CETAA Souvenir August 2018

CONNECT | EMPOWER | TRANSFORM
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CETAA | Global Meet 2018 | Silicon Valley CONNECT | EMPOWER | TRANSFORM
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CONTENTS
EDITORIAL CREDITS
Content generation |
Deepa Mohan
Viji Chidambaram
Jay Chacko
Editing |
Anand Iyer
Lata Hariharan
Jay Chacko
Design |
Rangashree Srinivas
rangashree@gmail.com
Printing |
Minuteman Press
Sunnyvale
Message from CETAA CA Board 5
Letter from the Principal 7
Message from CETAA Secretary 9
Committee Members & Volunteers 11
A day in the life of the Secretary of CETAA 12
My way of fulfilling Social Responsibility 15
Earth First ! The rest must wait ! 16
The Gift of Love 18
My First Love 19
Surviving 20
Eyes That See 23
The Wish 24
Memories to Art 27
29
Boredom 31
My Baby Brother 32
34
Service to society is service to God 36
An artist at heart 37
Message from Dr VP Joy IAS 39
40
Eternally in our hearts... 42
Alumni photo album 45

5
MESSAGE FROM CETAA CA BOARD
The College of Engineering Trivandrum Alumni
Association of California (CETAA CA) warmly welcomes
all the participants of the CETAA Global Meet 2018 @
Silicon Valley. As a continuation of previous Global
Meets, we are striving to make this event an opportunity
to augment the relationships between CET alumni
networks across the world and be the community to aid
in the professional and personal advancement of CETians
throughout their lives. This year’s event in Silicon Valley
is being attended by CET graduates spanning 7 decades,
1950s through 2010s representing the long history of CET
graduates across the world.
Silicon Valley is the innovation hub of the world with
the finest educational and research institutions providing
the environment for the founding of some of the biggest
companies in the world throughout the last two centuries.
CET graduates have had a long presence in this area,
and in the past 30 years this has increased tremendously.
A few visionary graduates realized the importance of
forming the CET alumni community in this consequential
location and formed the CETAA of California in 2006. We
have gradually grown our community and the arrival of
the Global Meet in 2018 has provided an added impetus to
reach out to all our graduates.
Our vision, as part of the Global Meet 2018, is to take
the CET brand to the next level on global stage using
the themes of: Connect. Empower. Transform. By our
outreach activities we have increased our Connection with
CET graduates all over, and particularly in the US West
Coast and California. The august program at the Global
Meet will Empower the CETians to use their networks
to develop plans to Transform the communities around
them. We will reserve a part of the proceeds generated
from this event to give back to the CET community in
accordance with the CETAA CA charter.
We welcome you to use this wonderful opportunity
to reconnect with and make new friends, refresh your
memories, recharge yourself and draw pride in being a
CETian. We are excited to share with you the achievements
of your fellow CET graduates in our area and request to
remain connected with us as we give back to our Alma
Mater.
CETAA CA Board
cetaaca.gm2018@gmail.com
Jay Chacko
President
Vijayalakshmy
Chidambaram
Vice President (Northern CA)
Lata Hariharan
Vice President (Southern CA)
Madhavan Ganesh
Secretary
Ranjini Ambat
Joint Secretary
Anand Iyer
Chairperson
Saji Kumar
Treasurer
Board Members
Sunil Cherian
Deepa Mohan
Asha Anju
Reenu Cherian
CETAA CA BOARD MEMBERS

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9
Esteemed CETians,
Very warm Greetings from College of Engineering Trivandrum Alumni
Association!!!
I am glad to know that CETAA Global meet 2018 is being organized in
USA when our alma mater, College of Engineering Trivandrum (CET)
is completing 79 years of its glorious journey. The institution has been
imparting quality technical education to students over these years resulting
in more than 45000 strong alumni making their mark in various careers
across the globe. ‘Brand CET’ now has an international presence, this
remarkable achievement made possible by our eminent alumni.
Much of the life blood of any Association is linked to activities and events
organized by its different Chapters. We are continuing to lead our efforts to
have networking with alumni chapters and to nurture their connection with
the alma mater. The organizing team for first ever global meet at USA is
CETAA Washington DC for the event at east coast (Washington DC) from
17th-19th August and CETAA California for west coast (Silicon Valley)
from 24th-26th August, which will definitely take ‘Brand CET’ to the next
level on the global stage.
Our alumni are the brand ambassadors of CET and they all dream big
for CET, carrying fond memories about CET in their heart wherever they
go. Hence I appeal to all alumni to come forward and be in touch with your
alma mater in every manner possible so that CET will always be the BEST.
I extend my heartiest greetings and best wishes to the success of CETAA
Global Meet, USA.
Dr.V.R.Jisha
Secretary, CETAA.
MESSAGE FROM CETAA SECRETARY

11
Abhijith V B
Alexander Varghese
Ajith Krishnankutty
Anil Nair
Anoop John
Anup Sekhar
Arun Narayanan
Babu Vinod Sivadasan
Geetha George
George Thomas
Gopakumar Pillai
Hariharan Nagarajan
Hari Menon
Ivan Gonzalez
We would like to offer a special thank you to our committee members
and other CETian and corporate friends who have helped us in this
journey to launching the very 1st Global Meet in Silicon Valley.
If we have missed out any names, please excuse us. Your help has
been truly appreciated.
John Mani
Krishnakumar Kuttannair
Matthew Chacko
Murugesh Ramaiah
Nandagopal Nair
Noel Jose
Ravi Nair
Rajesh Nair
Rangashree Srinivas
Rinly Moolakatt
Sajan Pillai
Saraswathy Krishnan
Sen Dharmadas
Sudhir Kumar

