AG Books

" I don't quite grasp the concept of AG Books. I mean what is it? I understand that Autograph (AG) Books with respect to a college final year student, are regular-but-with-a-fancy-cover-attached-and-you-pay-triple notebooks that students give one another, when they finish college to write something. Ya something. But what do I write? Do you want me to write about you? Really? Isn't that a bit like posting a FB status with just the words 'comment on me' and tagging everyone? Or do you want me to write about myself? Do you wanna know more about me? Ore confusion!

I think in all fairness, the AG Book-er really means to say to the AG Book-ee, "Err this is a book. With lotsa pages in it. Forget the fact I gave it to you and asked you to write. Write whatever that comes to your mind. Anything you want. Anything that you can come up with your knowledge of the universe. Anything. And yeah, one tiny, small detail. Make sure they are all relevant to me, alright? (grin) "

Ok. If you know the person, its kinda ok i guess. I mean, yeah I will write something and you will get it now, what you could not get in the past 4 years of being with me. 

But it gets especially tricky when you don't know the person good enough. I mean, I understand you talk to a friend of mine and you are my classmate and I was standing near him, when you gave him the book. But no, I m not the widowed mother of two children and you really don't have to be polite dear. 

Yes. I know the picture ain't related much to the article. 

But again, 'Politeness' is a reciprocal privilege when it comes to AG books. So the ones who write, always write good, sweet things. Not necessarily true things. Just good and sweet stuff. You will never come across a AG book that reads,

"Dear owner of this book,

May you rot in hell for all eternity :)

Sincerely, 

The guy who you never passed the bit to, keeping it for yourself and so failed his internals :-@"

The true Indian way of doing things would be to look at the previous writers and write your own tweaked version of what they write. Doing which will tell you every AG Book would contain the following :

1. There is atleast one six-page-writing, with xoxos, love yous, mmmuahs thrown in, best friend girl for every girl.
2. Everyone wishes you for "a bright future", but doesn't want you getting a higher package than them in your campus placements. True story.
3. The owner takes in strenuous efforts and writes an introduction in the page put in to separate the content from the bounded cover. Some greeting card stuff.
4. The recession version of AG books is an old diary. Has an antique look and let writers choose their own day of the 365 days!!! woohoo!  
5. Everyone gives their contact details. Their address, phone numbers, DOB and all. And you are forced to think if attaching a resume is a good idea.

Now had Mark Zuckerberg not got his 'spark' from Harvard Connections in the Social Network, I m pretty sure he would have thought of it in his final year while writing AG books. Facts apart, I still write AG books for the love of other people. Yes I found slam books and +2 TNEA counselling application forms similar, but unfortunately I am an altruist. 

All the best!!

Have a bright future!! :-D "

Vishnu Gowthem.