Travel has been my passion since the time I passed out from BITS and took up my first professional assignment. And then over the years got the opportunity to experience the remotest corner of my country India. The other passion for me and many thousands like me spread around the globe has been our college and university. And that’s the reason we keep going back again and again to the destination of our hearts, BITS Pilani. So what’s the unseen and unfelt from our BITS, Pilani campus that I bring to you this time. Come let’s walk in to a warm welcome as always, enjoy the chill of December and chill out for the next three days.
Nostalgia brings us home
The peace of Vfast
And the lovely food
‘Rakesh Verma Pilani Convention Centre’ the new Vfast is coming up fast
As this team gears up to fight the night
My first destination always
Nagar & Mahavir are still as close to my heart as they were exactly forty eight years back. And seeing Nagar’s smile is precious. And also that of Mahavir his elder brother. Their sons are all now great friends as well with Pawan here and Vijay & Shyam in Connaught and Abhay the grandson. Moments spent with them are always so very special for me.
Next of course our very own Pappu in Skylab
VK & Memories
It’s Compree time in campus
The love and care legacy continues..
I missed you Lucy
Two years back I had become friends with Lucy, the specially abled one with just three legs. Rescued by Dr. Bhavesh Verma, Physical Education & Sports Officer, BITS Pilani after an accident she was literally the apple of the eye for Bhavesh and his equally caring wife Achala Verma. For them Lucy was their own child whom they had nurtured since the time she was one month old.
Since that night when I first met them while she was playing around near the football ground, Bhavesh and me have been very good friends keeping in touch often. Then on 3rd April this year I got a message from him informing me that Lucy had sadly passed away that night. It was so sad to hear.
After her last rites were performed following Hindu traditions she was put to rest by the family and friends. A Blackberry (Jamun) tree has been planted in Lucy’s memory behind Connaught by the caring parents. May she live on in the hearts of thousands of children and provide happiness to them when they come to pick up the Jamuns as the tree grows and these black beauties drop in years to come.
My Dinner Dens
And this is Abhay, Vijay’s son and Mahavir’s grandson. The restaurant is a vegetarian one but I wished to have Dal Fry, Egg Bhurji and rotis. So Abhay quickly got into action and ordered the bhurji from Kalu’s and there I was soon having my favorite dishes for that night. And Abhay loves his Dadu very much and Instagram as well.
The Seen but Unfelt
Never quite loved the idea of seeing them around in campus all these years since the time they were allowed to venture in. Not this time though as Amit here drops me to the Library from Vfast and every night a new interesting guy dropping me back from Connaught. And once a trip outside campus to an interesting destination. Quite loved the auto experience as time saved was time earned to explore the new.
Meeting them was so refreshing
Dr. Arya Kumar, Dean Alumni Relations
He is everyone’s favorite. But for us the association has been ages old. First as a senior, then also as a professor and above all for every alumni the Dean Alumni Relations. But he is more a friend. Always there to respond almost immediately if you need to connect with him, wherever he may be. That’s our very own Dr. Arya Kumar with his smile so familiar. It was great spending some time with him discussing the old, the new and about his recent visit to US to meet BITSians.
Dr. Sudhirkumar V Barai, Director, BITS Pilani – Pilani Campus
I have always been a fan of his writing because of the touch of humor in every post of his, be it in English, Hindi or one with a mix of both. And then love the way he mingles with the students in his own unique style and becomes one of their very own. He is our Director Pilani Campus, Dr. Sudhirkumar V Barai. It was so nice to catch up with him again after the last BITSAA Global Meet in Jaipur in January 2023. And I thoroughly enjoyed the half an hour or so we spent together.
After the initial pleasantries our discussions moved on to the launch of an innovative and comprehensive AI-Powered Employee Engagement, Analytics & Conversation Suite by us at Prowiz Consulting. It’s a new AI venture of mine with an ex-colleague and friend of three decades that’s going to change how organizations work going forward. And an exciting tool now in the hands of top management and HR to help them achieve their goals of building an organization where employees feel connected, empowered, skilled, motivated and heard.
And it can be an equally powerful tool which can be tailormade for educational institutes as well for addressing specific issues which fall in their focus areas, be it for students or staff.
When I demonstrated a bit of the product we have for corporates to Dr. Barai he found it quite interesting after hearing the sample conversation for a while, identified an issue where we could work together and called in Ms. Rupali Wadhwa, HR and Dr. Navin Singh, Associate Dean, Students Welfare Division to join in the discussions on how we can take it forward.
Check this out!
Why has this youngster crashed inside the library while others are studying? No sleep last night? Or is it anxiety, compree pressure, performance pressure, peer pressure, family pressure, an affair gone wrong or any other? Only he knows and only he can tell us. The institute has taken many measures to address this issue of Mental Health across campuses.
