But it is the journey of a young Kashmiri who wants to pursue his
dream of studying at an elite institution abroad. This is ala Jules
Verne; a story by Nasir Faridi, an AIT alumnus, who has now penned
two-years of his experience at AIT in a new book titled “Away in the
land of smiles: An AITan’s Diary.”
The journey begins on one cold winter morning in 1994 -- in fact on
New Year’s Day, when Nasir left his hometown Doda, in the Indian
province of Jammu and Kashmir. The 200-kilometer long journey takes him
to his first destination, which was the city of Jammu, the winter
capital of his province. Next evening, a train takes him to the Indian
capital of New Delhi. And a day later, a flight takes him to the Thai
capital of Bangkok. Finally, an airport limousine takes him to his
academic capital -- the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT).
But this final destination is actually the first step in a two-year
stint full of hard work, studies, assignments and seminars coupled with
cultural shows, welcome parties, dormitory dinners and journeys to the
countryside. The travails of a hard-working student, opportunities to
study in an international environment, and exposure to cutting edge
research are all encapsulated in this 36-chapter book spanning nearly
250 pages.
AIT is more than academics and research; it is a way of life. This way
of life is dutifully recounted by Nasir. At AIT, one learns various new
things -- ranging from computers to bicycles. Stories of mishaps and
humour, savouring international cuisine on every occasion, travelling
to various scenic parts of Thailand mix very well with his narration of
classroom activities. The experience of interacting with multilateral
organisations and international faculty are narrated with aplomb in the
book. Also recounted are tales of his class fellows, batch mates and
friends.
Between the blonde Hungarian senior to the bubby Chinese classmate are
hidden tales of friendship. From watching Hollywood and Bollywood
blockbusters to discovering the travails of ‘thesis defence’
encapsulates the magic of AIT.
The book includes many sights and sounds which the AIT community can
recognize. Faculty members like Dr. Preeda Parkpian, and Prof. Shunji
Murai; and other members of the community including Dr. Jonathan Shaw,
Executive Director, AIT Extension; Mr. Karma Rana, the Institute
Secretary; and Mr. Somchai of the then Office of Media and Information
Service (OMIS) are mentioned in the book.
The book is not only a testimony to AIT’s doting faculty, helpful
staff, and the camaraderie among students, but is also a testament of
of the detailed diary and notes of a diligent Nasir Faridi.
A proud father, a proud husband and now a proud AITian - that is Nasir
Faridi for you.
Released on 1 May 2014, this book is available at Amazon:
http://amzn.com/1499358652