The Eternal Dilemma: PSU vs. MBA vs. PVT.

Well, facts are facts... And here in India, as the vast majority of degree holders in our country are engineers, with more than one and a half million graduating each year, it is only but natural that lucrative employment opportunities are heavily battled for, even among those passing out from top engineering colleges including IITs, NITs, BITS and others.

Now, broadly speaking there are some few basic career paths that are available for engineering graduates and post-graduates here in India. One is the not so favoured option of a long and tedious Ph.D. obtained either domestically or internationally. But the main catch here is that even after a successful doctorate, one of the only lines that can be pursued without having to settle abroad, is that of teaching with part-time research, which is not the most financially rewarding profession in our country. 

The only other alternatives include a job in a Government or Private sector with or without an MBA or executive MBA along the way, or some combination of the above. Now, having been campus-placed at Flipkart, following my B.Tech.-M.Tech. integrated dual degree from IIT (BHU) Varanasi, then transitioning to Indian Oil after three short months, and finally now in a dilemma whether to apply for an executive MBA after having given GMAT following nearly five years of service, I think I am reasonably placed to provide some statistical economic insight to guide fresh engineering graduates who are facing a similarly tough choice. So, based on first hand experience and feedback along with some data mining from popular studies, I decided to punch in some figures and obtained the graph below, which I think is a good enough representation of the matter's jist.

Now, the post-MBA salaries used for the above plot are the average of the latest placement season from IIMs Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Calcutta, the three topmost management institutes in India. Here, I say average because those with an annual salary in the touted and much hyped 1 crore+ club or thereabouts, are really outliers who have reached their pinnacle of success through sheer personal effort along with some luck, having had the foresight and courage to capitalize on most if not all of the opportunities presented to them throughout their careers. Kudos to leading Indian global CEOs like those of Google and Microsoft, Sundar Pichai and Satya Nadella respectively, who truly are much more than the sum total of their alma mater!

But coming down to planet Earth in the realm of practicality, first of all we must understand the basic difference between the various curves as represented by the different colours. And while the graph is self explanatory, it is to be noted that no matter which payscale one starts at in a decent private firm, usually the renumeration offered initially increases at a much faster rate than that of a public sector owing to rapid early promotions, retention bonus and what not. However, with time a stagnation is reached sooner or later, beyond which one has to do something out of the box to get any kind of increment whatsoever. It may be an MBA or being laterlly hired in another firm with a payhike or something else. Top PSUs on the other hand, will start at a reasonably high scale of pay and give you a fixed percentage annual increment as a minimum, which can only increase with promotions and pay revisions, facilitating constant linear growth irrespective of anything else, for your entire career!

But the parameter which is the financial decision maker in my opinion is not the curve itself but the area under it, which represents your entire career's total earning. While it is very apparent that the green curve covers by far the least area, the top three curves required some number crunching. And as it turns out, contrary to the belief of some, the difference between them is marginal. Post-MBA careers while definitely dynamic and profitable, fall short on an average in the long run, with a highly questionable return on investment for the couple of million spent getting the MBA degree itself, as observed in the sharp dips in the red and violet curves! And as the numbers I calculated stand, the blue curve actually covers the maximum area of the lot, that too not considering the unquantifiable benefits of a top PSU like Indian Oil including job security, unlimited medical reimbursement for self and family and hefty location specific allowances outside of the usual CTC.

Personally, this along with the recent increases in existing benefits offered by my present firm, has forced me to rethink taking up executive MBA altogether. And while my reluctance to switch should not act like a deterrent to other management aspirants, it is ultimately a matter of personal choice and judgement depending on what ones priorities are. As for me, I'd rather keep management as a future backup in case of some unforeseen circumstance, like the ongoing talks for the unlikely privatization of Indian Oil or if I'm faced with unbearable working conditions of some sort... Nevertheless, as of now...

LIFE IS GOOD!!!

A Little-Known Heaven

Just as 2019 was about to end, my significant other and I thought it would be a great idea to visit a hill station to challenge our already frigid bearings here at Panipat at the peak of winter with the mercury dipping to a shivery 2 degC, and ended up discovering a little-known heaven, Morni Hills! I dedicate an entire article to this gem of a place not due to its enormity or popularity, both of which it isn’t, but due to the feelings associated with it.

From the dense fog hanging in between the mountain tops blocking out any view of the valley we had just traversed, to the breath-taking Tikkar Taal, surrounded by lush green slopes peeping out of the haze, as we serenely relaxed on a boat in the middle of the lake, the entire image of the place seems to have formed a wallpaper on my retina, that randomly floats around my head every time I close my eyes.

