mumbai

The very next day i.e. 16^th may, we started our VSRP programme. After almost 7 years I boarded a school bus although for a small trip of 5-7 minutes. We were assembled in AG-66 and given a brief intro and then our TA forms were accepted and we were allowed to meet our respective guides. I met many of my co-researchers there whom I would describe in the due course. Before coming to TIFR, I knew only two people Barrel and Aarti (IIT Madras). Well I knew her only by photos and as my friend Barrel and Avadhoot’s friend.

My guide was in CM-32 and hence I had to go there. I knew Prof. J. S. Yadav only by his photograph (Thanks TIFR website). He talked with me for about 30 minutes and made himself pretty clear that he is neither going to burden me nor allow me to have a free relaxing time. Very first day he gave me two papers to read on black holes and introduced to Amish and Suprabha who were to help me during my summer project. Well we had a gala time together for the next 56 days in D-314.

With the papers in my bag, we went to Colaba market for shopping. After buying, Sooraj, Arun and me came back to our hostels. It’s a paradigm of humankind that people absolutely unknown to each other come together when fate brings them near. So was the case with us. In the evening, we went back to TIFR to have our dinner (It was the nearest and the cheapest). On the way, I experienced the very first of Mammootty - Mohanlal tussle which was to continue for the next two months. Sooraj (Mammootty) and Arun (Mohanlal) were debating making me as a moderator for whom they were nothing more than names. I explained my ignorance on this matter but the tussle continued and the results are still awaited.

The next day me and Arun had the experience of Mumbai in an unexpected way. Avadhoot was in town and hence I went to meet him. Arun accompanied me as he wanted to feel Mumbai and buy some books. We met him near Regal cinema. He had also come for books and we were unable to find any of the books under the constraint of our prices and liking. I phoned my friend Maulik, a mumbaikar, for guiding us to bookstores. His father guided us and we started our “Padyatra”. We first went to a book store near Metro but couldn’t find the book. We were travelling without knowing anything about Mumbai beyond the fact that we were to walk North bound. We reached the book-store “Lakhani” near Girgaun church only to find it closed. But luckily, we found the book in the adjoining bookstore who promised to bring it to TIFR. Thus, ended our travels of almost 4 hours and cleanliness freak Arun had to sit beside me on the dirty Mumbai footpath. The next day, Sunday was spent mostly in knowing other fellows all around us. Well one thing was also experienced, the TIFR seashore, which was to play an important role in our stay in TIFR. Well rest for the next post…………

Off to Mumbai

Spending two months in the great city of Mumbai is a great experience for anybody. I had the golden chance of lifetime to do so in this summer. It was a trip spiced with great environs of Mumbai along with a research experience in TIFR (Tata Institute for Fundamental Research). I was among the lucky few in India to be selected for this summer project experience. Our project was called VSRP (Visitors Students Research Program).

I started from Pune on Thursday 15^th May at an ungodly hour of 5:45 am. Because of negligence on my part we (oh me and Soumyajyoti !) were not able to get a reserved ticket to Mumbai. We reached Pune station and cut tickets for Mumbai but missed Deccan Queen by a whisker and had to settle for 7:55 Pragati. We got seats to seat and I got a beautiful co-passenger whom I mistook for a school girl (She was a BA 2^nd year student). We had a nice trip to Mumbai having nice scenic view all around us.

We reached TIFR by 12 and were promptly shown to our temporary accommodations in Ramanujam guest house. I was put into a room with Arnab(University of Delhi) and Tanuj(IIT Bombay). I went to see barrel (oh soumyajyoti’s nick name, saves space) and there met a pucca keralian, R. Sooraj Krishnan (IIT Madras). He eventually became my room-mate and I had long debates with him.

We had the taste of west canteen lunch (do mahine yehi khaya) and by afternoon were in the permanent accommodation in Geomagnetism hostels. Our room was actually a kitchen having a proper kitchen sink and platform. Drinking water was 20 litres mineral water bottles which we had to carry ourselves after 3 days. One bathroom for seven people was a mess but we didn’t have any other choice as the other accommodation in Wadala was 1:30 hours away and in a messy area. At least we were 20 mins (walking) away from TIFR and near to Colaba which we roamed like anything.

In the evening itself we started roaming around in Mumbai. Tanuj was our guide and the travelers were Anirudh (NIT Surathkal), Arun (NIT Trichy), Harsh Tiwari (IIT Roorkee), me and Sooraj. We saw the famed Gateway of India, Old Taj and New Taj. Among them I saw the sea for the first time in my life. I was seeing all what I had seen only in films. From there we went to Marine drive and the Girgaun Beach. The beach was small as compared to the more famed Juhu beach (and cheaper). We ate somewhere in Colaba and then went back to the hostel. In my room the third roommate had arrived and he was K. Shanti Swaroop (JNTU, Hyderabad re!!!). He is to play an important character in these memoirs. Off to the next part…………..