I am beyond that!

A story narrated to me by my father, taken from a book by Osho and one of the finest short stories I have ever heard. My guess is that it will sound best in the original tongue, i.e. Hindi but I'll try my best to translate it. I am not sure if you will enjoy it as much as I did, but if you are even slightly inclined towards spirituality, I think that you will surely like it.

Once upon a time there was a woodcutter in a village. He used to go to the forest daily, cut wood, take it to the market, sell it and bring some money back home. On some days, he would find a Sufi saint sitting on the sidewalk (Sufi saints are well known mystics and wanderers and rely on alms and donations for their minimum livelihood requirements).

One day, when he was returning from the forest with the day's wood, he found the Sufi saint sitting there. The Sufi saint asked him where he was coming from. He replied that he was a woodcutter and had been going to the nearby forest for last many years for getting wood and then sold it in the market. The saint said, "You get satisfied very early. Just beyond this forest, there is a sandalwood forest. You can go there and get sandalwood and earn more money."

The woodcutter went beyond the forest and to his astonishment, found a sandalwood forest. Happier, he started going to this forest daily and got richer. After a few months, he again found the same Sufi saint on his return way. He thanked the Sufi saint for helping him get richer with the sandalwood business. However the saint replied that he was easily satisfied and told him that beyond the sandalwood forest, there was a silver mine and he could dig silver and become more wealthy.

As you may guess, the story goes like this, the Sufi saint's advice led him further to gold and then diamond mines and made him wealthier than never before. One day, when he was returning from the diamond mine, he found the same Sufi saint at the sidewalk. The Sufi saint enquired about his whereabouts and he replied, "I am mining diamond these days and have got even richer. Thank you for all your directions".

The Sufi saint laughed and said, "You are still very complacent. If you had gone a little beyond, you would have found something even more precious." Ignorant and frustrated, he asked the Sufi saint, "What can be more precious than diamond? What is it that is more precious than diamond and beyond it?"

The Sufi saint smiled and said, "I am beyond it!"

--
Inspite of being aware of all these "materially-enriching" resources, the Sufi saint was still not running after them. Pink Floyd has very appropriately put this running after "more and more" in Breathe as:

Run, rabbit run. Dig that hole, forget the sun.

And when at last the work is done.

Don't sit down It's time to dig another one.

Rather, the Sufi saint had achieved a state of existence where he had no attachments for these material allurements (I don't advocate mendicancy, but well that was the way of living of Sufi saints in old times!). He was able to selflessly direct the woodcutter towards these sources while staying a mendicant himself and finally bring him to learn what he had learnt – I am beyond everything and if you discover that I, which in spiritual jargon is also called as the Self (so self with an upper case S), you'll reach the destination of life.

Do you remember the last scene of the movie Guide, in which Devanand says, "Mein hoon, Sirf mein hoon"? There too, mein is indicative of the Self and not the normal egoistic self. And when that is realized, I guess there will be no further need to run.

The Irony of Advising

There are many instances in life when we find friend/relative/ colleague in problem and it comes down to advising. I have carefully observed these happenings, at least in my case, both while taking and giving advice.

Advising someone on something is kind of a hobby/pastime for many of us. It really feels so good to advise someone. The good feeling is associated with it because it satisfies our ego that – I know which the other doesn’t, or I am able to think/decide, which the other isn’t. I don’t undermine the good intentions behind advising that may help the troubled, but in most of the cases, these intentions are associated with the subtle feeling – I (I, the egoistic I) am helping someone with something. Or rather, I can help and the other needs help.

And when you somehow realize this I behind the advising, it is never the same, never that easy.

The first essential of advising is that before one does so, he must make sure that he has experienced what he is advising on. It shouldn’t be based only on logic and knowledge. Experiences must assist him during the advising work.

I remember all the late night sentimental chatting with a friend at IIT. And there went discussions about love, emotions, relations and what not. Discussing issues and advising each other was an essential part of all this and I daresay that at that time, my friend was at the receiving end of all these advices. Why?

Well, very simple! His life wasn’t going as simple and easy as mine. So he needed advice and I could give advice (really???). I really thought that I could advise because I have been through such a relationship (I am getting cryptic intentionally, but I have to be). I was partly wrong because though I had been through such a relationship, I hadn’t been through the tough part of it that used to bug my friend at that time.

I realized this mistake when time became tough for me the last summer. And I had the luck to be with my friend once again and lo, this time it was my friend advising me. And one can guess by now that things were going relatively smoother in his life (and not so smooth in mine).

So that was my first learning – Don’t give advice unless you have yourself experienced or underwent the situation. But life isn’t that easy, is it?

The second major time when I faced this dilemma was while advising two friends (A&B) on the career front. I remember the tension full days of placement time and how friends (A&B and others) used to pacify my negative thoughts – Be patient! The right thing will come for you at the right time. Or things like – It’s finally good that you didn’t get this company. Or - Your career mayn’t start perfectly but things will improve with time. All true but still crap. Crap because either the advisor is speaking out of logic or knowledge but not out of experience. And even if he is, he isn’t in the trouble at this moment.

By the time sides flipped and it was my turn on advising, I had experience, but unfortunately for my friends and fortunately for me, I still couldn’t advise. I observed that though I had steered through those though times, I was doing fine now (I guess life was generous on me). Now I couldn’t really step into the shoes of the advisees. To cut the long story short, I could assess things objectively, but not subjectively.

On the other side of the argument, I really see a point in advising objectively. The fact that the advisor can’t step into the shoes of the advisee actually helps. Being away from the trouble, the advisor can actually see the situation without involving any emotion/fear/selfishness.

To put it in an example, consider a man in a maze looking for a landmark that is really difficult to find because he can see things which only surround him and not otherwise. Such situations are added by complexity, frustration of being trapped and inability to come out (subjective situation). Getting out of the problem becomes primary whereas getting to the landmark may become secondary. On the other hand, a person looking the maze from above can easily guide him towards the landmark since he can see the landmark and the leading ways. Nevertheless, I would never be in favor of advising when it is not accompanied by an experience.

Another aspect of advice is its simplicity. Sometimes as an advisee, we tend to reject simple advices, because generally we know them. But it is always good to spend a minute on what the advisor is suggesting and without involving oneself (I know it is difficult), see how it applies. And I’ve generally found that it either works or at least gives us a better direction of thinking or going towards the landmark in the maze.

I would like to touch upon ‘the necessity of taking advice’. Most of the times, we are in a fix only when we are bound either by fear or temptation or emotion, all of which generally make us do things at times which we wouldn’t do if those were not there in the first place. If we can consciously observe it and try to get free of it, most of these requirements will automatically finish. And if at all, there still remains something to be advised upon, I believe we should only approach experienced people.

Finally a quote by Roman author Publilius Cyrus: Many receive advice, only the wise profit from it.

I hope you’ll take advice only from one who really can give it, and if you take, you’ll also benefit from it.

Rendezvous with Jeroen van der Veer

Jeroen van der Veer is the CEO of Royal Dutch/ Shell.

After coming to The Netherlands, we have been watching bigshots coming and meeting us in welcome or drinks sessions and that gave us (the new recruits) a feel of the importance they are giving to STI (Shell Technology India - for those who don't know about it, STI has been set up recently with a vision of 'Building the Future' [that too very fast as it seems :-P] and will be third major technology centre of the Shell Group after Rijswijk/Amsterdam in The Netherlands and Houston in USA).

But there came this bouncer – invitation for a dinner with Jereon van der Veer (just for information, J is pronounce as Y in Netherlands, so it’s pronounced as Yoron with lesser stress on ‘n’. And for the first time, we got a measure of the real seriousness with which Shell executive board is taking STI. Thinking of it, I realized that there are many people in the STI’s leadership team who had never met him before (and mind you, the experience of these people range between 20-35 years) and here we are, new born kids of the Oil Kingdom and getting an opportunity to meet with the King just in our third week.

And how can I forget the eyes of disbelief from non-STI Shell employees (yes, even bigger that :-O) – Oh, you are so lucky! And yes, the day after the dinner, when this experienced guy was giving some presentation and Jereon’s name came and he just asked, “Jereon, you know him, right? He is our CEO.” And you may understand how land escaped him when he found kids’ luck.