These are the times when I get philosophical about life, planning a peaceful retirement with my loved ones at a secluded locality surrounded by nature, neither too close nor too far from the rest of humanity... Hehe... And while future planning is good and definitely needed, I realized something important that day, as my wifey, waiting for our lunch gazing dreamily into the great yonder, casually mentioned that: “We spend so much time thinking about what’s ahead, but there’ll soon come a time when we’ll be pondering on our past looking upon our glory days as we age...”

When we’re at the beginning of our life’s number line, most times we just look forward, and as we near its end, we usually look backward, but what is missing in this equation is our present, which is our constant companion. I've seen professionals brooding over an elusive elevation, couples panicking to conceive, elderly Samaritans at wits end over their health, and a lot else. But the fact remains that when one has done everything there is to be done in his faculty, mulling over the outcome is utterly ineffectual. As the popular saying goes: “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery but today is a gift”... So enjoy it! 

With our new found enlightenment at Morni Hills, we have started to pay more attention to our current bearings, treasuring the smallest moments of togetherness even more, and fully living even the simplest activities like driving down the freeway hand-in-hand into the setting sun or making a home fountain together with some bottles, plaster, paint and a pump, as the only component bought off the market. Gotta say my belle is quite the craftsman in spite of her busy schedule, designing complex 3D birthday cards, fancy newspaper holders and what not with nothing but scraps.

Oh well!... Enough said! It is the last 'teen-year' day of the 21st century...

WISHING A HAPPY & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR & WELCOMING YOU ALL TO THE TWENTIES!

2019: At Full Tilt

Ever experienced the thrill of skiing down an avalanche? Although I haven't had the opportunity yet, but that's exactly what 2019 felt like! From the commissioning of my first BS-VI unit, to my wifey's successful enrollment in the Bar Council of Punjab & Haryana, to my father's superannuation at long last, after nearly thirty six years of devoted service, and finally to the commencement of our family's apparel line, this year has been speeding down the freeway, affording us very little time only for a few short respites.

On the official front, after nearly three months of doggedness and endless perseverance, working thirteen to fourteen hours each day, every day, having rightfully earned a free pass to countless lectures on work-life balance from my better half, I must still admit that the feeling you get after having played such an integral role in the completion and startup of the BS-VI unit for petrol upgradation at Indian Oil's flagship Panipat Refinery, falls short of words. Presently, engaged in the diesel upgradation unit's commissioning, there really are very few avenues where you can contribute directly, albeit in a very humble way in the larger scheme of things, to the betterment of your country and mankind at large.

On the other hand, the day my soul mate went from being Mrs. Priya to Advocate Priya, was a real proud moment for me. I must say there's a certain gravity attached with the newly acquired moniker that is unlike most other professions. That black suit with the white neck-band has an unparalleled appeal, and with an 'advocate' logo on our car, the traffic police too seem to be more reluctant to stop us unnecessarily. Wearing so many hats and juggling between the roles of a lawyer, a homemaker and the primary initiator behind Devs Boutique, with such apparent ease, I wish I could lend more than a hand to my unbelievable wifey, but alas I'm stuck with twelve hour shifts at work more often than not.

On the personal front, with our plates more than full, we somehow managed a few weekend getaways including a revisit of Amritsar, and a trip to the former Colonial hill station, Kasauli, which I would definitely recommend if not for anything else, then at least for an overnight stay in the multitude of resorts that dot its slopes, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the entire valley and the clear blue sky, seamlessly merging in the horizon. Never mind the friendly monkeys who might enter your field of vision though... Who would've thought there would be such an angelic place lurking amidst the polluted plains of North India?!

Then, following our customary hometown visit during the festive season of Durga Puja and taking a diversion to another gem of a place, Lavasa near Pune, with its Venice-like design, it was the hour to get serious about my forthcoming GMAT. Although I hadn't had much time to practice, the biggest shock I received a couple of days prior to the test, was the compulsory requirement of passport as the only acceptable identification for GMAT takers in India. After already having spent a whopping 250$ simply to register for the exam, I had to spend another 150$ on an overnight round trip by air to Panipat, just to obtain my passport, which my wife and I had coincidently obtained very recently for our nearing trip to some of the European curiosities. Although the Premium Plaza Lounge at the Delhi Airport, did manage to take out some of my fatigue, the fate of my already under-prepared attempt at cracking GMAT was sealed. Oh well, all in all I scored a 680, which I'd say wasn't too shabby for the circumstances I was presented. So, GMAT aspirers... Please beware!

