Just being myself.. My way.

January 20

2012-01-20T18:35:00.000+05:30

Didn't want to post this, nevertheless.. Happy Birthday.. and.. All the very best.

Achint..

2011-12-30T22:59:00.000+05:30

Achint.. Will miss you.. Brother.. :(

Reset. Now.

2011-11-27T04:16:00.001+05:30

Wanting things to change where required (not everybody may agree on the where required part, I don't expect everybody to agree either) and doing something about it is no doubt a good thing. Yet, it takes time, energy and most of all, an unrelenting passion for what you believe in.

Yet, I have come to understand that everything has a proper time and place. The system may have umpteen flaws, but if there exists an alternative way to achieve your goals, there is nothing wrong in taking that route, however tough be the ride.

I had learnt a couple of lessons (life defining by self admission!) by the time I was done with my graduation. But then you know, some feelings and emotions can never be subdued, for long that is. I have tried to stop myself from getting into as similar situation here at IIM-C, and by far and large, I believe that I have done a decent job.

However, there still are things that I shouldn't be saying and doing. Not because I have an image to manage or people to please, but for the simple reason that time is a precious thing and there are larger goals to achieve. There are promises to be kept and expectations to be met.

So. Whatever else is left will be taken care of from this very moment onwards. No more "activism" from my side. That part of my life can take a backseat. There will always be other people to take care of issues.

PS: Mailed my applications to the World Bank and the Reserve Bank today. Will mail the one for the Planning Commission in a couple of days. More to follow! =)

I believe in you..

2011-11-18T13:10:00.000+05:30

I believe. Yes I do.

~~to be continued~~

Turn the Page

2011-11-05T19:14:00.000+05:30

There is something about this track that simply can't be put to words. Not by me at least! The intensity. The emotions. The life on the road. And much more.

The first time I came across this one was way back in the first year of under-grad. Metallica it was then. Fast forward to the first year of post-grad and I get to know that Metallica had simply covered the song and this was originally sung by Bob Seger in the 70s.

And trust me, this version (or may I say the original composition) is even better. No second thoughts about it.

Enough of the typing. (reading for ya!) Listen, feel and live! \m/

Hypocrites?

2011-11-04T23:02:00.000+05:30

I don't wish to be rude but every single time I hear or read about incidents like the one that happened in Mumbai recently, I feel that a vast majority of us (We the city dwelling enlightened Indians!) are hypocrites. No less.

Uncomfortably dumb!

2011-10-27T19:05:00.001+05:30

Figure this:

You are sitting with a bunch of friends who are talking some random shit about someone. The content seems interesting and you participate in the 'discussion' as well.

Now this conversation suddenly steers towards a different subject who is another 'someone' for everybody. So far so good. Except for the fact that this time you aren't a part of 'everybody'. In short, you know this individual personally. But nobody else in that bunch knows that you do. So you get to listen to all the uncensored 'random shit' about this someone.

You don't like it. You even hate it. But most of all, you hate yourself for the double standards that you just marked yourself on.

A way out? Anyone?

Free Will.

2011-10-26T23:04:00.007+05:30

Some news from my side - With 11 days to go for the summer placements, I have officially opted out of the process. Instead I'll be interning in a startup.

I, as most others, have sort of been talking much about entrepreneurship and the desire to build something of my own since long. So I thought it was time I did something about it. Hoping that this decision would be a stepping stone towards the same.

The decision wasn't easy. I can assure you that I lost plenty of sleep over it! But then what has to done, has to be done. The 30 minute something talk that I had with Ravinder Gupta (a placement representative here at IIM-C and a senior from DCE) sorted out all the doubts that I had.

More on this later. Got two quizzes tomorrow. Had classes today as well. Did someone say it was Diwali eh!

Oh yeah. Happy Diwali to you all! =)

Something related: http://justbeingmyselfmyway.blogspot.com/2011/10/roads-we-choose-to-travel.html

Phir Dekhiye..

2011-10-24T09:36:00.000+05:30

Listen to the words. Feel them. And if you are one of those few who have that rebel within, you'll get to experience exactly what I am experiencing at this very moment.

Insightful eh?! =)

Cartoons!

2011-10-23T20:39:00.000+05:30

Coming Soon

"Plagiarism?!"

2011-10-23T02:17:00.007+05:30

The purpose of this blog has always been to serve as a place where I can write in anything and everything. Not exactly a personal diary (that ended with the school years) but something on similar lines.

The good part of it is that you get to express what you feel. You get to elucidate your feelings and emotions which in most cases wouldn't be the case otherwise.

But then, with the positives, come the negatives as well. Like people stumbling upon your blog through Google / Blogrolls, etc. and reading what was about them and thus never meant to be read by them.

Only if it ended then and there. But, that's not all. What when they use a particular word or phrase from that particular blog post in one of the conversations with you? To tell you that they know. Now that is!

Scary! Trust me. I totally freaked out. Of course I was petrified. No less. I mean there is so much of content on this busted blog of mine and God knows what all has been read and not. Damn!

PS: In this particular case, Aanchal's blog - From the DCE Campus - seems to be the culprit.

PPS: Yeah. You there. If you ever visit this blog, again that is, and get to read this particular post, well, all I can say is that please don't take anything here too seriously. Life is too short to be taken that way! What else can I say to defend myself?! I feel so damn busted man. I can't even bring myself to talk about this or anything anymore! ;(

:)

2011-10-20T23:00:00.000+05:30

Caught this one on YouTube earlier today. Hooked on since then. The Punjabi Sufi music at its best. Well almost! ;)

The roads we choose to travel.

2011-10-15T03:25:00.004+05:30

".. Don´t ever let somebody tell you, you can´t do something. You got a dream, you gotta protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they wanna tell you that you can’t do it. You want something? Go get it. Period."

- Pursuit of HappYness

Not all people wish for the same things in life. Even if they do, they way they define those things might vary. As an example, lets say, how would you define happiness? Or maybe satisfaction? Or say, what's success for you?

Things (and people) have different meanings and values for different individuals. Nobody is wrong here. It's simply a matter of perspective and perhaps one's priorities in life / values / moral fiber.

The point is - Can you stand up for what/whom you believe in? Can you be who you actually are, rather than trying to be what you are not and perhaps were never meant to be? Can you save yourself from getting lost in the crowd of overachievers who everything but what you aspire for? Can you retain and sustain that rare spark of brilliance? Can you trust yourself to do it? Can you choose the tougher way? Can you ignore the relative comforts that alternatives entail? Can you listen to that voice within? Can you?

It's 4 months now, since I have been here. A lot has changed meanwhile. And from what I feel, I have changed as well. My feelings for this place and the people here have changed. I have felt myself going into a state of near depression, losing precious moments and people who could have been friends in the process. I have seen myself forgetting what was the reason, my only reason that is, for putting everything on the line to get to this place. I've seen it. And I've seen much more.

All I can say is that I'm glad I got a grip on the things before that point of no return. I'm happy that I have done nothing that I would have to regret. Most importantly, I'm absolutely sure that life is meant to be so much more.

I admit that I have lost a lot over the past few months. But then, there is plenty to achieve in the year and a half up ahead. And trust me, I'll spare no effort in making sure that I do.

Borrowing the same old signing-off line from my MBA prep blog - Go! Go!! Go!!! =)

PS: Loved writing this after a real long time!

In remembrance - Srinath Damarla

2011-10-07T01:17:00.003+05:30

It's a sad day today. For me. And for the entire IIM Calcutta family. Srinath Damarla (47/17, PlaceRep) is no more. He died earlier today in Sikkim due to respiratory problems.

I've just returned from a trip to the city. Was there for the last day of the Durga Puja celebrations. Got the unconfirmed news there earlier in the night. Could hardly believe what I heard. I mean.. Why? Why is life so cruel?

Srinath, I could interact very little with you during my time here at Joka. But from whatever interactions I have had with some of the PGP2s and from my impression of you from the entire summers process, I can say that you were someone whom I respected. And mate, you were amongst the few whom I derived (and will continue to derive) inspiration from.

It's hard to believe that you won't be there amongst us anymore. It's hard to believe that you won't be there pushing us to give in our best anymore. You deserved much more brother.

May God grant strength to your family to bear this irreparable loss. And you my friend, will always be remembered. You will stay within our hearts. You were and you will always be.

Rest in Peace Srinath.

And then.

2011-10-02T16:48:00.000+05:30

And then life was good again! And happy as well. =)

Thank you.

2011-09-29T02:35:00.005+05:30

Thank you for being there when it mattered the most. Thank you for all that time. However, certain things changed somewhere in the middle of everything and I committed mistakes that I might not be able to forgive myself for. So, even as I find myself surrounded by questions and doubts, even as I wish I could reach out, I guess I'll walk this road alone. Because in the end, this is who I am. This is what makes me myself.

PS: Won't disappoint. I meant what I said. Every single word.
PPS: Sorry. I really am.

Ain't a bad thing.

2011-09-26T01:46:00.002+05:30

A good heart ain't a bad thing. Even if it doesn't beget goodness in return.

A clean conscience ain't a bad thing. Even if it doesn't beget faith in return.

A stand for what you believe in ain't a bad thing. Even if it doesn't beget 'impressions' in return.

Nothing changes. I'll be myself. No matter what.

An interesting conversation!

2011-09-22T22:51:00.010+05:30

Presenting the comic version of an 'interesting' conversation that I was a part of last night! The characters are MY, MD and PS.

I'll upload the pages on a daily basis. Would have done it in a single go, but for the fact that time is a scarce commodity here at Joka. You may want to click on the images just in case your eyes seem to be failing you! Enjoy reading! ;)

To be continued..

To Pranky.

2011-09-22T02:38:00.013+05:30

You were right Pranky. I was wrong. 6 years (and 20 days - Countdowns. Ha!) too late, with not much left of what it was, but nevertheless.

I'd have never posted this here, but for the fact that I have restricted the access to, and thus ceased to update, 'The Unfinished Life'. The reasons need no explanation.

Just wanted to say that there are times when I still think of you. And trust me, it's all a beautiful memory now. Some times those were. Love you girl. Love you for all that I am. Take care doc! =)

Need?

2011-09-21T14:09:00.001+05:30

Is this a.. Wait. No. This is a fucking joke.

Don't want to mention anything more about this except that the word "need" just lost its value in my dictionary. Utterly disgusting to say the least.

The decision.

2011-09-21T01:57:00.003+05:30

~~Fin. Period. Just give me the darned shortlist and I'll prove myself.~~

~~With 46 days to go and with no preparation and not a single crasher attended, it's time to give it all.~~

~~PS: Have been thinking about this for quite some time now. Had some reasons. Got the final one today. That's it~~.

The above does not hold valid any longer. I refuse to be treated as a commodity in the labour market. That's it and that's that.

A question.

2011-09-20T22:24:00.001+05:30

What do you do when you have this feeling that you have made a mistake in the recent past?

What do you do when believe that the issues can be sorted out, but you don't find/know a way to do that?

What do you do when you think about this the entire time, but end up evading / pretending to evade the truth altogether.

What do you do when you know that by not facing the reality, you are hurting none other than yourselves?

PS: I don't have an answer.

And this one as well.

2011-09-20T01:31:00.002+05:30

In continuance with the 'spirit' of my previous post, I thought I needed to add this one as well.

I had lugged along my racket to Joka, under the assumption that I'd have ample time for some play. On a retrospective note, I couldn't have been any more wrong. Managed to play for just a couple of occasions and then the CV took over.

Anyways, it has been 3-4 days since I have started playing regularly. Around an hour a day (generally towards midnight) unless the rain gods decide to send down the showers! Thinking of doing some early morning time as well. Leisure time being the only constraint here, I guess I'll manage with some decent time management.

PS: I needed these & needed them more than I ever did. I was almost beginning to see myself being overwhelmed by all those thought that wreaked me for that one busted month. Never again. Promise. =)

The return of the designer me!

2011-09-18T22:32:00.007+05:30

Oh yeah! You read it right. I designed my first poster today after more than an year and a half. And not to forget, also installed the entire Adobe suite. 9 gigs of unadulterated creative bliss! ;)

This is what my desktop looks like after the installation. Get the drift eh?!

PS: Can't put up the poster here right now. 'Confidentiality' issues till the things are formalized! Will do it as soon as that happens.

PPS: I have started learning 2-D animation from where I had left it during my stay at DCE. Will try to put in a couple of hours every week. It might seem weird but somehow I feel that this design thing has solved certain questions that I have been facing of late. Everybody needs a reason. Right?! So what if the reason is on the creative (not geeky mind you) sides! :D

PPPS: On a related note, I'm a member of 6 student bodies here at Joka. These are:

Alumni Cell
Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI)
Cultural Committee
Entrepreneurship Cell
Finance and Investments Club
Intaglio

I'm involved with the design vertical of three of them (formally that is!). Informally, I'm pretty sure that I'll end up doing something similar (amongst other tasks) in the other three as well. No dearth of the design related work here. I guess I'll also have to learn to say 'No', the way I did it back at DCE. Trust me. That'll happen. :P

Steppers' Party!

