Inter IIT

I never thought I’d be missing the Inter IIT so much. Yes, it’s the Inter IIT Sports Meet. It is a proper noun for us, almost as though it were a person. And I miss it as though it were indeed a person. 

While skyping my team-mates Sharada and Anvita yesterday, I realized how much I longed to be back there, with them all - may be not play, but just be around - cheering the teams and lukkha-ing otherwise. Every morning since the Inter IIT has begun, I find myself eagerly waiting for yesterday’s results. And before I sleep, I always wish them luck for today’s match! It’s like I am in sync with IST, just for this little while! :)

Those were the days, really. Inter IIT practices went all the year round (well, at least all the odd sem round), but the Camp in December was the most enduring and perhaps the most fun part of the sem. All work and no play - just the definitions of work and play changed :) Rather, quoting from the movie ‘Iqbal’ - they became one! Daily schedule used to be - play, eat, sleep, play, eat, sleep... ad infinitum. To add to it was the unending lukkha, cheerful treats and prolonged chit-chatting about anything and everything. Probably that’s why us team mates were all so close. And still are. I remember the really really senior members of the team calling to wish us luck before finals, to scold us at times, and in the end, treat us :)

I have not been much of a player, in general. I did play badminton at school but that was it. For recreation. Maybe for exercise. But these guys (and girls) showed me what competitive badminton is like. When I saw them preparing before the match - both warming up as well as planning, during the match - improvising and keeping up their spirits, while maintaining ultimate composure, and after the match - well, for them it was almost always a victory, but at some mishaps - holding their head up as they congratulated the winning team, huddling with team mates and resolving to better their records next time.. I was happy to have met Real Champs. Their sheer love for the game and their passion for victory were enough to inspire me every day, to do my bit for the team. I can almost hear Mittal shouting ‘tez, tez, aur tez!’ whenever I think about Inter-IIT practices!

And it was not just about badminton. All teams practised really, really hard for the Inter-IIT. It was like the educational institute suddenly seemed like a Sports Club or a Sports Academy! Meeting everyone for lunch and dinner, listening to them discuss this year’s plans, chatting with the senti senior members of the team and motivating the freshies (while intro-ing them a lil :D) - it really felt like we were one contingent. One. And it’s a feeling that comes not because of the chant (or war-cry) we have, not because of our similar tracksuits, not because we walk in a cluster behind the IITB flag holder and not because we all look askance when the IITB contingent leader shouts ‘Dahine dekh!’ It is a lot, lot more than that.

Even as I write this, I know they’re all up there. Trying to do their best. Kicking, smashing, racing, bowling, sprinting, spinning, tackling... Vying for the Championship. Keeping up with the spirit of sportsmanship, I’d only say, ‘May the best man win!’

And here's to the baddy team (2011) :)