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Mar 16, 2027
It was 11:00AM and Dr. Abishek Nair had just
come back from a meeting with the Principal
of CET regarding the Rs. 30 Cr innovation center
to be built by CETAA. The project had been
initiated by CETAA to support the research and
development programs in CET and had just
received the green signal from Department of
Science and Technology, GoI. The day was going
to be long for Dr. Nair but he was relieved that
he got the permission through after countless
hours of following up with the DST.
He had to now include the Innovation Center
project in the budget to be submitted to the
Executive Committee for the next financial year.
The amount was significant considering the Rs.
65 Cr budget that CETAA had planned for the
financial year 2027-28 but he had to make the
required changes and have them vetted by the
Finance Committee before 4PM.
Dr. Nair calls Arunkumar G., Finance Manager for
CETAA. He knew he could rely on Arun’s 15 years
of financial experience to make the changes in the
budget without much of a problem. Arun’s office
was in the 3rd floor of the CETAA office building
and he never took the elevator. It was a full 5
minutes before Arun walked into Dr. Nair’s office.
“We have approval from GoI for the Innovation
Center project”, Dr. Nair appraised Arun, a tad
irritated about the 5 minutes wait.
“That is great news indeed, we should let the three
chapters, who sponsored the center, know about
this”, Arun replied ignoring the irritation he felt in
Dr. Nair’s voice.
“But first, we have to revise the budget and have
it verified by the finance committee before end
of day”, Dr. Nair pointed out hoping that Arun
would be able to take care of this change.
“That is not possible Dr. Nair”, replied Arun,
“We are in the middle of negotiating a deal with
MakeMyTrip for a 3% additional discount in travel
fares and the deal is expected to be closed today”.
CETAA already had a deal for a 7% discount for
CET alumni doing travel bookings via MMT.
Between the 6300 odd alumni who had availed of
this scheme and their 21200 odd family members,
CETAA had saved Rs. 12.7 Cr for these alumni
members. The 3% additional discount would be
worth another Rs. 5.4 Cr.
“Can someone else from the finance team make
these changes?”. Dr. Nair asked hopefully. Finance
was the smallest team at CETAA with 4 members.
Travel desk had 5, IT team had 5, Placements &
Back to CET desk had 10, Events team had 12
members.
“No, Dr. Nair. Akhil and Nisha are working on the
disbursements of scholarships for students under
the GEMs scheme, Ashraf is working on the revised
proposal to New India Assurance for the family
health plan for CETAA members”. GEMS was
now one of the longest running schemes funded
by CETAA with over 12000 students across Kerala
being funded through their engineering education
annually. CETAA already had a tie up with New
India Assurance for a 15% discount in the health
insurance premiums for CET Alumni and family
and it was trying to negotiate a deal for dependent
parents. More than 24200 alumni and around 75000
of their family members were availing of this group
health insurance scheme by CETAA which saved a
A day in the life of the Secretary of CETAA
Anoop John, 2001 ECE.
total of Rs. 26 Cr for these alumni in all.
“Alright, Let me check with Dr. Asha”, said Dr.
Nair indicating that the meeting was over. He knew
that Arun looks at all the aggregation schemes with
very high priority as they are one of the biggest
incentives for alumni to continue to subscribe to
CETAA annual membership fees. Membership fees
were important to CETAA, they brought in Rs. 17 Cr
in 2026-27.
“Before I leave I wanted to also update you that
we had processed the travel reimbursement claims
for the 12 students who went to the conference in
London last month”, added Arun while leaving.
Dr. Nair nodded in confirmation while messaging
Dr. Asha. CETAA had spent around Rs. 5.6 Cr in
sponsoring academic travels for students and in
organizing exchange programs.
Unlike Dr. Nair, who was working full time for
CETAA, Dr. Asha who was the treasurer, still had to
take classes. Dr. Nair had to take classes too till the
college decided that it was good to have the CETAA
secretary as a non-teaching role. He sent a message
to Dr. Asha knowing very well that Dr. Asha is only
going to be able to come to the CETAA office after
2PM when her last class for the day was going to be
over.
He had enough time to review the report submitted by
Mr. Jacob Mani who headed the events team. The report
was to be put before the online general body meeting that
is to happen on 25th of the month with attendees from
across the world. Across its 63 chapters there were 244
events that were conducted in the year. On top of this,
there were 16 year wise get-togethers and 321 batch-wise
get-togethers that were held across the world. The events
team were the busiest team in CETAA helping chapters
and the different batches organize their events and get-
togethers.
It was 12:30PM by the time Dr. Nair reviewed the
report and added his comments. He had to go and
meet a visiting team of CET alumni from the Dubai
chapter. They were visiting the college to discuss
with the Principal on the new Digital Media lab
they were planning to set up at the college. He met
the team at the CETAA building, took them to the
canteen for a quick lunch and took them to the
Principal.
The meeting took longer than expected and finished
at 2:15PM. Dr. Nair rushed back to the CETAA
office. Dr. Asha was already in her office room and
had started reworking the budget to accommodate
the newly sanctioned project. The last year was the
best year for CETAA so far with a revenue of close
to Rs. 43Cr. The budget for the coming year was
going to be 50% higher but the team was confident
of raising the funds. Three chapters had already
committed to Rs. 25Cr for the innovation center.
The rest had to be raised from the other chapters.
After a bit of adjustments the duo got the budget
ready to be presented to the finance committee.
Dr. Nair heaved a sigh of relief when Dr. Asha
volunteered to take the revised budget reviewed
by the finance committee. He was finally going to
be able to get home by 6, something he has rarely
been able to do since he took charge as CETAA
secretary 2 years back. But he was a satisfied man
having seen CETAA through two of its fastest years
of growth.
Epilogue:
CETAA had now become the largest dues paying alumni
association in India with a total member base of 42316. The
annual budget for CETAA was one of the largest for alumni
associations in the country. The association had 63 affiliated
chapters across the world. The association and its chapters had
a cumulative budget of Rs. 426 Cr in 2026-27. The aggregation
schemes running under CETAA had helped alumni save Rs.
176 Cr in the same year.n
Dear CET Alumni
The possibilities are limitless if we set our minds to building CETAA into the best alumni association in India.
With the kind of potential that we have as a group of some of the best talent to have come out of Kerala, we
believe that it is our responsibility to mobilize this force for the betterment of the alumni community, of the
college, of the students, and of the society at large. We would love to hear your thoughts and have you actively
involved in this transformative journey. Check out a presentation on CETAA Vision 2025 - http://bit.ly/cetaa-
vision-2025 and do write at anoop.john@zyxware.com

