My Speech @ GPREC Alumni Meet

Apologies for not blogging for a quite some time. I decided to make this blog as informal as possible.2 weeks back I had attended the college reunion function organized by my college -G Pulla Reddy Engineering college,Kurnoll, in Bangalore. I came out of that meeting with mixed baggage of feelings. Normally this kind of meeting are of really great help for self assessing how far we travelled as individuals and also for the colleges to see and seek unbiased views from alumni. It indeed helped me to asses myself better. I do not know how it helped the college

Sooner I got email from the college I thought of delivering a speech on that day. I started off my preparation from that day on . I googled for greatest alumni speeches on the net, I found very few to my surprise. Once I happened to listen Mr Shashi Taroor speech at his alma matter- St Stephens(Delhi) on My favorite TV(NDTV). I was really very much inspired by that speech. I made mental not of that speech- whenever I get chance to speak I should exactly deliver mine in the same lines.It was really so emotional time for everybody to meet their friends and teachers. probably these are few occasions only when student(former) can be so informal with their teachers. You can speak your heart out with them. You can express all your love/hate to them.

The meeting was started almost on time after a customary group photo. It was a roller-coaster ride for some time with all the speeches from the guys who occupied the stage. One thing which is worth mentioning over here is that there was nice video they played for more than half an hour with all the college amenities . I was envious with amenities current students are enjoying. There was guy-chief guest- from IISc he delivered nice speech . Other than that everybody delivered the boring stuff. I was sitting at the front looking for a rare chance to speak- cursing these guests to complete their stuff. Some guy on that stage has hinted that lunch is ready ,soon after we can have lunch. I resigned to my fate and thought that only occasion to speak about my feelings for this college was sealed. Suddenly miracle happened Director picked up the microphone asked interested students to come up and speak. Poor guy was not aware that there was a guy whose words may trigger debate after a while .

I climbed on to the stage without hesitating for a minute - by showing my fat bum to the audience for a minute. it started off like this.

My Speech :

I am waiting for this moment for sometime (I said sarcastically ) (laughter allover). I am Mahesh , completed my engininerering from this college 1998-2002.I am an engineer not out of choice but compulsion as I am sick of this “circuit theory and blah blah”(laugheter all over). So I want to say few things not an engineer but as a person views things through social prism. At the outset I want to thank the management for coming all the way from Kurnool to Bengaluru. - guys I am using Bengaluru becaz I happened to see few Kannada Rakshane Vedike guys outside.(laughter all over).As you know we hear “recession” all the time. I want to take recession as backdrop for my speech. First part of discussion I’ call it as Inflation and second one as Deflation. Before I continue let me make it clear that “it is not so prudent to speak in English when two fine gentlemen Mr Prasad Rao and Rama rao ( English guys) in the audience. So I thought it is better if I give a disclaimer – bear with my poor English and very poor pronunciation (laughter allover)

Inflation : This pullareddy college it is not an institution like anything else. It is an institution that played a great role in changing the world around it. To understand the importance of this change, look where it is located – feudal land and see what impact it had on the area. Greta people like Mr Nilam sanjeeva reddy and all thought only way this feudalism can be ended is by promoting the education in a big way in this region.You know this college really changed the psyche of the people by creating envious environment in its surroundings. Small children really made to dream that “I should one day travel by this blue buses(college buses)” on the wide Kurnool roads(not so wide – there was laughter)-till that point of time only luxury Kurnool ppl had was autos. Knowingly or unknowingly this college had brought in lot of change among the people. This I think our founders have picked up few points from Mr reddy before establishing this college. It really change the world around it . At the same time was it oblivious to need for change within ?
Those who know me say that I am not known for mincing words-who calls spade a spade. why such a person is so praisy of the college?.you may be thinking. Given the recession I have stoke a deal with management to get a job out there if I am kind with management(laughter all over).

( Now I am in full control of the audience – I cracked few jokes, I brought them in my line- now its time for me to take them to different level)

And let me tell you few hard facts now as part of deflation.

Deflation :
After competing my PG I had to go to this college to pick up few certificates. I went to one clerk. I was made to wait. After awhile I pulled the chair and sat on that. That guy asked me to get off the chair as I sat on the same without his permission. This is how a student is treated. I came out of college saying it to myself that what this college needs it not the physical infrastructure but mental infrastructure that it gained over period of time that needs to be dismantled ( I was bit emotional –guys including the audience).Don’t read much into this incident. I do not have any hard feeling for that guys. My point is that this college is lacking “student is king” policy. When this college change it own philosophy to “Student is God” then only actual change happens.
There are enough avenues are there in the college.( I was very praisy of some teachers….) This college needs to actively promote those avenues and give holistic education to the students.
In the video that you have shown one thing was missing-that is canteen (laughter all over). I think still it is same shape. One of my senior –KuriaKose-a beautiful women-once questioned the college in one of her article “ can’t I have cup of coffee with my boy friend” in the college canteen(our college do not allow this). Let me rephrase this” can’t I have cup of coffee with my GF in college”. This should change. You are training the students for 21st century. You still can’t afford to have this kind of things.
In AP, political establishments have increased the college fees unmindful of the people economic status. So many students are in need of aid. Poor students can’t afford to have decent education. I am really feeling lucky that I was born in my time not now. If I have to educate myself now I should have never become an engineer given the exorbitant fees. And also we should help poor students in our college with some student welfare fund. You create an account and pass on the details to all the alumni.

Note : I could not textify my speech as is. It is very much closer to that

After this speech we had our lunch. Some teachers said I have spoken well. Some said it was the well worded speech they have ever heard. some were very apologetic about canteen issue. some enquired amount my village/town. some people gave weird look to me. That is the reason I said it was mixed feeling

After thought :   I said at the starting of the speech that my English knowledge and pronunciation of the same  is really poor. My Intention was to acknowledge the presence of them-English guys and tell world that I am so humble and also not invite the critism for my language. One beautiful Girl/woman who spoke after mine took the meaning of my words quite literally, instead of underlying intention, started speaking in borrowed American accent. Unfortunately she could not continue for long. It is good to see competition after a really long gap on the stage.