"Provocans Ad Volandvm"

"Provoke to Fly": The logo of my alma-mater - St. Xavier's College, Mumbai - the place that encouraged me "to fly" and the place which I refer to as my second home and my second parent but my very first runway. This post is dedicated to my beautiful college and everything that I learnt from my five years there!

The five years I spent at Xavier's were the best five years of my life! It gave me so much exposure and the necessary life skills to survive in the world, yet it sheltered me like a parent under its generous wing. It gave me the best friends of my life and taught me how to recognize good and true friends from others. It gave me friends in teachers and teachers in friends. It made me the person I am today.

Xavier's gives everyone everything that it promises in its anthem, the Xavier's anthem (and one of my favourite songs in the world!):

Xavier's, you gave me roots and wings,
Xavier's, opened my eyes to things,
Xavier's, somewhere along the way,
you taught me how to fly and how to stay!!
In a world outside so differently,
Xaviers, you helped me become more me!
To fly like an eagle, discover new skies,
With wings we've been give to soar ever high!
Over mountains and ocean, beach,
Learning from what they teach,
Believing that we can reach
Waaaaay beyond!

Yesterday, when Xavier's finally got autonomy from Mumbai University, something that it has been trying since more than 2 years, it was one of the proudest moments in the history of St. Xavier's College. I am sure all the Xavierites across the world would have felt a touch of that pride, no matter how long ago they graduated. The news made me so nostalgic about my time at Xavier's (hence, the blog!)

I used to call Xavier's my second home (like almost ANY other Xavierite I know!) In fact, there were times when Xavier's WAS my home and I used to go to my "parent's home" only for sleeping! If you have ever been a Xavierite, you'd know what I'm talking about. We all have had those times, haven't we? There were times that Terry's office (the wonderful Cafe Terance! :D) and his comfortable chairs would provide more solace than mum's food. There were times even after 3 and 4 years of studying in this college when I walked into the first quad and felt an awe about the impressive building. And I don't even want to begin counting how many times I've passed the new Mofis (Malhar Office, for those of you who don't know, Malhar is the annual Xavier's festival and the biggest event in Xavier's every year) and reminisced about the old XRCVC (Xavier's Resource Centre for the Visually Challenged.) The window sill opposite the old XRCVC, overlooking the beautiful first quad, has been witness to so many silly 18-year old traumatic dramas (and some, 21 year old silly and traumatic dramas as well! :P) What I wouldn't do to go back to that world, where the Xeroxwala, the juicewala and Muchhad sandwichwala are bigger celebrities than even Amitabh Bachhan and Chrisy and Leoni bigger villains than Mogambo! I feel a belonging there that I've not felt anywhere else in the world except for my family!

I wish Xavier's all the very best in this new phase that it has embarked upon since yesterday. Here's to the best college in the world: Xavier's, it's not just a college, it's a way of life!