15
For a long time, the Corporate Social
Responsibility (CSR) department mandated
giving back to the community. I was very fascinated
by the corporate social responsibility, the way
corporates take it as their responsibility to do some
service to the society. They give back a percentage
of their profit to the community who helped them to
reap that profit. They do it in many ways.
In the island of Bahrain, my place of residence for
the last 20 plus years, most companies, during
Ramadan provide Iftar meals to blue collar workers
as part of their CSR. Here these workers, usually
expatriates from developing countries, are housed in
labour camps with scant facilities. These camps have
individuals from several countries and backgrounds
– united by a quest to provide for their families back
home. Iftar is a beautiful occasion, when all come
together, after a day’s fast, and share that meal.
Organising medical camps for these people is
another way for these companies to give back to
them. They also sponsor cultural events to give a
chance for these less privileged individuals to enjoy
musical nights and such events. They also support
geriatric homes and orphanages.
Realising the stress and anxiety these people go
through, and the need for psychological support
and counselling, among the expat community a
great psychologist Dr.John Panackel started training
people in counselling. He conducted classes for
them in a structured way from fundamental to
advanced level and equipped a handful of service
minded people to give support to those in need.
Now for the last ten years, this organisation known
as Pravasi Guidance Forum (PGF) train people to
become counsellors and those who get trained, work
among the pravasi (expat)community . I am proud
to say that I am a member of this group giving my
time and support to needy people.
In most cases people are waiting for a listening ear,
to share their problems and anxieties. Counselling
is the process in which, the trained counsellor, lends
My way of fulfilling Social Responsibility
them an empathetic ear helping them to understand
their problems and find solutions themselves.
In the span of 10 years we were able to save many
from suicides, guide many adolescents who had
strayed away back to the right path, many families
to have a blissful life and many addicts have gone
through de-addiction.
I being a social minded person am involved in
many organisations. Notably, CETAB (college
of Engineering Alumni Association Bahrain),
Toastmasters, Church activities and Bahrain
Keraleeya Samajam activities.
I am glad to say that this counselling service is
giving me a satisfaction, which no other activity has
given me.
The Bible says in Mathew chapter 25 verse 40, ‘Truly
I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of
these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’
I feel it a divine call and it is only by God’s gracious
mercy I am able to carry it out silently. n
Agi Joshua, 1989 Civil.

16 17
Never in the 3.8 billion years history of life on
earth has there been a more grave threat to its
very existence, as is now. And never has one species
ever threatened this living planet more than this
sentinel one, Homo Sapiens which is, EACH ONE
OF US. With every irresponsible action of ours,
which today is almost every action in our daily lives,
we are undoubtedly smoke rolling to death, this
only blue-green planet that we know has life on it.
And it is evident that this plunge would not end
with a big bang, on the contrary it would be more
painful, more prolonged as professed in this piece
by T S Elliot.
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper”
(From “The Hollow Man”)
Aren’t we already seeing this, hearing it in our own
homes, neighbourhood, society, nations, eventually
a planet itself, whimpering from the poisons,
diseases, guns, wars, monstrous structures, heat,
climate change, and above all a receding wilderness
that actually kept us all sane and live. Unless we as a
race, decide not to let this happen, and pro-actively,
even evangelically decide to reverse it, it could just
happen, because thats what the new normal seems
to be - more poisoned soils, animals, water, air,
food and people, changing climate, haughty corrupt
governments, non-liveable cities, despairing rural,
and all this, ironically, strangely in an era of growth
and development. Because this growth seems to be
too skewed towards a politically and economically
strong minority, thats also physically, mentally or
virtually gated out from the larger others (other
life forms as well). The 99% vs the 1% struggles
that we saw in the new century is still simmering
beneath, waiting. But there has been enough matter
published about this collapse, and enough matter on
the new ways of transforming economics and hence
societies. Looks like its time for a transformational
era, one from a rather apocalyptic anthropocene
to one of a sustainable and ecologically founded
ecocene.
Now then, what is our role in this transformation ?
Ponder. But do let me speak out of my learning and
experience of the last two-three decades of what we
have been doing primarily in Kerala and beyond
through our small but now significant group -
Thanal.
Thanal is a small group of
individuals, networked across
the world, with common
thoughts and diversely acting
people and institutions,
mostly small and effective,
and broadly in pursuit of an
ecologically sound way of
sustaining life and livelihoods
on this planet. Thanal has
as its vision “People, Planet,
Sustainability”.
A small group who came together in the nineteen
eighties and later joined by some more like me in
the nighties, to put the agenda of environmental
Sridhar Radhakrishnan, 1989 CSE.
Earth First ! The rest must wait !
health and justice into the mainstream thinking.
It started like most eco groups with studying and
addressing the natural world and natural history -
especially the wild forests and animals, birds and
butterflies etc. But soon we realised that the impact
of the human on the ecosystems is so very huge
even in the immediate surroundings that the focus
of work shifted to help create awareness and lead to
positive action on addressing environmental issues.
So, in the last three decades, its been working,
on a wide range of issues, that later got covered
under the programmes of sustainable resource
use and management, sustainable agriculture and
food security, living ecosystems and environment
education, primarily building the collectives,
models, enabling policy changes and even taking
it into global change making forums, such as the
United Nations.
In Kerala, we have been the minds and actors
behind these sustainability and environmental
initiatives - of the many, the organic farming policy,
zero waste approaches to solve the waste issue, the
green protocol to enable more natural materials
and policies in institutions, events and households,
the carbon neutral villages, so on and so forth.
Nationally, we were a critical part of the organic
farming movement, the movement to stop India
from cropping and feeding on GM food, and many
more. Globally, under UN initiatives, we were there
in the chemical safety conferences and the climate
conferences.
Did I say this was a small group, actually No, Its
a large one if we are to count the many that keeps
us alive to work for this transformation. And that
includes many from our own fold, the engineers, a
handfull of CETians as well, and that’s what makes
this work for me all the more satisfying. But this is
to also say that more of these hands are needed to
support our efforts.
Lastly,
I know, our lives, our families, our career matter...
but time has come...in whatever way...to be of
worth to this living planet of ours. Let the Earth be
our first priority, let us bring up generations that is
connected to the natural world, who can redeem the
values and skills than are needed to tend and heal
it, make it liveable for all beings.
Pray, let us be the generation that deserves to be
here.n
Jestsaying...
Meme:Manasi,daughterofSajiKumar,1989CSE

