Abhi, better known as Ananta to his followers, is from an ancient legend of The Editorial Board. Some say he is a myth, while others believe he lives among us. His website and Instagram page steadily reflect that he is growing in popularity. He is you and you are him. He has had seven incarnations in the past four years, this is a humble attempt at summarising each for the curious reader. Here I present, the Sapta Avataras of Ananta:

1. Whiplash (Shy Boi Abhi): Ah the good ol’ days when Abhi was a smol, new Eddie. He was the quietest and most soft-spoken Eddie recruited that year. From calling his seniors “akka” and “anna” to always talking to everyone sweetly and softly, he was the definition of paapa. Alas, this was a very short-lived phase!

2. The Certified Meanie: This quickly followed the Shy Boi. The transition was so swift that it surprised all Eddies at once! Characterised by savage replies with a dash of sarcasm, he was predominantly known for teasing, roasting, pranking and messing with his seniors, juniors and batchmates on the Board.

3. Abhi Gamer: The ever-present and always-existent avatar of Ananta is his gamer-self! Having been an ardent fan of playing video games since primary school, he keeps his game face on even to this day. Fun fact: Abhi is very proud of having conquered the whole of South India in the game ‘Asva: A War Strategy’!

4. The Food Aficionado: Abhi has a very particular taste in food. His all-time favourites include all foods with a sour flavour in them. This includes kiwis, mangos (ripe and unripe) and sour candies. He loves sour-dough pizzas! In addition, he is very passionate about the definition of “masala dosa”. Don’t ever give Abhi a dosa without the red chutney and call it a masala dosa!

5. The Overachiever: Abhi is a man of many talents! His achievements range from winning the ‘Rashtriya Prashasti’ for having been in the Scouts to topping his class consistently. He is an artist with great panache and a coder with great skills. He is the king of painting and an exemplary web developer. This multi-talented man is full of wisdom and is the best source of advice for his peers and juniors.

6. The Fast and Furious Driver: Most of Abhi’s interesting stories are about his driving. He knows how to drive nearly every vehicle in existence, yet, his skills are questionable. To give you an example, he managed to make my sad old scooter go at a speed of 110 kph once! He has also driven his car up the Agumbe Ghat in third gear and has had a Superman moment with a scooter. These are feats that can only be achieved by the immortal Ananta!

7. Our Beloved Chiff: This year, Ananta is here as the Editor-in-Chief (or Chiff, in short) of The Editorial Board. Some of his attributes include seamlessly conducting meetings, organising events, getting the magazine work done and having gossip sessions with the Art Section.

All in all, Abhi is an incredible Eddie and Chiff. The Board is tremendously lucky to have had him for the past four years! His dedication towards his work and his patience with everyone are inspiring and admirable. Here’s to the legacy of Ananta, cheers!