Things That Matter!

Memorable Moments of 2014

It feels great to have finally earned a respite after five months of uphill battle, that culminated with the finest outcome possible! An on-campus placement at Flipkart, after being shortlisted for some six odd companies, was the best conceivable parting gift that IIT-BHU could have facilitated for me. But it wouldn't have been possible without the love, support and guidance that all my friends, professors and of course my family showered me with.

Incredible would be a very mild description for the magnificent five-year journey that concludes within the next few months. I feel very fortunate to have been an integral part of my alma-mater and to have touched the lives of so many people and vice-versa. It's all so priceless! I know that a simple little thank you won't suffice, so I'll let the rest of my life be a fitting sequel to this introduction, dedicated to each and every person who has played a key role in making me who I am today.

Five years seem to be two little words, but what a significant impact they can make! I started off as a naive teenager with an ambition and am leaving as a young adult who is hungry for more. I hope I can continue exploring new ground with success as my motto, and there is no better reward than to share the derived happiness with the people around you. 

After having spent the whole of the past summer and most of this semester preparing for placements and management exams, I'm glad all those pain staking hours finally paid off. The past couple of months have witnessed it all, from the constant load of our impending future bearing down on us to the cramming of parties between busy work hours. But now relieved and excited, I can't wait to get back home! A new odyssey is just round the corner, and everyone is welcome to hitch a ride!

My 23rd Birthday at Kebab Factory

The Virtuoso Fabric

Whether it was the pinch created by the all-India AIMCATs twice a week, or something else which got me thinking, I'm not sure, but how often have we asked ourselves the question "What are we here for?", in vain? Furthermore, do we really have the right tools or attributes to obtain a tranquilising answer to this abstract query? Witnessing the astounding transformation of all the bright young minds around oneself into fledgling professionals makes one wonder where one really ought to be. And while I'm sure that most of us would superficially argue by trying to validate what we are doing under the pretext of passion or worse, simply to earn a livelihood, that isn't always the case, is it?

Now, I know that if you cannot do what you love, you can at least try to love what you do, but aren't we missing the bigger picture? Is it really that simple? Are the people who distinguish between what they must do, should do or would like to do, nothing short of complete imbeciles? I'd beg to differ... For example, I'd say I must fulfil my family's aspirations, and should contribute in some way towards the society in the long run, but above all, I would like to achieve my own dreams and ambitions by pursuing a career which suits me best! It is like different logically sound voices trying to make their presence felt by dominating each other in my mind.

But, at long last, I've finally understood that these aren't conflicting emotions at all, but form, what I would like to think of as, a complexly intermeshed virtuoso fabric. Just for instance, even an average person doing a random job is putting something in the pot for the world around him, and in return is getting paid for it, to upgrade his own standard of living. The ray of light that has finally illuminated within me states that, even if we aim for just one particular thing or focus on just one detached aspect of what we expect from ourselves, then the entirety is still taken care of by default! Whether you are doing something for satisfying your appetite for it, or simply for the paycheck, all that matters, along with a little bit of luck, is how hard you actually try... Whatever your motivation might be, after crossing a certain threshold you are bound to get the desired results.

The other significant question that pops up arises from the stark difference between various professions, like sports on the one hand and engineering sciences on the other. And although the challenges faced and the ultimate goals of the two couldn't be more conversely situated at the opposite ends of a spectrum, both of these have their respective roles to play in the modern day society. While the former sets the standards for physical excellence and mental resilience along with a tinge of entertainment, the latter aims at technological advancement through perseverance, patience and a tonne of brain-wracking, followed by innovation and implementation! Both are equally important for the development of the individual and mankind as a whole. So, to sum it all up, I think the mantra to live a life close to perfection, lies in trying to achieve the pinnacle of success in whatever we do!    

Surreal Nostalgia!

Whoever said that 'time flies but you're the pilot' couldn't be more conforming! After four years of erudition, emprise, josh and amour, it is hard to believe that our colleagues are finally parting ways! Drifting down the lanes of our own uniquely chosen paths, it is exceedingly difficult for me to look into a mirror and discern myself without envisioning a part of IIT-BHU in its reflection. 

