Campus Cleaning Activity

A favourite theme of all the deans we had at the college was the "campus cleaning activity." Every two months, we used to have this activity. (Well, actually there used to be much chit-chat and less "activity" in it.) As this provided valuable attendance towards NSS (National Service Scheme) and NSO (National Sports Organisation) requirements, all first year students were required to attend this activity compulsorily. It would be always held on a typical Saturday morning. By typical Saturday, I mean hot, humid, sunny, sweaty Saturday, as is customary in Chennai.

The students get divided into two groups, namely the Department cleaning group and the Common Areas cleaning group. As the names suggest, the former group is posted to clean the respective department classrooms and labs while the latter group is commandeered to clean the common utility areas such as the Library, Rajam Hall, Computer Centre, etc. We at the Instrumentation department had a lot of department pride (thanks to constant "Mighty IT Zindabad"s from the seniors) and many of us would stick to the Department cleaning group only.

Unlike other departments, we had two buildings that constitute our department on either side of the road. Hence a further sub-division of resources would take place. We would be supplied with buckets and waste clothes to wash up the place. Cleaning the classrooms is the easiest job. It involves wiping the black board clean with water soaked cloth, removing the "ottadai" in the ceiling corners, and rearranging the desks. Some artistically inclined students would then take up the responsibility of writing the class name and strength, etc in beautiful art lettering. For the final year classroom we have to write the placement score as well. Typically J. Srinivas or Sudhakar used to do these jobs as they were the skilled labour in that area, while we were the unskilled labour.

Cleaning the laboratories is a more tricky job. We have to dust the individual instruments properly and take special care while doing this. (The special care is required because if we mishandle the instrument, sometimes it may start working properly and then we would have to do the experiments properly.. See, we are a bunch of students with great foresight and forethought...!!) The Servicing laboratory used to be like a dungeon and cleaning it will present the greatest challenge.

A much more challenging job awaits those selected for cleaning the surroundings of the department. This involves cutting down unnecessary bushy growth in the neigbourhood and believe me, two months is enough time for too much unnecessary bushy growth to happen. Our department probably is a very fertile land for such unnecessary growth. (The final remark refers only to unnecessary growth in the plant kingdom and not among the students..!!)

Sometimes a mass cleaning activity cutting across department barriers used to happen. One such instance was when we all joined hands to clean up the dense forest area behind the canteen and the heritage buildings where the NSS office functioned. This was supposed to be the site for the Golden Jubilee Building. Our effort that day with lot of sickles and spades ensured that a proper road to the building could be laid.

Apart from these, we also had some cleaning initiatives undertaken by our department where all students of all years of our department would participate. Although we would doubtless be tired at the end of the day's work, the campus cleaning activity ensured that we all had some kind of ownership on the campus and the department. It helped build some attachment towards the college and the department. It was a unique experience in many ways.

(Posted on 20-Aug-2003)