18 19
The Gift of Love
Nayan Sri Nair,
Son of Sreekumar R. Nair, 1988 CSE
O life, O beautiful gift of God
O bringer of peace and joy
Knowing your peace transcends all pain
Gives me such wondrous joy
Something meaningful
Someone to love
Someone to show me the beauty of joy
Into a new light, I have been brought
Understanding the loveliness of joy
O life, O cheerful bundle of love
O bringer of great delight and bliss
Delivering me at a time of grief, you
Revealed to me the meaning of love
Always will I thank you
Always will I cherish
Always will I love
Your gracing me with this second chance
at
Understanding the loveliness of love
O life, O masterpiece of splendor and
grace
O bringer of glory and glee
Transforming me when everything was
bleak, you
Brighten my days with meaningful grace
Always will I thank you
Always will I remember
Always will I embrace
The joyous light that you spread in my
life with
Understanding the loveliness of grace n
My First Love
Mineetha Chandralekha ,
1989 Civil.
He was my senior in CET and in the same branch.
He was a very brilliant and a bright student. He
used to explain to me all the subjects in civil engi-
neering especially structural design. We knew each
other even before I joined CET. I knew him right
from childhood. During my school days, he used to
help me with Maths. Whenever I cried due to a small
cut on my finger, he used to tell me that I should
be strong and not cry even if I had a big bleeding
wound.
His love for writing, singing, drawing, painting, pen-
cil sketching, gardening, and teaching were incom-
parable. He also used to make beautiful curios out of
waste items. I always looked up to him and he was my
role model!
We used to talk about a lot of things including pol-
itics, financial matters, world as well as Indian his-
tory, and so on. He always encouraged me to speak
up about what I believe in! He encouraged me to be
myself and I used to enjoy each and every moment
with him. He used to always take me out even while
shopping for hardware, paints, car spare parts, and
so on, and ensure that I understood the ‘look and
feel’ and names of each item. (My mother did not
like that.) Our friendship grew day by day. We were
inseparable! He was my first true love.
He always supported my ideas and interests. He
recognized my accomplishments and talents. He
advised me to keep believing in my abilities and keep
moving towards my dreams. He always encouraged
me and was there to give me a little push whenever I
needed it. He used to empower me with little actions.
He transformed me. It’s because of him, I am what I
am today! He was everything to me: my hero, teacher,
inspiration, and best friend.BTW, I call him ‘Papa’. He
was exactly 30 years senior (1959 Batch) to me!
Papa didn’t show any difference between bringing up
my elder brother and me. He made sure that I un-
derstood the world of finance from a very young age.
He would help me take my savings to deposit at the
bank. Thus I started my first savings bank account
after my 10th grade depositing the school caution
deposit of 50 rupees! Though we had a car at home,
Papa relied on public transportation as far as possible.
He insisted that we use it too. Little did I know then
that he was equipping me to face the real world! Papa
left the physical plane on 29th August 2016. I am
clueless about the mode of transportation he opted
for that!
Behind every strong woman is herself, but behind
herself, is usually someone who helped shape her into
the strong person she is. This person can be anyone.
For me, it was my ever-loving Papa, my first love…
my CET senior! I miss him every day. n

20 21
Before my readers make assumptions about the
title - I’m not going to get into an exhaustive
tirade about how difficult life is, the laments of
the girl who has to learn to survive in a cruel
society, stories of little boys who are made to
work long hours in bad conditions, despondent
existences of those who are shackled by invisible
chains from following their heart’s desire, guys
without girlfriends and girls without the right
shade of pink in their outfit, the tales of survival
in a crowded general compartment of the Maveli,
a day before we sit through 8 courses of rice and
curry washed down with payasam in remembrance
of #theoriginalMaveli and no, neither is it going to
be about the life and times of India’s most loved
person, IRCTC’s Webmaster. No, this article is far
simpler (and much more useful) than all this. It’s
about learning how to survive in a place where
time seems to run out as fast as the samosas in the
Civil Canteen, a place where trying to find your
identity is as futile as attempting to fish out your ID
card when you-know-who comes calling with the
legendary “Where is your ID card?”. A place where
your bank account displays an amount which has
an uncanny resemblance to the number of females
in the Mechanical department, multiplied by the
probability of wooing an “Archi”.A place defined
by its simplicity – of students who walk with heads
held high and mobile phones with negative balance,
where the word ‘treat’ is a greeting and ‘thanks’
can elicit violence of the most shocking kind from
‘buddies’ who can’t believe you broke the unspoken
bro code of ‘what’s mine is yours’. A place of irony
- where royals rule the carpenter’s bench and trying
to get an output on a broken DSO isn’t as EC as
it sounds. And a place defined by its history and
heritage – of 75 years of teaching students -a lot. It’s
about surviving CET.
1. Coloured bottoms: They’re in. Period. Remember
to wear your coloured jeans to death till they fade
and faded jeans move ‘in’. And, no cheating, they
must all be identical, skinny and ensure you don’t
forget to match your yellow hoodies and neon
green leggings. A red hibiscus placed elegantly over
your right ear will ensure you’re called a ‘freak’
(yes, that’s a CET compliment of the highest kind)
and maybe many other words as well.
2. Facebook: Ah, dangerous terrain. Surviving here,
would take a brain and a half. The golden rule
here is this, “Thou shalt like the profile pics of your
friends if thou shalt desire to up the number of
likes on thine own profile pic”. Frequent updating
of photos will ensure that your best friend will not
forget how you looked ten minutes back with heavy
Surviving
Nisha Mariam Johnson, ECE 2016.
editing to show the world how beautiful you are au
natural. Picture courtesies are a must along with a
deep, meaningful quote, something like, “Life is here
and life is now. Life moves slow but changes are
life and I have life”. If you want to courtesy without
much ado use initials – JPM, for example. Always
remember, “A screenshot in time, saves nine, or at
the very least gets you 99 heated comments”. Accept
all CET friend requests or you may turn into an
alienator unbeknownst to you.
3.Relationships: Love isn’t all that rubbish about
giving and caring. Nope. Ensure you set your eyes
on the most a. popular b.handsome/pretty c.well-
dressed guy or gal on campus. The smartest way
to propose would be to put your proposal on an
anonymous page. The girl or boy you’re trying
to impress will fall for your guts, super-eloquent
language, and your total absence of identity. Once
you’re all ‘set’, don’t forget to shower your love with
frequent crediting of her phone balance. Girls, if a
far more ‘lovable’ dude proposes, hesitate not. Ditch
him for the new man. That’s love. A trip to CET’s
legendary “sugarcane fields” are a must. Book your
train tickets together and talk for an hour each day.
4.Personality Competitions: If you’re thinking of
taking part in one, step one: be daring, shed your
inhibitions. Not enough? Well, if you want to shed
more than just your inhibitions, fear not, this is
the stage for you. Be prepared to ensure that the
audience gets the right idea about your personality
– use risqué statements because otherwise you’re a
spineless excuse of a human being. Remember, one
thing, you don’t have talent if can’t do anything you
can’t parade and an ideal personality is defined by
the entertainment value associated with it.
5. Howling and chanting – The golden rule of
howling would be, hey, wait a minute, there aren’t
any rules. When in college, you shall howl and
howl you will – at fests, at competitions, when
you win, when you lose, when people sing, when
people speak (or dance or basically, if the stage
dares to be occupied) when you’re really excited,
when you’re really bored, when someone’s howling
at you and, at the very least when two totally
unrelated groups are howling at each other and you
(or they) have no clue as to why they’re howling,
just start chanting out your department name
along with a couple of hip hiphurrays and before
long you realize something else – “Branch spirit is
directly proportional to amount of noise produced,
under the conditions that no one hears each other or
themselves and everyone goes home a victor with
sore throats.”
6. Etc. – This word shall guide you through many a
series and university exam. Often used with well-
spaced sentences, large diagrams and obsessive use
of adjectives and synonyms. Usage: The system is a
highly complicated one defined by the large and big
bulk, size and shape of its tires, wheels, etc.
7.Classes – Murphy’s law for college attendance
states that, “If there is a chance that a professor who
never takes the attendance in your presence shall do
so when you’re absent, he will.” n
Jestsaying...
Meme:Manasi,daughterofSajiKumar,1989CSE

