Monday, November 27, 2006
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Movie - the messiah!
The trend started long time back. So its nothing new when you hear friends discussing reviews of any movie and mentioning the words "message from the movie". Sarfarosh was about the "message" that we should be patriotic despite religious differences, or individual accomplishments. Rang De Basanti was about the "message" that we need to do something pro-actively to change the age-old system, rather than wait till eternity for it to change. Munnabhai was about the power of humanity and Lage Raho was about the power of Gandhigiri. Countless examples of movies sending across "messages" of purity, humanity, patriotism, love, and all other goody-goody stuff can be mentioned, and a lot more will come up. And each will inspire a spike of emotion in the viewer, which unfortunately, and unfailingly, will die down by the time he/she returns home and watches a trailer of another movie with another "message".
My point is, are we really such zombies who need a messiah like a movie to enlighten us and show us the otherwise cliched and common-sense path of life? And will there be any time when the spikes of emotions last long enough to show some effect on us?
Cheers!!!
My point is, are we really such zombies who need a messiah like a movie to enlighten us and show us the otherwise cliched and common-sense path of life? And will there be any time when the spikes of emotions last long enough to show some effect on us?
Cheers!!!
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Food for thought
Isnt it surprising, that we tend to hold on to things like money, body, job, etc, yet not think twice about giving someone our heart, even when we know that the latter can hurt a lot more than the former???
Cheers!!!
Cheers!!!
Saturday, October 07, 2006
I was 13 years late...
It was one of my worst days today.
The events which led to this day began in my sixth semester when serendipity struck me during a tea break. It was while preparing for GATE when I came up with a brilliant idea. A rotary engine based on gears. I searched on google but didnt find any mechanism similar to it. The idea seemed so revolutionary and crude that I gave up other stuff and concentrated just on the idea. Attempting permutations and combinations, going through various types of gears (involute, cycloid, etc) I spent the major part of my last three semesters figuring out how to make the idea feasible. And the result was a great concept, applaused by all my mates and some professors whom I showed my design.
Needless to say, I wanted to see it turn into a patent. But first I wanted to select it as my M.Tech. project and analyse it completely.
As luck would have it, I surfed through some patents websites today. And yes, you guess it correctly. I found a similar mechanism patent filed in 1993 by some professor in USA. The novelty of the idea is as good as gone.
I was 13 years late. And going by mechanical technology pace, its a small time. So I console myself. But what struck me first was the possible reason for this. India is a country wherein you will find technology in mechanical engineering which is many years old. Whatever new you can think of from there is something which is still a few years old. However, if students were exposed to newer technologies, like in the Europian union or the US of A, probably the chances of finding something "innovative" would have been higher. It seems we can only "discover" here in India, but rarely "invent". Atleast in Mechanical Engineering.
So what do I do now? Being a bad case of sporadic optimism (if that is defined), I intend to work on it still. Maybe improve upon my design and compare it with the existing patent. Many positives came out of the exercise. Like I got a feel of Pro Mechanism (a software). And how to be patient when your computer keeps hanging for the thousandth time. But what motivates me the most is the fact that I could think like what that experienced professor sitting in USA could think, even if by serendipity. And also the fact that I was only 13 years late.
Cheers!!!
The events which led to this day began in my sixth semester when serendipity struck me during a tea break. It was while preparing for GATE when I came up with a brilliant idea. A rotary engine based on gears. I searched on google but didnt find any mechanism similar to it. The idea seemed so revolutionary and crude that I gave up other stuff and concentrated just on the idea. Attempting permutations and combinations, going through various types of gears (involute, cycloid, etc) I spent the major part of my last three semesters figuring out how to make the idea feasible. And the result was a great concept, applaused by all my mates and some professors whom I showed my design.
Needless to say, I wanted to see it turn into a patent. But first I wanted to select it as my M.Tech. project and analyse it completely.
As luck would have it, I surfed through some patents websites today. And yes, you guess it correctly. I found a similar mechanism patent filed in 1993 by some professor in USA. The novelty of the idea is as good as gone.
I was 13 years late. And going by mechanical technology pace, its a small time. So I console myself. But what struck me first was the possible reason for this. India is a country wherein you will find technology in mechanical engineering which is many years old. Whatever new you can think of from there is something which is still a few years old. However, if students were exposed to newer technologies, like in the Europian union or the US of A, probably the chances of finding something "innovative" would have been higher. It seems we can only "discover" here in India, but rarely "invent". Atleast in Mechanical Engineering.
So what do I do now? Being a bad case of sporadic optimism (if that is defined), I intend to work on it still. Maybe improve upon my design and compare it with the existing patent. Many positives came out of the exercise. Like I got a feel of Pro Mechanism (a software). And how to be patient when your computer keeps hanging for the thousandth time. But what motivates me the most is the fact that I could think like what that experienced professor sitting in USA could think, even if by serendipity. And also the fact that I was only 13 years late.
Cheers!!!
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Life...
I caught a glimpse of what life is all about, sometime back at IIT...
It was dinnertime. Huge bowls, containing delicacies were lying at our disposal. And people helped themselves generously. Piles of food in our dishes, we went happily to our tables. Just as I was about to start eating my share of heavenly delight, I spotted a small puppy wandering in the hall. A bit deformed, and a lot weak, it was probably lured by the smell of what would mean life to it. A few of us took pity on the chap and gave it some food to eat. However weakness had taken its toll on the poor guy and it could hardly chew few bites. As I watched around, people were happily munching away, oblivious to the pup's misery. It slept a bit due to weakness, moved a few steps, and then slept again. Slowly it vanished somewhere in the hall.
But everywhere around me - munch munch chatter chatter munch.
As I went to put back the dishes, I could only gape at the amount of leftovers thrown into the garbage-bin by us. Stepping out, I again found the fellow near the security office. It was sitting, or making a lame attempt to stand. It could not lift its head up, and was shivering. Someone had provided it with an old pillow and a few blankets. I looked back over my shoulder, into the dining room - munch munch chatter chatter munch munch. The pup finally went to sleep beneath the cosy blankets.
Next morning I woke up to find the pup and the blankets gone. It probably died during the night and was discarded with the rest of its belongings. And as I saw into the dining room, (it was breakfast time) - munch munch chatter chatter munch munch...
Important lessons -
When you are weak, people might help you a bit (like food stuff). But don't expect them to carry you through the entire rough patch. One needs to harden up and fight for his/her own self.
One would surely lose out, if one believes that the help provided is thorough (like the blanket and the pillow). One needs to see how it is just a temporary aid, whereas the complete support can only be from us within. Relying solely on others can be lethal.
Last but not the least; you hardly leave a whiff of yourself when you are gone. Life moves on, afterall.
Cheers!!!
It was dinnertime. Huge bowls, containing delicacies were lying at our disposal. And people helped themselves generously. Piles of food in our dishes, we went happily to our tables. Just as I was about to start eating my share of heavenly delight, I spotted a small puppy wandering in the hall. A bit deformed, and a lot weak, it was probably lured by the smell of what would mean life to it. A few of us took pity on the chap and gave it some food to eat. However weakness had taken its toll on the poor guy and it could hardly chew few bites. As I watched around, people were happily munching away, oblivious to the pup's misery. It slept a bit due to weakness, moved a few steps, and then slept again. Slowly it vanished somewhere in the hall.
But everywhere around me - munch munch chatter chatter munch.
As I went to put back the dishes, I could only gape at the amount of leftovers thrown into the garbage-bin by us. Stepping out, I again found the fellow near the security office. It was sitting, or making a lame attempt to stand. It could not lift its head up, and was shivering. Someone had provided it with an old pillow and a few blankets. I looked back over my shoulder, into the dining room - munch munch chatter chatter munch munch. The pup finally went to sleep beneath the cosy blankets.
Next morning I woke up to find the pup and the blankets gone. It probably died during the night and was discarded with the rest of its belongings. And as I saw into the dining room, (it was breakfast time) - munch munch chatter chatter munch munch...
Important lessons -
When you are weak, people might help you a bit (like food stuff). But don't expect them to carry you through the entire rough patch. One needs to harden up and fight for his/her own self.
One would surely lose out, if one believes that the help provided is thorough (like the blanket and the pillow). One needs to see how it is just a temporary aid, whereas the complete support can only be from us within. Relying solely on others can be lethal.
Last but not the least; you hardly leave a whiff of yourself when you are gone. Life moves on, afterall.
Cheers!!!
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Being in Mumbai...
The first thing I noticed as I went from the railway station to my cousin's place, was that I could spot lot more pretty girls at 6 am in mumbai, than I could if I sat all day at MM in Ahmedabad. Surely, Mumbai isn't overhyped! But apart from girls, the other thing that strikes you when you enter Mumbai, is that despite being enormous, it doesn't look as much of a concrete jungle as Ahmedabad. There is a sort of a competition between new artistic, almost loud, buildings and the inconspicuous older buildings with their windows fitted with box-type grills. But the mis-match is blurred out by the tall trees, which are sorely missed in Ahmedabad.
Another thing about Mumbai is its pace. And if long distances are one factor necessitating such high pace, then the weather surely facilitates it. Its beautiful. Only bad part is that due to persistent hard rains, the room gets all damp and if not checked, fungus strikes.
More about Mumbai later. Unfortunately, in my one month of stay here, I havent ventured much out of my college's campus. But one thing is sure, Mumbai is a city to be 'felt' once.
Cheers!!!
Another thing about Mumbai is its pace. And if long distances are one factor necessitating such high pace, then the weather surely facilitates it. Its beautiful. Only bad part is that due to persistent hard rains, the room gets all damp and if not checked, fungus strikes.
More about Mumbai later. Unfortunately, in my one month of stay here, I havent ventured much out of my college's campus. But one thing is sure, Mumbai is a city to be 'felt' once.
Cheers!!!
After a long time...
Many generations of mosquitoes have come and gone between the time I posted my last post and now. And the reason isn't easy to fathom. It isn't that I had nothing to say. Rather, I had too much to say. But somehow, my mood to get down to writing was always proportional to my distance from my computer. But today finally I forced myself to write something. ANd I hope the mood develops by tonight.
Cheers!!!
Cheers!!!
Sunday, July 16, 2006
As I pack my bags...
I leave Amdavad in 2 days. About to venture into a new world of IIT. And what exactly am I going to do there? Or rather, what am I wishing to do there?
Do I wish to know more about stress and strain analyses? Explore the huge world of finite element analysis? Learn about the mathematics of robotics? Or the properties of new materials? Do I wish to learn about new methods or mechanisms developed? Or to figure out bhp required for a particular machine?
Yes and no.
Yes, because that is what I going to do there! An M.Tech. in mechanical design. But no, because that is not what I wish to do in totality. I shall reflect on it a bit later down the post.
As I pack my bags, and as it happens with all others, nostalgia struck me. The whole process of evaluating what you need or want to carry to IIT and what to leave behind is a seemingly simple but a difficult and time-consuming process. There are things you hold up in your hands, and then like a kaleidoscope, your thoughts run into reverse in the fourth dimension. The little stickers I put up on my schoolbooks and the pack of those, which I saved, to use at a time when they would make the most impact or something, and that time never came... The collection of reflecting stickers that so adorned every bend of steel on my bike, which i later termed as plain ugly... The letters I exchanged with my elder cousin, sometimes written in a long forgotten code-language... And the innumerable rakhis, and greeting cards which I, a sentimental fool you may declare, never felt like throwing away, as if it would be the biggest insult to my relations with them... the clean note-books I never used, the watch that my dad gave me and I broke it later on in life... The many broken key-chains, the many now-hardened rubbers, used up ballpoint pens, and the "chiller" I used to throw into the drawer when I emptied my pockets (they totaled 483.75 rupees!!)... all these may seem like junk to some, but they hold meaning in my life. Yes I do become pragmatic and throw something away, or ask mom to throw away, but there are things I can never give up. Not yet. Like a couple of ball-point pens my best friend gave me, or the never-used-never-can-be-used special-diesel aviation fuel miniature engine I received from dad, or even the many "tattoos" I have which were to be rubbed onto note-book covers, or the many wallets, sketch pens, diaries etc. I could scrap from the darkest corners of my closet. As if a time would come, by magic, and I shall need those things. I know it's too bad to hold on to things, but I do believe that a time comes in life when you hold some thing in your hand and it gives you the highest joy, without having to do what it was made to do.
These 'things', although inanimate, have watched a 6 or 10 years old grow up into the now-me. The walls of my room have seen me laugh, cry, sing, sulk, dance (yeah!), sleep, everything I did. Without ever objecting or passing their views or praises... nothing. Just being there, benign, like the cactus in the desert in those comic strips of snoopy the dog. Never evaluating me, accepting me for what I am. And somehow being within those 4 walls (and the floor and ceiling too) gives that security.
But that security, I know, is something I need to banish. Thinking out of the box, moving on, facing the world, whatever you call it... The bubble-wrapped life not just provides security, but also clamps us down... like a form of death... only difference being that this death is still alive. And this is one of the reasons I want to run away to IIT. To feel insecure once, to face the storm, to face the music, to bell the cat, whatever you may call it.
My four years at my college were interesting. And the complaint I have is that I matured a bit too late. Matured to understand my own goals, or to understand what I wanted to do. I wanted to learn new skills, like playing music, dancing, speaking in front of huge intelligent audience without feeling any sweat, speaking and understanding more languages, and in depth... and so on. But sadly, I could not grasp, or maybe even see, any opportunity coming my way. I developed well as an engineer. But on an all round performance, though my friends insist I did a lot, I myself am not satisfied. And that is what I want to do at IIT. Grasp those opportunities. Come out as not just a brilliant design engineer, but also an above-average package... a khichdi of skills and confidence that would have a charisma of a different level altogether.
Last but not the least reason I wish to join IIT, is that I wish to see my parents financially free. A dream any guy would see, of course. Of course, if I can find them a bahu, it would be excellent!
What will I miss the most? Of course, mom's food. Her constant "kach kach" (nagging, for non-Gujaratis) and anger at my unorganized room which still looks as if it's a room the nazis ravaged way back in 1944. Her love, sensible mature talks, the glass of milk I had every night. Dad's wisdom, how he would always know more than myself even when it came to mechanical engineering which he didn't study. His organized methods, his charisma, everything. My sister and the sibling fights with her. And of course the long walks with my pet. Maybe I won't wish his bites so much! There's going to be a lot more than this that I shall miss.
So I strap the last buckle of my bag, after going through the list of things I need to carry, once again. And I know that I have a goal in front of me and the best platform available. I know there will be times when I will miss home. But I also know that my aims and aspirations are achievable only in the "kurukshetra" of life. I am inspired here by my poem "sailor moves on". And even if that doesn't help, there is always a bottle of 8 p.m. in Mumbai!!!
Cheers!!!
Do I wish to know more about stress and strain analyses? Explore the huge world of finite element analysis? Learn about the mathematics of robotics? Or the properties of new materials? Do I wish to learn about new methods or mechanisms developed? Or to figure out bhp required for a particular machine?
Yes and no.
Yes, because that is what I going to do there! An M.Tech. in mechanical design. But no, because that is not what I wish to do in totality. I shall reflect on it a bit later down the post.
