"I am Hawk of one Nest, and Nest is my Soul"

IIM-S: Strike One

2012-02-16T06:09:00.002Z

So the fray all started with the first Interview for the Seventh IIM of its kind: Shillong.

My interview was on 15^th Feb at Hotel Mantras, New Delhi. My interview was scheduled at 1400 hours, and I reached the venue 2 hours well in advance.

When I reached the venue, I was guided towards the Basement of the Hotel near the Swimming Pool. With 2 hours to kill, I thought a wise option would to be drink as much coffee/tea (provided), eat as much biscuits and engage as much as I could in some random chit-chatting with fellows around. Simultaneously, I cross-checked my Interview form and files once again. Very soon, I came across a friend from IIT Roorkee. When two fellows from the same institute meet, all it leads to is pure bakar. Nothing more. Nothing less.

I also came across a girl from Reliance Industries Limited, the company I got placed in and got some insights into the work culture of the company. I was told soothing things about Reliance from her, like Reliance is a cool place to work at with no work load. In times of tension, little things like these can provide you much-needed solace.

Hardly had the clock stuck 1345 hours when a young man aged 30-35 came and took our attendance. After a couple of minutes more, they finally called 8 people for Case Study-GD inside a room on the second floor.

As soon as we entered the room, there were 8 chairs each with a number plate and we were told to sit in a specific seat. I was allotted seat number 6. Panel consisted of three members with an old person (aged more than 60) and two not so young (aged 45-50). One of the panelist listed certain guidelines and told that we have a case study in front of us and we have 10 mins to analyze and write about it and then 15 mins to discuss.

Case Study Topic: The case dealt with the Air India facing a financial crunch because of loads of its outstanding bills from the Government of India. Some mammoth hypothetical data was given and as a Minister of Civil Aviation, we were asked an opinion on whether private jet carriers should be compared with Air India in terms of profitability and facilities. Is this comparison really justified or not?

I got ample of time to put forth my viewpoints. After 10 minutes, one of the panelist told time is up and we need to start our discussion. To my surprise, for the first 1^1/2 minute no one spoke. There was pin-drop silence around. I could have initiated the discussion, but why be a bond? Thanks to a guy on my right, who started the GD putting forth his gyaan on the case. Then a guy on the extreme right carried forth. I was the third one to put forward my point. I think I made decent attempts, and got sufficient time to speak. There wasn’t a fish market in our GD. Finally we ended the discussion when the panelists asked us to cut the crap out! We were subsequently told that we would be interviewed according to the numbers allotted. That meant, I would be the 6^th person to be interviewed.

GD was over by 2:30PM and my interview was expected to start after 2 hours. Meanwhile, I was busy wandering like an idiot and selling "All The best" biscuits outside the interview room.

I was called in at 4:30 pm by one of the panelist (He was wearing specs, so I’d call him S). There were other two interviewers seated inside. An old man (I’d call him D) and another not-so young man (I’d call him Y).

So this is a brief account of whatever happened. Read on!

S: Abhishek Bangr-ea-niya. Please come in.

Me: [For God’s sake it is Bangrania] Thank you, Sir. And, a very good afternoon to you Sir.

S: Please be seated and hand me over your file.

While he started flipping over my certis/marksheets/scorecards, etc, etc. Mr. D chipped in.

D: So you are from which college? And, which year?

Me: [Isn’t all this already written there? I mean everywhere.] Sir, IIT Roorkee. I’m a final year student of Chemical Engineering.

D: Tell me about your college.

Me: Told. Even told it has got a wonderful history, and it is a wonderful place to be in.

D: [Puzzled at my response] So you think IIT Roorkee is better than all other IITs?

Me: Told each IIT is unique, and some gyaan on how and why.

D: Shouldn’t we convert all colleges in India into IITs?

Me: Cannot. And, should not. Some bakar on why.

D: Why are we not considering making Benaras Hindu University into an IIT?

Me: Got confused with the name. Was told he meant IT-BHU. Knowing it, told some arbit bakar.

Then Mr. Y chipped in with something random all of a sudden.

Y: What is the climing of your state like?

Me: [Shocked] Climing? I don’t know Sir what that means.

Y: You don’t know the climate of your state?

Me: Climate, Sir. Yes. Okay. Pleasant it is. I love it, Sir. I love the North India, especially Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

Y: How would you rate Uttarakhand as a State? Development-wise?

Me: Gyaan

Y: Any recent news about your state? How is the Government like?

Me: Told. Arbit bakar.

Y: Where do you live?

Me: Dehradun, Sir.

Y: Does this Dehradun lie in Uttarakhand? Or UP?

Me: [What?] It is the capital of Uttarakhand, Sir. It was a part of UP till 2001.

Y: Has Dehradun seen massive improvement after the formation of a new state?

Me: Gyaan

Y: Where is Uttarakhand lagging on national level and why?

Me: Told.

Y: What are the Sources of income for your State?

Me: Told.

Y: You told Tehri dam. Tell me the current scenario of this dam.

Me: Told.

Y: How would you help Uttarakhand youth in getting employment opportunities?

Me: Gyaan.

Y: I read somewhere that Dehradun is becoming very populated and even polluted these days. Why?

Me: Sir, many people are migrating from other cities in view of better opportunities. As a result, there is a large human influx and consequently these problems.

I was happy with the fact that no technical questions were being asked when suddenly Mr. S chipped in, who earlier had been continuously staring at me.

S: Okay, Abhishek. You had a subject on Process Dynamics and Control in your 6^th Semester. Could you throw some light on this subject?

Me: Told something. Couldn’t define it properly. Was stuck. He also didn’t seem satisfied with my answer.

S: No, I ain’t getting it. Tell me again and explain it to me by drawing whatever you are saying.

Me: Told some weird definition. Drew a CSTR with a control valve. Told him the kinds of Control Valves and how it functions. Somehow managed to draw the Control Valve diagram correctly after cutting it once and redrawing it.

S: Okay, then there is another subject you studied. This is Process Equipment Design. Tell me how and what all considerations are kept in mind while designing any equipment?

Me: Chem fundaes told.

S: Design any equipment of your choice explaining everything in detail.

Me: Thought for a second. Wasn't remembering anything, unless something stuck me. I thought of drawing the diagram of Coke drum (the one on which I did my Intern at RIL). Coke drum is my forte. Hehe

S: Tell me the metallurgy details of this Coke Drum.

Me: Sir, Metallurgy details as in?

S: What kind of material is used in it and why?

Me: Told different layers with the innermost being Stainless Steel.

S: If I use Mild Steel, what would happen?

Me: Metallurgy? I am not a Metallurgical engg, Sir! Still, some gyaan

S: You are wrong!

Me: [I thought I was correct] Okay, I am sorry Sir.

S: What is the importance of Organization & Management in a Chemical Engineer’s life?

Me: Gyaan

Hardly had I completed my answer when Mr. D jumped in with a completely offbeat question.

D: Do you like taking or giving bribes?

Me: No, Sir. As a man of principles, I’d never do such a thing.

D: As a manager of a hypothetical company, if you don’t become a part of it, your company would incur a huge loss and your employees would go broke. According to me, you should take it, else you’ll come on roads financially ruined.

Me: Thought for a second, and replied with a stern NO. Accompanied by some gyaan.

D: Tell you what, this way you’ll ruin your company, your employees and yourself. Think!?

Me: Didn’t understand whether he was asking me a question or was telling me the answer. I just smiled and nodded stupidly.

S: Abhishek, you have a PPO from Reliance Industries Limited, which is an awesome company. Why do you want to waste two precious years of your life in Shillong doing MBA? Go and join that company. You’ll learn a lot.

Me: [Waste?]Sir, I want to know the business side …… [interrupted]

S: Abhishek, don’t give me clichéd answers.

Me: Rephrased and told. He seemed satisfied.

D: Tell me what will we teach you at Shillong?

Me: Umm… I think Finance, Accounts, and all that ...

D: [Chuckles] What do you mean by “all that”? Tell me did you check it or not?

Me: Sorry Sir, I didn’t.

D: Are all IIMs same?

Me: I think, Sir.

D: Why would you like to join us?

Me: Shillong Gyaan

All this while, Mr. Y kept on writing something hiding his notebook. I wonder what?

S: Okay, Abhishek. That’s it. You may leave now. And, yes take a toffee.

D: All the best!

Me: Thank you, Sir!

Y: Which IIM interview do you have next?

Me: K, Sir.

Y: Okay, all the best!

Me: Thanks a lot, Sir.

I wanted to pick one toffee, but caught hold of three and ended up with two.

So, that was it. Good 25-30 minute Interview.

One Down! K, next.

Time tossed around

2011-08-07T00:56:00.005+01:00

As I begin to write this blog post after half a dozen months one thing narks me: How much life has changed since my last blog post? Much has happened, much not happened; much has changed, much not changed. I still cannot apprehend the fact of this long hiatus. However, now owing to the random thoughts consorting in my head in a haphazard way for the last six months, I wish to post them for the sake of my head.

Adieu, Junior Year:

Broadly speaking, 3-2 is the most crucial semester in one’s entire college life, provided he is not a Dulla (Dual degree student). Managing a salubrious 8.6 in 3-1 had generated immense confidence within and motivated me to hit a 9 or even 10! Numbers below 9 or 10 seemed nothing now. However, these are the times when one should cut down his wings, and come down to earth. These are also the times when one should retrieve his strengths/weaknesses. If not, core subjects like Process Equipment Design and Industrial Instrumentation will shower you with B’s and C+’s. And, A+’s in Communication Skills would hardly offset the damage done by these High Credit Courses. Result: You end up, where you already are with hardly any rise or fall.

So ended 3-2!

Gujarat:

When you don’t expect things to happen, they happen. And, they happen to an extent that provides you with a paid Internship at world’s biggest refinery complex, Reliance Industries Limited at Jamnagar in Gujarat. Hate core chemical stuff, and Chemical will always love you! It’s like run from something and it will always follow you.

Everything remotely related to academics seem farce when you land in a state where you never had been before. The excitement and enjoyment to explore it titillates you to an extent that you forget everything. This feeling gets magnified when you start meeting new people. Then commence trips, strolls, get-togethers, fun, parties, and what-not!

All magnified feeling start to die out and diminish when you actualize that your birthday is imminent, and the group you’ve made will beat your bums down to hell. So was it on June 3! Beating was followed by a surprise party which was hardly expected from me. So, was fixed a day in my memory which would always be cherished.

As the end came near, so came the work pressure. As believed, IITians don’t give productive results until their arse is on fire. This gospel was proved right yet again. The immense pressure was handled successfully. Result: Decent presentation. Ripe report. Happy mentor.

So ended Gujarat!

Aloha, Senior year:

And, all of a sudden you find yourself in Senior year. Everything around seems about to fly by and disappear. You realize all these things (hang-outs, random blabs, etc etc) would vanish and die out. You would go into a completely new world with memories alone. Everything else would be left behind. Result: Senti posts at hand in the days to come!

So begins the final year!

IIT: High Hopes & Drooling Desires: Where are We?

2011-01-08T06:34:00.004Z

It has been 5 odd semesters since I embarked upon a new life in this endearing insti. I had come from a classy awing Doon with High Hopes and Drooling Desires, as a naïf and squeamish boy of Seventeen. My anticipations from this place were quite idealistic, high-minded and lofty. I had entered into this place because I was one of those many few who were turned on by the catholicity of Newton’s Laws, infinitesimal calculus, lengthy organic reactions during the High school days. The idea of entering into the premier institute of the country and being taught by the holy saints (read: Profs) where learner meant ‘learner for learning’s sake’, were few aspects which gloated me. I had expected people of a similar nature to be my new classmates, neighbors, allies and acquaintances. All this meant a ‘dream come true’ to me. I was on cloud nine!

On the contrary, in all the above respects, the bygone years have been a bitter pill to swallow. This place has dejected me in a lot of ways. From the bureaucratic inactivity to the teaching methodology to the courses offered to the academic curriculum to the relative grading system to the Professors to the Placement scenario to the Companies recruiting to the constant unhygienic mess food and to what-not, everything is in deplorable condition, coming apart and going to pieces.

The best brains in the country are turning into rats and dirty dogs. People have been measured by their grades and CGPAs. A guy with lower CGPA becomes a matter of trifle importance, and the one with a higher is revered by one and all, even if the latter is a big time bozo. The system in this place is not too helpful either. We, as a nation, have always catered to the best among us. If you are a topper, you are a star, if you are not, you are a nobody. This attitude acts as a body-blow to the ego of the "average" student here, who "falls" from being the top dog in school to a nonentity in college. In this rat-race, the average Joe loses his identity and his self-pride, being reduced to being in the peloton, to be in the shadow of the high-flier.

Talking about the holy saints, what else would you call people who are phony, bogus and hypocrites? Probably, ‘Equus asinus’! No one focus or pay attention on what a student likes and what not, what is important and what not, what is recent and of prime importance and what not, how to make lectures interesting and how not. I had expected my degree to be a pursuit of more knowledge from these saints to learn for learning’s sake, and not to learn for marks, grades, CGPAs, DRs (Departmental Ranks), IRs (Institutional Ranks) and all such bummer.

Actually, the flaw lies with the system itself. I personally feel that once the JEE results are out, the IIT Administration need to conduct an Aptitude test (to bestow an appropriate branch to a particular individual) based on which the classification need to be done and not on the basis of mere JEE ranks. Moreover, as far as the pedagogy goes, I sincerely hold the notion that these big time holy saints need to seriously brush up their own concepts before taking up any class/lecture and simultaneously also refer to the videos of their counterparts far away in MITs, Stanford, et al. Moreover, they should focalize on something recent, practical and productive (not outdated theories and laws).

