The Literary and Debating Club

For all who would care to shed prejudices and to read this blog from a neutral point of view.

Throughout this post, I am going to ignore the fact that I am from L&D and analyse the surge of criticisms from a neutral point of view.

The first one is a facebook page dedicated to memes regarding NIT-C, which poked fun at L&D twice. I do not remember the former meme. The latter basically said something to the effect of L&D holding proper meetings but ending up conducting events that made half the people in college sleep off in comparison to other clubs which held fun events.( I hope I got the gist of it).

The second one was from a particular individual who got a bit worked up regarding the vague posters that the club put up recently and who was genuinely concerned that the club was deviating from its main aim. Literary events having proper standards.

Now, here's something interesting. It's for a fact that a majority of the student population(say 75%) would prefer having fun, doing wacky dance steps and enjoying their hearts out with a group of friends than having intellectual debates which sometimes go on a higher plane or taking part in full fledged literary activities. My point is that the two criticisms are mutually exclusive. It would require an inhuman effort to pull both of them simultaneously. So, let's give the current members of L&D a bit of leeway. They are trying to achieve that balance.

Now, I don't believe that any club is NIT-C is perfect or have pulled off anything without faults. And, they needn't have to do that. They aren't meant to be professional. If you are selected into one of them, it's not because you have its domain qualities oozing out of your blood. You have been selected because of one of the three below.

1) You have the potential that can be developed  and you showcased it in an intra-college event.
2) You are a team player.
3) You have a bit of everything in you. A leader. A workaholic. And perhaps lots more.

So, you may have one of the qualities and still not get selected. Bad luck.
And, in certain exceptional cases, you may not be selected due to oversight. Bad luck again.

Bottomline. A club or a club member needn't be perfect. A club in NIT-C lingo is where similar-minded people get selected into, gel with each other, conduct a bunch of events as professionally as they can, develop their skill set and eventually leave with a bundle of good memories.

Now, back to the criticisms. I will accept the ones by the meme page because honestly I believe it was in good spirit. No swearing or dramatising. Just pointing out something that occurred to them. I will again accept the gist of the criticism that the individual I mentioned above spoke about. L&D needs to improve and that it will.

But, here's my point to the same person and the people who commented on the status.

1) Swear words and getting personal will not help you. It just emphasises your class.  Put your criticism neatly and plainly. Create a discussion instead of ranting out or shut the fuck up.

2) Excepting one or two, I haven't seen any of the individuals commenting on the status participating in other competitions of the same stature including the ones at Ragam. Participate. Talk to people who organise such events and understand the umpteen difficulties involved. Don't cross-examine people without understanding what it is to be like at the other end.

3) What's the poster about?  Have some patience. It's a pre-poster to an interesting event(which according to my opinion falls under a classic literary event)and I expect all of you who criticised the club to be there. Man up. I will definitely be watching and I am definitely going to call your bluff if you don't turn up after having lamented about the club's plight.

Cheers.


PS: lund ninte thantha.

The Cape.

"Grandma, was he a hero, like Spiderman and Batman?"asked Rihan.
"Haha. Now, how in the world did you find that out?"
"I knew it. I knew it. I knew it". Rihan started running around excitedly.
"So, did Grandpa have a cape?"
Roshni smiled."Yes, he did."

"I don't know, Rosh. He's got to make you swoon, you know. Butterflies-in-the-stomach." Lola remarked.  Roshni sniggered. " And that's how you decide who's perfect for you?" 
"Yeah Yeah. Laugh Laugh. But, I do not want him or whatever it is between us to be ordinary. Out-of-the-world, it should be. Oh! And we should have all these cute things, you know, between us that others wouldn't understand. And, I don't know. It must be heavenly every second of every hour of every day.."
" I get it. I get it. You will settle for nothing less than a Greek God with a cranky brain"
" Who said anything about Greek Gods? Of course, not that I don't prefer the toned bulges.."
"Oye, Lola. There are roughly a billion people on Earth, right?"
"Yeah. So?"
"And supposedly, there's only one perfect guy. What if you don't get him?"
"It might take some time. But, he'll come to me." her friend winked.

All that jumping around must have made him tired, Rihan was sleeping in his bed. Roshni got up and walked towards the dining hall. The framed family photo, hung on one of the walls, caught her attention. She moved closer to the photo. It was looking a bit lopsided. Probably Rihan's handiwork, she thought and yet she couldn't help ponder over how he had reached the frame. It was kept at a height where it would be difficult for him to reach even if he used chairs. She adjusted the frame. The photo was taken  two years ago at her younger daughter's wedding. He wasn't there in the photo. He never did like his photo being taken and always found some excuse to slip away at the last moment.

"Rosssshhhh."
"Lolllaaa."
"I am getting marriedddd today. Damn. It's such a jittery feeling."
"Well, it's to your Prince Charming, the one you have always dreamt about. So, no need for the jitters."
"That's a stupid term. But, this definitely is the dream. A long, blissful relationship ending up in a whirlwind marriage. Hey! You fared okay too. You are going to get engaged."
"Yeah, well. Nothing whirlwind about it. An ordinary arranged marriage with a quiet nerd that my parents got for me."
"I can't imagine you signing off in an arranged marriage with a quiet, nerdish guy. You always do surprise me. What's the twist in this tale and when do I get to meet him? "
" Hehe. No twists there. I am content. I never was up for the butterflies-in-the-stomach thing. And, yeah why not next week?"

Roshni seated herself in the reclining chair in the dining hall. Her thoughts strayed off to her husband, who had passed away an year ago. Pneumonia. She remembered the final stages. He had taken it very calmly and silently like he always did. He did not betray it much but he liked having Roshni around during that time. And she found it comforting to be near him. It was weird not to have him around these days.

" I hate you" She threw the plate at him. He ducked right in time. "And, I don't want to go through this pregnancy." She burst into tears.Seven months into her pregnancy, she had caught a fever. And to add to it, even though she was allowed a maternity leave, she was entrusted with some important work to be done from home for which the deadline was today. He came near and squeezed her hand. "Rest for sometime now. I'll prepare a bowl of soup."  She went and lay down on her bed. As she slowly drifted off into sleep, she could hear him talking on the phone. She could only catch the words 'extend deadline' and 'not well'. 

Her two granddaughters burst into the room and broke her reverie.
"Gayu, I do not understand why you go gung ho about Valentine's day. All those frilly hearts make me puke.
It's just another day for people to make money. "
" But, that's not the point. I mean the money-making and frilly hearts. It's just a day to celebrate relationships. You celebrate womanhood on International Women's Day. Why not celebrate 'love'?"
"Ugh. You are so mushy."
"I am not. C'mon, let's ask grandma."
"Ha. She will support my arguments. I know her well enough."
They turned towards her.
"Hey, Gran.."
She interjected before Gayu could complete the sentence.
"You know, dear. Your grandpa did actually have a cape."
" Kids, let her get some rest. Help me with the chores." Gayu's mom yelled from the next room.
And, so they shuffled past their grandma, resolving to settle their dispute later.