Books

MOMENTS FROZEN IN TIME

Internet has closed the chapter of nostalgia filled slam books,
but does Gen Y miss the smell of old paper?
Years of boring lectures and surprise tests, assignments and
seminarsAnd then comes the day when it is time to bid adieu to all
that. However, the feeling that takes over is seldom of joy. Classrooms
you hated for so many years are now places that are drenched in
nostalgia. You long to have just a little more time to hang out with your
buddies, play pranks as you laugh with your classmates. As you go
down memory lane, some of you might even miss exam time tension
and those last-minute combined study sessions.

There are some who would like to freeze beautiful moments in time
via autograph books that are fast disappearing. Then there are those
final days in college that are too precious to be lost, but Gen Y has
found innovative waves to keep in touch. With emails and SMSes, it
has become easier to connect with friends, says Meera Manu, a final
year MCJ student, Kerala University.

In school it was still popular. In my final year, we used slam books.

But now, as I have reached my final days of post graduation, even slam
books have gone missing me miss autograph books have gone missing. I
miss autographs, a handwritten message; they havent given expression
to in all these years.

Anisha Netto, a second year literature student realizes that

autographs are in the fading out phase. Today, we write email
testimonials and exchange photographs on the mail, she says.
However, she misses the smell of old paper along with the precious
memories that mature like old wine.

Ashik Kalam, a final year engineering student from

Thiruvanthapuram, says that autographs used to be a rage, while they
were about to bid farewell to their school days. However, today, with
Face book and instant messaging, people no longer feel the need for
autograph books. But unlike IM or FB, autographs capture moments
and thoughts and freeze them in time for you to savour later, he adds.
An autograph book back and smile at your thoughts, feelings and the
incidents that happened many years ago, he confesses.

Less than 10 years ago autographs were still very much the norm
amongst final year students. Praveen Rajan, who finished his
engineering from Kollam in 2003, remembers a souvenir made by his
class. We all took back a print out of this autograph. Those days,
social networking and even mobile phones were not so popular.

He fondly remembers one autograph, Dont get married to someone

you can live with, get married to someone you cannot live without.
And yes, he did follow this advice.

Go back 10 years and youll find an even more emotional value

attached to these little books. Reji Koshy from Thiruvanthapuram, who
finished a bachelors degree course in 1993, recalls, Years later when
you look at these autographs, you get a picture of how deep and
meaningful your relationships were.

Deepa S. from Kochi, remembers the words used in autograph books

during her high school days in the late 80s. We used to start buying
autograph books from January onwards. At that time there was a trend
to use the latest pictures of actors. There would be colored or printed
papers used and it was a great feeling, she adds.

Flashback a decade and-a-half more. No Face book, orkut, mobile

phones or the internet. Malini Rajkumar, from Palakkad, still carries her
autograph book from the class of 1972. When I think of autograph
books, I can still remember running behind everyone to get their
autographs, she says. She reads from her old autograph book, words
written by a friend who is no more, Choose not beauty, more than
goodness, when you choose your bosom friend. Goodness lasteth till
the end, beauty often fadeth away.

Social networking may be the in thing. Instant messages may reach

faster than a hand written word. But for the lady from palakkad very
few things feel the same way as opening a book 40 years later. Thats
love etched on paper, and it doesnt fade so easily from the mind that
reads it.

We used to party till 6 am

I did my graduation in designing from the Fashion Institute of
Technology. New York and that was the best time of my life. We had a
crazy time as we used to party till 6 am, at least five to six days in a
week.

Interestingly, we also used to explore new clubs every day. Despite

partying till late, we never used to bunk college and would show up on
time at sharp 8 am. My friends and I would regularly go to flea markets
to shop, attend rock and jazz concerts and also the fabulous New York
Fashion Weeks. Mondays were special for us as we would get free early
and would then party at a friends place.

We used to watch at least 10 movies back to back. I was a sports-lover

in college and despite a tight schedule; I would regularly go for
basketball practice and swimming.

Although I had many crushes and also received many proposals, I

never got into a serious affair. I would like to advise all bunding fashion
designers to pay attention to lectures, but at the same time enjoy life
without taking it seriously. This time will never come back, so make the
most of it.