Else (as already seen), it would hardly take any time for this large brain-chunk to stop caring for anything remotely academic and resorting to other career options or draining their brains with a meaningless Er.(Engineer) before their names as a refuge to some distant land far far away ... (Talk about brain drain then?)

The night it was ..

2011-01-01T14:10:00.007Z

The auspicious day, 1/1/11 was being greeted both warmly and coldly, until a loud scream of 'Do ya thang song' by T.I (which happens to be my current ringing tone) almost blew out of the water … and woke me up!

Yes, as expected 2010 was bid adieu at 23:59 hours in sopor. So was the advent of 2011 greeted at 00:00 hours beneath a warm quilt with Coldplay songs in background (which I realized once I woke up. The songs kept on playing with the repeat mode on).

Almost an hour past midnight when the T.I song (hinting a phone call) made me alive, I idly crawled my hand out of the immense warmheartedness of the quilt to reach for the phone. Laziness proved fatal, and as soon as I picked it up, it got disconnected within fraction of a second. My eyes were wide open when the phone flashed 22 missed calls, and 24 unread messages. I was realizing what being a jackass is, until I planned to offset it. I decided to call back people and message everyone whom I missed wishing new year.

Hardly had I made up for my mistake when I realized who actually a jackass is. As I decided to call back, the phone averred – “You are currently out of balance. You have zero rupees, forty eight paisa left in your account. Dial one for balance account, two for refill, three for speaking to an ….”, to which I abused, disconnected and bedeviled my phone. I waited in anticipation for some more calls, but in vain. Who wishes people after 01:00 am, anyway? Still, I managed to find a couple of them online on facebook. Still lot more expected me!

P.S: I finally did offset my blunder the next day (i.e today), when I actually called Home and everywhere else, to which I got alike greetings – “Hey, where were you last night?” Well, partying - coldly and warmly! Does that actually mean anything, anyway?

P.P.S: For those (if anyone reading) who expected much more than what eventually (read: lame) the post turned out to be, I apologize for it. The title aptly matches with the post, and the bummer I was in the previous night. I know: "Crap, Holy crap" is what this turned out to be. Life is not fair, always. 'Happy New Year!'

P.P.P.S: To those who want to offset the effects of this dull crappy post, here's an interesting fact :157+163+167+173+179+181+191+193+197+ 199 +211=2011. 2011 is the first prime number which can b written as a sum of eleven consecutive prime numbers.

Culmination of 3-1

2010-12-10T07:56:00.007Z

The semester kicked off on a high note with loads of vows, pledges and resolutions, but on the contrary ended on a low with loads of prayers, expectations, grades, marks, but all in complete vain. As they put it, as you sow so shall you reap!

In an IIT, after getting decent marks in TS-1 and screwing badly TS-2, your arse is all set on fire for the end terms. Do it now, do it straight off, else the insti has no regrets in giving you panji's (5 on a scale of 10). So was this arse of mine. Eventually, the gaps in between the exams proved to be crucial and everything went alright.

The subjects I didn’t get a feel and flavor of resulted in very dismal performances, though. Grade B or may be even lower is already expected in one of ChemD’s core subject, CH-305: Reaction Engineering. Moreover, my face has a smug gleam of felicitation after acing the subjects I loved the most. IHS03: Group Dynamics was one of them.

However, well, there’s no time and scope for the feel thing when you are in an IIT. Do whatever the system demands, else the system comes back at you and leave you in shatters. So, it is better if you go along with the flow without giving a thought about what-you-like and what-you-don’t-like. Perhaps, the only way to be a successful fucked-up Engineer. Trust me!

Losing grip

2010-11-01T00:40:00.004Z

The past few months have seen within me a swashbuckler. I have turned into a reckless, careless, lunatic mortal. Things go over my head, issues irk me, people rankle me, weird things fascinate me, issues of no-importance trance me. I have heard highly educated people preaching a gospel that one should do what their heart tells them to do. On a different note, what if your heart does not wish to do anything? What if your mind needs only repose? What if you propose to leave all the terrene affairs? Not so simple, though.

Few days back I told my younger sis about a weird thought of mine – a thought to leave everything and go to the Himalayas to live a life of peace and serenity. The only reply she gave me with a wary look was – “I am going to tell Mom about this.”

Then, all of a sudden I realize that a couple of years more and everything would be over. All these draggy and ho-hum engineering principles and theories would find an end leaving me in complete freedom. However, this end would mark the beginning of a yet new period – a period in which I would eventually find myself working in some crippled Chemical company surrounded by more crippled employees and lame officials. Would this be called an end or a beginning, then? I personally would call this a deadlock.

Management is the probably the only thing left which still happens to charm and captivate me, but didn’t Engineering have the same appeal in the early days when I was preparing to make it into a prestigious college? I am in no mood to answer here the hackneyed question: ”Why I eventually lost interest in Engineering?” Probably this is why I came out of a TATA Steel written test in a flash as soon as I encountered all gimpy Engineering-related questions yet again, to which I had no better option left. I even bypassed few other companies I came across. A huge transition from what I was like an year ago, when I was constantly worried about all this. Well truly said, ‘All that glitters is not Gold’.

No one can predict the future, but one can surely make it. All in all, I have started trusting my conscience. Whatever I feel like doing, I have been blindly doing it. On the contrary, whatever narks me now finds a place in the bin, no matter its worth or consequences. Moreover if the predicament within my mind continues to amplify, I might even end up being a recluse, or not?

Campus at the break of day

2010-10-01T04:15:00.006+01:00

Once in a college, few things become almost impossible – Beholding the break of day is one of it. Sleeping at awkward times makes waking up on time an almost unmanageable task.

The clock ticked 05:00 a.m.!

After a long stay at Cautley talking mundane affairs with friends, I was on my way to Jawahar late night (or early morning?) taking the path less traversed. I wanted to take the shortcut but with the number of dogs increasing exponentially in the campus, I avoided it and resorted to the Cautley-AHEC-Library-Alps-Slope-Jawahar pathway, which was a little more time consuming. However, taking this pathway was the best way to lessen my probability of being bitten by any of the dog/bitch.

While sauntering through that path I had a picturesque depiction of everything around. I had walked through that path innumerable times but this time with no one around, everything looked very wondrous.

Being deprived of sleep, my eyes were getting heavy. However, the air seemed to be freshly, bracing and invigorate enough to keep me awake. A bunch of crowd, esp. The Professors and their families, was already astir, and was enjoying the morning walk. I could hardly find even a single student around. I even happened to confront a Professor with his wife, who passed on giving me a strange look. The street lights were suddenly turned off. The diurnal beings then seemed to be back into business.

The trees around looked magnificent. The leaves didn’t seem to abandon the trees yet, although the vibrancy of its contours seemed to fade slightly. Ladies jogging, cool breeze hushing, dogs defecating, birds chirping, night watchmen preparing for a changeover, Department fully mute and obtuse- all in the presence of a weak sunlight, while the sun itself below the horizon presented Nature at its best.

Appalled at the beauty of it all, I decided to sit down along the library stairs to just stare and gaze at it all. Everything looked fresh, crisp, dewy, innocent, peaceful and newfangled. The Nature appeared to move around, while I being stationary, the rest of the world appeared to continue ahead. It left me in a peaceful moment and longing for more, until I realized that I had a class at 9.

QOTD (Quote of the Day): ''Lose an hour in the morning, and you will be all day hunting for it''.

The rock-ribbed 'Red' in me.

2010-09-24T13:37:00.002+01:00

Way back in 2002, nothing about the footballing world interested me. I was happy in my own world playing cricket, video games, collecting GI Joe’s and going to school. Even the 2002 Football World Cup which I followed was because everyone at school was watching and talking about it. As most of my friends and relatives were talking about a nicely-rhymed 'Ronaldo-Rivaldo-Ronaldinho' trio of Brazil, I started supporting Brazil as I loved the rhyming scheme in the above deuce-ace, with no genuine mania for anyone from within. Slowly and steadily I developed a mild interest in the game with Brazil going all the way to life the trophy, and Ronaldo winning the ‘Golden Ball’.

That year I looked forward to the much talked about English Premier League (Courtesy: ESPN-Star Sports news-cum-talk shows). Initially, the League went completely over my head. With so many players playing for so many uncannily-named teams, I was completely jolted. Yet, I ended up learning the names of few English players and for the clubs they played. I very soon realized that England is the team to watch out for! I developed an intense charm for England- its players and their hot and sizzling wags. I also learnt a lot about Liverpool Football Club (LFC), where two of my favorite players (Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen) played. Then came Euros in 2004, the time when I was aware of a handful of players from the EPL (mostly English players). Consequently, I supported England with more passion this time but unluckily England was eliminated by Portugal in the quarter-finals in the penalties, but the heroics of Gerrard made me in complete awe of him! I started admiring and following him with a lot of vigor, passion and dynamism. Later, during the EPL when I saw Gerrard playing for LFC, everything just clicked. I did not wake up one morning and say “I am going to support Liverpool today”, it was something that grew with me, it is more like a calling than anything.

Being a Red unremittingly doesn’t make me have an aversion for other clubs and for those who support other clubs. I respect a lot of players who actually don’t play for LFC. I love the Football game in its pure form, and the players who play it so. Still, Liverpool is the club I have found an intense attachment for, and England is the country I can never stop supporting. I have a 'little dream' of going to Anfield some day watching the Reds play and I, completely clad-in-Red with a scarf on my shoulder reading, “You’ll never walk alone!”, dancing and singing to the tunes of the anthem! I’ll end on a high with the famous quote by former Liverpool Manager, Bill Shankley: ”Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, its much more serious than that.”

List 1: Celebrity Crushes

2010-09-20T16:03:00.001+01:00

Few people come into your life so briskly, that their briskness crush you badly to an extent that you find yourselves admiring them with enormous cache, even after knowing that you probably won’t ever meet them let alone date. This is what is so absolving about the celebrity crushes. Since you most likely won't have a chance to hook up with the object of your crush under any circumstances, these circumstances become completely insignificant. You don't have to worry about whether or not the celebrity is single (or if you're single) or if he or she likes blondes or brunettes or even if the celebrity is gay or straight. It's all total fantasy so those inconvenient bits of reality don't matter at all.

Betokening thus, here I present a list of my female celebrity crushes (in the order of level of crush-ness, i.e. in increasing order):

10. Elizabeth Banks (From The 40-year old virgin to Definitely May Be to Spider Man to the Uninvited, this blonde looks blistering hot!)

9. Zooey Deschanel (An unusual liking for her, as some faces remind you of someone. She is nonetheless stunning and sensational! Watch out for her in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy!)

8. Elisha Cuthbert (I could pay a huge amount to chunk to book a flat beside her's to make her the girl next door for me, any day!)

7. Ke$ha (This party image girl with her messy hair, smeared makeup, and garbage-chic apparels always has a way to appeal! My mobile snooze always has Ke$ha singing, 'Tik Tok' and waking me up everyday. For those, who think her to be a drunk Taylor Swift, Up Yours!)

6. Alex Curran (If Gerrard allows, she is the only sensational tan I’d ever love to date owing to her hotness level!)

5. Gemma Atkinson (If hotness is what we are talking about, here is this English lingerie-model to look out for. Remember her as the ex-wag of C. Ronaldo!)

4. Kristen Stewart (Coming to life from the Twilight series, this vampire lover definitely has it to blow off the minds! Blown away, am I, undoubtedly!)

3. Megan Fox (Dressed Up or Dressed down! Whatever way, she is stunning hot! Never mind considering her as a Sex symbol.)

2. Cobie Smulders (Perfect figure, adorable smile, beautiful accent, amazing as Robin Scherbatsky in HIMYM. Do I need to say more?)

1. Katy Perry (With daisy dukes and a bikini on top, the lady has killed me with her exquisite smile and enchanting eyes. Lucky bastard have you been, Russel Brands!)

---
These have been my Top 10 biggest celebrity crushes till date. I honestly don’t know which big supermodel is going to crush me next, heavily in juggernaut style. Whoever it may be, it perhaps has nothing to do with my real life. All I can say is certain aspects of people appeal you in some way or the other, but who does know the reality anyway?

P.S: The dream date for me any day ought to be with my dream girl, Katy Perry.

P.P.S: It hardly matters if my list doesn’t match with yours. Few things are meant to be different.

P.P.S: After a series of philosophical posts, I have been planning to write my first soccer post. Ensuing, it may be!

P4S: I had been planning to present a series of Lists of various things. This was one of the coming few.

P5S: As far as the pictures I have used, I agree to the fact that they lack pellucidity. Courtesy: Sluggish Jawahar Internet connection + Lazy arse of mine!

Why, Aisha?

2010-09-16T04:04:00.006+01:00

Finally after a long hiatus, I am back with Aisha, but why, Aisha? Why only, Aisha? After nuking my buzz and twitter with posts reflecting my insatiable desire to watch Aisha so many times, I eventually ended up watching it a month after its release, and trust me, I was not at all unsated! I don’t intend to write a review of the movie here, but I certainly intend to indite - Why, Aisha?

So a take on why, Aisha?

If you simply love the name, Aisha.
If you have an appetite for humor and style quotient.
If you crave for uptown super rich chicks wearing tank-tops and short-skirts!
If you have read 'Emma' by Jane Austen, watched the Hollywood adaptation, 'Clueless' but still want to cherish some desi-spin on the story.
If you want to witness a movie that goes without any heavy-duty ‘drame baazi’, and prompts you to ponder on the perils of misconstrued romance.
If you want to believe that howsoever bitchy, cattish and arrogant a girl may seem from the glossy cover, she definitely has a soft corner which is gooey and mawkish.
If you want to watch out for Sonam Kapoor as an actor in one of her very neat and substantial performances!
If you are planning for a date, this could just be the ideal date flick!