Our journey in this blue-chip academy was a classic saga, but like every other sterling tale, it had to draw to a close at some point or another. We have all learnt so much, more than probably what the rest of our lives has taught us till date, not only about the things people generally relate IITians to but also about life itself! After having gone through both unruffled and perturbed times, it was good to see everyone back on the same page for one last time...

This momentous chance was facilitated by the recent Metallurgy Day, which bore witness to the prize distribution ceremony, with many of our friends receiving awards for various academic and extracurricular activities. It felt great to absorb the overwhelming sensation of the surrounding environment being filled with boisterous hoots and jeers, something I'll sorely miss when I leave this place for good.

Whenever I close my eyes, I find myself in a reservoir overflowing with countless flashbacks and priceless memories, too far-reaching to be simply referred to as prosaic experiences! The tranquility of the long hallways, whose beauty can be comprehended only in the wee hours of the morning, when the rising sun casts shadows of the intricately designed pillars on to the empty aisles, shall always be one of my long-standing recollections. The transformation of this ideal synopsis into the progressing day's pandemonium is no less fascinating!

As I vividly remember everything from start to end, like it were yesterday, it sends a tingling chill down my spine to imagine how nearly half a decade can pass by in the blink of an eye! It feels surreal to say the least... The whole nostalgia of the moment was captured in some epic snapshots, and the rest is pretty much history. With the B.Tech. guys leaving within a fortnight and the dual degree students primed for the final most challenging chapter of their college lives, all I can say is that this historic institution and its people, ranging from the closest of buddies right up to the esteemed faculty, have made a profound impact on my life for the better!... 

The Greed Philosophy

A well-known quotation by Rusty Eric states that "As long as greed is stronger than compassion, there will always be suffering." But having read this, the first and most obvious question which comes to mind is whether it is the unfeigned truth or just another senseless medieval deliberation. It bears a reference to the age-old tug-of-war between selfishness or avidity on the one hand, and benevolence on the other. So given a choice between the two, which one would you pick? But before you can go ahead let us independently weigh them out...

Being self-centred is considered by many to be the only viable path in a world full of fourberie, far from its utopian depiction in fairy tales! Why should you go out of your way to do something from which you reap no apparent benefits? While the answer to this is anything but evident, one has to consider numerous issues before coming up with something even remotely sensible or logical. Self-interest may lend a quick hand in materialistic advancement and also help in reducing external concerns, but at the cost of losing the regard of others. In an increasingly complex macrocosm, it becomes exceedingly difficult to achieve your goals without anyone looking out for you, which surely won't happen without you doing the same in return!

Conversely, being absolutely magnanimous without even a shred of self-absorption may initially attract a lot of followers, in some way validating your existence, but might not help you survive and prosper in the long run. After all, innocent little fish can't hope to rise to the top of a food chain dominated by ruthless sharks! For instance when you see a squabble, do you try to break it up without having judged head or tail of the circumstance, may be even risking your own life? Bites, doesn't it? Therein lies the notion of having to follow a middle path, implying a win-win situation, but where do we draw the critical line between the two utter extremes?

Personally, I feel that the rejoinder may be a lot more circumstantial than rational... A precept that works for you might not necessarily work for me! So I say we form an opinion for ourselves while experiencing life first hand. We should cite the people and business which are most important to us, and define the boundary between avarice and selflessness accordingly.

However, not everything has been accounted for yet... Just for instance, whenever I come across a physically fit and perfectly work capable pauper, trying to conceal a ten buck note and displaying an empty bowl in order to coerce a coin or two from me, I feel disgusted! But contrarily, if I see a helpless child begging for food I have no problem obliging... In such cases, where the subject in question doesn't affect you in the least bit, we should prefer empathy over indifference wherever our conscience approves of it, for the simple reason that this might have been one of the prime factors for the success of the human species, thereby bringing it to where it is today!  