As I pack my bags, and as it happens with all others, nostalgia struck me. The whole process of evaluating what you need or want to carry to IIT and what to leave behind is a seemingly simple but a difficult and time-consuming process. There are things you hold up in your hands, and then like a kaleidoscope, your thoughts run into reverse in the fourth dimension. The little stickers I put up on my schoolbooks and the pack of those, which I saved, to use at a time when they would make the most impact or something, and that time never came... The collection of reflecting stickers that so adorned every bend of steel on my bike, which i later termed as plain ugly... The letters I exchanged with my elder cousin, sometimes written in a long forgotten code-language... And the innumerable rakhis, and greeting cards which I, a sentimental fool you may declare, never felt like throwing away, as if it would be the biggest insult to my relations with them... the clean note-books I never used, the watch that my dad gave me and I broke it later on in life... The many broken key-chains, the many now-hardened rubbers, used up ballpoint pens, and the "chiller" I used to throw into the drawer when I emptied my pockets (they totaled 483.75 rupees!!)... all these may seem like junk to some, but they hold meaning in my life. Yes I do become pragmatic and throw something away, or ask mom to throw away, but there are things I can never give up. Not yet. Like a couple of ball-point pens my best friend gave me, or the never-used-never-can-be-used special-diesel aviation fuel miniature engine I received from dad, or even the many "tattoos" I have which were to be rubbed onto note-book covers, or the many wallets, sketch pens, diaries etc. I could scrap from the darkest corners of my closet. As if a time would come, by magic, and I shall need those things. I know it's too bad to hold on to things, but I do believe that a time comes in life when you hold some thing in your hand and it gives you the highest joy, without having to do what it was made to do.
These 'things', although inanimate, have watched a 6 or 10 years old grow up into the now-me. The walls of my room have seen me laugh, cry, sing, sulk, dance (yeah!), sleep, everything I did. Without ever objecting or passing their views or praises... nothing. Just being there, benign, like the cactus in the desert in those comic strips of snoopy the dog. Never evaluating me, accepting me for what I am. And somehow being within those 4 walls (and the floor and ceiling too) gives that security.
But that security, I know, is something I need to banish. Thinking out of the box, moving on, facing the world, whatever you call it... The bubble-wrapped life not just provides security, but also clamps us down... like a form of death... only difference being that this death is still alive. And this is one of the reasons I want to run away to IIT. To feel insecure once, to face the storm, to face the music, to bell the cat, whatever you may call it.
My four years at my college were interesting. And the complaint I have is that I matured a bit too late. Matured to understand my own goals, or to understand what I wanted to do. I wanted to learn new skills, like playing music, dancing, speaking in front of huge intelligent audience without feeling any sweat, speaking and understanding more languages, and in depth... and so on. But sadly, I could not grasp, or maybe even see, any opportunity coming my way. I developed well as an engineer. But on an all round performance, though my friends insist I did a lot, I myself am not satisfied. And that is what I want to do at IIT. Grasp those opportunities. Come out as not just a brilliant design engineer, but also an above-average package... a khichdi of skills and confidence that would have a charisma of a different level altogether.
Last but not the least reason I wish to join IIT, is that I wish to see my parents financially free. A dream any guy would see, of course. Of course, if I can find them a bahu, it would be excellent!
What will I miss the most? Of course, mom's food. Her constant "kach kach" (nagging, for non-Gujaratis) and anger at my unorganized room which still looks as if it's a room the nazis ravaged way back in 1944. Her love, sensible mature talks, the glass of milk I had every night. Dad's wisdom, how he would always know more than myself even when it came to mechanical engineering which he didn't study. His organized methods, his charisma, everything. My sister and the sibling fights with her. And of course the long walks with my pet. Maybe I won't wish his bites so much! There's going to be a lot more than this that I shall miss.
So I strap the last buckle of my bag, after going through the list of things I need to carry, once again. And I know that I have a goal in front of me and the best platform available. I know there will be times when I will miss home. But I also know that my aims and aspirations are achievable only in the "kurukshetra" of life. I am inspired here by my poem "sailor moves on". And even if that doesn't help, there is always a bottle of 8 p.m. in Mumbai!!!
Cheers!!!
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Through the window of Mumbai blasts...
Too many people have condemned the Mumbai attacks for me to join to bandwagon. However I would like to point out a few other observations.
"Smashaan Vairagya". A term, which literally means acquired temporary renunciation or de-materialization during a funeral. At any funeral you will hear people acquire some insane sanity they were never known to possess. You will invariably hear stuff like '"He kept making money. Nobody takes money to heaven. He should have just enjoyed it while he had time", "He was always tense about stocks. I tell you, one should just give up worries in life to live better. I will not lose my soul in stocks from now on", "Cholesterol killed him. I take a resolution to avoid fatty and sweet food."' Yet as soon as the funeral gets over, the same people will go back to their sweets, pickles, stock market and sleepless nights. The temporary fit of sanity that had hit them, was shed at the funeral itself.
How is it related to Mumbai blast? I say it's what we always see after any crisis.
"We must fight terrorism from the roots" "I guarantee people shall now live in peace" "We are putting our whole police force behind this to find out the culprits. They shall not be spared" "We will make sure that law and order is maintained. Every person, every building, etc. shall now confirm with rules and regulations"
And then, as soon as the sensationalism of the crisis has ended, its back to the same old carelessness and irresponsibility. How long are we to witness it?
We make a hue and cry over India 2020. To become a superpower, a nation not only has to develop, but has to have that confidence and that belief that it is a superpower. It has to send signals that it can face any competition. But when it comes to weeding out terrorism from our own states, we succumb to dubious debates of religion and diplomacy. We have never shown any kind of firm determination when it comes to fighting our own evils. Our failure of intelligence agencies even in our own backyard, exemplifies our lack of fortitude. If we aren't so meek, then why is another smaller nation having a better intelligence network, not just in its own home, but also in our territories? The biggest super power of today's times is not a super power by doing a lot of charity, but by developing and maintaining its foothold in all the strategic parts of the world. And it never hesitates to weed out its opponents, even if it goes against general world opinion. When will we learn that being stern isn't an act of oppression when it comes to protecting our own interests?
Police is always blamed for being late, rude and non-active. The general public helps some victims and then as soon as the newsmen interview them, they glorify their efforts and degrade the efforts of police. Yet when it comes to testifying, they never go to the police. The police are blamed for not being present when a theft takes place, when a murder takes place, as if they are omnipresent like the air. And yet, when it comes to informing the police about any hint of wrong activities, they will shy away. An example will be the person who informed the police about a dialogue he over heard between the terrorists, long after the damage was done. Who is to blame, then?
Policemen aren't off the hook yet either. A lot of them aren't on duty, or not performing their duty. But if one observes closely, their work culture reflects that of whole of India. How many of us Indians don't procrastinate, or blame others for our lapses, or indulge in eve teasing, or promote bribery, or succumb to orders from the top brass, or try to complete any assignment without any conviction, or denounce the standard of life without making any effort of uplifting ourselves?
And it is important for the so-called leaders of the country to visit any place of crisis. But must they have 50 other people around them, choking the relief work as well as crowding the place? How can we talk of being a super power when either our politicians haven't the guts to face the public, or our public isn't ready to settle matters through frank dialogues, or when the our public gets scared out of its wits everyday?
It's so easy to destroy. And just as hard to construct. The day when we Indians learn to be constructive in everything we do, think or say, that day we will realize our vision India 2020. Till then, we can either make efforts for the same, or sit back on the couch with a cola in one hand and enjoy the drama of everyday hypocrisy unfold before us.
Cheers!!!
"Smashaan Vairagya". A term, which literally means acquired temporary renunciation or de-materialization during a funeral. At any funeral you will hear people acquire some insane sanity they were never known to possess. You will invariably hear stuff like '"He kept making money. Nobody takes money to heaven. He should have just enjoyed it while he had time", "He was always tense about stocks. I tell you, one should just give up worries in life to live better. I will not lose my soul in stocks from now on", "Cholesterol killed him. I take a resolution to avoid fatty and sweet food."' Yet as soon as the funeral gets over, the same people will go back to their sweets, pickles, stock market and sleepless nights. The temporary fit of sanity that had hit them, was shed at the funeral itself.
How is it related to Mumbai blast? I say it's what we always see after any crisis.
"We must fight terrorism from the roots" "I guarantee people shall now live in peace" "We are putting our whole police force behind this to find out the culprits. They shall not be spared" "We will make sure that law and order is maintained. Every person, every building, etc. shall now confirm with rules and regulations"
And then, as soon as the sensationalism of the crisis has ended, its back to the same old carelessness and irresponsibility. How long are we to witness it?
We make a hue and cry over India 2020. To become a superpower, a nation not only has to develop, but has to have that confidence and that belief that it is a superpower. It has to send signals that it can face any competition. But when it comes to weeding out terrorism from our own states, we succumb to dubious debates of religion and diplomacy. We have never shown any kind of firm determination when it comes to fighting our own evils. Our failure of intelligence agencies even in our own backyard, exemplifies our lack of fortitude. If we aren't so meek, then why is another smaller nation having a better intelligence network, not just in its own home, but also in our territories? The biggest super power of today's times is not a super power by doing a lot of charity, but by developing and maintaining its foothold in all the strategic parts of the world. And it never hesitates to weed out its opponents, even if it goes against general world opinion. When will we learn that being stern isn't an act of oppression when it comes to protecting our own interests?
Police is always blamed for being late, rude and non-active. The general public helps some victims and then as soon as the newsmen interview them, they glorify their efforts and degrade the efforts of police. Yet when it comes to testifying, they never go to the police. The police are blamed for not being present when a theft takes place, when a murder takes place, as if they are omnipresent like the air. And yet, when it comes to informing the police about any hint of wrong activities, they will shy away. An example will be the person who informed the police about a dialogue he over heard between the terrorists, long after the damage was done. Who is to blame, then?
Policemen aren't off the hook yet either. A lot of them aren't on duty, or not performing their duty. But if one observes closely, their work culture reflects that of whole of India. How many of us Indians don't procrastinate, or blame others for our lapses, or indulge in eve teasing, or promote bribery, or succumb to orders from the top brass, or try to complete any assignment without any conviction, or denounce the standard of life without making any effort of uplifting ourselves?
And it is important for the so-called leaders of the country to visit any place of crisis. But must they have 50 other people around them, choking the relief work as well as crowding the place? How can we talk of being a super power when either our politicians haven't the guts to face the public, or our public isn't ready to settle matters through frank dialogues, or when the our public gets scared out of its wits everyday?
It's so easy to destroy. And just as hard to construct. The day when we Indians learn to be constructive in everything we do, think or say, that day we will realize our vision India 2020. Till then, we can either make efforts for the same, or sit back on the couch with a cola in one hand and enjoy the drama of everyday hypocrisy unfold before us.
Cheers!!!
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Relative ethics...
This is an interesting view-point to a phenomenon which is generally classified as unethical. I am still open on the issue.
If suppose you are sick, in hospital, and you desperately need money. Whom will you contact? Of course a relative, or someone you know. Definately, you will not expect any stranger to help you. Or, for example, you are in Ahmedabad and want some work to be done, in person, at Mumbai and you somehow cannot go there. So who will you contact? Again, a relative in Mumbai. Now suppose you are a big businessman and that relative comes to ask for job, along with other prospective employees too. Whom will you give the job to?
It has generally been maintained that anyone who gives jobs to his/her relatives, is unethical. "Merit" creeps into the debate. It is true, that the relative might not be as good as other candidates. Lets say the "relative" is just 80% as effective as the other "stranger" candidates. But the businessman gets 30% more from him through the channel of his relations. So who is more economical or profitable to the businessman? Yet when he does give a job to his relative, he is deemed as unethical.
I do not advocate suppressing merit one bit. In fact, I am a strong supporter of it. But somehow, this whole issue of choosing candidates on basis of merit only, seems to have a loophole. When a father dies, why does he leave all his wealth to his family? How does merit come into the picture? Is it true that not one single person in the whole universe deserves money more than the family? Why was a huge business industry given to the two owner's sons? Why is a political party still earning brownie points on the basis of one "relative" who fought for our freedom? Where is merit featuring in these cases?
When someone needs help, why isn't "merit" of his plea herded to? Why do we only listen to plaints from "relatives"? Where does "merit" figure there? Isn't it a bit strange or hypocritical to talk of merit when it comes to our "gains" (like our appearing for a job), and then switch over heart and soul to "relations" when it comes to our losses, or more appropriately, "expenditure" of time, money or anything else (like relative needing us during crisis)?
So, what is ethical or unethical? I would like to see this view-point debated upon. Till then, I hope some yet-unknown wealthy relative of mine notices my "merit"!!
Cheers!!!
If suppose you are sick, in hospital, and you desperately need money. Whom will you contact? Of course a relative, or someone you know. Definately, you will not expect any stranger to help you. Or, for example, you are in Ahmedabad and want some work to be done, in person, at Mumbai and you somehow cannot go there. So who will you contact? Again, a relative in Mumbai. Now suppose you are a big businessman and that relative comes to ask for job, along with other prospective employees too. Whom will you give the job to?
It has generally been maintained that anyone who gives jobs to his/her relatives, is unethical. "Merit" creeps into the debate. It is true, that the relative might not be as good as other candidates. Lets say the "relative" is just 80% as effective as the other "stranger" candidates. But the businessman gets 30% more from him through the channel of his relations. So who is more economical or profitable to the businessman? Yet when he does give a job to his relative, he is deemed as unethical.
I do not advocate suppressing merit one bit. In fact, I am a strong supporter of it. But somehow, this whole issue of choosing candidates on basis of merit only, seems to have a loophole. When a father dies, why does he leave all his wealth to his family? How does merit come into the picture? Is it true that not one single person in the whole universe deserves money more than the family? Why was a huge business industry given to the two owner's sons? Why is a political party still earning brownie points on the basis of one "relative" who fought for our freedom? Where is merit featuring in these cases?
When someone needs help, why isn't "merit" of his plea herded to? Why do we only listen to plaints from "relatives"? Where does "merit" figure there? Isn't it a bit strange or hypocritical to talk of merit when it comes to our "gains" (like our appearing for a job), and then switch over heart and soul to "relations" when it comes to our losses, or more appropriately, "expenditure" of time, money or anything else (like relative needing us during crisis)?
So, what is ethical or unethical? I would like to see this view-point debated upon. Till then, I hope some yet-unknown wealthy relative of mine notices my "merit"!!
Cheers!!!
When lipsticks cure...
I was just wondering about a brilliant business opportunity which also answers an age old quest to prevent medicine being regarded as a grim field. Well, my answer is, mix medicines and cosmetics!
Do I hear you asking "What? How? Why?" and all other interrogatives? Wait and breathe-in my theory.
Well, medicines and vaccines are nothing but powders clumped together in form of tablets, or liquids in bottles. Well, instead of the form which makes men shirk away from it, mix it up in ladies' cosmetics like lip-sticks, masceras, etc (sorry don't know any more terms).
Then when a guy goes for prescription, the scene would be something like this :
"Patient : Doctor doctor I have severe headache. Help me.
Dr : Ah easy! Apply this lipstick to your wife and kiss her on the lips 3 times a day.
Patient : And what about this ulcer in my mouth
Dr : Easy again! Apply this whatever-its-called on your wife's cheek and kiss her 2 times daily."