The plot is almost unchanged from the original classic work of Jane Austen, Emma. Aisha, however, is more treatment-oriented than story-driven, relying on dialogues, individual scenes and quirky characters to do the trick. To a large extent, it succeeds too.

The pre-interval portion is breezy and Shefali`s (Aisha’s small town friend) innocence coupled with Aisha’s hoity-toity act keeps the proceedings interesting. The friendly sparring between Aisha and Arjun (Abhay Deol), and scenes involving Randhir(Cyrus Sahukar) and Pinky(Ira Dubey) enliven the film and at half-time you are upbeat and hopeful. Post-interval, though, the film’s pace dips and you soon realise that the makers succumbed to a more convenient route. However, everyone looks so watchable that the movie would hold you in command till the very end plus some brisky and bouncy songs amid the story will never let you down.

Devika Bhagat,the film’s screenplay writer, with the film’s director Rajshree Ojha, has kept the essence of Austen’s classic intact and focused more on the presentation. With producer Rhea (actor Anil Kapoor’s younger daughter), the troika of women has managed to serve a palatable chick flick, but one which is not without its share of shortcomings and cliches.

The movie is certainly not that serious to bog you down, or not so frivolous to be dismissed, it just goes so very well to glue you till the end. So, why waiting? Go, get, Aisha!

My 'Gene' is selfish ?

2010-08-24T12:13:00.005+01:00

It happens to be that phase of my life when this little thing called ‘mind’ has been constantly searching for reasons and answers to almost everything around! In the quest for these answers, I have continuously been fooled by many things – be it randomness, be it luck, be it the Nash Equilibrium, be it the Laws of attraction or be it simply, a gene!

I lately concluded reading 'The Selfish Gene', by Richard Dawkins, which in many ways cleared the junk out of my brain! The skill of Dawkins, as a writer, is that he has managed to convey the role that genes have had in our (and all life's) evolution. We know that genes determine the color of our eyes, our bodily features, certain physical traits and our susceptibility to certain diseases. However, what Dawkins shows is rather more fundamental and remarkable than that!

As a man of extreme intellect and analytical mastery, his logic throughout the book is very clear, vivid and easy to follow. All of us know how natural selection (i.e survival of the fittest) has played a role in the way species have evolved. It has previously been accepted that natural selection happens at the individual level or according to many, at the Group Level. However completely diametric to this, Dawkins proposes that natural selection (and evolution) happens at the level of the gene, thereby flourishing the 'Gene-centered view of evolution' or 'gene selection theory', and consequently surpassing the 'Organism-centered view of evolution'.

Dawkins even term 'Organisms' as 'Vehicles' or 'Survival Machines' of the genes. From the gene's point of view, evolutionary success ultimately depends on leaving behind the maximum number of copies of itself in the population. Since close relatives of an organism share some identical genes, a gene can also increase its evolutionary success by promoting the reproduction and survival of these related or otherwise similar individuals. Hence "selfish actions" of the gene are the "unselfish actions" of the organisms.

The best part of the book for me was when Dawkins highlights how and why Nice guys always Finish First? His exemplary view on the 'Prisoner’s dilemma' combined with the Tit-for-tat strategy, and how being nice, forgiving, and not envious help in winning in gross situations where nasty strategies fail completely. Moreover, he even admits that 'Tit-for-tat Strategy' is still not the 'Evolutionary Stable Strategy(ESS)', which according to Dawkins is a strategy that does well against copies of itself. The rationale for this is as follows. A successful strategy is one that dominates the population. Therefore it will tend to encounter copies of itself. Therefore it won't stay successful unless it does well against copies of itself.

"The Selfish Gene" did change my way of thinking and acting, apart from answering many weird questions which my mind was burdened with. I can now look out at a crowd of people and imagine all of the trillions of little genes going about in these lumbering robots searching for ways to survive and replicate themselves. If life is a game, then this book definitely gives us a better understanding of that game and even gives us some potential strategies to help us and our genes excel in that game.

Thinking ? ... is just a waste of time!

2010-08-12T03:41:00.003+01:00

Recently I got hold of an isolated-lying newspaper amid the wee hours of a lecture class. While glancing over the pages, an article suddenly caught my attention. On further reading this wonderful piece of writing I almost got transmogrified. The manner in which I interpreted that article could be completely diametric to what the author wanted to convey as the reasoning involved in drawing a conclusion or making a logical judgement solely depends on circumstantial evidence and prior conclusion rather than on the basis of direct observation.

My way of thinking, imagining, opining, reckoning and believing has been continuously undergoing a change owing to some outstanding theories, work and philosophies of Taleb, Carnegie, Dawkins and Darwin. Fusing my illation of the above-mentioned article and some little random philosophies I know, I put forth the following viewpoint.

Each day zillion of thoughts strike our neural cells hoping to grow bigger and turgid. This eventually blocks the space which the brain could have used for some other real time practical purposes. Each of these tiny thoughts has the potential and capability to develop into a massive bubble, whose size is directly dependent on our attachment with that particular thought process. More the attachment, more gets the thought-size, more striver we become by following, arguing, rationalizing, imploring, hoping, wishing, suggesting and agonizing on everything our mind tells us. Every single of these umpteen thoughts can fill the brain with such huge amount of junk that it would become impossible to cleanse it later when one senesce. On the contrary, if lesser heed is paid to these enormous thought bubbles, they conk out in their generative stage sparing tremendous amount of time and space to concentrate on our environs and ourselves. Self-discovery is what we usually work out this way.

Thinking takes our mind into the past or future where life seems full of commotions, emotions, drama, happenings but with no reality at all. For reality, one needs to be in the present, think of present, and that is only possible if one gives no way to thought-processes which chokes the mind’s capacity to focus on present. Hence,

“Stop Thinking! Know thyself! Live the Present!”

Luck - by chance!

2010-07-31T15:35:00.001+01:00

Firstly this post has nothing to do with the movie ”Luck” starring Shruti Haasan in one of her most aphrodisiac performance, though the movie was nothing more than a total clunker. Having merely read one-fourth of “Fooled by Randomness” by Nassim Nicholas Taleb, I do not find myself in any comfortable position to comment or write a post about it, as it would present me nothing more than a naïve subject. The following post might or might not be linked to the gist of the above mentioned book, but not a single sentence of it has been plagiarized from the book or from anywhere else. This post is about ‘luck’ as I construe it.

Luck for me is ‘random’, i.e it lacks any order or plan or occurrence. Luck can be on your side in the morning for a particular task and can evade you in the evening for any other equivalent task. You wake up on time for your morning class is by sheer luck. Supposedly the alarm clock fails or you are floating in your world of surreal dreams so peacefully that you do not hear it ringing, you will surely miss the class owing your misfortune to luck (or I’d define it as ill-luck). You are walking through a lane with your friend who suddenly slips and falls on a banana peel. This marks your friend’s ill-luck and your good luck because it could have happened the other way around. Luck favored you this time! Similarly if your girlfriend ditches you for some other person means luck disfavored you and favored the 'other person'. You can be the richest person in your town but ill-luck can make you a hapless victim in a matter of seconds. You can be on the zenith today but ill-luck can bring you down in a flip of seconds. Luck can make you win thousands of bucks in a Casino, Gambling or a Blackjack, but the same luck can disfavor you anytime. If you are the most lucky guy in your college you could be walking hand-in-hand with the hottest chick in town, but if you are oh-not-so-lucky kind of a guy you would be doing nothing more than driveling! Luck, undoubtedly is omnipotent and omnipresent but it lacks the orderliness.

People underestimate luck and perceive it as Non-luck (i.e Skills). Skills do define ourselves, our traits and our attributes, but without luck it has value equal to ZERO! Skills + Luck = Success, where "Luck >> Skills", thereby narrating the grandness of Luck! With Skills but without Luck, you can somehow manage to be on the top at the cost of your precious life. However with luck but without skills, you can manage to be on the top but will never have the fear of dying because of that factor called ‘Luck’! Thus, Luck is indeed a potent toxin, but yes it doubtlessly happen by mere chance if you happen to be 'lucky' enough!

Me, Environs and the Nature

2010-07-26T19:27:00.009+01:00

The recent bargain which fetched me a 500 rupees gain turned out to be the best deal I ever had. I bought a much needed Hawk bicycle in exchange for my old never-exploited Razorback! This has not only demolished my exponentially rising Rickshaw bill but has also started saving my Time (by making me punctual at all the classes and labs), which I have been utilizing for some work or the other.

The initial week at college went as expected. ‘Department of Chemical Engineering’ yet seems to perplex me in many regards (details later). Even though many things have certainly changed. Our class room has been shifted from CH-102 to CH-201. So has the Professors, excepting the one who blessed me with a B the last Semester in a 4 credit course. The only good thing which seems to have happened to me so far is the Institute Elective ‘IHS03-Group Dynamics’ I have gotten.

Amidst all this newness, I have bought some good Novels which includes “Fooled by Randomness” by Nassim Nicholas Taleb and “A biography of Benito Mussolini”, which will surely keep me busy for the next few weeks or so. I am also planning to get from somewhere “The Selfish Gene” by Richard Dawkins. I also planned to join Career Launcher, situated at a walking distance from the campus for attending CAT ’11 coaching classes.

More than all this, I have been tweeting and blogging lately, rather than buzzing and updating my statuses on Facebook (details later). I have started socializing less with the people, and on the contrary have started giving more importance to the tiny and little things of Nature happening around me, which is sometimes a weird buzz coming out of a bee or a cool breeze hushing past me. All such things have started giving me wonderful sane moments of glory and happiness, rather than the gibes and scoffs of humans. Only this way life seems marvelous to me! No, I am not on the path of becoming a recluse.

Two Doors Down, Third it is ..

2010-07-20T14:31:00.003+01:00

The inception of Junior year was neither exciting nor commoving. The Registration bugger was turned Online from this year thereby reducing the workload from filling six colored cards to just two printouts thereby fooling us in regard to "Ragging affidavit-cum-Oath Commisioner dang"! However the nub of these printouts lied in the fact that details had to be filled Online to which the R-Server balked as usual. Somehow by hook or by crook this situation was bumped off, and there all Sophomores were legally set to enter into their Pre-Final year. *Glee*

This time my journey to R was accompanied by Ma, Pa and Sis. Consequently the trip, as expected, was full of advices, emotions, counseling. It all eventually turned into some thoughtful lessons on “How to keep your room clean?”, “How to maintain a balanced and healthy diet in R?” ,”How to excel abiding by the statement, ‘Early to bed and early to rise’?” , and a lot more. The room FT-18 was then blessed by their soulful ingress which soon followed by laying a wonderful calligraphic encryption on the room wall by my sis 'wishing me luck'. A walk through the Civil Lines and delicious lunch at Hotel Prakash with some little shopping followed next which concluded with hugs and kisses and then the Indigo racing away from Jawahar leaving me depondent all alone.

Dilemma, quandary and options ... ?

2010-04-14T20:17:00.003+01:00

15 odd days left , followed by the lethal End-Term Examinations to conclude my ~~awesome~~ rattling Sophomore year, and commence my Junior year anew. Though I am still afraid of using any replacement for the term “rattling” above, because All’s well that ends well or Nothing is well, until it ends well! Thus, I wish 2-2 ends well too, to make that bountiful replacement.

At this particular juncture of time, an year ago, I remember I had a long-lived crush on Cobie. I mentioned the same in a post with reference to the “Green-Black Chemical Romance” thing. This time around, things have changed drastically. Anyways, I gave a glimpse of the Sem so far in my previous post, where I adverted at one place, “ I did not receive any mail from few big names where I was expecting my immersion during the Summer holidays for training purposes. However, I am happy training at my Dad’s workplace at DRDO forsaking those big names, finally. “. However within a fortnight, when I was certain of going with DRDO, I got copious mails and calls, all captivating! Thus, I am in a big fix at the moment. The options available for me as of now are as follows:

Option No. 1: DRDO – and my passion for developing the algo: I will be with my family, in my beloved city and at my Dad’s workplace with all needful facilities, ranging from Hi-Speed Broadband connectivity, Air-Conditioned Rooms, refreshments (Real Juice, Samosas, Sweets, etc available any time), a world class library, Dad’s counterparts well versed with C++ who could help me out any time regarding my project and make me learn a lot, and people who can tell me a lot about Defence mechanism, accessories and structure. All this without any charge or fees.

Option No. 2: IIT Kanpur – and the value of this Intern: There was a Notice put up on our Channel-I long time back regarding some Internship at IIT Kanpur under the aegis of Dr. Priya Ranjan (Department of Electrical Engineering, IIT K). It said, ‘Stipend and Lodging would be made available at IIT Kanpur only, where the trainees would be undergoing training of one month and some Project work thereafter’. Yours truly applied for it without any vacillation, and these are the two replies I got from them :

First reply:

" Dear all, We will shortly announce the results of those who have qualified for the second round .Soon after we shall interview the people on the telephone and finally select the students. Students would be asked a few technical questions on the basis of what do they have filled in the form."

Followed by this later:

“Dear all, Firstly, we would like to apologize for being so late in announcing the results.About 953 students from all 7 IIT's Competed for the Internship program.Our team had a very tough time in selecting the students.

It gives me Immense pleasure to inform you that you have been selected in the Young Engineers Team as "Internees-W" for the Summer Session-2010.The terms and Conditions of the Internship are as follows :

1)Rs.2500 as stipend for the full program.

2) Accommodation arrangements by YEINDIA in a Hostel."

NOTE :Pre Placement Offer shall be provided to those who are found to be extraordinary”.

All this also seems to be an eye-candy. Confusion seems to be creeping up!