After all the joie de vivre, it was finally time to get back to business. But birthdays and anniversaries aside, 2019 wasn't done revealing its bagful of gifts yet. My father, after a long and storied career with Steel Authority of India Ltd., spanning more than three and a half decades, finally bid adieu to his workplace on the 30th of November this year. Having left his mark on countless departments from Marketing to Vigilance to Commercial and lastly retiring as General Manager, Internal Audit, the SAIL stockyard in Mumbai won back to back awards of 'Best Managed Warehouse' in the country, under my father's leadership. Relentless in his personal and professional contributions, my father has always held true to his values even in today's day and age! Wishing my parents for their most golden inning that has just begun, I hope the 50+ inch Sony Bravia is serving a greater purpose than watching insipid news debates in super high quality and the stylus of the HP Pavilion x360 is better off than writing my name over and over for handwriting practice... LOL!

Now, batting in the death overs of the year, it feels strange to think that this will probably be the last 'teen' year many of us will be witnessing in this life. Wrapping up 2019 with some work and definitely some fun, it was good to finally get to know some of the blood-stained history of the place that I've so casually been residing in, since the past four years, finding the leisure to visit the Panipat Museum and Kala Amb, and getting to corelate the same with the movie Panipat just a few days later. Oh! On a side note, the Chokhi Dhani at Panipat is very similar to the one in Jaipur. Having visited both, locals interested to get a unique taste of Rajasthani culture, are highly recommended at least a one-time visit here.

Well... Adios 2019... And welcome 2020...!

Corruption: A Different Outlook

Corruption can come in many forms viz. political, religious, philosophical, etc. But whatever facia it might assume, we know that it plagues not only individuals, institutions, organizations and countries, but society as a whole. This subject has been going round my mind since a long time, but I had decided against penning it down, due to one reason only... People say that corruption is wrong and should be erased, but as I pointed out in one of my previous articles, right and wrong are nonobjective terms, with varying degrees of acceptance for different people. So the only way corruption can be eliminated or at least reduced, is if systems themselves are made infallible.

Just like in the Indian constitution, where the Government and Judiciary have been kept as two independent entities, there should be similar counter measures in every body at every level, if we want to get a handle on the disease of corruption. For example, almost all companies have a system wherein performance of subordinates are rated by their bosses, but the reverse is poppycock at best! What if all team members are allowed to evaluate their leaders too in all fairness without career peril? Wouldn't the process become less one-sided and more productive for the entire firm as a whole?

Let's consider another commonly encountered issue and something around which corruption revolves... Bribes! Whether it is contractors simply trying to get past plant security without much fuss, offering some chai-pani (cash for titbits), or the average joe trying to obtain some urgently required document on priority in an under handed way, or trying to bribe your way out of a speeding ticket, I'm pretty sure almost all of us have been witness or even subject to this type of blatant blackmail. So, what if parties with conflicting interests are made to invigilate one another?

Last but not the least, automation has already become a major part of today's day to day activity in almost all walks of life. So, why can't machines replace humans wherever possible? Such steps even though initially cost intensive, must be made compulsory wherever practically feasible. Imagine the benefits... Documents will only be processed in chronological order... Parking fines will be auto-generated based on captured data... The list is endless...

Basically, what I'm trying to emphasize is a shift in focus from change of mentalities of parties involved in corruption to a change in the systems that govern these parties, because at the end of the day you will be left to someone else's mercy in case of the former, but no single party will be in control in case of the latter. Most articles you'll come across on this subject, will probably conclude by saying that it is everyone's responsibility to lend a hand in abolishing the epidemic of corruption, but I say that none of us should have to be dependent on whether someone is acting upon the aforesaid thought or not... And that, my friends, is precisely why it is of the utmost importance to make systems incorruptible rather than the masses.

A Sublime Few Months

It seems just yesterday that we welcomed the brand-new year, as we realize that the first quarter of 2019 is already at its end. The past few months have rung a bell in me, that the sensation of time can be greatly altered based on your outlook. Some people say that time flies when you enjoy, whereas it slows down when you are bored. Well… While the roots of the aforesaid saying can be traced to the notion that you look at the clock more often when you are trying to kill time, we must realize that every moment lived to the fullest provides a more enriching experience, thereby occupying a greater portion of your mind and lasting longer, than an entire hour spent counting minutes. So, I guess I perceive time a bit differently than most…

Such was the allure of Agra, that kicked off the past few sublime months. The grandeur of the Taj Mahal, in sparkling white is literally something out of a story book, its controversial history only adding to its beguile. Witnessing the Agra Fort, Jama Masjid and other monuments in Fatehpur Sikri, Akbar’s capital back in the day, takes you back in time to the Mughal era. You don’t need to be a history buff to imagine what the walls, that we so casually cling to and take pictures of, might have witnessed back in the day! Folks just like us, but probably with starkly different lifestyles, aims, ambitions and day to day goals, walked those halls just a few centuries back… Goosebumps all round!

