BAJA a four letter word that creates magic in lives of those who experience it. A phenomenon that has  changed  several  lives,  that  has  given  a  meaning  and  a  direction  to  many  directionless  souls, ignited  a  passion  amongst  young  hearts  and  most  importantly,  made  us  learn  and  transform  into
better professionals and human beings. 

Although it may just look like a high profile student competition but it does not stop there, it has got a lot more to do with. A project where budding engineers leave behind their individualities and work together as a unit bonded with emotions and sentiments for each other and filled with the passion of doing something meaningful out of their monotonous college lives. An event where students shun their usual mug up and score practice, put their brains at work and soil their hands to make a four wheeled  beauty  whom they  nurture  as  their  own  kid.  We  fight,  we  cry,  we  work,  we  starve,  we suffer,  we  enjoy  and  we  bond  to  do  what  is  beyond  the  imagination  for  some.  For  some  it’s  an opportunity, for some it’s a joke, for others it becomes a skill set on their resume but for whom it matters it becomes a reason to live, a passion.

BAJA comes to us as a medium to channelize our exuberance which gets wasted in the boorish and impractical education that we sail through our college lives. It all began in September ’06 when the first  BAJA  SAEINDIA  was  announced.  We  registered  for  the  event  as  team  NSIT  RACERS.  The  work progressed and soon got selected in BAJA SAEINDIA. Soon we learnt our first lesson, politics. With internal competition in the institute, there ensued a months long war of words and college politics. Our spirits, strength and more importantly our bonding as a team kept us sailing and a passion with which we feared nothing. And without even knowing, the transformation had begun in us. The first prototype of the vehicle was a glimpse of what was to come in the next twelve months, and yeah, it was  only  a  glimpse.  Slowly  and  steadily  we  progressed  with  our  vehicle,  with  late  night  parties(no need to mention what parties I speak of), abusing the organizers out of our frustration though we never  meant  most  of  it,  fighting  with  each  other,  eating  and  drinking  together,  playing  pranks,
getting  injured,  working  in  the  moonlight  under  the  effect  of  hibernal  winds,  celebrating  life  as  it came by at each and every moment. Soon the car began to take shape and so did our emotions and sentiments which stand feerless. It had become more of a daily routine of our lives. The journey to
pithampur, the preparations and the visit has ever lasting memories in our minds. It gave me my first job, an internship, a several dozens of friends and abuses from my team mates for screwing up the powertrain which made us lose out at the event, but it literally didn’t matter, except, for some it was
a  reason  to  pick  on  me.  The  participation  as  a  team  has  many  fond  memories  which  would  last forever in our minds and our heart.

For some, it was enough of a stimulus, but for me, it wasn’t enough, I wanted more and it had to be different. Soon came the opportunity in the form of students committee. When asked whether we would  be  interested  to  join  the  organizing  committee,  the  answer  was  an  immediate  and  obvious
one, yes why not. It had a totally different perception to it as now we were there on the other side if  the  line.  Working  for  the  benefit  of  the  student  fraternity,  helping  them  with  their  doubts, pacifying them when under stress and being someone whom they could count on; really took allot
from us. However, the satisfaction and the joy that we got when we brought peace and a smile on their  faces  is  what  that  kept  us  driving  even  through  the  hardest  of  times.  On  the  other  hand, dealing with people of high stature as that of presidents, directors and managers in the corporate world, is in itself a more of a challenge as one has to be precise and bang on target. It brings a chasm transformation in one’s personality and the whole outlook of dealing with things. Although I met and befriended with many people both students and professionals, some of which I would like to name are Dr Vora, Bala sir, to speak of a few, but one name is what I can never forget in my life, that being  Dr. N Karuppaiah, Convener, BAJA SAEINDIA 2009, whose remarkable strength of character and the desire and passion to serve the students in the best possible way, is what that made it all happen even when the economy had fallen into pieces and the in hand budget had crippled. He still kept it going against all odds and I would say, he truly has a heart of gold. The BAJA SAEINDIA 2009 event as a whole was far better than the maiden event, more organized and more challenging. Looking at the teams lined up for the endurance gives you a sense of achievement, the efforts that each one of us had put in it, to make it happen, finally pay off at the sight of it.

BAJA has made my life change beyond expectation and that too without even me realizing it. It has transformed  me  from  an  extreme  introvert  to  an  extrovert,  turned  me  from  crude  to  a  humble person, added a plethora of emotions to my life, given me a head start in my career and made me
into a professional from a student and a better human. It makes men out of boys.

Lastly, I would request a favour from the youth participants, guys, no one would bring a change for you, you have to be the change. If you can, we would like you to join us in this revolution. Just for once,  try  doing  something  from  your heart  and  soul,  keeping  your  brains  aside,  and  you’ll  see  the difference.

Signing Off

Ankur Anand