2011-09-18T00:28:00.003+05:30

A sneak-peak into what we, the Tribe of Joka, call 'C'ulture. Nobody, and I mean nobody, remains untouched! \m/

The edge of the cliff!

2011-09-16T17:52:00.003+05:30

This, ladies and gentlemen, is the real meaning of "being on the edge"!

PS: I ain't doing this thing ever again. A class away from grade drop in all but 2 subjects is a little too much!

Will You?

2011-09-13T00:04:00.007+05:30

This is a poem that I wrote, recorded, mixed and edited today.

Here is the audio:

And the words:

Do you see this world the way I see?

What I am and what I wish to be?

The question was and the question remains,

Hey you! - Do you even know me?

There are certain things that should be said

And then there are those that are better left for dead

For every feeling I hide, there is a story to tell

That moment I stumbled. That moment I fell

Am I losing myself? Am I even awake?

I look at the mirror but it is all opaque

Every laugh that betrays. Every smile I fake

Alas! The time is short and life has no re-takes

Will it ever end - these battles I fight everyday

I burn within - for the world it's just another cliche

Enough of the prevarications. Enough of the wordplay

I ask you - Will you be my guiding light at this crossway?

This may be a question, but an answer is not what I seek

Silence at times means much more than the words we speak

I didn't say a word to you then, and silent I'll continue to be

You may read my words, but, will you ever understand me? :)

~~Just some arbitrary thoughts. Will add more lines in the hours (yes, hours!) to come.~~

PS: This in no way is related to the Behavioral Sciences examination I have tomorrow. Any resemblance is unintended and purely coincidental!

PPS: If this sounds a little amateurish, then kindly bear with me. I have an exam tomorrow and the academics at the IIMs are very unforgiving. Plus, I'll refine this thing once I'm done with the end-terms.

Congrats Kiddo!

2011-09-11T19:34:00.005+05:30

Hey all! Had a good news to share with you.

Deutsche Bank picked up 4 interns from IIT-D around an hour back. And my kiddo Arpit happens to be one of them! =)

PS: For the treats and all, please come to Calcutta because I ain't coming to Delhi till I land an intern of my own! Feeling the extra heat now! :P

Respect.

2011-09-11T13:44:00.010+05:30

I have no idea why I decided to write this but something very interesting happened last night. I did try my best to ignore, but, being on the stage has it's own disadvantages. Anyways, I must admit that I have come to respect this famous (infamous according to the FAMES, never understood why) person in question even more after this.

@Ashish - Remember what I told you during one of our conversations towards the last days at DCE? I wasn't wrong. On the contrary, you and the rest were. And that includes me as well till perhaps the middle of the third year.

PS: A 'culture' that can't get you the respect, is no culture at all. It's a farcical justification for something that is unacceptable to the world outside. And perhaps a few inside as well.

PPS: I think it's time that I said what I truly think and feel about all this. No point in keeping it all to myself and pondering over it most of the time. A post on this is due from here onwards. After the end-terms perhaps or as soon as my hand feels a little better. ;)

Why-o-Why?!

2011-09-11T03:06:00.000+05:30

@ the good Lord of Joka - Please do not, I repeat, do not keep a party (and especially a party like this one) right before any of the the exams. It spoils everything. Both the party and the exam. And if this is one of the gazillion "traditions" of this place, then let me tell you what, it sucks. You'll burn in hell for this!

PS: Deutsche Bank up at IIT-D tomorrow. And my brother is up for it. Best wishes for the day Arpit! Make the most out of the first of the many! =)

And this was all that was left!

2011-09-10T14:26:00.002+05:30

This happened some two weeks back.

R.I.P. my shoes. You'll be missed.

At the crossroads

2011-09-08T17:01:00.001+05:30

Of late, ever since I came to Joka, and especially over the past few weeks, I have felt myself drifting from one extreme of the emotional scale to the other. Thoughts and emotions ranging from sheer jubilation to total despondency. And more.

For those of you whom I have talked to in person or on phone, or the ones who'd have seen my updates on Facebook (I've stopped using that one till the summers 'at least') and / or on GTalk would know what I exactly mean by whatever I have just written above.

Now, I know, there are multiple reasons for this. Some memories, both pleasant and unpleasant; some people, both whom I begun to detest (for various reasons and to various degrees) and those that I have begun to care about (for reasons unknown to me); and then certain events that have transpired during this period.

There are times I have found myself wanting to shout the choicest of profanities at the top of my voice and then there are others when I have wanted to cry to myself. But, Hey! I can't be doing that. I am supposed to be a "mature" person with no instability. Ain't it?! Farce.

I can't exactly delve further into these issues on a public blog, but the only reason I wrote this is to let you people know that it's not like I have changed or something. It's just that I feel torn apart between two ends of my own personality (the one I so perfectly concealed till the very last day at DCE) and am unable to figure out right from wrong. As if that was not enough, I'm unable to fathom if there is anything right or wrong at all. And to sum it all up, I have no person and no place to go and sort these out! I'll have to figure out my way on my own.

It may sound as if I am over-reacting or something and that I have made my life complex for myself, but no, that's not the reason. I know myself too well for that.

I'll end this post with a request to bear with me till I get my life back under my control and can be the same person that I used to be not very long ago.

Love you all.

-Medhavin

PS: The posts on the blog will continue meanwhile irrespective or anything and everything. =)

The Asha that was!

2011-09-06T09:22:00.004+05:30

Lately, I have been doing a plenty of random youtube browsing and quite evidently, stumbling upon songs that I haven't heard / videos I haven't seen for years (sometimes the whole decade as well).

I distinctly remember the period when the Indian Pop music was in its seminal years. Remember the 'Made in India' track?!

Coming to the topic, Asha Bhosle had quite a number of hit tracks to her credit at that time. The tracks were remixes, yet the way they came out (not to discount the novelty of the video aspect), was simply too good.

Here are two of the songs that I loved to hear, still love (to a much lesser extent though, given the genres I've explored over the past 7-8years) and want you to hear. Enjoy!

PS: I just so love the lyrics of the first track. The second one's ain't bad either.

Something I always wished to say, but never could!

2011-09-05T00:05:00.008+05:30

~~Coming soon!~~ ;) =)

Link: http://justbeingmyselfmyway.blogspot.com/2011/09/moral-fiber.html

PS: Done with the CVs. 2 months was 'all' it took for the 3 one pagers!

PPS: Projects and Presentations hogging most of the time.

PPPS: End-Terms up ahead! I'm so dead already! ;(

PPPS: Remember this video? Saw it after a really, and I mean really, long time today. Beautiful!

Early Days - A Poem!

2011-08-29T21:57:00.001+05:30

As I look at these days that pass by
This feeling of 'Ours', there is no 'My'
A home of our own. This ain't a lie
Oh Joka! You make me feel alive

These buddies upon whom I can depend
And then there is that mentor, that friend
This riot of colors, this eternal blend
I live every moment. No more I pretend.

This is my world. I seek nothing more
So much to love. So much to explore
This 'culture' they said, one day you will adore
Oh yes I do - For there will be no encore

To be continued.. =)

The meaning of everything!

2011-08-26T01:35:00.005+05:30

Happiness! =)

PS: Will update this post soon. Wanted to write more but got a project presentation tomorrow so can't do it right away.

PPS: In love with Joka. This place (and the people of course) rocks man! Totally and Absolutely! \m/

Hints: ;)

The post about the rooms!

2011-08-16T00:51:00.001+05:30

This post is in continuation to the previous post. On being reminded by Aman that 'my' rooms have been a 'constant source of inspiration' (seriously?!), I had commented that I'd try to put up the pictures of 'my' rooms over the past 5 years.

So. I finally managed to get them from random sources and here they are:

First Year - Transit 15(B) - The studio for MCAG : the college video.

Second Year - VVS 409 - The discussion centre for all the politics!

Third Year - BCH 127 - The study room = 83% !!

Fourth Year - CVR 226 - The one least used. For reasons, scroll down!

Knowledge Park - My real room! 24*7 access + air conditioning!

My notebook went bust - So I had no option but to use these in the KP! :)

My room at in Raikot, Ludhiana just before I shifted to Noida.

My room in Noida aka The CAT Prep Zone!

And finally my room in Delhi just before I left for Joka.

Well then. That's it! Over and out until the next post, which will be about my early days here in Joka. So long then! =)

My New Room!

2011-07-30T00:57:00.001+05:30

Well then. To begin with life here at Joka, I'm uploading these pictures of my hostel room. No specific reason for uploading these pictures first, save for the fact that this was the easiest possible thing to do with the mid-terms beginning on Monday!

I must add that the rooms we have in OH, WH and NH are nothing compared to the ones in recently constructed LVH, still WH is the better of the lot!

ThE Entrance to ThE Room! \m/

Minimalistic - Left most of my stuff at home. Didn't need that anyways!

The Laptop @ my Desktop!

Yeah. The Cliched Pic! It holds true here as well. :(

B109, Tagore Hostel :)

The Room - A few days back.

More stuff to come. After the mid-terms most probably.

Check. Check! Check!

2011-07-30T00:15:00.000+05:30

Time to bump up this blog yet again!

PS: The first term here at Cal keeps you damn busy. So, more of such bumps may be required in the near future! ;)

My Book Shelf - The White Tiger

2011-06-10T23:45:00.000+05:30

Well then. I managed to finish this one today. And I have a couple of things to say:

Arvind Adiga has painted a absolutely realistic picture of the divide that exists in our Indian society. The lines may be social, economic, cultural or even the dreams!
I don't understand why this partcular novel was awarded the Booker. I mean, I didn't feel anything out of the ordinary in it for it to have deserved that award! Wasn't the competetion good enough that year or what? Or is it that the western audience / jury derives some sadistic pleasures out of the grim realities of a nation, the majority of whose citizens still lead their third world lives?

My Book Shelf - The Kite Runner

2011-06-03T20:35:00.002+05:30

Just got through with this gem of a novel. All I can say is that this particular story by Khaled Hosseini struck a chord deep deep within. Could almost feel my eyes getting moist on a number of occasions. I'm now looking forward to read his second novel in my collection - A Thousand Splendid Suns.

And I've got myself a line that I can live with - 'For you a million times over.' =)

Novels I've read recently.

2011-05-31T22:15:00.002+05:30

This is the list of the novels that I've read over the past few weeks. I've tried to pick up books across genres and styles so as to make the most out of my free time!

With another two weeks or so to go before I move to Calcutta, I guess I'll be able to finish another three from my collection. I'll begin with The Kite Runner tonight.

The next time you rue the lack of opportunities.

2011-04-27T16:38:00.000+05:30

Saw this video the other day. And have been pondering over a couple of things ever since.

So? What do you say? The power of dreams? Destiny vs. free will? The never-say-quit attitude? The resolve to challenge the circumstances?

Every time I get to see inspirational videos like the one above or perhaps hear a story about someone who stood up to the seemingly insurmountable odds, I kind of feel ashamed of how we lament the lack of opportunities and chances even as we slouch on that couch in our air-conditioned rooms watching IPL on the LCD straight up ahead. Or perhaps when we talk about "Hard Luck". I mean, what would have been the meaning of luck for this boy?

Something to ponder over. Isn't it?

I'll end this post with a poem. A beautiful one that is.

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Invictus - by William Ernest Henley

The Book Deal!

2011-04-22T18:37:00.002+05:30

Have just ordered nine more titles for my gradually expanding collection. The list:

A Thousand Splendid Suns - Khaled Hosseini
Freakonomics - Steven D. Levitt, Stephen J. Dubner
Hitchhiker's Trilogy - Douglas Adams
Inheritance of Loss - Kiran Desai
It's not about the Bike - Lance Armstrong
Midnight's Children - Salman Rushdie
Motorcycle Diaries - Ernesto Che Guevara
Train to Pakistan - Kushwant Singh
The White Tiger - Arvind Adiga

Ordered all in one go because of the 50% discount that indiaplaza is offering for the World Book Day tomorrow. Additionally I had to empty my RBS account as I'm closing the same in the next few days. What better way to do the preliminary honors! :P

Mission Accomplished! :)

2011-04-18T18:22:00.001+05:30

Yes! Yes!! Yes!!! \m/

http://adreamcalledmba.blogspot.com/

And then what?

2011-04-16T20:53:00.002+05:30

..when someone's laughter brings us close to tears..

I stumbled upon this line in a song while I was browsing randomly this evening. I must say that it stirred me somewhere within.

