Opening New Doors!!!...

I was about to write this article when I came across this wonderful quotation by Walt Disney (given above), which precisely sums up everything I wanted to say in this post. Now, I need not elaborate on this as it is self-illustrative, and volumes of ideas have been condensed into this one punch line!...

I'd say all of us, consciously or sub-consciously, adhere to the given quote in one way or another. We are all trying to advance in our lives at the highest rate possible and the above statement gives us a clear way of doing so. New things are happening all around us every second and its up to us to capitalize on new opportunities, as the age old saying goes: "Strike while the iron is hot!"

In today's world, new doors can not only be opened but also created! It is still the first month of this pristine year and things in our college are already taking shape in a new way, considerably different as compared to that of the year before. It is the time for technical and cultural festivals to get underway... The same fests, but with a new twist!!!...

Some people might recall few of the articles I'd written this time around, last year; outlining the details of Kashi Yatra [the cultural fest of IIT(BHU)] and Technex [the technical fest of IIT(BHU)]. This will be the very first year for my colleagues and me, witnessing and participating in these fests as true IITians, which makes the occasion all the more animating. Festivities are in the air and coupled by India's Republic Day on the 26th of January, these few days are going to be extremely fervid. Kashi Yatra has already begun the day before, and other than the traditional Kavi Sammelan (the poets' get together), Natraj (the dance competition), Mirage (the fashion show), etc. [which I've previously given an account off]; today something totally new is already being experimented on, in the form of a competition, i.e. Model United Nations (MUN).

MUN basically emulates the structure of the United Nations, including its General Assembly and everything else, accurate to the smallest and most insignificant detail. Each participant or 'delegate' represents a particular country in the world, discussing and debating on the topics of concern or more accurately, the day's agenda. Watching the proceedings first hand gives us a very good idea of the real-life UN, something which we can only dream of ever being a part of!... A new event called DJ Night has also made its debut in Kashi Yatra'13, with 'The Electroverts' (the female DJ duo of Malika Haydon and Nina Shah) rocking the stage and setting their magic to motion!...

The Electroverts: DJs Malika Haydon & Nina Shah

Other than this, it'll be interesting to see what new modifications and additions are made to Technex'13, which is coming up very soon! Personally speaking, a lot is going on in my life too; fests, celebrations, and at the same time, academics and the question of this year's summer intern!... Haha, you know the routine...! I am eagerly looking forward to a confirmation email from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (B.A.R.C) where I've applied for my third-year summer internship, and the indications are looking quite positive. And although I have a few back up options, I've not had the opportunity or the time of giving them a serious thought as yet, and hopefully won't need to...!

I sincerely hope everything turns out well and wish everyone else the best too!!!...

  BE THE FORCE!!!...

The Agni Night Club

'Agni' in Hindi, means 'fire', and the night club literally lived up to its name. Some of my colleagues and I had gone there for attending a friend's birthday party, and what a thrilling experience it was!!!... Food and drinks were being served in the disco itself and the DJ was mixing it up real nice! It had been quite a while since I had visited a pub, so it felt all the more exhilarating. While people were going to Allahabad to wash off their sins in the holy Ganges, I felt as if I was doing the same in this heart pounding den, in some recess of Varanasi...!

Well! All buffoonery aside, the frolic and tango always breathes new life into us. While the birthday gal was busy checking out her gifts and stage managing the whole thing, we were having the time of our lives, dancing away with her friends and family. She had arranged some games for us too, the first one being 'Signature Dance Moves', in which we would have to individually perform the signature steps of the songs being played.

Then, after all the mirth, candles were blown and the birthday cake was cut. I can't help but say that it reminded me of the good old school days, other than the fact that the venue and drinks were worlds apart!... We feasted on the ambrosial cake and followed it up with more drinks and snacks. Finally, after hitting the dance floor once again, we had dinner followed by a prolific photo session. Before calling it a day, we took a bed sheet and made our unique palm prints on it with some paint, leaving our names and a special message from each one of us for the birthday gal, to make the occasion all the more memorable for her...!

With just about two years remaining in college, such care free days will probably get more hard to come by, but the night of 19th January, 2013 will always be something which I'll carry with me into the wild blue yonder!!!... Many many happy returns of the day Rachita!!!...