Features of this method :
Taking medicines would be a lot more fun.
Nobody will forget to take medicinces.
Helps in bringing couples together. Differences due to lack of being together shall get weeded out, or rather, kissed out.
Cosmetic sales will soar.
A kiss a day can keep the doctor away will be the slogan of the day.
Mallika Sherawat will have huge competition from the sickest of persons. Hmm, a case of "an eye for an eye", maybe?
Women can use this theory by mixing medicines in hair-gel or after-shave lotion or something.
How it can be applied to children is still under research.
Chances of population explosion lurk heavily on the theory.
Further advances by you in medicine with this theory, are invited with all due appreciation.
You would be really dumb to think I am serious.
Cheers!!!
Do I hear you asking "What? How? Why?" and all other interrogatives? Wait and breathe-in my theory.
Well, medicines and vaccines are nothing but powders clumped together in form of tablets, or liquids in bottles. Well, instead of the form which makes men shirk away from it, mix it up in ladies' cosmetics like lip-sticks, masceras, etc (sorry don't know any more terms).
Then when a guy goes for prescription, the scene would be something like this :
"Patient : Doctor doctor I have severe headache. Help me.
Dr : Ah easy! Apply this lipstick to your wife and kiss her on the lips 3 times a day.
Patient : And what about this ulcer in my mouth
Dr : Easy again! Apply this whatever-its-called on your wife's cheek and kiss her 2 times daily."
Features of this method :
Taking medicines would be a lot more fun.
Nobody will forget to take medicinces.
Helps in bringing couples together. Differences due to lack of being together shall get weeded out, or rather, kissed out.
Cosmetic sales will soar.
A kiss a day can keep the doctor away will be the slogan of the day.
Mallika Sherawat will have huge competition from the sickest of persons. Hmm, a case of "an eye for an eye", maybe?
Women can use this theory by mixing medicines in hair-gel or after-shave lotion or something.
How it can be applied to children is still under research.
Chances of population explosion lurk heavily on the theory.
Further advances by you in medicine with this theory, are invited with all due appreciation.
You would be really dumb to think I am serious.
Cheers!!!
Monday, July 03, 2006
Brilliant, what say?
I opened a PDF file in Adobe Acrobat Reader 6 and selected an option "read out loud" from view menu. Astonishingly, it read the document with high accuracy, both with regards to pronunciation and grammar, although sounding a bit too funny. I checked out that the adobe reader folder weighed just 44 MB. And that includes everything the whole program has.
Isn't it really amazing how much programming has developed? I am still in awe of the genius/geniuses who taught the computer how to read. Surely all the words aren't stored in the computer, due to the small size of the program. Nor does English have definite rules with regards to pronunciation and grammar, which complicates programming. Yet the people at Adobe have managed to achieve that. Hats off to them.
Cheers!!!
Isn't it really amazing how much programming has developed? I am still in awe of the genius/geniuses who taught the computer how to read. Surely all the words aren't stored in the computer, due to the small size of the program. Nor does English have definite rules with regards to pronunciation and grammar, which complicates programming. Yet the people at Adobe have managed to achieve that. Hats off to them.
Cheers!!!
A mental blackout...
It has been generally accepted that the electrical field sets up in a circuit at the speed of light. Well then, for once, imagine an LED connected to a button kept 3 lakh kilometers away. The voltage is high enough to overcome the resistance of the wire. Now if I keep on sending pulses through the circuit by opening and closing the switch at rate of 1 pulse per second (i.e. switch is closed for just half a second), what will happen to the LED? Will it blink? Or will be stay put like the Ahmedabad traffic signals on Sundays?
Keep thinking guys...
Cheers!!!
Keep thinking guys...
Cheers!!!
Sunday, July 02, 2006
An 'intensely happy' concert...
It isn't everyday that a friend offers you free tickets to a concert of Euphoria. Till yesterday I used to think of that band as one which confuses itself between tabla and rock themes, and ends up creating a somewhat forgettable song. But it seems I confused them for some other band. The event hosted by IIPM was on the outskirts of the city and after being much persuaded by my best friend, I relented and agreed to tag along with her. I had a few apprehensions about the place and all. We entered the arena and just to pass some early times, before the show began, I read the tickets. Voila! What do you know! We actually had VIP passes! IIPM people were helpful enough to allow us to enter the VIP arena with the already checked tickets.
Initially we were bombarded with a completely lame introduction by a girl who could never start a sentence without "but before that". And a performance by a person touted as the fastest guitar player in the country made me wish for earplugs. You may be the fastest player on the earth, but it doesn't matter a bit if you keep playing tuneless melodies and murder some of the best songs by your musical gung-ho. And his claim to fame being playing the guitars in normal, over the head and other seemingly dirty positions, only reminded me of Pingu, the monkey kid my sister is rearing.
But soon Euphoria saved me. The first thing that struck me about Euphoria is that, in today's age when the Rakhi Savants and the Bappi Lehris are busy performing musical homicides, this group was not keen to look different by their looks but by their music. Their music showed their efforts.
The band-members seemed so conventional, you could mistake them to be the college kids who have lost their way on to the stage. But each member has his worth in gold in the band. You can imagine them composing their songs at 2 in the night. There is Benjamin Pinto, a rather healthy darkish Goan, who would be having a bear in one hand, crying out loud rather rowdy jokes and playing the keyboard with the other hand. Then there is a guy, name forgotten, who looks like the kid next door, with his middle-parted long hair, supporting the members with some rhythm guitar. Then there's another guy, with clear cut hair cut, a French beard, square thin glasses, who brings about an air of responsibility in the group. Playing the guitar, he would remind the group of their shoot the next morning. Then there's a drummer who is as priceless as anyone else, with his deep beats. Palash Sen, of course, would be the magical leader of the band, composing the lyrics to the tune when Pinto would strike gold with a brilliant tune. After gathering a few tabla and dhol players, the band would come up with a masterpiece at about 3am. You could just see all this written over the band members.
One thing about Euphoria is their depth of lyrics and music. They provide the most inspirational music without needing any Eminem vocabulary. Their music is pure and non-conventional. Songs like Mayri, tum, mehfooz, dhoom pichak dhoom, kabhi aana tu meri gali, etc are truly gems. You can't help dance to the peppy numbers, nor can you fail to admire the depth and down-to-earth-kinda feeling to the lyrics jotted by the erstwhile doctor Palash Sen. And they command respect without resorting to any kind of false impressions. I turned into their eternal fan yesterday.
Another thing about the concerts is that you can never create the same environment, even with your astronomically priced home theatre systems. Forget the jumping around, the shear vibrations of deep bass rocks your brains out. You would admire even the songs, which you would term as a drag on your music system. Of course, the thing I dislike about concerts is that the crowd is involved by the singers far too many times in any song, creating discontinuities, which slightly deflate the "euphoria". 'Come on guys, we are here to listen to you sing, not the crowd. Have listened to them for four years in the name of classroom discussions and we need a break now! And whoever plans the disco-lights on the stage; please refrain from blinking them onto our eyes. It doesn't seem respectful to the band, if half the crowd is listening with a hand in front of their eyes to block out the idiotic lights.'
Of course, it need not be mentioned that the girls in the crowds are too pleasing to the eye. The crowd contained people from nook and corner of the city and beyond, maybe. I saw a grandma dancing away to the songs played at "ah-my-aching-ears" volume. And I saw a la-di-dah society woman (picked this from Priety Zinta's interview in Life today) brilliantly exposing the hollowness in today's parenting by placing her infant in a pram near the speakers. But then, some by-products of the lies promoted by the big screen, and a million dollar paycheck, always play the role of the concert jesters without their knowing it.
The concert has left me with a desire to attend a few more of those before I turn deaf. So anyone with free tickets to offer, do contact me!!
Cheers!!!
Initially we were bombarded with a completely lame introduction by a girl who could never start a sentence without "but before that". And a performance by a person touted as the fastest guitar player in the country made me wish for earplugs. You may be the fastest player on the earth, but it doesn't matter a bit if you keep playing tuneless melodies and murder some of the best songs by your musical gung-ho. And his claim to fame being playing the guitars in normal, over the head and other seemingly dirty positions, only reminded me of Pingu, the monkey kid my sister is rearing.
But soon Euphoria saved me. The first thing that struck me about Euphoria is that, in today's age when the Rakhi Savants and the Bappi Lehris are busy performing musical homicides, this group was not keen to look different by their looks but by their music. Their music showed their efforts.
The band-members seemed so conventional, you could mistake them to be the college kids who have lost their way on to the stage. But each member has his worth in gold in the band. You can imagine them composing their songs at 2 in the night. There is Benjamin Pinto, a rather healthy darkish Goan, who would be having a bear in one hand, crying out loud rather rowdy jokes and playing the keyboard with the other hand. Then there is a guy, name forgotten, who looks like the kid next door, with his middle-parted long hair, supporting the members with some rhythm guitar. Then there's another guy, with clear cut hair cut, a French beard, square thin glasses, who brings about an air of responsibility in the group. Playing the guitar, he would remind the group of their shoot the next morning. Then there's a drummer who is as priceless as anyone else, with his deep beats. Palash Sen, of course, would be the magical leader of the band, composing the lyrics to the tune when Pinto would strike gold with a brilliant tune. After gathering a few tabla and dhol players, the band would come up with a masterpiece at about 3am. You could just see all this written over the band members.
One thing about Euphoria is their depth of lyrics and music. They provide the most inspirational music without needing any Eminem vocabulary. Their music is pure and non-conventional. Songs like Mayri, tum, mehfooz, dhoom pichak dhoom, kabhi aana tu meri gali, etc are truly gems. You can't help dance to the peppy numbers, nor can you fail to admire the depth and down-to-earth-kinda feeling to the lyrics jotted by the erstwhile doctor Palash Sen. And they command respect without resorting to any kind of false impressions. I turned into their eternal fan yesterday.
Another thing about the concerts is that you can never create the same environment, even with your astronomically priced home theatre systems. Forget the jumping around, the shear vibrations of deep bass rocks your brains out. You would admire even the songs, which you would term as a drag on your music system. Of course, the thing I dislike about concerts is that the crowd is involved by the singers far too many times in any song, creating discontinuities, which slightly deflate the "euphoria". 'Come on guys, we are here to listen to you sing, not the crowd. Have listened to them for four years in the name of classroom discussions and we need a break now! And whoever plans the disco-lights on the stage; please refrain from blinking them onto our eyes. It doesn't seem respectful to the band, if half the crowd is listening with a hand in front of their eyes to block out the idiotic lights.'
Of course, it need not be mentioned that the girls in the crowds are too pleasing to the eye. The crowd contained people from nook and corner of the city and beyond, maybe. I saw a grandma dancing away to the songs played at "ah-my-aching-ears" volume. And I saw a la-di-dah society woman (picked this from Priety Zinta's interview in Life today) brilliantly exposing the hollowness in today's parenting by placing her infant in a pram near the speakers. But then, some by-products of the lies promoted by the big screen, and a million dollar paycheck, always play the role of the concert jesters without their knowing it.
The concert has left me with a desire to attend a few more of those before I turn deaf. So anyone with free tickets to offer, do contact me!!
Cheers!!!
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Illusive theories...
I read Illusions by Richard Bach. Wasn't pretty impressive, but quite imaginative. And it made me remember a fictitious theory I had toyed with when I was a younger. What if the whole world is an illusion, except you are? Wait, I am not quoting verbatim from Bach's book, because of the keywords "except you are". I mean, for once imagine, that you are the only real thing here. What if everyone else, your friends, relatives etc aren't human forms, as you know it! What if the moment you turn your sight away from them, they turn into another club of creatures, a club devoted solely to mesmerize you with worldly things. You are their subject, your being kept in this illusion of a world, is their only cause, their only occupation. They appear to you as fellow humans, when you look at them, conspiring behind your back to formulate their next step, when you look away. What if a whole new sensational event is just around the corner, like suppose they are going to reveal themselves to you? What if such worlds exist for everyone, and every individual becomes that creature except in his own world, where he alone is a human being? What if these other creatures know exactly what you do, what you think, etc. but do not pass judgement on it based on your concepts of morality, rightiousness, etc?
Or consider another theory, what if whatever you see, is not what others see, but agree on it being the same? What if the color red seems "red" to me, but the same would appear to you, what green appears to me, but you would still call it red? I mean, what if you see 4000A wavelength light as what I call green, whereas I would see it as red? As they taught in electrical classes, that if you change the polarity of electrons and protons, the whole theory can still be proved right. Similar to that, what if everyone has his own know-how about what colors, lines, etc are, and yet physics and other laws of nature hold true for all of us, in all situations? What if what I see as a straight line might seem curved to you, and you still call it straight, because for you even gravity would be similarly curved? What if we all see things differently, but are manipulated into believing they are same?
The reason thesetheories cannot be proved wrong is because from the beginning we have accepted the axiom that laws of the world are unique. We also have assumed that what we see is exactly what others will see. But these axioms cannot be proved either!
Too much fiction?! Haha, so take a chill pill and keep believing in the simpler explanations of the universe. But then again, what if the world is upside down for me, and I call up, "down", and down, "up"??!!! Haha, okie okie, I quit!
Cheers!!!
Or consider another theory, what if whatever you see, is not what others see, but agree on it being the same? What if the color red seems "red" to me, but the same would appear to you, what green appears to me, but you would still call it red? I mean, what if you see 4000A wavelength light as what I call green, whereas I would see it as red? As they taught in electrical classes, that if you change the polarity of electrons and protons, the whole theory can still be proved right. Similar to that, what if everyone has his own know-how about what colors, lines, etc are, and yet physics and other laws of nature hold true for all of us, in all situations? What if what I see as a straight line might seem curved to you, and you still call it straight, because for you even gravity would be similarly curved? What if we all see things differently, but are manipulated into believing they are same?
The reason thesetheories cannot be proved wrong is because from the beginning we have accepted the axiom that laws of the world are unique. We also have assumed that what we see is exactly what others will see. But these axioms cannot be proved either!
Too much fiction?! Haha, so take a chill pill and keep believing in the simpler explanations of the universe. But then again, what if the world is upside down for me, and I call up, "down", and down, "up"??!!! Haha, okie okie, I quit!
Cheers!!!
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Does God reside here?
Scene 1.
A couple of my friends and I were at Nathdwara, alias Shrinathji, few days back. It was 530 in the morning and we were supposed to witness the "mangla na darshan". Hoards of people were storming the temple premises, even during "off season". One particular passage was closed by grill-doors with a padlock on it. The people supposed to be in "seva" were inside, saying they would open the gates soon, but they didn’t have any keys. People were getting impatient and from another passage, people were moving into the premises. At one particular point, the "guard", as if by miracle, "found" the key and opened the gate to let in one of the "seva" guys. An elderly man, too eager to worship the god, tried to enter through the partial opening of the metal gates. He was not just pushed out, but was also kicked in his guts. Again the lock was put on, as angry worshippers outside pleaded to let them in, while these so called temple people, kept inciting them to open the locked doors by force, while they sat cozily inside the premises. One of the "seva" guys even asked the helpless devotees to try their luck through the exit doors, all the while smiling away at his power of authority. The sight of people thronging the temple from the other side only amplified their rudeness. At last the doors were opened and without any need to walk, I was carried along by the push from behind, into the already crowded "chowk". There were no defined paths, no rope or metal dividers to manage public, but just pure chaos. Another set of doors stood between the large crowd and the deity, and I could only gape at the number of elderly people jam-packed inside the tiny spaces. And before I could wonder whether they were going to pray for more land, more space in their lives, the doors were flung open for another tiny "batch" of devotees to enter into the hall of the deity. I wasn't very keen to enter and this hesitation cost me a bruised toe, few unwanted touches and pushes, some in very awkward areas. And as soon as the doors were closed for the other batch to wait, I heaved and pushed my way out of the temple. Outside I found people getting private access to the inner chambers by paying a little extra in the name of "passes".
