Confessions of A GMCite (After 25 years)

When I came to GMC, I was a complete nerd. I had worn never worn denim jeans. Dressed in plaid
shirts and kakhi pants, over-sized shirt, Like everyone who joined GMC, I had only one dream, to
acheive my many dreams.

On my first day, the orientation day, I met Suyog Moon, Ajay Nair and Marlon, our seniour batch folks.
They asked me to go into the Anatomy Hall - point at any random girl and say, “This is my daughter
and I have come to pick her up!” It was ragging, a gentle one. I did so and everyone broke into a
laugh. It would be the same hall, they would shoot MunnaBhai MBBS and I would be the Student Co-
ordinator of. A year later, The very same hall, I would sit with Sanjay Dutt Baba and smoke a Marlboro
ciggerate offered by him. (Not proud of it, but often bragged about it to my friends).

When we were told MunnaBhai MBBS was going to be shot in GMC, “We thought it was going to be a
flop”. Sanjay Dutt Sir was on that streak. I even remember the dean demanding a script because he
thought, ‘what it was offensive to the medical fratrnity’. Getting students to the shoot was tough, we
had to fill the Anatomy Hall! But Chandan Mohanty (our SS) did a great job convincing people to
come. Everyone was disappointed the first day because after the shoot, they gave briyani in
DISSCETION HALL. This was rectified next day when we got food at a better venue, in better
packaging. We got the tickects for veiwing the movie, it was a blast with entire hostel in Maratha
Mandir. Can you imagine 120-150 same batchmates in one movie theater at the same time?

I had great time being the nerd I was in my first year. Hanging out with Arun Prabhu in his Dad’s
office. Discussing “Kluver-Bucky Syndrome”. I still remember, our batchmate Namita Rewani asking
me, “Itna kadoos kyun ho? why don’t you talk to us” in one of the postings. I poliely replied to her, “I
was from a Boys only convent, and I am shy of speaking with girls”. She said “Bas itni si bat, you don’t
have to talk. We will talk. Don’t feel shy” Thus breaking the ice for a shy 19 year old boy. Helping him
mingle.

When it was the first year Astitva. Batch of 1999 had organised. Suyog Moon (1999 Batch) took me
under his wing as tech support. Nehal Shah, Chandan Mohanty were all in tech support. The entire
Astiva as arranged in a week. We had no clue what to do. Our only instruction was “Dress in black tea
shirt and jeans”. Saurabh Samantray, Neeraj, Deepti Chopra and other bunch of our seniors threw an
great antakshri, singing competition, ethayadi. ethayadi.
The Dance Night of that Astitva in BCR wasn’t very happening. But, I do remember discussing on the
steps of BCR, in the dark, discussing the next year during out Astitva it would be better. Little did I
know, that Vaibhav subnis, who was sitting next to me in Physiology Lecture Halls, crooning, “Mera
Dosti Mera pyaar” (From Movie Dosti) would ever join A.R.Rahman school of music.

As usual in February, Rose Day came. I lent out my guitar and they had a stage. Little I did I know this
would later turn into a band - GMC Band.

When we reached late into secound year, before we entered 3rd year. Vishwanath Pujari became the
“incidental GS” in his on words. I don’t think he ever wanted to hold a political post like General
Secreatary but according to me ‘He was the best’. We always thought Piyush Shah woud be the
Cultural Sec. But I had thrown my hat into the ring for CS because I had some good marks and
certificates. i still don’t know why I said “yes” for the post of CS. I think Piyush would have always
made a better one than me.

I think our Astitva was a tough one. Maybe every batch think the same. There hadn’t been an astiva
for 10-15 years before, and the only Astiva before us was set in one week. Out of no-where when
Vishu (Vishwanath Pujari) and others, including me were having “Alla golun chai”. some organisers
came and offered ‘Brahma’ to play during our event. Obviously, the geeks we were, we didnt know
who ‘Brahma’ was. Turns out, it was a huge, humangous rock band. And just like us, nobody in our
batch knew who Brahma was. But it spread like wildfire, “It was a magnamous rock band, and it was
going to play for our Astiva”. Rumour has it own pipleline. Turned out, they wouldn’t play for us, but
the reach out of that rumour was tremandous. Everyone from the hostel to staff would ask us, if
Brahma was playing in astitva. If it wasn’t for Brahma, it was getting the sponsors, getting the celeb,
arranging the stalls. If you ask me today, I wouldn’t know how a bunch of 20 year olds managed that
Asitva.

In that line between hope and dispair, GMC Banned was formed. After a Rose-day event, there was a
space filled by newbie guitarists who wanted to impress girls, but there was also the ones who
wanted to sing, and express themselves. I dunno how he did it, but Vishu had convinced the Student
Association and the Dean to buy us a Drum Set, microphones and a guitar. I was first underhelmed,
and felt this is just going to be another timepass event. However, I was over whelmed by the number
of people who came to cheer us. Hostelites, CBcites, PG people, all came to GMC band practice. I
didn’t know why. If you must know, when Vaibhav Subnis was the GMC Banned Manager in the
subsequent year, he had almost 40-60 people on stage playing various instrument. Thats the support
our batchmates gave us - the GMC Banned, always and forever. No matter how horrible we sounded,
they stood by me and told me we did well. More than often telling us, “Mast kiya hai, Agli Baar aur
achcha karenge”

The GMC Banned? Why Banned? You can ask me. That music making orchestra in the BCR was
Banned once, because it was in the hospital premises. Until we measured out the distance with PWD
and showed it was at least 60 feet away. I would like the batchmates who supported the GMC Banned
to know that it it still exists- TODAY. 23 years after it was concieved, all from contributions from our
various batchmates. They performed this year in 2024! too. Can you beilieve it?

Among the very many things we did, Our batch revived the GMC tablet- magazine. No magazine was
published for 15 years. Our batch did it after working gruesomely for a year. I remember spending
hours at the Dean Chamber with Vishwanth Pujari and Piyush Shah to get approval for the draft we
got from printers. By the time, it was printed we were in final year and wondered if anyone who had
contributed even cared anymore.

I felt the same when I came up with the idea for the slambook. I felt it would have just 10-15 pages.
Now, its a huge collection of 110+ contributors.I owe it to the benovalace of my batchmates. Also to
all the pestering (for Slambook Details) by Minakshi Gupta, Deepshika Gupta, Deepti Chopra, Arun G
and countless others. If we missed out on anyone or misprinted anything in the Slambook - Forgive us.
Bachche hain hum, seekh rahein hain.

If you want to read a detail memoir about how these events unfolded, you are welcome to read my
upcoming book, “8 and 1/2 peices”. It details on my struggle with Alcohol and Drugs, and was
admitted at St. George mental ward (Where we did internship)?How I underwent ECT? And how I am
now clean, I am handling rehabilitation for street addicts and working in mental Health? (*Sales pitch
for the book)

Can’t wait to meet you guys again in the 50th Re-union and make another Slambook.

Your Pal
NaraYAN NAY Perumal