Third Year as the Class Representative

It began in May, 2007 at Apurva’s home. Since it got very late after a party, I decided to stay the night at his place and then return home the next morning. Something that we had been planning for a long time, we decided to type it down, finally. The plan was to prepare a draft for the successful functioning of our class in the Third Year. To create a class students’ body to look after certain aspects that would enable the students to view architecture in various subjects, and to become more responsible not only about themselves but also about each other. In the draft that we made, we wrote down certain activities we needed to participate in, certain order that would make the participation systematic, and there would be individuals in charge of these – to prevent it from becoming mechanical. We also decided to hold class juries where we could critique each others work and it might not only help the other person judge his/her own project but also help us support and argue about the project during the main juries. This might also create awareness, interest, and immense amount of education for all. It looked great.
A few days later, another great idea struck – at least I thought it was a great idea.
After seeing the formation of numerous small groups in the class and everyone was making silly judgments on others without ever trying to know the person, I felt that one could start a lottery system of choosing ones desk partner. Then, even if one might have hated the person earlier, he/she would have no choice but to try to understand the person and maybe develop a tolerance which might help improve his or her own character.

I feel that the architectural community is a small one and everyone in some way or the other is responsible for the other. It might sound a bit extreme, but imagine this- if my own classmate is making a design – an extremely bad one, using glass and steel in a hot and dry climate, and if I just look away go to someone and laugh at the persons design without even informing him/her about the mistake then, I believe, that even I am at fault.
Then, maybe, after a few years when some of us might look at a building with great repugnance, but later might just realize that it was the same classmate, who is to blame here?

So, I floated the idea on the class orkut community. Initially people were excited about it, and then there were few who found it “shocking” and “scary”. I couldn’t believe it. I tried explaining, obstinacy has become a virtue. Disgusting! I couldn’t believe how people could be so afraid to even sit next to someone and how they could hate their own classmates that much and we are only 20 years old!

Finally college reopened. We held the class elections, I won uncontested, Shreya, Prachi and Mithila stood, and Shreya won. Then I read out the draft that we had prepared. An election for the sub-committees was held. Accounts-Devesh, submissions- Apurva, Extra-curricular activities-theater, movies, exhibitions – Sujata, class juries – Prachi.
I could not help but notice how even during the class meeting people were not paying attention, wanted to go and eat, were being cynical…It was pathetic.
Then I asked the class about applying the lottery system and a minority of the class was against it. I made it clear, that even if there was a minority we could not go ahead with it as everyone had to participate in it or else the purpose would be defeated.
Also, the idea of reviving the cake tradition – on ay classmate’s birthday, the class would buy a cake so atleast for the 5-10 mins we all could enjoy in the celebrations albeit just eating the cake. But NO.
People did not want to spend Rs.4 for a cake. They did not want to spend their parents’ “hard earned” money on something as “silly” as a cake. That’s petty. Some prominent personalities in the class said money could be spent on class trips where the “class” could plan and go to certain parts of the state and country for educative trips. And even in this case (although I did not agree this time), minority won. So, no cakes. Now, I could not help but eagerly await the time when the “class” (because realized that there never was one) would plan a study trip. Funnily, I had become a joke for “class spirit”, and that itself was a joke as no one neither wished for it nor agreed with it. Basically, it is a class of individuals who tolerate others for their selfish satisfactions. For some coming to college was an obligation and meeting classmates was not an option.

For a two weeks after this, I had gone for a vacation. Shreya was in charge and this time the credibility of the class representative was challenged. This happened during the booking of bus for a trip to Alibag to check out the AD site.

After that, third year started at full speed. Design, working drawings, services, and all other subjects. There was a list of plays and exhibitions put up in class. A list of all submission dates put up, everything arranged as per our convenience. The class fund was taken care of. There was a class jury held where only 7 people participated, but it was a start.

The confusions started with services submissions. The “class” decided to mass bunk – never happened, the “class” decided not to submit, that was easy. They would question us about the faculty, bombard us with accusations against the faculty in words we could not use afore the faculty. So we (Shreya and I) had to speak to the teachers for the class, they would want to speak to the class and then just a handful would speak. This mess about the submission dates and arguments/retaliation with the teachers got worse and Apurva felt like giving up his post as submission incharge. But continued unreluctantly.

Then, it was time for the study trip. The class was divided into 3 compartments. As Shreya was busy, I divided the class into 3 groups (keeping the various “groups” together), maybe I shouldn’t have. Then fingers were pointed at me saying that dividing the class into groups is demeaning and derogatory!! Unbelievable!

Finally we reached Madurai, settled into rooms. Well, as it happens, it is the “CRs” duty to make sure everyone is down on time. So I rang the bell. Some were already awake and some understandable cursed me for waking them up. Then I decided to inform them the meeting time next morning, it was ridiculous to hear some people not believing the time I gave them (8.30am), and thinking that I was only joking. This totally pissed me off. I made up my mind – “balls to them”.
The next morning no one was down until 10am. And funnily no one cared.
I enjoyed the study trip thoroughly after that.
After returning, projects began and drawings continued.
Now it was submission time. As the trend goes, no one’s done with the submissions on the day of the submission. So, the date would have to get pushed a bit.
The CRs worked them out. Spoke to the faculty, requested for dates to be postponed. And in some cases, further postponed, and a few days more.
Then some people accused me of pushing the dates because my friend hadn’t finished. They accused me of allowing the teacher to hold tests because my friend and I were prepared in the subject (but we were nowhere close to being prepared).
Such ridiculous, judgments in absolute uncouth demeanor were inappropriate and unacceptable. And hardly anyone supported us.

All of this led to the moment when I said the two words I do not believe in, yet, that was all I could say to salvage my dignity. I quit.

If you have read this I thank you very much. I wanted this to be an observation of the people I have been with for the last 3 years and will be with for the next 2.