Another bigshot present there was Linda Cook, the CEO of the Gas & Power division, head of Shell Global Solutions and In-charge of Middle East and Asia. Just 26 years (yes, it’s just in the oil industry) and what a peak she is on. The grace in her demeanor and the sincerity in her speaking were worth observing. As they say it, as you go higher up the ladder, the way you manage your relations (other than your abilities) count a lot and this was one clear example.

And what to speak of Jereon? I know it is said that top seats can’t be acquired without the effect of Power and Politics, but I think it these are “additional” to what is really there in you. His body speaks of the confidence of his experience and position. And his voice is something that always talks of depth associated with people of dominance.

Very casually, he came and shook hands with a few of us and suddenly started bombarding questions. Poor us (well many were extremely poor) - we had a long time since we prepared for campus placements and again facing the same age old question – Why Shell? Why oil industry? Well, we had to speak good and articulately and all (On a different note, I don’t find this question fitting in picture at all. I met a guy who is there in Shell for last 33 years – at some good position and when I asked him about how he came in, he told us that at that time, Shell gave house to its employees and he and her wife needed a house badly, so he joined Shell. Funny but realistic!!!).

Anyways, there he came with a bouncer and I felt it was an important one. He talked about loyalty and asked what we thought about it. I just kidded, saying that, “Seeing you, we feel like staying in Shell for life”. But I realized that the question was for set of ladies standing on his right and I really found it so horrible for them not even to reply it with a simple answer (Yes, we believe in it!), leave alone a cracker! I can say he wasn’t very happy.

We had a three-course dinner with him. I had a good chance of sitting and chatting with him but I missed it in all niceties and behavior since I already had occupied seat on a different table.

There are some things worth mentioning. He started with his speech saying it will be a 10-minute speech and he finished in 9 minutes 50 seconds. On dinner table, he talked about his experience in Shell and told how he got a jump of 3 grades within 2 years in Shell (believe me, people take 20 years for this) – really remarkable achievement. He also said that don't be too too nice to your bosses because then only they maintain their humility :-P (well, not all do!). Finally, in his speech, he talked about making a technology centre, which is INDIAN, while retaining the Shell culture. I still don’t understand how a balance can be struck – may be he said it to just make us feel good! And it did feel good :-).

Overall, it was an eventful evening, giving us a lot of inspiration and the burden of expectations Shell has from STI (yes, loads of expectations and we are the pioneer batch!). More on Shell later!

Reservations

Hehe, finally one on reservations too! Sometimes this blog idea sounds pretty fool given that the Supreme Court orders have already diminished the flames by quite a good amount (at least as of last two days). I may also be alien to many subtleties and concepts related to reservation for I don’t read newspapers much, but I think I have something to write which would be new, at least for a few.

Till I attended a course on Urban Sociology in my fourth year, I always thought that the fundamental behind Reservations is the lack of monetary capacity on the part of most people from SC and ST. But the course gave another dimension to the whole problem, which dates many centuries back.

A large part of Indian history has seen people divided into four sects: Brahmin, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras. Everyone had their golden times; everyone but Shudras (as my papa fondly says, today is the time of Vaishyas – everyone is a businessman and everyone except a few has eyes on money only). Oppressed and denied of education, military, business or any other form of training. Oppressed for centuries.

And this oppression and denial have created a general lack of capabilities in their posterity. No doubt that these people continued with their traditional works and mastered in those skills (say goldsmiths, blacksmiths, cobblers etc.) but society denied them other opportunities. And this has created a difference that will take generations of reservations to overcome.

Reservation according to income level doesn’t make any sense to me now. Rather, a good scholarship system can be introduced for the poor who can make it to good academic institutions. So Reservations is about giving the oppressed an opportunity to equalize with the general people. Or in the Humanities & Social Science jargon, it is about creating a level-playing field.

When India got its independence, Sardar Patel (or was it Dr. Ambedkar, not sure) was the first person to introduce this concept and that too only in Parliament on a trial basis of 10 years. But then these 10 years always extended into another 10 years and the process has established a permanent place for these people in the Parliament. In the meantime, out of the same reasoning or the ‘vote politics’, reservations permeated and made their way into other institutions too. Worse started happening with more and more castes trying to get an SC or ST status. And many a times the status was given to wrong castes and identified too. But then this is India and once given, the government can only wager elections to snatch that status back.

So as far as I understand, Reservations is about giving them a head start, a 10m head start in the 100m race (in fact comparing the cut-offs for general and reserved castes in exams like IIT-JEE/CAT, it is a head start of 30-50m). I’ll take up some prominent issues one by one now and will try to make way to my conclusion:

1. 27% Reservations for OBC: As I already said, it is not possible for the government (or rather they won’t do it) to take back any SC or ST out of the reservation quota. OBCs, no doubt are backwards too so they too should be given an opportunity, but is it fair to give 5 people such a big head start in the race of 10? I doubt it. And even then, the start you give them is something to be decided because even Carl Lewis can’t expect to win a race against me if he were to give me a start of say 70m).

2. Purpose: It would be a cliché, but I’ll cover it nevertheless. An issue that will add good bulk of votes in the coming state elections and the next parliamentary too. And then it’s a situation of stalemate for other parties; they have to accept and sing in tune with Congress (and as my dad says, two bills always pass in the Parliament without any opposition – one is on introducing/increasing Reservation and the other is an increase in salaries of MPs).

3. Meritocracy: Many people argue that Reservations defy merit. True indeed but my dear ones, there were times when our forefathers suppressed them and it’s time they come back equal. Of course, we may logically deny taking burden of their faults, but tell me – if you were born in an OBC family, what would be your point of view. I don’t need to highlight the importance of equality and this is but an attempt to establish the same, though with vile purposes.

4. Reservations till eternity?: I always think that it will take the oppressed many generations to come to the same mental development level that the general caste people enjoy (no offense to the oppressed but I’ve seen the trend in results at IIT Bombay itself). So we have to take some burden of the mistakes of our forefathers, but we can’t expect to be oppressed throughout our lifetime. A man generally sees 3-5 generations in his lifetime and an attempt should be made so as Reservations don’t affect his observations of all these generations. Some policy has to be devised which assures this – may be no reservation for the posterity of parent(s) who already has enjoyed benefits of Reservations. May be something else if someone has better suggestions.

5. Reservations in Promotions too: Now this is height. You’ve been given an opportunity as good as a general caste person and now its high time you prove your mettle and lessen the difference marked by generations we talked above with hard work. Fundamentally too, it is unreasonable to promote a less deserving person over a more deserving one and let him boss around the latter. This is like giving a 50m head start to all 4 members of the team in a 4*100m race. You get the head all the time. Pathetic!

6. Private Organisations: They are the ones who will talk the most about meritocracy if attempts are made to enforce reservations there. And probably they are correct too because though these organizations have some responsibility towards the development and improvement of the society, they can’t afford to loose many millions and billions and many clients (including global) just for this sake.

I’ve talked about logics, profits and numbers. Finally, I would just like to consider the human side of it. Every one of us is selfish – the politicians are looking their vote interest, we are saving our ass and of course OBCs want this once it is announced. But we have to be wise, we have to be considerate. One can always deny reservation but I’ve always felt that ‘walking in other person’s shoes’ is very important. It is important because some people are in ditches and they need someone’s hand to come out. It can be a general’s, SC’s, ST’s or OBC’s but hand it has to be for the ditches are too deep in some cases. What if I or another general person were in those ditches? We would just be praying for some help as they are doing now. At the same time, I can’t pull that person out and allow him throw me into that ditch.

These matters are all subjective and some wise people can help bringing a balance for both sides, and it is possible. Only one thing is required. These people work with a purpose that is good, that is sacred, one that is good for the overall development of the nation and world as a whole. And if they work selflessly, it will just be left for the people to accept and follow rather than create more hurdles in the working of the country.