Option No. 3: iDubba –and the platform it would provide me: There is an EDC Society at IIT Roorkee which started an “Startup Internship fair” for the students of IIT Roorkee this time. I applied for it long time back by submitting my resume. The team EDC forwarded my Resume to some notable startups, one of them being iDubba, which was “started with an intention to revolutionize the way Television is watched in today’s hi-tech, technology driven World. It’s an online and mobile platform to help users get instant information about what’s happening on TV based on their profile, geography and behaviour. Our aim is to become one stop platform to satisfy all TV related needs of today’s modern man. We are working to build a new generation TV guidance system, recommendation platform and information source specifically targeting Indian users, media, broadcasters and advertisers.”

This is the reply I received from them:

"Hi Abhishek, Thanks for showing interest in our organization. We are glad to inform you that we have shortlisted your resume for internship program at our organization. We would like to have a one to one session either on phone or in person to give you an idea of our project and tasks involved. Let me know when we can have this session."

I gave the concerned person some time slot at which he called me up, and told me about the work which I was supposed to do. The incentives which would be provided included the stipend, accommodation and the certificate of appreciation, plus the perfect work-environment in their Main Center at Noida.

Option No. 4: ClipWeave – the most faint choice: Here are the two mails which depict my tryst with ClipWeave.

a) Mail 1 from Team EDC:

“Your resumes have been sent to ClipWeave. The internship profile of the start-up is available at xyz.com . Please go through the profile. You may get interview calls from the company if your resume gets shortlisted.”

b) Followed by the mail from ClipWeave later:

“Hi Abhishek,
This has reference to your application for summer internship to ClipWeave. We have shortlisted you for the next round. Now, we'd like you to take a small programming test to help us evaluate your skills. Please complete the test by tomorrow evening so that we can proceed with our process.”

I didn’t give any of the above-mentioned Test to which they did send me a reminder twice each after extending the date. I still have ample of time to complete it.

P.S: All the above options are equally good, captivating and confusing. Next few days, I seriously need to ponder over it to decide the best out of the rest! I hope I do take decision wisely.

P.P.S: My Sleeping disorder is yet not in order. All hail Jay Sean, Anya Marina, Papa Roach, T.I, and some random hindi songs.

Cheers! Ciao …

The Sem so far ...

2010-03-30T10:53:00.020+01:00

It has been a dozy, dopy, jerky month. Few more days to go and yours truly move into the last month of this Semester, which would conclude 2-2 (un)happily.

The Semester so far has been pretty hunky-dory as far as my academics and other activities are concerned. Here is a synopsis of all the things I did and the things which I did not do.

What all I did so far … ?

1. I slept a lot, much to the disgust of my parents.

2. I became “the first one in the history of IIT Roorkee to become the “Opera Campus Crew Initiator” at my College”, as Opera people put it. I feel elated.

3. I have finally planned to do an Intern. Though it would be a travesty to do it when one is in his Sophomore years. Still there are many other reasons which are forcing me to do an Intern. I have applied for it at a couple of places. The result is awaited. Though, my love for my family and my dwelling place at Dehradun is persuading me to stick with my Dad’s Workplace at DRDO. DRDO is not bad either. If it gets finalized with DRDO, the topic which I am going to work on is, “Developing and implementing an efficient algorithm in C++ and using Star CCM+ for computation of thermodynamics and geometrical properties of Polyelectrolytes by incorporating different system conditions.”

4. I successfully managed and organized an Online cryptic hunt named, LOGIX 2.0 during Cognizance 2010, the annual tech fest of IIT Roorkee. The appreciations which I received from people all around makes me feel cock-a-hoop. It was a indeed a big success.

5. I am gleeful after securing second position in an event named “Chemomania” during Cognizance 2010 (The annual tech fest of IIT Roorkee). I hope I do get the mentioned cash award and a certificate! The event was structured on the lines of big companies like Shell, Schlumberger, BG, etc, as people told me after which I felt like participating in it. There were three rounds – first, the written quiz followed by a Group Discussion on a given Case Study, and finally the Presentation round and the cross-questioning session. The event was duly adjudicated by hon’ble Professors from Chemical Engineering Department.

6. I also feel elated after the Company I am involved with, i.e “eBullient Info Tech” is about to complete its first task of designing an Alumni Portal for the IIT Roorkee Alumni of North America. The static version of the site is already launched with many things still under construction. Go to site: http://www.iitraana.org. The remaining features would be completed within a fortnight or so.

7. I did write a lot of tweets and buzz’s. I remained inactive as ever on Orkut, except writing scraps to my sweet sis. Facebook, however, still remained my first choice followed by Twitter and Buzz. Though I cannot apprehend the obviousness of finding the twitter fad so low in India.

8. I, yet again got a brand new celebrity crush. This time yours truly has gone ga-ga over Ke$ha (Do check the pronounciation. Her wrong pronounciation narks me off.) . All day and night listening to her songs, watching her videos and publicizing her debut Album, “Animal” says it all. I love the dollar sign on her wrist, and her scrappy hairstyle. You rock, Ke$ha!

What all I did not do … ?

1. I did not manage to get 90+ attendance in any of my scorned courses. With every subject hovering in the range 70 to 75, I managed to keep it 90 plus only in Economics. The lowest being Material Science which is getting as low as 60 (my love for Meta overpowered by my love for Chemical). Though the Prof’s attendance in it is not even 50 plus. *Grins*

2. I did not stop drooling over the opposite gender, and stop flirting with some random people on the Internet.

3. I did not get any position in one of the event named “Freakonomics” organized by ShARE- IITR, which was completely mismanaged, and full of politics and nepotism. The judges were completely unaware of the theories of Steven Lewitt (the author of the book, named Freakonomics). Even the audience was looking for some freaky economics innovation rather than appreciating the stuff which involved Steven Lewitt’s theories. I with two of my friends, Siddhartha and Priyank, presented our views on IPL by incorporating all the theories and hypothesis of Steven Lewitt. Even after this, the judges and audience were not even able to make head and tail out of it, and consequently looked totally dumb. Our way of presenting was also awesome. We awoke the sleeping audience during our presentation. After all this when one doesn’t get anything, one would definitely get annoyed. In fact, ShARE-IITR is a big phony organization doing nothing and just enjoying idiotic bummer amongst themselves.

4. I did not receive any mail from few big names where I was expecting my immersion during the Summer holidays for training purposes. However, I am happy training at my Dad’s workplace at DRDO forsaking those big names, finally.

5. I did not go on a date with anyone. By anyone, I make it clear that I am focusing only on the female gender. Two odd years with no one whom I find *worthy* to take here at R, I think I should rather wait. May be, something “bigger” and better awaits! I am sorry, if that offends someone.

6. Finally, the most important one. I did not begin studying for my Second Mid Term examinations starting from next Monday. I need to begin it as soon as possible before it is too late.

P.S: I also find immense pleasure in congratulating my Dad for winning the prestigious DRDO award for the “Most outstanding Performance”. Indeed, it is seriously a big thing to be awarded infront of famous personalities and scientists. I hope I do learn something from it, and use it for my self improvement. Congrats dad!

P.P.S: Doing and not doing is a darn farce for the some, and not for the other. However for me it was neither of the two. I loved writing it. Moreover I am, yet again, addicted to Soft Drinks. Yes, yes the Summer has come again! Darn! I don’t like it, do I ?

Cheers! Ciao ...

'Alphabet Game' before the V-Day

2010-02-05T20:13:00.001Z

Finally after a long hiatus, I seem to be shooting things on target. The last few words need not be given some serious thought. The crux of the matter lies much ahead.

I had a crush on B. I even had a crush on S. No doubt, the biggest of them was with an A. Then came P, then R, and it all finally got crushed in my chemical romance with the Chemical Brothers. (Mind you all these belonged to the female gender.)

*Back to Normal*

Apart from being literally obsessed with myself, I always had something for the letter A. It all started with an A some years ago. It even continued with the same A for quite some years, but it never ended with that same A after so many years.

Another V-Day coming in the same dull, dry, desiccate R-Land, where I keep humming the Floyd’s Number, “Wish you were here”! Hopes can’t be belittled. Neither they should be. However still I feel wish you were here.

Some wishes can never be made realities. However these days Zeitgeist is pushing me more and more into “Management” thing. Time’s surely going to explain it. No need of making things more complicated at the moment. The crux of the matter is yet to be continued!

Anyways, 4 days after the V-Day, there is one hell of a D-Day. The Day when there is a sudden urge to watch Sitcoms, play Games, listen to a new stock of songs, sleep, and talk a lot. No doubt, the miserable Mid-Terms are around the corner.

P.S: Things otherwise are pretty cool! Many things to write about, however I always end up writing on something that I wish I could read after some 20 years, and then deduce what it was and cherish these very moments. I know these could be traits of insanity!

P.P.S : I wish I could always end up with an A (grades, I mean). Though Pun could hardly be intended here!

P.P.P.S: I wish I could end up with any of these (C, A, B, I, L) immediately after my stay at R gets completed.

P4s: My Management Manic Disorder (MMD) has just begun!

P5S: The full initials of any name were not preferred because of the irrational fear of letting that person know the true identity. However, many could have deciphered it!

P6S: If this post went over your head, let me help you with that. This is just a prologue. Watch out for the rest!

Cheers! Ciao …

26 Random Things About me ..

2010-01-03T12:42:00.000Z

These might either be omnipresent or none of your interest, but I love penning them down.

1. The most felicitous moment of my life was when I somehow managed to enter one of the premier Institutes of the country – IIT Roorkee.

2. The most disconsolate moment of my life was when few days back I realized that “what the hell am I doing in this college?”

3. I hate egoists, egotists, swellheads, and kitschy people.

4. I am a Stoic and suffering from Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID).

5. I prefer listening to some Punk by MCR/Green Day/Sex Pistols over listening to some Progressive Rock or Goth by some arbit human dressed in an uncivilized manner.

6. I did undergo a transformation from Atheist to Theist, following an incident which completely changed my life.

7. I will always remain a misandrist, and could never be a misogynist.

8. I love writing blog posts because I feel when twenty years down the line I will sit down and read all my posts, it would bring me back to this time, and nostalgia would be at its peak. (But the 2012-Doomsday, eh?)

9. I prefer watching Sitcoms over watching some freaking 3 hour long movie, and ultimately realizing that the story was either normally stupid or deliberately obtuse.

10. I am technically, literally and romantically challenged.

11. My first achievement which gave immense pleasure to my parents was me topping the school in 10th. I now wonder – “Those were the days!”

12. I love to show respect for multi-faceted people and all-rounders, and would not in a zillion years respect geeks and nerds.

13. The cutest thing I ever got in my life is my sweet little sister.

14. I love being available on gTalk rather being Busy or writing Status as “DND”. This freaks me out because I feel why the hell would someone be Online and writing DND or showing himself Busy. For that purpose one should prefer either being Offline or Invisible.

15. The first book I loved reading to the core was “Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare. I can recall its each and every scene any day.

16. I am proud of being an Alumni of ICSE school and feel pity for those who aren’t.

17. I love being socially active and love joining social networking sites.

18. I prefer drinking Mountain Dew over Vodka/Carlsberg/Foster.

19. I wish to kill all gabby, garrulous, gossipy people surviving on Earth. (Girls excluded!)

20. My Ma, Pa would be the *only* ones whom I would adore blindly and excessively. They would always be my Paragon.

21. I love Dehradun more than any other city, and contrary to this hate Roorkee more than any other city.

22. I would prefer pursuing an MBA rather than going for MS or PhD.

23. My idea of a perfect date would be on the Islands of Bahamas having a candle-light dinner with she saying, “Kuch toh bol!! Tu aadhe ghante se chup hai!”

24. I prefer sitting lonely in my room rather than having idiotic chats in some arbit room on a topic going nowhere.

25. I love my childhood’s ultimate G.I Joe Collection. I still love to make then fight, and in the mean time always making my favorite HeMan to win.

26. I am a Narcissist, and my looks, indeed, are deceptive.

P.S: I am neither a racist nor a sexist.

P.P.S: I aint a Gay. Refer 7. Though I respect the ones who fall under this category. All Hail 377!

P.P.P.S: Crushes are literally destined to get crushed. Trust me!

P4S: I still wonder - Why the number 26?

Cheers! Ciao ...

' 3' * ' 3' = 09!

2009-12-14T12:34:00.000Z

On December 3, after fighting a 3 hour long gruesome battle with the Department of Chemical Engineering's most elusive Course - CH203 (Material and Energy Balance), Semester 3 concluded. Sigh!
There's hardly anything I can indite about the battle as everything I wrote appeared Greek to me, then God knows what would it seem to others.
Anyhow, Semester 3 ended but eventually proved three things for me:

1. Chemical isnt the coolest branch on Earth,

2. Your CGPA is destined to revert back any time to the same figure from whence it started ,

3. Getting a C or D grade is a part and parcel of one's life. So one should get used to it as soon as possible, because the earlier one gets, the better it is!

Anyways, Year 2010 is around the corner, and thence is the fresh list of resolutions in the making. The bygone year bagan with a similar endeavour. The time is ripe now to analyse all of those good "365 days-old" resolutions and to psychoanalyze on how much I was successful in living upto them. So here it goes:

1. I will never loose hope and will always be highly optimistic. (Starting on a pretty serious note.)
The Year 2009 was devoid of any such day when yours truly lost hope or whatsoever. Thomso-09 was approaching, and it seemed yet again a Fest when yours truly would be without any Girls around him, but there yours truly didnt loose hope, and eventually a day before the Event from nowhere amidst the darkness came a girl (an old friend) with whom the time spent was wonderful. In many other cases, after performing dismally in few tests, I didnt loose hope and came back strongly in the next ones (However I still cannot understand why the hell did I perform dismally earlier, and consequently had to come back strongly later? Heights!)