Aren't we indeed fortunate to be born and brought up in families with the means. For out there are billions of our own, the ones for whom a smile is nothing less than a rare victory over their daily circumstances. The circumstances that weren't even their fault. Perhaps their only fault being that they were brought to life in the first place.

We generally tend to think that 'their' dreams would involve escaping their wretched lives into lives that resemble 'our' own or maybe even beyond. The Slumdog Millionaire types! But what if the dreams of that child on the road are centered around managing a square meal? Perhaps the leftovers from the hotel/dhaba in the neighborhood? Or perhaps from that lavish crorepati wedding in that farmhouse on the outskirts of the town?

So, what's the purpose of my life? MBA? Entrepreneurship? Wealth? Traveling? A circle of friends? Social status? Respect? A good life?

And then what?

Just a thought.

The Book Rack!

2011-04-11T07:16:00.004+05:30

This post is intended to keep a record of the books I have read over the past few weeks, the ones I'll be reading in the time to come (optimism!) and the ones that I have in my collection but the pages of which are yet to be turned!

I would have written a post for each book that I read, but for the realization that I'm no book reviewer and the span of my attention barely stretches a few chapters. :(

Still, If I do find something engrossing enough and thus worthy of a complete post, I'll do it without any fuss!

The books are listed in alphabetical order (by title).

Here we go!

1984 - George Orwell
Animal Farm - George Orwell
Chanakya's Chant - Ashwin Sanghi

Connect the Dots - Rashmi Bansal

Fault Lines - Raghuram Rajan

Glimpses of World History - Jawaharlal Nehru

India After Gandhi - Ramachandra Guha

India Unbound - Gurcharan Das

Malgudi Days - RK Narayan

Managers who make a Difference - TV Rao

Stay Hungry Stay Foolish - Rashmi Bansal

Such a Long Journey - Rohinton Mistry

Swami and his Friends - RK Narayan

The Bachelor of Arts - RK Narayan

The Concise Oxford History of Indian Business - Tripathi & Jumani

The Discovery of India - Jawaharlal Nehru
The English Teacher - RK Narayan
The Financial Expert - RK Narayan

The Fresh Brew - Haralaka & Thakur

The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid - CK Prahlad

The High-Performance Entrepreneur - Subroto Bagchi
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

The Room on the Roof - Ruskin Bond

Reading Now - Here comes the Malgudi!

2011-04-01T20:23:00.001+05:30

For the first of the fiction additions to my humble library, I've begun with two books. Malgudi Days & Swami And Friends. Both have been authored by that gem of a storyteller - R.K. Narayan.

Now don't ask me why I decided to begin with this 'childish' stuff! The choice was between The Kite Runner and the above. The idea of reading Malgudi Days hit me a couple of weeks back when I started watching the video episodes of the same. The stories are just too simple and yet so enchanting. One way or the other it is helping me to connect with things that I seem to have forgotten in the midst of my 'life'. And ain't I enjoying every moment of it! =)

There are six more books of his in my wish list as of the present and I'll be ordering these one by one. Talk about the incentive of finishing the already purchased stuff before hitting the buy button!

PS: My wish list contains 40 odd titles as of now. I hope to finish at least 10 before I get into academics once again!

PPS: I'm reading Fault Lines side by side though I must admit that this has taken the backseat. Just trying to balance the stories with the ideas. :)

Reading Now - Fault Lines

2011-03-28T16:19:00.000+05:30

I purchased this book way back in January while preparing for the GD/PIs. The reason was the importance of the topic concerned as well as the stature of the author. Unfortunately, I couldn't go beyond the introductory text due to the paucity of time and the array of the topics that were supposed to be covered.

So, here I am back to the square one and all set to give it a second shot. I'll be done with the book in a week or two. A brief review 'should' follow the same.

PS: Over the past couple of months I've purchased enough books so as to talk about a mini-library of my own! It's just the non-fiction and business books as of now. Will add around five titles in a short while. I guess these will be mainly fiction.

:)

2011-03-20T18:00:00.002+05:30

Coming Soon! =)

Happy! :)

2010-10-23T22:11:00.000+05:30

I'm happy.. for.. everything! =)

The games facebook plays!

2010-08-19T23:33:00.002+05:30

I have heard about this quote by Paulo Coelho that says something like the entire cosmos conspiring to help you achieve something that you really feel for.. but Facebook!

So what do you call this.. Serendipity.. or maybe a great algorithm! Whatever it is.. some things will never change!! =)

A new beginning!

2010-07-30T17:07:00.000+05:30

Just moved to Noida the other day. Setting my things (a lot of them!) in order. Loads to buy and plenty of chores.. Might take a whole week if not more!

Will get back with a plenty of info once I get my new laptop and an internet connection (Visiting a Cyber Cafe after a long long time!) =)

Doctors! - A Case Study

2010-07-15T08:51:00.001+05:30

I was kind of thinking about someone the last night when I decided to frame a case study for people to answer so as to get a better perspective of a few things. I tried to put it in such a way so that the 'underlying context' becomes immaterial.

Here it goes:

'Doctors' I must say are pretty interesting people.. Some heal your wounds.. Some simply give you a nasty cut or two, only to back off after invoking 'time' as the omnipotent healer..

Years pass by.. The wounds 'heal'.. The pain is gone.. Yet.. The scars 'from those cuts' remain.. only to become a part of you.. forever..

Now, here are a couple of questions:

‎1. What/Who is the first thing/person that those scars would 'always' remind you of? =)

2. Given an option of riddance from the scars 'after all these years'.. Would you rather accept them as an extension of your present identity? =) =)

What's your take??

There are more questions that I think can be added to those mentioned above. But articulating them might take a little time. Meanwhile, I've also put the same as my facebook status feed and requested a few of close friends to reply back.

Lets see how this one goes! =)

Edit 1 (July 16 - 8:50 a.m.)

From my 'interaction' with Kaustubh and Chaplot on Facebook, I kindaa felt that the message wasn't very clear. So I have framed it in a more lucid way.

Lets begin with the 'wound'

Who is to blame for that one?
1. An accident due to a momentary lapse on your own part.
2. An accident due to Some ABC person.
3. Maybe it had been there for a long time, beginning with a minor bruise, then festering covertly, until you felt the unbearable pain.

Then comes the 'Doctor' Part.

Ideally a doctor is supposed to treat you until the wound is fully cured, but in this case the doc gave you a 'cut or two' and backed off after assuring you that the wounds will heal with time.

Now this wasn't what you expected in the first place, but nevertheless, with doctors, you don't have much choice! ;)

This is followed by the 'Scars' part.

You believe your doc (Maybe its due to the sheer lack of alternatives!) and try to get on with your life. However the pain simply refuses to subside that quickly. Its a period characterized by agony, trauma, and maybe a little bit of regret.

Then comes the final part.

Years have passed by and the wounds have eventually healed (The Doc was right!) and the pain is all gone. However, that 'unusual' treatment leaves its marks in the form of scars that were a result of that 'cut or two'. And like most scars, these 'seem' like permanent ones!

Whew! Pretty long one eh! Well.. Read on! ;)

Now here is where your predicament begins..

What was the actual reason for those scars?
1. The wound and its cause that we have already dealt with in the first part.
2. Your blind trust on the Doctor.
3. The doctor's wrong treatment.
4. You couldn't make the doctor understand you and your wound.
5. The doctor wasn't interested in understanding you and your wound.

And now that you have to live with these scars, what/whom do they 'always' remind you of?
1. The cause of the wound as in the first part.
2. The pain you underwent.
3. Your wrong choice of Doctor.
4. The Doctor for giving you those scars.
5. The Doctor who nevertheless 'cured' your wound!

And eventually, lets talk about the 'current' present!

You get to know of this amazing new technology that can help you get rid of those 'nasty' scars for once and for all. However, you've lived with them for all these years thinking that they have become an indispensable part of your own identity.. forever..

Everyone in your circle asks you to go for it as that will help you 'escape' the past. But then.. those scars remind you of a 'lot'!

So.. Will you go ahead or rather accept them for what they are and what they mean to you?

Miles..

2010-07-10T23:36:00.001+05:30

Miles that have been traveled,
And miles that will be..
A beautiful moment forever by my side,
And a new dawn shall we see..

PS: Just a random thought that came by.. Will work on this one.. :)

355-R.. Whew! :)

2010-06-20T17:08:00.005+05:30

This for sure has to be one of the craziest things (If not 'The' craziest thing!) that I've ever attempted.. Clicked this one while returning from TIME's Ludhiana Centre.

I'm still pretty well amazed ki what overcame me that I went to this place.. Yeah.. I know it was more than just silly and insane.. I wasn't sure if this 355-R was the right location and even if it was then did I have to prove anything especially when I know that 'that' day will turn up soon?? But.. pata nahin.. shayad aise hi..

I won't write what this was all about.. but if my data analysis skills are any good, there was nothing that was meant to be said in the first place.. that is.. to the person concerned..

Sort of 'Feel' and 'Relive' scenario! Some feelings can never be expressed.. Right! :)

Today's Movie - Invictus

2010-05-13T20:45:00.001+05:30

Man... I am just so dumb to have missed out on this gem of a movie back during our inspi flick sessions (Nov-Dec 09').. I guess.. I kindaa was supposed to make up for that by watching this one while giving one of the most 'would have been' endearing moments of my college life a miss..

Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.. And Clint Eastwood.. Awesome stuff!

Won't write much but will quote the words of the poem 'Invictus' by William Ernest Henley that is the crux of all that transpires and inspires..

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

Says everything all that very well.. Doesn't it! Loved this one.. Absolutely!

My Rating: Excellent!

Today's Movie - Precious

2010-04-28T18:48:00.000+05:30

Typical Oprah stuff.. All about being an Afro-American, being abused at home, teenage aspirations, domestic violence, teenage pregnancies, raising kids, social welfare and all that comes along.. Then there is the light at the end of the tunnel thing thrown in.. The role of education.. The importance of making it on your own..

The message is pretty obvious (as is with most of the films of this 'ghetto' genre). Watched it for its Oscar nomination.. At the end of those 105 mins.. There is nothing great to write about...

Watch it if you want some inspiration.. Or maybe if you are longing to take 'your' life in 'your own' hands and lead it in the direction you want it to go towards.. Or if you want to know what really happens 'out there'..

My Rating: Average..

Listening Now - Lady Antebellum

2010-04-27T18:56:00.001+05:30

Desperately needed a break from the usual \m/ shit.. Genre Shift! And Country it is!

Lady Antebellum to begin with.. Currently topping the billboard charts.

Pretty serene tracks.. Sounding Good!!

Today's Movie - 500 Days of Summer

2010-04-26T20:19:00.006+05:30

You know..We have had an umpteen number of those Girl meets Boy / Boy meets Girl (Whichever way you want to call that as!) flicks. As the USP of the movie goes.. 'This is not a love story. This is a story about love!'

Light hearted, funny at times, bordering on 'cute' at certain occasions, the movie is kindaa good! The screenplay and direction are pretty neat which only enhances a very natural performance delivered by the lead cast (Tom & Summer).

So.. Do you want to know if there is a true love? If that true love is found through destiny or 'going for it'? I suggest you better watch this one! :)

My Rating: Very Good!

PS: Kindaa felt a bit nostalgic at times. That is the problem with this genre. Reminds you of a lot.. But then.. The best way to get over a woman is to turn her into literature! Hell Yeah! ;)

Today's Movie - How to Train Your Dragon

2010-04-22T20:16:00.001+05:30

Am I in love with the Dragons?? Well.. I better be! Because if there is one movie that could lead to this, then this has to be the one..

Animation.. you see is the kind of genre that is emotionally enticing, touching at times and aesthetically beautiful. So much is said about things that have a subtle meaning with the least of the words. Love, friendship, pain, anger, anguish, dreams.. Everything!

The movie is about how an individual might be different from everyone (literally!) and yet be on the right side. A movie that teaches you to build bonds where none exist. A movie where the protagonist names a fire breathing dragon (or was it some kind of fire-cum-sonic boom!) "Toothless"!!!

Powerful visuals clubbed with a progressive and never ceasing to excite plot, How to Train Your Dragon teaches you to learn to view the world with a different outlook. An outlook where we forsake hatred and vengeance, and instead learn to care. And perhaps we will discover that maybe things weren't the way we took them to be, maybe the world is not exactly that bad as it is taught to us, maybe there can be a peaceful coexistence, affection, and even love..

Go watch this one! You'll love it!

My Rating: Excellent! :)

Today's Movie - Shutter Island

2010-04-21T20:40:00.001+05:30

Man.. This one has to be 'the' thriller of the year (atleast as of today!). Directed by Martin Scorsese (His works include masterpieces like The Departed, The Aviator, Gangs of New York, Goodfellas, Raging Bull, Taxi Driver amongst others) and starring Leonardo DiCaprio as Teddy Daniels and Ben Kingsley as Dr. Cawley, Shutter Island is a movie that will mess you so bad that you will end up either upset or hating it altogether!