Scene 2.
We went to Delwara temple. It has 5 beautiful temples, with inexplicable carvings on the pillars, roofs, walls, etc. However you are not allowed to photograph these carvings. You cannot take anything with you, inside the temple. Many of the statues of deities inside are covered by clothes, so that public cannot view them. Certain floors and parts of the temple premises, even though in good condition, are restricted to general public access. Although no stuff except purse is allowed inside the temple premises with a ridiculous reason of preserving the sanctity of the temple, commercial goods of the temple in the form of books and kesar(saffron) among other things are sold inside.
Both these incidents are true and first-hand.
My question is, does God really reside here?
What is the function of the temple? Isn't it, to provide unconditional unrestricted access to God for people to pray? Isn’t there a difference between crowd management and commercialization? How can people claim right to be the temple management, if they kick and push and swear to humble devotees? What gives them the right to claim themselves to be closer to God than the rest of the world? Why would it hurt them to just create metal dividers for crowd management, similar to the one we see at McDonalds counter, instead of letting hoards of people crush each other? Why aren't photographs allowed for memory purposes? If anyone gives the ridiculous reason that flashlight can damage the temple, I give him or her 2 simple arguments - 1. The temple can bear sun's rays, what can a little flash light do? 2. Many marble statues are seen all over the world, and photographed with no damage at all! The only time flashlight can damage is in art gallery, where it can play havoc with the colors. But what can it do in a temple, except probably reduce the commercial gains of the so-called temple managers? What good is the magnificence of the temple if it cannot be cherished in peace, to be remembered years on through means of photographs? What good is that statue of a deity, if it is not allowed to be seen by the public, except on special days or events? If anyone has doubts regarding funds for maintenance, I ask them to just check out the riches donated by devotees. I wonder if it is possible to audit the donations received by these temples.
It’s high time the authority of the idiots managing the temples be stripped, or at least, re-evaluated. A more friendly, and non-commercial setup needs to be put into place. The previously holy places are now converted into commercial cheating centers, living on the blatant superstitions of the millions of "religious" Indians. This needs to be stopped.
No deity ever wants to be trapped within four walls, nor does any deity want any restriction in the path connecting the devotees to the deities. Look around you. There is God in a squirrel prancing around, in the sparkle of the eyes of a little child playing in the mud, in the green hue of trees after rains, in the silver linings of the clouds, in the sweet smell of roses, in the tranquility of the ocean. There is God, even in your sorrows and in your joys, in rough and good weathers, in work and honesty, in rich and the poor, in the five elements of the world, in life and death, and in matter and anti-matter. Look around you; the whole earth is a living, unrestricted, unconditional, temple, where each sand grain is both a deity and a devotee.
If only people could realize this truth. Who needs marble temples after all?
Cheers!!!
A couple of my friends and I were at Nathdwara, alias Shrinathji, few days back. It was 530 in the morning and we were supposed to witness the "mangla na darshan". Hoards of people were storming the temple premises, even during "off season". One particular passage was closed by grill-doors with a padlock on it. The people supposed to be in "seva" were inside, saying they would open the gates soon, but they didn’t have any keys. People were getting impatient and from another passage, people were moving into the premises. At one particular point, the "guard", as if by miracle, "found" the key and opened the gate to let in one of the "seva" guys. An elderly man, too eager to worship the god, tried to enter through the partial opening of the metal gates. He was not just pushed out, but was also kicked in his guts. Again the lock was put on, as angry worshippers outside pleaded to let them in, while these so called temple people, kept inciting them to open the locked doors by force, while they sat cozily inside the premises. One of the "seva" guys even asked the helpless devotees to try their luck through the exit doors, all the while smiling away at his power of authority. The sight of people thronging the temple from the other side only amplified their rudeness. At last the doors were opened and without any need to walk, I was carried along by the push from behind, into the already crowded "chowk". There were no defined paths, no rope or metal dividers to manage public, but just pure chaos. Another set of doors stood between the large crowd and the deity, and I could only gape at the number of elderly people jam-packed inside the tiny spaces. And before I could wonder whether they were going to pray for more land, more space in their lives, the doors were flung open for another tiny "batch" of devotees to enter into the hall of the deity. I wasn't very keen to enter and this hesitation cost me a bruised toe, few unwanted touches and pushes, some in very awkward areas. And as soon as the doors were closed for the other batch to wait, I heaved and pushed my way out of the temple. Outside I found people getting private access to the inner chambers by paying a little extra in the name of "passes".
Scene 2.
We went to Delwara temple. It has 5 beautiful temples, with inexplicable carvings on the pillars, roofs, walls, etc. However you are not allowed to photograph these carvings. You cannot take anything with you, inside the temple. Many of the statues of deities inside are covered by clothes, so that public cannot view them. Certain floors and parts of the temple premises, even though in good condition, are restricted to general public access. Although no stuff except purse is allowed inside the temple premises with a ridiculous reason of preserving the sanctity of the temple, commercial goods of the temple in the form of books and kesar(saffron) among other things are sold inside.
Both these incidents are true and first-hand.
My question is, does God really reside here?
What is the function of the temple? Isn't it, to provide unconditional unrestricted access to God for people to pray? Isn’t there a difference between crowd management and commercialization? How can people claim right to be the temple management, if they kick and push and swear to humble devotees? What gives them the right to claim themselves to be closer to God than the rest of the world? Why would it hurt them to just create metal dividers for crowd management, similar to the one we see at McDonalds counter, instead of letting hoards of people crush each other? Why aren't photographs allowed for memory purposes? If anyone gives the ridiculous reason that flashlight can damage the temple, I give him or her 2 simple arguments - 1. The temple can bear sun's rays, what can a little flash light do? 2. Many marble statues are seen all over the world, and photographed with no damage at all! The only time flashlight can damage is in art gallery, where it can play havoc with the colors. But what can it do in a temple, except probably reduce the commercial gains of the so-called temple managers? What good is the magnificence of the temple if it cannot be cherished in peace, to be remembered years on through means of photographs? What good is that statue of a deity, if it is not allowed to be seen by the public, except on special days or events? If anyone has doubts regarding funds for maintenance, I ask them to just check out the riches donated by devotees. I wonder if it is possible to audit the donations received by these temples.
It’s high time the authority of the idiots managing the temples be stripped, or at least, re-evaluated. A more friendly, and non-commercial setup needs to be put into place. The previously holy places are now converted into commercial cheating centers, living on the blatant superstitions of the millions of "religious" Indians. This needs to be stopped.
No deity ever wants to be trapped within four walls, nor does any deity want any restriction in the path connecting the devotees to the deities. Look around you. There is God in a squirrel prancing around, in the sparkle of the eyes of a little child playing in the mud, in the green hue of trees after rains, in the silver linings of the clouds, in the sweet smell of roses, in the tranquility of the ocean. There is God, even in your sorrows and in your joys, in rough and good weathers, in work and honesty, in rich and the poor, in the five elements of the world, in life and death, and in matter and anti-matter. Look around you; the whole earth is a living, unrestricted, unconditional, temple, where each sand grain is both a deity and a devotee.
If only people could realize this truth. Who needs marble temples after all?
Cheers!!!
Thursday, June 22, 2006
More Ambigrams...
Creativity knows no bounds. So when you are on a vacation and tired of the evil in your mind, the best pass-time is to try your hand at different arts and crafts. And here's what I came up with! Its a bilingual ambigram. That is, it means the same in both ways, but is in different languages! In Gujarati you will find the name Bharat, and in English you will find the name India! And apparently it was made in about half an hour with animation and all. So it might be a little bit crude.
Well, I suggest you guys give it a shot too. Who knows we may find a new John Langdon!
And for those who aren't familiar with Gujarati, here is how our country's name Bharat, is written in Gujarati
Cheers!!!
Well, I suggest you guys give it a shot too. Who knows we may find a new John Langdon!
And for those who aren't familiar with Gujarati, here is how our country's name Bharat, is written in Gujarati
Cheers!!!
Friday, June 16, 2006
Ambigram...
Just read Angels and Demons by Dan Brown.
And the bug of ambigrams bit me. So here's one I made in a couple of minutes!!
Mind you, its in Gujrati!! English will follow shortly...
Cheers!!!
And here's the English version!!
Cheers!!!
And the bug of ambigrams bit me. So here's one I made in a couple of minutes!!
Mind you, its in Gujrati!! English will follow shortly...
Cheers!!!
And here's the English version!!
Cheers!!!
Haha...
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
American Born Confused Desi, Emigrated From Gujarat, Housed In Jersey, Keeping Lotsa Motels, Named Omkarnath Patel, Quickly Reached Success Through, Underhanded Vicious Ways, Xenophobic Yet Zestful.
Who said DESI people don't have imagination??!!!
Cheers!!!
American Born Confused Desi, Emigrated From Gujarat, Housed In Jersey, Keeping Lotsa Motels, Named Omkarnath Patel, Quickly Reached Success Through, Underhanded Vicious Ways, Xenophobic Yet Zestful.
Who said DESI people don't have imagination??!!!
Cheers!!!
Thursday, June 15, 2006
A tirade against unsatiated four years
Exams are finally over. Engineering studies are finally over. Do I feel happy that the ordeal is over? Do I feel sad that now I wont be able to meet the friends I made in college? Well, truthfully, I don't feel either emotion at all.
I tried sounding ebullient after the end of exams. But this facade was as thin as silicon wafers. It's true that I will not suffer the hypocritical decisions of the college management. And I shall not meet many of my friends. But at the end of four years, I feel lost and a lot dissatisfied.
I remember, when I first stepped into this college, I had already gone through a rough patch. And I had decided to make good friends and live a new life in college. I had many expectations. I expected great humorous professors, interactive teaching sessions, great canteen tea, close friends with whom I would hang out and face many adventures, some great girls to befriend and maybe more, etc etc. And sadly, most of it never came true. There are some harsh facts about life that I suddenly faced. It need not be stated that there were as many girls in our branch, as hairs on Amrish Puri's scalp. But that wasn't a serious flaw in our college.
The very first thing I found out was that most of the teachers weren't teaching at all. They were doing their bloody job. It didn't matter to them what was right or not. It didn't matter to them whether students understood or not. All that mattered to them was the paycheck they received every month. There were a few exceptions. Notably, the professors who taught us EME, MD, DOM, TE1. And sadly the buck stops there (if I have missed out someone please condone the ignorance). I mean, teachers spoon-feeding in schools was okie. But in college? I remember how some professors went on a narcissist speech about their degrees and how much more they know compared with us, when asked a simple question as to why we were studying some method. I remember professors sounding helpful in class and then stating they couldn't teach when approached in teacher's room, because, although they were sitting free, they were supposedly on vacation. I can go on a tirade talking about professors who made us write everything they spoke, who kept blabbering about their past colleges and industrial experience while never showing the relation of those experiences with what we studied, who taught only from university exams point of view, who spoke the text book by rote and couldn't answer a single question outside the pre-determined course, who did masters or Ph.D. just to get higher pay as asst. professor... etc etc. But then, this would take ages to write. I have always wondered all through my four years, why couldn't teachers be a bit more involved in their "work". And how is it worth studying under teachers whose concepts are as sturdy as a sand castle? Why are they full of egos? Its true they are or might be more experienced. But doesn't vanity nullify all accolades? How many of them have done more than what they were required by the college management to do? I had imagined college professors to incite a flame of inquisitiveness in us. And then leave it for us to explore those options. I had imagined them to help us out of our quandaries, not by pulling, but rather by showing the way. I had imagined them to create an aura of intellect around them. I had imagined them to be humble and satiated with a desire to share their knowledge and experience, but not preach them! And sadly, the only one who came close to my expectations was a professor from London, who gave an expert lecture on humanoids. Sadly, our professors failed miserably in all departments.
Sometimes I feel professors shouldn't be blamed so much. Especially when you consider the intellect of our class. Barring a few people, nobody was studying for his/her own thirst. It was a shame to discuss studies with them, when some couldn't even differentiate between horizontal and vertical. And it was more shameful to note that many of them didn't even care about that. And it wasn't just an outcome of reservations. The very people, who supposedly fared well in 12th, fared miserably in making a mark for themselves during study discussions. They were interested in eve teasing, creating trivial jokes, creating troubles, speaking ill of others, etc. It wasn't a surprise, then, that whoever fared well, was left out, treated as an invalid, as an outsider, to be ridiculed and joked about. It wasn't just jealousy, it was their inner diffidence about themselves, that erupted in such forms. There were groups who only talked about creating troubles. And mob culture was rampant. It was shame for me, that sometimes I too succumbed to the temptation and joined them. But many times I had revolted. And met with surprising resistance. They simply didn't want to let go off their safe heaven of diffidence and improve. No, most of them studied for BE degree just because it gave them a nice matrimonial qualification. What was surprising was that even the nicer lot couldn't stand up to the wrong. One more aspect of my fellow students was their hollowness in general friendship. There were some very close groups. But groupism and ghettoism always lead to differences. Very few people were trustworthy. You could never count on many of them, for anything at all. All would agree to go out for the weekend, but then never surface. What made their act wrong was their blatant carelessness in not even informing the rest of us. What however, was disturbing, was to see double standards praised and blunt frankness brandished as hypocrisy. Diplomacy ruled the circles. Whoever called a spade a spade, was considered as a cheat. Very few people could decipher the difference between changing opinion due to new revelations, and blatant hypocrisy. I had tried being a friend of everyone, while many of my classmates were friends with only some people. I always despised ghettoism and tried to be with everyone, and getting close to only some people whose wavelength matched with mine, but still trying to maintain a nice relationship with all. And what rewards did I get? Because I spent time with everyone and not some people in general, I was immediately classified as someone who tags with "other" people, who befriends only girls and few guys. I wonder if friendship meant spending time only and only with those particular guys and no one else. And on top of that, I couldn't fare well when it came to deep friendships. My emotional investments in people resulted in misery due to groupism. I do not state that I was perfect. I made many mistakes too. But shouldn't transparency be considered better than diplomacy? And people seemed to have perfected the art of backbiting. They never seemed to have the guts to stand up and speak anything on the face. The people who acted macho in public were uncomfortable when I spoke on their face when their face was dirty, figuratively speaking. And wasn't speaking on face a better act of friendship than backbiting? And then there were people who kept crying and crying with absolutely no self-respect. And some who kept on blabbering non-sense all through 4 years, some who were the height of pessimism, etc. I felt choked at times, felt my bile churning at their sight. I have nothing against their imperfections, it's their non-acceptance and opacity regarding those points that makes me want to puke on their faces.
