Oh that Maggu.

In somebody's blog I came across this word Maggu.
So writing this post.

I was awestruck even before I came to IITK, for people out here are the best brains of our country. My host (an IIT K alumnus) took me around the campus.

Coming out from Visitors' Hostel, we passed through Girls' Hostel (old), Health Centre, SAC, Academic area and we were at the library.

While I was admiring the fountain I heard my host nostalgically mumbling,"This place is also called “Magalaya” (a place for mugging-up for the exams). I know commenting on the lingo which is alien to you is not desirable. For instance, here a word bakait I guessed meant somewhat like dacoit but its exact meaning even a native can not explain in words. Anyway 'mugging’ for me simply meant the literal meaning of the word. I could not digest that Chapus (genius))out here could resort to such a thing as cramming, which I thought was a patent of those to whom God was not so kind while distributing grey matter.

This mugging business reminded me of an anecdote narrated by my father:

During 1960’s dad’s first job in account's services took him to Barabanki for a training program. There was this bunch of young recruits from the different parts of India. Since enthusiasm was common in all, soon they became buddies.

Of all the instructors, dad distinctly remembered Mr. Kar, a finance expert with excellent communication skills. To begin with the introduction, he asked everybody to tell about any special quality or skill that each one of them possessed. Everyone mentioned some quality or other of himself. One of them said,
“I am very good at cramming. Give me any printed matter and I would reproduce it as it is.”

“OK”, the wide-eyed Mr. Kar sighed and gave him a sheet of typed paper.

When the class assembled next day, the boy came forward and in parrot-fashion reproduced the contents of the given page without any pauses at commas, full-stops, etc. There was an uneasy calm in the classroom. The boy had proved his point. “Good”, exclaimed Mr. Kar, “Now it’s my turn. Go to the library and bring any book.” The boy came back with a thick book on Indian Penal Code!!

Mr. Kar asked him to open the book at any page and hand it over. Mr. Kar scanned the page for a few minutes and returned the book to the boy. Then he coolly reproduced the contents of the full page with all the sections, clauses, sub-clauses including the reference numbers, etc, and that too with proper pauses at the right places.

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