The invitation from two of our friends for a visit to so-called red light area Zeejik was turned down by 3 of our group members fearing unexpected mugging threat or other unpleasant events!
No visit to Amsterdam can be complete without visits to Royal Palace, Anne Frank House & Rembrandt Museum &they can be labelled as Major Tourist magnets!
Boat Ride in Amsterdam canals is a must do item for every visitor to this Metropolis, though the monotonous architectural style of the buildings lining the canals can be judged by some at least as Eye-Sore!
It was indeed painful to realize that the so-called beautiful city of Amsterdam and its people had to be victims of religious bigotry and had its share of being victims of egoes and lust for power of vested interests for hundreds of years!
Though I was feeling excited at the prospect of seeing a new country in Europe other than Paris & France, I had not bargained for the totally unexpected and un-welcoming attitude of border guards and immigration controls viewing indians as unwelcome guests!
The processing of visa papers for Indian students during the period between 1975 and 1983 were not without the share of the problems and vicissitudes since having label of a poor nation was like an albtaross round the neck for indians to travel to countries of their choice!
Summer months can be really rewarding for cash strapped foreign students and opens up job opportunities albeit for 3 months! However restrictions of entry visas and exit visas for foreign students from so-called poor countries was a harsh reminder that this world is for the rich and not for the poor!
Though I was able to be one of the Top Five performers in the DEA or Master Degree Examination of Reproductive Biology Scheme of Paris University, I was disappointed or dejected to learn that being a foreigner excluded me from the List of Scholarship Award of Paris University ! Equality has different meanings, Perhaps?
In the meet-ups we cried our heart out to address so many ills of Indian society and concluded that unless we had a really transparent and powerful democracy without loop-holes, the country could be wrecked by power-hungry selfish and loot-oriented and corrupt demagogues and vested interests
The meet -ups of indian students in the cite campus was really an occasion that most participants seemed to enjoy greatly though most of the participants were certain that such discussions or debates aimed to enlighten and educate and inform the millions of indian public will be just lines drawn on water
It did shock me tremendously that even an atheist Existentialist Guru shared some private thoughts that 99.99 % followers or fans will have difficulty to Digest!
It was once in a life time opportunity to have a one to one chat with a world famous personality and protagonist of "Existentialism" Theory ,Mr Jean Paul Sartre , in the premises of the French Student Hostel in Cite Campus and his confidential confessions really shocked me greatly too
The students and residents of Cite Campus at Cite Universitaire can consider themselves to be blessed since the authorities were visionary and far sighted and professional to take into account all the curricular and extra curricular needs of the residents and to provide necessary support facilities to enable the aspirants to realize their aims and dreams too
I am not sure whether there is any other student campus in the world other than Paris Cite Campus that offers such varied educational and cultural and personality development and sports facilities for students at such a bargain price!
Life in Cite Campus can be a boon for residents and there are umpteen avenues for entertainment, outdoor activities and extra curricular activities for all who aspire to achieve greater heights in life though one should be prepared to face critics and enemies stoically and logically when needed too
Little did I realize that there can be some bad apples in the heap of apples and that some indian students can act like crabs trying to bring down those who try to escape from the bucket ! Yes I learnt that success and fame can make some compatriots jealous even in a foreign land!
I am not sure whether there is any Student Campus in the world that offers such wonderful opportunities for students from all over the world to live a dream life with all amenities and facilities in an organized and academic environment.Hats off to the planners and management of such a wonderful facility for their vision and care and love for the student community as a whole
Though Paris is known for high valued fashion shops and highly priced restaurants and eateries, it is also a place where one can have a decent living with modest income too
It was fatherly affection and care of Professor Panigel and brotherly support of direct research supervisor Dr Jean Claude Challier that solved the road-blocks for kicking off the training in human placental perfusion or artificial human uterus idea floated by Professor Panigel and initiated me to a world of research of bound-less and exciting possibilities
I was delighted to see that the students of Paris University were blessed to have a wonderful study and research environment and the fact that those who excelled in their studies and research were duly honored and rewarded with incentives and scholarships was another bonus too!
Encounter at the Police Headquarters in Paris with the friend from Cameroon and the heart-wrenching scenes and struggles of perhaps millions all over the world exposed me to the truth that western world is not free from virus of racism and discrimination and disdain for the poor and helpless millions and all talk of humanity and compassion for the poor and helpless are perhaps just lip service and hogwash!?
Though I had expected that renewal of residence permit will be hassle-free, the behaviour of the personnel at the Prefecture and the un-welcoming or even aggressive ambience of prefecture was revolting and smacked of plain racism!
Except for the University Regulation of all certificates and testimonials of the applicant to be in French Language, the processing of my application as a Doctoral Research Student at University of Paris VI was without much head-aches!
The free ride in company of Professor Panigel through the dream land of Paris was an unforgettable experience that cannot be defined in words and the explanation as to why Professor chose an Indian student as his research disciple took my breath away If only there are such divine persons as professors in the world, there is no need for angels, perhaps?
It was with enormous glee that I accepted the offer of Professor Panigel to drop me in his car at the Cite Campus and had a rapid tour of some of the Vintage Points of Paris Metropolis in company of a distinguished Professor and Scientist too
It was a totally unexpected and frank and casual and informal interaction with members of Research Team of Professor Maurice Panigel at the University headquarters in Jussieu and this helped me in driving away all butterflies in my stomach and assured me that I should be able to do justice to the confidence and trust placed on me by by my mentor and Professor SK Lal of Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi too
It was a real surprise to meet a Legendary Scientist and Professor and to see his humility and Hospitality in welcoming a Foreign Research Student and making me feel totally at ease in a foreign land. I had never imagined that this encounter with such an eminent professor in Paris was opening the door for me to the challenging world of Biological and Medical Research and making me feel that I too can aim for the stars
The one thing that woke me up while making the First Trip to Jussieu, the University Head quarters of Paris VI and to the Laboratory of my Research Guide, Professor Marurice Panigel was the slogan "se taire dest d'etre complot" inscribed in Big Bold Letters in the form of a graffiti in Jussieu Campus! That slogan with an implied meaning " to be silent while watching a crime or injustice and doing nothing to fight that crime or injustice is to be colluder to the crime" summarises the Reason for B...
The Cite Universitaire Student Campus in middle of Paris Metropolis appeared to be a heaven, at first for any student with all sorts of facilities at arm's length for a comfortable stay and for extra curricular activities. It was only later that I realized that Indian Student hostel had its own share of afflictions that Indian society back home seemed to be infected with!
It was this sleepy town Besanco, and Bouloe Campus and Language Centre that equipped me with the necesary expertise in French Language and made me feel confident that I can overcome the Language Barrier that once seemed insurmountable! I am deeply indebted to French Government authorities for providing me all the support for facing the vicissitudes of life in a foreign land with meticulous care too
