The newsletter is almost ready for the press. Something that seemed simple at first, has turned out to be a long and tedious process of gathering data and information. However, seeing something evolve from chaos soothens one. It's like seeing a cup getting filled,  golden drop by golden drop,  with honey.
The first years' had their first taste of practicals yesterday. All the last minute tasks like the third committee meetings, et all, are being tied up one by one. All indications that the madness of the first semester is slowly passing by...
Next semester, it's going to be yet another long grind, since we haven't found a part time staff to join us. However, as everything goes, this too shall pass...It's surprising how the last semester went off with the combined classes...may not have been possible, but for the kind nod from the Professor of Mechanical Engineering, allowing the use of the seminar hall for the combined classes. I think that most times, help comes unexpectedly, to help one tide over tough times.

Heard this fantastic news from a friend...for the first time, in the history of engineering education in TamilNadu, there's a lady principal, Prof. LakshmiPrabha, at Karaikudi. It's heartwarming, because one sees that women are slowly entering administrative jobs, to lead from the helm. I think this is a milestone in the history of engineeirng education here.
She is one of the best leaders I've seen and I wish her all success and achievements in her future years of principalship. 
The first year students are in a tizzy, as all efforts are taken to complete portions and to help them prepare for exams. Their practical exams begin next week and they are all scurrying from one block to another, to tie all the loose ends up, before they enter their exam halls. 

I cannot stop laughing...you will see why. 
Exams have begun in earnest and everyday, one sees children and older part-time students hogging private space all over the campus and pouring over their books. 
One must know that ever since a set of students, caught for malpractice, were punished by having to appear for the entire set of exams, students have been quite cautious about indulging in malpractice. 
However, things took a serious turn at one of the halls where our part-time students were giving their exams. Invigilators were quite busy, castor-oiled eyeballs nearly popping out from trying to find if there were students copying. Suddenly, two professors of the institution on squad duty, descended upon the candidates like the fury of Hades. They turned hall tickets, id cards and wallets, inside out, with the precision of a computer. One of them seemed to magnetically draw out 'bits' from shirt sleeves, pockets and even wallets, where 100 and 500 rupee notes had entire processes and equations crammed into the small spaces available. Invigilators watched in open mouthed awe at the uncanny ability of the Professor to spot out the violators. And, funnily enough, when all this going on, one of the older candidates, quietly folded his answer booklet and scooted out of the hall, like he had the Furies at his tail. I still wonder why he did that! 
There were requests to the Professor to  offer a workshop on how to spot out violators and to draw out the bits from the likely hiding spaces. He calmly revealed that only experience and a sharp eye to observe body language were needed.
The humour was a nice little distraction from the mundane and terribly tiring duty of invigilation.