Heart Beats of SPCE: Part 8
Life as a Hostel General Secretary!
Being elected as the Hostel General Secretary was both an honor and a responsibility that came with high expectations.
Our hostel was a vibrant hub of cultural exchange and camaraderie. It also accommodated students from African countries, Mauritius and other such countries who shared their unique perspectives, enriching our experiences. Alongside them were students from prestigious institutions like the J.J. School of Art and Printing Technology. Faculty members, including Prof. Bhavani Prasad (Rector) and Prof. R.M. Joshi (Warden), were part of our community, along with professors like Prof. Natu, Prof. Pannikar, and Prof. Desai from the SP Jain Management Institute. Even though it was predominantly a boys' hostel, two girls resided in separate accommodation, making the hostel even more dynamic. Office staff such as Mr. Balkrishna, Mr. Natarajan, Mr. Desai, Mr. Pandu, and Mr. Palekar, along with the watchmen and other supporting staff, further added to the sense of togetherness.
A dedicated hostel committee worked with me to ensure smooth operations. Cultural secretaries Sanjay Deo and Vikram Suchadeva organized memorable events like Ganapati Festival, Holi celebrations and others, while mess secretaries Suresh Mahajan and Pramod Morankar strived to improve the quality of food in the mess run by contractor Bachchubhai. Pramod Sant, the magazine secretary, chronicled hostel life, and gymkhana secretaries Kaushik Mehta and Ramaswami ensured a vibrant recreational environment. Our committee meetings became a platform to address issues such as repairs and maintenance, trespassers, and inclusivity of day scholars and students from Bhavan's hostel.
Life in the hostel was lively and full of activities. However, one day, an unpleasant incident occurred that tested my guts.
A foreign student, Snehwardhan (name changed), the son of a police chief, had a quarrel with his Indian roommate. The altercation escalated when Snehwardhan physically assaulted and verbally abused his roommate in front of others. As soon as I was informed, I went to the room with friends to investigate the matter. Snehwardhan was not present, so l instructed the others to notify me upon his return and advised the victimized student to move to another room temporarily for his safety.
News of the incident spread quickly among the hostel residents, sparking outrage. Some students, in their anger, entered Snehwardhan's room and threw his belongings, including his mattress, outside. The next evening, Rector Prof. Bhavani Prasad summoned us to his residence. Normally calm and considerate, Prof. Prasad was visibly tense as he addressed the situation.
"Mr. Ingale," he began sternly, "do you realize the seriousness of this incident? I want the names of the students responsible for throwing out Snehwardhan's belongings. Strict action will be taken against them."
I was taken aback by his tone. There was an unbearable silence in the room as we absorbed the weight of his words. Finally, I mustered the courage to speak.
"Sir, may I request you to share the full details of what has happened? There seems to be more to this situation," I said cautiously.
Prof. Prasad sighed, his usual composure giving way to visible tension. "Snehwardhan has informed his country's embassy through a close aide," he revealed. "He's planning to escalate the matter. If he reaches the embassy, all of us will be in serious trouble."
I listened calmly and then replied, "If this is the case, Sir, allow me to take the matter to the Deputy Prime Minister of India, Mr. Y.B. Chavan."
Prof. Prasad looked at me in surprise. "You know the Deputy Prime Minister? How will you reach him?"
I explained, "Sir, my father has close acquaintances with former Chief Minister Sharad Pawar, who has ties to Mr. Chavan. Through them, I can escalate this matter if needed. But for now, I suggest we call Snehwardhan and ask him to leave the hostel immediately. The victimized student and we all will submit a written complaint against him. If he refuses, we can take the matter to the college authorities and further".
Prof. Prasad considered my suggestion and finally nodded. "All right. Let's call Snehwardhan and inform him of the consequences."
Snehwardhan was summoned and made aware of the gravity of the situation.
Understanding that the hostel community and authorities were united against his actions, he agreed to leave. The next day, he returned with a taxi, packed his belongings, and quietly left the hostel.
The incident, though challenging, taught me valuable lessons about conflict resolution, diplomacy, and standing up for what is right!
Dr. Mahendra Ingale, Former Principal @Pune, March 28, 2025
