Disclaimer: This is a true story of a team who after a strong hard work, will power and dedication founded two most important things in Lukhdhirji Engineering College. We have tried to mention each and every conversation taken place between all of us very accurately.
Dedicated to: We dedicate this story to one and all directly or indirectly connected with all these incidents. We would like to thank all the faculties of Degree and Diploma section for there continuous help and support. These achievement is the result of all faculties blessings, motivation and support. Hope you will like the scenes.
“Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.”
-Winston Churchill
Majority of us were unaware of the meaning of this above line practically unless we ourselves fell in such situation when Victory in life became more important than oxygen to breathe. This sentence came true in our life in the early summer of 2012. I am an alumni of Lukhdhirji Engineering College (LEC). LEC is the second oldest engineering college which was constructed and donated by the Maharaja Lukhdhirsinhji located in Morbi, Gujarat, India.
I know you must be eager to read further about our success story and yes it is indeed a success story but, as it is, it always starts with few failures and the same thing happened in our life too.
TATHASTU-2010
I have a very good memory of 2010 when LEC organized its first state level event! And guess what the title name of that Tech-Fest was! As it was first state level Tech-Fest it was titled TATHASTU! And from that day we always wandered to organize such event in our graduation if we get a chance to do it.
FIRST FAILURE
In 2011, We planned to organize a tech- fest in our college but because of scheduling issues we failed to organize it and our dream got postponed by 6 months. And unfortunately that was the year for LEC without any Tech-Fest!
SUPER SIX
One fine sunny day, we were ten minutes late for the lecture after our lunch break, and were not allowed to attend the lecture. It is always an embracing situation for any student and we returned back from the class and sat outside our engineering workshop. Suddenly, I recalled about one NGO who helped making innovative projects for engineering students and through our senior Jaydeep Pujara (2007-2011) we got its visiting card.
Before starting the scenes, let me introduce our team. We were team of 6 members known as SUPER SIX. Dip Jogidas (Chemical), Pratipalsinh Jadeja (Electrical) and remaining four Me (Yash Majmudar), Deepak Agrawal, Jagdish Ghinaiya and Vishal Chauhan from Mechanical Engineering Department. Out of we six Me, Deepak and Jagdish were in same division so we three were free at that time (Jagdish didn’t come to college). We called him and went to meet Principal P. C. Vasani sir at 2 pm.
We didn’t know that this day and this first meeting with principal sir is going to become historical day for all of us. We entered principal sir’s cabin and as always charming and pleasant smile came from sir and this is how our discussion went ahead.
'Welcome children, got some work?'
'Yes Sir, actually we wanted you to see this card which we’ve got from our senior Jaydeep Pujara. It's a visiting card of one NGO who helps registering patents of new innovations in the field of engineering and we want you to organize one seminar of that NGO so that our college students can get projects from them for IDP and UDP in their final year', I said.
'I see…Okay let’s call them.'
Sir dialed the mobile number of concerned person from that visiting card which was highlighted in bold letters but, no reply from the next side. Soon sir kept that card with him and told us to take the seats. Now the moment arrived for what I’m writing this story.
'Yash, it’s been long since any creative activity done in LEC!'
We replied nodding our head in agreement with slight guilt as it was our duty and dream both to organize such event and we recalled our previous failed attempt.
'You and your team are doing well in NCC and also active in other activities that’s why I’m telling you all this. We want to organize tech-fest again like we did it in 2010 with full dedication and energy. Can you and your team do it?'
'Yes! Yes Sir.' All three of us replied in unison with energetic voice as it was our ultimate goal till that day.
'So we have one expert faculty with us in Civil Engineering Department who has vast experience of such event management. Let me call him here.'
Introduction with a Personality: Dr. P. J. Gundaliya
Sir immediately dialed and called a totally unknown personality for us. We have never seen that sir in our 2 years of graduation career at LEC. He was Dr. P. J. Gundaliya from civil engineering department. While sir came there we were offered tea with principal sir. I cannot describe how happy we were having a cup of tea with principal sir. If I was supposed to write my resume at that moment I would have written it in my achievement section. Who knew that it’ll become usual in near future! Gundaliya sir arrived and principal sir told him everything about our discussion. Sir too got happy saying definitely I’ll guide these children for it and we will organize the event soon. Then we came out of the cabin and sat outside principal sir’s cabin. Gundaliya sir was talking with us like he is our old friend and in every sentence he used the word ‘BETA’ (SON) which touched our hearts. Sir told us to write every small detail regarding event and how we will do it including a budget and a team and invited us in his cabin next week with planning from our side.
