 "Photo: courtesy of Indian Student Association")
They bonded over cigarettes outside of Chopin Hall.
"We would meet up, discuss our research, tell stories and smoke together," said Pratik Dhar, biology teaching assistant and mutual friend of the two slain Indian doctoral students. "We had a smoking friendship."
Dhar said that's how the victims became friends.
Chandrasekhar Reddy Komma and Kiran Kumar Allam were found dead in an Edward Gay campus apartment early Friday morning.
Despite the end of the semester, students have mobilized to share their memories of the two students who they say will be sorely missed.
"Komma was a proper gentleman - he was more soft spoken," Pratik said. "Kiran was fun loving. He was always excited every time you see him." Early this year, Komma returned to India to get married.
Students in his class said they would tease him about life as a newly wed.
"He was shy, but you can tell he was really happy," said Cori Giarrusso, communication disorders junior. She said Komma would joke about how his wife was still learning to cook.
Close friends described Komma as light-hearted and full of school spirit.
"Out of all my friends he was the most lively," said long-time pal of Komma, Praveen Aluri, calling him somewhat of a prankster.
Ume Segaram, another of Komma's friends, said his laughter was contagious.
"He makes everyone laugh with his laughter," he said.
Similarly, Dhar said, Allam was the one would always greet you with an exciting story.
"He was really fun," agreed Danielle Ward, Allam's friend and student. "There was never a boring moment when you were with him."
Allam was a teacher's assistant in an organic chemistry class.
"Basically, [the TAs] taught us everything. He was the reason I passed the class," Ward said. "I was failing, and he made sure I got on top of it and didn't drop."
Ward said she remembers a playful Allam who would joke with the male students in class.
"He would always joke about not smelling the chemicals," she said. "He said, 'you'll go impotent."
The two were both described as popular and well-liked.
Mathew Gilbert, biochemistry graduate student, considered Komma to be his "best friend," but said he was unsure of Komma would have said the same in return because he was a "popular guy."
Gilbert said Komma often tried to introduce him to Indian culture - something he was proud of and wanted to share with others. Komma invited him to see Indian movies and offered him Indian food, Gilbert said, then made fun of him when it was too spicy.
Dhar, who is also an Indian student, said he has received lots of calls concerning the two deaths from friends who already returned to India for the break.
"Everybody liked them," Dhar said. "They all were like, 'I can't believe it.'"
Department of Chemistry Chair Andrew Maverick said Allam's research was focused in organic chemistry.
"All I can say is that we were very lucky to have him in the department, and everyone was very saddened by his death," Maverick said. "You read about these things happening, but you never think it could happen to you or one of your own."
He said the Chemistry Graduate Student Council is organizing a fundraising effort to support the families.
Komma's doctorate research was focused on protein crystallography. He was preparing to take the general exams for his doctorate program.
Students remember Komma as a dedicated teacher who offered his time freely to help.
"He made the classes fun," said David Hargroder, political science senior and former student of Komma's. "He made the experiments we had to do interesting."
Hargroder said although Komma was busy, he never let students think they were bothering him with questions, adding that he often stayed after class for extra help.
"I always looked forward to the class because I knew it would be laid back, and we didn't have a dominating teacher who was all high and mighty," said Colin Kimble, University alumnus who took Komma's Biology 1005 lab in fall 2006.
The tragic nature surrounding the pair's deaths has left many friends confused and angry.
"I can't see [Allam] as having had enemies," Ward said. "Everyone loved him. But [the University] is calling it a targeted attack."
Allam's friend and fellow teacher's assistant for organic chemistry Rajib Mondal also could not fathom a motive, as suggested by Chancellor Sean O'Keefe at a Friday press conference.
"It's a very sad incident," Mondal said. "And it's really strange. I have no clue why someone would just kill him."
--- Contact Rebekah Allen an Allen Womble at news@lsureveille.com
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