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 bloodstream 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 although not everyone is built the same, it's hardly about who is more vascular or has the neater abs, but rather 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 for that matter, 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 coursing through our veins, 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

Life: Online vs. Offline

Gone are the days when people used letters for communication and verbal chatting to express themselves! Advanced technology has made it possible for most individuals to fulfill almost all their needs and much more, not having to leave their seats for a single second. Although the world-wide web or internet has given us the ability to access everything online, it has forced a colossal number of folks to retract into their own virtual shells. So is this really a boon or a curse?

Although most people would be convinced that the net has made life more efficient and given in our hands a tool to effortlessly experience life on a higher plane, can we really call this 'life'? While you might rightly argue that putting the globe at an arm's length has been a major achievement for the human intellect, hasn't this prevented many of us from experiencing the real world like we otherwise would have? That's a tough nut to crack, whose answer is always more subjective than objective.

Taking a look at the brighter side, the internet has of course enabled the sharing of knowledge at a mind-boggling rate. Downloaded P.D.F files serve our purpose better, saving valuable time and energy needed to search the market for actual books. Online bank transactions are just a click away, without having to go through any paperwork. E-mail has facilitated the transfer of important documents instantaneously! Even shopping has become child's play with companies like Flipkart and eBay offering a myriad of products and excellent cash-on-delivery services, at jaw dropping offers which no local retailer could ever hope to match. And last but not the least, blogging and social networking sites have helped us to create an online entity for ourselves, thus expanding our domain limitlessly!

While all this is fine and dandy doesn't the above scenario bare an eerie resemblance to the Matrix movies? Today, whenever we are acquainted to someone, what is the first thing we do to know that person better? Have an hour-long discussion with each other? No! I bet most of us would just look him up on Google and form an image of him without any words exchanged, purely based on his profile on sites like Facebook, Twitter, Bloggers, WordPress and YouTube! The line between our physical being and online characters has been blurred beyond recognition, even though a wide disparity might exist between the two in some cases.

But I guess at the end of the day it all boils down to a matter of personal choice. Some people, like myself, prefer to use their online entities as an extension of their real lives, while others might use theirs just for amusement or entertainment, many a times creating fake profiles on sites they hardly ever visit. Personally, I have pondered over this issue endlessly and even now, as I'm writing this article, I'm forced to ask myself why I bother jotting down my thoughts and experiences in this very blog, instead of trying to get some of them published in a tabloid or magazine... I guess the hard copy, with all its logistical restraints, has lost its significance in the modern day! 

Nonetheless, the advantages of the internet seem to far outweigh the risks which include authenticity, privacy and security issues other than playing a hand in pressing the current generation to peer into a small LCD screen all day long. The growing number of people across the world turning to the web for everything from business to recreation, or may be just as a way out of the daily moil are living proof of the success of this technology. As for me, I am not as obsessed about my virtual life as I used to be a few years back, mainly owing to time constraints and a realization of having done nearly everything that one is expected to do online! After finishing the busiest semester ever, I'm enjoying some quality time at my humble abode with friends and family, setting the stage for overcoming future challenges. Nowadays, I much prefer putting my real life to some good use, and I must say living off the grid feels much more rewarding!...

Relishing life offline at Inorbit Mall, Pune 

The Most Helluva Birthday Ever!

Swatantrata Bhavan Main Hall, IIT (BHU), Varanasi

The extravagant four day hiatus from the 12th to the 15th of November, on account of NMD-ATM 2013, marked by my birthday on Children's Day, finally comes to an end with a deafening boom. These few days have witnessed everything from technical sessions, cultural programmes and award ceremonies, to all the fun dinners and of course, a hell of a banquet at Hotel Clarks, on the 14th eve!

NMD-ATM, which is the acronym for 'National Metallurgy Day - Annual Technical Meeting', was being held in IIT (BHU), Varanasi after three whole decades. The organizing committee, with the help of all the volunteer teams, did a fabulous job and words of admiration from the delegates filled the cold winter air. I felt proud for having been appointed as the in-charge of the Swatantrata Bhavan Main Hall, along with close friend, colleague and associate, Sritam Rout. Being present side-stage, for almost all the major plenary sessions and the night of the enthralling Kathak dancers, was an absolute treat to the eyes.