23
with juvenile offenders,
helping young girls to
escape child marriages
and acquire education,
setting up contingen-
cyfunds for helping
mothers with suffering
children, economically
empowering the weak
and marginalized, creat-
ing systems for refugee protection, protection of our
sensitive eco system... the list of the issues that need
quick addressing in this world of ours, can run into
thousands of pages!
Now the question is what constitutes your ‘world.’
The more narrowly we define it, the smaller our
world becomes. The thicker the curtains of insen-
sitivity we draw across the windows, the lesser the
light from outside can enter our world. Very soon,
we become kings and queens of a world closely
defined by ourselves and our own happiness. Our
eyes start dimming. We stop seeing the suffering of
another. We stop being self-empowered. We can no
longer empower others.
In my fifteen years of work as a civil servant, I have
encountered outstanding people who work relent-
lessly for making our world a better place. They all
have a common trait. They are empathetic. They ‘see
‘ in a different way.
Ironically, the novel that I have recently translated,
‘ Netronmeelanam’ by K.R.Meera, is based on the
same theme: ‘ What do you see? Are you blind to
the truth? How do we change a way of looking at
things?’
If you remember Dickens’s Christmas Carol, it is
like the new world view of Scrooge! He started
realizing the power he had to do good. Unless we
become the change that we wish to see in this world,
as Gandhiji so beautifully expressed, we cannot
inspire our children or the world.It all starts with
seeing from the heart. n
Eyes That See
Ministhy S, 1994, ECE.
Istand there helplessly as the mother
weeps- her little son is asleep after a
painful session of chemotherapy. She
tells me that he has been diagnosed
with cancer a month before and that
her husband has already run up debts
to a lakh. As tears fall, she adds that
she has left her three little daughters
at various places. ‘The two-month-
old, who was breast feeding, is with my old mother.
The others are with my sister...’
The missionary sister next to me wipes her tears surrep-
titiously. As we return from the pediatric cancer ward,
after assuring the mother of whatever help we could
organize, Sister comments: ‘ The poverty and suffering
in the world are mind boggling. But people with the
capacity for helping, no longer have eyes to see...’
********************
We often teach our children- by being a role model
and otherwise- that success in life is all about being
rich and powerful, being better than others, and to
have the best of material possessions. The need for
becoming champions of empowerment, of stand-
ing up for the voiceless and marginalized, of being
transformational leaders who make way for positive
changes in the world, is less emphasized.
How do we create future human champions? How
do we nourish children so that they grow up to be
responsible adults,and respect women, the sidelined
and the ‘different’...? How do we mold young wom-
en and men who appreciate that the world needs tol-
erance, kindness, inclusivity, and an ability to share
willingly without pomposity? How do we bring up
human beings who can ‘see’?
In the timeless classic, ‘ The Little Prince ‘, Antoine
de Saint-Exupery writes- ‘It is only with the heart
that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible
to the eye.’
Women empowerment, working for the differently
abled, counselling the victims of violence, working