Media, Controversy and Faith

The Da Vinci Code is on its way towards Indian cinema halls. Consider these:
1. Rajasthan Patrika, a Hindi daily says that the movie is ‘about a secret code hidden in Leonardo Da Vinci’s most famous painting - The Monalisa. What can I say? Dude, we know yours is a Hindi newspaper but at least take the pain of reading the novel once before printing information just by viewing the first ad of the film, which obviously was made to arouse curiosity and was not related at all.
2. Aaj Tak, the pioneer among the news channels focuses more on the fact that the book shows Jesus taking wine (and believe me, it highlights this like anything) whereas it was mentioned only once in the novel and that too as a matter-of-fact rather than any claim.

Well, the media has a knack in uprooting controversies whether the roots exist or not. The movie has been received quite critically from Christians all over the world including India. I was watching news on another channel where it was showing some Christians on a hunger strike to ban the movie to be premiered and shown in India. A priest comments, “This book is trying to go against the Church and the God which ¾th of the world’s population follow.”
My dad was sitting there and he just made an interesting remark, “Hehe … ¾th don’t follow”. And though it was spoken with humor, it is a truth indeed. To follow Christ and to be a Christian are altogether different things. I believe that more than ¾th of the elder Christian population drinks. So, do they follow Christ (who Bible proclaims didn’t drink and according to which it is a sin)? I wish to ask how many people who were sitting on that hunger strike have actually read The Da Vinci Code. I am convinced that the number of those who haven’t read it will be more than ¾th.
And even if all that is there, if your faith is strong, what is the need to worry? A weaker faith will fail anyway in time of difficulties (or rather at the time of test). I was really surprised to see even Pope commenting and condemning it directly. And to me, Langdon’s words in the book seem so appropriate to mention here - "It's important to remember that the modern Church's desire to suppress these documents comes from a sincere belief in their established view of Christ. The Vatican is made up of deeply pious men who truly believe these contrary documents could only be false testimony."
In fact I forgot to mention that Aaj Tak also highlighted that Dan Brown has claimed that Jesus was married and that the ‘Royal Bloodline’ still exists. I disagree because the book is an interwoven work of facts and fiction and the ultimate product is only a fiction and not a claim. One has to understand that whereas all documents and rituals mentioned are accurate, all clues left by Jacques Sauniere, all cryptography involved and the final disclosure of Sophie as Merovingian were all but a matter of fiction. I doubt Brown claims that the Holy Grail is there in the Louvre as is indicated in the end.
A little confusion also arises from the fact that Dan Brown gives an accurate description of the documents, rituals etc. (he has mentioned it in the very beginning) and therefore at times, I also got a doubt if it is real or fiction. For example, consider the books that Teabing shows to Sophie for explaining Holy Grail. Now, are they real or fictitious? I take them for real.
And even on the controversy over Jesus’ marriage, I understand that the priests and bishops of Church would practice celibacy but I am not sure if they teach and preach the same. Is marriage an evil for Church and if so, how do they justify creation? Should a married person divorce when he understands Bible from his heart or when he wants to become a priest and serve God? Pardon me for allowing my mind to wander so randomly but I just wish to emphasize that being a married person doesn’t make any difference in your having godly attributes and Krishna is the best example for the same.
The controversies to me are baseless. Does it really matter if any Merovingian is alive on this earth? I mean the son/daughter of a good father turns out bad in this world. Here, we have a span of more than 20 generations. How does it matter even if the Priory of Sion is trying to protect them and why should the Church be bothered about them? You’ve to see where you stand, what you want to believe in and just do it!
I believe that Dan Brown has indeed created a work which shacks your faith but at the same time it is a good thing to understand another perspective. Does it really matter if Jesus Christ was ‘Son of God’ or a mere human being who achieved apotheosis in his lifetime? He had inspired many during his lifetime anyways and His life and actions are still worth emulating.

Disclaimer: The above post is not an effort to disregard Bible, Christianity or its practices. I am just trying to emphasize that one should try to penetrate the surface and get the essence rather than just allowing oneself to get entangled in the spider’s web. When we understand the true inner meaning/essence, we really follow and don’t remain as mere followers.

The Da Vinci Code

I was a little apprehensive about posting this entry, given the fact that I am possibly the last person on the earth (at least among the visitors of this blog) to read this novel. For long, I was trying to get my hands on it and considering its popularity, I finally decided to spend some bucks on it. And the book was worth the money, or rather much more than that!
Angels & Demons (A&D) is another Dan Brown’s that I had read before (a good one) and I found The Da Vinci Code similar to it in terms of the plot, characters and even the sequence. But there was so much more to it that never made me feel that the repetition made it boring.
Actually, the anagrams, cryptography, the whole Jesus Christ, Mary Magdalene, Sangreal and Holy Grail affairs were far more interesting and deeper than the ambigrams and running around across the Vatican in A&D.
In fact, the only thing where it lagged A&D was the suspense. Here, it was far too obvious, considering the knowledge and power that ‘The Teacher’ wielded and the fact that not another character developed till last few chapters seemed suspicious (except Bezu Fache and the clouds of suspicion created over him in the middle were actually a beauty to see). The ending too was a little disappointing – I mean Holy Grail wasn’t expected to be found but the way speed and excitement were built in the middle was something Brown couldn’t continue till the end (personal opinion).
I would like to shift the focus on the peak part of the novel (the purpose for which I wrote this blog regardless of the apprehension). And that is – the Holy Grail. Personally, I didn’t know much anything about it or related stuff and I doubt if anyone other than Christians (I doubt many of them would know much about it) or Christianity historians and symbologists would know much about it, but in this sense, it was a great eye opener.
The few pages in middle where Langdon and Teabing disclose fundaes about Holy Grail and Mary Magdalene were awesome. The sequences and secrets were quite convoluted but yet well-woven with documents, cryptology and etymology – especially when all were directly or indirectly, but in a simple way, related to the ‘sacred feminine’.
On the issue of Jesus Christ, I, in fact never knew that Bible proclaimed Him as ‘Son of God’ and always considered Him to be a member of the rare group of people who had achieved apotheosis in their lifetime. I don’t deny the possibility of him coming as an Avataar. If the Church deliberately changed the reality, I doubt that there was a good reason to do so because whatsoever was the case, I doubt it changes the basis of following Him. In that sense – “The divinity of Jesus was decided by the Council of Nicaea” as the book mentions invites intrigue, pity and humor. I also loved Napoleon’s quote – “What is history but a fable agreed upon?” and we are literally observing this in the history class books of Rajasthan where a lot of condemnation of Christianity and their practices have been introduced after the BJP Government came into power.
Cryptography & Sacred Feminine, Opus Dei & Corporal Mortification, Priory of Sion & Issac Newton as grandfather, Knights Templar & Sangreal, Merovingian and Holy Grail, Jesus Christ & Mary Magdalene – just too much! I am not much of a reader but I find that the book is a thriller beyond match, especially because it creates the fiction around facts and that too something that hits directly in the head. Hail Brown!

PS: Anyone who knows about some good source for related reading may let me know.

PPS: There is an illustrated version of the book available for around 600 bucks. A little hefty for us poor but a really good one with more than 150 pictures placed at relevant positions. It’s worth buying for those who can manage. I’ll just borrow ;-)

PPPS: I had seen the movie trailers before reading the book and I just thought that the movie will be a great piece as the novel is so popular. Mayank told me at that time that it is not necessary but I didn’t get it. Now, even I doubt that it would be easy to fill up this much information in a 2-3 hr movie. But the cinematography looks great prima facie, after all the locations too are mostly real. I’m going to watch it anyway!

The Pyramids are beautiful, aren't they?

This thought struck me an hour or so after my final presentation May 2. When I started thinking over it, I realized how this applies so beautifully in our context too.

Even after studying Chemical Engineering for the last four years, I daresay I'm fully confident even in a single topic and I am very sure that many of my batch mates would agree with me on this (I hope ;-) ). Mostly, it is about mugging before the exams and really not about learning. To reinforce my claim, most of us are out with a non-technical job.

