My Convocation My Way

Rumors around our convocation date was already spreaded over the Networking tools, many number of times. Many speculated few dates or even months, which they claimed to be true to the best of their knowledge or at-least of their sources!

Needless to say that though we all understood their fallacy, but still, everytime something related to this came up, we all wanted to know more about the actual date. Ever since we left our college after the completion of our 4-year B.E. course, many of us were eagerly waiting for this day. I was particularly waiting for my convocation day, as it would give me a great chance to go back to my college, experience the BIT Mesra's charm, its awesome environment, weather, meet many of my friends, get my official B.E. degree (nonetheless) and to feel nostalgic, again.

All this was happening, when one evening, suddenly on Facebook, some of my friends started sharing few information regarding our Convocation Date and related links. Looking at those posts, I had a feeling that
possibly this time, they are not rumors. Then I visited the BIT Mesra's official website, and felt very happy to see our convocation notice on the top of the Institute's e-Notice board. Then only I came to know that this year's convocation will be the XXI Convocation for BIT Mesra. I surfed sincerely through the notice link, read the guidelines, saw that I have to pay Rs.1000 for the convocation and another refundable Rs.1000, for the Gown. Also, interestingly, there were two Last Date for submitting the application form. Strange ! Although later this mistake (possibly) was rectified.

Now, there was a problem. My office hours and that of any bank starts almost at the same time. Also, to get a Demand Draft I had to go only in the first half of the bank's working hours. So, one morning, I went straight to a nearby ATM. My attempt to withdraw the money failed in that ATM, due to Transaction Timeout error. I went inside the bank concerned to lodge a complaint regarding this incident, and after doing so, I came out of the bank empty handed. A lot of time and energy got wasted, I thought. Then I decided to go to another ATM and again faced the same fate with a different kind of error - ATM temporarily cannot process your transaction. Then I went to, yes, another ATM and by God's grace, I successfully withdrew the money. Huff...finally.
Then I entered the bank's office and wandered here and there to finally locate the counter from where the demand drafts were issued. I borrowed a pen from someone, filled up a form and stood in the queue. Then suddenly something struck in my mind. In the D.D. application form, the bank only seeked details for Cheque payment for issuing the D.D. of requested amount, and at that moment I was not carrying my Cheque Book or the details of my Bank Account of any sort. I only had cash, and it seemed to me that this bank doesn't accept cash !!! I broke out of the queue and went straight to the person on the other side of the counter. I queried him and he told me that they won't accept cash for issuing Demand Drafts. Wow. Another issue. So, I decided to go back to my rented flat, get my Cheque book and again come back. On my way, I thought of doing something else rather. I went to the bank which was nearer to our flat and asked a Bank's staff, whether they accept cash for issuing D.D. or not.To my relief, he said yes! So, quickly, again borrowing a pen from another guy, I filled up their Demand Drafts' application form, paid the amount in cash, took the receipt and headed straight for my office, for which I was already so late. The next morning I again went to that bank, got the Demand Draft, and went to my office a bit late again. It was raining that morning, and I had to get wet for that, on my way. Still I was happy that at-least this part of my job was over.

But, I again committed a mistake and forgot to bring a copy of my Provisional Certificate, which was required to be posted along-with the convocation's application form. So, that day I couldn't post my application. This was also another problem as the last date for submitting the application was nearing by. The next day, for us, there was an Infusion program by our company at a location which was different from our office building ( The TL Infusion program was at airtel Network Laboratory). To get the application posted, I tried to buy me some time before we needed to go for the program, and came to the office somewhat earlier, than usual. Here, in the office we have a guy who takes care of all these mail posting issues. He has contacts with few Courier Services and also the IndiaPost service. But, this mail-posting thing was not going to be so easy for me. And it happened. That day, the guy came late, and by the time he came and I talked to him regarding the post I had to make, it was already time for us to go for the Program as our cab was waiting for us outside the office premises. Still he managed to tell me that I have to face yet another problem, and it was that Bluedart won't be able to send my post to the mentioned address as they have closed their office there. So, nothing can be done from here, atleast for now. I decided not to worry about it right then, and went on for our Infusion Program, which was really important. During the lunch break, I again thought of giving it a try (posting my convocation application), and asked one of my very helpful friends, to give me a bike ride to the only post office nearer to this place, about whose whereabouts, I found on GoogleMaps. The bike ride was also a hell of a ride. And, even the local people were unaware about the post office (Khandsa Post Office), about which GoogleMaps gave an exact lat-long though ! After taking a huge toil on our clothes, our mood and our body, we two finally got to the post office. But, hah, here also, I faced defeat as one the the very few guys working there told me, that the office hours for posting anything for that day was over. I laughed at myself, my friend laughed back at me, and we two again came back to the program centre. Again late. Though noone asked us anything for this. Maybe they understood that I had already had enough. So, that day also passed by. The next morning I went to a different Post Office (Galleria), well befor their 12 PM time. Successfully the mail got posted there without any hitch, and though a bit late for my office, I didn't mind.