Not all mates were like that, though. I enjoyed being with few people because they shared my points of view of frankness. And many were intellectual enough to have a meaningful talk with. And somehow, this intellect always seemed to overshadow their imperfections. I shall always be indebted to them and shall always miss them. Even though small in number, they have always overshadowed the ill of others. And I only wish my friendship with them, stands the test of time.
The lesser said about our management, the better. They have fared too badly, when compared to expectations one must have considering their vast experience. Compulsory spiritual lectures, banning mobiles in campus and then promoting electronics and communications, dividing bus stops on false pretexts of better management, and allowing the buses to spoilt the decorum of campus by parking on the roads, and then preaching the need of proper decorum and discipline, forcing discipline while doing nothing about recreation which was the root of indiscipline by stressed out students, etc are just some of their idiotic decisions. They have always held on to silly trivial issues while letting important issues pass without a blink of an eyelid. They have always kept their own comfort and ease above students needs and advertised the college as an over the counter drug, while failing to understand that there is no better advertisement than students themselves! I shall not divulge into their misdeeds, as it would be too unimpressive.
Well, so after four years, I am confused and dissatisfied. And am wondering about the rest of my life. There are few more questions but those will be explored in the next posts.
Well, four years weren't all that bad, but weren't all that pleasing too. I have mixed feelings; or rather lack any extreme feeling. But yes one thing is for sure - for good or for bad, these four years will be memorable. Always.
Cheers!!!
I tried sounding ebullient after the end of exams. But this facade was as thin as silicon wafers. It's true that I will not suffer the hypocritical decisions of the college management. And I shall not meet many of my friends. But at the end of four years, I feel lost and a lot dissatisfied.
I remember, when I first stepped into this college, I had already gone through a rough patch. And I had decided to make good friends and live a new life in college. I had many expectations. I expected great humorous professors, interactive teaching sessions, great canteen tea, close friends with whom I would hang out and face many adventures, some great girls to befriend and maybe more, etc etc. And sadly, most of it never came true. There are some harsh facts about life that I suddenly faced. It need not be stated that there were as many girls in our branch, as hairs on Amrish Puri's scalp. But that wasn't a serious flaw in our college.
The very first thing I found out was that most of the teachers weren't teaching at all. They were doing their bloody job. It didn't matter to them what was right or not. It didn't matter to them whether students understood or not. All that mattered to them was the paycheck they received every month. There were a few exceptions. Notably, the professors who taught us EME, MD, DOM, TE1. And sadly the buck stops there (if I have missed out someone please condone the ignorance). I mean, teachers spoon-feeding in schools was okie. But in college? I remember how some professors went on a narcissist speech about their degrees and how much more they know compared with us, when asked a simple question as to why we were studying some method. I remember professors sounding helpful in class and then stating they couldn't teach when approached in teacher's room, because, although they were sitting free, they were supposedly on vacation. I can go on a tirade talking about professors who made us write everything they spoke, who kept blabbering about their past colleges and industrial experience while never showing the relation of those experiences with what we studied, who taught only from university exams point of view, who spoke the text book by rote and couldn't answer a single question outside the pre-determined course, who did masters or Ph.D. just to get higher pay as asst. professor... etc etc. But then, this would take ages to write. I have always wondered all through my four years, why couldn't teachers be a bit more involved in their "work". And how is it worth studying under teachers whose concepts are as sturdy as a sand castle? Why are they full of egos? Its true they are or might be more experienced. But doesn't vanity nullify all accolades? How many of them have done more than what they were required by the college management to do? I had imagined college professors to incite a flame of inquisitiveness in us. And then leave it for us to explore those options. I had imagined them to help us out of our quandaries, not by pulling, but rather by showing the way. I had imagined them to create an aura of intellect around them. I had imagined them to be humble and satiated with a desire to share their knowledge and experience, but not preach them! And sadly, the only one who came close to my expectations was a professor from London, who gave an expert lecture on humanoids. Sadly, our professors failed miserably in all departments.
Sometimes I feel professors shouldn't be blamed so much. Especially when you consider the intellect of our class. Barring a few people, nobody was studying for his/her own thirst. It was a shame to discuss studies with them, when some couldn't even differentiate between horizontal and vertical. And it was more shameful to note that many of them didn't even care about that. And it wasn't just an outcome of reservations. The very people, who supposedly fared well in 12th, fared miserably in making a mark for themselves during study discussions. They were interested in eve teasing, creating trivial jokes, creating troubles, speaking ill of others, etc. It wasn't a surprise, then, that whoever fared well, was left out, treated as an invalid, as an outsider, to be ridiculed and joked about. It wasn't just jealousy, it was their inner diffidence about themselves, that erupted in such forms. There were groups who only talked about creating troubles. And mob culture was rampant. It was shame for me, that sometimes I too succumbed to the temptation and joined them. But many times I had revolted. And met with surprising resistance. They simply didn't want to let go off their safe heaven of diffidence and improve. No, most of them studied for BE degree just because it gave them a nice matrimonial qualification. What was surprising was that even the nicer lot couldn't stand up to the wrong. One more aspect of my fellow students was their hollowness in general friendship. There were some very close groups. But groupism and ghettoism always lead to differences. Very few people were trustworthy. You could never count on many of them, for anything at all. All would agree to go out for the weekend, but then never surface. What made their act wrong was their blatant carelessness in not even informing the rest of us. What however, was disturbing, was to see double standards praised and blunt frankness brandished as hypocrisy. Diplomacy ruled the circles. Whoever called a spade a spade, was considered as a cheat. Very few people could decipher the difference between changing opinion due to new revelations, and blatant hypocrisy. I had tried being a friend of everyone, while many of my classmates were friends with only some people. I always despised ghettoism and tried to be with everyone, and getting close to only some people whose wavelength matched with mine, but still trying to maintain a nice relationship with all. And what rewards did I get? Because I spent time with everyone and not some people in general, I was immediately classified as someone who tags with "other" people, who befriends only girls and few guys. I wonder if friendship meant spending time only and only with those particular guys and no one else. And on top of that, I couldn't fare well when it came to deep friendships. My emotional investments in people resulted in misery due to groupism. I do not state that I was perfect. I made many mistakes too. But shouldn't transparency be considered better than diplomacy? And people seemed to have perfected the art of backbiting. They never seemed to have the guts to stand up and speak anything on the face. The people who acted macho in public were uncomfortable when I spoke on their face when their face was dirty, figuratively speaking. And wasn't speaking on face a better act of friendship than backbiting? And then there were people who kept crying and crying with absolutely no self-respect. And some who kept on blabbering non-sense all through 4 years, some who were the height of pessimism, etc. I felt choked at times, felt my bile churning at their sight. I have nothing against their imperfections, it's their non-acceptance and opacity regarding those points that makes me want to puke on their faces.
Not all mates were like that, though. I enjoyed being with few people because they shared my points of view of frankness. And many were intellectual enough to have a meaningful talk with. And somehow, this intellect always seemed to overshadow their imperfections. I shall always be indebted to them and shall always miss them. Even though small in number, they have always overshadowed the ill of others. And I only wish my friendship with them, stands the test of time.
The lesser said about our management, the better. They have fared too badly, when compared to expectations one must have considering their vast experience. Compulsory spiritual lectures, banning mobiles in campus and then promoting electronics and communications, dividing bus stops on false pretexts of better management, and allowing the buses to spoilt the decorum of campus by parking on the roads, and then preaching the need of proper decorum and discipline, forcing discipline while doing nothing about recreation which was the root of indiscipline by stressed out students, etc are just some of their idiotic decisions. They have always held on to silly trivial issues while letting important issues pass without a blink of an eyelid. They have always kept their own comfort and ease above students needs and advertised the college as an over the counter drug, while failing to understand that there is no better advertisement than students themselves! I shall not divulge into their misdeeds, as it would be too unimpressive.
Well, so after four years, I am confused and dissatisfied. And am wondering about the rest of my life. There are few more questions but those will be explored in the next posts.
Well, four years weren't all that bad, but weren't all that pleasing too. I have mixed feelings; or rather lack any extreme feeling. But yes one thing is for sure - for good or for bad, these four years will be memorable. Always.
Cheers!!!
Monday, May 22, 2006
Wondering...
Well, all posts on blogspot are saved as .html If somehow I use the same title for another post, what happens then????
And till you brood over the matter, check out this site its cool:
World School Photographs
Cheers!!!
And till you brood over the matter, check out this site its cool:
World School Photographs
Cheers!!!
Saturday, May 20, 2006
All India rank 3 and no admissions???
I know I had de-linked but this was too good an incident to be put off after the exams.
For those who came in late (and more so because of my narcissism), I took the GATE exams and secured all India rank 3.
With such high merit, even in the wake of the quota debacle, I could secure direct admission at such revered (ahem) college like IIT Bombay. And obviously my happiness knew no bounds when I saw my name on those offered direct admission, on IIT Bombay website (after days of postponing the display).
So out of all the modes available to pay the fees, I chose the easiest mode of sending a DD through speed post, which seemed hassle free. Or so I thought.
As the days went by, my I-got-admission-at-IIT-yey euphoria slowly gave way to why-haven't-they-sent-me-written-confirmation-yet worry. And under the impression of IIT being a very hi-tech institute, I sent in a few emails to the e-mail ids shown on the website. Few of the addresses bounced, the rest simply chose to ignore my mail. I felt the itch again, and sent the email to scores of other ids, with the same result.
Finally I decided to call (am a miser after all!!). After being directed to 3 different numbers, I got through. And imagine my shock when the lady at the other end says "Sorry, your DD has not been received here"!!
Blood drained from my face and I could only gasp. I asked, "what happens now", and the reply was a sugarcoated bullet "You give us the DD details and we will again go through the DDs received. However, if your DD is not there, your admission stands cancelled"!
Forget about being humble, I was a damn AIR 3!! How many times in IIT history has an AIR 3 been left without admission? Panic-stricken, I called dad and got the DD details and narrated the details to the lady in question. She politely asked me to call after 3 p.m.
I decided to check on the post office. After all, I still had their consignment number with me. There I was informed to inquire about the status on a couple of numbers. Calling them, in true government style, I was informed that the "server from Delhi has bogged down, so please call after 3"!
Undeterred I asked for their website and I got two! I went home and checked out both. One turned out to be a farce advertisement site, while the other hit the bull's-eye and I checked my consignment number. The site informed that my DD was delivered to IIT on 28th itself!!
Phew! I threw a slight sigh of relief and called IIT again at 3. And unsurprisingly, I was asked to call again at 5. I knew they were buying time, to think of a way to cover their own goof up. See, what they do, as the lady had told me earlier, was that whenever they receive any DD, they encircled the name of the sender in a list. That's how they would know who has sent in his/her fees or not. Apparently they had forgotten to encircle my name. I know it seems a very crude method, but that's what they have adopted.
I called again at 5, was told to wait and I listened to an awkward silence lasting 5 whole minutes. My STD bill was scaling new heights, as I hung up and called again. Again the same thing. Finally on the third call, the lady answered the call and informed me "we just received your DD. Your Admission is confirmed". Boy I felt relieved. I knew they were just saving face by that excuse. But who cares?!! I got admitted!
But a small doubt still lingered. I asked whether there was any problem since they had received my DD on that day, supposedly, while the last day for sending fees was already history. Thankfully there was none. How could there be, it was their goof up!!
In spite of the verbal confirmation, I asked my cousin there in Mumbai to verify it in person. The ordeal ended successfully with his confirmation.
If this is the amount of hassle I faced during admissions, I just wonder what will happen during my 2 years there!! I have kept all my fingers as well as arms crossed!! Hopefully, rather certainly, the faculty will be much much better than their admission staff.
Cheers!!!
For those who came in late (and more so because of my narcissism), I took the GATE exams and secured all India rank 3.
With such high merit, even in the wake of the quota debacle, I could secure direct admission at such revered (ahem) college like IIT Bombay. And obviously my happiness knew no bounds when I saw my name on those offered direct admission, on IIT Bombay website (after days of postponing the display).
So out of all the modes available to pay the fees, I chose the easiest mode of sending a DD through speed post, which seemed hassle free. Or so I thought.
As the days went by, my I-got-admission-at-IIT-yey euphoria slowly gave way to why-haven't-they-sent-me-written-confirmation-yet worry. And under the impression of IIT being a very hi-tech institute, I sent in a few emails to the e-mail ids shown on the website. Few of the addresses bounced, the rest simply chose to ignore my mail. I felt the itch again, and sent the email to scores of other ids, with the same result.
Finally I decided to call (am a miser after all!!). After being directed to 3 different numbers, I got through. And imagine my shock when the lady at the other end says "Sorry, your DD has not been received here"!!
Blood drained from my face and I could only gasp. I asked, "what happens now", and the reply was a sugarcoated bullet "You give us the DD details and we will again go through the DDs received. However, if your DD is not there, your admission stands cancelled"!
Forget about being humble, I was a damn AIR 3!! How many times in IIT history has an AIR 3 been left without admission? Panic-stricken, I called dad and got the DD details and narrated the details to the lady in question. She politely asked me to call after 3 p.m.
I decided to check on the post office. After all, I still had their consignment number with me. There I was informed to inquire about the status on a couple of numbers. Calling them, in true government style, I was informed that the "server from Delhi has bogged down, so please call after 3"!
Undeterred I asked for their website and I got two! I went home and checked out both. One turned out to be a farce advertisement site, while the other hit the bull's-eye and I checked my consignment number. The site informed that my DD was delivered to IIT on 28th itself!!
Phew! I threw a slight sigh of relief and called IIT again at 3. And unsurprisingly, I was asked to call again at 5. I knew they were buying time, to think of a way to cover their own goof up. See, what they do, as the lady had told me earlier, was that whenever they receive any DD, they encircled the name of the sender in a list. That's how they would know who has sent in his/her fees or not. Apparently they had forgotten to encircle my name. I know it seems a very crude method, but that's what they have adopted.
I called again at 5, was told to wait and I listened to an awkward silence lasting 5 whole minutes. My STD bill was scaling new heights, as I hung up and called again. Again the same thing. Finally on the third call, the lady answered the call and informed me "we just received your DD. Your Admission is confirmed". Boy I felt relieved. I knew they were just saving face by that excuse. But who cares?!! I got admitted!
But a small doubt still lingered. I asked whether there was any problem since they had received my DD on that day, supposedly, while the last day for sending fees was already history. Thankfully there was none. How could there be, it was their goof up!!
In spite of the verbal confirmation, I asked my cousin there in Mumbai to verify it in person. The ordeal ended successfully with his confirmation.
If this is the amount of hassle I faced during admissions, I just wonder what will happen during my 2 years there!! I have kept all my fingers as well as arms crossed!! Hopefully, rather certainly, the faculty will be much much better than their admission staff.
Cheers!!!
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
De-linking for now...
Exams coming near. And extreme situations demand extreme measures. So I am withdrawing from the blog for a few days. Pray for me!
Cheers!!
Cheers!!
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Another arm up my sleeve!!!
Well i was rummaging through a 1983 book of science fiction lists (man!! People can get to writting anything to see their name in print!!) and stumbled upon a list of silly weapons compiled by a looney. A few examples, which I am copying from the book, nearly verbatim:
1. The swordbroad : Invented by tribe of male chauvinists, this armament consisted of a wife gripped by the ankles and whirled like a frail (warriors made frequent jocular allusion to the sharp cutting edge of their wives' tongue)
2. The rotator : A handgun in which bullets are designed to revolve as well as rotate, presenting an approximately equal chance of suicide!
