The guardian of time

If there were more than 24 hours in a day, Ashwani Koul would have still wanted more. A glance at his chock-a-block daily routine may leave an impression that the man needs to take a break once in a while.

If there were more than 24 hours in a day, Ashwani Koul would have still wanted more. A glance at his chock-a-block daily routine may leave an impression that the man needs to take a break once in a while. But Koul, the warden of Lajpat Rai Hall and Reader at the Biophysics department of the Panjab University, does not have time even to think about a break.

His day begins at five in the morning. 8220;On weekends, I get up early to take part in the plantation and cleaning drives,8221; he tells Newsline. He has recently been elected as the secretary of the PU Teachers8217; Association, adding more notes to his 8216;to-do8217; list.

From six to eight, he chalks out the day8217;s plan, takes phone calls. And in between makes sure that his daughter is ready for school in time and that his wife, who works with a bank, reaches her workplace before 10. That done, he goes to the hostel for an hour.

8220;There are several things to be taken care of in the hostel at this hour. Location of rooms, file work, assigning leaves take a lot of time. This is also the time when students personally approach me with their urgent problems. Otherwise, I8217;m always available on the phone. The maintenance of the hostel is also taken care of,8221; says Koul, who leaves for the department at 11 8220;unless there is a meeting with the DSW8221;.

For lunch, he heads home but also makes it a point to check hostel food regularly. 8220;I stop by the hostel during meal time to see if students have any complaint about food or other things. I even eat with them once in a while,8221; says Koul.

By 2.30 pm, he is back to his department for practical classes. If he is free by 5, he meets the DSW or checks things at the hostel.

For about two hours from five in the evening, Koul spends time on his research work. A few minutes at home, and he is back at the hostel at half past seven. 8220;I meet my students over a cup of tea. We have an informal session where they share notes about their studies, personal lives and other things. It8217;s nice to interact with them at a personal level,8221; he says.

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Occasionally, he inspects the rooms also and then heads back home at 8.30 pm. After dinner with family, he goes to bed by 10 or 11 pm.

About his busy life, he says: 8220;My mother used to say if you destroy time it destroys you. I don8217;t want to be one.8221;