24 25
The Wish
Mujib MK, 1995 Mechanical.
“I’ll ask the genie for a HUGE palace. With lots of
servants,” said the ten-year-old girl with twin-
kling eyes, the first in the row. Her clothes were
neat and face scrubbed clean, but a faded frock and
frayed slippers betrayed conditions at home.
It was a weekend class, and the girls were at their
literal Sunday best, attending a scholarship program
for underprivileged schoolgirls from broken homes.
I’d find time on Saturday/Sunday mornings to
spend with these bright, impressionable kids, ages
10 – 15, helping them with their communication
skills, math, science, geography, and anything else
I could think of. Games, activities, quizzes, debates,
skits, a bit of critical thinking—stuff like that.
I always go in with a lesson plan for each three-hour
session, but like most things in life, the more enjoy-
able activities turn out to be the ad hoc ones that
evolve between the prepared. That day, we were
discussing storybooks they had read the previous
week, which they’d usually pick from the mini
library we’d set up at the end of each class. One of
them had picked up Aladdin, and it was a familiar
story to most. Well, Arabian Nights and Malayalis—
you do the math.
To fill up time until soaked stragglers came in (the
monsoons were on and thunder rumbled outside),
and as a wish-fulfilling speaking exercise, I asked
them what they would request if they ever came
across a bottled-up spirit. Not the kind their dead-
beat dads abandoned them for, but one that granted
wishes. But just one wish, no wishing for more wish-
es. Them’s the rules.
“Yes, a palace. That’s great,” I said. “And I’m glad
you wished for servants too, because the mainte-
nance would be a real pain. What about you?”
“I want a palace too, but made out of gold,” said the
next girl.
“Of course, you can always scrape off flakes from
the walls to sell and buy things. Or even make
bangles,” I said. The girls giggled. They laugh at any
silly thing I say. I love that. “Next?”
“I just want gold. Plenty of gold. So I’ll be rich,” said
the practical 12-year-old, sitting next.
“That stuff keeps getting more expensive, doesn’t it?
Good investment; smart choice,” I said. She beamed.
I knew this first-hand. My electronics purchases that
dwindled half in value the following week were
always a cause of amusement for the wife who sys-
tematically saved up and bought the precious metal
in various forms over the years. I got lucky.
“Sir, what would you ask for?”
“Yes, yes, yes, tell us, tell us!” Chorus. They were all
on my case.
“Hmm … This is not something I’ve thought about.
But let me try. I’d probably wish for a credit card
with unlimited balance. That way, I won’t have to
carry around cash or gold, and can buy whatever I
want.”
Puzzled looks. Hmm. These are teachable moments.
The next three minutes was spent displaying/de-
scribing credit cards, how they work. Like an idiot
I had mentioned magnetic plastic/cloud money to
kids whose mothers were daily-wage workers, some
whom were paid only in food and shelter, not even
cash. But they knew of banks and loans thereof. Of
course.
“OK, back to the game. What’s your wish?” I asked
the next girl, relieved at having converted my appar-
ent thoughtlessness into an instructive show-and-
tell.
“I want everybody to know who I am, be really fa-
mous.” She was an aspiring dancer, winner of school
competitions; one of the graceful, pretty ones.
CETAA | Global Meet 2018 | Silicon Valley
“Well, there are many ways to be well-known. You
could rob a bank … or murder somebody.” More
giggles, at my casual morbidity. “Is that what you
want?” This is how I teach them critical thinking,
or fancy I do. To be more specific in how you frame
statements, to be more careful in putting into words
your thoughts. Step by step.
“No, no. I want to be a famous actress. Um … no,
wait, a dancer. Yes, dancer.”
“Well, you can be both, like Shobhana … or Manju
Warrier.” Smiles all around. The best way to grab at-
tention is to bring up movie stars. This works across
the board—tweens, teens, middle-aged alcoholics
at the bar. “Or Santhosh Pandit,” I add. Laughter
erupts. Too easy, but that’s how I roll, that’s what
works. “Next?”
“I want to be first in class. Every time,” said the tall
girl sitting next to a bookish girl in glasses. Maybe
there was some undercurrent of competitiveness?
“Well, one way the genie could do that is by mak-
ing all your classmates fall sick on exam day. How
would you like that?” Critical thinking. Closing
loopholes. That’s my game. Ha!
“Oh, no! I just want to be first by studying well,”
said the flustered girl.
“Ah, you don’t need a genie for that now, do you?”
opined wise ol’ Yoda me, whose academic trajectory
peaked at age five when I came first in class; it has
all been downhill since. That’s another thing about
being a teacher. You authoritatively give advice you
seldom apply in your own life. But then, that’s true
for every profession.
The girl nodded in agreement, and realization.
“I want to travel to all the cities of the world, see
everything. Maybe the genie will carry me,” said
the bespectacled girl, the one with beautiful hand-
writing, good at word games. She knew a thing or
two about spear-straddling imps ferrying pillion
wizards, thanks to Balarama. Nerd. (Hey, we are
allowed to use the N-word among ourselves. Soli-
darity.)
“Maybe he will. Traveling is good. You’ll learn
many things.” Quick detour to mention magic car-
pets and elicit names of familiar cities and respective
countries. The judicious ones took notes.
“I want to be able to remember everything I see,”
said the older girl sitting next.
“What an excellent wish! This, more than anything,
will help you get most what you want—good
grades, a job, money, travel, everything.” She
glowed, pleased. Praise was rare in their lives. I
took a moment off to explain the concept of photo-
graphic memory and stories of people who alleged-
ly possessed it.
“Me, I want a palace too,” said the chirpy little girl
next. Having a big house seemed a priority with
kids who were sometimes forced to share a single
room with siblings, grandparents, cousins, pets.
“Of course, a palace.”
One more to go.
Had I been setting down a decent, plausible short
story or movie script, I’d place her penultimate,
because having her last seems staged, melodramat-
ic, filmi. But I’m just a chronicler of reality, dear
reader, not a schmaltzy Bollywood screenwriter. At
least, not anymore.
“What would your wish be, Aswathy?” I recalled
her name easily because she was among the shy
ones who blossomed into a confident smart mouth.
For me, that was the essence, the whole point, of
this program. To demonstrate it’s possible to rise
above poverty, neglect, abuse, and be ready to take
on the world, with sass. The previous week, she had
assumed the role of V. S. Achuthanandan in a Mock
Press game, responding to badgering faux journal-
ists with aplomb and articulateness that matched—
even rivaled—the much-imitated stalwart of Kerala
politics. And won the admiration and applause of
everyone. I was proud.
She called me closer. To whisper in my ear. Surpris-
ing, as I thought she had overcome her reticence to
speak in public weeks ago. I leaned in.
“I’ll wish for a house that doesn’t leak when it
rains.”
There wasn’t much I could do but straighten myself
up, hide the lump in my throat and say, “Yes, that’s
even better than having a palace.”
And move on to another game.
And cry all the way on the drive home.
Eleven-year-old girl makes grown-ass man weep. n
(First appeared on https://medium.com/@mujib/the-wish-
b435e0349c66, Published with permission from the author)