TRANSFORMATION OF SUPER-SIX IN A TEAM
By the time we finished the meeting it was 5 pm and all three of us got lots of calls from other 3 members as they didn’t know where we were (In those days there was no WhatsApp ;) ). We called them back and informed to meet in room no. 126 of New Hill Hostel. Our steps were faster, our breathing was fast and our blood was suddenly flowing super-fast after all we were given the task to organize an event. The same night we gathered around 20 students including 6 of us from all the 8 Degree branches of LEC and told them about our meeting with principal sir as well as Gundaliya sir. All agreed to organize the tech-fest and finally we had a strong team of following 22 organizers:
1) Yash Majmudar
2) Deepak Agrawal
3) Jagdish Ghinaiya
4) Pratipalsinh Jadeja
5) Dip Jogidas
6) Vishal Chauhan
7) Aniket Devare
8) Amit Sharma
9) Chandresh Surani
10) Darshan Vasoya
11) Divyesh Parvadiya
12) Kalpesh Amipara
13) Kartik Patel
14) Kroonal Manavadariya
15) Narendra Viradiya
16) Pratik Sanghani
17) Ramswaroop Bhaskar
18) Rohit Vaghasiya
19) Sunil Vaghasiya
20) Vikas Jogani
21) Yaxesh Rana
22) Dipen Pokiya
ROOM NO. 126 (NEW HILL HOSTEL)
In that particular first meeting in 126, We asked them to brainstorm a name for the tech-fest which should remain the same forever as a trade mark of LEC. All of them contributed and suggested various names. It was almost 11 pm when they left and we were still thinking about event names and kept asking other friends and family members too. And suddenly this happened...
‘VIJAYANT', shouted Pratipal with zenith excitement as if he has discovered aliens on the planet earth.
It is said that a man is alive till his heart is beating as per medical terms but actually a man is alive till his thoughts and his deeds keep us affecting in life. May be that’s why once Yudhisthir said in Mahabharat that “The repute of a good deed touches heaven and earth; one is called a man as long as his repute lasts.”
Same thing is applicable to the brave son of motherland India who gave away his everything to protect our motherland. Captain Vijayant Thapar gave away his life in Kargil War (1999) serving in 2 RAJPUTANA RIFLES to capture the top of TOLOLING. Government of India awarded him VIR CHAKRA for his courageous act.
Being NCC cadets we all remained in touch with literature related to armed forces and always used to read various stories of brave sons of mother land India and thus the name attracted us the most. But what about others? What about Gundaliya sir? Will he like it? What about other friends? Will they support it? These questions haunted us a lot till late night. After few hours of discussion we had finalized the list with all the suggested names and we kept it in sequence in which, VIJAYANT was on 15th spot and further 3 more were added and the next morning page was set with 18 names.
FIRST MISSION : 'VIJAYANT'
Next day, We dialed Gundaliya sir and he invited us at 2:30 pm in his cabin. We were afraid that what if sir will choose name from first few only? But we all have decided that if it’ll happen we all will move ahead with the same name. And then, that unforgettable moment arrived. It was around 2:30 pm when we reached sir’s cabin. By the time we also had discussed about the name of the event with other committee members and all gave the same reply that WE WANT EVENT TO BE ORGANIZED NO MATTER UNDER WHAT NAME IT WILL BE! So from their side there was no issues regarding the name of the event.
'Welcome ‘BETA’, Please take your seats. Ready with the planning?'
'YES SIR', all replied in unison with strong and firm voice (We all were NCC cadets, so it was our regular habit to say YES SIR in army manner which shows the level of confidence).
'Sir, before that we would like to show you this list of 18 names which we have gathered to give the title to our Tech-Fest.'
'Okay. Let me see.' (Sir took the paper in his hand and guess what, surprisingly sir started reading the names from bottom!) “Hmmmmm VIJAYANT...” and sir gone through all names up to the top.'
'I think we should go with VIJAYANT…!!!'
What? What did sir say? Am I hearing correct? The room was filled with cheers…YEAHHHHHHHH and we all laughed and did hand shakes with each other. Sir was surprised with our action and also delighted that our psychology matched in very first selection process of the event! Sir too smiled and signed under the paper saying,
“As a faculty coordinator I’m voting for VIJAYANT but we need to get it approved by Principal Sir and other HODs.”
Again all felt nervous a bit thinking what if they will give their own name? Gundaliya sir and we six went to principal sir’s cabin to meet him. It was around 3:00 pm and at the same time principal sir was scheduled with the meeting of all the HODs. I and Deepak went inside the cabin following Gundaliya sir. Gundaliya sir gave the paper to principal sir. Sir started reading names when Gundaliya sir told him,
'Sir we think VIJAYANT will be the most suitable title for our Tech-Fest.'
Principal Sir gave smile and looked towards us and asked all HODs that whether the name sounds good or not and surprisingly all the HODs agreed with pleasant smiles on their faces congratulating us for finding the name VIJAYANT! Finally principal sir signed it in event's MOM book.