But but but, there was a problem. The next day, was the last date for submitting our convocation application, and by no chance it was possible for my SpeedPost to reach the college in just one day. So, again I had to do something. I wrote an email to the Registrar, BIT Mesra, quoting him the situation, and requested him to accept my application, even if it reaches late. Next day, to my temporary relief, he consented. I thanked him for this and again he obliged me.So finally I thought that this application posting job and its toil was finally over. But, no. I had to face some other hitches for being late in registering myself for the Convocation Program.

My Convocation My Way (Continued from the above post)

On the convocation day, I reached my college. I was happy to physically see my college campus again, after a long time. Its buildings, trees, roads,everything. There as a first thing to do, we were required to deposit Rs.1000 cash for the issuance of the Convocation Gown. I deposited that money in the Institute's Accounts office, received the slip and went on to Room No.211/Booth-E to collect my gown. But, this too wasn't going to be so easy. Was it? No.:) The person sitting on the other side of the booth-E informed me to the much of my surprise, that my name was not there in the list of the students to be given the gown and to settle this problem he guided me to go and talk to another person who was the In-Charge for this gown distribution work. I talked to him, he guided me to go and talk to the Registrar, prove my genuineness to him and then do whatever he says. I went to the Registrar's Office, talked to our Registrar sir, mentioned our conversation over the emails (regarding my peculiar situation), and asked him for his help. He then asked me to go to BIT's Magic Window (dont't go by its name, but I must say, that it really solves students' queries, though not to forget that sometimes they create temporary problems too for the students). I talked to the guys behind the Window and asked them to check whether BIT Mesra's Registrar office had received my D.D. and the other stuffs in the apllication mail that I had posted after facing so many obstacles, or not. They told me that they had received the same on that morning only, which I doubted, but didn't say anything. They also told me that they will send the updated list of the Convocation Gown Distribution to the Gown Distribution In-Charge, only after consolidating all the similar cases(if any). I had no other option but to wait. Meanwhile I met many of my friends wo were crossing by that corridor. During this time I also registered myself for the Convocation Photography, which would be taken when I will be receiving my degree from the distinguished person. After waiting for some more time, I again went to the Gown Distribution room. They didn't get the updated list by that time. After wandering for some more time, I thought of going back to the place where I was to stay for the night, to freshen up a little bit and to get ready in Formals for the Convocation evening. And after that I would come again to collect my gown and then would go to the OAT (the institute auditorium, where our convocation function was slated to happen). But, I missed a very fundamental thing while thinking all this - Time. By the time I got ready and came back for collecting my gown, the gown distribution was already over, and the Room No.211 was already closed and locked. Nice.Nice. Now what, I thoght. In the convocation guidelines, it was clearly mentioned that without the gown no students (Degree-holders) will be permitted to go inside the OAT building. I re-collected myself, and went on to the Magic Window, and told them my situation. But this time they can't help me. Being worried I approached one of our Department's faculty, and he tried to be really helpful. He asked me to go to the OAT and try my luck there to get a gown (if any spare was left, which according to normal logic should have been there). I went straight to a person who seemed to me to be In-Charge of the volunteers responsible for letting anybody inside the OAT. He heard me with full sincerity, and then asked me to meet the Students-Welfare Dean. I did the same. There a person, who was holding some lists, asked me my name and roll number, checked it against the late registered students' names and informed me that atleast my name has been updated for the Convocation. But when I told him that I don't have a gown to put on and go to the stage, he told me to go and meet our Ex-VC and now Chief of the Convocation Program, and see what he had to say. Haha. I was having such a time :) I went to him and told him my case telling him as many details as possible. He happened to be a really nice person. He told me that I can surely attend this convocation (as my name was there in the list of the Degree-Holders), and counselled me that I should take somebody else's gown after he gets his Degree and comes down off the stage. This was a good idea, as being a late registered case, my name will be called surely at a later time, and by that time, some of my other friends will surely get their degrees and hence, I will get a gown to wear. Hearing this, I went on to find my designated location in the auditorium (OAT), found it (also with some more toil (as my roll number was wrongly written and I had to contact the local sitting arrangement guy to get it corrected)) and then got to sit there. Soon the XXI Convocation Program - my convocation began. Ex-President of India and great scientist (only to state a few of his many adjectives), Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was our Chief- Guest for the evening. The function went on smoothly. One thing which I really liked was when Dr.A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was getting introduced by someone on the stage, and it took him quite a lot of time to finally complete his words of introduction only ! The other thing that I liked was my Degree getting moment ofcourse.:):) Then, after reciving my Degree, we boarded the bus to get back to our college. There I queued up to get my refund for the gown which I didn't receive, then again queued for our Post-Convocation Dinner, and then shivering in the cold of the night, went happily back to the place where, I was to stay for the night. Next day, I boarded my return train, being flooded with different memories, which I will surely remember for a long time. Atleast, the good thing is - I had an unusual and happening Convocation. Not many would experience this. :):)