For an average and sincere student, I think no one enjoys the engineering student life more than an IITian and when I say it, I literally mean it. I have seen people from other engineering colleges fighting real hard with labs, assignments and projects whereas most of us in IIT peacefully manage all these and yet again when I say "manage", most of the times, it is through faulty and dubious means.

I really feel that the real fight is in clearing the JEE (Joint Entrance Examination) and once we are done with it, not much is left to do. I mean it depends on what your aspirations are but the fact remains that you can get away without doing much. The placement results are too evidence to the above claim.

Having said all this, the life still remains busy for those who involve themselves into other activities, whether with a sense of aspiration or ambition. There is a lot of running around and time-management involved in all these activities. Albeit I haven't been a major success on the academic or non-academic front, I sure have done a lot of running around. And I really feel it helps. Because considering the academic scenario of IITB that I've presented above, I question myself if I have learnt anything in the past four years?

The answer is yes because o/w this post wouldn't have come. And to mention the two most important of them, they are 'common sense' and 'how to deal with people'. Not that I didn't had common sense when I came here and that I just 'deal' with people now. The 'common sense' here is used in a broader and holistic sense and it has surely developed over the last four years. When it comes to 'dealing with people', it is essentially about coordinating and developing this ability to work with them rather than the usual meaning of 'taking work out of them'.

Developing these two take time and more so experience and that's why I said that one needs to involve himself/herself into many things which give opportunities to experience. And as I said, a lot of running around is required. There was a very common observation across most of the final year students in the last few days – all of us were just feeling like running away from this place. I see it as the result of tiredness of all this running around and now that there was a window to escape, we were all going restless.

Like Santiago of 'The Alchemist', I felt like asking the old sorcerer about all these efforts and that were they really required. But I knew that the answer I ought to get was the same that Santiago got - "If I had told you, you wouldn't have seen the Pyramids. They're beautiful, aren't they?" The efforts and patience anticipated for these small but highly important learning is a lot and only when they are spent, we get to see Pyramids at times too. And the Pyramids are really beautiful too :-).

Have I stopped blogging?

Not really! I know that it is more than a month that I posted but these were the final days at IITB – full of treats and lukkha interspersed with things like exams, CD writing, late night chats etc. The life literally had become so frivolous that you couldn’t expect good ideas or happenings to originate (especially purposeful). Actually a few ideas struck, but then I was too lazy and "busy" to ponder and write on them.
Thankfully, I have written down some of the titles which I can expand upon even now and I’ll try to do so. It also came to my mind that I can post some fillers (some things which aren’t my original but are worth sharing and expanding upon in the blog) but again the laziness factor crept into the picture.
I hope that after writing all this, I’d be able to continue with the blogging at least for the coming two months when I am free and I am home.

Farewell Begins: H13

Well, it started with H8, but I'll be reporting a few special cases, the profiles of which were at my mercy (of course as a part of the profile writing group) and a few which just stand out.

All hostels in IIT Bombay have a tradition of celebrating its Valedictory Function (Valfi) for the passing out junta just before the final endsems. We have 10 UG hostels and therefore we'll be having 10 Valfis as such. At Valfi, we have hostel award ceremony, dinner and finally the profile reading. The profiles are prepared by wingmates, batchmates and close friends and all profiles have one thing in common - the whole profile but the final paragraph is pure bantering & slandering and only the final paragraph contains the goodie part about the guy. The profile reading is followed by a Q/A session and finally comes when the victim is allowed to speak his heart, popularly known as senti.

In H13, there were 5 stages set for a total of 110 'Batch of 2002' students. On each stage, it displayed photos (exquisite ones) of students whose profile would be read at that particular stage - I guess it was an innovative idea and it looked great.

Bajjy: On bottom of second column from left

I'll be covering Bajju and Jinx and this one is specially for our HLRC friends.

Bajju:

Bajju was my first friend at IIT. Our friendship grew stronger in the 2nd semester due to common thinking and common objects of criticism. I still remember the day when we returned on the first day of the third semester and we hugged like we were great childhood friends meeting after years. Over the years, our thoughts have parted ways and as he himself quoted in the senti part but then friendship seldom demands commonality in thoughts; all it asks for is acceptance and support of your friend.
Bajju's profile was mainly centered around his despogiri, chillergiri, kaminapan and his latest successes on the girl front. We were quite impressed by his openness and verity during the Q/A session where he talked openly on sex, his thinking, Bihari instincts, freebees, his girls, investment theory and its origin, the source of Bharpur and what not.

Bajjy: Standing tall!

The best part of Bajju's profile was his senti. For one, quite unlike the people who spoke before him (these four years have given me a lot, best part of my life and blah blah), he didn't sound cliched at all. He was speaking from heart and finally through eyes too. Yeah, even I couldn't believe he would do so and on top of it, he dragged Kundan too in the wet zone. He ended beautifully with Mehdi Hasan's lines:
Agar tu ittefaqan mil bhi jaye, Teri Furqat ke sadme kam na honge
(Furqat means separation; so it means that 'Even if we happen to meet again incidentally, the scars of our first separation will never heal')

Love you Bajjy!

Jinx:

This was another profile I thought I can't afford to miss. Jinx is one of the few persons in IIT who have been able to greatly impress me - his diligence, determination and strength of character all awe me. The only stain in his personality, I would say, is his above average ego, but then he expects the world to be at a much higher level compared to where it is (mainly in intellectual terms).

Jinx: The non-stop laughter!

His profile reading was simple and really lacked the masala which we had in Bajju's profile, but boss, the way he talked in the Q/A session was just too much to expect from a person like Ajinkya. Some glimpses:
1. When he came into IIT, he thought that the minimum criterion for any girl to become his girlfriend would be to be able to solve Physics problems at par with him. He found such girl in Shweta. And the best part was that he got a CC in the 1st Physics course, where Shweta I am sure would have got an AB or an AA.
2. The 2nd crush was PJ and well, after long discussions with PC about her availability and the feasibility analysis for taking any step further, it too resulted negative.
3. He and Pursha had designed a virtual feedback loop for Sneha (a painfully intelligent and diligent DASA). He had said once that he will marry Sneha, take her to Himalayas on honeymoon and will ditch her at the highest point and will come back for the good of all humanity.
4. Levels of give-up display of knowledge and brain usage by Abhinav Khare, one of the top rankers in the department.
5. The way he told Shweta (his present girlfriend) that 'Da Vinci Code' isn't available at IIT, so that he could meet her twice, first while taking and the second while returning back; his daydreams of walking from IIT to Sion and then propose her or to run after the bus she boards in and publicly propose her.
Phew! Those who were there couldn't stop laughing and this guy was speaking w/o even any further instigation. And the way he framed every case so vividly made his profile real special.

Hats off to you Jinx! Hope you get some good news soon!

Just another photo: Taken just before we departed!

Missing Daga

Deja Vu!

The last PAF of this year, undoubtedly the best PAF of the year and probably the best in IITB PAF History. The title was Deja Vu and it was probably the first PAF in the history with central theme as IIT. If I were to try and draw a good analogy, Deja Vu was to IIT as Rang De Basanti was to India. Those who have seen it would know what bullshit this blog is in front of the actual PAF. But this blog is to share the PAF with many people who visit my blog but are not a part of the present IITB fraternity.
The list includes a few who lament for not being in IIT, a few who have already passed out from this institute, some fools who missed it for something that in any case would be petty before it, some who just dabble through this litter of mine and my many friends from other IITs. A word of caution: It's going to be long but I'll try my best to make it as interesting & picturesque as possible.

Just to introduce about PAF to the ignorant souls, PAF stands for Performance Arts Festival. These are dramatic shows of huge scale and budget (not very sure but somewhere around 50k) with each PAF organised by 2-4 hostels. PAFs are seen as one of the biggest events at IITB and the hostels which lift the PAF trophy don't leave any opportunity to show their pride and abuse to the losers.
Deja Vu starts with a regular scene of how parents urge their children (in this case, a guy named Sonu) for taking JEE (IITs being one of the most promising institutes in terms of getting a good job and adding to their own reputation). Sonu works hard and faces a lot many expectations from his family, peers, girls and the old. The result finally comes negative and he finds that his parents have given up on him; he also faces insult from others. He just couldn't take it anymore and he commits suicide. The prod work is amazing with OAT (Open Air Theatre) in the centre and the IITB main road in the background.