27
Memories to Art
Athulya GK, 2013 Civil.

29
Dr Joy Vazhayil, 1985 ECE.
n

31
Boredom
Salini Pillai,
daughter of Sajeev Pillai, 1996 Arch.
Tick. tock. tick. tock. I stared at the plain, black
and white clock as my teacher’s voice droned on
in the background like a siren. Was I just imagining
it or did each and every second of this stupid math
class last an hour long? If I focused I could make out
the low chatter of some girls’ voices as they gossiped
from the next table, only a couple of feet behind
where I was seated. I looked to my right and saw
my table partner who was sitting an elbows length
away from me, listening with rapt attention to what
the teacher was trying to explain to us. Her back
was straight and her piercing blue eyes were trained
on the teacher as she copied the notes on the paper
without even looking at it, a fine skill that even some
of the most studious in our class did not possess. As
I sat with my head in my hands, it seemed as though
any trace of positivity had been thoroughly wiped
clean from the room. With only half an hour left of
the class, I started my staring contest with the clock
again. Slowly, the room started to go fuzzy around
the edges and my mind transported me out of this
boring algebra class and into the places that I had so
often admired in travel brochures. As I surfed in the
sun and swam to my hearts content in the worlds
beaches, I suddenly heard an odd noise. Squeak
squeak The scratches of my desk partner’s pencil
on paper brought me out of my beautiful dreams.
I picked up my own paper and stared at my messy
notes, trying to make sense of the confusing algebra
before I softly tapped on my partner’s shoulder and
politely asked her to explain the newest concept to
me. “No”, she said in a dry voice, an icy expression
on her face, and I shrunk back into my seat with
a perplexed expression, cowering away from her
hostility. I put my head on the table, my eyes
brimming with tears, I had given up all hope. n

32 33
Ever since I was five, I’ve
wanted a sibling. Didn’t have
to be a sister, didn’t have to be a
brother, just a sibling. I got a lot of
playdates, yeah, but what would I
do if I’m lonely? What would I do
when I had done everything my
little head could possibly think of?
I would play with my sibling of
course!
Then one lucky day it happened!
Sort of.
We went to the doctor for who
knows why!
We went to a small room on the
second floor, main hallway. It had
lot of wooden couches arranged
around a small, magazine piled
table.
“You stay here,” my dad
whispered, handing me his phone.
Then my parents went to the counter to get their
bands and get admitted.
I watched as the nurse came and showed them to
their room.
I stared down at the phone.
I walked over to the nearest vacant seat.
The silence made me nervous.
I leaned back in the couch and played each game
that was mine on the phone. At one point I forgot to
turn off the sound.
“Beep Boo, Boo Bap, Bap Beep!”.As soon as the
sound hit the deep dark forever lasting silence
(broken by me) I was dead.
I probably looked like a petrified wierdo (which I
was).
Gladly about a second later my parents came back
in. I smiled, did my snoopy dance in my head, got
up and ran over.
Just as I was about to slam the phone into my
dad’s hand and run away from the silence, a.k.a.
graveyard, my dad pulled us out, down the hall and
whisper-exclaimed, ”Now to the next!”.
I almost melted there and then.
“One more!”
“I’ll be with you.” He simply stared straight ahead.
I relaxed a little and let out a sign of relief. I quickly
remembered why, we were here and flashed a smile
at my mom.
I’d almost forgot about her.
We soon reached another room, similar to the other
but bigger and with bathrooms in the waiting area.
My mom went upto the counter, talked for a while
My Baby Brother
Aashika Ansu,
daughter of Ansu Suseelan, 1998 AE.
and came back. She had a bit more time until she
had to go. After seating herself, she whispered
with my dad for a while.
All I know is that I wasn’t interested!
After a couple of minutes my mom was called
away. She soon came back and talked with the
doctor for a while. I wasn’t really meaning to but
I caught a few words, but the one that affected
me the most was “pregnant”.
I literally almost fell back! I know what that
meant and I was excited.
I turned to my dad and whispered. “Dad, is
mom pregnant?”
“Maybe.” He gave me a little grin and I knew I
was correct.
Throughout the following months my mom had
to go to many tests. We soon found it was a boy!
I still have the proof on this very day.
After nine months it happened. Sangeetha
aunty and I were in the hospital waiting room.
She turned on the TV so I could watch K.C.
undercover.
Sangeetha aunty soon told me my dad had
called! The baby was born!
I skipped down the hall, into the room. Even
with the door closed I could hear the baby from
the other side of the hallway. As we entered
Sangeetha aunty covered my left eye.
If I looked to the left, I would see blood. A little
too much blood.
If I looked to the right I would see the wall.
I chose the wall.
I jerked my head to the right to a wall full of
cabinets.
My body slowly moved forward and turned
to the left. My excitement built up. My body
slowed to a stop.
I quickly looked to the left. It felt like forever,
that is until I saw him.
My baby Brother!
His cheeks and hands were bright pink.
His hands were so small, probably a couple of
centimeters. His skin was covered in hair, especially
his face. He had a lot, and I mean a lot of hair on
his head too. His cute bangs could probably have
touched his chin if they were straightened out.
It was better that I can imagine!
“What’s his name?” I whispered.
“Aagney” my dad whispered, “His name is
Aagney.”
After about an hour or two I had to leave. I was
sleeping at Sangeetha aunty’s house and going to
school tomorrow with Sathya. He’s also in my class.
I really wanted to skip school but too bad for me.
Atleast I could skip Kung-Fu!
I’m so dead! Aagney is one now and he’s killing me!
Yeah, he’s still cute but pretty naughty!
He pulls hair, walks around and yells so loud! He
won’t go to sleep at night unless I’m there.
I regret having a brother! Here’s one lesson I’ve
learned, don’t ask for anything. I promise you’ll
regret it sooner or later. Gaah, ouch, got to go!
Promise you won’t ask for anything, okay? n
The San Mateo Horseman, Fall 2017 3
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34 35
Sheefa Sweth, 1989 Arch.
n
Jestsaying...