The SB Main Hall beheld a tumultuous number of presentations, delivered by renowned professors honoured worldwide for their work in the field of metallurgy, which included heavyweights like Prof. H.K.D.H. Bhadeshia from Cambridge, An-Pang Tsai from Japan, D.H. Kim from South Korea, and P.M. Ajayan from Rice University, to mention a few. But this was just the tip of the iceberg! Parallel paper and poster presentations, as well as metallographic competitions were conducted simultaneously across ten lecture theatres in different departments, making the scale of the whole thing extremely difficult to fathom. After the much awaited visit by the Steel Minister of India, and a vote of thanks on the following day by several prominent personalities like Dr. G.K. Dey, Head of the Materials Science Division at Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, the fest finally drew to a close.

The food was amazing too! With Indian, Chinese and Italian cuisines being served day in and day out, it couldn't get better than that. The icing on the cake came in the form of a banquet or dinner party at the well known Clarks Hotel, being thrown by our college for all the dignitaries present, to celebrate a successful NMD-ATM 2013! All types of non-vegetarian dishes and a variety of drinks, being served for the delegates and volunteers alike, couldn't have made for a better birthday feast for me. All this, coupled with establishing new contacts and making new friends, lead to the most helluva birthday celebration I have ever had!...

Memoirs of NMD-ATM 2013 & the Banquet at Clarks

A Very Special Dusshera!

Congress Bhavan, Pune

Whether it is referred to as Dusshera, Navratri or Durga Pooja, or may be simply intra-semester break by some folks, this time of the year is unanimously looked forward to by almost every Indian across the world. So this year, it was the same for my family and me too... The same old fest, but with a brand new twist! Personally, this festive season has offered me a desperately needed breather and formed a divide between periods of non-stop grind. But for certain reasons, apart from this year's Dusshera being one of my last before graduating, it has stood out atop all the rest and turned out to be the most special one yet!

The past two and a half months, which have proven to be an acid test of stamina, have witnessed some of the busiest and most interesting weeks of my college life, that included the celebratory function for teachers' day in our department, where being on the bestowing end of a gift to one of our professors was a new and unique experience on my part. This was shortly followed by the annual inauguration of METSOC. Festivities like 'Madka Phod' and 'Dandiya' also contributed to the diversity of events and gatherings, which are common-place in our college. Some very distinctive events like NMD-ATM 2013, later this year, are also being awaited with the utmost eagerness especially by the fourth-yearites, as we'll be playing a crucial role in organizing this nation-wide event, which is being held in IIT-BHU only for the third time ever, the last being in the year 1983!

In the Indian culture, and more specifically the Bengali culture, great emphasis is laid on shopping during this highly talked about festival of Durga Pooja as, according to ancient Hindu mythology, this is supposed to bring good fortune to the family. Nonetheless, buying new stuff always charges the human psyche and gets a refreshing feel of newness into our lives. While my parents and granny stuck to the traditional idea of clothes, there would be no second guessing the choice of an entire generation of gadget freaks like mine, who always keep a keen eye out for the latest and top-of-the-line gadgets being launched in the market every single day! So for me, it had to be the Google Nexus 7 tablet!

Google Nexus 7

So what made this Dusshera extra special? I guess it provided the answer to an entourage of thoughts, ideas and the sometimes unavoidable doubts, which had crept into my mind from time to time, for the last several months. Other than two back-to-back sessional exams, many out-of-the-blue challenges had to be overcome, which included a presentation to the Ph.D students in our department on 'Object Oriented Programming', as part of my B.Tech project. There were other more ambitious chains of thought that have been temporarily pushed to the back-burner, the primary one being the idea of starting a family business with the help of my father, which still needs some solid ground to take shape, if it is indeed meant to materialize even in the distant future! But for now, the most important thing is to forge a clear and unhindered path ahead.

Besides all of this, this Dusshera has helped me re-visit all the good things that have happened in my past, all the memories that make me happy, ranging from the present and going way back to my early school days, and has above all made me realize how fortunate and blessed I've been for all these years! Concluding here, heiling the promise of the future as a beaconing light, I'd like to wish everyone, including all my friends and family, a very happy and prosperous Dusshera! 