Can Amy add a new dimension to these already continuing efforts from the institute? Hopefully soon she would be the friend you need as a student with whom you can speak your heart out without being judged.
Amy, your AI Digital Assistant who sounds more human than many human beings, understands your emotions and speaks your language.
Carrying on our discussions
It was time to discuss our next moves with Dr. Navin Singh in his room and was glad to meet Ashish Protim Borah there who has joined the Pilani Campus recently as a Clinical Psychologist. And so have joined his peers Sahiti Mannar in Goa campus and Shivani Sharma in Hyderabad campus. It would be great catching up soon with all of them together for their inputs and giving shape to the product.
Someone I sadly missed during this journey and our discussions is Dr. V. Ramgopal Rao, Group VC, BITS Pilani Campuses. He was traveling during the days I was there and had indicated the same to me during our personal chats. Would love to meet you Sir when I am in campus next time.
A Gift to cherish
Pathshala to BITS Pilani, a journey
Friends are forever
While I missed going around with my 1977 Calcutta batchmates Dipy & Nahata this time in campus, we from the 70’s and 80’s are all adept at managing make-ups. So here I have two new friends in campus this time who were so nice to give me a guided tour around two very prominent campus landmarks. Come let’s meet them.
BITS Central Workshop
I am with Dr. Abhijit Digalwar, Professor, Mechanical Department and the Unit Chief of Workshop Unit at BITS Pilani and we have been friends for the last four months since the time we connected on LinkedIn. He has been with BITS since 2001 and has numerous achievements in his career prior to that and in these years with over 100 published research papers in reputed journals and proceedings. And his smile would touch your heart. It was wonderful spending time with him as he showed me around.
As we were about to wrap up came this wonderful surprise. A Gift of Lord Ganesha made in 3D Printing Lab by Amit & Rakesh who was on leave that day. Thank you guys so much. Just loved it.
BITS Library
I am here to meet my new friend in our 65,000 sq. ft architectural masterpiece, BITS Library. And he is someone Dr. Barai suggested I must meet and he even got my meeting arranged with him. ‘He is a Bong he told me in Bong’ and mentioned I would love to meet him. Have visited the library couple of times before as well but this visit was about something very special. About discovering “Pathshala to BITS Pilani” in BITS Pilani Heritage Gallery.
But first my new friend
He is Dr. Ranjan Sinha Thakur, Chief Librarian (Institute-Wide), BITS Pilani with a distinguished career across organizations during his long career before he took on his responsibility in BITS. It was such a pleasure speaking to him in our mother tongue throughout as he took me around. And it seemed we have known each other for ages.
BITS Pilani Heritage Gallery
As we were walking out and on our way to click a photograph together, Dr. Sinha Thakur noticed a student walking in to the library with a water bottle having some colored liquid inside. So he asked him ‘What is this you are carrying with you? The guy replied ‘Sir this is to build muscles’. He allowed him in hesitantly with a surprised look, then looked at me and said. ‘Building muscles with liquid? Shouldn’t he be heading to the Gym instead?’ We had a good laugh first and then took this snap.
Come on guys build your muscles the right way. And you don’t even have to go to the gym these days. It’s all available indoors within every hostel and with the outdoors ones being set up as I noticed. Sweat it out and then you could have a refreshing juice if you wish that claims it will make you a champion as I take a brisk walk to meet a very old friend.
Old is Gold
Asst. Mess Manager in RBM mess during our days in the early eighties, an army man for many years and then in various capacities in Pilani schools run by Birla Education Trust (BET). He is our very old friend Rajendra Kumar Yadav and we always meet if he is around and then have some healthy discussions. So was it today as well. And he was the one who gave me all contact details to connect to this very special man and dynamic leader Maj. Gen. S. S. Nair, AVSM (Retd.), Director, Birla Education Trust.
We had interacted couple of times before but he was always traveling when I was in campus. The opportunity came this time as he invited me to a very special BET event in Birla School the next day where he would be present to meet me. And for me to also experience the unseen and unfelt.
The Premier English Pentangular Meet
This whole day English Carnival is a fun day where six schools under BET participate and compete with each other in various categories. The events consist of Extempore, Poem Recitation, Role Pay, Story Telling, Essay Writing, Dictation & Group Discussion. And the winners are given certificates and cash prizes.
I walked in at around 1 PM when the event was midway and was invited by the Principal of Birla School, Mr. Dhirendra Singh to start off with my favorite Puri lunch. And while having lunch also enjoyed chatting with the two Principals, Mr. Pavan Vashistha of Birla Shishu Vihar and Ms. Kajal Marwah of Birla Public School who invited me to visit her school as well next time which I promised I would. Ms. Achala Verma, Principal Birla Balika Vidyapeeth also joined in soon with whom I had just met in the morning.