A psychological thriller masquerading the horror genre, the film puts you in the shoes of Teddy Daniels from the very first scene, only to leave you bewildered with the climax that one can least expect. There are an umpteen number of twists and turns and so is the element of suspense. The premise is all but dark.

Its the kind of film that will make you see the world from the eyes of Teddy Daniels, forces you to think, gives you plenty of hints that you will never care to notice, entices you and just when you feel all convinced, the thrilling conclusion hits you real hard.

An ingenious assault on the senses of the audience.. Literally!

My Rating: Very Good

Insanity - A new 'low' every day...

2010-04-21T12:37:00.000+05:30

In a mad world, only the mad are sane. - Akiro Kurosawa

Sometimes.. Words are just not enough to express what you want to say.. Maybe its because you are tired of having expressed yourselves again and again.. You know that something is wrong.. You know why that something is wrong.. You even know who is actually behind that something worng..

But.. You also know that you are not supposed to be the one who decides what happens next.. You never were.. And the ones who can.. Are not willing to see the 'real picture'..

Is it the fear of having come so far? Is it the burden of expectations? Is it the ego? How are all these even supposed to matter when so much is at stake??

Yesterday.. Although the incident wasn't directly related to what all has happened over the past month and a half.. But yet.. It went on to prove a lot.. What have we become? Were we ever like this? Is this what we wanted to see ourselves as?? There are some serious questions that we need to ask ourselves and introspect..

Just wishing that it does not get too late.. Beyond the point of no return...

Today's Movie - Forrest Gump

2010-04-20T21:39:00.000+05:30

This morning I stepped out of my hostel room at 9:50 a.m. for the Data Communications lecture at 10. Reached Elec at 9:55 and don't know how and why, but, decided to bunk today's classes!

Movie Time! And Forrest Gump it was.

With the IMDB rating of 8.6/10 and some very positive reviews from the movie gang, this one was always supposed to be on a safer side! Yeah.. One tends to play safe after having watched movies like 'An Education' (Make no mistakes.. This one was nominated for the Oscars this time!). I guess we don't need no education!

Ahem.. So, where was I.. Yeah.. Forrest Gump it was!

A pretty inspiring movie with a subtle meaning that reaches out to touch you and teaches you to appreciate all those little things and moments. Each one of them. Things aren't always as rosy as we might want them to be, but then Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get!

Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump is real. As real as it gets! Forrest is the kind of guy who goes for the 'right thing' irrespective of the perceptions of the world around. There is this thing of being innocent, being good and being true to oneself that oozes out of his character and makes him so affable!

Just as Gump says.. I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floating around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it's both. Maybe both is happening at the same time. I miss you, Jenny. If there's anything you need, I won't be far away.

My Rating: Vey Good!

Bring it on!

2010-03-31T16:20:00.001+05:30

Yeah.. Yeah... I know.. Feels like I'm against the entire lot this time round.. Feels like everything sucks.. Like this life is that one big trash can...

I guess that is what life is all about.. No free lunches (and dinners!).. No easy way outs.. Disappointments... Anguish... Deception... Despair... With me.. It has always been that..

But then... I suppose I have my own ways.. I always had.. Won't take this lying down...

Just Bring it on!

Today's Movie - Up in the Air

2010-02-25T10:26:00.001+05:30

Long time eh! Umpteen promises to return and nothing but hard luck.. Perfectly epitomized by this 'story of a man ready to make a connection' .

George Clooney as Ryan Bingham makes me feel so like the one person no one knows better than me myself! Sometimes, the stuff in that Backpack matters so much and on some occasions its all that you pretty well have.

So where is the place for emotions in this modern lifestyle we have come to adopt? Aren't the frequent flyer miles not a big deal enough? Why do we have to worry about all those moments which that special someone's company can make so much memorable?

Set in the period that has become synonymous with the lay-offs, George Clooney has delivered a performance that comes so naturally to him (How can I forget!) so as to answer all the above questions and many more..

A good watch this one.. Liked it!

PS: Anna Kendrick as Natalie Keener reminds me of Tom Cruise. Any connections? Correct me if I'm wrong here!

2010!

2009-12-31T21:22:00.000+05:30

Wishing ya all a very happy new year! :)

DCE going autonomous!

2009-06-25T22:10:00.005+05:30

Now can you imagine that being true? Too good to be real right?

Well... I guess that you better check this out!

http://www.indopia.in/India-usa-uk-news/latest-news/608061/Delhi/1/20/Z

Aaha! I just wish that the assembly passes the bill asap.

Finally, Yes.. finally we are moving towards that cherished dream! :D

All this while...

2009-06-25T15:06:00.012+05:30

Before I begin with the damage control mode (Blogger developers would do good by including one in here!), I'd take this opportunity (or whatever you might be inclined to label that as) to state that staying off blogger for an extended period of time can turn that eloquence thing upside down. Seriously man! For the last fifteen minutes or so, all that I've been doing is looking for a 'face saving' way to begin this post. And the ironical part is that I've been at a complete loss doing this groping stuff!

Anyways.. The good thing is that I'm still alive (I know that will disappoint many!) and kicking some serious ass all around the 165 acres of DCE! And well.. with due respect to the laws of conservation of *@#*%, Kicking some ass there does mean getting your arse kicked in here! And that is precisely my side of the story over the past few months.

Ever since I began working on the DWD (The Design and Web Development Group) thing way back in February this year, things that were pretty dear to me (My memoir, blogging and CAT preparation of course) have been put on the back burner.

Thats not to say that I did that intentionally, but the fact is that the DWD work is so much and so energy sapping that I'm left with no energy and no will to get to the other things.

Anyways lemme give you a quick overview of what all has happened over the last few months.

Arpit

I knew this one was coming. And I knew it all this while. Yes! Kiddo is going to the IITs! The results came in the last month and he secured AIR 201! A little below what I expected from him, but nevertheless quite good! The counseling results came out the previous morning and he'd be moving to IIT-Delhi for the four year B.tech in Electrical Engineering. Great work Arpit! You deserved it! I'm so damn proud of you bro! :)

The Design and Web Development Group

This was always supposed to be 'the' once in a lifetime opportunity and there was no way I was going to let it go. And today, when I reflect back at the past couple of months, I'm glad that I took the right decision in going all out for it.

What began as an initiative to restructure, reorganize and redevelop dce.edu has now become something that I wanted my college to have since my very first days in here. Yes! DCE now has a dedicated student team that is working for developing, maintaining and enhancing the online presence of the institution. Add to it the fact that the team is also working towards developing value added service platforms (how does online payment of fee and bills sounds like?) and you would get a fair amount of idea of the kind of work we are doing in here.

The foremost important thing that had to be considered for setting up the team was always going to be the 'Team' itself! That is precisely why we organized a week long workshop back in April for helping the interested students with the bare basics. The idea was that what we needed was commited individuals with skill being an added bonus and not the other way round. Skill can be taught and learnt no doubt. But commitment. Naa! That has to be innate and natural.

Working on the projects immediately after the hectic examination season that stretched for a month and half was not going to be everyone's cup of tea. And the people who had the intensity to get that done were exactly the ones I was scouting for. The exercise paid off the dividends and exactly the required number of students turned in their projects on the basis of which the team was selected.

As of now, we are a 25 strong team. I (ahhmm.. the student coordinator!) am the sole member from the third year. From the second year we have 8 members. They are Mohit, Raushan, Varun, Umesh, Sumit, Vidit and Sunaina and Shreyansh.

There are 16 members who have just finished their first year at DCE. Aditya, Aman, Ankit, Ankita, Anuja, Gaurav, Kartikeya, Mohit Mittal, Mohit Aggarwal, Nitish, Prateek, Sahil, Saurabh, Sumonto, Vaibhav Gaur and lastly Vaibhav Jain.

The interested thing is that our team is now working under the aegis of The Knowledge Park and as such all of these are interning for the summer under the same body. The internship began on June 1 and would go on till the end of July. Our focus is on learning to develop the web portals and service based platforms from the very basic rather than just getting an open source version and making superficial changes here and there. I know its pretty tiring and sometimes boring, but am pretty sure that it will be the best thing for the entire team.

We are doing HTML, CSS, Java Script, DHTML, PHP, SQL and MySQL as the core topics; Photoshop, Illustrator, Corel Draw and InDesign in the Design part and Networking, Network Security, Domain Management, Server Management and Programming as the specialization fields. And lastly Kartikeya is handling the Imaging department!

As far as the infrastructure is concerned, we have a pretty good setup as of the present. We have our very own audio-visual training room that is equipped with an overhead laser projector, a 4o'' LCD screen and a pretty neat surround sound system. Add to it the centralized air conditioning and a seating capacity of 150+ and you might just get a fair idea of what its all about.(I guess we'll be going for an odd movie a week thing once the odd semester begins!)

Then there is our development lab equipped with 25 computers which serve as personal workstations for the entire team. We have got the IPs on these computers removed from the word based content filtering through the firewall(the reason why I find most of the fellas using Facebook)We have our own mini-library (which is expanding slowly!)

We have our own Proliant Server for development purpose and have recently got a dedicated 2 mbps leased line to link the server to the internet.

The above three are located within the Knowledge Centre and Library Online.

We also have our own office in the Knowledge Park premises in the administrative block equipped with three DELL workstations that have an impressive configuration (How does a maximum of 8 G.B. RAM sound like?) where the senior members of the team are supposed to work during the after college hours. We have a private LAN for high speed internet connectivity in our office and are expecting an ISDN line for backup purpose some time soon.

I'll try to get the pictures of the entire setup the next time. I am pretty sure you fellas will like that!

A small footnote in this context is something that I'd love to add in here. All of this might sound impressive but the team has worked real hard for all this. We have literally worked our asses 24x7 over the past few months to get to this level.

Most importantly, we have the trust and the unstinting support of the Director, Dr. P.B. Sharma; Dean, IRD, Dr. R.K. Sinha and the Librarian, Mr. R.K. Shukla. Without them, this endeavour wouldn't have seen the light of the day. Seriously man! I mean every single word!

Over the last three weeks, we have developed the new website of SPIE Student Chapter and are almost through with the new website for the Central Library which would be online by this weekend. Additionally we have got the SMS and E-Mail based information systems deployed for the benefit of prospective students.

We have a lot of core development based work lined up for the month of July. I guess that with the first year students almost through with the basic and intermediate levels of training, they are ready to don the role of developers and lend a helping hand!

The second years along with Nitish, Mohit and Kartikeya have played a good supportive role all this while and are shouldering the responsibility. The team has gelled up quite well.

I guess I'll need a week more to get the team working to my satisfaction and sort out whatever issues are left to be tackled and devise an efficient mechanism for sorting out the odd troubles that turn up out of the blue. I guess its high time that I get back to my CAT preparation and let the team take on the responsibilities. After all this time spent, I'm positive that they will do pretty good!

Excellent work folks! Keep the momentum going! :)

The CAT Preparation

Well.. Well.. How can I miss out on this one eh! More about this one on my other blog.

The End Semesters

Nothing worthy to write in this context. Unlike the exams I took in the fifth semester, these were a subdued affair due to the DWD work. Yet, barring a couple of subjects (Advanced Computer Architecture and Control Engineering)and an odd sessional, I supposed I did fine. Expecting something in the vicinity of 70-75.

The Summer Training

Well, this one was supposed to be the biggest fly in the ointment! I began with the applying process by applying to the Mathematics and Science Foundation for the two month long intern in the field of Mutual Funds / Search Engine for Images. But the I lost interest for I was more concerned about the CAT prep and decided to go for a 'farzi' version. Failure in mailing the required recommendations meant a boot out!

Up next was the good old BSNL back in Raekot which was supposed to be an 'evergreen' option. I was banking on this one but as fate would have had it, it turned out to be a mirage. The expectations of the BSNL authorities were way too high and my dedication to this part of my academic career was always supposed to be on the lower side. The crude reality dawned upon me the past weekend and I had to make some frantic efforts to catch onto something worth the name.

In the end it was an alumni (Amit Sharma, MBA from UCLA) from the 2001 batch who proved to be my saviour. I'd now be interning under his firm while developing the Alumni Management System for DCE. Now that is precisely the kind of training I call 'my types'! Stay in DCE, Work in DCE to Work for DCE and get a certificate and recommendation worth the actual effort! No doubt, that would be something I'd love to talk about during the upcoming placements (only if the companies are 'my types'!) and interviews (if everything goes as per the plan!)

The DCE Times

The fourth edition of DCE Times will be out by the middle of July. The motive behind the early release is to get the best possible talent to stay back at DCE by letting them know what DCE is all about vis a vis the NSIT story. I'll be working with Anand, Abhishek et all in this regards this weekend onwards. Lets just hope things go as per the expectations! :)

The BET

The guys got through with the shooting part quite early. They are presently working on the post production part and are trying to get some production house to provide the required patronage. I won't be editing the movie but nevertheless managed to chip in with a promotional trailer. Wishing the guys all the best for the project!

