Version '98

It was Yogi who set the ball rolling with a mail asking why don't we attend Version '98. Initially, myself, Nagi and Lachu agreed and we got the train tickets. Later, Lachu cancelled his ticket, while Uma joined.

Thus it was that, on the evening of Friday, 28th August, the four of us boarded the train to Trichy at 7.30 PM from Bangalore City Station.

The onward journey was uneventful until the train left Trichy Junction. Yogi had got off at Trichy Fort. We decided that we'll continue in the same train upto Tiruverumbur, which was closer to our final destination - REC. We were standing in the entrance of our coach and chatting, when I felt a tap on my shoulder - "tickets please".

It was the TTE, and we had tickets only up to Trichy Jn! The TTE, for once, was an honest Railway employee and he delivered a mini-lecture on ticketless travel. We tried to impress upon him that we were students, who thought, Tiruverumbur was in Trichy. The TTE said he was "letting us off" by fining us only Rs.65/- each, instead of Rs.175/- each!

Thus our arrival to attend Version '98 was indeed grand!

We went straight to Beryl Hostel (have I spelt it right? Yes! P.G. Hostel has been renamed in alignment with the naming convention followed for the other hostels) and were taken by Sharath (the III MCA CCC) to his room (#25).

Having had bath, we were surprised when Pal entered our room. Pal had come to REC the previous day for recruiting and had been convinced to stay back for a day more. (Pal was attending his 7th Version!)

After a tea in "C" Mess, we moved to Barn. The time was 9 AM. The Reception was located in the Barn and we got our "badges". It was breakfast time. We met a few of the MCA folks. Most of the faces were new - I and II years and even some III years! Around 25 I years had joined - many from the North, some from Bengal. (Johny/Tiju, there is a mallu girl - sorry, don't know the name - who is Shakku's hyperju in St. Teresa's) We heard that there were 32 Colleges this time, including an all girls team from SNDT, Bombay! (We had some fun "ranking" these girls!)

There was a request to judge the "Software Contest" event. Myself and Uma went to our Department Lab where the event was held, and spent some time, trying to decide whom to give the prize.

Nagi and Pal preferred to take a nap after lunch, while we sat for a few minutes, attending the "Systems Design" event. Earlier there was "General Quiz" which was pretty good (because, I could answer some of the questions!). There were two visits to Lingams (a competitor to Sam Fox, for the oldtimers!) for "ginger tea", but no visits to the Cafe or the Canteen.

We learnt that Ezhil and Suman had turned up the previous day. More importantly, Suman had joined Dr.VNS as one of the judges for "Paper Presentation" event.

Among our juniors, Veera and Swetha Rati had turned up. There were no other alumni.

The events were well-organised. There were a couple of new events - "Product-wise or Other-wise", a sort of Quiz on Companies, Products and Brands, conducted in a different manner. There was "The Business Treasure Hunt", also a Management event, where you had to crack a Crossword Puzzle, then answer some 20 multiple choice questions, take some common letters, rearrange to come up with a slogan. (We tried solving it. The crossword was pretty easy, but not so, the questions. However we got half the slogan right!)

Come evening, we decided that Seakings was the place to go. Saju Peter, the III MCA CIC Chairman joined us. The usual "Nut Corner", "3 in 1" and "Casatta" were ordered and consumed!

Trichy was as hot as ever and the contrast with the Bangalore climate was striking!

Pal left at 8.15 PM for Bangalore. Yogi left to his relative's place. The rest of us, attended the Music Programme. We met Dr.VNS who spent quite some time chatting to us. The HoD, Dr.AKB, Dr.AVR and a couple of other Faculty were present too. Nagi played the keyboard for a while. We didn't feel inspired to dance - missing Pal?

Unlike previous Versions, the accomodation for delegates was in Agate Hostel (the I BEs not having joined) and we managed to get a free room for ourselves.

We got up early on Sunday (29th August) morning and set off to Rock Fort. Nagi's friend, Karthik had turned up the previous night and he joined us. It was nice to climb up Rock Fort and have a darshan of Lord Ganesa. The view from the top was terrific, especially with Cauveri in full flow.

There was no way we could return without a breakfast in the one and only Hotel Raghunath.

Yogi joined us back in REC. Venki had come as judge for Marketing and Systems Analyst. (Venki, for the uninitiated is Vengateswaran, MBA, who was our contemporary in the campus)

At lunch, Nagi introduced me to Nicel, a mallu from Thrissur. He "placed" me from Madras and said "I don't believe it" when said, I was from Kerala! Speaking of introductions, we renewed some "friendships" established last Version with a few I MCA folks (now in II MCA). One of them is likely to be a Softrec office-bearer, while the other has a good future as speech-writer. There are some "promising" folks in the new batch as my friends, Uma and Yogi, will vouch.

The Marketing event was interesting, but I missed most of it having to "judge" "Specialist". In this event, the participant gave a small presentation on an area of his choice, and faced questions. The most humorous incident was a participant giving a presentation on OOAD, and finally telling that he referred to Pressman for the presentation!

It was evening by now, and System Analyst Stress Interview. Fortunately, I escaped being a judge for this (unlike last year). We got our bags to the Reception and watched the event for a few minutes.

It was time to say goodbye and we left the campus by 7.30 PM, when the Valedictory function was on. We got a ride in the car which had come to take Venki to the Station.

We dined in Hotel Anand (Uma having Idli fry) and made it in time for the train. There was no more fine to be paid on the return journey. The train was rather late and we got back to Bangalore by 7.45 AM. There was more drama when we met Madi and JB in the station.