2. I shall try my level best to enhance my knowledge in my domain (point to be noted : my domain), which will range from Hack-tips (next Ankit Fadia?) to Web-D and programming skills (XML in my hit-list!). (However no clue on what is going to be the fate of my conventional departmental and core courses . God save me from them!)
I did try my level best to enhance my knowledge in my domain, which ranged from learning XHTML, DHTML, Python, MySQL, PHP Programming languages to having good knowledge of Joomla, LINUX, XML. I even tried some hand on Hacking stuff, but in vain. I managed and did coding for few websites (Criitique, SAE, HawkTheMetallion) and preparing an 'Alumni Portal' is the next big thing to be done.

3. I will try not to spend too much bucks on insti canteen from the following semester. NO more maggis and late night paranthas. Only Bournvita (still thinking: hot or cold?) (This will not only be a relief for my parents but also good for my all-time bad health, as my mom says. I’ll try living upto that, but cant swear on that mama.)
Darn! I spent twice as much money I did last year. I ate Egg Fried Maggis and paranthas more than ever before, sometimes at least thrice a day. Many other items followed therafter. It still seems no relief for my parents on this one, but anyhow my health is improving. (Courtesy: Egg Fried Maggis?)

4. I will love all those who matter to me more than ever before. (Yes I will!)
Yes I did and Yes I will. Still when it comes to expressing your love towards your loved ones, I fail! I know I love them, but I cannot tell them how much I love them. I know this sounds weird, but this is the truth. I feel like shouting and saying "Why do I fail onto this?"

5. I will apologize and forget all my so-called enemies. (“Enemies” is a harsh word though. “Bad friends” seems good. Unfortunately met few such people this year, and unfortunately got into few hot-steamed arguments, but fortunately I do apologize and forgive all of them, and fortunately will refrain myself from such happenings in the future too.)
I kept myself away from all the brawls and fights. I accepted everyone the way he/she was, consequently loved everyone's company. As goes the saying – “The best vitamin for making friends: B1”.

6. I shall try to be more tactful and factful. (By the way as far as being tactful is concerned, I have shown such traits by fighting debates on net on some booming issues, and have turned out to be victorious. Thanks to my sheer intelligence! Ahem ahem! However as far as being factful is concerned, Engineers don’t need to worry on that. They do have lots of facts and never ending theories and laws. I hope this to exponentially increase in the days to come.)
Neither was I tactful, nor factful this year. I fell short of all the facts and tacts during my Fluid Dynamics Viva-Voce in 2-1, and Electronics Viva in 1-2. I performed miserably in both of them. I didnt participate in any Debates this year, neither did I read any serious Science stuff nor did I pay any heed to the outdated thories and laws. Hence, had to suffer badly.

7. I will try to minimize my laziness and will try being punctual. (Ah! This year I will try not being late to my lecture and practical classes. In the last sem, there was not even a single day when I was on time or in time. Always coming after the Prof had delievered the gist of that day’s lecture. Consequently had to sit like an idiot with everything going OHT(Over head transmission) for me. Laziness? Who really cares!)
I did abide by this resolution of mine completely. I wasnt late in any of the classes, practicals or tutorials. The only exception to this was a Fluid Prac Class (consequently got a Grade D), and Transport Phenomenon Lecture Class (was marked absent after coming late by just 2 minutes).

8. I will not laugh unnecessarily and will stop acting like an idiot knowingly. ( Had to tolerate few consequences of the above habits of mine this year. . . and they were big blunders. An example is here :read. Somehow just saved myself from these few embarrassing situations.)
I did laugh a lot - a lot! However didnt find myself in any of the embarassing situations or critical ones as last year. I loved laughing and enjoyed the company of people who laughed! LOL!

9. I wont call a nerd a 'ghissu', not tease anyone and not even pull anyones’s leg. (Never ever I dared to do such things in my school days. Was always calm and quiet (not like the usual nerd though), but hesitated being a part of such activities. However things changed here drastically and I love being a part of such idiotic stuff. Cant make sure whether I’ll live upto this resolution of mine or not?).
I was a part of all such activities this year also, and supported the groups doing such stuff. However after getting a branch change to Chemical, the Chemical people had a misconception of me being a 'ghissu' which was soon removed after my dismal performance in the TS-1. As Limp Bizkit puts it - "Everything happens for a reason!" So did it!

10. I will find out why the Google people unexpectedly removed their logos and Adsense feature from my blog. (I even got their letter in which they congratulated me for subscribing to this feature of theirs . . .and even promised me to send few dollar cash. . but then now its all over I guess:( )
I hardly cared about the Adsense case later. It looked wonderful last year after the letter I received, but later it just seemed an eye-candy which was of no big issue. (Grapes are sour, eh?)

11. I will keep on trying, trying and trying till I ultimately achieve what I actually want. (No doubts on this!)
I feel like laughing at this one now. I still can't figure out what I actually meant with this one. Was I looking at the Spider at that time, which reminded me of that good old story of the King Bruce of Scotland? Whatever it was, I hate writing anything more under this.

12. I will be a radiator to all those who wish to be with me. ('Radiators' in terms of Preety Sheenoy, a great writer, is a person with whom when you finish interacting you feel happy, positive and recharged. People feel happy to see them. They look forward to interacting with them. Radiators are fun to be with, upbeat and full of life. Ahem ahem )
I did interact with a lot of new people this year. Meeting a completely new class of 60 students, and then enjoying every little moment with them was something awesome. However the question of me being a radiator to them cannot be answered at the moment. This is yet another stupid resolution I made!

13. I will keep myself away from all the bad habits of this world, including fagging and boozing. (Yes! I will never indulge myself into this crap! Hmmm! This time serious.)
I did keep myself away from all the fags and booze stuff. All this seems crap to me, so no point in indulging into all this until and unless someone kills me and then forcibly make me do this. (Heights of insanity!?)

14. I will call you up everyday. (Guess who?)
I still wonder WHO? Ah, you? Did I, or did I not? I think I did, eh?

15. Oh yes! Forgot about grades and CGPA!. . .(Ok will write about this next time or next year :P)
As goes my second hypothesis "2. Your CGPA is destined to revert back anytime during your 4 year long time span", one can get an idea of what it means. CGPA has been all time fluctuating wave function for me. And as far as grades are concerned, I don't know why the hell am I so much obsessed with B’s and B+’s so much? I always end up getting an A or A+ in low credit courses, and getting a B or even worse in high credit courses. Try calling this Luck now!?

16. Try my best to keep up most of the above mentioned resolutions! (I am a bit apprehensive of this fact but i guess, I would).
Yes I did keep most of them, and effectively!

P.S: The Year 2009 seemed wonderful to me. Everything I did, everything I got, everything I managed to do, includes blessings of my Ma, Pa, and loved ones. Above all this, God was always there.

P.P.S: Its time to bid adieu to 2009, and welcome 2010 with full zeal. I still wonder why the hell is the administration of IIT-R calling us back on 30th December? Why cant they start the new Semester's proceedings few days later? Darn! One cannot even welcome 2010 being at Home!

P.P.P.S: I continued listening to my all time favorite band - My Chemical Romance, and continued to support my evergreen Liverpool Football Club even after their dismal exit from the Champions League.

P4S: As far as the title of the post is concerned, I have put it as 3*3=09! which is undoubtedly the correct Mathematics. However if thought otherwise, the 3 refers to the mighty number which had a great impact on me throughout the year, be it Semester 3 or CH-203, or December 3, or 3 hypothesis. 09 indeed refers to the Year 2009, which will always be remembered for many things. I have started loving 3-some also. LOL!

Cheers! Ciao ...

Into My Chemical Romance ...

2009-08-23T07:33:00.000+01:00

With only 10 days remaining for the first dreaded thing of 2-1 at R-Land, I find it a perfect time to wake up my blogging spree and come out of the 4 months long hibernation. My inactivity at blogosphere could be accounted to the fact that I was way too reluctant to type anything. However I decided not to make this 4 month thing into 5 or even more, so i thought it was better to type rather be a slothful blogger.

The begin to the Second Year, rather 2-1 as they keep it, was something unexpected. Just after reaching R-Land leaving Doon 80 kilometres back, I shockingly came to know about a “Branch Change” on the very first day. Chemical, it was now, about which I would not in a thousand years be unhappy about. The idea of leaving Metallurgy did chafe me a bit because of a “little” friend circle I had made there. Though Changes are a part of life, so are Branch Changes, hence there i was in the Department of Chemical Engineering on the very next day for the Registration Bummer. All new faces with very few identifiable ones excited me. Everyone kept saying, “Welcome to Chemi-Cool”, and i idiotically kept nodding my head and saying, “Thanks” monotonously. I found many of them very helpful and nice, though only time would tell the real “Them”.

The only thing I dislike is the very fact that after this branch change I have to very soon shift my base from Jawahar to Cautley, which is like moving from a metro to a slum. This, however, I haven’t done yet and isn’t in my things-to-do list. However a trip to Cautley had been my everyday routine since the very first day. However my room at Jawahar is simply the best. It is quite spacious and with my stuff being placed systematically make it look more nicer and brilliant. A new pair of speakers echo superbly within Room No. FT-18 to the tunes of “My Chemical Romance” and my another stock of lovely numbers.

Life is really hectic here at IIT even after you enter into the second year, and that too in something called Chemicool. Workload remains the same, plus tutorials, practicals and quizzes still exist. Nothing like Cool yet. However I am accepting this with a smile because if I don’t I know this would prove to be fatal in the days to come.

P.S : I was always an Atheist, but one thing shocked me to the core. Read my last post – “Green Black Chemical Romance”. That was when I was in 1-2, i.e long time back. I never knew that whatever I ‘ll post at that time would be true in the days to come. Thank You God!

P.P.S: I have been doing coding for some of the websites, and very soon formation of a Local Chapter of an Organization is in the pipeline at IIT R, plus an e-Mag is under construction. All this would be highlighted at my blog in the days to come.

P.P.P.S: I love “My Chemical Romance” like anything, indeed i am into it. Only time would tell the real Chemical involved in this. (Its nothing like pun here.)

P4S: Life’s really like hell for me as of now. With no time for anything, it might take another some months for my next post. However if it is not so, that’s obviously a bonus.

Cheers! Ciao ...

Green-Black Chemical Romance . . .

2009-04-16T15:17:00.000+01:00

Going ga-ga over Cobie amidst TS-1 left no stones unturned in leading my way through an average kind of performance with ballsing up most of the courses. Now with Season 1 completed and half way through Season 2 of How I Met Your Mother, i feel it a perfect time to wake up my blogging spree. Curse TS-2 and few allegiances which hindered me from doing this for the past one month or so. Moreover I expect the same in the ensuing one month. Curse another End Term Examination for this. Anyways enough of what i always hate doing, i.e. writing such stuff! There’s much more which i am willing to pen down.\

The aftermaths of TS-2 were contrary to those of TS-1. Both terribly different from each other. The former always keeps on taunting me, while the latter does gratifies me somehow. Mechanical Drawing yet remained a big conundrum to me. So was Thermo-D! Anyways talking about all this is like discussing Chelsea’s win over the minions Blackburn Rovers. Both of which I despise like anything. Moreover I just wrote another Conversation With God for the upcoming Youthzilla Issue, and writing this one was in itself a big experience. I might even get balls for being so rude to the Almighty. Perhaps God might even do this honor.

Anyways, they say that Crushes are short lived. Mine case seems to be pretty different. It is still doing good, i suppose. With an year about to end, the graph was supposed to decline exponentially, but for me it seems to be constant with time. The cheekiest thing which often fascinates me is the fact that all the Metallurgical Engineering students will soon be repositioned to a new Hostel (luckily adjacent to the Girls Hostel),which further signifies that the probability of glinting over the fille whom yours truly adore would rapidly enhance (And this matter is indeed devoid of any sort of pervertism which perverts should make it clear!).

I never got attracted to any sort of Chemistry – be it Physical, Inorganic or Organic. I detest studying any one of this in any of its form albeit the fact that I am yet stuck in a branch that demands nonetheless the broaden prospective of each of these. However of late certain circumstances did lead me more into this CHEMICAL thing. The reference in the last paragraph might account for its credibility to a much broader extent. Chemical is supposed to be the coolest branch in the R-Land (reasons to me are yet unknown). Though I feel the old adage prodigy “Meta Rocks” somehow dilute the Cool-Chemical Combo to some level. Inspite of all this freaking gimcrack, i wish I was in Chemical. Sounds flimsy, but yes circumstances have lead my way far away from all the mundane affairs. I love Chemical and My Chemical Romance (Pun intended intentionally). Branch Change was never my cup of tea nor would it be. By the way who the hell tried for it? Big Nerds sitting with their arse flashing would indeed never have let me even try to think about it. I appreciate this effort of theirs (My reference is to the flashing thing).

Then you realize that no Meta in itself is an awesome group-cum-branch. Many a things however often narks

me. Certain inhibitions within many of them does chafe me. Its almost the end of an year now, and people still think once before saying ‘Hi’. Ultimately most of them end up saying nothing or showing off their dummy faces. School days were the days which were completely diametric to all this poop. Awesome group we had and amazing days were they. Nostalgia often come to its peak value when those days are remembered. Anyways talkin about all this diddly is of utter waste of time when you have End Terms knocking at your door. Though Chemical Romance isn’t!

So Meta it is as of now with registration already done for the next semester. 20 odd days to go and there yours truly enters into an all new brand world with loads of tasks to complete, which are of trifle importance as of now. I perhaps do remember my last visit to the Civil Lines, when I saw the girl in green (or was she wearing black?). Reason for the existence of this silly doubt is due to the fact that i would have looked an idiot amidst such a huge crowd staring at a girl. So i avoided doing that and that did lead me into a big confusion of the color she was wearing. Indeed i love both colors. Issue would be soon enlightened in the next post, hopefully!

