This professor’s journey of making it to his dream interview has netizens hooked

In an interesting thread, he narrated how he finally reached Bangalore from Calcutta in time and qualified with flying colours. However, netizens have not got enough of the “filmy” plot.

My performance in BSc (Jadavpur University) was quite well & my MSc admission was guaranteed there (and I already got into some institutions including IITs). But it was a dream to pursue integrated PhD at IISc (that was and is still the top choice for students after BSc) (2/n).

— Samrat Mukhopadhyay (@SamratLabMohali) June 7, 2022

Mukhopadhyay, now head of the biological sciences department at the IISER, tweeted about how excited he was for an integrated PhD programme at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bangalore. After completing his graduation from Jadavpur University with high marks, he was sure to make it to the prestigious institution.

I reserved my seats on the trains quite early. There was no direct train from Howrah (main station near Kolkata) to Bangalore – Howrah to Madras (now Chennai) by Coromandel Express and then Madras-Bangalore Mail (total travel time including a stopover in Madras ~ 36 hours) (4/n).

— Samrat Mukhopadhyay (@SamratLabMohali) June 7, 2022

“My exam went quite well and I was certain of getting shortlisted for the on-campus interview that was scheduled to be held from June 16-18, 1997. I reserved my seats on the trains quite early. There was no direct train from Howrah (main station near Kolkata) to Bangalore – Howrah to Madras (now Chennai) by Coromandel Express and then Madras-Bangalore Mail (total travel time including a stopover in Madras ~ 36 hours),” he wrote.

While he remained hopeful, having failed to receive the call letter for the interview, Mukhopadhyay thought he had lost his opportunity. “I was waiting for the interview call letter that didn’t arrive even on June 13 when I was supposed to travel. I was very frustrated,” he explained. Feeling dejected, Mukhopadhyay said he had cancelled his train reservation.

The interviews were scheduled to start on June 16, 1997. On the 16th morning, I was at home and was totally frustrated. My dream to study at IISc had shattered. I was unable to accept this & was preparing myself to continue at Jadavpur University or join an IIT for my MSc (6/n).

— Samrat Mukhopadhyay (@SamratLabMohali) June 7, 2022

“The interviews were scheduled to start on June 16, 1997. On the 16th morning, I was at home and was totally frustrated. My dream to study at IISc had shattered. I was unable to accept this & was preparing myself to continue at Jadavpur University or join an IIT for my MSc,” he wrote about his backup plans.

However, fate had different plans. He did receive the letter on the day the interview started. Although he thanked the postman for the letter and understood it was a postal delay, Mukhopadhyay admitted, “I was even more disappointed to receive the letter”.

I thought I had missed a big opportunity. Interviews have already started and it would take nearly 2 days (~ 36 hours) to reach Bangalore. Then I looked at the letter carefully; my interview was scheduled for June 18 at 9 AM – I had about 45 hours to reach Bangalore (8/n).

— Samrat Mukhopadhyay (@SamratLabMohali) June 7, 2022

Bogged down thinking he had missed a golden opportunity, he still opened his letter. Only after looking at it carefully did he realise his interview had been scheduled for June 18 and that he still had about 45 hours to make it.

“I had got just 2 hours to catch the train (Coromandel Express) from Howrah Station. I immediately decided to make the best of this opportunity,” he continued, saying his frantic packing made his grandmother and sister anxious, with both his parents at work.

I was out of my home within half an hour & headed to the station – my sister telephoned my parents. I reached Howrah Station; my parents arrived from their offices. The problem was I had canceled my train reservations. I had a railway pass but no reservation (10/n).

— Samrat Mukhopadhyay (@SamratLabMohali) June 7, 2022

I got into the coach and my excitement percolated into my fellow passengers. They all inspired me and cheered me up throughout my 28-hour train ride to Madras. I arrived in Madras (Chennai Central Station) on the 17th quite late in the evening (12/n).

— Samrat Mukhopadhyay (@SamratLabMohali) June 7, 2022

And even though he reached the station on time, with a cancelled reservation he was still in a fix. “I had a railway pass but no reservation,” he wrote. But thanks to the train getting delayed by three hours, he managed to get a seat after showing his letter from the IISC.

While it might have looked like that was the end of his worries, the ordeal was far from being over. The first train got delayed, making him lose his connection train in Chennai. “Madras-Bangalore Mail had already left. I was going from pillar to post to find out how to travel to Bangalore. There was a severe storm and a power blackout,” he recalled.

Finally, I located a train called Guwahati-Bangalore Express that was stranded on a dark platform almost isolated from the main station. In the midst of lightning, thunder, and tumultuous rain, I managed to board the train (14/n).

— Samrat Mukhopadhyay (@SamratLabMohali) June 7, 2022

But the slow speed continued to worry me throughout the night. In the morning it sped up a bit and someone told me we’d arrive in Bangalore before 8 AM. Every stop made me worried about whether I’d be able to make it to IISc before 9 AM. It was going down to the wire (16/n).

— Samrat Mukhopadhyay (@SamratLabMohali) June 7, 2022

But much to his relief, he did manage to spot another train, the Guwahati-Bangalore Express, to take him to his destination. With severe rainfall, however, the train did not start for several hours and he was still stuck in Chennai. Finally, when the train left the station its slow speed only increased his anxiety and fear.

I reached near IISc gate at ~ 8:55 AM but now I was unable to cross the busy intersection of C.V. Raman Avenue. 😃 I requested traffic police to help me cross the road. He stopped all the vehicles and helped me cross the road (18/n).

— Samrat Mukhopadhyay (@SamratLabMohali) June 7, 2022

To his relief, the train sped up a little and he reached Bangalore, only 30 minutes before his appointment. Huffing and puffing and armed with all his luggage, he somehow made it before the interview panel. “My interview went for ~ 40 min and I did very well. It couldn’t have been better,” he wrote.

There were several professors (~ 15) on the interview panel and they must have been a little surprised to see my backpack and I was short of breath. My interview went for ~ 40 min and I did very well. It couldn’t have been better (20/n).

— Samrat Mukhopadhyay (@SamratLabMohali) June 7, 2022

The interview panel was highly impressed with my performance and I was asked to appear for the final round of interviews on the 18th afternoon. The final interview went very well and I was offered integrated PhD admission at IISc – I was ecstatic and triumphant! (22/n)

— Samrat Mukhopadhyay (@SamratLabMohali) June 7, 2022

PS. Younger colleagues/students:
This was a pre-email pre-internet era. Air travel was almost unimaginable even for the well-off. In fact, I didn't know there was an airport in Bangalore 😁. After this incident, IISc started telegram call letters the following year (1998).

— Samrat Mukhopadhyay (@SamratLabMohali) June 7, 2022

As the committee tried to find out what happened, he showed his letter that had arrived by post late, only to find out it was sitting “at the wrong post office for over 2 weeks”. But his determination clearly made him stand out. Eventually, he did make it. “My life changed 25 years ago. I don’t know what I’d have done had I not made it to IISc. Whatever I have done in my life, I owe it to IISc,” he concluded.