I’ve been thinking back to our college days, and a couple of memories keep popping up.
One among them, was the Extensive Survey Project during our
second year. A nearby village by name ‘Malpe’ was chosen. The
project duration was for about a week, and Professor Venkittaramiah was in charge. We used all the classic tools—plain table, drawing board, chain, and cross bar etc. The theodolite was only available for demonstration purposes.
I remember we all headed out early one morning from the college in the college bus.
Everything went smoothly.
Fresh ‘toddy’ which was procured in the early afternoon was a
speciality around there.
On the last day, a couple of my classmates had the ‘brew’ sneakily; but the bus driver had a real good go at it and got properly drunk.
On the way back, the mood on the bus was celebratory as the project was ending and we had holidays coming up. The driver, also in good spirits, started speeding. Students were enjoying the reckless ride, encouraging him with hooting and clapping.
Suddenly, things turned ugly and tragic.
There was a narrow ‘Culvert’ enroute. A boy was crossing this culvert when our bus reached that point. The driver drove the bus too close to the culvert wall and the boy got crushed between the culvert wall and the bus. Everyone was stunned, witnessing this horrific accident.
The driver immediately stopped the bus, jumped out, and fled the
scene. Even the students were frozen, unsure of what to do.
Villagers were slowly gathering, and the situation threatened to
become uncontrollable. Professor Venkitaramiah quickly took charge. He announced, “Gentlemen, as you know, this situation developed unexpectedly, and under the circumstances, we’re unable to provide you with alternate transportation. I request that you all find your own means to reach back the College.”
I had a brief but unforgettable glimpse of the injured boy. His face
was terribly disfigured.
That sight will never leave me.
GC Moolepat 
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