In today’s world, where everything is just a click away, it’s hard to imagine a time when communication meant waiting days for a letter, and staying informed required a trip to the local library. But for those of us who lived at R.N.S. Hostel during the early ’90s, this was our reality—and it was this very lack of instant connectivity that forged the deep, enduring bonds we share today.

The memories we created in those pre-social media days are irreplaceable. Back then, our connections weren’t virtual; they were visceral. We relied on posted letters to hear from our families, and the rare opportunity to use the hostel’s landline was a precious lifeline to the outside world. There were no cell phones or internet devices to keep us constantly connected. Instead, we immersed ourselves in the here and now, forming friendships that have lasted a lifetime.

Our access to information wasn’t through scrolling but through reading. The local library was our gateway to the world, and we had to seek out knowledge in books and newspapers, not in the endless feeds of today’s social media. It was a different kind of learning—one that required patience and effort, and one that made the information we gained all the more valuable.

I often wonder if the students today still make the trek from the hostel to Tiger Hill just to catch the sunrise or if they still take blankets to Shrubbery Garden to read under the open sky. These were the simple pleasures that defined our time at R.N.S., moments that connected us not just to each other but to the beautiful surroundings of Darjeeling.

We’ve witnessed the most remarkable technological evolution—from tiny black-and-white TVs to the tiniest HD-quality screens that fit in our pockets. Yet, I can’t help but feel that if we had all these devices back then, we might not have formed the same strong friendships or created the same lasting memories. The very absence of these conveniences forced us to engage with each other, to share our thoughts, our dreams, and our lives in ways that today’s instant communication often overlooks.

I’m not sure if the hostel still stands, but the moments we shared within its walls remain etched in my heart. Those were the best days, days when we lived fully in the moment, unencumbered by the distractions of modern technology. And it is those moments, those friendships, that I will carry with me forever.