P.S: For Your Information, I just got my Thermo-D marks and as expected I did get what I deserve. Marks cant be revealed as of now. Though even the nice swots didn’t get as expected of them. As far as rest are concerned, Mechanical Drawing would get a similar treatment. Rest i assure wouldn’t be that bad. Hoping decent ones in the rest, and yes it started off with Engineering Drawing.

P.P.S: 'Chemical Romance + My Chemical Romance' sounds so fantabulous when pondered over simultaneously. 'Green/Black + Red' is another duad that would seem to be lovely (hopefully)! Moreover 'End Terms + CGPA' is yet another issue to be worked upon.

P.P.P.S: Reds fought valiantly against the Blooming-Blues, though as usual 'Nice Guys Finished Last'!

Wish me luck !

Cheers! Chao. . .

'G' GrOOves!. .fait ainsi. .Groupe de G ?

2009-03-07T18:42:00.000Z

First things first! Friends, you don’t have an idea of the custard which I just had a taste of. It was unutterably the best. (Courtesy my Mom!). How can someone prepare such delicious food everytime I ask her for? Sheer magic! Hats Off! Thats why I was dying to reach my Home, rather “Home Sweet Home”. Indeed finally after two long months spent in the R-Land, I am back to my Home and no doubt I am loving this all. By “all” I do mean “everything”. By the way who wants to miss “such delicious food”, “such delicious food” and yes “such delicious food”? Though I am missing my lil sista’s late night gibbers. Credit goes to the Council of Indian School Certificate Examination (ICSE Board Exams).

Talking of the bygone two Months, I tell you they were simply the worst days for quite a few reasons and simply the best days for the left-out few reasons. However the latter ones overruled the former ones, and in the nutshell the time spent was just OK (these two little words sometimes say it all). I had a hell lot of night-outs (don’t know why? Probably because I was busy doing stuff which i have always loved to do. This included some Programming fundas which none of you would give a brown krill about! ). Then i had another hell lot of bakars with my friends on so many many issues of this earth – “Why did Liverpool play without Gerrard?”, “Why don’t we have a subject like Body Language in our courses?”, “Why was that not-so-hot chick pretending to be hot?”, “Who was not sleeping in the Electronics lecture today?”, “Should Slumdog Millionaire have got an Oscar?”, ”What new article did you write for the Youthzilla Mag?”, “Did you see that awesome girl again?”, “Is she your crush?”, “ Why was she staring at you?” and blah blah. All this pretty non-sense illogical talk can sometimes go so long that sometimes when you by chance happen to look at your watch amidst it, you will find it is 4 in the morning. So involved you get into all this!

Anyways few days back an online friend of mine asked me- “Dude! How are your Batchmates? You don’t write about them in your blog articles!” Hmm! Umm! Ohh! Eh! Uh! Duh! Ah! Umm! Yes! Point to be noted. Did I ever write about them? Well being a blogger is it necessary? Or if it is so, then who am I to write about them? Though being a proud member of BATCH G I should actually write. Aint it?

So folks here it is! A strength of 61 people make a "Batch G 2008 @ IITR". Thats how our community looks like on Orkut. In these 61, you’ll get a mix of everything. We have people from all parts of India. Each one of them a geek of its own kind. Few blab a lot, few rarely speak, many never speak, few always want others to initiate, and many have well-defined regions (i.e.groups) of their own beyond which they don’t dare to speak (Thats not within their range). This number if broken gives you 55 gu(a?)ys (I doubt one!) and 6 gals. Check out this emphatic difference and the strange sex ratio. Perhaps six isn’t that bad a number when it comes to IITs. If I tell you about the last Meta batch they only had one fem-sex , and she also got a branch change! Now hows that for a nail in the coffin? By the way two of the six we have are also on the tragic path of making a branch change (their sky high CGs demonstrate this fact), but still we’ll be left out with four. Not bad! Eh? Lots to write about all of them, but better wait for some time. Let go this year!

P.S : All natives of R-Land. Do check out my two articles on the upcoming YOuthzilla issue. Comments would be awaited!

P.P.S : Mr. Vegeta! Muster your opinions for the upcoming match against ManU! LiverpOOl is surely gonna rock this time.

P.P.P.S : Six isnt that bad for a number. Even four is fine considering the IIT factor!

P.P.P.P.S : Batch G, no doubt is the best! Meta Meta ; Always! Keep Groovin!

I too Crush?

2009-02-16T12:40:00.000Z

I just completed 17 episodes of HIMYM (How I Met Your Mother!) Season 1, and I tell you it was legen. . .wait for it. . .

I have been loving this series for two yet-so-weird reasons – “Graciously beautiful” Cobie’s smile and “Womanizer” Barney’s attire (That rhymes! Aint it?). Even amidst the deadly T-S I couldnt avoid it. Result: Another horrific result expected. However the subjects which I love the most didnt face the repercussions of this insatiable love of mine. I “probably” wrote the best answers in Behavioral Sciences, and “probably”drew the correct figures in Engineering Graphics.

Flashback !

Sem 1 Day 1: Saw a girl, which I couldnt believe was going to be one of yet another bunch of great Engineers (including me :P) to be admitted in the R-Land (as they call it). They usually say that this world is devoid of the species which you are used to in your native land . My native land being Dehradun, so I was unable to comprehend this obviousness of watching a damsel in this dreary world. However they say, “If you really try to achieve something, the whole world conspires in your favour”. So did the JEE Committee by sending me? Or rather “her” to the same place! I tell you I was completely lost, enraptured and mesmerized. That girl was just awesome! Awesomeness can‘t be solely personified to describe her. My eyes were continually following her. Darn! It seemed like i had detected an oasis in the middle of a dreary desert. The beauty showering from her face seemed to be ineffable. “Abhishek Bangrania, BTech Metallurgical & Materials Engineering”. . . .”Abhishek Bangraniaaaaaa.....”, . . . . “Are you here?”. . .I was still appreciating her beauty unaware of the whole world, when suddenly my father nudged me from behind saying, “Go Son! Go! What have you been waiting here for so long?” Startled and dazzled, I moved to the counter where our registration was being done thinking whether my father noticed me admiring that beauty or not. On reaching the counter, I confronted a Bald Man(BM) sitting beside another Bald Man(BM2).

Me: “Sir! I am Abhishek Bangrania, BTech Metallurgical &Materials Engineering.“

BM: “So what?”

Me(Stammering): “Sir! You called my name. . . .f for that re. . registration thing.”

BM(after looking into a sheet kept on the table):”Yes! I did and that too three times. Where were you?”

Me: “Sorry Sir! I am really very sorry.”

Then followed my first ever advices in the IIT life.

BM(sarcastically): ”Do you know? Being late is a crime here in IIT!”

BM2 (supporting BM1): “Boy! This is not the Registration going in your School. You ought to be punctual here. By the way what were you upto? We called your name three times, and still you didnt reply?”

Me: ”Sir! I was admiring the beauty of that girl in White. Hope you also do the same. Will you?”, was what came to my mind initially. Howeverer i just said, “S. S. . . Sorry Sir!”

BM: “Yes you should be! However as of now we have skipped your name . Now we’ll call your name after everyone’s turn gets over, more precisely at the last.”

Me : “Thank you sir!”

Thus I came back from that embarassing situation, and narrated everything to my father. He too started giving advices that i should be vigilant in such important times.

Dad(angrily):”I have always told you that you should be active in such important times.”

Me: “I know dad.”

Dad : “Then what were you doing outside this hall when you knew that your name was about to be called??”

Me(stammering): “Me....nothing. . ..what could i have been doing? Just admiring the beauty of an all new awesome place.”

Dad: “You got time for this crap right now, when they have already announced it so many times that all Metallurgical students should be present inside the Hall. Regarding admiring the beauty of this place, you have 4 long years for that.”

Me: “Sorry dad!. . .but nothing can be done now. Aint it? However I wouldn’t commit such silly mistakes from now on.”

There I sat again on that about-to-break chair with my eyes searching for that beauty again, but in vain. Darn! She was gone. So were my hopes. “Will I ever see her again?” “I couldnt even find out her name”. I felt so hopeless, but ‘Ah! Life’s like this.’

Sem 2 Day 46: Yes! I did find out that girl. I like this girl. Her name, department and everything on this Earth. I like this girl. This girl always makes me to smile and feel so pleasant whenever she is around me (somewhere). I like this girl. A goofy grin on my face proves the same. I like this girl. A big crush? Is it? I like this girl. Whatever it may be hardly matters because if this is a crush, then I dont know if I could take the real thing if it happens. I like this girl. Crushes are meant to be like this only. I like this girl. Everyone has one or more? I like this girl. Mine first in College (and probably the last). I like this girl. However , “Why do they call it a crush?”. I like this girl. This question always confuses me. I like this girl.

P.S. Barney! Your style is just too good. Cobie! Your smile is just too good. #$^&#%$! I got a crush on you. Though, I like you all.

P.P.S. I hate those two bald men, who eventually turned out to be my Physics lecturers. Another brick in the wall. Err! Another nail in the coffin.

P.P.P.S. I like you! But why do they call it a Crush? Probably because that’s how you feel when the same way in return. Ah! Life’s like this. Aint it?

. . . . . .dary.

SHE says: "YOU cant beat ME for a DOLL!"

2009-02-04T11:32:00.000Z

Hello people! Today I am going to write about my favorite topic…My Doll! Ha just kidding!
Even if a little girl played with her little lifeless doll, still she would be beaten up black and blue…just 'coz some people might "suspect" her of stealing Rs 280! Yeah you got it right…I was indeed approaching THAT same topic which presently you are thinking about. But as we head for it…lets take a diversion and just see what we actually wish to discuss. Police Brutality? (hey that's a level in the Max-Payne 1 game!). Arre what to discuss about the thing that has existed for all these years! As Dr. Kiran Bedi had said…the policemen beating up the little girl were not doing what they did as policemen (?) but as frustrated human beings. Frustrated 'coz those guys are controlled by higher position guys who in turn make these guys do whatever THEY want them to do. Perhaps she is right. We never really imagine the situation of the police personnel out there…having to be insulted by the public coz they don't do their duty, and being bullied by their "seniors", who don't LET them do their duty! Yeah it sounds much like Hindi-film melodrama….but can't help it. Like imagine….you are in a thankless job…where the pay is not so hi-fi like the tech guys, and the slightest mistake gets you the attention of all the public of India who just love thrashing you for every rhyme and reason….and on top of that…you are not even allowed to do the job for which you have been appointed! And enter the guys who break rules, and tell you people "we are so and so's son" and that's the end of it…you get transferred to some place! But also imagine,somebody is telling you that they support you….and that you kindly change….but like a stubborn bull, you just refuse to budge. And as a demo of your power, you beat up little children( coz little children don't know about their rights and they are easy targets). Two sides of the same coin? Or like Anit-matter and matter? Whatever it is….nobody has any rights to beat up a person who has "supposedly stolen" something! Least of all,a little 6-year-old girl. So what exactly do WE do? Wait and Watch? (as usual)? Or try and take a resolve to help the police beat up more….oops…I meant help the police to maintain law and order? (as unusual). In the end…perhaps the cliché about India does ring in our heads - "Yeh India hai yaar,yahan kuch nahin hone waala."

P.S: Truly said ANu! This one is superb, fantastic, fantabulous! Really such an amazing article on a yet so booming issue. I hope that the desired message is conveyed to one and all. Moreover I really appreciate your efforts for writing something for this silly blog of mine :P. Loved that seriously!

C2D? C21? CCD? or Cognac?

2009-01-27T15:27:00.000Z

Is another FPS in its making? When one’s College Life moves onto a track full of hurdles, “beware” is the word which strikes the cerbrum (or medulla?) of one’s brain. In such situations, one needs to unzip this conundrum by finding out some soothing solutions, which could steer the sufferer to safety. However neither am I an expert nor a pychiatrist. How about being a sufferer? Am I ?

By the Way, the System is not to be cursed. All Hail the System! A new sem usually brings a lot of hopes and expectations, both way. Another lot of Prac Wok, Assignments, Tutorials is however quite irritating again. Moreover speculation is rife that second sem usually brings a downfall in your existing performance. “Existing was disgusting though”, but what could be more worse than that. God knows! “Chill” is the word i love the most. “One needs to chill in such situations”, my friend says, who his himself another FPS. What can one expect from such people? Obviously such advices! Its all about “Be Positive”. However i still do abide by this saying , because i love the word “chill”, or rather the letter “C”. This January month will soon pass by giving me nothing except the pleasure of the world of such “C’s”.

It started after the First-Sem sabotage. Everyone was inflicted with lots of tribulations. All were in a state of turmoil (leaving out the big Nerds though. The dont belong to “C” group. Theirs is an elite group called “The F group”, which is not obnoxious anyhow. F= Fantastic + Fantabulous +. . . . :P). The results mysified my chronicles too. Then came the solution. (By the way whose was it?) We decided for C2D, i.e CoOperae to Dominate. The logic is however dissimilar to that of Chetan Bhagat’s. His depicted the revolt against the System. However, ours is not the revolt against the System (else surely another FPS will be in the Markets!). This is against the big F Nerds (‘F’ you know why :D!). Lets see how it goes. Chill, as of now!

Life’s like that! Isnt it? Just Chill and enjoy the worldly pleasure of the C’s around you, except few obnoxious ones though. However never entangle yourselves with Cognac! It might be harmful. Hmm a serious advice.:D

P.S: ” CCD Dehradun”, I miss you! Roorkee one seems to be quite dull without “you”. How’s life over there?