A Collage of the Past

The Crowning Lap

Turn the gas up full, let go of all restraints and press down the accelerator with all your might!... That's not only how racers win the final lap of a crucial race but also how one should gear up for the last leg of any challenge in life! Life has already become a race against the clock and we have been speeding like bats out of hell to get things done! Yup, that's what it feels like to be in the final or pre-final year of college, something which any of my colleagues will wholeheartedly concede to.

Whether it be the weekly seminars, the run-of-the-mill drudge of practicals, the in-depth probing required to successfully complete an under-graduate project (which is just a stepping stone before the unveiling of the much grander post-graduate project), the extensive preparation required to crack nation-wide exams like GATE, CAT and UPSC, or even world-wide exams like GRE and GMAT, or may be just getting a research paper published in an international journal, all these are just tiny spectacles compared to the much bigger picture of one's career. And it wouldn't be an exaggeration to state that this is the exact situation concerning me, along with most of my batch mates, right now!

My hands are so full that I have had to let go of certain minor opportunities due to no other reason than a sheer lack of time to encash them. Our eyes must always be set on the bigger and more important goals, which is the reason why my schedule has forced me to face the other way, when confronted with the opportunity of tutoring our juniors, an hour a week, for a decent monthly pay of three grands, in spite of being fully qualified for the job. After all, working intelligently is a must, as in these competitive modern times, people get paid much more for the brilliance between their ears rather than the brilliance between their hands!

But even amid all the conundrum, there are always some evenings meant for some good-natured banter. The fifteenth of August, which also happens to be our country's independence day, turned out to be such an evening for me. It was my best friend's birthday celebration, and we preferred the woofers in our hostel room over going some place else in the pouring rain. A delivery from Domino's Pizza and a few other joints, combined with an almost unlimited supply of coke, helped aid our cause contributing to the variety of snacks ordered. It was a large gathering consisting of friends from different faculties and even seniors. Every one had a great time, and we rounded it off with some good old fashioned gossip, with popular music playing in the background. All in all, it helped us relax and get ready for the crowning lap of our student lives!...

Nitish's Birthday Celebration

The Prodigious Finale

"Wait... Is it time to head back to college already?" I thought to myself after what had seemed to be the most gleeful few weeks I had ever had! Whenever we're enjoying and having a great time it always feels endless, so things just didn't seem to add up when it was finally time to leave. The past year had gone by like a blitzkrieg and all my thoughts hovering over a minimum of six cities seemed like a haze.

As I peered down the neck of the empty bag, which had been sitting in some corner of my room collecting dust for two whole months, many snapshots emerged in my mind, including that moment when I had gladly tucked away all my belongings in our hostel's common room, never sparing a single thought to the day I'd return. In anticipation of the excitement ahead, I hadn't even turned back to bid good-bye to the room which had housed me for a whole year. With many of my friends from colleges across the country about to begin their professional careers this year, I had mixed feelings about having to spend some more time as an undergraduate, thanks to my five year dual degree course.

Well anyhow, all this chatter aside, the astoundingly engaging few days which marked the end of my summer break are definitely worth the mention! Other than gulping down a few bestsellers and spending quality time with my family and some closely knit childhood friends (an outline of which I've penned down in the previous article), there's one trip in particular which I'd like to preserve as a part of this blog! How do I describe it? Something which apparently might not seem much may be just what is needed for giving us a kick-start to overcome the challenges which lie ahead. A drive round my home-town taking in the cool breeze, with pit-stops at some of the newest malls, technology hot-spots and eateries, proved to be just the thing for me!...

Of special note was the Amanora Town Centre! With the entire township spread over two million square feet and the Centre itself having the capacity for parking sixteen hundred vehicles at any given moment, coupled with valet service, it couldn't get much bigger than that! After navigating through the car park, a labyrinthine maze of zigzags and U-turns, we entered the lower ground level. After buying some decorative vases and touring various shops and outlets like e-Zone, Home Store, etc, we made our way to the upper floors, which took a total of at least three hours just to take a meager glance at everything.