An Unforeseen Eventide

Ganga Arati at Assi Ghat, Varanasi

There are times when sanity prevails and then again there are times when witlessness reigns supreme! Such is the absurd nature of the world I happen to be a part of, and the overtly juvenile attitude displayed by some of the fourth yearites in organising a simple branch party was the perfect testament to it.

Social gatherings are supposed to lighten the mood and unite people with differences, rather than providing an additional kick to any ongoing grudge matches. It is all about looking past oneself and reveal a certain level of maturity and professionalism to treat everyone equally so as not to leave a bad taste in anyone's mouth, especially just a month or two before graduation. But, I guess that is more than I can say for some of my batchmates...

A half-hearted effort is as good as none, and selective invitations to a public bacchanal are nothing short of eyewash! In the so-called job party which was organised (or more aptly disorganised) a few days back, I was appalled to hear that nearly half of our classmates didn't have the slightest clue as to what was going on. Soon after I realized that the whole thing was turning out to be just another big private party.

I was one of the tentative hosts of the impending pool party, on account of my imminent fifth year stipend, but seeing that many of my friends were being discouraged from attending it, I was forced to pull out at the last moment. So my best friend and I winded up at Assi Ghat the very same evening, instead of the deluxe Pallavi Hotel. Some delicious apple pie with chocolate ice-cream at Pizzeria went a long way in cheering us up, and a supper at the rampant Chinese joint Ming made for a much more pleasing experience than would otherwise have been possible.

Later, as I received a dairy-milk from a certain someone for boycotting this totally mismanaged foolishness I came to know that the entire party had been cancelled, partly owing to the withdrawal of collected funds and mostly due to the attendants being in a sour vein. It is interesting to note how a mockery can be made over such a straight-forward thing... And although I hear that the splurge is being re-scheduled in the following week to set things right, all I care about is to chill out with my closest friends and watch 'Captain America: The Winter Soldier' over the weekend.

The Second Milestone

As all our peers finally returned to college after savoring a blissful yet malodorous Holi break, a cloud of uncertainty still seemed to loom large on IIT (BHU), Varanasi. But the prolonged pen-down has ultimately drawn to a dramatic close, with a hunger strike forcing the college authorities to accept most of the student council's bids, heralding even better tidings! On the very same day the long awaited results of GATE 2014 were also declared...

The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) is one of the most apotheosized exams in the entire country taken by more than a million people each year, from a myriad of different engineering departments and interdisciplinary schools. And the fact that our branch has witnessed two of my own batchmates assimilating the top two all-India ranks (AIRs) in this prestigious questionnaire is all the more startling! Many others residing just a few doors away have secured a spot in the top 50! I guess, at long last, our department has proved beyond a shadow of a doubt to be one of the best centers of advanced study in the nation.

My AIR of 134, although humble in juxtaposition with the above stated achievements, shall be enough to grant me my first taste of self-acquired pay, thanks to a fellowship of nearly a lakh per annum entitled to any fifth year dual degree student who qualifies GATE. This can truly be regarded as the second major academic milestone in my life, the first obviously being IIT-JEE 2010, cracking which had given me the entry pass to the elite IIT franchise and this historic institution.

Now as we buckle up for one of the most definitive periods in our careers, with the placement season kicking off later this year, I can only presume with baited breath as to how everything will turn out... The thought of spending the entire summer in an oven like Varanasi, for working on our M.Tech dissertation and taking on a backbreaking workload from T.I.M.E, wouldn't appeal to the prevailing horde but the excitement of the intellectual race ahead, coupled with the ambition of becoming an influential professional in the near future, keeps us going...

BE THE FORCE!!!...

A Demur Of Sorts

IIT (BHU), Varanasi has seen many a rebellion in these past few decades, but recently the number and frequency of such heavy-handed protests have observed an exponential rise. So an analytic breakdown of the situation has become inevitable! Amongst all the ongoing remonstrance across the other faculties of BHU, including a strike of the medicos at Sir Sunderlal Hospital (SSH), which was partially responsible for costing the life of a trauma victim, IIT-BHU was soon to follow suit. Ergo, what is the caterwaul all about and how can this dilemma be remedied?

