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I walked into GPS’ office on my very
first day in IIT-KGP. As a new MSc student I did not know who GPS was then.
A Professor of mine in college who knew DB had
advised me to talk to DB to find out more about the IIT-KGP physics dept. So,
in I went, not knowing that it was GPS’ office as well. Out of the two desks,
one was occupied and in a way I was relieved. Meeting one unknown IIT-KGP prof
was intimidating enough (though DB soon put me at my ease).
Very soon however, I started hearing
about this prof called GPS. When one wing-mate, a second year B.Tech student,
found out that I was doing Physics, he asked me: “Is GPS teaching you anything?” Later on that same day, I went to meet an old
school friend of mine who was a fourth year B.Tech student residing in Azad
Hall. He too asked me – “Is GPS teaching you anything?” and then added – “GPS
is one person who can quote Sanskrit shlokas and Michael Jackson in the same
breath”. (I did not verify from GPS if the latter was true but I can vouch for
the former.) I then met some of my friend’s wingmates in AH who on learning
that I was in Physics had the same question - “Is GPS teaching you anything?” I
was intrigued! I had to find out who this GPS with a giant reputation was and I
soon did. GPS turned out to be a thin and rather serious looking guy, who as
luck would have it, was one of the profs taking the first year MSc lab. At that
time, that lab was essentially an electronics lab, a topic I was mortally
afraid of. Not wanting to reveal myself as an ignoramus to the best teacher
according to the popular vote, I did my best to avoid interacting with GPS
during the lab.
The situation thankfully
changed next semester when GPS was scheduled to teach us Quantum Mechanics and
what a joy that was from Day 1. The serious looking prof whom I had tried my
best to avoid during the electronics lab always turned up for class full of
“joie de vivre” and conveyed the thrill of QM with the ease of a seasoned pro.
Over time, I started interacting with
GPS more frequently, helped in no small part by the fact that I did my MSc
project with DB and had a valid excuse to enter that famous office C-229 more
often than I would have done otherwise. Having a small reflecting telescope
helped break the ice as well.It provided the added benefit of wangling
invitations for tea and snacks at GPS house by making the promise of showing
GPS and Sonu the craters on the moon and the four satellites of Jupiter. After
keeping in touch with GPS and often visiting his quarters during my occasional
trips back to KGP till his retirement, I lost track of GPS for a while. Then
one February morning, nearly four years ago, I got an email from my friend SK
who was then a prof in KGP telling me to check out GPS’
blog. And that’s how,to my delight, I rediscovered GPS in his new incarnation
as the blogger extraordinaire.
In IIT-KGP, GPS’ teaching skills were
legendary but,“reco-mela” samples notwithstanding; all of his students were
unaware of his skills in weaving magical tales out of everyday experiences. GPS’
prodigious output belies the effort that goes into the creation of every single
blog-post.Having taken nearly four months to come up with a single guest-post
has made me appreciate the challenges of daily blogging even more.Fortunately,
the task of a reader is easy and the benefits manifold. I know I will keep
returning to GPS’ treasure trove of stories and limericks often and especially
when I am in need of a “pick-me-up”.So here’s hoping that GPS continues to dish
out his delectable stories for us avid readers as well as for little Ishani to
read when she grows up, and learn about Muthukur village, IIT-KGP and life as
seen through the eyes of her doting grandpa.
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