Birla School, Pilani
A Magical Musical Journey
Birla Balika Vidyapeeth
From the time I started watching television a bit, chanced upon this Republic Day parade as a girls band was marching past. Did I hear it right? Birla Balika Vidyapeeth, Pilani band. They were our own little girls, our very own for a BITSian.
That feeling of pride that I felt that moment just can’t be described. It can only be felt by someone who has lived in Pilani or has studied here and the parents living all around the globe whose daughters have studied in this elite institution. And then on when at home I have diligently waited to watch them during Republic Day on Kartavya Path in New Delhi always wanting to see them perform. The Birla Balika Vidyapeeth band, our pride.
Birla Balika Vidyapeeth – My Journey
That interest in the school grew over the years and therefore this time I was determined to be there to experience more. Hence well in advance I fixed up my appointment with Principal Ms. Achala Verma and was there today finally.
As I walked towards the Principal’s room I wondered why it took me almost fifty years to be in this wonderland. Our next door neighbor spread over 100 acres within Vidya Vihar campus was so near yet so far as I started feeling the music through my eyes.
Birla Balika Vidyapeeth – The Legacy
Birla Balika Vidyapeeth, Pilani was founded in 1941 with the humble but visionary mission of educating the children of freedom fighters by Dr. G. D. Birla an eminent educationist, philanthropist and business leader. He firmly believed that a nation only progresses when its girls are educated, thereby focusing on making it a pioneer in women’s education. Patriotism and national pride are deeply ingrained in the DNA of every Vidyapeethian. And the school is a warm, nurturing world where every girl discovers her courage, her dreams and her true potential.
Ms. Achala Verma, Principal
Little did I know even a day before my visit to meet her that she was the same mother who had brought up Lucy along with my friend Dr. Bhavesh Verma, Physical Education & Sports Officer, BITS Pilani. But now I knew that she would certainly be someone full of compassion as I settled down in front of her for a chat.
And then when she spoke I was mesmerized by the passion with which she talked about her school, the history, the heritage, the alumni, their achievements and the facilities that the institution offers. The alumnae of Birla Balika Vidyapeeth shine across the world as doctors, officers, entrepreneurs, educators and leaders. And each a champion. Their journeys show the strength of values they received here — resilience, grace, empathy and confidence. She was so proud and it made me feel proud as well.
The school provides modern learning spaces: advanced science and computer labs, smart classrooms, a rich library, art studios and excellent sports facilities including swimming, basketball and athletics.
The energy with which she took me around the vast campus including this demonstration in a class shows why Birla Balika Vidyapeeth is today the No.1 Girls’ Boarding School in India in 2025 as per Education India survey announced recently. I have met many a Principals before as well from other schools but none like her who eats, sleeps and breathes her school – Birla Balika Vidyapeeth. And the teachers and staff I met are equally dedicated and passionate.
Before we move on let me introduce you to some of them. Along with Ms. Achala Verma, the two senior ladies you see above and who were present to make me feel at home are Dean Academics, Ms. Anju Dogra and Bursar Ms. Upasna Sharma. And how can I forget Stuti, PA to the Principal who was so bubbly, efficient and one who even organized a car drop for me to Vfast on her own initiative after my visit. Thank you all so much and I truly felt honored. Time to move on as it was snacks time.
With Anju Dogra, Upasna Sharma & Achala Verma to give me company, I just couldn’t resist the temptation of these lovely indulgences in front of us although I had just had a sumptuous breakfast in Vfast just an hour back.
Going around the beautiful campus
Art & the little Artists
Hostel Rooms
The Sports Facilities
NCC Firing Range with Art by students and a thought
All-Weather Swimming Pool
The Mess
The previous afternoon when I was chatting with Bhavesh I had enquired about the timings the girls of Vidyapeeth Band practice so that I could try and visit then. He mentioned it was around six in the morning and once in the evening. He would have mentioned that to Achala Mam sometime during the day. Can you imagine the surprise for me when I was there. A special band performance had been arranged at noon just because I wished to see the girls perform. With Sergeant Saloni Yadav the bright eyed sweet smiling girl leading the band and Sub. Maj. Rajkumar, the Band Master tough as expected.
Thank you Achala Mam so much for this gesture. I have probably never felt so honored and wanted and your visit to Birla School for the Pentangular Event in the morning and coming back all the way to Vidyapeeth just to meet me will stay in my heart for ever. Where will you find such wonderful people? Only in Pilani.
The Girls get ready
Now Enjoy this Awesome Performance
Moments of happiness with the Girls
And then this lovely painting by a student Akshita Chejara as a memento to take back
Birla Balika Vidyapeeth. The legacy continues..
As I was packing for my journey back to Delhi the next day, felt a tad sad as always. But immediately the next thought brought back a smile on my lips as I visualized the happiness on my Mom’s face after her first bite of her favorite Pilani Pedas.
BITS Pilani. A land of great people, love, happiness and everlasting nostalgia. It’s truly magic.
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