NITCAA| RECCAANIT Cochin - A perspective |
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| Written by Administrator |
| Monday, 12 May 2008 00:00 |
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RECCAA Cochin - A perspective Regional Engineering College Calicut was established in 1961. The College was initially started in the buildings of a local polytechnic at West Hill in Calicut. Within a couple of years, it was shifted to the sprawling greenery of the hills and valleys at Chathamangalam, 21 Kilometers along the Wayanad route. The first batch of students came out of the college in 1966, thus starting the regular flow of Alumni from REC Calicut. Cochin, the Queen of Arabian Sea has a concentration of Engineering activity. It came to be known as the industrial capital of Kerala. It became imperative that the Alumni of REC Calicut also joined the crowd of Engineers in Cochin for nation building. Even though quite a few alumni of REC Calicut were present in Cochin, they existed scattered like any other alumni. It was in 1983, that a few of them, got together for a noble cause. They were motivated by the strong feeling of solidarity with a fellow classmate. They were led by legendary figure - Professor P.M. Jussay, who later on became the heart and soul of RECCAA Cochin. Suma Joseph of the 1972 batch was ill. She needed money to get treatment abroad. When news of this urgent need was conveyed to the Reccaa fraternity, they reacted with response. The needed funds were immediately raised. Suma could make it to UK. The close interaction in working together for a common goal, prompted the members of that team to continue the association further. They formally gave birth to the Cochin Chapter of the Regional Engineering College Calicut Alumni Association, in abbreviation RECCAA. Thus Cochin RECCAA was born on a 15 th August, the independence day of the nation. Prof P.M.Jussay was rightly elected the president of the organization. Those who were instrumental in the formation of this great venture are Sudhesh Jain, who came, from Punjab and made it rich in Cochin, M. R. Devadas, an electrical genius, Francis K Paul an industrial gaint and A.M. Sadick, a business magnet. RECCAA Cochin soon found that their membership rolls were bulging. Those who spent the glorious part of their lives at the campus at Chathamangalam, realized that they have something unique in common. They shared the wonderful details of the campus life with all its glory. They had in their inner selves, a great tradition and culture of REC Calicut, deeply imprinted. This feeling of oneness created a deep bond between them that prompted them to do great things in the banner of RECCAA. In the years following its inception, several active members contributed immensely to RECCAA Cochin. Prof K. M. Bahaudhin who, imparts an REC atmosphere to RECCAA, Prof. Babu T. Jose who, became the brain behind it all, Prof Sankaran Nair who, edits the RECCAA Times, Prof Ramakrishnan mathematical and calculative and Prof Bharathan who was always ready with a song or two. RECCAA Cochin organizes regular get together of its members. On these occasions, the RECCAA family recalls memories of their campus life and float on in those moments. They talk about some nostalgic moments of those times and feels the force that binds each Reccaaite to one common theme. 26 th January of every year is celebrated as the RECCAA day. Reccaaites from even far off places come to Cochin to participate in this carnival. What awaits them is a day full of fun and frolic. The good old professors and the naughty old students who faced each other within the four walls of the class rooms, now, mingle here with abandon. Each RECCAA day starts with a formal meeting. This is followed with recollections of those glorious moments on the campus. At this moment, ladies and children move out for their programs - painting contest, lessons on house keeping etc. The afternoon is lively with games. Earlier venues of RECCAA day are Abalamedu House, Bolghatty Palace, Maria Park, Aluva Palace, St. Mary’s Island, Periyar Club and Fort Kochi Beach. May day is one occasion when Reccaites will have one evening full of joy with a feeling of oneness. The formal meeting is followed by entertainments. The independence day of the nation also happens to be the birth day of RECCAA Cochin. This is another occasion, which calls for an evening get together. The RECCAA family thus gets together three times in a year. Apart from these gatherings, the RECCAA executive committee meets every Monday to look after day to day affairs, Monthly meetings are hosted by the members. Any Reccaa function Commences with the singing of the RECCAA anthem. The lines of this great song were written by Prof Jussuay. Music was composed by K.P. Alexander. RECCAA Cochin has a fine orchestra. The talents that imparted music in REC - Calicut during student days, now join together at Cochin to create mesmeric moments at RECCAA functions. Alexander, Avarachen, Jayaprakash, Regil Das, Anuraj and Jayandhan lead the orchestra. RECCAA ladies and children lend musical support to them. RECCAA Cochin has a very strong ladies wing. They play a complementary role in all RECCAA activities and add colour to RECCAA functions. RECCAA Cochin has an office of its own right in the heart of the city, opposite to Ernakulam Town Railway station. Besides this corporate office, Cochin RECCAA has a site office at its housing complex in Kakkanad for management of its construction activities. Reccaa Cochin took on and completed several projects till date. Cochin RECCAA‘s housing projects are the envy of many in the country. When