3. The bullista : Weapon of admittedly limited range which attempted to sow confusion among the enemy by firing live cows into their midst, placing them upon a dilemma of the horns!!
4. The arbalust : Modification of bullista, which sought to demoralise and distract the enemy by peppering their encampments with pornographic pictures and literature - yet another dilema of the horns
5. The dogapult : Self-explanatory
6. The slingshit : Again self-explainatory
Can anyone top this list????? Something like chilled urino-cola or collecting hordes of mother-in-laws and sending them there??? Haha... Suggestions invited!!!
Cheers!!
1. The swordbroad : Invented by tribe of male chauvinists, this armament consisted of a wife gripped by the ankles and whirled like a frail (warriors made frequent jocular allusion to the sharp cutting edge of their wives' tongue)
2. The rotator : A handgun in which bullets are designed to revolve as well as rotate, presenting an approximately equal chance of suicide!
3. The bullista : Weapon of admittedly limited range which attempted to sow confusion among the enemy by firing live cows into their midst, placing them upon a dilemma of the horns!!
4. The arbalust : Modification of bullista, which sought to demoralise and distract the enemy by peppering their encampments with pornographic pictures and literature - yet another dilema of the horns
5. The dogapult : Self-explanatory
6. The slingshit : Again self-explainatory
Can anyone top this list????? Something like chilled urino-cola or collecting hordes of mother-in-laws and sending them there??? Haha... Suggestions invited!!!
Cheers!!
Saturday, May 13, 2006
About cell-phone operators
Summers present a good opportunity to think about irrelevant and trivial issues, as if not solving them would lead to another apocalypse (the first was the inaugration of a college on the outskirts of Ahmedabad). And staring into the sky (after cutting out from the view, the green plant-nets that we have put up on the terrace) and trying to assure myself that the hot breeze will soon give way to a cool zephyr, I heard a beep-beep. Message. Checking it out, I found that it was an sms from my cell-operator saying I had a missed-call.
My point is, since they have already "wasted" their resources by sending an sms stating I had x number of miss calls, couldnt they be more customer-friendly by sending the numbers in the sms itself?? It would cost them the same, and would rather create goodwill with the customer. Or is it that they have become so blind in their race to offer cheap talktime that they are resorting to the most "cheap" methods to collect revenue?
And just a few minutes ago, I had the message again. The point is, when my mobile wasn't switched off right now, why didnt I recieve the call? Why does the server have to notify me about the missed-call, instead? Somethings fishy about this business.
Cheers!!!
My point is, since they have already "wasted" their resources by sending an sms stating I had x number of miss calls, couldnt they be more customer-friendly by sending the numbers in the sms itself?? It would cost them the same, and would rather create goodwill with the customer. Or is it that they have become so blind in their race to offer cheap talktime that they are resorting to the most "cheap" methods to collect revenue?
And just a few minutes ago, I had the message again. The point is, when my mobile wasn't switched off right now, why didnt I recieve the call? Why does the server have to notify me about the missed-call, instead? Somethings fishy about this business.
Cheers!!!
Monkeyed...
Having a sister who volunteers at the Animal Help Fondation can be an interesting experience. Right now I am sharing my home with a dog, a parakeet, and two little monkey-cubs. One is about 1.5 months old, the other 3 months, both having lost their mothers. This 3 months old kid has started jumping in true monkey style (duh!) The other day, I was arm-twisted into watching over the elder monkey while my sister changed the others' nappy for the umpteenth time.
So I put two chairs facing each other and let the langur loose on them. So it starts jumping from one chair to another, without a break. Infants need little exercise before sleep captivates them. And few minutes into the jumping marathon, this kid starts having its bouts of bleariness. And then an amazing thing happens. Instead of stopping to doze off, like any intelligent forefather of the neanderthal man would do, this monkey keeps jumping while yawning and keeping its eyes open only momentarily.
And just when I was going to denounce it as stupid, a thought flashed in my mind. Think about it. We run from college to home, back and forth, and what initiative have we taken to learn new stuff? How many times have we worked on solving math problems without knowing why are we doing it? Isn't there a parallel between the monkey's acrobatics and the rut we have fallen into? Aren't we ourselves sleeping while hopping from one place to another?
Yeah yeah I know some of us do take initiatives and it sounds cliched. But think about the precentage of the Leanardo-da-vincis of all population.
Nope, I am not going to denounce the monkey kid as stupid anymore.
Cheers!!!
So I put two chairs facing each other and let the langur loose on them. So it starts jumping from one chair to another, without a break. Infants need little exercise before sleep captivates them. And few minutes into the jumping marathon, this kid starts having its bouts of bleariness. And then an amazing thing happens. Instead of stopping to doze off, like any intelligent forefather of the neanderthal man would do, this monkey keeps jumping while yawning and keeping its eyes open only momentarily.
And just when I was going to denounce it as stupid, a thought flashed in my mind. Think about it. We run from college to home, back and forth, and what initiative have we taken to learn new stuff? How many times have we worked on solving math problems without knowing why are we doing it? Isn't there a parallel between the monkey's acrobatics and the rut we have fallen into? Aren't we ourselves sleeping while hopping from one place to another?
Yeah yeah I know some of us do take initiatives and it sounds cliched. But think about the precentage of the Leanardo-da-vincis of all population.
Nope, I am not going to denounce the monkey kid as stupid anymore.
Cheers!!!
A Paradox??
Come to think of it. I have power to make you do, exactly what I want you to do. How?
Well, this is my command : "DONT DO AS I COMMAND"
Either way you are doing exactly what I want you to do, right??? Think about it... Haha
Cheers!!!
Well, this is my command : "DONT DO AS I COMMAND"
Either way you are doing exactly what I want you to do, right??? Think about it... Haha
Cheers!!!
googled!!!
Was just wondering... when we had C programming as a subject in our college, we tried making different programs. One of them was a program to search a particular word in a sentence. And God! It was tough. Plus it was slow. Now try searching for something on google. The probable time for listing a million sites is about 0.2 seconds! And staring agape into the eyes of the million lightyears difference between our and google's algorithm, I coudnt help wonder whether what we learn or use in college is pre-historic. Think about it. To scan millions of websites in the time taken by sound to reach 3 times the length of a cricket pitch, calls for a genius algorithm, besides high processing speed. Hats of to the google geniuses!!
Cheers!!!
Cheers!!!
Monday, May 08, 2006
Check this out...
It is a rare ability to notice finer points in life and remember them while writting the blog. Its even rarer to present them in a very humorous way. Lovers of this kinda work may find themselves in a goldmine while visiting the blog of Mr. Oskar Whateverbox here Haha. Really check it out... It's worth the effort!!!
Cheers!!!
Cheers!!!
Instinctively thinking....
If you know me, you would agree that I am not the kind of person who would accept the existence of God, nor the one who would shove away the idea in some far-away corners of time, never to be debated upon again. However there have been some experiences which have left me a bit perplexed by it all.
Every morning I have a routine. After my Internet session, morning calls and reading the cartoons of Ahmedabad Times, I take my old dog out for a walk. There is a railway line nearby, surrounded on each side by vast lands, which are littered by the refuses left by many. Unfortunately my dog has taken a liking to the agonising smells or perhaps he feels the movement in his bowels only when he sniffs the stench. Either way, I have to walk him through that land everyday. It takes a good 15 minutes which gives me enough time to brood and observe around, besides trying not to land on the landmine-like poops. A few stray cattle always wander around the blessed land, along with few packs of cowardly dogs.
The other day I noticed a cow (No I wasn't changing my preferences from girls to animals). She was fair, the one who is invariably named "bhuri". She had a bead necklace, or should I say, headlace, tied around her forehead, around her horns. This made her look cute and I couldn't help ponder over it. Normally I don't focus on the many cows and dogs around, but this one somehow caught my fancy. And I returned after watching her chew her food as if someone had surreptitiously passed her a chewing gum.
The next day I went for the walk, and found the same cow dead. Right in front of the railway lines with her stomach ballooned up and the stench of death filling the air.
A similar thing happened few months ago with a dog. Now I am not Satan, nor do I have a cursed eye, that kills anyone who manages to catch my sight. Neither am I superstitious, nor am I person who takes sadistic pleasures in seeing dead animals (of course if the animals are the top brasses of our college, its a different matter altogether). But I cant help wonder why was it that I was unconsciously forced to stop and watch these animals a day prior to their demise, and find something peculiar about them which I could not put a finger on. I wonder what forced me to think about them at all, and notice them. Is there some kind of a mental communication, or an unseen and undiscovered form of waves passing from one living organism to another, which I failed to understand properly? Or is it that I focus on all, but tend to remember them only when they are dead!!!
People call it instinct. Many times we look at a stranger and feel reserved about that person. More often than not our "instincts" are proved correct. Its an amazing ability to know a great deal about anything with just a glimpse. But the question is, what is the reason behind these instincts? I am a great believer in instincts and the best form of theory that I can come up with is that you and your behaviour reflects your thoughts and your past. The subtle nuances of a person's behaviour might seem inconspicuous to the conscious eye, but our brain immediately registers the tics and presses the defence mechanisms. Now it seems fairly correct, but the question still remaining is how does the brain know what signals are bad and what signals are good?
Well, for the time being, I don't think I will have the answer. But it sure will make me a bit nervous and thinking, if any being catches my sight near the railway lines again.
Or maybe I will just take my dog on another trail!!!
Cheers!!!
Every morning I have a routine. After my Internet session, morning calls and reading the cartoons of Ahmedabad Times, I take my old dog out for a walk. There is a railway line nearby, surrounded on each side by vast lands, which are littered by the refuses left by many. Unfortunately my dog has taken a liking to the agonising smells or perhaps he feels the movement in his bowels only when he sniffs the stench. Either way, I have to walk him through that land everyday. It takes a good 15 minutes which gives me enough time to brood and observe around, besides trying not to land on the landmine-like poops. A few stray cattle always wander around the blessed land, along with few packs of cowardly dogs.
The other day I noticed a cow (No I wasn't changing my preferences from girls to animals). She was fair, the one who is invariably named "bhuri". She had a bead necklace, or should I say, headlace, tied around her forehead, around her horns. This made her look cute and I couldn't help ponder over it. Normally I don't focus on the many cows and dogs around, but this one somehow caught my fancy. And I returned after watching her chew her food as if someone had surreptitiously passed her a chewing gum.
The next day I went for the walk, and found the same cow dead. Right in front of the railway lines with her stomach ballooned up and the stench of death filling the air.
A similar thing happened few months ago with a dog. Now I am not Satan, nor do I have a cursed eye, that kills anyone who manages to catch my sight. Neither am I superstitious, nor am I person who takes sadistic pleasures in seeing dead animals (of course if the animals are the top brasses of our college, its a different matter altogether). But I cant help wonder why was it that I was unconsciously forced to stop and watch these animals a day prior to their demise, and find something peculiar about them which I could not put a finger on. I wonder what forced me to think about them at all, and notice them. Is there some kind of a mental communication, or an unseen and undiscovered form of waves passing from one living organism to another, which I failed to understand properly? Or is it that I focus on all, but tend to remember them only when they are dead!!!
People call it instinct. Many times we look at a stranger and feel reserved about that person. More often than not our "instincts" are proved correct. Its an amazing ability to know a great deal about anything with just a glimpse. But the question is, what is the reason behind these instincts? I am a great believer in instincts and the best form of theory that I can come up with is that you and your behaviour reflects your thoughts and your past. The subtle nuances of a person's behaviour might seem inconspicuous to the conscious eye, but our brain immediately registers the tics and presses the defence mechanisms. Now it seems fairly correct, but the question still remaining is how does the brain know what signals are bad and what signals are good?
Well, for the time being, I don't think I will have the answer. But it sure will make me a bit nervous and thinking, if any being catches my sight near the railway lines again.
Or maybe I will just take my dog on another trail!!!
Cheers!!!
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Chernobyl update...
Chernobyl updates...Reading the last few issues of the Reader's digest, I came upon an article on Chernobyl. Accordingly I have to add a few points to my previous post. Chernobyl happened due to following reasons :
1. The reactor was initially meant for military purpose, but was put into commercial power production by the higher "powers"
2. It was started even before its commissioning period was over.
3. No safety checks were made, nor were any doctors trained in radioactivity on site.
4. The whole building was constructed hap-hazardly and in a frenzy.
A school of thought believe the number of deaths was less than 50. Another school believes that the effects of radiations are only now surfacing in children. Either way it is hard to predict how many deaths are direct results of radiations.
My point still remains validated. USSR in those days, and even today to some extent, was a country of immense knowledge-pool. The number of Ph.D. holders per capita was, and probably is, higher in Russia then elsewhere. We all have referred Russian books on engineering and know how thorough and proficient they are in every field. And it is also a common knowledge that communists usually take the best of the brains in their military. If such a strong nation in terms of science, can make such a grave mistake of mis-treating science for the cause of politics, isnt there a chance of atleast one of the many nations proclaiming nuclear power, lose its sense and cause destruction? The fat and slim boys wrecked havoc in 2 cities, but today the nuclear weapons are capable of destroying huge chunks of a nation before you can say "I love Amrita Rao". Accordingly, is it still acceptable to deal with nuclear threats every other day? And as I had mentioned earlier in my other post, its not just the chernobyls. Take Bhopal Gas tragedy, kargil wars, vietnam, Twin towers, Pentagon, etc. How many setbacks are we to suffer, before we can pull ourselves out of this political drama and tread on a path of cautious scientific advancement, with priority given to life as a whole, of all living beings? Time to respect science once again?
Cheers!!!
1. The reactor was initially meant for military purpose, but was put into commercial power production by the higher "powers"
2. It was started even before its commissioning period was over.
3. No safety checks were made, nor were any doctors trained in radioactivity on site.
4. The whole building was constructed hap-hazardly and in a frenzy.
A school of thought believe the number of deaths was less than 50. Another school believes that the effects of radiations are only now surfacing in children. Either way it is hard to predict how many deaths are direct results of radiations.
My point still remains validated. USSR in those days, and even today to some extent, was a country of immense knowledge-pool. The number of Ph.D. holders per capita was, and probably is, higher in Russia then elsewhere. We all have referred Russian books on engineering and know how thorough and proficient they are in every field. And it is also a common knowledge that communists usually take the best of the brains in their military. If such a strong nation in terms of science, can make such a grave mistake of mis-treating science for the cause of politics, isnt there a chance of atleast one of the many nations proclaiming nuclear power, lose its sense and cause destruction? The fat and slim boys wrecked havoc in 2 cities, but today the nuclear weapons are capable of destroying huge chunks of a nation before you can say "I love Amrita Rao". Accordingly, is it still acceptable to deal with nuclear threats every other day? And as I had mentioned earlier in my other post, its not just the chernobyls. Take Bhopal Gas tragedy, kargil wars, vietnam, Twin towers, Pentagon, etc. How many setbacks are we to suffer, before we can pull ourselves out of this political drama and tread on a path of cautious scientific advancement, with priority given to life as a whole, of all living beings? Time to respect science once again?
Cheers!!!
Saturday, May 06, 2006
The farewell which didn't fare so well...