In Government Institution, if you do not have anything written on a piece of paper with the signatures of concerned officials either the work is considered incomplete or you were not doing anything. So we were ordered to make a book called MOM (Minutes of Meetings) in which our task was to mention each and every point discussed in the meetings with the signatures of all the present faculty members at the bottom of the page. To get the trade mark of VIJAYANT it was this written on one of the page of MOM -
'From this year (2012) onwards whenever LEC will organize a tech-fest whether it’s a college level, state level or national level; will always be conducted under the title: "VIJAYANT - 'BORN TO WIN'." (Tag line ‘Born to Win’ was added later in MOM)
Finally, we have achieved our first mission successfully and with sir’s signature it was finalized that LEC’s upcoming event as well as future events too will carry the title VIJAYANT as a tech-fest trade mark name of LEC. And this was the same day when one more important part of LEC took birth. It was CENTER OF CREATIVITY! And we were told to conduct whole event under COC.
Center of Creativity is a independent department in LEC which aims to carry out all such extra activities and innovative projects with the help of COC department head named Prof. K. F. Bhetariya.
'Congratulations beta... So, From now onwards I will call you guys my battalion! Said Gundaliya sir inside his cabin in civil engineering department.
'Yeah! Sure sir!' I said with a smile on my face.
'You are our Brigadier sir. '
'Thank you beta'.
'We will always be waiting for your orders to 'fire' sir!' I said with an officers attitude.
'Yaa sure beta', said Gundaliya sir with Brigadier's smile.
SECOND MISSION : 'BORN TO WIN'
Now our next mission was a suitable tag line for these title. We all thought a lot but nothing came in mind and all started preparing for the event by keeping the idea of tag line aside as we had very less time to manage everything. In between We four were called by our Head of Mechanical Engineering Department Prof. B. B. Agola for not attending lectures consistently. But, when he came to know that we are organizing the Tech-Fest which we failed to organize six months back he not only permitted to free us from the lectures but also gave us the blessings to achieve great success regarding Tech-Fest and assured us to help us out in all possible manner.
After meeting Agola sir, we all met at our regular meeting and discussion spot, a canteen which was on the street of LEC nearby college gate owned by Karimbhai. Ordering some snacks and tea, We were busy discussing on various topics and on that day one more common friend of ours Rakshit Kataria of team VIJAYANT was with us. He was very close friend of us and we used to do discussions on various topics together.
'YAAR…I’m born to win in few cases till now!' I said taking a sip of tea.
“What did you say?” asked Deepak.
“Yaa...Born to win.” I replied.
'Hey, wait wait. Don't you think BORN TO WIN is a suitable tag line for VIJAYANT?
'Yaa...It can be.'
And this is when all said it’s the best tag line for VIJAYANT! We should go ahead with it. (finally, this is how we got the suitable tag line for Vijayant while taking sips of worst tea prepared by Karimbhai. Frankly speaking, we used to think that Karimbhai was making a tea flavoured hot water instead of real tea! But we never minded as the name 'Tea' itself was enough to freshen our mood in those particular days.)
As always Vishal took out file page and wrote an application to get the permission to accept ‘BORN TO WIN’ as the tag line of the event VIJAYANT and we straightway gave it to Gundaliya sir and within few minutes we even got the permission from principal sir too and finally we had a name VIJAYANT with tag line ‘BORN TO WIN’. It was just a beginning of our test of management and organizing ability and future of us was full of hectic schedule with sleepless nights of almost one month. Who knew that the seeds we just planted will grow so well!
Back to back every year since 2012 students of LEC organized an event named VIJAYANT...
VIJAYANT'12 a college level grand success with more than 800 participants from Diploma, Degree as well as Masters too, was also recognized by GTU as a creative activity done in LEC under Center of Creativity. (We, the 2009-2013 batch of LEC with 22 Organizers and 50 Coordinators.)
VIJAYANT'13 a state level grand success of LEC with more than 1200 students from all over Gujarat! (We were in our final year of engineering and were in the mentor committee to organize this state level tech-fest which was organized under a strong team of organizers which included many NCC cadets too.)
VIJAYANT'14 a state level mega success with more than 1500 participants! (We were passed out in 2013 so were not present but this time Avinash Tiwari and Ashish Vasava's team were in the mentor committee)
and this year it was VIJAYANT’15 with more than 1500 participants!
May be, this was the best we had done to pay tribute to great son of motherland India who sacrificed his life without any desires. May be today from heaven he might be singing a poem of Robert Frost which also inspired our honorable ex Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru which says,
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
-Robert Frost ”Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”
Written and Edited by,
Yash Majmudar and Deepak Agrawal
JAI HIND!
© Deepak Agrawal Blogs 2015
