SEGREGATED GOODBYES

It is that time of the year again when we have to bid adieu to our beloved final years. With it, a journey comes to an end, a journey which is unforgettable and nostalgic, a journey which is incomparable to any other. A certain song with the words �Those were the best days of my life� comes to mind immediately. And yet, at the end of it all there remains a void, a void created by the lack of a common farewell.

We enter this institution as a bunch of strangers, soon to become the best of friends. Yet, it is at that time that deep-rooted feelings of division are sown in our minds. These feelings, though not always expressed openly, are seated in some corner of our mind. Unfortunately, they are often long-lasting and remain intact throughout our stay here.

A �fresher�s welcome� is accorded to all of us in our initial days. This marks our acceptance into the fold of the ISM family. Yet, why isn�t there a common �farewell� to all our seniors? If someone isn�t from your region, does that mean he does not deserve a farewell from you? What happened to the famed senior-junior relationship that knew no bounds?

The obvious question that arises at this juncture is who will organize this farewell? The ISS? The administration? The ideal situation would be if the initiative comes from the students themselves, that is to say, the juniors, who would have developed a strong bond of friendship and attachment with the final years. If and when such an event actually materializes, only then can we say that a true farewell has been given to all the final years from all their juniors.