We just had our farewell. I heard people say they had mixed feelings then... The only feeling I came back with, from the event, was slight confusion. With a tinge of disappointment. Okie, not just a tinge, but a whole "tange" of disappointment.
When I entered college (No I am not speaking verbatim from the speeches of many on the dais yesterday) I had a vague idea of what the farewell might be. I had confused convocation with farewell, though even today I don't see why they should be any different. And the bubble burst in the 2nd year when I came to know that we aren't going to wear any black gowns (whatever they are called) with a hat on top, promenading through swarms of eager and happy parents and teachers onto the dais and stuff. Well, so long to convocation.
But farewell, I knew we would have. Two in fact. One organized by the college (i.e. yesterday's function) and one organized by our juniors (the lazy idiots still cannot come to terms with their responsibility of throwing us a grand farewell party, the way we threw their fresher's bash) And running through newspapers and the internet and reading other people's experiences, I thought it will be a "zara hatke" experience, with lots of fun, dance, laughter, food, girls, shows, felicitations, etc.
And how did the event fare in those terms? Well, we were made to sit in a hall, which didn't sound very bad, considering that the mercury outside was giving threats to the CNN tower, already hovering around 45 degrees mark. Thank Claude and Linde for the air conditioner. So far so good.
And then it starts.
Some people from our batch were rounded up to give their feedback, supposedly on behalf of their branches. As usual, they took it personally and went on describing how they have rummaged through the four years, accomplishing this and that, with very few talking on behalf of the whole class. An exception being the speaker from our branch, who lived up to many expectations from the mechanical junta. Some of his comments left a clear sarcastic feel in the chilled air, and was lauded by all mech de latthe. But such orations were rare. I tried enjoying the event by playing a game. Me and my friends were to rate each speech given by fellow students on a scale of 1 to 10. 1 being most honest, 10 being the most sycophantic. But after scores of 8, 25 and 99, I understandably gave up. On a plus point, some people tried to be different. An orator made sure our juniors will have a nightmare soon, when he advised about organizing a weeklong yoga and spiritual workshops, purely because the management devils will make it a compulsion instead of a voluntary workshop. But, can't really blame the students for their un-candidness. Who all can speak against the autocracy?. One couple even tried to enact a cross between a drama and speech and what not. Needless to say, they failed miserably and half the audience hid their faces in embarrassment. Well, the farewell had begun!! And the events so far only made me feel happier about it.
If the speeches by fellow students were boring enough (can't blame them though), the ones following them, from the "higher authorities" were lessons in crappy-crap themselves! After being described as "raw material" for a "chemical reaction" lasting four years, with the help of "catalysts" to form "products" of Nirma University, I could only wonder why most people use Nirma powder for cleaning toilets. Initially I liked the "chemical" speech, purely because it threw open the gates of laughter, even though sarcastic. But later, as I came to know that the HOD in question gave the same speech innumerable times at various events in the last year or so, I could only be amused about the hollowness of it all. Our boss didn't disappoint us. After being received by a standing ovation from the mech junta (who else can muster the courage to do so?), he went on his usual drab reminders about life. As I said, he didn't disappoint us. And the biggest boss, the head of them all, hasn't still figured out that on farewell, you are not supposed to deliver a presentation on motivational books, specially with completely unrelated animations picked from the many forwarded emails on friendships and life. It wasn't amusing to read Henry Thoreau besides an animation of a rabbit jumping around, at the same time being stretched. Accolades to the lack of imagination. And in between the speeches, were the worthless commentaries from the comperes. The guy couldn't help but crack non-humorous jokes (he seemed to have a congenital humor deficiency) and the girl couldn't help start laughing at every little whisper from the audience. They sure made up an interesting pair. Imagine our delight when the doors of the chilled auditorium were opened to let us out in the sweltering heat outside. At least we were spared from further oratory tortures.
Our hopes were still high, since we were promised food. But it was hardly a feast. It was the only time in my life, that I had a "limited" chhole puri dish, and "unlimited" gulab jamuns. Another innovation from the authorities. I wonder if it came from the ever-so-advertised NirmaLabs! "Food" for thought???
The last, but the most "face"-saving event was the photo-session. Thankfully the dictators only had to sit and smile along with us, leaving no room for further mis-adventures in management. And we strolled back to the bus-depot.
It isn't a wonder why I had no sad or happy feelings on farewell. In fact, I didn't even realize it is the end of 4 years. It was business as usual, the same crappy stuff from the college stables. And I walked back, with neither grief nor happiness in my heart. I did feel slightly sad when we mech-de-latthe were alone, after finishing submissions, walking through the various "ad-daas" we used for the 4 years, merrily clicking away photographs. But other than that, I have felt nothing special.
I am sure I will miss the college, maybe just the friends and our times together. But the farewell event surely postponed the sinking-in of the feeling by a couple of years or so. Well, after all, it was a fare well which didn't fare so well!!
Cheers!!!
When I entered college (No I am not speaking verbatim from the speeches of many on the dais yesterday) I had a vague idea of what the farewell might be. I had confused convocation with farewell, though even today I don't see why they should be any different. And the bubble burst in the 2nd year when I came to know that we aren't going to wear any black gowns (whatever they are called) with a hat on top, promenading through swarms of eager and happy parents and teachers onto the dais and stuff. Well, so long to convocation.
But farewell, I knew we would have. Two in fact. One organized by the college (i.e. yesterday's function) and one organized by our juniors (the lazy idiots still cannot come to terms with their responsibility of throwing us a grand farewell party, the way we threw their fresher's bash) And running through newspapers and the internet and reading other people's experiences, I thought it will be a "zara hatke" experience, with lots of fun, dance, laughter, food, girls, shows, felicitations, etc.
And how did the event fare in those terms? Well, we were made to sit in a hall, which didn't sound very bad, considering that the mercury outside was giving threats to the CNN tower, already hovering around 45 degrees mark. Thank Claude and Linde for the air conditioner. So far so good.
And then it starts.
Some people from our batch were rounded up to give their feedback, supposedly on behalf of their branches. As usual, they took it personally and went on describing how they have rummaged through the four years, accomplishing this and that, with very few talking on behalf of the whole class. An exception being the speaker from our branch, who lived up to many expectations from the mechanical junta. Some of his comments left a clear sarcastic feel in the chilled air, and was lauded by all mech de latthe. But such orations were rare. I tried enjoying the event by playing a game. Me and my friends were to rate each speech given by fellow students on a scale of 1 to 10. 1 being most honest, 10 being the most sycophantic. But after scores of 8, 25 and 99, I understandably gave up. On a plus point, some people tried to be different. An orator made sure our juniors will have a nightmare soon, when he advised about organizing a weeklong yoga and spiritual workshops, purely because the management devils will make it a compulsion instead of a voluntary workshop. But, can't really blame the students for their un-candidness. Who all can speak against the autocracy?. One couple even tried to enact a cross between a drama and speech and what not. Needless to say, they failed miserably and half the audience hid their faces in embarrassment. Well, the farewell had begun!! And the events so far only made me feel happier about it.
If the speeches by fellow students were boring enough (can't blame them though), the ones following them, from the "higher authorities" were lessons in crappy-crap themselves! After being described as "raw material" for a "chemical reaction" lasting four years, with the help of "catalysts" to form "products" of Nirma University, I could only wonder why most people use Nirma powder for cleaning toilets. Initially I liked the "chemical" speech, purely because it threw open the gates of laughter, even though sarcastic. But later, as I came to know that the HOD in question gave the same speech innumerable times at various events in the last year or so, I could only be amused about the hollowness of it all. Our boss didn't disappoint us. After being received by a standing ovation from the mech junta (who else can muster the courage to do so?), he went on his usual drab reminders about life. As I said, he didn't disappoint us. And the biggest boss, the head of them all, hasn't still figured out that on farewell, you are not supposed to deliver a presentation on motivational books, specially with completely unrelated animations picked from the many forwarded emails on friendships and life. It wasn't amusing to read Henry Thoreau besides an animation of a rabbit jumping around, at the same time being stretched. Accolades to the lack of imagination. And in between the speeches, were the worthless commentaries from the comperes. The guy couldn't help but crack non-humorous jokes (he seemed to have a congenital humor deficiency) and the girl couldn't help start laughing at every little whisper from the audience. They sure made up an interesting pair. Imagine our delight when the doors of the chilled auditorium were opened to let us out in the sweltering heat outside. At least we were spared from further oratory tortures.
Our hopes were still high, since we were promised food. But it was hardly a feast. It was the only time in my life, that I had a "limited" chhole puri dish, and "unlimited" gulab jamuns. Another innovation from the authorities. I wonder if it came from the ever-so-advertised NirmaLabs! "Food" for thought???
The last, but the most "face"-saving event was the photo-session. Thankfully the dictators only had to sit and smile along with us, leaving no room for further mis-adventures in management. And we strolled back to the bus-depot.
It isn't a wonder why I had no sad or happy feelings on farewell. In fact, I didn't even realize it is the end of 4 years. It was business as usual, the same crappy stuff from the college stables. And I walked back, with neither grief nor happiness in my heart. I did feel slightly sad when we mech-de-latthe were alone, after finishing submissions, walking through the various "ad-daas" we used for the 4 years, merrily clicking away photographs. But other than that, I have felt nothing special.
I am sure I will miss the college, maybe just the friends and our times together. But the farewell event surely postponed the sinking-in of the feeling by a couple of years or so. Well, after all, it was a fare well which didn't fare so well!!
Cheers!!!
Monday, May 01, 2006
Anti-anti-Gujarat-waves...
Today there was an encroachment drive going on at Baroda. We all know the nuisance caused by structures, be they religious or otherwise, created in the middle of the road. 20 temples and 2 dargaas were razed. Surely all of you will thus agree that there was nothing communal about the drive. Yet we witnessed a near-riot. Was the fury of the mob justified? No. They were given enough chance in last month, and even the court had supported the drive.
But that isnt the major issue. THe real issue is the negative propoganda of the news channels regarding the unfortunate event. Expressions describing the event as gory, inhumane and "typical of Gujarat" were doing the rounds. Time and again we have witnessed such sensationalism in the media.
At Dora in Kashmir, 22 people were killed by terrorists. They belonged to a wedding party. Now see the news coverage. Much lesser than the "bad boy Gujarat". Havent we witnessed this partiality earlier too?
Friends, is there an anti-Gujarat wave going around? If I were to answer that, it would be affirmative. You can take this issue, or Narmada issue or whatever other issue. Gujarat has done the best rehabilitation program for oustees in Narmada project, and it has been acclaimed by many professional bodies. Yet its always Gujarat who is made to look out as a devil. Why? Just because we have a better industrial growth rate than most other states? Is it because we have one of the highest per capita incomes in the country? Is it because Gujarat is the safest place in India, for women and children alike? Or is it because other states dont have the capacity to match our development speed?
Just think.
Jai Gujarat.
Cheers!!!
But that isnt the major issue. THe real issue is the negative propoganda of the news channels regarding the unfortunate event. Expressions describing the event as gory, inhumane and "typical of Gujarat" were doing the rounds. Time and again we have witnessed such sensationalism in the media.
At Dora in Kashmir, 22 people were killed by terrorists. They belonged to a wedding party. Now see the news coverage. Much lesser than the "bad boy Gujarat". Havent we witnessed this partiality earlier too?
Friends, is there an anti-Gujarat wave going around? If I were to answer that, it would be affirmative. You can take this issue, or Narmada issue or whatever other issue. Gujarat has done the best rehabilitation program for oustees in Narmada project, and it has been acclaimed by many professional bodies. Yet its always Gujarat who is made to look out as a devil. Why? Just because we have a better industrial growth rate than most other states? Is it because we have one of the highest per capita incomes in the country? Is it because Gujarat is the safest place in India, for women and children alike? Or is it because other states dont have the capacity to match our development speed?
Just think.
Jai Gujarat.
Cheers!!!
Sunday, April 30, 2006
imagine....
Just imagine. You are married and have a lovely daughter. She's 2 years old and is the cutest looking girl the universe has ever witnessed. One day you wake up on the wrong side of the bed. You have a shitty day- your boss scolds you, your colleague has gone off to a vacation you were supposed to be on, and now you were doing the work of both. On the way back you get a flat tyre. You tow the car for 5 kms before you figure out you were pushing along the wrong way. And finally when you come home, sit on a sofa, and wish nothing would ever grow wrong. And then, crash... The porcelain vase your father-in-law gave you last diwali, is knocked over by your daughter. You stand up and scold her and throw out all your frustrations at her. And then, you leave her crying and go back to your sofa, your mind drenched completely and you cannot think anything anymore.
And then the most amazing thing happens. She stops crying, and tries hard not to sob. With her runny nose and tears floating around near her eye, looking like diamonds, you see her trying to put the porcelain pieces together. All her attempts are satiated with her desire to please her daddy. The taliban is killing people, nuclear wars are at hand, prices of oil are going over the 15th storrey, the world is full of problems. And here is a kid, oblivious to the ever-increasing entropy of the universe, trying to mend the broken pieces. She doesn’t know why she's repairing it, or how to repair it, but all she thinks is that mending the vase will bring a smile to her daddy's face, make him happy. And she doesn’t care a damn about anything else.
And when you realize it, and realize the gravity of your behavior and run to take your daughter up in your arms, you are flooded by a positive energy picking up your spirits. You are humbled by her devotion. All tensions, frustrations go right into hell. And you repent the way you treated her. You pledge never to scold her for anything. The devil turns angelic by a child - that my friend is the power of innocence....
Cheers!!!
And then the most amazing thing happens. She stops crying, and tries hard not to sob. With her runny nose and tears floating around near her eye, looking like diamonds, you see her trying to put the porcelain pieces together. All her attempts are satiated with her desire to please her daddy. The taliban is killing people, nuclear wars are at hand, prices of oil are going over the 15th storrey, the world is full of problems. And here is a kid, oblivious to the ever-increasing entropy of the universe, trying to mend the broken pieces. She doesn’t know why she's repairing it, or how to repair it, but all she thinks is that mending the vase will bring a smile to her daddy's face, make him happy. And she doesn’t care a damn about anything else.
And when you realize it, and realize the gravity of your behavior and run to take your daughter up in your arms, you are flooded by a positive energy picking up your spirits. You are humbled by her devotion. All tensions, frustrations go right into hell. And you repent the way you treated her. You pledge never to scold her for anything. The devil turns angelic by a child - that my friend is the power of innocence....
Cheers!!!
"Reserved" musings!!
There's a lot of gaga-gugu and whatnot going after the reservation issue. And determined not to be left behind in canvassing my own viewpoints, when half the world has woken up to anti-reservation slogans, I am now going to make a humble effort to join the bandwagon.
Reservation. I heard the word first, when I was half as high as the lower bogey seats in the 2nd AC sleeper class train. It seemed like a magic word then. As soon as people heard the word "reservation", seats got vacated and my family and me traveled in divine luxury. And for long I was a devout follower of "reservation". Ahem.
Today however, the divine seems satanic. Of course, this time the reservation refers not to your money-can-buy-and-is-rightly-yours seats in trains, but to the merit-don’t-matter-my-ass seats for the so-called OBC and sc/st class in all fields of life. Well, in most fields of life till now.