Oh yeah.. by the way, I am at home right now. Came back the previous morning to escape the harrowing life back in Delhi for a good 3-4 days! I must say, there is no better place than one's own home! Really!

And yes. Today is 25th right! Happy Birthday Mom and Happy Marriage Anniversary Di! I feel damn so lucky to have you people in my life! Love you a lot! :)

Well. That would be just about it. Long one eh! All right then.. Need to get back to studying. 1019 is just around the corner man! Ciao! :D

The all new dce.edu!

2009-04-05T19:41:00.008+05:30

Heya fellas! Its been almost like an an eon since I last put in a post related to the 'extra-curricular' domain! I'm glad I'm actually putting in something pertinent to what comes so damn naturally to me. And as always, I won't disappoint you with this one either! :D

We (The Design and Web Development Group, Delhi College of Engineering) launched the new version of www.dce.edu, the official website of DCE last evening. The website was inaugurated by Dr. P.B. Sharma, Director, DCE (on what better an occasion other than his birthday!)

Here is the screen shot of the new website.

Check out the website at www.dce.edu.

Its been around a couple of months (maybe a fortnight more) since we actually began working on the project. Anand, Abhishek (both from Computers, 2011 batch) and Nitish (IT, 2012 batch) are the other members of the team.

On the faculty side we had Prof. R.K. Sinha (Dean, Industrial Research and Development) who has been very very motivating and supportive (as always!) since the very first day when I visited him in the TIFAC-CORE office for a demo of the version that I had developed.

The last two months have been pretty eventful, be it the conceptualization, the survey stage, the designing, the coding stuff, data collection or even debugging! The cake however would go to the excruciating delay in uploading the website for the want of a proper occasion to launch the same. That came to an end yesterday evening with the Director's birthday and I'm damn glad that it did! :)

The website is pretty good on the looks front. Be it the homepage or the linked pages, we have taken due care of providing that special touch to make this new website stand apart from the rest of the crowd of college websites.

On the features side, there is actually a lot of stuff that we have integrated in the portal. A lot of innovative and extremely useful modules have been included and the data has been properly compiled and articulated.

We are working to get more features on the website. The upcoming online education platform as well as the campus wide social networking merit a mention in that regards. Additionally, there is a lot of data that we have to collect and put up on the site. I know that it would a lot of dog work, but I guess that is something that you are supposed to do when you take up the initiative to do something new!

Anyways, this time around I'm going to establish a team dedicated to the Design and Web Development for the college. I've had a discussion with both P.B. Sharma Sir and R.K. Sinha Sir and they have accepted the proposal for the same.

In this regards the Training and the Development lab of the Design and Web Development Group (DWD) would be ready by the middle of the next week (I'll get some pics of our lab for you people the next time). The same is located on the third floor of the Central Library and has one hell of an infrastructure. Yes! I'm lovin' it. Ain't I! :D

R.K. Sinha Sir has forwarded our request for an office and the required computers and other stuff to the Director and I'd be meeting him tomorrow for the same. Lets see how things turn out to be.

The posters for publicizing the new website as well as the DWD came in the last evening. Excellent Printing! Will be putting them up on the boards tomorrow.

The EDU Poster

The DWD Poster

I'm planning to begin the workshop for the new members sometime later next week. If everything goes as per the plan, the team would be ready to develop some 'actual' stuff within a fortnight.

My initial plan is to develop the complete array of the departmental websites as well as the new version of the websites of the Central Library (Online renewal service is now active!), SPIE and TIFAC-CORE by the end of this month

P.B. Sharma Sir was pretty happy with the website yesterday. So much that he actually invited us for the birthday dinner at his residence! I took Amit and Shiva (proxy members of the DWD!) along for the same. And well.. I loved it! :D

All right then.. DWD has a long way to go and there is a hell lot of work that needs to be done in that direction. Lets see if I can get it done.. Ending this post on a very optimistic note! See ya! :)

Done with the torture!

2009-03-20T13:36:00.007+05:30

Now what is that magic word that comes to get better of all the 'farzi' engineers after our week long sojourn called Mid-Semesters? That 'feel' after having slept studying only to get up early next morning for more of the same old stuff for a good two weeks?

Relief.... Aaah!!

Had the ACA paper today... Turned out to be just OK.. Ditto for the MP, ISDM, OS and CE.. With the minimal of long-term 'investments' and a monster of short-term ones, I guess I'm happy with the overall performance.. As of now.. I'll leave the bottomline due until the results are out (which means you'll have to wait... wait long.. for this is DCE.. don't get me wrong!!)

I'll have to admit one thing though... The subjects this time (save for CE) had the best of content, the only pity is that they never teach us even a small percentage of what might just seem interesting (Azad.. The mighty Headbanger... The one big glaring example of what I call 'Doom served hot on the platter').

But who's complaining! Not me! I'm more than satisfied with my weekends. TIME rocks man! I'm lovin' it!

Good exams... Good Results... A nice long with the 'Birthday Girl'.. And the weekend up next... Bang! Could life be any better?? Naa!!

Expect more of me in here now onwards! All right then... See ya! :)

Happy Birthday Richi!

2009-03-17T17:22:00.008+05:30

Wait... One more thing... (I wonder how many more 'One more thing'zzz are a part of my life!) And the last one.. for the day..!

Happy Birthday Richi! :)

Long time I guess! Having recognized my voice on the very first instance(damn..) and consequently thwarting my devious 'Identity Plans' (damn.. damn... damn....), after those numerous "Aur Sunaao... Kaisa chal rah hai sab kuch..." and "Your turn now.." and after having eventually left me with this sore throat (26 min... after a long long time... oh yeah!), I guess that phone call was worth ever sinlge moment!

Aah.. Memories of those drop year moments... All in the flashback mode!! Man... What a time that was!)

All right then. Have a wonderful day. A wonderful evening (That Dinner!) and a great time ahead. Go Girl! :)

I guess its high time I made a dash to the hostel. Else her premonitions might just come true! (Just kidding!)

Ok.. Ok.. For the one last time.. Happy Birthday! You rock man... Seriously!!:D

Results! Eventually!!

2009-03-17T16:32:00.005+05:30

All right guys.. After a delay that seemed like almost an eon, the FOT fellas have accomplished the Impossible (ugghhh... ummm... 'Possible' ... 'Very Possible'.... 'The Only God Darn Thing Possible'...if I might say...) eventually!

The result of the odd semester were put up this morning. As is the norm with my dear college, chaos ruled the roost. With the admin oldies scheming to put up those much coveted A4 sheets right after the end of the morning shift of the mid semester examinations (Yeah.. I told you... Mid Sems are on... Had Microprocessors yesterday and ISDM this morning..), with the sheer exuberance that comes standard to the DCE Student Junta and eventually with some enterprising nut having taken his aim at the nearby Beehive, what else could one expect.

As usual! And I love it! Don't I!! :)

So here is the story... After having braved the surging crowd hellbent on uprooting those poor noticeboards, after having warded of the bees and their Oh-My-God Stings and after having traded an odd blow here and there (Man.. My eye is still hurting like hell... Whose elbow was that anyways??), I finally managed to get my score.

And here it is... Exclusive for all you dear readers... At the only place where it could be! :)

"74.. 69.. 82.. 91.. 90.. 90.. 85.. 88... 84.... My God! Kya kar diya tune??" That was what I heard..

Well... That was Anupam, who incidentally was the first one to have sounded out those stats to me (while I was busy getting mauled... and busy mauling.. of course..!). An aggregate of 83%.

A shade below expectation (Data Structures & Algorithms and Computer Systems Organization turned out to be the sour grapes... I wonder what went wrong... So were the labs...

Its not that I'm getting stingy or hyper or something.. Its just that I had put in a lot of input towards the lab work and had the most confident and undoubtedly the best vivas and experiments of my entire God darn life... I was expecting more... Even if that was supposed to be a measly 7/8 marks each..)

Anyways... After having scored in the 57-65 range in the first three semesters and a 68 in the fourth, 83 comes as a pleasant news. Quantum Leap! I guess!! (15% is not bad.. isn't it!)

That takes the net. aggregate to 67 something from that 62 something. Lets see if I can get it to that magic figure of 70+ with three semesters to go..

One more thing... I managed to clear that back paper of mine! Mathematics... 44 this time round... Kam hai... Par chalega...! Anything for the hostel man... Wit CAT coming up.. there was no way I could afford to screw a month once again for the room thing as the last time...

And yeah... 'Mr. Assteller' (The one who shouldn't be named!) I guess we'll meet again... Won't we! :)

All right then... Have to leave now.. Got the OS (Operating Systems) examination tomorrow.. Haven't touched that subject one single time... And then with that deadly ACA (Advanced Computer Architecture... Azad's Baby!)I guess its better Safe than Sorry! See ya... :)

Celebrating Holi - The DCE Style!

2009-03-13T15:36:00.010+05:30

Warning: Please proceed at your own risk. You have been warned!

What do you call the day when all hell breaks loose?? Here at DCE.. we know it as Holi! And just to reinforce the fact, presenting the exclusive pics of the holi celebrations shot a couple of days back.

Now before you get down with the not so aesthetic visuals... lemme put a few things straight.. When you are DCE, there are rules to be followed.

1. You shall not wear a t-shirt for the celebrations.

2. Any violation of the above will be considered a coup and the offender will be 'molested' and the remanants of his clothing distributed amongst the 'molesters'!

3. You shall not be a spoil-sport. For heaven's sake.. Pleaze... No ghissus...

Allright then.... Here we begin..

Emosional Atyachaar!!

The Bhaang Syndrome

Music courtesy DJ Manas!

Thats how I got smeared!

You Fall...

Colors...

Pulleeazzee... Don't!! Great going Ajit! :)

"Ab kuch to karna hi hai naa..."

Thats Rahul - My Roomie

And thats his roomie! Wild!! :)

The Hoola Boola Clan!

The Gang!

Yeah... Got Attitude! Paani... Paani...
Ab manzil door nahi...!
OAT chalo...
Yeah baby... Thats what you call wild!
Ha!
More to flaunt!
Thats us!
Phood do!
Rang Barse!!
Now what the heck was I doing with that bucket?
In action..
All set for the Bhaang!
Hai dum!
Mr. Religion was there..
So was Mr. Microsoft!
Anil.. Haste raho!!
Dumped in the slush... :(

There is a plenty more to write about... Stuff like Manu going ballistic to save his t-shirt for his dear life, The Bhaang story, The stupendous once-in-a-lifetime lunch served by Maurice and a lot many things that I'm unable to recall.. Don't blame me man... I got to prepare for the mid sems... Phat rahi hai!

Thats it for now.. See ya next weekend.. Bye! :)

Hell! Not again..

2009-02-26T11:29:00.003+05:30

Why do I feel so screwed man! Haven't read the paper since an era... living my life on baba's maggi... seems like the good ol' days are back again!!

Doing some web and design work... the project is in the final stages... might just show the results later this week...

Came to the CC to get a few photographs... and my TIME result! Done.. Need to run off for a presentation by the ISRO people... Will write next week..

See ya!! :)

The result of my first AIM Test!

2009-02-19T13:20:00.003+05:30

The result of the AIM test I gave the past Sunday came out this morning.

Check this out... A Dream Called MBA

So far... actually a lot!

2009-02-12T16:59:00.002+05:30

Well… Why wait for the weekend to write something? Aaahh… Patience was never my idea of virtue!

So before I officially begin the ‘works’, here is a quick sneak-peek into the last 45 something days.

The new year was more of a low key family affair as I made it to Ludhiana and spent some much wanted quality time with Mom and Dad. Nothing out of the box but yet whatsoever time I did get back home, every moment was worth it.

Back in Delhi and it was TIME! Hence my sabbatical came to an abrupt end only to morph into the one of an entirely different variety. TIME rules man! Seriously! Who could imagine that studying Quant, Verbal, Logic and Data Interpretation could be such fun! Is it the variety of the students in the class (engineering, commerce, arts, sciences, medical, damn.. we even got one from the air force!) or is it the awesome faculty that we have (Ritesh Sir never disappoints, he just raises the bar each damn single time; Pushpa Mam and Lokesh Sir have their own distinct styles!) or maybe that my performance is as per expectations and proportional to the timely investments (no pun intended!)

Whatsoever be the reason behind that, I swear man; the weekends for sure are turning out to be one hell of a joy ride (That includes skipping the meals back in the hostel mess in favor for something ‘more’ edible at the ISBT Mc Donalds… Blessed are the souls who set up the TIME center at just a 3 minutes walk from McD… Oh yeah!)

