Vineet Singh
Bhaiya
In the summer of 1995 (though one may argue when was it not summer over there?), a bunch of us clueless folks descended on Trichy, in our quest to embark on a bright career path from all across the country. Amid us, there was one who clearly stood out because he was truly unique in so many days. In the military-hair-cut days of ragging in early college life, he wore his tresses long. While many struggled with the stringent discipline of Agate hostel, he became notorious (or famous, depending on the side you belong to) for flouting all possible regulations. He was someone who could simultaneously have his mouth reddened with chewing tobacco (khaini) and blare hard rock music from his hostel room, without making it appear even one bit odd.
He was Vineet from Allahabad - "Bhaiya" to those who knew him up close, and even those who didn't. Probably, the 'ultimate stud' in the typical REC lingo and yet, someone who had the softest of hearts and turned out to be the truest of friends.
As we are almost a year away from our planned silver jubilee reunion and I sit down to pen a few lines about Vineet, there are so many thoughts and memories that keep tumbling out from the the deep recess of my mind from an era bygone. The first and foremost, of course, is the image of a real cool classmate with that heaven-may-care air about him. The next set of memories are of the unmatched warmth that you could soak in once you got closer to him. A friend of friends and a true 'Bhaiya Ji' who once embraced disciplinary action against himself and yet, never divulged any names to the college authorities. When the final year came, the same carefree person took up the mantle of ECE class-rep and more than rose to the occasion. And I remember the day that I got placed - one of the happy memories of that day was Bhaiya also being placed in the same company. Later on, the company was split and we joined at different offices, but on the same date and in the same city.
Cut to Chennai & the summer of 1999. There are so many happy memories that a small group of us fresh graduates, including Vineet, shared - the early days of job, the new found excitement of starting to earn and that unmatched sense of freedom. The most lasting of those memories is probably my experience of riding pillion on Vineet's RX100, only those who have experienced that would know what I am talking about. Little did we know then that destiny had such cruel plans in store! I vividly recollect the shocking images of that fateful evening over two decades ago, of being led into the mortuary of a govt hospital in Chennai to identify the body of my friend whom a fatal accident had snatched away from us a few hours ago. I still remember how fervently I prayed in those moments before I saw him - "God, please let this not be Vineet!" And then my final memories are of a visit to his home in Allahabad 3 years later where I witnessed first-hand how his still grieving parents were learning to live with the memories of their younger son.
If Vineet were still around, I am sure his mere presence would have made our reunion so much more cool and colorful! I am also sure that our Bhaiya Ji is at a better place - probably making heaven way cooler with his attitude, his Allahabadi style and his inimitable swagger.
He was Vineet from Allahabad - "Bhaiya" to those who knew him up close, and even those who didn't. Probably, the 'ultimate stud' in the typical REC lingo and yet, someone who had the softest of hearts and turned out to be the truest of friends.
As we are almost a year away from our planned silver jubilee reunion and I sit down to pen a few lines about Vineet, there are so many thoughts and memories that keep tumbling out from the the deep recess of my mind from an era bygone. The first and foremost, of course, is the image of a real cool classmate with that heaven-may-care air about him. The next set of memories are of the unmatched warmth that you could soak in once you got closer to him. A friend of friends and a true 'Bhaiya Ji' who once embraced disciplinary action against himself and yet, never divulged any names to the college authorities. When the final year came, the same carefree person took up the mantle of ECE class-rep and more than rose to the occasion. And I remember the day that I got placed - one of the happy memories of that day was Bhaiya also being placed in the same company. Later on, the company was split and we joined at different offices, but on the same date and in the same city.
Cut to Chennai & the summer of 1999. There are so many happy memories that a small group of us fresh graduates, including Vineet, shared - the early days of job, the new found excitement of starting to earn and that unmatched sense of freedom. The most lasting of those memories is probably my experience of riding pillion on Vineet's RX100, only those who have experienced that would know what I am talking about. Little did we know then that destiny had such cruel plans in store! I vividly recollect the shocking images of that fateful evening over two decades ago, of being led into the mortuary of a govt hospital in Chennai to identify the body of my friend whom a fatal accident had snatched away from us a few hours ago. I still remember how fervently I prayed in those moments before I saw him - "God, please let this not be Vineet!" And then my final memories are of a visit to his home in Allahabad 3 years later where I witnessed first-hand how his still grieving parents were learning to live with the memories of their younger son.
If Vineet were still around, I am sure his mere presence would have made our reunion so much more cool and colorful! I am also sure that our Bhaiya Ji is at a better place - probably making heaven way cooler with his attitude, his Allahabadi style and his inimitable swagger.
Debashis Tripathy (Deba)
ECE Dept