IIT Main Road and OAT (green coloured structure) in background

The whole scene was carried out by an odd 12-15 people on a continuous and rotational basis; they served both as different characters in different scenes and as the objects of use as and when they come. Only 2 characters (Sonu and his father) were kept constant and the rest exchanged positions as friends, relatives, computer keyboard, gate, seat, questions of JEE paper and what not! The swift rotation of positions and designations was just mind-blowing and was the first hint of a great PAF in its unfolding.

First scene team

Sonu checking his result on internet

Sonu committing suicide

The second sequence is about a guy named Dumdum talking to his own self (heart/soul) about his failure at IIT (3 backlogs, lying to family, lost purpose etc.). Dumdum and Sonu are from the same town/city and it was Dumdum's father who bashes Sonu's father in the first scene when Sonu fails to clear JEE. He is one regular proud father of an IITian and as is in most of the cases, a regular mis-conceived father as well. Dumdum sees many issues with the students, their dreams & goals and thinks of making a PAF on these which his self flatly denies.

Dumdum (right) with his self

This guy is called by his BTP guide and the later sincerely tries to uncover the problems and also offers help to Dumdum for passing his course and BTP. There is a short appearance of a Cracku whom Dumdum hates/is jealous of. The scene shows so simple but so-true thoughts going on in Dumdum's mind when he talks to the Prof and when he sees Cracku. The scene was like a mirror - reflecting the self of almost everyone sitting in the audiences to some or other extent.

Dumdum with BTP Guide

A number of symbolic gyrations were fused into the middle of the PAF showing the guy unable to realize his purpose of existence - credit given to people and society who are but an obstruction in understanding the purpose of his existence and realizing it.

Attempts and failure in reaching the goal

In another scene, character sketches of 2 of his friends are drawn. One of them is a mediocre guy (who claims to share the dream of making big drams one day) whereas the other (Laddoo) is below-average guy (worried on the girlfriend front). The two dramatic dreamers (Dumdum and mediocre guy) have also submitted one of their works to Prithvi Theatre and are waiting for result.

Dumdum with Laddoo (left) and mediocre guy (middle)

The PAF here takes a turn with showing the making of a PAF within the PAF by 4 hostels combined - 1,4,9 & 11 (11 being the girl's hostel). Things like despogiri of an IITian male (and gleams of hope from a PAF with girl's hostel involved) and typical subjects of PAFs (freedom, riots, kingdoms or other contemporary issues) were sarcastically dealt with. And here begins the mockery of the previous PAFs of this year and of the yesteryears as well (they didn't even leave Kasturi - H4's last year's PAF which was universally criticized). Then begins the visualization and script writing of the PAF team – it is about a kingdom with all types of shady people from the king to the aam aadmi.

Conceiving PAF within the PAF

For some minutes, I couldn't understand the relevance of these scenes but later I realized it when our protagonist (Dumdum) turns up and urges these people to consider his script of a solitary & depressed IITian. This idea is unanimously rejected on the basis that who would come and see a PAF about a solitary IITian; it lacks the most important thing - masala.

At this point, I would like to mention Anshul Singhal's (I think the main person behind this PAF) studgiri. While the PAF team was visualizing the scenes of kingdom, they realize that an IITB PAF has to have choreo (dance) sequences and then they visualize having a salsa (sarcastically opposite to the kingdom PAF). A person there actually misses a step and also confuses the nearby couple and requests the sound box to replay the music. Now, I understand that a lot of effort is put into these things but asking for a replay in front of a crowd of 1000s can be nothing short of foolishness. And from nowhere, Singhal jumps into the sound box and shouts impromptu in the mike, "Band karo. Yaar, yeh choreo waale to hameshaa aise bhi puch hi maarte hain. Nikal jaao yahaan se (Stop it. The dance people always fail in performing up to the mark. Get out)." And the choreo junta walked out without it becoming a real puch. In one word, it was God-giri.

The salsa puch that was beautifully avoided

Anyways, our dejected Dumdum comes to his room just to find another source of dejection waiting for him - an XX grade, which means that he'll need to repeat the course next year. The mediocre friend who got a good job on the same day comes. He apologises for not being able to continue dreaming with him any further on the dramatics front (he is like the bakery shop guy of The Alchemist who thinks that he'll go after his dream after he has achieved and accumulated enough for a secured future). Our guy calls Prithivi Theatre to find the last ray of hope lost in the dark - a reject for their work.

Medicore guy gets a job

He pukes his anger and frustration on a freshman who isn't working for PAF as has a quiz the next day. The freshman complains the Authorities resulting in DAC (Disciplinary Action Committee) sitting on Dumdum (on a funny note, DAC is/was called as DISCO in IITD as I learnt from Five Point Someone). The DAC committees are notorious for their ways of handling such cases - the guy sitting in bulb light focus whereas the committee members in the dark (typical police station style) putting pressure on the offender from all sides by non-stop abuse. In the end, Dumdum gets an year of sit-back-at-home punishment, thus delaying his degree by one more year (a year delay already attributed to his 4 backlogs). This acts as the last straw in the camel's back and in all this depression, he decides to commit suicide.

Attempting a suicide

In an amazing turn of events, just as he was about to cut off his nerve on the right hand, his mediocre friend comes in his room and reports that Laddoo has committed suicide by jumping off from the Hostel's roof. In all these convolutions of thoughts and desperation, he continues with the suicide attempt but eventually fails. On the other hand, Laddoo succeeds (or in other words, fails his life).

Mediocre guy informs about Laddoo

Dumdum continuing with the attempt (symbolic)

The next scene is a sharp mockery on the Press who takes up an issue and use it for their own good. It also displays different attitude of people towards such a grave incident - a guy is running for getting some notes xeroxed and doesn't have time to respond, another doesn't want Press to make a story out of it, the third one doesn't know how people can get so depressed and the fourth one tries to give his expert comments as we see in the Fourth Umpire.

IIT Main Gate, Coffee Shack and the Reporter

The scene also showed some amazing Prod-shifting and revealed some mind-boggling Prod work as well. The main road of IIT is smoothly removed from both sides like curtains of a play and lo! We saw a live Coffee Shack (the most active place at IITB) - it was as if they had just removed the complete structure from the actual Coffee Shack site and put it up there at OAT for the PAF Performance.

In the next scene, our failed guy meets a psychiatrist (our Student Councilor) who tries to pacify and assure him of himself through various psychiatric techniques. But Dumdum doesn't feel what she says from within. And then enters our Cracku. Our guy is all :-O to find Cracku too coming for the psychiatrist's help who tells Dumdum that Cracku suffers from some Narcissistic Disorder. And our guy is suddenly all happy - Wow! Even Cracku has problems and even he is lost.

Dumdum with the psychiatrist

On his way back, he just thinks how amazing it would be if everyone has the red glasses similar to Mr. India's through which they can see the painful inner self of every person well-hidden into their happy exterior. The red lights are turned on and he sees pain in everyone's life; he realizes that this happiness and satisfied looks are mostly for the exterior demeanor.

Dumdum looking at "happy" people

Inner pain visible in the Red Light

In the final scene, the red lights are still kept on (meaning that the 'seeing-inside' work is still on). A lawyer puts Dumdum, his mediocre friend and his BTP guide on the vertices of a triangle and throws a number of questions before them, seeking insight into the matter. The crowd (including the real PAF judges) is both the judge and the observer of this trial. At every important point, the lawyer says to the crowd, "Point note kiya jaaye", which is received greatly by the chorus as, "Point noted". A very important point among these was giving more time to one's friends/classmates/wingmates - we crib that there is no time and there is heavy academic pressure but we always find time to see movies, play computer games etc.; there is no disagreement in the fact that these comes lower in priority than your friend's life. So both faculty and the student community should give more time to the student and that is the only way these sad incidents can be avoided.