Let me first make it clear, I have not pledged any vendetta against the OBC and SC/St people. I have friends belonging to these castes and believe that blood is red in all of us. I have never witnessed any different outlook towards them. People tend to ask me, "what about the sewage cleaners that come to your place, why don’t you invite them and let them sit on your sofa..." and blah blah blah. And here is my answer to them - They aren’t allowed to sit on the sofa, not because they are OBCs but simply, because, being sewage cleaners, they are dirty!! It doesn’t matter whether the fellow is OBC or Brahmin! I remember my mom not letting me into the house after I returned home one fine day covered in mud. And by the way, once they clean up, they aren’t just allowed into the home, but offered tea, prepared along with ours. So take your "oh-they-are-so-poorly-dealt-with" arguments off my face and shove it up your you-know-whats.
What has reservations done to these people? Have they risen? No. Have they done anything for their own community? No. If it has done anything, it has only made them more complacent about getting into the institutes they want, just on the basis of their caste! Who wants to work hard when they are being fed on a silver platter? And I wonder how they even compel themselves to live with the knowledge that the post they have secured has been procured by them not because they were deserving, but because of charity!! And then, politicians claim reservation is to uplift their self-esteem!! Self-esteem my foot.
Yeah yeah, I know the sadistic pro-reservationists (henceforth known as beep-ers) will lament over how our forefathers supposedly mistreated them and stuff. Well, the logic is, at best, laughable. Let me exemplify with some examples using the same logic. My great-great-grandfather was not so good-looking man. Apparently he married a woman who wasn't an object-de-art herself. Since then, our family has always been married into the "lower beauty caste", if you please. And the result "shines" through me. I am one of the best mirror-cracking materials on earth. Now say, my dear beep-ers, should I cry foul over the great-great grandfathers of the beautiful families, that they oppressed my family's beauty by not allowing their beautiful daughter to marry my great great grandfather? Well, you know what? I suddenly have the itch to demand a reservation - If a family has 2 beautiful daughters; one of them has to be married to me!! Huh ****ing crap bullshit beep beep beep logic... Oh, and because people mortality rate is higher in OBCs than their proportion in populations, I have a suggestion. Find some general class people and kill them. Well, it’s bloody righteous according to your "logic".
And what equality are they preaching, huh? I am confident that these beep-ers never believed in "equality". I mean, their fathers seem intelligent right? So to maintain equality of intelligence in the world, did they marry dumb women? I wonder how many of them would acknowledge that either their fathers aren't intelligent, or their mothers are insane!! Catch-22?
Friends, nature has never supported equality. If it were so, there would be no Everest and no pacific ocean. Everywhere would be one flat land. Someone following science of universe, would readily corroborate the fact that universe happened due to in homogeneity, i.e. inequality. The million species of living organisms are all unique. Can an elephant challenge a deer in a long jump contest? And can a dear challenge the elephant in a tree-smashing contest? No!! The reality is, people are different. Their intelligence levels differ and so do their strong and weak points. Remember, only inequality leads to dynamism. Equality creates stagnancy. So why do you want to make everyone equal? It’s a worthless and fruitless activity. Instead, help people develop their strengths, but don’t crush others to make their weaknesses seem less significant. The OBCs and the SC/Sts are backward, not because of their caste, but because of complacency and the lack of risk taking abilities. How many of them actually risk their everything in setting up businesses? How many of them have made an effort to work their way up form scratch, like Karsanbhai Patel or Dhirubhai Ambani? None!! Unless you take the risk of leaving one step off a ladder, how can you expect to reach the higher one? And why push someone who doesn’t make much effort himself? And why pull down someone who is trying his best to reach the top? Bloody insane ***ing beep-ers
The right to equality has been misunderstood. Its not just about giving equal opportunities, it’s about giving equal opportunities provided they are justified, or rather, deserving. The simple way out is remove the caste questions out of any form!! Then select people on basis of merit. Who will cry prejudice then?
I think reservation has been an ace for vote-banks. It would be a shame if we witnessed another hike in reservations this time. Its high time we all rose to the cause and voice our support against reservations. Amen. And to the beep-ers - get a ***ing new livelihood, you *****#@@#$&@!##s beep beep beep...!!
Cheers!!!
Reservation. I heard the word first, when I was half as high as the lower bogey seats in the 2nd AC sleeper class train. It seemed like a magic word then. As soon as people heard the word "reservation", seats got vacated and my family and me traveled in divine luxury. And for long I was a devout follower of "reservation". Ahem.
Today however, the divine seems satanic. Of course, this time the reservation refers not to your money-can-buy-and-is-rightly-yours seats in trains, but to the merit-don’t-matter-my-ass seats for the so-called OBC and sc/st class in all fields of life. Well, in most fields of life till now.
Let me first make it clear, I have not pledged any vendetta against the OBC and SC/St people. I have friends belonging to these castes and believe that blood is red in all of us. I have never witnessed any different outlook towards them. People tend to ask me, "what about the sewage cleaners that come to your place, why don’t you invite them and let them sit on your sofa..." and blah blah blah. And here is my answer to them - They aren’t allowed to sit on the sofa, not because they are OBCs but simply, because, being sewage cleaners, they are dirty!! It doesn’t matter whether the fellow is OBC or Brahmin! I remember my mom not letting me into the house after I returned home one fine day covered in mud. And by the way, once they clean up, they aren’t just allowed into the home, but offered tea, prepared along with ours. So take your "oh-they-are-so-poorly-dealt-with" arguments off my face and shove it up your you-know-whats.
What has reservations done to these people? Have they risen? No. Have they done anything for their own community? No. If it has done anything, it has only made them more complacent about getting into the institutes they want, just on the basis of their caste! Who wants to work hard when they are being fed on a silver platter? And I wonder how they even compel themselves to live with the knowledge that the post they have secured has been procured by them not because they were deserving, but because of charity!! And then, politicians claim reservation is to uplift their self-esteem!! Self-esteem my foot.
Yeah yeah, I know the sadistic pro-reservationists (henceforth known as beep-ers) will lament over how our forefathers supposedly mistreated them and stuff. Well, the logic is, at best, laughable. Let me exemplify with some examples using the same logic. My great-great-grandfather was not so good-looking man. Apparently he married a woman who wasn't an object-de-art herself. Since then, our family has always been married into the "lower beauty caste", if you please. And the result "shines" through me. I am one of the best mirror-cracking materials on earth. Now say, my dear beep-ers, should I cry foul over the great-great grandfathers of the beautiful families, that they oppressed my family's beauty by not allowing their beautiful daughter to marry my great great grandfather? Well, you know what? I suddenly have the itch to demand a reservation - If a family has 2 beautiful daughters; one of them has to be married to me!! Huh ****ing crap bullshit beep beep beep logic... Oh, and because people mortality rate is higher in OBCs than their proportion in populations, I have a suggestion. Find some general class people and kill them. Well, it’s bloody righteous according to your "logic".
And what equality are they preaching, huh? I am confident that these beep-ers never believed in "equality". I mean, their fathers seem intelligent right? So to maintain equality of intelligence in the world, did they marry dumb women? I wonder how many of them would acknowledge that either their fathers aren't intelligent, or their mothers are insane!! Catch-22?
Friends, nature has never supported equality. If it were so, there would be no Everest and no pacific ocean. Everywhere would be one flat land. Someone following science of universe, would readily corroborate the fact that universe happened due to in homogeneity, i.e. inequality. The million species of living organisms are all unique. Can an elephant challenge a deer in a long jump contest? And can a dear challenge the elephant in a tree-smashing contest? No!! The reality is, people are different. Their intelligence levels differ and so do their strong and weak points. Remember, only inequality leads to dynamism. Equality creates stagnancy. So why do you want to make everyone equal? It’s a worthless and fruitless activity. Instead, help people develop their strengths, but don’t crush others to make their weaknesses seem less significant. The OBCs and the SC/Sts are backward, not because of their caste, but because of complacency and the lack of risk taking abilities. How many of them actually risk their everything in setting up businesses? How many of them have made an effort to work their way up form scratch, like Karsanbhai Patel or Dhirubhai Ambani? None!! Unless you take the risk of leaving one step off a ladder, how can you expect to reach the higher one? And why push someone who doesn’t make much effort himself? And why pull down someone who is trying his best to reach the top? Bloody insane ***ing beep-ers
The right to equality has been misunderstood. Its not just about giving equal opportunities, it’s about giving equal opportunities provided they are justified, or rather, deserving. The simple way out is remove the caste questions out of any form!! Then select people on basis of merit. Who will cry prejudice then?
I think reservation has been an ace for vote-banks. It would be a shame if we witnessed another hike in reservations this time. Its high time we all rose to the cause and voice our support against reservations. Amen. And to the beep-ers - get a ***ing new livelihood, you *****#@@#$&@!##s beep beep beep...!!
Cheers!!!
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Chernobyl inspired musings
Friends, today I saw the battle of Chernobyl on Discovery channel. And at the end of it, I can say only one thing - its horrifying. 26 April 1986 was when the tragedy struck. For some who are ill-informed regarding the tragedy, here is a brief synopsis (of course, its true to the best of my knowledge and memory):
There were 4 reactors at Chernobyl nuclear powerplant. On 26th April 1986, during the night, the third reactor exploded. Now consider the following statistics. It contained 195 tons of radioactive material. The temperature of the surrounding at a distance of 200 mtrs was above 100 degrees celcius. THe radiations were eating into the floor for which Russia had to dig up channels below the reactor and install cement concrete barriers. The nuclear waste was sprayed over with tons of sand and lead. THe high temperature melted lead and evaporised some parts, leading to lead poisoning and even today, children born around chernobyl suffer from its wretched grasps. Vegetation produced even today is contaminated and only way out is the impossible task of razing away 20 cms of soil from all around chernobyl and dumping it somewhere!! Robots employed for cleaning stopped working after a brief period.The workers employed for cleaning, called the biorobots, worked for 45 seconds, i repeat 45 seconds before coming out of the terrace and returning back. Just 45 seconds. Most of them have died or suffer from irreversible diseases. Just imagine. The radiation over the terrace after 3 months or so, was 12000-15000 Roentgens. The potentially fatal limit is 400. People initially exposed to the radiation died, and its obvious that during initial months the radiation level was still higher. AMount spent that time was 1800 crore reubels, which was nearly 1800 crore dollars, in 1986. 45 metres high steel claddings cover the area and they need to be replaced now. CHernobyl even today isnt safe for living.
Now my point is this - Just imagine folks. 195 tons of Uranium, with density around 19000, seems to be no more than a couple of stacks of bunk beds. ANd that created a havoc of so many years, so much wealth, and most important of all, the destruction or degeration of living organisms. Even today, children are born with deformations beyond the levels of acceptancy, thyroid cancer is as common as common cold. THe so called biorobots are in age group of 40-50 years today and already look like our next door nonagenarian. And they were exposed for about 40-50 seconds.
Russia has some 2700 s-something missiles which can create havoc af 100 chernobyls each. And only good lord, and the so-called "presidents of responsible nuclear nations" know how many more such missiles exist even today. And imagine the destruction it will cause if some little oil-bearing nation sticks its fingers at Uncle Sam who suddenly has the itch to teach the little pest some lessons in nuclear power, by exploding a couple of fat, tall and god-knows-what boys!! And to think that science was supposed to be helpful to mankind.
Friends, have we made a grave mistake of disrespecting science? Its not just the chernobyls, and the hiroshimas i am talking about. Take ourselves. Consider our own everyday encounters with potential death-traps. How many times have we forgotten to respect speed and throw caution to the winds just because of some thrill of fast motor-cycling? No, I do not advocate to be paranoid or something. But then, shouldnt we be a little scared of science, just out of respect? Shouldnt we be more thoughtful while dealing with resources we have, and not spend them as if it is our last day on planet earth?
I totally am in favour of advancement of science and technology. Nuclear energy can be safely harnessed also. But I think it is high time we paid science due respect. Who knows, our ego-tripping and fool hardiness might just wipe out the whole earth of mankind in the matter of nano-seconds.
Think friends, just think.
Cheers!
There were 4 reactors at Chernobyl nuclear powerplant. On 26th April 1986, during the night, the third reactor exploded. Now consider the following statistics. It contained 195 tons of radioactive material. The temperature of the surrounding at a distance of 200 mtrs was above 100 degrees celcius. THe radiations were eating into the floor for which Russia had to dig up channels below the reactor and install cement concrete barriers. The nuclear waste was sprayed over with tons of sand and lead. THe high temperature melted lead and evaporised some parts, leading to lead poisoning and even today, children born around chernobyl suffer from its wretched grasps. Vegetation produced even today is contaminated and only way out is the impossible task of razing away 20 cms of soil from all around chernobyl and dumping it somewhere!! Robots employed for cleaning stopped working after a brief period.The workers employed for cleaning, called the biorobots, worked for 45 seconds, i repeat 45 seconds before coming out of the terrace and returning back. Just 45 seconds. Most of them have died or suffer from irreversible diseases. Just imagine. The radiation over the terrace after 3 months or so, was 12000-15000 Roentgens. The potentially fatal limit is 400. People initially exposed to the radiation died, and its obvious that during initial months the radiation level was still higher. AMount spent that time was 1800 crore reubels, which was nearly 1800 crore dollars, in 1986. 45 metres high steel claddings cover the area and they need to be replaced now. CHernobyl even today isnt safe for living.
Now my point is this - Just imagine folks. 195 tons of Uranium, with density around 19000, seems to be no more than a couple of stacks of bunk beds. ANd that created a havoc of so many years, so much wealth, and most important of all, the destruction or degeration of living organisms. Even today, children are born with deformations beyond the levels of acceptancy, thyroid cancer is as common as common cold. THe so called biorobots are in age group of 40-50 years today and already look like our next door nonagenarian. And they were exposed for about 40-50 seconds.
Russia has some 2700 s-something missiles which can create havoc af 100 chernobyls each. And only good lord, and the so-called "presidents of responsible nuclear nations" know how many more such missiles exist even today. And imagine the destruction it will cause if some little oil-bearing nation sticks its fingers at Uncle Sam who suddenly has the itch to teach the little pest some lessons in nuclear power, by exploding a couple of fat, tall and god-knows-what boys!! And to think that science was supposed to be helpful to mankind.
Friends, have we made a grave mistake of disrespecting science? Its not just the chernobyls, and the hiroshimas i am talking about. Take ourselves. Consider our own everyday encounters with potential death-traps. How many times have we forgotten to respect speed and throw caution to the winds just because of some thrill of fast motor-cycling? No, I do not advocate to be paranoid or something. But then, shouldnt we be a little scared of science, just out of respect? Shouldnt we be more thoughtful while dealing with resources we have, and not spend them as if it is our last day on planet earth?
I totally am in favour of advancement of science and technology. Nuclear energy can be safely harnessed also. But I think it is high time we paid science due respect. Who knows, our ego-tripping and fool hardiness might just wipe out the whole earth of mankind in the matter of nano-seconds.
Think friends, just think.
Cheers!
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Hello
Hello everyone!! I welcome myself to the world of blog and am confident that I shall get the hang of it by the turn of the next century... Now that I have taken the first hurdle away, of creating a blog (phew!!!) I shall try to think of something to fill it up with!! Haha but till then cya!
Cheers!!
Cheers!!
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