The ever-growing unrest with the recently appointed directorate and its overtly autocratic policies reached a fever pitch when the already incongruous attendance rule was whimsically modified without any prior notice, nearly causing some fourth-year students across various departments to lose their jobs. The blind-eye turned by the governance to malicious green-eyed inter-faculty barbarism and the unresponsiveness of the college authorities in addressing simple requests like that of preponing the placement season by a week, has further added fuel to the roaring flames! The absolute apathy portrayed by the institution towards the future careers of the bright young minds it nurtures is further proof that some drastic measures had to be taken to set things right. So how do you tackle such a crisis?

We were used to seeing the students from the science, arts, law, management and other faculties of BHU go to fierce proportions for achieving even the smallest of their demands, including stone pelting of buses and introducing road blockages... But the IITian crowd being a tat bit more civilized, decided to have a pen-down instead. We had our differences over the course of action being suggested as I, for one, felt that bunking our sessionals would do us more harm than good, especially keeping in mind the outright indifference showed by the administration towards student welfare.

But who is to argue with the crazed majority, irrespective of whether their minds are driven by logic or frustration? After all, not everyone holds a doctorate in anger management! Everybody just plunged into the agitation, without any felicitous leadership and minus the formal election of a few representatives to put forth the mass petition of the student fraternity. The intensity of the movement saw a gradual decline as people started chasing after their own agenda instead of sticking to the common original demands. It is saddening to see such a sorry state of affairs befall one of the otherwise top-notch colleges in the country.

I'm not against such a demur, and I actually love the fact that the students have a stentorian voice! However, I don't completely approve of the way the whole thing was carried out, where the minority was coerced into accepting the terms of the majority without being properly reasoned with or paying any heed to the opinion or rights of the individual! But with our degrees at stake and just another year before graduating, I've found it wise to put a regulator on my own bottle of wrath. Who knows what fate awaits us all and what pitfalls lurk in our way?

After an abrupt ending to our mid-semester exams and a cogent two day protest, most of our colleagues have left the college premises for enjoying Holi with friends and family. And although a board meeting is scheduled within the next seven days, there is one thing I know for sure... Even as most of the students remain undeterred in the face of the unconceding board, the management with all its resources and very few pressure points is hard to beat in this game of nerve, especially with its delay tactics and implementation of the divide-and-rule policy, at the slightest sign of disunity, in full force! As for me, I figure that spending some time in peace, away from the fiery cauldron in our college, should do me a tonne of good...

Recent Protests in IIT (BHU), Varanasi

The 'Fight Or Flight' Response

In modern times, conflicts are so generic that we have become accustomed to hearing, observing and reading about them almost on a daily basis. The world has seen it all, from international war and cataclysm right down to the plague of local thugs and browbeaters. Even on a personal level, I'm sure most of us too have faced our fair share of tussles, where we have had to make the difficult choice between 'fight' or 'flight'. So, what would you do if such a predicament crept up in your life tomorrow?

Personally, I don't remember the last time I had chosen the 'flight' response... It has always been in my nature to take everything head on, no matter how small or big the challenge, and irrespective of the mental or physical exertion required to overcome it. My instincts have perpetually driven me to rise to the occasion and never back down! And although today I can honestly confess, with a certain amount of pride I might add, that I've always lived to tell the tale, is the 'fight' response necessarily and invariably the wisest choice? If you unwaveringly knew that something would likely kill you or in the least, wound you to the extent that you wouldn't be able to live life the same way ever again, would you (or rather should you) still decide to fight it out? Would it still be worth it in a practical world far from idealism? That's a hard nut to crack... 