The Circle of Influence

Now, whenever we hear of 'circles', many flimsy things like Google+, etc. might come to our minds. But attending a lecture on 'The Art of Making Presentation', by one of the foremost professors in our department, has changed my perception of this word forever!

Sir divided everything around us (including people, problems at work, etc.) into two broad categories, viz. 'Circle of Influence' and 'Circle of Concern'. Although I personally feel that there should also be a so-called 'Circle of Non-existence', as some rarities are not even worth concerning ourselves with, I shall include this under the 'Circle of Concern' and stick with Sir's point of view to keep this discussion short and crisp.

Now, the 'Circle of Influence' is actually a subset of the 'Circle of Concern', which encompasses all those concerns over which we have some control. Proactive people are the ones who focus only on their 'Circle of Influence', to cut out any kind of negativity which might creep into their lives, thanks to their 'Circle of Concern'! On the other hand, reactive people are those who can't resist focusing on their 'Circle of Concern', and as a result get wound up in unnecessarily time consuming, distracting and fruitless issues, which causes their 'Circle of Influence' to shrink! Why should your identity be stifled by your peripheral presence in someone else's circle, when you can have your own unique individualistic identity and form your own circle with you at its center?...

Now, this topic had connected to me instantly when it was being presented, because I had already felt a major change coming over me throughout my third year in college, i.e. from reactive to proactive. I used to be one of the most unpredictable, impulsive and vengeful guys even until a few years back. I guess that would easily put me under the category of reactive people, right? But, due to all the enlightening experiences I've had throughout my engineering college life, I'm slowly but surely being transformed into a positive thinking, aim oriented proactive person. I'm grateful for this change and as I further continue to develop, I'd suggest others to give this topic a serious thought as it can really play a major role in changing your life for the better!!!...

  BE THE FORCE!!!...

Some of my closest friends & I at Lal Bagh Botanical Garden, Bangalore

Industrial Tour

Don't let the name fool you!... The so-called Industrial Tour which our college batch embarked on this winter, was anything but 'industrial'. Amid all the conundrum, with the 'end of the world' Mayan myth turning out to be a poor joke in colloquial terms, and an explosion in the number of debatable topics worldwide, 2012 had an equally exciting finish for us.

After having enjoyed the Durga Pooja and Diwali festive seasons with friends and family, and the semester witnessing a successful finish for most of us, a ten day rejuvenating tour was all that was needed to keep us psyched and re-energize us for the onset of the brand new year. First the calm tides of Vishakhapatnam and then the modernity of Bangalore were like a double treat.

In Vishakhapatnam, although the main purpose of our visit was to tour the Vizag Steel Plant of R.I.N.L, it was quickly over-shadowed by our two day site-seeing trip in which we experienced everything from the majestic Ramanaidu Film Studio and the placid shores of the Ramakrishna Mission Beach (popularly known as R K Beach), to the INS Kursura Submarine Museum. We followed it up with a visit to the Borra Caves and the well-known Araku Valley on the final day of our stay at Vizag. After ceaseless photo-sessions, it was time to take the satiating experience to our next destination, Bangalore!...

After an interesting journey with a bunch of Ayappa devotees occupying the same coach as us, having woken us up in the wee hours of the morning by their clamorous prayers, we reached the city with heavy eyelids. But a visit to the Lal Bagh Botanical Garden, with its wide variety of flora and picturesque Glass House, and its background outlined by the benign rays of the setting sun, would prove ample to freshen us up. This followed by a late-night visit to India's first luxury mall, UB City, set the stage for an awesome stay in Bangalore!...

But before our final day visit to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., we were left with one more day in our hands. So after a decisive vote, plans were made of visiting Wonderla, an amusement park 28 kilometres from Bangalore. And what a gut-busting experience that was!!!... It had everything ranging from a Wave Pool, in which real life waves (upto 2.2 metres) were being pulsated at regular intervals, and a Rain Disco to the gut-wrenching Dry Rides, not meant for the faint-hearted. 

Overall this tour would easily rank among the most enchanting trips of my life, especially since I got the opportunity to share my elation with all my friends and colleagues. From Bangalore some guys went off on an unofficial trip to Goa as an icing on the cake, while others including myself, having already visited this paradise, preferred the serenity of our hometowns for a few days of leisure. 

Signing off, I'd like to wish everyone a very happy new year and prosperous 2013...!