Our brain is such a powerful tool, imagine if we could communicate using nothing but our thoughts. We would be able to understand everyone’s perspective without having to utter a single word. The secret to true peace? Who knows? Though speaking of peace, takes me back to our Nepal trip during the festive season of Holi this year. And what a trip it was… Our first small step on the ‘roof of the world’ proved to be worth every penny!

Incredible Nepal!

On our way to Kathmandu, the first thing that enthralled me was the complete absence of noise from honking vehicles zigzagging the winding roads. It was only later that I came to know that the use of horns was banned by the Nepalese Govt. What a move! A short detour from our set path took us to the Manakamna Temple near Nepal’s capital, which could only be reached by cable car, offering breathtaking views of our surroundings and kick starting our memorabilia. Spending the following day visiting the famed Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath Temples, with a stop at the infamous Narayanhiti Palace, where Nepal’s royal family was tragically slaughtered around two decades back, we explored the streets of Thamel, with its colourful nightlife, in the evening, which set the stage for an even more exciting tomorrow.

Next on our bucket list was the tourism capital of Nepal, Pokhara. Nestled in the arms of the ice-capped Himalayan range, Annapurna, with the gorgeous Phewa Lake in the backdrop, our hotel room balcony overlooked three out of the top ten highest mountains in the world, viz. Manaslu, Annapurna-I and Dhaulagiri! Our time spent in this dreamy land ranged from watching the magical sun rise, gradually illuminate the snow covered peaks from Sarangkot, to rowing our way to the sacred Tal Barahi Temple, centered in the Phewa Lake, from which the majestic World Peace Pagoda was visible on the mountain top. Its hard to get more picturesque than this! The Devi’s Falls, Gupteshwor Mahadev Caves and the International Mountain Museum also contributed to the mystique of the place... With our evening supper lit up by a local folk dance, it was sadly time to bid farewell to this enchanting place. Gazing out of the car window on our way back, our minds were serenely filled with every little wondrous detail of our journey, with leafless trees adorned by bright flowers and flimsy walkways across deep cliffs, at every bend.

Using the little time we had left, celebrating the craziest Holi I’ve ever seen, at Gorakhpur, we attended the newly inaugurated light and sound show at the famous Gorakhnath Temple. Buddhia Mai, a shrine in the midst of the verdant Kushmi Forest, was another anima-augmenting delight! With souls rejuvenated and minds refreshed, I guess its time to work hard and play hard, looking forward to an amazing future together with our entire family! Riding the tide of my career’s first promotion, I hope my upcoming GMAT offers a smooth passage into the world of executive MBA, as the next natural step of my academic quest. Wishing everyone the best of health and success, lets see how much gas we have left in the tank...

BE THE FORCE!!!...

The Festival of Colours!

One Year Down!

Commemorating our first year of togetherness post marriage, this past month my wife and I felt something far-reaching. My parents had come over for the occasion and we realized that there’s hardly anything more gratifying than spending some cherished time with your loved ones. One year down! And truly what a while it has been... Time seems to have whizzed past like a gale-force wind, bringing with it new hopes, challenges and rewards.

Although I’ve written several articles on one’s personal and professional life, those have almost always focused on the individual’s outlook. But the truth is that hardly anyone succeeds on his own. It is a team game... A soccer team may have a couple of top goal scorers, but with no team there’s no win! The homemakers in your family play just as important a role as the breadwinners, similar to the front and back ends of an operation. So, your success is not just yours alone, but your entire family’s too.

So, our first proper trip to the country’s capital was not only a 1^st marriage anniversary treat, but also a much deserved break for Team Family! The Red Fort, Qutab Minar and other popularities of New Delhi seemed so much more magnificent in person, than portrayed by media or word of mouth, which truly do no justice to their presence and enormity. Driving past the Parliament House and Rashtrapati Bhavan, shown so often on news channels and movies alike, was surreal to say the least.

Well, so much for the past year... Welcoming the brand new year with a family picnic on the second last day of 2018, immediately followed by a blast on new year’s eve with new Bollywood playback singer Yakoob Ali Khan's performance here at our township in Panipat, taking center stage, 2019 has finally arrived in all its glory! It is time to embrace the promises of the brand new year on all fronts with arms outstretched. And as for me... The first year since I started my professional career, where my transfer / promotion is officially due... The year when my father finally retires from his long and illustrious career in SAIL at the end of this November... The year when we commence our holidaying on an international scale... It is all here! 