On the one hand you have the 'fight' response, backed by bravery, egoism and indignation, and on the other hand you have the 'flight' response, which mainly focuses on self-preservation. Science tells us that either choice refers to an automatic response that our mind generates, making our body adapt instantaneously, to counter internal or external stress, termed by some as 'fear'. It is an unpleasant emotion that can be triggered by events ranging from an impending accident to the perception of even the tiniest threat. But let's feel this astounding transformation taking place, for a second... The epinephrine released into our blood immediately increases our heart rate, helping us breathe faster and blood is directed away from our digestive organs to the muscles and limbs for extra energy... Our eyesight sharpens and situational awareness is greatly increased as if time had slowed down... Our thinking speeds up and perception of pain is enormously reduced!

For a short while, even an average joe can assume superpowers that are hard to fathom! Imagine all the miracles that could be brought to pass if we could voluntarily access and channel all that hidden potential... But this makes you wonder... If fear can do so much for you, why do people commend you on being fearless? What does it truly mean to be gutsy? I'd say it simply makes an allusion to the achievement of a high degree of self-mastery and mental control, where you respond with deliberate action to eliminate the imminent danger, rather than get all tensed up about it and act irrationally. So, may be there's some legitimacy to what the fictional Prof. X famously quoted after all: "True focus lies somewhere between rage and serenity"

And further, it's not about who is more vascular or has the neater abs... Huh! It's about who can triumph on a given date and time in the specific pickle that they are in. Once de-escalation flops, a single well-placed punch, kick, elbow or knee or a simple well-executed choke or any dirty move can be enough to tip the scales. No wonder you see professional MMA guys going back and forth trumping one another in consecutive rematches. On the streets however, when a lot more may be riding at stake than just a title belt and you may not get a second chance, it is really up to the individual to ensure the upper hand, by using wits and brawns and any other means necessary, to subdue the adversary at least long enough to step out of the quandary.  

I guess the bottom-line of what I'm trying to convey is that while all that adrenaline is flooding our blood stream, the split-second decision to either fight or dodge, although sometimes implicating a shear leap of faith, should only be taken after weighing the odds of winning against the chances of sustaining permanent damage in any respect. After all, it defies logic to throw away all of nature's gifts for something trivial or petty, but it does make an enormous amount of sense to firmly stand by your prudent beliefs and persevere to achieve your goals in life!

The Dynamics Of A Team

How can you define a 'team'? At the surface, it may simply refer to a group of people working together to achieve a common goal, too complex for an individual to attain on his own. But is this all there is to it? Moreover, every team is not the same in efficiency or effectiveness... So, what are the secrets to the dynamics of a successful team?

The above figure gives us a basic idea of the functioning of an efficacious team. In this schematic illustration, the various sub-groups with their leaders are connected by a communicative interface overseen by an overall team director, represented in red. So, the parameters affecting the performance of a team can be summed up and expressed as a combination of three factors, viz. the importance of the individual, communication and leadership.

Firstly, the success of a team is literally the aggregate of the success of the individuals constituting the team; its flair is a sum-total of the pooled-in talents of its members. So, if you needed to build a team, how would you make the right pick? An age-old quotation states that the majority of the people in this world are reasonable, who try to adapt themselves to this world, while a minor fraction is unreasonable, and who try to adapt the world to themselves. But guess what? All the progress that has ever occurred has been brought about by the latter! Therein lays the significance of the individual, who ought to have an independent and powerful voice, which must not be drowned out in the shadow of others' opinions, in order to make a measurable contribution to the collective effort of the team.

The second aspect of team-performance is communication, which refers to the exchange of vital information in a concise and informative manner. Just as a word of caution, this term should not be confused with conversation which, as opposed to communication, refers to idle chatter with no sizable output. Communication helps everyone to keep the bigger picture in mind, by facilitating the visualization of how the achievement of individual targets comes together to achieve the final goal. Decisions and modifications to the original plan can be made accordingly, other than maintaining a healthy and motivated work environment.

The last but perhaps the most important aspect of the dynamics of a team, is the role of its leader, who must be sufficiently autarchic, wieldy and influential in his own right to become a person to reckon with. He must take on responsibility and forge a bond of friendship and professionalism between all the team members to transform the fine threads connecting them into a mighty fabric. He must act as a guide when necessary and must not have a bulldozing attitude towards his team. He must have the vision to open the doors to infinite possibilities, thereby keeping his team encouraged at all times.