36 37
Service to society is service to God
Parvathy Ayyar, w/o Dr. R. Subrahmonia Ayyar, 1953 Civil
Humanity is a mosaic of various communities with
their distinctive features of traditions and cul-
tures. This variety is the beauty of humanity with its
underlying unity binding them. People cannot exist
in isolation. Everyone must be a member of a group
where he/she finds a commonality with that group.
The progress and development of such a group is di-
rectly proportional to the participation and contribu-
tion of the members belonging to that group.
Now, the question arises how as an individual, one
can effectively contribute to the progress of that com-
munity. Talents differ, abilities differ, resources vary.
There is certainly scope for every mem-
ber to contribute his/her might , only the
willingness and readiness matter.
When I was growing up, l had a passion
to shape myself as a qualified profession-
al. Having been born in Kerala, I could
see around, women in considerable
numbers pursuing higher education and
many had made a mark in their career as
doctors, executives, noted academicians
and administrators. The teachers in my
school always encouraged the students
to achieve and reach great heights. I tru-
ly considered it a pride and privilege to
go to school. I had dreams to reach diz-
zy heights. My father, although highly educated, did
not believe in female formal education. Consequently,
my education was discontinued after completing the
pre-university programme. I left no stones unturned
to convince my father but met with little success. All
the same, the seed sown within the four walls of the
classroom was always within me.
After my marriage, my husband who is an academi-
cian (he was the former dean of IIT Bombay), sup-
ported me to continue my education. After raising my
family for ten years, I continued my education. The te-
nacity to fulfill my desire is created by my school, my
loving and excellent teachers. I firmly believe the role
of a school is very significant in shaping the charac-
ter and career of the students. Without neglecting my
family responsibilities, including the care of my ailing
mother -in-law, household set up and the education
of my two daughters, I continued my education with
avid interest and acquired a Master’s Degree in En-
glish Literature and a Bachelor’s degree in education,
which enabled me to get a faculty position in one of
the local colleges in Mumbai, where I rendered my ser-
vice for Thirty Years, till my retirement. My classroom
was my Paradise. It is not lost, the reminiscences of my
joyous interaction with my students provide immense
happiness even now.
A teacher meets a microcosm of a society in the class-
room. It is a platform that provides an opportunity to
interact closely with the students. As a teacher, I was
able to listen to their problems and help them if I can
by giving timely counsel besides helping them in their
academics. I am glad that many of my
students have made remarkable contri-
bution in their chosen fields as doctors,
engineers, academicians and adminis-
trative heads. They in turn render ser-
vice to others wherever they can. For
example, some of my doctor students,
take good care of me. They even hon-
our my request to render service to the
needy, if such a need arises. I am confi-
dent to get help and service from them
for any good cause. The best investment
I ever made is my student community,
who unhesitatingly rush to extend a
helping hand.
I must place on record, the co-operation
and support of my family, my mother-law, my dear
daughters, my husband in supporting my career as a
teacher. God is kind to bestow His blessings on my two
daughters to get the best education possible, starting
from school education at Kendriya Vidyalaya Powai,
then IIT Bombay and could make a mark in their ca-
reer. The institutions are abstract, it is the people who
breathe life into them. They had wonderful teachers,
the school provided academic ambience, company of
good friends, all part of a community, because of which
they could achieve what they have today. They in turn,
contribute their service to the community wherever
possible, apart from their profession, for which they
are recognized and rewarded. Community is a struc-
ture the stronger the structure, the better we are. Let
us all work together for progress and upliftment of our
respective community, finally leading to a harmonious
global community, full of love and friendship and free
from bigotry, hatred and enmity. n
The best
investment I
ever made is
my student
community, who
unhesitatingly
rush to extend a
helping hand .
“
An artist at heart
37
Jazeela Sherif, 1987 Civil.

38 39
To,

40 41
Thampy Antony Thekkek - Actor, Poet, Author and Activist.
n

42 43
Eternally,
in our hearts...
Prof. N. Radhakrishnan
Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Passed away in October 2017
Regi P
1989 Civil
Passed away in December 2017
John Thomas
1981 Mechanical
Passed away in
December 2017
Dr. C. P. Kuriakose
1947 Electrical
Former DTE and Professor of Dept of Electrical Engg
He named the Alumni Association “CETAA”
Passed away in March 2018
Lysamma George
1979 Civil
Passed away in
April 2017
2017-2018
Nisad A.A
1986 Civil
Akhil Georgio Mathew
2014 Electrical
Lali Khan
1994 Mechanical
Passed away in April 2018
Ranjit Kurian John
1989 Civil
Passed away in July 2018
Philip Koshy
1989 Electronics and
Communication
P. B. Ramkrishnan
1981 Electronics and Communication
©quotesurf

45
Then...
Adding gravitas to
the Taj Mahal!
1979 ECE
Evergreen Memories - Alumni photo album
Now...
CETAAs from across the
Globe, Alumni meet

46 47
Evolving Engineers
1987 ECE
Brink of a new era
1987 Mechanical
Early Techs!
1979 Telecommunications

49
Livewires! 1988 Electrical and Electronics
We are all in it together for CET!
1989 B.Tech

51
METASIS Information Systems delivers
enterprise-class solutions in Big
Data, Data Science, DWH & BI, Cloud,
and Data Management to enable a
company’s decision prowess. METASIS
exemplary talent acquisition brings
global expertise to business projects,
while its software development
services ensure seamless business
functions.
Since its inception, METASIS has
consistently created and delivered
game-changing Big Data, Data Science
and Cloud solutions for several global
entities.
Cliques, Ladies Hostel 1989
Trend Setters
1990 MCA
Technocrats in the making...
1991 MCA

52 53
Millennial Engineers
2001Telecommunications
The legacy continues...
2014 Civil
Looking to the future
2001 Electronics
CONNECT | EMPOWER |TRANSFORM / Memories from the meet

54 55
CONNECT | EMPOWER |TRANSFORM / Memories from the meet

CETAA | Global Meet 2018 | Silicon Valley
56

CETAA Souvenir August 2018

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