So, without further adue, I’d like to wish everyone a very happy and prosperous new year, and conclude with a message which struck a chord with me some time back:-

“THINK A LITTLE LESS, LIVE A LITTLE MORE!”

A Lot of Firsts!

This festive season has surely witnessed a lot of firsts! The first Durga Puja my wife and I celebrated together... Our first 4D(X) movie... Our first bowling match... My first ride on a Harley Davidson... My parents’ first treat at Barbeque Nation... Our first family outing to the holy place of Shirdi... Well, the list goes on... But, above all else, this auspicious time has helped me, as always, to clear my head and view all that is really important in life.

Unlike what many might think, Durga Puja is a widespread phenomenon in many parts of the world and not just limited to Bengal. Sure, there might not be a pandal across the street at every nook and corner, but here in Pune the five or six major locations which do host this annual wing-ding, do it in absolute fervour & ebullience, thereby keeping up the tradition. The enchanting sound of the dhak pervades the calm air, the beautiful deity on one side and delicious food stalls on the other, the aroma of the Dhunachi bringing back fond memories as you exhale all the day-to-day b***s**t...

Anyway, reminiscing aside, the very first day of our hometown visit, was marked by a trip to the Shirdi Sai Baba temple, the final resting place of the 19th century saint. I must say, apart from the lavish gold decor and a queue which redefined the word serpentine, the thing that caught my notice was the security standards implemented here, complete with biometric finger scanning. After enjoying the following few days attending Durga Puja festivities at numerous locations across the city, we made another day long trip to the nearby Lonavala and Khandala, the first time I visited the place since I was probably half my mother’s height... Hahaha...

All the scenic points including Tiger’s Leap, Bushi Dam and others seemed to have been preserved in time, with us being the only variables. And although some novelties like the Celebrity Wax Museum had cropped up in recent times, it was difficult to comprehend just how much we had changed compared to our photos from two decades back, the surroundings virtually unaltered! Nonetheless, spending our remaining time exploring some additions to the modernity of Pune including the new Amoeba gaming zone and bowling alley, proved worthwhile.

Well, until next year... A very happy and prosperous Dussehra and Diwali to all!

The Vow

For the majority of us, I guess there comes a time in everyone’s life where the constant drag of a 9-to-5 day job (where the ‘5’ often turns into a larger number) becomes too much to bear, and we think of doing something else. As for me, I guess that time has arrived rather soon! Although I’ve always tried, and many a times succeeded, to contribute in whatever capacity I’ve been employed in my current firm, all new ideas and suggestions seem to get diluted travelling up the enormous hierarchy of our massive company and the corresponding benefits at lower levels amount to peanuts. Couple this with excess mental stress, unreasonable expectations, insufficient family time, and you have the perfect recipe for utter frustration and the burning desire to seek a new purpose...

So, how do you picture your dream life? Owning a huge business in something which interests you? Being your own boss? Spend your time travelling the world? Sharing your thoughts and experiences as a writer in your leisure time? Well, like anyone else’s, those are my dreams precisely... Seem a bit far-fetched? Well, no one said we could get there overnight now, did they? Everything has a humble beginning, but a start is what really matters. Irrespective of how well-paying and secured your job might be, if you dare to dream big, you know that your job alone won’t get you even halfway there!

For the average joe, the daily job life has an established trajectory: Slog è Earn just enough money for leading an average or above average life è Slog more if you want to get promoted è Then one fine morning, retire from a mid or senior management level at the ripe age of 60, regretting all the other fields you could have pursued in your prime. This is a viscous cycle that even the three consecutive ‘OS’ (outstanding) ratings that I’ve earned over my three years here, do very little to alter.

Now, I understand that resigning from a decent job right off the bat, without having any significant backup, is like putting one foot in your financial grave. Instead, what can be done is, you start a small parallel venture and allow it to flourish and become self-sustaining, so that one day it progressively grows to a level that far overshadows your job, to the point where lack of your full-time participation in your business causes more loss than the amount you earn from your service. Then and only then, can you even think of devoting yourself entirely to your venture. I have invested almost all the time I can squeeze out from my routine drudge in researching the subject, including the concepts of linear income, leverage income and passive income.

Our job life refers to a linear source of income which pays for everyday you work, meaning if you absent yourself exceeding the meagre number of leaves you are designated, then you stop getting paid. Leverage income refers to a job where you put in a massive amount of effort initially and then reap the benefits for the rest of your life. And passive income mainly refers to returns on investment, where your active participation isn’t required. So, our basic aim should be to gradually switch from a linear source of income to a leverage source, with passive income being part of both.

So, how do you choose to plan your future? Don’t know about you, but I would rather set out on an unknown path than exclusively following one I know in all probability, will never lead to fulfilling my aspirations whether they be for myself, my family or for anyone else!