Ending this article with a personal take on this issue, I've always believed that a team should only be formed when the task at hand is too massive for the individual to comprehend or undertake as otherwise too many cooks may spoil the broth. But when a team does get formed, one should always try to be at its helm, by inculcating the qualities discussed above, and governing the concerning terms and conditions, hence not surrendering his fate to others, and getting the most out of the impending challenge, thereby paving the way to personal satisfaction and happiness!  

The Preeminent Realization

I'm sure all of us, at some point or another, have seen it happening in the movies... A sudden light dawns on an individual in a supreme elucidative moment, where all his queries are instantly answered and a crystal-clear itinerary is set ahead! But in reality, is there any single event powerful enough to bring this to fruition? For the short term may be, but on an indelible scale, I think not!

Undissembled realization only comes from years of rigorous experience... As for me, I've realized that, in spite of all the vicissitudes, I'd never swap my life with anyone else's. Uniqueness and individuality are among the foremost qualities imperative to the modern world. In fact, the more distinct an individual is, the more the variety there is in the group and greater is the multitude of ideas generated! There exists an explicit nexus between positive and negative, ups and downs, friendship and enmity... Such words or feelings always exist in pairs like two sides of the same coin, and it is asinine to accept one and deny the other.

This year has started off on a blithesome note for me and most of the jolly folk I come across every day, with some attending their friends' marriages and others engrossed in fests like Spardha or the ongoing Kashi Yatra, in our college. For me, some days have stood out above the rest, including the evening of 11th Jan, an account of which I've laid down in the previous article, and obviously the night of 19th Jan, which witnessed the grand birthday celebration of one of my dearest friends.

That being said, these uninhibited memories will probably get more toilsome to come by as we are hit by much more consequential circumstances. With GATE staring us in the face, just about a week from now, and 2014 set to be the most decisive year in our careers, I've made sure to reminisce about all my past delights, starting from the freshers' party at HHI years back, right up to the recent fete at Radisson, so as to attain a thoughtless state of mind, entailed by the near future...

Rachi's Birthday Bash at Radisson, Varanasi

The Raucous Jol

What better way to start off the brand new year than to throw a jamboree for some of your closest friends? The regal delight and boisterous fun, coupled with a sumptuous feast made for an excellent evening and a thrilling dinner party! As always, the second weekend of January was marked by Saturnalia in our college. But having already played our cards right in events like 'Kismat Konnection', and experiencing the jolt of the ensuing DJ Night in our very first year itself, this year we turned our attention to a more personal celebration.

So I decided to use the pending treat, on account of my previous birthday, as a pretext to enjoy some quality time with my closely knit friend circle. One could call it a stag night, but I looked upon it as a testament to the warmth and spirit of true friendship. As we were leaving our college premises, our jubilant voices and a steady stream of people wearing flashy garbs, going in the opposite direction towards the bright flood lights to enjoy Saturnalia, were in stark contrast to the chilled melancholy spread over Varanasi.

We decided to go to Yale Chico, a popular diner and bar, used to having frequent revelers from the student community. While waiting for soups and other ordered starters to be delivered, an increasingly engrossing discussion on topics ranging from technology and politics to the current placement scenario in our college, took place. Not knowing what tempest was brewing ahead, we wondered what opportunities would present themselves as the next major milestone and how would we sequester it. It was gripping to hear the different perspectives and insights each person had to offer, but only until our noses picked up the approaching fragrance of the delicacies that had been requested. 

Then after satisfying our ever so demanding taste buds with a variety of non-veg cuisines and a select few veg dishes, we decided to stop off at Lanka for desserts, before calling it a day. Finishing the raucous jol with Rabri, Rasgullas and Gulab Jamuns, and looking forward to overcoming the onslaught of impending challenges, the evening of 11th Jan'14 will surely remain one of the most memorable instances in my mental scrapbook!   

Yale Chico, Varanasi