The second last floor had multiplexes including Inox and two ultra-modern sky-walks connecting the East and West wings of the Town Centre, with a mini train running to and fro between them. From the sky-walk we could get a bird's eye-view of the entire Town Centre, and what a view it was! A massive LCD screen was affixed to the side of the East wing building, with the upper floor glass panes displaying the names of global food chains the likes of Barbeque Nation, McDonalds, KFC, Domino's Pizza, Pizza Hut, China Town and a myriad of other Thai joints. The sheer scale of the whole thing was more than daunting! The ground floor was a magnificently colored show of fountains, with the Manchester United Bar Cafe in the background, its neon lights glowing with all their glory! Overall it was an eye-popping display of modern lifestyles and technology. The supper at KFC which followed made our day all the more thrilling and intoxicating, which was the perfect boost required before another busy year at college!

The Homecoming

As the closing date of our yardstick intern at B.A.R.C approached, my friends and I made sure to visit the few remaining places in Mumbai, whose plans were gradually being washed away by heavy rains. The downpour was relentless, but we still managed to find our way through the gusty winds, to enjoy the beauty and mystique of the Siddhivinayak Temple, followed by the Mahalaxmi Temple and Haji Ali Durgah. Although photography was strictly prohibited in most of these places, I guess nothing compares to feeling their charm first hand!

We successfully completed our internship and collected our certificates, sparing a few moments to glance back at the nuclear reactors which had been our neighbors every day for a month and a half, before finally stepping out through the gates of the Bhabha Atomic Research Center. I looked for a last time at the massive arch built at the entrance of this famed institution, with gunmen positioned on either side, realizing that this might have been the very last reference to B.A.R.C both in my life and in this blog.

But who said this was the end? I still had four more weeks before my summer vacation got over, and I wasn't going to let it slip by me in an uneventful way! As soon as I got back home, I met up with my long standing school friends at Toons, discussing our spoils over a beer. This was followed by loads of fun and a shopping spree with my family, who were overjoyed to be reunited after exuding months of patience.

Among other things, I had the opportunity to buy the latest Lumia operated by Windows Phone 8, while my father bought an HD resolution five incher, sporting the upgraded Android Jelly Bean OS. Hoping to spend a few more weeks of leisure with friends and family, I've realized that it is these little moments of joy which one can share with their loved ones, that ultimately matter the most in life!...

The Jaunt Continues

As Fast & Furious 6 followed by a supper at Kareem's formed our only means of entertainment the past week, we decided to do something grand this weekend, to start off the new month with a bang! The notion of visiting the majestic Gateway of India and the sumptuous Taj Mahal Palace, ensued by a trip to the world renowned Elephanta Caves sounded alluring.

We left early in the morning knowing full well about the daft Mumbai rush in local trains, skipping our breakfast in the hopes of finding something edible when we reached Elephanta Island. We arrived well in time to get deluxe tickets for the first ferry to Elephanta at 9 am, and were still left with ample time to go into raptures over the grandeur of the Gateway of India and the magnificence of the Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai, made infamous by the 26/11 attacks.

The ferry took off as scheduled and since this was one of the very few times I had traveled by sea, I envisaged the one hour long cruise to be equally, if not more exciting than the destination itself. Nonetheless, we reached the island and boarded a mini train which took us from the dock to the base of the hill where the caves were located. After helping ourselves to some delicious corn and salted cucumber, we decided to proceed further with our trek. 

Out of the seven caves on Elephanta, five had been repaired and maintained for tourism purposes, among which the caves numbered 'one' and 'two' were of primary interest. Apart from being the largest of all the caves, they also brandished the heftiest of all the statues of Lord Shiva, the most intricate and elaborate carvings of Hindu deities, and the long forgotten tales of an era concluded. After capturing the astounding beauty of the surroundings in our cameras, we began exploring the direction opposite to that we had just traversed.

Making our way up a rocky terrain, we could see the metallic glint of something huge round the corner. And sure enough it was one of the two mighty cannons which had been outlined in the tourist guide as a distinctive feature of Cannon Hill. We photographed ourselves with this ancient weapon, which in its day would have showered a hail of lead down on any enemy ship, unlucky enough to have ventured into its range. 

This marked the end of our fanciful trip to Elephanta, with still half a day to spare. So next we made our way from the Gateway of India to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (also referred to as CST Museum). Besides its staggering size, we were dumbfounded by the sheer variety and range of the exhibits displayed. The Museum had everything from an Art & Sculpture Gallery to a Currency Gallery, all the way through to an Ancient Weapons Gallery. I've made a collage of some of the exhibits that I had captured with my camera, which I'm putting up right here. 