“LIVE YOUR DREAMS!!!”

The Boss is Always Right!

The world is full of clichés! But once every now and then a ‘Bali Sadu’ comes along who really lives up to the reputation... Hahaha... Here are some snippets to lighten your day :P

Boss: Meet me at 2:00 pm sharp
Subordinate @ 2:00 pm: Sir! I’m here... :)
Boss: If you are here, who is looking after your field duties?
Subordinate: ..............

Boss: Where is the file?!
Subordinate: Sir, I submitted the file to you a month back...
Boss: Then why is it not on my table?
Subordinate (thinking): How am I supposed to know? A dog ate it for all that’s worth!

Subordinate: Sir...
Boss: What is it?! I don’t have time...
Subordinate: I’ve completed my office work! May I attend to my field duties now??
Boss: Two people are already looking after field work.
Subordinate: Then what should I do??
Boss: Stay here... Just in case!
Super-boss: Why are you not attending to your field duties?!
Subordinate: Sir gave me some......
Super-boss: Who has stopped you from going to field??
Subordinate: I’m doing whatever......
Super-boss: Who has stopped you from going to field??!!!!
Boss: ............
Subordinate: :(

Boss: Why haven’t you informed the agency yet?
Subordinate: Sir, I have informed the agency yesterday itself verbally... Thrice...
Boss: Give them in writing.
Subordinate: (Typing)
Boss: Do you work for the agency that you are doing their work for them?!!
Subordinate: ????????

Boss: What is 10 – 5?
Subordinate: Sir! 5 :)
Boss: For how many years have you worked in this firm?!
Subordinate: Why? What’s wrong?
Boss: The answer is 3.
Subordinate: ??????????
Boss: Do I have to tell you to subtract an additional 2? You shouldn’t require spoon feeding... Do it yourself!!
Subordinate (thinking): WTF...

Boss: What's the status of that file?
Subordinate: I submitted it to you an hour back for review...
Boss: So! What's it's status now??
Suborordinate: Sir...... Have you reviewed it?
Boss: So!! You don't know it's current status...
Subordinate: ......
Boss: Who is supposed to remind me? You've changed!!
Subordinate (thinking): Yor're right! I've stopped giving a damn...

Disclaimer: The events, characters and firms depicted in these dialogues are real. Any similarity to actual persons, living or dead, or to actual firms, is purely intentional.

Life Remodelled

A weekend junket...

Hoof! Everyone said life wouldn’t remain the same after marriage, though I never paid much heed to such clichés. But, what can I say? My (or rather our) life has indeed been completely transformed... The past year has been witness to some quantum changes, not only personally but in every aspect!

Just fifteen days from my return to office after marriage, I was transferred to the Projects Dept. of IOCL, leaving behind the Inspection Dept. family, towards a new professional start. Although I do miss the cohesiveness and ties our closely knit group had garnered in my previous dept., there are pros to the all new Projects dept. too. Getting to be not only a witness but the driving force behind multiple projects inc. the first of its kind 2G ethanol plant, is a reward in itself, the likes of which cannot be matched by any other dept. in the company.

But enough said about work... 2018 takes the cake for being the first year of my marriage! The time my lovely wife and I spend together will always be the highlight that’ll make this year stand out from the rest. Our first post-honeymoon family trip to the pilgrim town of Kushinagar was enchanting to say the least, followed by a short visit to Gurgaon and the nearby Worlds of Wonder in Noida. But all said and done, our trip to Kodaikanal in southern India, nicknamed "the Princess of Hill Stations", was by far the most unbelievably fascinating, providing a peaceful scenic winter retreat at the peak of summer!

But everything wasn’t all fun and glory as my beloved maternal granny sadly passed away recently. And as if this wasn’t painful enough, my paternal grandpa also coincidentally departed within a week of my granny’s death, effectively putting an end to their generation in our immediate family. The only solace I found was that, other than a bit of last moment delirium, both of them passed peacefully with relatively less pain, in the safety of their homes and comfort of their loved ones.

Well, rolling along, my wife and I have finally moved to our new 2.5 BHK in the beautiful Panipat Refinery township after a three year long wait. With the addition of my Ciaz’s little sister, the new TVS Jupiter, to my wife’s kitty, to tend to domestic work, everything has gradually begun to fall in place, helping us set up our little life, one small piece at a time. Although I’ve never lazied away from attending to my official duties, I must say, nowadays I have to make a greater effort each morning to leave home not because my work is not enticing enough but because our home finally feels like home, in its truest sense. Back in the day I used to jump at the thought of a bachelor party or a night-out but not anymore... There is nothing more rewarding than quality time spent with family! Alas... Life has changed, hasn’t it?