P.P.S: C-21, mine favorite at present. Lovely numbers from lovely voices is indeed lovely to hear. So dont wait and just start googling these ineffable numbers. You’ll love them and feel chilled! By the way its all about “C!”

P.P.P.S: Has CCTC to do something with my C’s. Certainly not! Dont dare to get into this misconception, else you will fall into a ditch where no one is going to steer you to saftey either from Chandani Chowk or China!

I love Coloratura also! Chill! Chao. . . . .

Oye! Its New year! ('Resolutions' time? :p)

2008-12-26T12:49:00.000Z

Hey friends! Its new year time again! So wishing you all a Very happy and prosperous new year. May this new year all your dreams turn into reality and all your efforts into great achievements.

Resolutions! (anyone?) Well I do! (strange?) During this time of the year I do make resolutions and then try my best to keep up most of them ( note : try only). However from this year onwards I’ll write these resolutions on this blog of mine. . .and would analyse after 365 days (if its not a leap year though!) on how much I was successful in living upto them. Ok so here goes a small list of my resolutions:

1. I will never loose hope and will always be highly optimistic. (Starting on a pretty serious note.)

2. I shall try my level best to enhance my knowledge in my domain (point to be noted : my domain), which will range from Hack-tips (next Ankit Fadia?) to Web-D and programming skills (XML in my hit-list!). (However no clue on what is going to be the fate of my conventional departmental and core courses . God save me from them!)

3. I will try not to spend too much bucks on insti canteen from the following semester. NO more maggis and late night paranthas. Only Bournvita (still thinking: hot or cold?) (This will not only be a relief for my parents but also good for my all-time bad health, as my mom says. I’ll try living upto that, but cant swear on that mama.)

4. I will love all those who matter to me more than ever before. (Yes I will!)

5. I will apologize and forget all my so-called enemies. (“Enemies” is a harsh word though. “Bad friends” seems good. Unfortunately met few such people this year, and unfortunately got into few hot-steamed arguments, but fortunately I do apologize and forgive all of them, and fortunately will refrain myself from such happenings in the future too.)

7. I will try to minimize my laziness and will try being punctual. (Ah! This year I will try not being late to my lecture and practical classes. In the last sem, there was not even a single day when I was on time or in time. Always coming after the Prof had delievered the gist of that day’s lecture. Consequently had to sit like an idiot with everything going OHT(Over head transmission) for me. Laziness? Who really cares!)

8. I will not laugh unnecessarily and will stop acting like an idiot knowingly. ( Had to tolerate few consequences of the above habits of mine this year. . . and they were big blunders. An example is here :read. Somehow just saved myself from these few embarrassing situations.)

9. I wont call a nerd a 'ghissu', not tease anyone and not even pull anyones’s leg. (Never ever I dared to do such things in my school days. Was always calm and quiet (not like the usual nerd though), but hesitated being a part of such activities. However things changed here drastically and I love being a part of such idiotic stuff. Cant make sure whether I’ll live upto this resolution of mine or not?).

10. I will find out why the Google people unexpectedly removed their logos and Adsense feature from my blog. (I even got their letter in which they congratulated me for subscribing to this feature of theirs . . .and even promised me to send few dollar cash. . but then now its all over I guess:( )

11. I will keep on trying, trying and trying till I ultimately achieve what I actually want. (No doubts on this!)

12. I will be a radiator to all those who wish to be with me. ('Radiators' in terms of Preety Sheenoy, a great writer, is a person with whom when you finish interacting you feel happy, positive and recharged. People feel happy to see them. They look forward to interacting with them. Radiators are fun to be with, upbeat and full of life. Ahem ahem J)

13. I will keep myself away from all the bad habits of this world, including fagging and boozing. (Yes! I will never indulge myself into this crap! Hmmm! This time serious.)

14. I will call you up everyday. (Guess who?)

15. Oh yes! Forgot about grades and CGPA!. . .(Ok will write about this next time or next year :P)

16. Try my best to keep up most of the above mentioned resolutions! (I am a bit apprehensive of this fact but i guess, I would J).

P.S. "Ghajini" might not be a treat for this New year season. Rather go for “SlumDog Millionaire”(no takes on this either!). The best way is to go for an outing with your friends or family. However if still not interested, then switch on the Idiot box you’ll find something good to watch. . .by the way Oye! Its New Year!

"Downfall" or a "Rising" ? ("Something" is "Grinding" my "Aspirations")

2008-12-19T13:26:00.000Z

It was yet another boring, monotonous and tiresome journey from Roorkee to Dehradun (after reaching where I could proudly announce to my friends by replacing my Orkut tag line as “Back Home” or Facebook status message as “Abhishek is back home”. I always feel proud in doing that. Dunno why?). The only thing to enjoy during the journey was a new stock of lovely songs I was listening to. Papa Roach, Led Zepellin and Kyle Minogue entertaining me all the way with their sweet voices (does Papa has a sweet voice anyways?). Indeed this time I wasn’t alone, I came with a brand new title (a title which I can neither be proud of nor be ashamed of). I have added yet another feather to my cap by entering into the Royale Club of “Seven Pointers”. Ya people I am indeed a “Seven Point Someone” (anyone remember Five Point Someone?). Huh! The first reaction of my dad on this was – “Great going son!” (I am still trying to search out for the hidden truth in this statement. Was this a sarcastical one or did he really appreciate me for being a member of that Club?). The day I’ll unveil this secret, I would be up with yet another blog post mentioning that. What else can I do except this?

The things I have been relishing at my home include the food (God save us from the Mess Food which we have been tolerating for last one semester!), and the ride on my wonderful Blue Coloured stylish, attractive, scintillating, lustrous and Metallic "Honda Activa". Compare a ride on a motor-driven Honda Vehicle on the awesome streets of Dehradun to a ride on a Pre-Historic times Vehicle, called a Bicycle in the 365 acres of IIT Roorkee campus and the Civil Lines nearby! For one you will have to burn your thousands of calories and for the other you just need few litres of petrol! Anyways both have their pros and cons! So no need of getting into that debate. The thing which needs this debatable approach is the concept of relative grading in Colleges.

One feature of IIT that I dislike is the concept of grading. CGPA ("Cumulative Grade Point Average") is what it is. The first time I heard about it was through Chetan Bhagat’s novel “Five Point Someone” (actually he wrote it for people like us. . .lol). That time I wasn’t aware of the way it is calculated. It has got lots of Mathematics involved in it. Anyways I learned this Mathematics in my first sem and deduced that it is one of the worst way to judge a pupil’s abilities. A pupil getting a 74 on 100 is equally brilliant to another one getting a 74.5 (0.5 mark cant differentiate their intellect. Can it?). However if judging according to the grading terminology, a 74.5 one gets a Grade A+, and the 74 one gets a Grade A. Now lets talk a bit Mathematics involved in it. So if the course is a 5 Credit Course, the one lagging the other by half a mark will lag by 0.21 (if the total credits are 24 for the sem). So if one become an 8 pointer the other is destined for becoming a 7 point something persona. And ya this categorization does become a lot of headache when you just miss out by a small amount in fulfilling the eligibility requirements for any organization or whatsoever. Hence you are literally robbed by this CGPA concept. However they say everything in this IIT system depends upon your CGPA. Now I say or rather abbreviate CGPA in my own terms, as :
“Courteously Grinding Pupil’s Aspirations.”

"Bang Bang" Out of his Mind!

2008-11-06T12:24:00.000Z

“Out of my mind”, a James Blunt number was what my auditory nerves were receiving signals of. The lyrics of this song are mind-blowing (the perfect word to appreciate this song), it actually gives you a feeling of soothness when you are really out of your senses. Hey what all am i posting? I need to get a little bit serious now. Ok! so people welcome back to this silly blog of mine. I know its too late, but dont blame me. Blame this IIT System!. .lol. Countless tutorials and never-ending practical work with loads of quizzes, tests and ya not to forget short attendance fear. All these enemies leave scope for nothing except engaging yourself with them.

Anyways here am I back with a so-called title “Bang Bang” (dont laugh :P but thats what my so-called new nickname is. Thanks to few of my so called friends . .so called?? Ha!). It has no connection with the awesome Big Bang Theory or a silly Hindi number from a movie which i dont want to remember . .as it was a super duper flop. Perhaps, it is a recursive statement of my surname which is first severely broken into two parts and then repeated twice. So silly of you people! The last few months at IIT R were the most hectic days of my life. The only thing to cherish was few sections which i got into (not a big deal though!), and new people i met. All these people are lovely and never forget to repeat the old-adage prodigy “Meta rox” any day.

“Get out of the class”, was the statement which scared me like anything . Oh! It was our Physics lecture going on. Everything was like OHT (OverHeadTransmission) for me. However still i was sitting there in the second row and trying to concentrate like the ghissus of my batch. . .lol. But the Prof’s accent and his never –ending silly statments were making me to smile continuously, but these smiles took a gigantic look when he sounded yet more silly to me. Consequently i bursted into chuckles of laughter like an idiot and hence came his annoying statement, which scared me like anything. God knows nd ya my batchmates too, how i saved myself . .huh!

First TS came and went. Got just average marks in it. I had hardly recovered from the first one when the second TS appeared like a dracula infront of me! Huh! Relaxed i was after the two until today, when i just saw the time table for the end terms hanging on the notice boards. Ah! God save us!

So people just analyse my situation and the trauma i am facing. That’s why i am not getting enough time for writing articles and poems. . . .but hey i will try my level best to keep on updating my silly blog regularly (touch wood . . .lol). Perhaps i am on the verge of yet another revolt with the system (sorry i mean the exams), so i have to get busy with that for a fortnight or so.

P.S. People dont go with the title of the article, its just word invented by me in honour of the people who invented my so-stupid nickname(i'll see u all :P) and the lovely number of James Blunt (u r great man:)).

Led Zepellin singing, it's raining too! and i am here with another post..

2008-07-27T12:54:00.000+01:00

It is raining cats and dogs. The Monsoon seems to have no end yet! With Led Zepellin singing "Stairway to Heaven" in my background (All Hail Led Zepellin for such an awesome number!) and MS WORD new version just installed in my PC, i find it a perfect time to blabber something. So here goes a piece dedicated to Led Zepellin and Bill Gates (for producing such a nice software without which everything seems to be impossible in today's world, as Chetan Bhagat said…you were true sir!). Ah! Wait but here’s a post concerning me only, not them! Now you’ll notice a huge transition. Here I go…

Unexpected Rains, Shaky Politics and Scary Dreams is what surrounds me these days. (ya! I know its harmful for me because my college is about to start within a week...and such things are pretty dangerous before the Session.) But nothing can be done, can it be? The first of these three counterparts of mine is something I don’t have control over. God only knows the reason for this! Yet some Astrologers and Meteorologists could also be consulted for the same, but it won’t give you 100% surity. The Monsoons this year have made a mockery of the predictions given by the Meteorology Department. I really express my sympathy for them! This moreover has demonstrated that it will take much time for them to predict Tsunamis and Cyclones beforehand. There’s still a long way to go. Keep trying friends! Someday, somehow you will definitely succeed.

Similarly there’s no happy going for the UPA Government also. The “Nuclear Deal” signed by PM Manmohan Singh proved to be a “No Clear Deal” (as my friend says it to be). No doubt in that! Many political parties and people have been criticizing it and many in favour of it. Both groups giving solid reasons both way! ‘Left’ left UPA (sounds cool!), UPA came in minority and it was time for the Mid-Term Elections. UPA needed to prove its Majority, and somehow it succeeded (that’s also a big secret! How?).These ups and downs in Politics will never have an end. And this is what Indian Politics is all about! No one can stabilize it. Can anyone?

If you combine the above two fellowmen of mine, you can’t get the third anyhow. “Scary Dreams” is what it all says. It does not have any connection with the so called “Scary Movies”. The reason being I am not someone you’ll find impatient to watch any newly released flick like an insane. I am always calm and patient in such cases. Few of my friends should learn this thing from me at least. I can’t tolerate three hours sitting, and then at last you conclude that the movie was yet another idiotic drama. People who bear such dramas are the real fighters for me! Ya! I’ve heard of many good flicks, but through reviews and my friends. But all this is a not a matter of concern for me. My scary dreams have been scaring me of late. All night long I get scared by them. Ghosts, Witches, Ghouls, Gibbons, One-eyed dogs…and many more fearful creatures are what my dreams are full of ! I agree that I was a voracious reader of “Goosebumps” in my School Days, but that’s all history and I could hardly remember any story or even any incident of it! The worse is that I always hesitate in talking about haunted places and horrified stories. Actually I fear them! Then also fear is after me. Why? But ah! I am facing it boldly. Hey wait! What was this noise for? Oh! It was the clock striking three. Huh! Relief for me! No, I was not scared.

Perhaps now the scenario is that Led Zepellin has stopped singing. So is the rain outside. Who am I then to continue blabbering and typing? It’s time to save this post and shut down the system.

My new love.........

2008-07-10T10:58:00.000+01:00

Have you ever been smitten by a love bug?? Many of you must be, but who hasn’t been must find it a little difficult to comprehend the obviousness. It is something that makes your heart beat faster and steals your sleep and peace. The dent it leaves in your heart is a big one. You are completely lost, enraptured, mesmerized….so is with me these days!

I am not on this Earth, I am on cloud nine. Always having a goofy grin on my blushing face and always lost in “its” beauty. Hey wait did I use the word ‘its’…shouldn’t it have been ‘her’ or ‘him’ (had i been a gay…well this possibility is rare, though), but ‘it’ means a non-living thing….now never heard of this?? A boy in love with a ‘table’ or a ‘chair’ or a ‘box’…so ridiculous!!