Time flies. Doesn’t it! What else could explain the fact that we have our first AIM test this Sunday? I was of the view that the AIM series would begin somewhere around May-June. But this? Pata nahi kya hoga! I guess I’ll put up this stuff on my other blog.

Talk of studies and I guess that does warrant at least some basic information about our ‘primary’ concern! Well guys, this semester we have one big shit-hole of a curriculum. Microprocessors, Information Systems and Database Management, Operating Systems, Advanced Computer Architecture and Control Engineering are the subjects that we are supposed to ‘understand’ this time round.

No big deal! Right! Well that was what I initially presumed. But alas! With Babita (naa… not that one!), Nazia (yeah.. yeah.. that one!), Kakoli (shit… that one!), Azad (my goodness!... that one!) and PP Yadav Sir (Thank goodness… at least someone!) at the helm of the affairs, the ride couldn’t have been any more eventful!

ISDM lab is fine. Programming lab (Sessional) is more of a farce and I’ve decided to bunk that to whatever extent possible. Add to that the Microprocessors and Control labs where our teachers treat us as if we were some rouge school kids and I suppose you’ll get a fair idea about what precisely is ‘computer engineering’ all about!

Now the best way to skirt all these issues is that one term that sounds so melodious to my ears. Mass Bunk! But even that is more of a day dream for there is this Kapil ‘The Bull’ whose perception about attending classes is worth a billion dollar research grant! Yet, sometimes things do turn out to be good when the teachers are busy with their own stuff and thus unwittingly do us a big favor!

All right, that was about the study thing. What else… Aah! Oh yeah! DCE launched its first monthly newspaper DCE Times the last month. The first edition was pretty decent although a lot more can be done. Anand is doing his part over there and I guess that does augur well for the future. Good work guys! Keep it up. I have some ideas for you fellas. Let me see if I can find out some spare time…

Ever since PB Sharma sir returned back, things are really happening in the campus. New faculty, a much improved management in the library (the touch screen that they have installed in there along with the revamped OPAC system and the user’s manual are welcome initiatives), a refurbished gym (I wonder if they have put new infrastructure in place too), a lot of renovation and ‘face-lift’ work going on in the campus, a chic looking calendar and a decent yearly planner as a new year gift to all the students (man.. wasn’t this supposed to be a govt. college!) being some of the recent efforts to shore up the institution after a two year lull. Great! Absolutely!!

On the students’ side, there is this Football League that is the recent most addition to the limited arsenal (no pun intended) that the students have to rely on. There is also this T-20 tournament that’s being organized. Damn! Why is all this happening when I have lost all interest in all this stuff! On a positive note, it’s good that at least ‘something’ is actually happening!

The festival season is about to get through. Barely a fortnight left before the juggernaut is set rolling! There is a lot of work going on in the campus. Innova, Troika, Phoenix, Rennaisance, Karyon and Tatva being the six technical fests and Engifest (erstwhile Abhyudaya) our cult fest all scheduled for this month. As if that wasn’t enough, there is this E-Summit being organized by the EDC people. That for sure is going to make the stretch one hell of a time! More about all this some other time.

The work on ‘The Bet’ is going on pretty smoothly. I learnt that a part of the cast has been finalized. On my part I finished the EICOS web portal which is up and running. Should I go for the Bet website too? That’s one question that I have no answer to…

Continuing the creative talk, I penned down a poem the last month. That one was for A-42. 283 eh! Good work Doctor Priyanka Kalra!

One last thing… Amidst all this I ‘managed’ to lose my wallet (that includes two debit cards, my college ID, my library ID, my metro card that had quite some money, my driving license, my voter ID, my snaps and a lot more! Don’t ask me what was all this stuff doing in there!) in the Daryaganj market while I had gone there with the rest of the guys for buying a couple of books that Ritesh sir suggested. Someone did some pretty smart work with it. Maybe I was a bit careless as I had kept that in my bag’s pocket. Anyways, that left me a lot wiser with my first FIR and a lot of sprinting here and there to get the duplicate IDs. Had to postpone the shopping thing by a couple of weeks. Eventually Dad couriered dadi’s debit card and I ended my misery with a trip to metro walk (This time round I settled for Louis Philippe, Reebok, Lee Cooper and Levis. Nice stuff they had on offer…)

I mailed in a few suggestions pertaining to the DCE 1 campaign to the director the last night. I suppose I’m not being wrong in anticipating a lot from that. That is notwithstanding the fact that sometimes I do regret all the time that I squandered during my first two years. Let’s see what eventually comes out of it.

Well folks, that was all. Will write back pretty soon. Do check back! :)

Busy!

2009-02-11T19:15:00.004+05:30

Man... Life's got busy... too busy... Its been around a month and a half since I wrote down something the last time... Well... that I guess will continue for some time to come (if not perpetually!)

Had some important work here in the CC (The BCH Wi-Fi is still dysfunctional... just as it has been since September..) so kindaa just wrote this down so as to let you fellas know that I'm still alive! (Just in case you were beginning to believe that I was dead or something!)

Do check back this weekend.. Might just write something good!

Bye! :)

Adios 08!

2008-12-26T14:51:00.021+05:30

December 26... Five more days and it'll be 2009... Time flies... Doesn't it!!

Well... This post is dedicated to 2008 (An awesome year that it was... by every standard!) and all the people and things that made all this time a pleasure and consequently a memory to cherish!!

With this... I guess its time for some quick introspection... Things done... Things that weren't... And everything else...

Vrindavan Trip

What a way it was to begin the year... Almost midnight and our group of 16 was searching Vrindavan for some decent (to be true... any!) place to spend that night (a pretty chilly one...).

Somehow... finding one after ambling around for quite some time... renting two rooms... only to find ourselves short on the woolies, the blankets and the beddings... which culminated in all sixteen of us cramming ourselves in one single room (How did we manage to do that?? Don't ask me!) and then spending the next couple of hours doing some of the weirdest (no funny thoughts.. please!!) things that we could ever imagine!! That melodramatic shriek let out by Manas being the high (pun intended!) point!!

A trip that was originally planned for Bharatpur, diverted to Mathura followed by Vrindavan and then eventually to Agra (Taj!!)... Cramped Trains... No reservations... Full of confusion... Missed trains... Temples swelling with people... That chill... Lots of wasted bucks... In short... Pure Bliss!! :)

Abhyudaya 08

Well... What to write about this one... That surely was one helluva experience... The results were a testimony to the efforts put in by the entire team... What began on the night of Valentine's day with a stupendous 70's theme party, proceeded on with the Chak De girls, Drag Biking, Adventure Sports, Prestorika, Decibel, Cyanide, Feedback and then eventually Euphoria...

I lost 10 kgs something due to the mind-boggling grind... went hysterical at times due to the workload and pressure... almost got detained... screwed my examinations... got a suppli... but in the end... The juice was worth the squeeze!! Awesome work by the then first years (second now..).

Sankalp Sir, Vasu Sir, Ankush Sir, Lohit Sir, Param Sir, Varun Sir, Rahul Sir, Divyanshu, Pankaj, CP, Mans, The 'flash team', Anupam, Rahul, Anuj, Amit, Mukul, Anshul, Divita, Manish, Manu, Chaplot, Bangar, Piyush, Hitesh, Babbar, Anirban, Mittal, Kaustubh, Chandra, Maneet, Sandeep Bhaiya (How can I forget!!) and everyone else... Awesome job guys... This thing will be remembered... forever...

Code Red

As if the cultural fest wasn't enough... I decided to take it one step higher... The first ever non-sports inter hostels... A lots of help from Manish Sikka Sir, Bikramjeet Sir, Rahul Jaipuriyar Sir, Babbar and the rest of the juniors... Great response...

The teachers and admin failed... as always... Mr V Jeganathan... How much I long to tell you how filthy an asshole you are... Please go and burn yourself in hell...

Blogging

Got back to the blogosphere after a long long time... Had my reasons... All those thoughts about Pranky were kindaa killing me... I had had enough of the someone else's life that I was living... I simply had to get things out... Had to write...

That Unfinished Life... followed by Just Being Myself My Way... then getting on to A Dream Called MBA and eventually The Perfect Shitlist... 4 blogs as of now... Coming up with the fifth one pretty soon!!

Some worthy mentions here... Rishabh Sir, Gangeyyo, Swayam, Aanchal, and more recently Khanna...

Havisha

A new member in the family... Havisha... Rashmi Di's daughter... and my niece!!

Abhyudaya Trip

Some pretty 'cool' stuff at the Fun and Food Village.... and then... the week long trip to the hills... Chamba... Dalhousie... Mc Leodganj... Khajiyar... Awesome!! Kindaa set the momentum for the rest of the year...

Amritsar Trip

Well... Some people are just too dear to be forgotten... Some just become a part of you... This one was planned on the last day of our trip to the hills... It kindaa just happened... One thing led to the other... and well... It changed everything.... Yes... everything....

Vacations

Finally... My first vacations spent home after two years of self destruction staying back in the hostel... Mom and Dad... Arpit... Di... Sorry for all the troubles... Only if I could tell you the reasons...

I love you all... a lot... Always... :)

My Memoir...

Began with ... and completed my memoir about those cherished moments... Thanks Pranky... for everything... Love ya... Always... Yeah... You too!! :)

5th Semester

So the 'two year long vacations' finally ended and yours truly decided to get back to the basics... once again... Good mid semesters... Some pretty positive remarks from the faculty... invariably... followed by awesome end semesters and practicals... Waiting for the results... Studies are good... Right!! :D

CAT Prep.

Oh yeah... My dream... Got the jumpstart during the vacs itself... Built on that... Almost through with the fundamentals... Joined TIME a couple of weeks back... Topped the scholarship test... Got a class tomorrow!!

Friends

Got back in touch with a few of the blokes from school and Chandigarh... Daksh... Namrita... Tina was always there... Uday... Nandita... Adi... Rishik... Not many... but then... its allright... things have changed... so have times... Miss ya a lot guys...

The Bet

And finally... ending the year by digging out that hat of the 'Editor' once again... for the first movie of our production house... with Lohit Sir at the helm of the affairs... The corpo deals are being finalized... A couple of rounds of the auditions are through... Script almost finalized... FTFM people will be setting up their base here in Delhi in a short while... The shoots begin the next year... Anticipating a great time ahead on this front!!

So... That was 2008... My 2008... Eventful eh!! I'll give this one 8/10. For what it was... And for what it will be remembered as... One of my best... Thanks again... God... Time... People... Those awesome 'friends' and 'mentors' from the batch of 2008... Everyone... See ya in 2009... Ciao!! :)

Gangeyyo... The oldest person on the planet??

2008-12-24T18:23:00.012+05:30

Now before you set your mind on lynching me (dear me... imagining myself running for cover... for my dear life!!) well... here is the story...

Some fifteen minutes ago I was searching the blogosphere for people with similar (wierd.. and the not so wierd...) interests as mine. Perhaps by a matter of pure chance.. I keyed in 'Cinderalla Man' (A pretty awesome film.. Great work by Russel Crowe...) and this was what came back...

There's me and just below... well.. Gan..guy... err... Sorry.... Gangeyyo... (Why do I always have to double verify those 8 letters... Perhaps a part of the blame can be ascribed to some 'totally bullshit' 'wordplay'!!)

Aaha... Gangu... Gangu... My dear friend... My dear Bengali 'bondhu'... My rossogulla!!.. The bloke took the movie from me a few days ago and well... I guess he liked it... Perhaps a bit too much... Just like me... And hence the search result...

So far so good... But that was that... A few cursory eye movements and I found myself gazing at an interesting number... 151...

Well... Yeah... 151... All right... nothing special about that... But wait... That's right next to the age!! 151 years!!! My goodness!!!!

Now that surely is some kind of a monumental feat eh!! Well... Just to double check (as if the name thing wasn't enough...) I opened his profile (considering my 'visualizing' 151 to be some sort of hallucination or another of those cryptic crosswords that our dear 'old' MEANDERthal man aka Noty Tony aka Tony Sebastian has endorsed so gleefully!!) and voila... the figures match!!

With a fair deal of conviction, I move over to Wiki (dear 'old' wiki... what would I/we have been without ya...) to look for certain statistics on human age... And here is what I find...

Oh great!! Gangu boy... That puts you down for a grand treat... Well... You are the oldest living person on the whole god damn planet!! Epitome of the advancing medical facilities and the consequent human longevity!! Stupendous!! Amazing!!

Well... What are you waiting for... Lazy bum... Call the guinness people... Sue the wiki for the baseless and frivolous info... Do your pathetic oldie self some justice!!