many Reccaaites converged on Cochin to practice their profession, they started feeling the acute housing problem in the City, Cochin RECCAA took upon itself to make a collective effort to solve this problem of its members. Thus the first RECCAA housing scheme was launched 1984. Reccaaites responded with enthusiasm. Over five acres of land in Padamugal was acquired. A well laid out neighborhood was planned on this hilly terrain. Plots in this neighborhood were allotted to members. Now, RECCAA enclave is a highly sought after posh area of the city. The success of the first housing scheme was overwhelming. This prompted RECCAA Cochin to launch a second one. The result was a marvel in country planning in the depths of the valley in Kakkanad. The RECCAA Valley has sixty three plots spread over thirteen acres. The hallmark of the valley is a wide avenue in the middle of the area split through the centre by a boating canal. With these unique features, this housing complex is slated to become a landmark in the city. RECCAA Valley became a reality due to the unstinted efforts of Joseph Philip A. G. Avarachen, K. P. Alexander, Mathew M. Mathew and many others. With the passing of time, flats became the order of the day at Cochin. Cochin RECCAA also moved with the times and this gave rise to RECCAA heights, its third housing scheme. Back in 1992, Reccaa Cochin realized that the nation was on the threshold of an industrial revolution and felt that it was their prime duty to give a fillip to the industrial activity in the state. So, Cochin Reccaa decided to organize an industrial exhibition at Cochin. With boundless enthusiasm and dedication, and with a little bit of apprehension, RECCAA Cochin went into their first venture in this field. What evolved was a well laid exhibition complex at the marine drive. RECCAATEX–92 was a big success. It served as a window for interaction between various producer and consumer industries under one roof. The success of the exhibition helped RECCAA Cochin to acquire its office in the heart of the city. RECCAATEX-92 made a mark due to the hard work done and sacrifices made by many. Dr. P.V. Chandra Mohan was in charge of the construction, Chilprakash took care of the commercial side and Vijayaraj did the day today management. RECCAATEX-92 was the first public project taken up by RECCAA Cochin. The success of this spread Cochin RECCAA’s name all over the country. RECCAA Cochin decided that it should continue its presence in the field of exhibitions. So three years later Reccaatex-98 took shape again in the Marine Drive. The exhibition achieved the desired result. Mohanaprasad was the organizer of the event. Jayaprakash also contributed immensely. With the conduct of the above expos, the world became aware that Cochin Reccaa could organize and conduct exhibition successfully. So, when the CITU wanted to organize an exhibition, in connection with their All India Conference, RECCAA Cochin became an automatic choice. On the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium grounds, Cochin Reccaa created CITEX-97, a mammoth expo on industry and science. Chandramohan, Jayaprakash and Charles toiled to make this great. The living memories of this great show are still ripe in the minds of the people of Cochin. RECCAA Cochin occasionally organizes tours for its members. These trips help to strengthen the bond between fellow Reccaaites, apart from being educative and recreative. The first of the trips was to Kumarakom. Joseph sponsored the cruise in Kuttanad waters. The tours in the early days included a picnic to Kodanad Wild elephant training centre sponsored by K.C. Poulose, Excursions to Pathiramanal, Athirapalli, Peringalkuthu, and Sholayar, capped by a liner cruise to Lakshadweep islands. RECCAA’s two day tour to Kakkad tunnel site included a drive into a tunnel shaft and a fabulous bath in the river nearby. Arrangements at the tunnel site were made by Charles. The two day tour to Parambikulam wild life sanctuary was more like an expedition into the woods and a nature camp. During the two day trip to Coorg, the RECCAA gang stayed in Sathish Babu’s Estate. The trip included visits to Naganahally wild life sanctuary, and a nearby Tibetan settlement. The entire tour was sponsored by Sathish. RECCAA Cochin also made a four day adventure to Goa through Konkan Railway. The tour was dominated by beach bath and boating. Charles and John helped with the arrangements. The activities of RECCAA Cochin were documented in news letters, published three times in a year. The first one came out in May 95, started and sponsored by Sudesh Jain. Prof K. Sankaran Nair is the Chief Editor of the publication. RECCAA Cochin responds sharply to call for help from fellow Reccaaites. They are aware of the deep bond and motivated by the strong feeling of solidarity with those shared the traditions of a great institution with them. Realizing this, Reccaites in distress, wherever they are, approach Cochin RECCAA for support and soothing. Reccaa Cochin’s Charity has reached out to them on several occasions with relief. Cochin RECCAA has shown to the world that the students who learned lessons together in class rooms and shared life together in the campus can continue that association outside in the wide world to achieve great things together. With the strong feeling of oneness to unite them, their reverend teachers to lead them, Reccaaites in Cochin did yeomen service to the society and achieved laurels for themselves. It started as mere Alumni Association but has now become a thrusting movement, growing ever stronger. *************** |
| Last Updated on Monday, 12 May 2008 21:30 |
