I am Charanjit Rimmi Sobti, very proud of my Alma Mater..S R Govt College For Women,where I spent my beautiful formativ ine years from 1978 to 81.Down the memory lane they were the most colourful days right after the discipline of the school.College for us was a place where you are at a liberty to follow your heart and wear what you desire.When I look back I see exuberance,style and intelligence in my demeanour which I think naturally come with youthful energy.Memories which are very vivid in my mind are my English Honours classes with Mrs. Cheema and Mrs. Munjal.Brilliant students enjoy certain privileges..Hons.class being a small group of girls was conducted out in the open under the shade of some trees ,when everyone else would sit on the floor on a rug..Where I couldn't sit coz of my tight jeans..Mrs Cheema would ask me to pull a chair for myself and reprimand me.. lovingly..for not wearing a suit on the days of this class..which I always forgot. Small anecdotes mark your journey at any place..Pakistan TV serials being a rage those days we saw the auditorium packed to double it's capacity when first power couple of small screen,Rahat Kazmi and Sahira Kazmi of Dhoop Kinare fame came to the college Rahat was every girl's heart throb and Sahira was a fashion and style icon to be followed by every girl.Annual College functions were such a craze as the quality of dances and other skits and dramas were always very good..Rishi Kapurs famous song Daffli waale was one of the memorable stage performances. Unfortunately I never explored my potential in any of the performing arts during this time and never took life seriously.. college meant mauj masti where good marks came without putting in much labour.. for this attitude I still have a big regret, to this day in my life. As luck would have it,I got an opportunity to teach here,after I finished my MA and MPhil in English from GNDU,this was sometimes during the years 1993to 98.My bond with this beautiful college became more robust and vivacious Giving lectures in the same classrooms where we sat some ten twelve years ago and sitting in the same staffroom where we earlier dreaded going are some of the experiences of my memoire.Passing through the corridors of this majestic building on the ground floor,peeping into the classroom,with long french windows opening on to the open area outside,reminded me of ..otherwise.. loving Mrs Thukral ,our Philosophy teacher,who once took our gang to the Principal's office for our unruly behaviour in the classroom,for which I am truly ashamed now.But at that point of time,I don't know what led us to a barrage of giggles and laughter bouts.There are memories of our NCC class and innumerable canteen scenes..It's hustle and bustle and the ensuing noise are very much still alive in my memory.Eating aaloo ki tikki rolled up in a kulcha with onion and chutney on top was the ultimate gastronomic delight.A beautiful friend from this gang called, Vinay Kapoor became a victim of Covid,how I wish she was alive to be able to read all this.She is a part of most of my college memories.Hanging around in the College compound in the free periods and gossiping about love affairs of girls and who all wore make up to college,about Paki serials and Bollywood movies,infact all inane things,the topics were endless and so was the resultant happiness..Can't believe this was some forty years ago,so much water has flown under the bridge since then.Much later I again went to the College as a panelist to speak on the menace of Dowry System,which some Rotary club of Amritsar had organised,for the benefit of young girls who were to get married soon so that they could have an opinion of their own.It will take a lot more space to pen down what all is etched on the ,,"inward eye" of my mind.. memories which are an entrenched part of my bond with the college..but may not appear valuable to others.
Charanjit Rimmi Sobti