Lawyer, Prof (left), Dumdum (back) and Mediocre Guy (right)

Just when I think how gripping the whole PAF was, I realize that it exceeded at least 15 minutes from the given time limit and not even a single guy made any disturbance - we were all stuck to our seats just waiting to see what happens next. The PAF team got a standing applause and rounds of hugs from friends and appreciators. And I can understand why it made such a deep impact - there was something for everyone, some character for everyone.

Appreciation and felicitation

The two places where I think improvements could have been made were lights (mainly the moon - I found the light people fighting hard to focus the moon and move it as characters moved; rest lighting was good) and voice overs (again perfection is difficult when you have too many characters). The one perfect in all senses was Shantimrigyam - our first year hostel PAF, but then the script was masala kingdom once again.

All said and done, it still stands as the best PAF I have seen in IITB. A formal thanks to Hostels 1, 4, 9 and 11 for giving us such a performance before we pass out of this institute - there could be no better ending to these big dramatic projects and performances as far as we are concerned.

And they say it is 7*

Had a dinner with two persons from Shell - John Hoppe and Tom Hyde (the person who took my interview during the recruitment process) and it was in Renaissance - one of the best hotels in Mumbai.
Well, I have been to the place before and that was a pre-recruitment dinner with the UBS people. That time we (all shortlisted guys) were all into making an impression on them and were trying to hear all they say too because it could have proved useful for the interview. In all this, we had to ditch our concentration on the most important thing, i.e. food. When I came back, I had to order a Maggie in the hostel and well, as my friends say, it was a shameful thing to do. The UBS interview was just an icing on the cake in negative sense - a sad end to a sad happening.
And within two months came another invitation to Renaissance; this time from Royal Dutch/Shell (I never miss to highlight the Royal Dutch part ;-) ). And this time, I was determined to make this dinner a huge success. And there was another setback.
At UBS dinner, at least the food was typical Indian. Here, the food was total crap and I am not sure what exact menu it was - some mix of Chinese, Italian and Indian food but all (the soup, vegetables etc.) filled with leaves and arbitrary stuff I haven't seen in my life and which I didn't even find good. And there was this Chinese tea - just another version of hot water. And you are charging us a fortune for it. For what in the world? And then they say it is exquisite :-O. Even in the end, when we were looking for Desserts, we didn't even find normal Vertigo or Chocolate Avalanche. There were some arbitrary puffs and puddings which could be rejected on their very face. Thankfully we could make a special order for Brownie, which in fact was good.
IIT-D people were luckier in the sense that they had Indian people (Baljit and Deepak) with them and I am sure they had some great Punjabi lunch there (source: Nidhi Bansal).
All said and done, lemme also highlight the good parts of the Dinner. The first and foremost was meeting with John, Tom and the colleagues (meeting many for the very first time). Another was the beautiful backdrop of Powai and Hiranandani behind the glass wall. There was some good deal of interaction with all people there though we had to stretch out our ears when either of John or Tom spoke (we also came to know that there are some decibel limits in Rijswijk, the Netherlands office ... man, what will us Indians do there ... we are going to become the next whisperers :-P). But they talked about Netherlands and the seasons, they talked about the technologies, they talked a little about their plans and they talked about Shell! Amazing down to earth people and they looked highly motivated by the company's prospects in India and the upcoming projects. Even Nidhi feels the same from their meeting with Baljit and Deepak.
I know we are going to miss India and the food in Netherlands but it is going to be one helluva great work and fun there.

Height of carelessness

In my post Final Midsems and Some Concerns, I tried to highlight some problems with the IIT academic system and the contributions of the students and faculty towards it. The best part of the blog was that I was able to change myself and I had started attending classes sincerely after that (barring Prof. Roy's where I had already missed loads of fundaes which were necessary for further lectures). And yet again, I am dwelling into something similar - this time my BTP (B. Tech Project) or the final year project as most other universities call it.
It has been more than 2.5 months and I have barely started with the second stage of the BTP which is worth a huge 15 credits (nearly one third of a regular semester). Now I have my excuses - the first month was all spent in job hunting and the next 15 days in celebrations, relaxation and the home trip. Not very genuine reasons but considerable. But the remaining one month (i.e. the last) has been a period of complacency and careless behaviour.
And this is not the case with me only but with more than 50% of my batchmates. Even I heard the likes of Aashwit Mahajan (both a nerd and a fighter in life) saying, "I just don't want an extension, anything else would do." Keeping in mind that he is hyping his carelessness and we all know he'll end up with some decent/good grade, the point worth noting is that the attitude of carelessness is all pervasive in our final year batch.
However, I believe in living life as it should be lived (adding value, doing something fruitful) rather than seeing what my peers do/expect and that is why this attitude has been bothering me for quite some time. And despite all this brooding and attempts, I have been unable to cross this activation energy barrier and initiate the task.
The worst part is that I believe I know the solution too because this is my experience that:
1. Interest generally develops once one begins the work, especially when there is some challenge and there is some success. Most of us fall behind, being prejudiced about the work and its results.
2. At times, work looks huge, unachievable but the most important thing in all these circumstances is to start, because once we start, everything else follows. I've observed this so many times and I see that during the course, we develop better and more efficient ways to do things and finally see ourselves as better and more efficient.

As it is obvious, this state of understanding is more difficult than ignorance because then I question myself, "Why not then?" And this is what I've been trying to dig out for the past week, always planning to do some BTP work (with ample time at my disposal) and always ending into relatively useless activities ranging from Orkutting to listening to music (as I said, relatively). And as I said this situation is more difficult because at the end of day, I find myself incompetent and irresponsible.
I was thinking on the similar lines in one of Prof. Roy's lecture and I guess most of others too were lost in their own preoccupations and somehow he caught it and said, "You know, I had a student who had the same small concentration span as you guys have now, but now he is working in an investment bank and with the boss sitting on his head, he can't even afford to take a single mistake. And he is doing the job very successfully"
This relaxed me a little because given the present concentration levels, I couldn't imagine myself holding on to Shell for long. But we needn't be concerned about it? I don't really think so. Everyone works under pressure when his/her job, reputation, promotion or for that matter grade is at stake. But what really matters is something else.
By now, every final year reader of this blog will become sure of my nerdness because the grades hardly matter to anyone now and I too am bragging around that I just want to avoid an FF and any passing grade would do. Bajju too was telling me not to worry as it is a matter of 2 more months. But really speaking, I am thinking of it neither in terms of grade, nor in terms of time. What really matters is to me is my attitude and character and these are the things which have their effects in long run and in all dimensions. It take time and sincere efforts on our part to develop, improve and groom them. I am seeking that improvement.
I wish for myself that work comes from within. I agree that everything in life can't interest us but then the reverse should too hold here - all guys of my batch reluctant to do the BTP. How is it possible?
I believe that that everything in life has a purpose and we are supposed to understand that purpose and work towards it. The same holds for BTP and even though half of the batch is going for a non-core job, we are expected to finish off the curriculum we chose. To think of it, not everything in life is acceptable because we want all goodies, all comforts which will but stay a dream.
Work has to be done for the sake of work and we all will understand it and hopefully follow too some time or other in our life. As is clear, this hasn't been a realization for me because although it has the knowledge part (again limited), it lacks the more important part - experience. But I believe that this realization will come for me and for all some day. Amen!

Keep Going!

Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbledon player was dying of AIDS which he got due to infected blood he received during a heart surgery in 1983. From world over, he received letters from his fans, one of which conveyed: "Why does GOD have to select you for such a bad disease"?
To this Arthur Ashe replied: The world over - 50M children start playing tennis, 5M learn to play tennis, 500,000 learn professional tennis, 50,000 come to the circuit, 5,000 reach the grand slam, 50 reach Wimbledon, 4 to semi final, 2 to the finals, When I was holding a cup I never asked GOD "Why me?". And today in pain I should not be asking GOD "Why me?"