There were some other destinations on our hit list too including the Taraporewala Aquarium, which we found out to our great surprise, had been indefinitely shut down for renovations to be carried out. Besides, we were dead on our feet and put Siddhivinayak and Haji Ali Durgah on the back burner. Instead we decided to visit a friend's house, where we had dinner and returned late after midnight, all done in but totally rejuvenated!... 

The Gest Commences

A new city, a new life, a new experience! Whooh...! Having settled down in the Penthouse, which by the way, is a fancy name given to IIT Bombay's Hostel No. 5 (much like the vaguely logical innovations put into everything else around here), and the first week of our internship at B.A.R.C. almost done, my friends and I had planned a weekend trip to some of the nearby sight-seeing spots, last Saturday. With the aid of nothing more than Google maps, we chalked out a rough plan for the day, improvising each step along the way.

First it was the Mahakali Caves, not too far away from Powai Lake. A bunch of run-down structures and carvings still hid some of the magnificence that this place might have once had. The sign read that, ages ago it used to be a Buddhist monastery, but with not much left standing, the hollow cavities in the immense rock-cut structure still entertained us as we heard the ghastly echoes of our voices reverberating within the caves. It also served as a safe haven for singers who wanted to rehearse in solitude, away from the buzzing streets of one of the busiest and most populated cities in India.

Then with the help of our tab, we made our way to a nearby Gurudwara, which other than being a popular religious gathering place for Sikhs, also served us with a free and yummy luncheon traditionally known as Langarh. We were ahead of schedule and so plans were made of visiting the world famous Iskcon Temple next.

With its marble-white walls adorned with colorful paintings, the Iskcon Temple seldom seizes to amaze. We attended the Arati before keenly examining all the effigies that bordered the main hall portraying the life of Lord Krishna, a Hindu deity. Regrettably enough cameras were not allowed inside the temple, but we made sure to capture the beauty of the Iskcon complex from within its premises. But the day wasn't done yet! Not by a long shot!

What better way to finish off such a stupendous day than an evening at Juhu Beach? Juhu is normally known for its posh people, and with every turn sporting a BMW, Audi or Mercedes, it lived up to its hype. Even young osculating couples and actors chilling in roadside coffee parlors weren't an uncommon sight. The beach was baking hot which prevented us from waiting till sunset. We meandered around a bit making full use of our cameras, before finally deciding to return to our humble abode at IIT Bombay.

But this was just the first day of the weekend! We still had the whole of Sunday to bring some of our other schemes to fruition. Although the daedal plans of the previous day had forced us to lower our aims, we did make it a point to visit Hiranandani, which is a fifteen minute walk from the IIT-B campus. We feasted at KFC and toured the whole vicinity. The western U.K. style decor and the geometric perfection put into the smallest details of every single lamp, fountain, garden and building seemed like a distinguished work of art. The Gateway of India, Marine Drive and some other prominent destinations near Colaba were postponed to a later date. So, what does Mumbai have in store for us next? Guess we'll just have to wait and find out...

Gearing Up...!

While a quick pit stop at Kolkata might not sound such an appealing idea at the peak of summer, it still proved to be a real stimulator. Meeting up with relatives and friends after what seemed like eons, and regrouping with my family, who had already come over to the city for attending a friend's marriage, was exactly what was needed after months of toil.

Whether it was strolling around the infamously labyrinthine Gariahat Market, a drive around the famous Eden Gardens Stadium or simply an evening walk down the banks of the Hoogli, it all seemed to take us to an arcadia far detached from our hot and humid bearings. The glamour of Park Street and a lavish dinner at Trincas were like a cherry on the pie to round off the last few hours of our stay in this bustling city.

Trincas which, I might add, has played a significant role in promoting upcoming singers over the years via its live music performances, was all part of the local folklore and the heritage of this amazing capital. Gazing at the parallel Howrah and Second Hoogli bridges, spanning across the Ganga's tributaries, made me think of the chimerical bridge being traversed by each one of us right now, joining our present to our future.

