Heavy Heart

I just returned from Lonavala, after seeing my son Pranav, who sought admission into an engineering college, SINHGAD INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, just 3 days back.

And I do not know what is this happening to me after dropping my son there which is barely 90 km away from our home,here in Mumbai,INDIA.

Here, it is not so common that kids/children go to residential schools, when options are available locally. Unless there is a strong reason like getting admission to highest rated engineering schools like IITs (Indian Institute of Technology) or on the other hand if you are not getting admission in local colleges.

When he was getting admission in the local engineering colleges, affiliated to Mumbai University, which is one of the topmost multi-disciplinary University, many people thought it a sheer madness to put him in residential engg. school that falls under jurisdiction of Pune University.

And, that there will be this talk why he has gone to other place? ....was it because he could not get admission to local engg. college?....and what if this newly started (2004) college has many students with marks in the range of 50-60%?..what will be the standard of the college?

So to settle all these questions I thought I may start blog and thru which I shall try to express my feelings.

First of all, this college, SINHGAD INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, located in picturesque hill station Lonavala,90km from Mumbai, is a residential campus having a Hotel Management & Catering Technology school, a Management school offering BBA,BFT,MBA,BCA,MCA, a Pharmacy school, and a Public school. It's a huge grand campus on the footstep of Sahyadri Hills.It's a love at first sight when you see the site!

2004 is the first year of the college and hence many are apprehensive of its standard and ranking. All I can say is that this college is being built by a group having built huge colleges in Pune and they have been categorised as 'A' grade collegs/s by Maharashtra state government.So, one can expect them to repeat the same feat here also .When you see the kind of infrastructure already existing and also what is planned (and under construction) you have no reason but to believe the Management/Promoters of the campus.

Secondly, climate at Lonavala is very good, always cool compared to Mumbai, which is hot,humid and sultry. My son Pranav has asthama and I thought it would be nice if he could live there.Infact Pranav also thought the same way.When he saw the campus he made up his mind to be in this college.

Thirdly, Pune University is also Five-star rated University like Mumbai University.Therefore,I shunned the thoughts that pune University is inferior to Mumbai University.Infact I spoke to few students who are in or were in Pune Engg. College, Maharashtra's top rated engg. college and affiliated to Pune University and are now in Mumbai, either working in Mumbai or studying in IIT,Mumbai. All of them have vouched that Pune University is in no way inferior to Mumbai University.

Forthly, environment in Pune/Lonavala is conducive to study, has far less distractions than Mumbai.

Syllabuswise, it seems that at least in Pune you don't have to study Computer Programming and Communication Skills in the first year.But then Pranav is very good in both: Computers and written communication skills, and he would not lose anything without them. On the other hand in Mumbai,you have 'Mechanics' in the first semester only.This is the one subject/paper in which many students fail to pass. Luckily in Pune this paper is in second semester. I think by that time students get used to the grind of hardwork and are able to cope up with difficult work.

These are all enabling factors which prompted to put him in this college,which Pranav also seems to like the college much.It is, infact, we the parents who have started experiencing strange feeling of living at home without kids . At first I thought how Pranav will be able able to stay without parents....but now I know that with lot many friends from all over India he will be able to enjoy his stay in new environment.It is infact we,parent, have started feeling strange without him at home

Hope to write more on this.

Prashant Koli