First Days in Bangalore: 05-Sep-08

My New Home

Home is room number 39 at the guest house in the Indian Institute of Science. Quiet little place hidden away at one end of the institute, surrounded by greenery and serenaded by the songs of the birds. A single bed, a wardrobe and a writing desk furnished the room, which comes with an attached bathroom with hot shower. A 6-panel window looks out into a forested area. There is even a television and an air-conditioning unit!

So here I am, alone in my room with little Gumby by the side, sitting at the corner of my bed, penning this journal entry. Everything seems so surreal…


First Impressions

I was greeted by the spanking new and spacious Bangalore International Airport on arrival. Navigating it was easy and coming out of the airport, a row of men in white holding placards were looking earnestly at each and every arriving passenger. It was not til the end of the row that I found Kumar, holding a sign, on it written, “Dr Kee Leng”.

It was a cool and breezy day. Pockets of blue sky peeped through the thick clouds, paving way for the warm sun rays. Kumar signaled me to wait at the pick-up point while he gets the car. A friendly young lad 22 years of age with a sweet and shy smile, he has been assigned by the travel agency where he had worked for 2 years, to fetch me to the institute. “No problem, Ma’am”, those were his favorite words.

The car ride to the institute was smooth, no massive jams or free-roaming cows crossing the streets as what others had pre-empted me, though the traffic is heavy and horns blasted into the dusty air intermittently. I noticed our car is short of the left wing mirror. Kumar skillfully steered our little car through the trucks, cars, autos and two-wheelers coming from all directions, and before long, we turned right to a sign with blue words on a white background “Indian Institute of Science”.


MBU Family

MBU stands for Molecular Biophysics Unit. That’s where I’ll be working for the many weeks to come. Professor Raghavan brought me on a quick tour to the laboratory and introduced me to the members of the research group, made up mostly of ladies. The open air laboratory has a nostalgic feel to it, especially the wooden benches and drawers. Overflowing shelves, notices on the walls yellow with age, there is an orderliness in the disarray of things and activities, as I quietly observed the folks get about with their work.

Likhesh, an integrated PhD student, took time to show me around the campus and the various facilities available. The institute, also known as the Tata Institute, has a rustic environment and a 100-year old building which housed the administration. We stopped by the Tata Book House to get a copy of the city map and he treated me to tea at the tea & coffee board. Afternoon snack and tea is an important part of the life in the institute, I learnt.

The MBU is a homely and closely knit family. There was a welcome party for the fresh PhD students, post-doctorate fellows and research project assistants that evening. I was promptly invited on the spot. At the party, tribute was first paid to all the professors followed by a formal introduction of all the new members of the family. I was also introduced as a “freshie”.

The highlight of the program was a musical-skit which drew lots of laughter from the highly entertained crowd. The evening of poetry, song and dance ended with the crowning of Mr and Miss Freshie, followed by a sumptuous buffet dinner.


A New Beginning

It has been a long but pleasant day for me. Tired and exhausted from the day’s travels and happenings, while enriched by the sights and sounds of this new place.

This is the beginning of my 6-month stay in Bangalore.