The historic campus of Colvin Taluqdars' College in Lucknow was awash with warmth and nostalgia this week as it celebrated the culmination of its Annual Week. The event concluded on a high note with the traditional Darbar Day on Tuesday, transforming the grounds into a vibrant reunion space. Alumni from decades past returned, their memories of student life flooding back with remarkable clarity as they walked through familiar classrooms, corridors, and the sprawling open fields.
Secret Harvests and Classroom Capers: Tales from the 1970s
For the alumni, the open fields were more than just scenery; they were a source of adventure and secret snacks. Rajesh Narayan Sehgal from the 1976 batch fondly recalled how agricultural lessons often had an unofficial, delicious side activity. "During our agriculture classes, the formal learning would sometimes take a backseat," he shared. "Radishes and carrots would quietly disappear from the plots, only to be enjoyed later like a secret, hard-won treasure."
His classmate, Ashok Kumar Dhall, elaborated on the covert operations. "Those fields were our ultimate playground. A simple whistle or a hand signal from a friend was all it took to know the teacher was distracted. That was our cue to sneak in and pluck the fresh radishes and carrots." The fun wasn't limited to vegetables. Ashok Bhatia from the 1978 batch remembered eagerly waiting for intervals to throw stones at the campus tamarind trees, trying to knock down the sweet and tangy 'laal imli'.
Hostel Hijinks and Forged Friendships
The nostalgia extended beyond the fields into the classrooms and hostels, where pranks forged lifelong bonds. Sanjay Agrawal (1976 batch) reminisced about carefully planned classroom mischief. "We would switch books and slip them into the wrong bags," he said with a laugh. "The real fun was watching our classmates search frantically for their notebooks in complete confusion."
Hostel life came with its own set of unwritten rules and shared laughter. Ravindra Bhargav, also from the class of 1976, spoke of the common phenomenon of missing tiffin boxes belonging to day scholars. "But there was a simple rule: everything had to be shared. No one was ever left out," he emphasized. This sentiment was echoed by 1976 student Ajay Gattani, who noted that these small acts of theft often strengthened friendships. "The owner of the stolen tiffin would soon forgive us and even join in, laughing and sharing the food together. It created an instant bond."
A Legacy of Simplicity and Future Ambitions
Other alumni shared more elaborate pranks. Rajneesh Lamba of the 1978 batch recalled the day they locked a designated classroom and watched teachers and students wander around, confused about where the lesson would be held. Ravi Kapoor from the 1980 batch spoke of hiding classmates' shoes or bags, only to return them later, turning minor annoyances into moments of collective joy. For all of them, Darbar Day symbolized a return to a time when happiness was found in simple, shared experiences and friendships were paramount.
Looking to the future, Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change and MoS for External Affairs, Kirti Vardhan Singh, addressed the gathering. As the president of the British Indian Association, the governing body of Colvin College, he outlined a progressive vision. "We are committed to taking this institution to greater heights," he stated. The plans include strengthening sports facilities, promoting skill development, and introducing future-oriented courses in fields like Artificial Intelligence (AI), computers, fashion designing, and hotel management. The goal is to create wider platforms for students to excel at state, national, and international levels, ensuring the college's legacy continues to evolve.