Happiness keeps you Sweet, Trials keep you Strong,
Sorrow keeps you Human, Failure Keeps you Humble,
Success keeps you Glowing, But only God Keeps you Going.
Keep Going!
--

A forward which I have already forwarded to tons and couldn't resist posting it on the blog as well. A very simple story but of profound impact because it teaches us a very basic but at the same time very important thing: to accept good & bad things or the so-called happiness and sadness with the same attitude.
I know I'll face immediate disagreements on this so please let me first clarify that this attitude doesn't ask people not to aspire for better & higher things in life. It just highlights the importance of acceptance of the moment, i.e. I have done this and I have received this - not accepting the result then is a folly. It is of course then our responsibility to become better because life is nothing but a process of improving and bettering things and ourselves. Stagnation is contrary to life.
I believe that there are still some people left in the disagreeing lot and I don't mind it because that is always the case. However, I would just point out that acceptance (of say a bad/inferior result of any action) is only wise and it doesn't imply that we have become complacent. Rejection of the result is but the denial of truth. It takes courage to accept failure and more so to stand again and work in the direction of betterment in the quest of finally reaching perfection!

Hakim finally gets a job!

For those who don't know him, Hakim is my school time friend and one of the best friends I've ever met in life. Our journey started in Standard X when this guy, who used to pass by grace (a system of letting the student pass if he's failing only by a few marks or so) in 2-3 subjects every exam, suddenly popped up as a new entry among all us toppers during the half-yearly examination and caught everyone's attention. Well, my prime reasons of approaching him were different (related to some her) but we finally ended up studying together in the board exams and we cracked it too. And we never saw back again!

Hakim: His normal self!

To some extent, I can be attributed (or blamed as some may call :-P) for his choosing Science as the subject. The combined study (catalysed by aunty's exotic food which I still relish) continued for 2 more years and we went to Kota after Standard XII. Our ways first parted when I came to Mumbai whereas he landed at VIT (Vellore).
His field of study, Biotechnology first appeared to him as the field of the future but he realized later that he is not game for intensive research which Biotech is all about. In my knowledge, he should be at least in the top 100-150 students at VIT both in terms of his abilities & skills and his CGPA score. However, destiny had more difficulties in store for this guy (well before this, he had found difficulties on the front of Girls and GOD :-P) and even after a placement of some odd 500 people, this guy stood unplaced for reasons which even he couldn't determine.
Things are relatively easier in IITs as we're done with 70% of our placements in less than 3 months and that too has been great. On the other hand, he has been waiting for a job for the past 8 months and it has been very frustrating, given the fact that a lot of junta supposedly less-deserving than him got one. Anyways, his run ended today when he got his employer in form of Easy Solutions (a software firm). And I can't express my elation in words!
And this stupid didn't call and rather messaged me about the job. On enquiring, he says he didn't do so because his pay is a bit less. So foolish of him! I just told him two things which two elders have told me at different times:
- You have to make a start, even though it isn't all that BIG
- Things even out in long run if you are dedicated and talented
I'm sure things will even out for him as well and just some patience is required.

I would also take this opportunity to tell that Hakim bhai is already engaged to Naiz, a beautiful girl who stays just in pichwada of Hakim's house :-). The engagement itself is a story worth a blog!

Naiz

He has so many plans ahead now that he is settled in life (mind you, marriage is not the one in the near future). And these plans also ensure that restlessness doesn't end for him here ;-). But well, it will surely be a sweet one!

Update/Edit:

Just came to know that another very good school friend of mine, also a room partner during JEE preparation - Chirag too landed up with a job with International Tractors and guess the placement site - one and only the Balle land of tractors - ooye Punjab!

Final midsems and some concerns!

Just coming back from CL442 mid-semester exam. And with this, we are done with our final midsems of IIT stay (there might be one of Prof. Roy next week, but lets take it officially done). Like the quiz, the paper was a good one (given that it was theoretical) and had good variety of questions which could be done well if one has attended the lectures. The only midsem other than this was 'Principles of Management' and had good problems - general in nature but demanding careful dissection of the associated aspects and good insight into the management concepts.
However, my experience of examinations throughout my IIT stay hasn't been very cheerful (and I am not talking about grades here, which if not the best are quite good). Somehow, I have found that most of them don't demand much creativity and intelligence on the part of the student and most of the questions are routine classroom examples and problems quoted in the book (to the extent that me and Mayank joke many a times these days - "Yaar yeh log (Profs) chahte hi nahin ki hum padhe").
Thanx to the IIT Junta (including myself) that most of us don't even care to do that minimum and the grades we get reflect the need of an examination of same or lower standard for the next time. I remember how Prof. Anurag Mehra had once turned down the request of an open-book examination in the Mass Transfer II course saying that we don't even perform well in routine exams and an open-book exam will just add to our worries (for reasons I guess everyone knows).
At this point, I would also like to refer to Rishi Jajoo, the Harvard Student who was at IITB for a semester on a study abroad program. In the latest InsIghT issue, he pointed out some more issues concerning the academic front including teaching style and competency of Profs (to which I would also agree to a large extent) and the lack of hard work on the part of students (copying assignments and lab work). Since he wasn't here for long, he didn't realize that most of the examinations are also easily passed by just mugging up the notes and cogged assignments.
By now, I am pretty sure that I must have invoked fury of most of the IIT Junta who is reading this blog but may I ask them (and I have asked myself too) our purpose at IIT? Of course IITB provides a ground for all-round development of one's personality which should be properly utilized, the topmost priority remains as academics. I have seen people arguing - Nahin padhna, kya kar loge? or Hamaari apni priorities hain and IIT is no one to decide on that. This is like spitting on a road where it is not allowed except the fact that this is not directly punishable here. But there are some indirect consequences of that.
India and especially IITs & IIMs haven always been applauded for producing great leaders. But as Rishi points out - it is not for the academic grilling here but the so-called cream that churns out of the competitive IIT-JEE and CAT examinations. And sadly, JEE is becoming easier every year. I am not sure about its effect on the quality of the students clearing the coveted examination, but it can only be neutral or negative. What I want to reason from this fact is that despite the quality of input to IITs, a good atmosphere of learning and development (possible only when both sides do their job well) will surely foster better leaders of tomorrow than what they are producing now.
Rishi also questioned the lack of diversity of interests of students at IIT Bombay. Since this is another BIG and important issue, I would like to cover it in a different blog sometime (of course after some approval of the ideas posted in this blog :-P).
I don't know who is to blame in all this matter. Profs of course want their students to score good and feel better and then an overall bad performance of students raises questions on their performance as an instructor at the Department level (which mayn't always be the case). On the other hand, a collective transformation in the attitude of us students will be nothing short of a miracle.
It is always better to take some positive moves for change rather than keep playing the blame game. On part of Profs, sincere personal efforts have to be made in the direction of improvements in teaching style, course content and problem selection for class and examinations (don't know who'll tell the profs who don't introspect). As students, we should approach courses and professors with a more positive approach, try to take interest (and believe me, that half battle is won when an attempt is made) rather than staying prejudiced just by our own outlook or senior's feedback.
I would end the blog by telling about my discussion with a non-IITian friend of mine who has apped this year and is still awaiting a positive response. I was just telling her about the crack app scene at IIT Bombay this year (especially the Chem Engg Dept) and the immediate response was, "Yahi to problem hai ki hum IIT se nahin hai". I am still positive about her getting an app and so for the waiting junta here at IIT Bombay, but would just like to add that this is a unique platform available to a only a meager point percentage of student population in India and properly utilizing this opportunity is in our hands.
There is a lot to change in myself too and I'll try not to give final-sem-excuse for not being sincere in class the next time. Individual change is our first responsibility and once that is done, we can take some steps in the direction of collective change as well. Wishing all the best to everyone!

A perfect day!