And yeah... One last thing... Do pass on your secret to us fellas... Might just replicate the same... Man... Just imagine... We can make a fortune out of it!! Paisa... eh!! :)

PS: Gan...guy... errr.... Gan...gua...(Ankush Sir's version!!).... errrr.... Gan*..... errrr..... Gang (That's better I guess.... Blame Khanna for this one!!) Take care of those bones out there in Dehra Done.... uggghhh.... Doon... or whatever... Don't wan't to lose out on those greenbacks!! :D

PPS: What a way to pen down my 200th post! And to celebrate that I got new headers for all of my blogs!!

Diaries of an Editor - IV

2008-12-19T16:39:00.008+05:30

This article was published on the second page of today's The Hindu's national edition... From the city edition to the national edition in less than a week! Pretty cool!! I guess the publicity team is doing an excellent job!!

Global meltdown eh!! I guess that along with the Chekov factor will give you ample hints regarding the content of the movie... Well... Actually... There is 'much much' more to it... Only if I could elaborate!! Anyways... The movie's story is quite interesting (as per the copy of the script that Nikhil passed on to me..)

Click on the image to view the enlarged version.

With this... I guess the stakes just got higher... The Creative team is in-house while the Ahmedabad based NGO FTFM (First Time Film Makers) is assisting us on the technical front. With me in charge of the same for our team, I guess I'll have to put in much more time than I originally planned... Well... I'm game... game enough for the challenge!

Lets see what exactly will be my strategy... Basically I'll be using the following software..

Adobe Premiere Pro (Editing)
Adobe After Effects (Special Effects)
Adobe Audition (Sound Mixing)
Adobe Photoshop (Raster Graphics)
Adobe Illustrator (Vector Graphics)

I guess these five will be sufficient for the job assigned... Plus I'll actually have to aquaint myself with the actual video studio hardware and the related software (Might just need to travel to Ahmedabad for that this January... FTMM is based over there... Although if feasible I'll try to sort out those issues here in Delhi itself...)

The rest of the team is pretty busy with the PR, corpo and creative tasks... NIkhil, Afroz, Maisam, Chaplot, Bangar, Shantanu Sir, Lohit Sir, and the rest... Diligent Involvement!!

On my part... any hints of that initial scepticivity have kindaa disappeared due to the flurry of activities over the past one week. With the rest of the team going great guns... I couldn't resist the lure of 'getting involved' Well... I decided to begin by unearthing my Premiere book!! Will get down with the revision and practice this evening...

Missed ya so much!! :)

Arcane Deception @ SRCC

2008-12-19T12:45:00.010+05:30

Well... Well... What can I say... I was kindaa waiting for the moment I'd be penning down this post for a pretty long time now... And... umm... well... I'm writing it!!

A couple of days back Arcane Deception (Yeah... 'Apna wala' rock band!!) performed at the cultural fiesta (Cross Roads) of the big daddy of the commerce colleges... SRCC...

For the starters... AD (Arcane Deception - The credits for that name belong to yours truly!!) is the third band that DCE's rock aficionados have rolled out this year... After the trend setting LR (Lucid Reality) and then the pitch raising HP (Harmonic Progressions), Arcane Deception is a hybrid as it draws members from both of them...

So the line up is something like this... Its Manu with the bass and vocals, Pritish with the lead guitar, Saurabh Seth with the rhythm guitar, Kshitij on the keys and Siddharth on the drums... Pretty awesome eh!!

Coming back to their maiden performance at SRCC... Here are some of the pics...

That was about their performance... Now the important stuff... Well... It came to me as a pleasant (and shocking!) surprise when I was informed about Kshitij being awarded the Best Musician award!! And well... The bloke deserved that bike!! Cheers to ya mate...

Well... The surprises weren't just ceasing... Guess what!! AD was declared the Runners Up only next to Circus!! Holy shit!! Runners up in a contest of that magnitude!!! My goodness!!! That means my words about the upcoming band in my last post about Harmonic Progressions turned out to be more of a prescience!! Great work guys... Absolutely!!

Well laurels were always supposed to follow... The only question was when!! Now that the guys have got the much 'enviable' jump-start (and in what a way!!), well... they are performing next at the Ansal's Plaza later on this month. And guess what... Parikrama, the gods of the Indian rock circuit are going to perform on that very stage the same night!! Ahhmm... Its getting a bit hard to digest all this... Awesome stuff guys!!

Arcane Deception

So long for now... I'll be back with more details asap...

Once again... cheers to the entire band... Kshitij, Manu, Pritish, Saurabh Sir and Sidharth... Great work!! Keep Rocking!! \m/

A beautiful memory...

2008-12-19T12:15:00.006+05:30

This pic dates back to December 2003... Our class trip to Jaipur... Don't excactly remember the place... but the people in there are and will always be...

Namrita, Richi, Aanchal, Pranky, Pushpinder, Tina, Nupur, Avi, Kanav, Uday... (All from left to right...)

I've kept this one with me ever since I left Ludhiana for Chandigarh... No specific reasons for that... perhaps this was the only snap that I was actually left with!

Those were some days... Weren't they! :D

Diaries of an Editor - III

2008-12-18T18:22:00.013+05:30

Here are some of the pics from the auditions as yet... Finally!!

Round 1

Venue: Training & Placement Dept.

Not this one man!!
Groundwork!!Apna panel!!
And here we go...

Yeah... Him!!

Round 2
Venue: Delhi Haat

Barring Chirag, the remaining faces might just seem unfamiliar... Well... actually they are... Some of them are students, some NSD grads, a few models while some actually are professional theatre artists...

Which one of them will make through... That time will tell...

BTW... Whats your pick?? Fellas... Voting time!! :)

Divyanshu!! You too??

2008-12-18T12:38:00.006+05:30

The season of surprises simply doesn't seem like ending... If Phupi wasn't enough, DJ came up with that shocker about Gautam (one of my close friends back in school) and now... well... A little birdie (A rock loving birdie to be a shade clearer!!) tells me something about Asopa that my sensible self (or whatever is left of it!) simply fails to digest!!

Asopa!! Of all Divyanshu Asopa!! Man o Man!! Goodness gracious... What came over you boy?? I knew you were awesome at the PR stuff... but this... Oh dear...

Now with that birdie being a pretty trustful source... well... what can I say... Seems like you dived for those shoes and caught hold of some'thing'... err...'one'... else!! Plus that birdie had some pretty 'hot' opinion about that 'one'... Man... Why wasn't I there at your Bro's wedding that night...

Darn... missed the fun... and the first glimpses!! Man... You really have some good explaining to do once you get back here... Mind it!!

PS: My apologies to the duo of Anupam and Anuj... Sorry guys... Can't elaborate right now... Will save that for some other day... But perhaps... the hints are sufficient to draw the infrences... Right!! :D

The MKAG Diaries - Part II

2008-12-18T10:43:00.020+05:30

Its been almost two months since I last wrote about the MKAG odyssey. With a new (and much bigger) movie project in the offing, it occured to me that I would do good by finishing up the story asap so as to prevent any conflict of interests!!

Well... So here I am... Once again... with those memories from the past... For a change.. I won't be doing much of the writing part... The story is pretty long and does get tedious to write down at times... Hence, I'll simply try to wind up the stuff in a pretty concise way...

All right then... Where were we the last time... Oh yeah... The software distribution part... Well... After that we began with the technical aspect. Info regarding the nuances of lighting, camera movement and position, hardware (DV cassettes, tripod, camera rails, directional microphones, lights, etc..) were what we had to familiarize ourselves with. Once again.. the lack of experience in any of those fields was proving to be a major handicap. There wasn't anyone in the college who could guide us on that. Eventually e-books, articles on the internet and our own judgement power (Remember... We are engineers... Jugaad runs in our blood!!) were our means.

Then came the money part... The tough part to say the least. With any support from the college virtually ruled out.. the entire team Endearvour decided to go in for individual contributions. I am not sure but I suppose we went for 40 bucks per head. 50+ members and we had some 2 grands at our disposal. Next came the trips to Chandni Chownk to actually procure the stuff... With funds in our pockets we went there with a lot of enthusiasm. But most of that went 'poof' when we actually learnt the price of the stuff.. Too expensive!!

That brought our scheming minds to the fore... Eventually after a couple of trips and a lot of discussion to zero down on the most advantageous combination, we went in for this Chinese tripod (a pretty good one... 600 bucks..). The procurement of the rest of the stuff was deferred indefinitely...

Back to the software part... We did divide the workload amongst ourselves but the guys performed rather badly... None... and I mean none managed to actually learn anything worth the effort... leave alone the mastering ambition... Sad... Wasn't it... With limited resources, that was our only hope to add that enticing eye candy... But maybe... it was too much too expect that from the guys, some of whom had first touched a PC just a few months ago... The task now was pretty cut out for the music and video teams... Lifelines!!

Our first 'actual' shoot took place on February 2nd... A quick recap of how things proceeded...

The script wasn't ready as yet... but with time running out of hand... we decided to go in for some general shots... with the Manipal video as our cue...

And thus the first scnenes were shot in the fields of Badli (On the north-eastern end of the college boundary) Getting there was quite a task in itself. With the pathway just some half feet wide... it was more of an adventure trip!! Maneet, Divyanshu and me had been there once... but not that far we actually went this day... Right upto the railway tracks!!

Thats' us!
Say Cheese!!
The countryside!! Funny eh!!
And then... RDB ishtyle...
Practice runs...
The wait...
The jumpstart!!
Chirag.. Late as usual...
Right there next to the tracks...
Closer! I loved it!!
Check out Mannet... Extreme left...
Peri: "Yaar... Guitar haath se nuikal gaya!!"
Time Pass!!
Nature... Beautiful!!
The monkeys atop the bridge...
and the ones on the trees...
The stream...
This shot was ruined by the dimming light....
OAT shot...
Dept. Shot...

We used to analyze our shots on a day to day basis. Some introspection and we realized that we weren't exactly on the right track... The shots were long... Slow... Without any clear purpose... The lack of a well defined script and screenplay was proving to be a big roadbloack... Eventually, me and Divyanshu took the task upon ourselves... We had a few ideas in mind... The team was asked to contribute their's. Eventually, we did manage to put in a decent amount of time (spread over a couple of days) to get our 'final' script! Thank God we did!!

Some of the initail shots were shot with the memory chip as the storage media in my handycam. The quality was less than satisfactory. Next we shifted to DV tapes. The video was captured using the USB interface... Better but stiil not quite there... Eventually we bought an IEEE 1394 interface cable (also known as 'Firewire' interface). This time the quality was perfect!! Just as desired. The previous shots were re-transferred using the new interface...

One of my favorite shots...
Bahvi with the guitar... Awesome!!

Check out Surendra jumping on the right...
He almost fell on the bike that was parked besides that wall!!

He He!!

Imagine how we took this one!!

Here we go...

Yeps!!

Now you know!!

CP!! As usual!!

Lets do something!!

Our Birth Right!!

And then...

Much better!!

I wonder how we managed to convince our teachers...
Asopa syndrome!!

Convincing the girls was a tough nut to crack... The transit image was a major culprit. I mean... hey we were supposed to be the "outsiders"!! Most of the girls we approached turned us down (as expected..). Some we never approached in the first place (for obvious reasons!) I won't really balme the girls... Happens.. Thats life!! We actually had to give a demonstration of all our past work and all our resources to convince a handful of them... Somehow... we did! (Thats after leaving the over enthusiastic lot of our team back in the hostel... and warning the rest against doing anything any stupid.. lest we wnated to portrat DCE as an all boys college!!)

The birthday bombs shot..

The setting sun as the backdrop...

Next we held the auditions for the casting... Shiva was the original choice... But Nikhil and the rest had different ideas...

Destination OAT... I couldn't personally attend those but with what I got to know from the core team... Maisam made the cut... Maisam!! Now who the heck was this guy? Well... "Transiter" was what I was told... Transit?? And I didn't know the guy!! My goodness!!

In a way... Maisam enthused the much needed life in our movie... A livewire to be more precise!!

Studying eh!!

Yeah!!

Now we are talking...

Yaar... Kaise hoga!!

Quintessentially Peri!!

Now who studies like that??

Oh God... Why me!!

Then followed the library shots...
Permission.. Courtesy some excellent PR work by Asopa!!

Yaar... kaash itna real life mein padhte hote!! More of the study stuff...
A shot from within the elevator...
One of the night shots...
The first day shot...
DCE! Finally!!
Here we go...
The last day shot..
Check out that barber... The perfect eyesore... Uggh...
Yaar... this shot took ages to get by...
Some pretty awesome work with the camera...
Now isn't that beautiful....
with bees right up our noses!!
Oh!!
Doc!! As usual... Medelling with the camera...
Deori Mam...
This scene was shot but never used...
Long story behind this one...
Once again... the last day...
Just the 'reel' life!!
Those cold drinks were never opened!!
Cash control!!
Perfect expressions!!
Another of my favorite shots...
Yeah baby!!
Lets talk now!!
Fuccha eh!!
Did someone say Gandhi!!
Check out Aayush on the left.. Perfect!!

to be continued...

