Nostalgia

COEP, 1998 , February , the First Year of Engineering

The Annual Gathering preparations in full swing, the COEP Art Circle, the Orchestra and the Regatta.

The Regatta at the COEP Boat Club

Enrolling for the Punt Formation ( Glossary for non-COEPians:a night show, the formation of shapes in water by means of boats called punts whose edges are lined with small bulbs driven by a battery inside the punt)

daily practice 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm, aching hands , sunburnt faces,
sundays full day, studies - what are studies?:) , The PFOs (seven senior student organisers) guiding us, the goof-ups, scolding us, praising us, team building sessions, Nagraj jumps into the water trying to save some kids splashing about, he reaches them and gets to know they are swimming :), loses his spectacles, Rashmi at the tip of a punt reaches out for another punt, loses her balance, falls into the water, down with malaria, bounces back and is back at the tip of the punt again.

Punters all over the boat club, fastening those bulb holders onto the cloth that shall go around the punt.Great fun.The last four days, night practices now, gather at 8 pm, play Antakshari, PFO Aniket with his unforgettable "Tujhse Naaraz Nahi Zindagi"," Purani Jeans", "Om Shanti Om", PFO Shriram - "The Odomos Man", we wait in queue for dabs of the mosquito repellent, the night is lovely, dark and deep, so silent, its just us in the water, dinner and cups of coffee to keep us awake through the night, people doze off, practice over at 4 am, we troop back to our homes/hostels. Sleep for 3 hours, college at 8:30 am.

The day of the Regatta, the boat club overflowing with people, the races, the Wharf dance, the kayak ballet (i think they played the song "Khamosh raat" in the background, it was fascinating) and finally the punt formation.

The night is silent again, we move slowly into the water, and suddenly, all bulbs lit and a roar in the crowd, 25 formations in 25 minutes, the grand finale. Fireworks from the opposite bank, "Hip, Hip, Hurrahs", Party time .

The Show is over
Only the memories remain.