I generally don't like 'just reporting' on this blog and prefer dissecting the situation or happening but I'm limiting myself this time for the sake of occasion. Someone has truly said, "Great things always come unexpected." The yesterday's Pune visit was a perfect example of a perfect day I had, with almost everything unexpected.
It all begin on Monday night when Mayank buzzed and asked me to come with him, Sabby and Lord Voldemort (aka Bajjy) to Pune for ChEA Symposium work. I had a few works and 2 midsems on my head and I denied the idea. However, he kept pressing and I just thought, "Chalo yaar, chalte hain. Dekhte hain kya hota hai." Later, I also realized that it would be a good break from the bored routine life of a final year job-waala lukkha.
We were to leave the hostel by 6.30 the next morning and therefore I woke up at 4.15 am for getting done with bathing and meditation, and getting early was something I was really aspiring for (quite unlike my fellow IITians) from many days which the lukkha life was always denying me. And to my surprise, I was all fresh despite a 4 hr sleep. We left the hostel at 7 and went to Chembur for getting a bus. And to our great surprise, we ended up in a Volvo. The bus trip via Khandala and Lonavla (injected with good breakfast) was nice and we reached Pune by 11, discussing the work details in final 5 minutes :-P.

Volvo Pleasure

Mayank and Sabby left for Praj whereas I and Bajjy went for a light Brunch. Then after a few calls to Shobhana and Shweta, we charted our plan and left for Shivaji Memorial Society College. We did publicity in Chem Engg and Management departments and the respect we got there as IIT students by overwhelming. Daydreaming, we left for Cummins then (:X) and I must say that despite the less crowd at that time, which was disappointing (Bajjy was still elated), I could feel some axe-effect at the place which really took away all the tiredness and brought some fresh hopes in life ;-). Being the only guys there, we also earned some good glances :-D. After a lot of running around, we could locate Madam Jail (initially we took her for Jahil :-)) ) and were done with our work. Luck favored us and we also got to meet DY Patil College students there and we did that Publicity there itself. After that, we went to the reputed MIT and did further publicity in Polymer and Petrochemical Departments. Unimaginable respect was bestowed on us at these places too. Finally done with work, we met Mayank and Sabby and had some fattes at MIT Canteen (a broader and diverse version of our Coffee Shack).
From here, we left for NCL to meet Shobhana (old HLRC friend). I was under constant bantering with her name right from the time we left the Institute and well, these guys here started up murmuring songs like Ek baar aaja aaja and Bahaaron Ful Barsaao when we were standing outside NCL awaiting her and I was all ROTFL. Thankfully, they stopped as she came. Mayank and Sabby left for station from there whereas me and Bajjy roamed aroud NCL with her. Bajjy was sure missing Manisha as he was cornered and targeted by us two (I also appreciate his tolerance and conservativeness). We went into good old days and came to present. Bajjy showed some rare generosity too by paying for the treat in canteen :-P.

With Shobhana at NCL

Quite against the charted economical plan, we made a return from Volvo again. Watched Kalyug on our return in the bus (Gosh! How can they play such a movie in the bus with kids, girls and the old). Anyways, despite the unreal larger-than-life personality of the Protagonist (not only his physical strength and his perseverance but also his character ... aise log kahaan milte hain aajakal duniya mein?), I liked the movie's idea and its simplicity in execution. The music too rocks!
Thanx to Bajjy's perseverance, we ended up having dinner at BTC (Bhagat Tara Chand). The marginal utility of the food had decreased tremendously the last time I visited this place. But this time, it was just a perfect addition to the perfection of the day!

Basking at BTC

The whole day passed in a grand manner. Other than ChEA's generosity, I would also like to praise the execution capabilities of the Symposium's OCs here (and thank them too for such a great trip!). We just expect another such work-picnic (did I say work?) to Goa after the grand success of the Symposium and the B-plan competition. Amen!

Whats booze good for?

Just returning from our Batch daaru Treat. And well, I was the alone non-drinker and thus am still in a condition to write something.
Everyone was taken into non-stop laughter mania by Singhania's performance. Don't know what affected him like that but even people like Dopa and Jaini couldn't stand before him even once, leave alone the scapegoats Daga and Manav. I couldn't even have imagined that beer and the so-called 'joint' can take someone to that stage. Hehe...now I understand the Dum maaro dum, Mit Jaaye gam stuff. The party o/w too was a hit and I believe that everyone who came enjoyed. However, some other issues - some light and other serious left me thinking even after the treat at 4 am in the morning (and I am still sane :-P).
First of all, I have apologies for my classmates (especially Avinash) who really wanted me to participate in the daaru treat and I denied them till the end. I know that it breaks heart and more so of a drunken man (hehe) and I am really sorry for that but there are things where I really can't compromise. And I never understand this compulsion of literal daaru participation. I mean it all boils down to participating in the fun which I was really able to do (accepting the fact that one doesn't fully open before 20 people w/o daaru but then there are other priorities in life as well).
Another arbitrary thing worth noticing was the way some people were serving and pushing daaru (many a times neat) into other people, while maintaining mild and small doses for themselves. The pleasure they get from this indulgence is beyond my comprehension.
However, the most important issue that arose in my mind was the condition that these people end up with after having so much of daaru and dope. I always thought that these things help people forget stuff and enjoy some higher state of joy or excitement. However, to my great discontent, I saw some people indulging into dispute and asinine activities which I never saw them doing in sanity. A few others were totally out of their mind and were just clutching their heads. And then there is pressure of others not to sleep or rest but to stand and stay till the end which makes thing worse for these people. A few others would wake up tomorrow morning feeling all dizzy with a headache. Really very few in my opinion will wake up w/o thinking - 'I won't touch this thing again in my life'.
If done in control, I think this stuff won't come as bad as it came today with a few of us. I lack experience with this yellow liquid (or for that matter, the grass) and therefore might be wrong in my observation. Daaru lovers might want to highlight my mistakes which they are whole-heartedly welcome to do. Accept my apologies by default :-).

Dravid is the man

Well, I was going to write on India but this photo really did catch my attention. Such aggression on the face of a person considered to be a very calm and patient guy was surprising. However, a series win against Pakistan in such a convincing fashion and that too after a loss in Test series ... banta hai yaar.
India has displayed the best works of the game in the last three matches and the credit goes to everyone. The combination of youth and old is awesome and the way the batsmen (especially Yuvraj), the bowlers (on such flat pitches) and most importantly the fielders (wow, what catches!) have performed has left everyone in awe and wonder.
However, we are yet to prove our mettle against the likes of Australia and England, especially on their pitches which is not going to happen in the coming India-England series (when will India get out of subcontinent against these teams???). The coming series will be more of a confidence building activity and I am expecting a clean sweep in Test series and pretty good chances of winning the one-day series win as well.
I just wish that Rahul Dravid doesn't turn into another Sourav Ganguly (the aggression and self factor) and also that India doesn't become complacent with the recent success (hoping Chappell, Dravid and Tendulkar will keep a check). Amen!

The ever-killing despair

The app time is running hot and many here at IIT are getting admit/scholarship/fellow from Premier Institutes across the USA. However, many expectants are still waiting, including Shobhana and Ajinkya. The worst part is that these people (including many others; Ajinkya a little more positive though) haven't even got many rejects and this generally drives them into concluding that their chances are pretty dim.
Even from my experience, I can tell that this is a real tough time and I would not mind comparing it with slow and brutal butchering of one's patience and faith. However, I have always felt that we stand nowhere against time and that waiting is what is really expected of us. I know it's relatively easier for me to say this, given the fact that my waiting has rewarded me with Shell. But really speaking, who knows of future - not to be negative, but I may end up finding my career goal diverging from what all Shell can offer. So even Shell is just a superficial reward in one sense. Finally, everyone is looking for that tranquility and sense of satisfaction.
So how can a (supposedly) good app get one what he/she really wants ... because most of the times, we even fail to understand what we want from life. I hope that is not the case with my friends. But I've only one request to them - respect time. Referring to Steve Job's speech at Stanford University - Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future.
I know that most of my 'learned' friends would find this difficult to digest, but at any level, patience and faith transcends logic and intellect. One just needs to wait, observe and accept.

Shell :-)

Yes, this feels like it. Something I was missing when I got through PWC. And this is HUGE. I don't even remember how many times I hugged Zubin and Qavi in Placement Office (even poor placement nominee Bedi :-P), but it was definitely > n.
And today is Basant, a very auspicious day for me and now lucky too. What can I say? Training starts in Amsterdam and final placement in Bangalore <:-P. I'm in Shell!