The allure of Kodaikanal!

The Sense of 'Me'

Consciousness... A word casually thrown around so often, but what does it actually imply? Some would describe it as simply being awake or awareness of self... Sure! But what does self-awareness or being awake really mean?? Let’s just take out a single minute for contemplating what was just said... Think about it for a moment. You could have been anyone, or better anything, among the countless entities you observe every passing second in your day to day life. After all, we can only even think of beginning to control our lives after we’re born, right??

Did you decide that you wanted to be you before your birth? Absolutely not! You could have been the ice-cream vendor opposite your house or a business magnate you might occasionally see on TV. Oh! Better still, you could have been your neighbor’s dog! But no... You are none other than you! Close your eyes and let that sink in, and you might begin to grasp the enormity of this simple yet complex word ‘consciousness’!

You are unique no matter who you are. Even if you have an identical twin, you are still you! Your arms are only yours, your eyes enable only you to see, your mouth enables only you to eat, your nose enables only you to breathe... And last but not the least your brain, the seat of your very consciousness, is also specific to you and you alone!

The power to take decisions based on any number of changing parameters and spontaneously react to any unforeseen circumstance in our own unique way is something that no machine can match! No matter how smart our so-called artificial intelligence (AI) gets and how advanced their programming becomes, do you really feel that the limitlessness of a sense of 'me' can be cooked up in a computer?! How do you expect your robot to actively reason about a thing that even you haven’t dreamt of and which cannot be derived from the parameters you fed into the system??? No doubt, that with modern day technology, bots have become more and more human-like... But that’s still human-‘like’ and not human!

The ever so popular touring test, made famous my numerous Hollywood blockbusters only evaluates if one can distinguish between a human and a machine after speaking with both. But let’s say that some machine passed the test, would it be able to spin new theories about our cosmos? Would it have imagination which could conjure up literally anything in our infinite universe? Would it be able to do something not even distantly derived from your programming directly or indirectly, with sufficient logic behind its reasoning? Could its artificial mind evolve beyond the scope of your work?? Well, as far as the present day goes... Guess not...

This is when you finally begin to realize how exclusive you really are... You affect the world around you with every step you take in your own original way and the world affects you too... You are already special irrespective of who or what you are. Although, whether you want to magnify or diminish that, is completely up to you! As far as I’m concerned, one should not spend his or her life trying to be someone else or chasing after another’s dreams... Remember that the name Jamsetji Tata is not famous because he was born a Tata; rather, the name Tata is famous because Jamsetji Tata dedicated his life to pioneering Indian industry. Be the most levelheaded you in as unapologetic a way you please! After all, that’s the only thing you owe yourself...

A New Inning!

Whoa! It’s ironical to think that in spite of 2017 being one of the busiest years for me both personally and professionally, it seemed to be the longest ever. In the short few months I was away from the blogosphere since my last article, I had to plan a visit home for Durga Pooja and more importantly, for going shopping on account of my marriage. Returning to my workplace shortly thereafter, I was nominated for a 10-day in-house training followed by an official half month tour to Chennai, all this right before my huge wedding plans for December.

The bachelor party organized by my office colleagues a few days before I left was a roar! Other than the nuptials, the very prospect of being able to get away from all those daily chores, that too for a complete month seemed enticing... The last time I was away from work for this long was probably on one of my school summer vacations! LOL... Nonetheless, the long-awaited moment, that would mark the beginning of a new inning in my life, had finally arrived...

Travelling to Delhi, then Lucknow, finally arriving at Gorakhpur, my family received the best welcome possible, being showered with roses, and every moment from then on was a memoir for the ages. Every day before the final wedding night was marked by some rite or the other including Ai Buro Bhaat, Nani Mukh, Holud Bor, Holud May Pokho & Mehendi. Yeah! The first time I heard all those names, I was wide-eyed too... Hehe... But the one ritual I was completely unaware of was that on D-day the groom actually had to be carried all the way from the car to the podium without letting his feet touch the ground! Hmmmmm... What can I say other than that it was completely hilarious for me and an eon’s workout for those unfortunate shoulders who had so eagerly volunteered to carry me! Hahaha...

With all the bells, whistles & smoke, the wedlock was surreal to say the least! Swearing our final vows in clear view of the full moon, my fiancée & I were finally united... All within the span of an hour or two! With our next day early morning visit to the Gorakhnath Temple as is customary, it was already time to pack our bags, and before we knew it we were headed back to Pune for our reception. Another week or so of parties and rituals, topped off by a fabulous evening at Radisson Blu, and hats off to the extraordinary amount of effort put in by both our families for bringing this entire event to a successful conclusion.