This might be silly but ya I am in love these days with my “Guitar” (r u serious Abhi!)......i know you'll take it as a joke!

Love is always painful in the beginning (hurting my fingers many times). Many a times you fear that will your union be possible, but if you pass through this initial phase of your life enduring all adversities, you’ll be a winner in the end. Same happened with me too.

Well I am not a novice at playing guitar. I bought it last year and hired a mentor, but could only learn the “basics” and few “chords”. The reason being exams, had to engage myself with books. Now after an year I was back to this “sweet love” of mine. Again started going to my mentor with my love hanging on my back (its so romantic!). I started from where I left and now have learnt a lot. These days I am so much engrossed in its “hollow body”, “delicate strings” and “lovely neck” that I cannot resist playing it ( don't take it otherwise...lol). From morning till evening, I am always busy with my love. There’s no one interfering in our love affair, we enjoy to the fullest. I “sing”, it “vibrates”….i “play the rhythm” and it produces “sound”….every time spent with it is really unforgettable. I always keep it in utmost care so that no one can hamper its beauty. I am really lost in its soul (soul???.....does it have a soul too :D....quite strange).

Such is the concept of “love”. You don’t know what it has in stored for you. Love can make you insane and sometimes crazy. I always want to be with it and..... I know it always wants to be with me. *( r u sure Abhi! all the time with the guitar….really you are lost man!). Certainly friends! Love is so sweet and silly!......isn’t it??

My beginning........

2008-07-10T09:39:00.000+01:00

Its been a month or so since I have posted anything on my blog. The reasons are many, infact they are countless ( well! the first being the farewell of my idol Bill Gates from Microsoft....that was really a shocking news for me at least......Microsoft without Bill Gates will surely look horrendous, as far as i am concerned). Anyways leave these reasons. Today let me tell you the reason why I jumped into the world of blogging (thought this should have been my first article, but I am a real dumbo naa). Ha! certainly not to earn money through Adsense or do my publicity or just because many people write….there’s no such blind reason. Well it was because I was always interested in writing something serious (and serious articles are rarely given seriousness by the readers). I don’t know why? But I had always wished to pen down something on the current issues mainly India , Indian politics, other critical issues concerning us like pollution, population, global warming, etc. So thought it is scarcely better than a crow’s serenade to start blogging, a piece of which you all reading or must have curiously opened for reading….but many of you looking at the title of the articles would feel reticent enough in doing so….and consequently in a matter of seconds close it….isn’t it? But I guess if some of you ponder over these issues, you’ll get an idea that all these are worth knowing!!

Worth knowing?? Bah! Who doesn’t know all this?..Population explosion, human rights , blah blah….everyone knows about all these and must have read about them many a times in books, newspapers, net….my blog will also be dealing with the same. Have i written something extra or special here?

Well! might be not, but I wrote something because I always dream of India to be on the top (not repeating the lines of any politician, though!). And for this a hell lot of things are to be done, not by me alone or my silly blog, but by all of us. Helpless I was so thought “a pen is mightier than a sword ”, so started writing such articles. Many of my friends also showed some interest in such issues, and they have been doing the same….and who knows! might be this writing works and make people aware of certain facts and issues which we are unaware of.

However many a times I have been told by my close friends (my sis being one of them)-“Don’t write such things, quite few people read them. You should simultaneously write something entertaining which could attract reader’s attention too.Your school days, college life, few humorous incidents, any such things should also be written.” And God save a brother when his sister has drawn the sword. So included few poems, off the beat articles and many more would be coming in the days to come (possibly yes!). So please cope up with my harsh writing and poor English, because I am just a newbee in this field.

PC in a Keyboard!!

2008-06-19T11:52:00.000+01:00

What if all innards of a Personal Computer(PC) could be packed neatly within a keyboard itself? Yes, such a space saving desktop is now possible. A company called CYBERNET has shrunk the CPU behind a regular- sized keyboard and it comes complete with an Intel Core 2 Quad Chip, DVD drive, HDD drive, upto 4 GB RAM, a touchpad, Memory Card slots and Standard USB ports. Though it makes the keyboard bulky, this is a small trade-off for all space savings that PC achieves. You can plug any of the shelf monitors into this PC Keyboard. The PC is fully customizable and will cost $700 to $1100. So just wait for this space saving latest technological advancement :).

"India in 2020 : My Vision"

2008-06-16T21:49:00.000+01:00

There’s always been a question on how fast India is developing? After more than five decades of independence, the question that comes to one’s mind is regarding the progress we had thought of making and the progress which we have actually made. Though India has carved out a place on the globe but when we visualize as to what our present status is and how is it gong to be in the ensuing 2020, we are often left perplexed?

I am not a great person who will affect you all by his literary skills, and write something very classic out here. My main objective is to point out certain flaws and praise various aspects in which India is floating in the global sea.

Alright so lets talk about the scenario distinctly and vividly :

* We always boast of

India

being the emerging leader in many fields, like Science and Technology, Information Technology, Satellite Transmissions, Geophysical Explorations, etc.. But will these be useful if we don’t have an effective control over our rising population? How will

India

provide food, clothing, housing, clean drinking water, health if the population clock remains unchecked by 2020? This will certainly have a ripple effect on India’s infrastructure. Perhaps, it cannot be denied that due to rapid developments in technological sector, more people than ever before will enjoy a better quality of life, but equally more people than ever before will face the worst situation.

* In the days to come, IT sector is going to further accelerate. With the increase in the number of technical institutes and rapid progress in Science, India will be gaining momentum in the technological era and will be a prominent part of the global technology by 2020. It will unveil many hidden facts and explore the unexplored . Science will certainly be at its peak, and people inclined towards this subject will become a trademark in the whole world. We can even hope for Nano Technology to grow rapidly, and the 2020 will find a revolution in this sector.

* On the economic front, it is likely that the growth of economy will accelerate further. The rising income and new conducive policy environments will further attract more and more investments in our country.

* The mad rate race among nations for industrialization has jeopardized the health of man himself. The criteria of progress for any developing country has brought about a ruthless destruction of our natural resources in its wake. India has also undergone through this industrial revolution and in the years to come, more industries will be set up. The outcome of all this is pollution, whose levels are expected to rise in future if the laws enacted are not reinforced strictly.

* Regarding status of women, yes it can be said that it is surely going to be much better in the days to come, with more entrenchment and women taking crucial family decisions. However the question on the causes of rape cases, molestation and sexual harassments will certainly remain an aspect of worry.

So this is how I conclude it :

For the further decade, the choice is ours, either we continue to be the people who are happy living in their old shells, or infact we learn from our mistakes in the past to fill all the gaps to build bridges for India instead of just the walls!

We have certainly made a dynamic progress in many sectors but he question is how can all these development lead us to become a superpower of the world?

The efforts should be made by all the segments of the society –the politicians, the engineers, the students, the teachers, the scholars, rural people, everyone has to change for changing India. Minimise corruption, bribery, illegal acts, unemployment, cyber crimes, and we’ll have “India of our Dreams” by 2020. For this dream to be fulfilled, we have to “arise, awake and stop not until the goal is reached”, because the past cannot be changed, but the future is still in our hands.

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.”

----Abhishek Bangrania

Missing School Days

2008-05-28T11:47:00.000+01:00

Bring those golden days back to me,
which I miss to an utmost degree;

Retard this time's pace so that I could see,
those wondrous moments of my life's tree;

Oh! those never ending gossips with friends,
and illogical discussions about the latest fashion trends;

On the bench we used to stand,
when tried to spoil the school's brand;

Keen we were to know the examination papers,
so tried to flatter the school teachers;

Loitering in the School campus was a common thing,
the only way to bunk classes and enjoy the School's surroundings :D;

Yet it is something I miss a lot,
those teachers who endowed me up with supernatural thoughts;

Now life has become hectic and increased its pace,
we have to struggle to win life's race;

Still I wish that glorious past to come back again,
impossible it is bacause life has moved to a different lane.

------Abhishek Bangrania

Well! this poem is all about my School days, which i miss a lot.......so i hv written dis poem feeling nostalgic about my School.....check out the first word of alternative lines, nd u'll get the name of my school......B R O O K L Y N School......rockssss :)

"An Eternal Flight to Heaven"

2008-05-28T11:27:00.000+01:00

Another fine poem by me, read it :).......

Fly with your imaginary wings,
Over every dark and mighty storm,
Rise above all tornadoes and harm,
Till you reach the place where you find white- robed angels sing,
Yearning for eternal peace and joy,
This place is 'Heaven' where a Human seem to be a mere toy,
The Angels' world is a divine thing,
Giving forth the world that rapture bring,
Holy, holy is everything including life and death,
There is always a paradise within each breath.

-----Abhishek Bangrania

Population Control -India's Biggest Challenge!

2008-05-23T12:52:00.003+01:00

After every two seconds a new child is born in India, and by the end of the day 43,200 new-born babies join the population force! Can we afford to provide proper food, jobs, schools, housing and other basic needs to the ever-increasing population? Obviously, no! So why are we not taking concrete measures to stem the demographic tide? Population beyond a standardised limit gives rise to poverty, child labour, school dropouts, malnutrition, increase in slums and rise in communicable diseases.

India's population is very high compared to the global density. Can we sit idle as the population bomb ticks every second? India need to control population as soon as possible, and its need is more urgent than that of China. Some years back, India and China had the same rate of population. However, China took preventive measures by adopting One Child Policy and the rate of population was curbed successfully, while India's population continues to grow exponentially.

The law that China has formulated requires people to take permission if they want to have a second child, and pay to the local body compensation for the additional us of common resources such as road, power, health, etc.. India is still short of some policies, as there are no such policies yet enacted! It is often said that education is the best method in creating awareness among people people regarding small families. The education of girls is most important for this.

The idea of small family norm would be possible only when the mother is educated, children go to school, there is safe motherhood, child survival rate is high and there is easy access to affordable health resources and hygenic water supply. But are these basic needs available for all families? So long as our policy makers and political leaders are not interested in just providing the basic necessities of the people, population control will just remain a mere slogan!

---------Abhishek Bangrania

Can we deny Human rights to women??

2008-05-19T11:23:00.000+01:00

Right from the womb to the tomb, she has been carrying on both her mind and body the tell-tale marks of violence and discrimination caused by man, the Society, the outdated laws, the media, the politicians, the Government and the political parties, as well. There has always been a talk about human rights to refugees, the labour class, but have we ever paid heed to the basic human rights of which women are deprived of??

The discrimination and violence she is inflicted upon may vary from one nation to another, but the crux of the matter is that she is still Second Class Citizen all over the world, be it Afghanistan or USA. Perhaps, no Society and no Nation can claim that women enjoy the same rights as men do.

See how we deny the right to born to the female species! Female foeticide is becoming the best scientific method to easily get rid of the girl child even before she is born (thanks to the scientific advancements , though!). In collusion with doctors and clinics operating in big cities, they try to pre-determine the sex of the child to be born and let the guillotine fall if the sex of the foetus is female.

Even when she takes birth, she is not spared. In several poor families, the fear of the prospect of dowry resort to Female infanticide. So we deny the girl child even the basic human right to life!

Many girls are not sent to school because their parents are of the opinion, "there is no need of wasting money and time by sending their girl child to school, when they already know that she has to go into another family." This explains why female illiteracy is rising exponentially. On one hand, Universal Declaration of Human Rights and our Constitution provide for the Right to education. But how many of our girls enjoy this right?

Yet another social practice that comes in the way of girls enjoying the rights to education and health is the evil of Child Marriage. Child Marriage is still very popular in Rajasthan, Gujarat, Bihar and UP. Child Marriage deprives young girls of their right to education and prepares them for motherhood, before they are mentally and physically prepared for it.

None knows the real number of women and minor girls who become victims of rape year after year in our country. Official figures don't indicate the exact number because many victims don't come out in the open fearing social stigma. The victim is not supported anywhere and has to go through one trauma after another at police stations, courtrooms and the rest of her life. Thus she is deprived of the right to honour! Even in regard to inheritance rights, the women don't enjoy the same rights as men do.

The belief that men and women are equal in Society is more a myth than a reality. Government is not seeking suitable measures to rectify all this. The Supreme Court of India need to implement strict laws in this regard, so that plight of women don't become dilapidated. Women should enjoy all the rights as men enjoy, so that the World moves to a brighter future ahead!

---------------Abhishek Bangrania

You walked secretly into my life!!

2008-05-18T19:02:00.001+01:00

Life takes U-turns at various junctions, be it any situation.........what's in store in can never be predicted.......somethings just comes as a surprise package, they are never expected........but yeah they come, stick to our lives, nd then its hard to forget them.......these things live forever!!!!......:)

Here's a small poem i wrote, and dedicated to someone who came to my lyf as a surprise.......don't knw where it'll go, but dis poem says it all......

Here goes the poem............

You walked secretly into my life,
Captivating and lovely to my mind.
I've never met u,
But i feel my world change.
I've never held you,
But my soul is born anew.
I've never heard u,
But i can feel your giggles and smiles.
I've never felt you,
But i know u are the orchard in my jungle.

You walked secretly into my life,
As my lady charm,
Now i know everything will go my way.
As my inner strength,
Now i know i'll leave no stones unturned.
As my guide,
Now i know the route i'll follow will lead me to victory.
As my motivator,
Now i know u'll be there to take me to the pinnacle.

You walked secretly into my life,
And all your pain,
I look as my own.
And all your fears,
I'll cast into the sea.
And all your worries,
I'll dig into the grave.
And all your happiness,
I'll multiply.
And all your sorrows,
I'll divide.

You walked secretly into my life,
And no matter you choose to stay or go,
My life is forever changed.
Just because you laughed with me for a moment in time,
And because i choose to love you for the rest of mine.

----------------Abhishek Bangrania