All in all it was a prodigious experience which has given me the required shot of adrenaline and helped me gear up for my much awaited intern at B.A.R.C. and a two month stay in the country's commercial capital. So I guess it's adios Kolkata, and Mumbai here I come!!!...  

The Howrah Bridge, glittering in all its glory

The Cessation

Another year elapses and although I have an innate feeling that the last semester will probably leave me high and dry, it wasn't a total slump. I've reached a ledge on a very steep cliff in my career and have been teetering on its edge for quite some time now. But that's alright! Navigating out of tough situations is not something completely new to me. Every day brings with it newer and fresher challenges and while you might conquer some, certain others might make you feel lucky to have gotten out unscathed. Times like this make me remember a famous quotation by Winston Churchill: "Success is not permanent, failure is not final, but its the courage to continue that counts!" But enough with that already! My Alma mater teaches me to be a professional, and solutions will reveal themselves in due course of time.

It feels good to have finally earned a breather as our taxing end semester exams come to a slow and grinding halt. So I thought of taking the time out to jot down all my aces and double faults. It has been quite a while since I last visited the blogosphere and a lot has transpired since then. Some of the noteworthy events include Technex'13, Anveshan'13, TEDx (where TED is a non-profit organisation to bring together people from Technology, Entertainment & Design, and the 'x' stands for independently organised TED event), and of course the job parties and farewell of the passing out batch, one year senior to us, at Taj.

Honestly, the last few months were shaping out to be some of the best in our entire college life, with some of my friends & I receiving an early offer letter from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (B.A.R.C), confirming our summer internship, just half way into the semester. But every thing might not always work out as planned, right?...

The semester ended on a vexatious note as some of the rote demanding subjects left our logical minds bruised and battered, as we made futile efforts to memorize hundreds of seemingly unrelated slides. Well, some things just can't be helped, but looking forward to finding greener grass under the sizzling Mumbai sun and the prospect of working in India's premier Nuclear Research Center is a thought which always welcomes us with open arms!...

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai

The Shortest Month

February is not only the shortest month of the year literally, but also figuratively! The past couple of weeks seem to have whizzed past at breakneck speed!... As North India's biggest sports festival Spardha'13, organized by our college, got underway; IIT-BHU witnessed the influx of over two thousand participants from all over the country for this adrenaline pumping event!... And although I fancy myself as an amateur in certain sports like table tennis and badminton, I decided to spend the weekend with my father instead, who had taken some time out from his hectic schedule and come over to Varanasi for a trifling number of days...!

But due to the ongoing 'Kumbh Mela', the world's largest congregation of religious pilgrims in and around the Allahabad region, booking a hotel in Varanasi became an arduous task. However, after a few grueling hours of searching, my father finally managed to obtain a room in the Haifa hotel, overlooking the Assi Ghat, at double the normal rates.

I had come over from my hostel and the bird's eye-view of Varanasi and the banks of the Ganges, that we got from the hotel terrace, was simply breath-taking!... For the first time since I had come to Varanasi, I was truly able to appreciate the beauty and charm of the old architecture that surrounded the hotel, neglecting the filth in the streets below.

This area has numerous medium to high range hotels and lodges, which attracts a tumultuous number of tourists every year. We noticed some of the foreigners residing in the lodge across the street, opposite to our hotel, keenly analyzing this strange place where they had ended up. Quite frankly observing them was nothing less than hilarious. One of them, with long locks and his mop-like moustache, was trying his best to play a flute but it sounded more like the moaning of a little puppy. He remained engrossed in it for hours on end, as we ordered dinner after capturing the beauty of the hotel terrace and its surroundings in our camera.

A supper consisting of sweet corn soup and some delicious sandwiches served my taste buds much better than the traditional mess food. Sleeping in an air-conditioned room on a cozy mattress was a pleasant change over the countless number of sleepless nights in our hostel, where my room-mate and I used to compete for the title of most mosquitoes killed every night.

We woke up late in the morning today, and the hotel staff, while not as active as in other major cities, still indulged us with the luxury of room service. Its raining outside and as February is about to end as soon as it started, the scene has been suddenly set for me to be writing this article, while enjoying a very late breakfast...!

A View of the Ganga coastline from the terrace of the Haifa Hotel