Madras Christian College

Our place is out in Tambaram East, right on Velachery Main Road. It is a huge area, almost like a forest right in the middle of the city. We have a lot of old buildings scattered around, and there is so much greenery that you often see deer or different birds just hanging around the paths. It has been here for a long time, so the trees are tall and provide plenty of shade for the students walking between the halls. Being in this part of Chennai means it gets quite hot, but the breeze through the trees helps. We have different departments and residences where people live and work. It is a bit of a walk from one end to the other, so most of us are used to getting our steps in. The gate on the main road is always busy with people coming from the station or getting off the buses. Inside, things feel much slower. We try to keep the old architecture in good shape, but with the salt in the air and the age of the stones, there is always something that needs fixing. We have our own routines here, from the morning bells to the quiet of the library in the afternoons. It is a bit like a village where everyone knows the shortcuts through the scrub jungle. We do not make a big fuss about things, we just keep the campus open and functioning for the students.