Pianist Stephen Devassy had an ebullient time at NSS College, Ottapalam in Kerala, with music, fun, art, friendship and much more. In his words, two years in the college earned him memories worth ten years. He belongs to the 1998 pre-degree batch. He also completed his Eighth Grade Examination conducted by Trinity College of Music, London. Stephen now holds a record as Asia’s highest scorer in solo piano exams from Trinity College of Music, London with a score of 92.2 per cent.
What did college teach you?
In the midst of fun and frolic, I started giving a thrust to music. At the age of 16 I was able to take to music in a serious way. In the first year of course, I made my first tour abroad.
Your proudest moment in college.
I participated in the Ace One youth festival for wind western harmonium. I was a bit scared as I was competing on harmonium for the first time. It was an inter-zone competition, which is considered the best in Kerala and I came first in the zonal level. When I returned to college, everyone showered accolades on me.
Any embarrassing moments you have had in college?
We took part in a music programme at the college after rehearsing the whole day. A power failure turned things upside down as soon as we got on to the stage to sing. The crowd did not waste a single moment and started making catcalls, which lasted for five minutes. There wasn’t a generator there. Another one happened while staging a ‘play’. Only at the last minute could we arrive at a subject. And it was ‘playing cards’. On stage we simply played cards for ten minutes to the accompaniment of catcalls in the background.
How did you score points with the opposite gender?
I was a shy boy and was too nervous to talk to girls. Then, some girls who studied with me in school joined my college and our friendship continued. Still I was active in promoting the love affairs of my friends.
Was bunking a part of your college routine?
I used to come to college for programmes when I was a ninth/tenth grader at school. To see college students loitering around the campus was fascinating for me. So when I joined college I was very much interested in bunking and loved spending time with friends on the campus rather than attending classes. We were a group of five friends who had studied together since LKG and I had a wonderful time with them. We quarrelled often and patched up immediately. To play tricks on each other was also part of our routine. All the more, they were interesting too. I was smart at everything except studies.
Did you have any rifts with professors? Why?
I was not a trouble-maker at college. But I remember an interesting incident. While sitting in the class one day, I was tapping on the desk. The teacher caught me and said I could sit in the class if I wanted to study and go out if I wanted to tap. I replied that I needed music and went out. Of my teachers, I am greatly indebted to Rajan sir who influenced me a lot and inspired me to join the NCC.
Where did you hang out in college with friends?
The time I got from bunking classes was utilised to sing or sleep. At other times, we enjoyed a delicious parotta-sambar combo in the college canteen.
What extracurricular activities were you involved in?
We had a college band there. I participated in competitions. For around six months, I was an active NCC cadet too.
— meera.manu@newindianexpress.com