Next up was our honeymoon! And while there are those who would simply lock themselves up at a posh hotel for a couple of nights, and others who would rather pick an international destination with a fancy name as today's trending social media hashtags demand, over the experience it might actually offer, we just wanted to get away from the routine rumpus... And as it turns out, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an archipelago in the Bay of Bengal, pretty much isolated from the rest of the world, was an ideal fit! It grew from a microscopic blip in the boundless oceanic expanse to a sizeable landmass as we descended from the skies to embark on our raunchy schemes :P

Spending some time at Port Blair, the Cellular Jail, Kalapani Museum, Chidiya Tapu and Corbyn Cove’s Beach were all good, but the even more remote Havelock and Neil Islands were simply magical! Untouched by commercialization, the Radhanagar Beach at Havelock, touted as Asia’s best beach was an immense stretch of serene seas as far as the eye could gaze, with white sands and coconut trees forming the backdrop. Its rocky brother, The Kalapatthar Beach wasn’t far behind either. And the Natural Beach at Neil was special as during low tide, it showcased an exposed coral reef with octopi, starfish, crabs and whatnot crawling on the moist rocks! Spending the dusk hours at the Sunset Point only added charm to an already otherworldly experience... Travelling from island to island in a luxurious ferry completed the topping on our already spicy vacation! Just wished my wifey's fear for skin tanning hadn't kept us from scuba diving... LOL! Girls...

One hell of a month!! Wasn’t it...? Phewww...

Home Redecor

The end of July'17 was a time I had especially looked forward to for many reasons... It would probably be one of the last times I'd be able to meet my fiancée before our wedding... Other than that, setting up our home here in Panipat also held my interest in high anticipation. Although back then on the work front, I was part of a major ongoing shutdown at my refinery, I managed to get the night shift so as to have sufficient time during the day to go shopping together and with our families.

Although it was a matter of just a few days, those were some of the best days I've ever had. The first time I took my would-be wifey's parents to our home, we weren't accompanied by her and it was surely a hilarious introduction with the landlady. Not having ever met my fiancée, she momentarily mistook my mother-in-law for her and stared shocked! It was only after I explained, that her bamboozled expression faded.

Other than buying everything from kitchen appliances to classic wooden & leatherette furniture, my betrothed & I got to spend some dreamy time together dating at a place near our house called Café Grill, and visiting several other places in a city to which she was totally new. Finally when time was up, our house had been converted from the appearance of a college hostel room to a classic urban home. And now, all that remains perhaps is for us to officially move in to our new dwelling...



Immortality

Ever since humans first walked the face of the planet, the question of immortality has always riveted our thoughts. Back when I was a child, I used to think in all innocence that everyone & everything around me would continue just as they were forever. But not long after, the grim reality of the matter was revealed to me... It turned out that almost everything and everyone had a finite life span and would eventually perish some day. Although this saddened me I began to think... What is immortality exactly???

I guess, to most people it simply means living on forever. But is this really possible? Our body is an amazing biotic machine whose cells are constantly dying and multiplying at the rate of billions every day, but the process falters as we age until a certain point is reached where the new cells produced aren’t able to adequately replenish the old ones being lost and our slow descent into the grave begins.

With the advent of medical science, better standards of living and healthier nutrition, biological aging can be postponed. New calorie restriction mimetic drugs have been proven to increase life of rodents by 50%, a result which has been replicated in apes. New technologies like 3D printing and advances made in stem cell research are gradually making it possible to replace almost any organ in the body! But all said and done, our hopes are still hovering in the range of about 200 years, which is not even remotely close to immortality, is it?

It is time we changed our perspective to look for another definition of immortality... Our conscience & self-awareness are seated in our brains; so what if we could at least preserve our minds instead of our entire body? Sort of like transferring data to a new hard drive every time the old one starts malfunctioning... Albeit an insanely large hard drive as the storage capacity of the human brain is estimated by neuroscientists to be anywhere in the range starting from a few terabytes to about 2.5 petabytes! Even if the technology for making such a transfer existed, its cost would probably be such as could not be afforded by the average joe...

So, as things stand, the only other way I can think of someone becoming immortal is by the virtue of the work someone does and the legacy he or she leaves behind. Just like E=mc2 will always be synonymous with Einstein, we should all try to live our lives in a way that will leave a permanent constructive mark in this existential web which we all are a part of. So, until we can become truly immortal someday like certain species of jellyfish or hydra, I’d like to conclude with a famous quote from Eleanor Roosevelt: “When you seize to make a contribution, you begin to die.”