"Oie! Chinkey," someone shouted at the top of his voice; 'Chinkey' was the nickname given to those with small eyes, Mongolian race. I turned around and saw a senior gesturing me to come forward. It's my first day to college, ragging was condemned and banned by the Indian government, yet it seems to be pilfering with relative ease and complacency. I had completed my high school in Bhutan; and I was very fortunate to have got scholarship to pursue my engineering degree in one of the most prestigious Institutes of India, National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur, Himchal Pradesh. Colleges in India are notoriously known for its ragging and the atrocities exerted by the seniors to their juniors, especially during the first year.

I personally feel ragging in college is necessary to certain extent, it foster respect and close communion between seniors and juniors. By the time I was in my final year, ragging was no more; however once in awhile some of students were involved and expelled for ragging. Few years before I joined the college, ragging use to flourish unabated; 50 slaps per day was considered normal. Ragging went from the extent of simple introduction to stripping and naked dancing.

Apart from little ragging, those four years in college were the best days of my life. I almost ruined my engineering degree with those spates of computer games, counter strike and FIFA. Some of the students would play for the whole night to early wee hours, and the next morning wake up for the term papers without preparing, write the papers, come back and again start playing. We're all alone by ourselves, and we squandered our liberties to utter waste. However, there're some who made the best use of their time and liberty during college days, and I really do admire their perseverance and efforts. We're from different families from different ethnicity and with different religious belief; however we're a huge family living under one room, a brethren and brotherhood based upon friendship and mutual feelings.

Four years ago, yet it feels like yesterday; I still can remember those college gate fading behind those trees as the cab began to accelerate to top speed. The feeling that I felt that moment was a heart-stabbing pain, utter sorrow and a sad one; I was going home, leaving India for Bhutan. I would never be able to see my friends again, though in future I might be able to visit my college, however it would never be the same again, only those profound memories would linger abreast, a shadow from the past.

College life is indeed one of the most pivotal and an important aspect of one's life. College life foster in one's character a strong self-belief and confidence. I am now a better person, four years more learned and wise. Four years of hardship has made me stronger and bold. Four years of brotherhood has made me a loyal person and a trustworthy friend.

The gentle breeze wafting through those pine trees, the hot noodles from the cafe, those dry picnic in the glade outside the college gate, the unrelenting monsoon rain and the outburst of those thunderclouds, the daily rendezvous at the basketball court, those depressing academic grades; those four years in college have come to an end, a sad and bitter one, however the memories that I carry forward would never cease to exist. "Nothing in nature is ever lost that every sound ever made, every word ever spoken, still exists somewhere in space and time; and may one day be recalled."

Learn more about this author, Jamyang Zeaba.
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