Need I say more!!

2008-12-18T10:31:00.006+05:30

This article appeared in The Hindu yesterday... Yeah... The one on the right...

So... What do you say?? Ha! Got ya!!

The Hindu is generally considered an epitome of some pretty serious journalism. For a change.. this one had me in splits... And I ain't complaining!! :D

Edited on Dec 19: Well... I got my scanner back the last night from the Innova guys... Here is the 'readable' version... Don't forget to click on the image

They go on...

2008-12-17T19:27:00.006+05:30

A few more pics capturing some of the 'wierdest' moments spent with the Innova guys...

The height of involvement!!

There goes your culprit!!

Smile! Spontaneously!!

My goodness!! Yeh kya hua...

First looks!!

Diaries of an Editor - II

2008-12-17T11:17:00.009+05:30

For those of you who didn't manage to get hold of the article (I won't be the one to blame you... IE is simply not the usual taste!), I managed to dig out this online version.

Read Article

Scroll down to the 'Delhi Newsline' section on the right and click on the same to read the article...

Anyways... I couldn't get the snaps of the auditions... The guys went for the video recording alone... I tried to get the screen captures from the video file itself but there were some technical problems associated with the same! Lemme see if I can get those by this evening... or perhaps tomorrow... (Man... You really need to see those... Nikhil told me that a few of the girls were models and one of them was a super model... Some were exceptional at acting too!)

Some more stuff from Nikhil...

The audition judging sheets...

The registration forms...

The script and the screenplay...

Diaries of an Editor - I

2008-12-16T18:58:00.009+05:30

Hey... Check this out...

This article was published in the Delhi edition of the Indian Express the day before. Any guesses regarding what it's all about? (Pretty easy if you are a regular at this blog!) Well... A few days back, I wrote about this movie we people are making... Precisely that.. righ there on the frontpage!!

I learnt about all this when Nikhil called me to be there for the interview we had with the Dainik Jagaran this evening!!

Now that we have begun with the actual work I guess I'll be putting in more info about the project on a regular basis...

Some tid bits regarding what all has happened and is happening as of now....

The script is almost through... Just the finishing touches to be given now...

The auditions have begun... Two rounds covered as yet... The first one was here in the college itself while the second one was held a few days back at Dilli Haat.

The corpo work is going great... A 'very big' deal is in the offing... Can't reveal much about that... Classified info. eh!!

Most of the scene venues have been sorted out...

A few more pics...

Nikhil @ Our first meeting...

Serious eh!!

The corpo brochure... "Sweet n Simple"

Never mind...!

The audition notices...

All right then... The CC is about to be shut... More stuff tomorrow... That includes the pics from the auditions... Check back this space for more... Ciao!! :D

Innova 09 @ Work

2008-12-12T16:19:00.006+05:30

February isn't too far away now... That pretty well means that the societies @ DCE are back at what they do the best. Yeps!! The preparation for the ferstival week. With most of the guys in the Innova executive council being my close pals (that included Rahul, Jt. Sec who is incidently my room-mate too) sometimes it feels as if all that was, is and will be is INNOVA!!

Seriously... I mean it. What else can one think on when one's room becomes one of the hangouts of the council guys, the surroundings are littered with tentative brochures and plans and what not!! Well... Umm... Allright... maybe I exaggerated things a bit... or maybe its just that I have a soft corner for the Innova guys... especially when I think about the usually airy IEEE (Sometimes I get this feeling that they have this wrong notion in their head that they are the Gods or something... I would have been more straight had it not been for Achint who's a very good buddy of mine...)

Anyways... The guys were working on the sponsorship brochure this noon. How could I miss that opportunity!! I mean... I simply love to heckle people... get on their nerves!! Thus came out the camera and the flashes (amidst some protests although!!)...

Check these out... The first looks... exclusively at JBMMW!!

Graphic Gods!!

Do they seem to be saying something!!

Clicking me?? Oh Great!!

Green!!

Mr. Convenor's eagle eyes!!

Classified and Confidential!!

Serious eh!!

Thats for the day. With the 'act' being in pretty early stages as of now... I guess there will be a plenty to write on... Yeah!! Now thats what I call my kindaa stuff!!

PS: We won the cricket match!! :D

Quintessentially DCE

2008-12-12T11:26:00.004+05:30

Guess what.. The winter training is officially over!! 3 days flat and its like "Hey.. We are through!!" Thanks to what can be aptly labelled as a mini-coup by some of the illustrious lot of the department, the facts were stated before the training incharge and so was the general mood that prevailed amongst the students (Shouldn't that entail a complimantary degree in Diplomacy along with that B.E.!) and well... the rest is history!!

So its like we have been alloted projects that we are supposed to submit the next time we report back (Thats 5th of the next month.) Manish, Manas, Manoj and I will be 'working' on the Library Management System. (No sweat!! Thanks to dear old www!!)

Could one ask for more?? Naa... As I said... Quintessentially DCE... As always!! :)

PS: Got the TIME intro class tomorrow. 12 noon, CP Center. Yeah... Finally!! :D

PPS: Need to make a dash to the sports complex. Got a cricket match between Comp A & Comp B... The guys are calling me for 'practice'!!

The chequered flag!

2008-12-10T14:58:00.006+05:30

Had the LIC Prac this morning. The prac was preponed by a couple of hours (Consequently, the revision of the important topics that was scheduled for the morning never really materialized!!). The prac went good.. The viva was more of a blooper.. NB even complimented me over my "wonderful" performance in the end semester theory examination as well as the overall " steeply exponential" improvement the past semester! :)

With this... I guess the semester is finally through (Officially.. it ended an hour and a half back!!). The examarathon that began with the mid semester vivas way back in Oct (Sometimes I just wonder... Isn't the mid semester term more of a misnomer!!) is finally through. The results as usual will take their time (Why does it take all that time?? What do they check anyways?? Some secret service codes??)

Enough of the grumbling!! To end with.... The 5th semester was great!! And I'm pretty glad with the way things turned out to be... Ain't I!! :D

A message for NT

2008-12-08T13:25:00.004+05:30

Girl.. Don't you ever ever try that again... You almost scared the shit outta me the last night... Perhaps DJ can testify to this... :(

As always...

2008-12-08T12:06:00.008+05:30

I mentioned about two of my short term plans in my last post. The first one was about my resolve to 'actually' learn something during the networking training and the second one was to join Career Launcher. And guess what... None of them went through!!

First about the training thing. I went for the same the past Friday only to find myself to be the only one who had reported on time. Add some 30 mins spent ambling around. As if that wasn't enough (When will I learn to accept things as they really are?? Agghhh.....), when some students finally did manage to make it to the lab, we were informed that we would be beginning with advanced Java. Hello!! What about all that networking talk?? What about all those ambitious plans of mine?? Hell... I had even made all the preparations to download the NPTEL video lectures...

And yeah... 'They' plan to get over with Advanced Java (Because we were through with Core Java during our fifth semester.... Ohh.... Were we?? Really?? :D), .NET, HTML, Linux and Unix all in some 3 weeks!! My goodness!! What was that supposed to mean? Was it a conspiracy or something alike or was it that they actually thought of us as the superior grey cell breed? Man... What a sham..

Anyways... Hence began our training and the very first day we were handed out an assignment of 16 Java programs to be handwritten and submitted by Monday (that's today!). Bastards! Now thats what I call a broad daylight massacre!! You don't teach us a shit about what you expect us to learn and conquer.. And then you gleefully give the assignment because a handful of students have actually done JAVA courses from some mundane institutes.. And even worse.. because we were a party to the JAVA sessional the last semester (Never mind that it was a mere 3 classes for the A2 group.. thanks to the goof up by the revered department of ours!)

All this would have been perfectly all right (Thanks to the keyboard friendly code gods of the department!!) but handwritten!! Damn... I just wish that whosoever thought of this burns in hell...

Thanks to all this we had only 4 students (Ghissus!!) who submitted their assignments today. I guess the task is pretty straighforward now. Download the code from the the COE's google group and make a dash!! Thanks guys... What would have I done without all of you!! :D

And now the latest development.. There is this talk about dumping the JAVA thing (after submitting the relevant assignments... of course!) and beginning with Linux this Thursday onwards... Great!! Well... I guess I can keep my plans intact!! DCE right?? Yeah... As always!! :)

Moving over to the CAT coaching thing... Well... I dumped the CL plan and instead went for TIME. The five of us (CP, Chaati, Mini, Arpit and yours truly..) went to both the institutes, analysed their presentations and records and zeroed down on our eventual choice. More about it on my other blog.

Just as I said... As always!! :D

BTW... The HKS gang went for the B day treat given by Shamik and Sudhir at the Zune, Metro Walk the past Saturday night. Happy Birthday once again guys... And yeah... The soup and chopsuey were simply superb!!

One to go!!

2008-12-03T15:21:00.004+05:30

Just got through with the CG Viva... Went superb... Both the viva and the coding (Yeah baby!! I can finally call myself a coder!!)

LIC's the next and the last... 10th of this month.... Can't they just prepone it or something?? Man... I'm pretty sure that this waiting thing will seem like ages :(

The winter training is beginning on 5th itself. Its like we have to report to Manoj Sethi Sir. Just hoping to 'actually' learn something... Networking is a decent topic... I suppose!!

And after weeks of frustation and pondering around... I've decided that I'll be joining Career Launcher. CP center it will be.. Just want to wind up the formalities by this weekend... Getting too bored with nothing worthy enough to do... With all this... I guess... good ol' times are pretty near!! :)

Mayhem!!

2008-12-01T15:35:00.004+05:30

Well... Thats precisely what it was and I'm not talking about Mumbai. It was the mathematics examination I took this morning. 3 hours of unrestrained terror albeit of a diffferent kind... I was of the view that I had prepared quite well during the past couple of days but in the end everything came to a naught... I guess last years one was lot easier and shorter...

Anyways... Just banking on the checking factor now... If everything goes all right... I guess I'll be through...

IOME was cool... 8.5-9 stuff...

That leaves the CG and LIC vivas... One more week... Then the training... Plus CAT coaching... Plus the movie thing...

Oh Yeah.... Just in case I didn't tell you... yours truly is gonna don the mantle of the editor once again... this time courtesy Lohit sir. The movie unlike the one we made a couple of years back is a commercial venture (the budget is a few lacs and there will be a formal movie release!!). Nikhil and Maisam have taken the initiative to set the pace. Had the first team meeting this afternoon... Lots of work to do during the vacations... The project might just stretch for a couple of months or even beyond... Looking forward to some real fun... once again.. Yeah!! :)

Yeee Haa....

2008-11-26T18:16:00.003+05:30

There you go... One more down... LIC... 8.5-9!!

Studies are fun... aren't they!! Thanks Java!!

The little bastard!

2008-11-24T19:47:00.008+05:30

Check this out man.... That little thing in the window...

A rat allright.... And in a window... So whats the big deal??

Well.. As a matter of fact... there is... Thats my fuckin window!! Yeah... Mine...

As if the dogs, lizards, spiders, insects of all possible kinds (unity in diversity.. someone??), an occasional simian and a whole god damn army of the grasshoppers weren't enough... it seems as if a couple of rats (maybe more...) have expressed their best intentions (Yeah... and in the most eloquent way.... squeak.... squeak...) to lay sieze on my room!!

They nibbled Rahul's stuff and consequently I had to use the 'stealth mode' for my foodies... (Won't tell ya where... There are other rats in the hostel... the blogger breed!!)

As of now... they are turning out to be a real pain in the ass.... Doing acrobatics in the window... on the curtain line... in the wardrobe... one even had the cheek do do that wierd stuff on my toes!! And what to say of their private 5 m sprints from one corner of the room to the other!! Simply depressing...

Not to say that there are no cats around.... Well... There is one that bangs the dustbin in my balcony every darn night in search for something edible!!

Not to say that I am petrified or something... But man... seriously... who would like to share one's room with the rodents?? Not me...

Man!! Where is this world getting to?? Aggghhhh...... :(

On...

2008-11-24T18:31:00.004+05:30

Well... The end semesters are on... And here is the story as yet...

CG's gone... Busted... 7-7.5 stuff.. (Un)Done by the "DASH"... :(

Ditto for DM... Busted again.... 7-7.5.. Did Algos alone.. Couldn't touch DM... And guess what... Algos were never ending... And perhaps... just to amplify the misery... DM turned out to be amongst the 'cake' topics (Agghhh....Only If I could remember...)

Moral of the story: Screwed!!

Today was CSO... Better... 8.5-9...

I don't know whether its just me or are the papers really length this time?? Damn... All three of them... Man... My fingers seem like paralysed this very moment...

Banking on LIC and IOME now... Lets see which way these go... Encore... Please...!! :D