An unplanned life event is preventing me to join the Sangam Hungama.  I am sure there will be a lot of stories that I am going to miss hearing. Many of the memories after four decades still linger in my minds and stir up emotions from time to time.

I arrived at MIT on Labor Day in 1973. On day 4, I was greeted by our dear friend V.V. Bharatiya outside the entrance of my dorm (Ashdown House) and was introduced to Sangam.  The new Sangam Executive took charge soon after and Bharatiya inducted me into his Committee. Continue reading “संगम की यादें” →

After finishing my MS residency requirement of 2 semesters at SUNY Buffalo where I did 8 courses and made progress on my MS thesis; I joined Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute as a research assistant which allowed me to finish my thesis off campus and get my MS degree. While at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute I was recruited to come join the MIT Instrumentation Laboratory and was given an option to either work full time as a Research Engineer and do my PhD part-time OR do my PhD full-time and work part time at the Instrumentation laboratory to pay for it.

This gave me a chance to come to Cambridge during Christmas 1971, where I still work 6 days a week approaching my 47^th anniversary in Cambridge. My choice for lunch those days was Lobdell. Within a short time, I met Kaplesh at Lobdell. He soon filled me in on Sangam and how he was contesting the post of President of Sangam and needed my vote. So I was taken in. That day led to my volunteering during Kaplesh, Veer, and Subbu’s terms. I owned a bug (the car) and then traded it for a Pinto, both of which came handy for Sangam volunteer work. Continue reading “My Introduction to Sangam, MIT and Cambridge! – Narender Chhabra” →

The excitement of being admitted to MIT was slowly wearing out over the summer as I made preparations to depart for the new continent, new for me at least. Not having been to the Western hemisphere and with various relatives and friends of my parents sharing ominous stories of what happens there (Be careful you don’t get mugged. Look out for the women they will get their hooks in you, Boston is up in flames with race riots), one looked for some solace from a friendly face. Fortunately for me one of my classmates had joined MIT the year before and I had managed to get his address. Continue reading “Coming to America – Raj Melville” →

I finally reached New York, after starting my journey at Chennai, a long train ride to Mumbai which was delayed – which is a story in itself! – hence the missed plane schedule at Mumbai. I landed at NYC on Sep. 4th 1972 at JFK airport. My friend who was expecting me there 2 days ago, did not know that I was arriving on this day and at this time! I had landed at NY, alone and without the knowledge of where to go or what to do next? I called the Indian consulate at NYC, my only logical contact point. It was late in the evening and the office was closed. Luckily some one answered and suggested that I find my way to the YMCA building and get a place to stay. “Then come back and call us tomorrow morning” was the final advice! Continue reading “Subbu’s First Day in the US” →