Recent happenings in the Mechanical Department at NIT Hamirpur haven't been too pretty (read: the 3 hours of Dynamics of Machinery finals). I wouldn't like to go very deep into the intricacies of the whole matter for privacy's sake, but it is a larger habit at hand that concerns me as a student.
A vast majority of students treat their Profs as enemies. In the early days, I didn't quite subscribe to that train of thought. The education system posed certain demands and teachers were mere messengers executing the task at hand. But what I failed to recognise then was that even this execution was an art form; which is why someone like Dr. Anoop Kumar, Dean, Students' Welfare and Alumni Affairs was so looked up to by his students while some lesser mortals couldn't be cared for any lesser.
Of all the ingredients that makes up one's character, one feature that clearly separates the wheat from the chaff is the ability to think from the other person's shoes. A teacher shouts at a student for being 2 minutes late to class. Question: How many times in the Teacher's student career did he enter his class on time? Teachers talk of copying in examinations as if it were a sinful act of crime. Now, by no means am I suggesting they advocate copying, My argument is very simply that the same people who have been through what we are going through react to similar situations in a way that is totally detached. This is the same way every adolescent thinks that his/her parents were never adolescents. The connection is simply missing. I'm forced to believe that these 'people' who teach me today were never really students at any point of time in their lives. Somehow, they came into this world with a sash that said 'Teacher'.
It is here again that I go into my bag of thoughts and pull out what Dr. Anoop once said, that any position must be treated as position of responsibility, and not as a position of power. Our not-so-democratic education system has still kept the teacher on a higher pedestal of power than the student. And it is a shame to see some people thriving off this power, or simply put, living off the virtue of the students' weakness. Who is teaching and who is learning? Maybe some role reversal could help.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Friday, November 30, 2007
5 women in a man's life - The Fifth
Star Plus makes most of its money because of her. She is what every young bachelor shuns in the name 'fun'. Miles of text in history, literature, law and Bollywood story lines have been dedicated to this woman that each man deems himself worthy of. Lady activists would be thrown out of employment if not for her. Numerous jokes have been written about her, and an equal number have been conceived behind her back.
I am not qualified to qualify the 5th woman in a man's life, notwithstanding that I haven't made the trip there (yet!). But a look around has suggested beyond doubt that the fifth, and in my opinion the most important woman in a man's life is his wife. And here's the golden reason, with a touch of sarcasm: She's the one who wouldn't mind the other 4 women in your life. I'm told you make the 'journey across' with this lady.
So there you go; the 5 women in a man's life. It has been a nice ride full of introspection and some degree of concern(personally) in putting the strings of this series together. Friends have pointed out to me halfway through this series that there were women in their lives that impacted them and were outside the five I mentioned. The whole 5 women deal isn't to provide a concrete structure to one's love life. It is more an equivalent of the Shakespearian stage where each of us plays a part. As it happens, these 5 women featured in the lead roles for different durations in the man's life. Sometimes, like in How I met your mother, it becomes difficult telling the lead role from the supporting cast. Nonetheless, the journey always wins.
Hope I was able to send you down memory lane, even if it was for a fledgling minute. I thank you for taking time off to read my blog. Knowing that this url features on someone's address bar when I'm asleep gives me enough reason to put it up in the first place.
Have a great life!
I am not qualified to qualify the 5th woman in a man's life, notwithstanding that I haven't made the trip there (yet!). But a look around has suggested beyond doubt that the fifth, and in my opinion the most important woman in a man's life is his wife. And here's the golden reason, with a touch of sarcasm: She's the one who wouldn't mind the other 4 women in your life. I'm told you make the 'journey across' with this lady.
So there you go; the 5 women in a man's life. It has been a nice ride full of introspection and some degree of concern(personally) in putting the strings of this series together. Friends have pointed out to me halfway through this series that there were women in their lives that impacted them and were outside the five I mentioned. The whole 5 women deal isn't to provide a concrete structure to one's love life. It is more an equivalent of the Shakespearian stage where each of us plays a part. As it happens, these 5 women featured in the lead roles for different durations in the man's life. Sometimes, like in How I met your mother, it becomes difficult telling the lead role from the supporting cast. Nonetheless, the journey always wins.
Hope I was able to send you down memory lane, even if it was for a fledgling minute. I thank you for taking time off to read my blog. Knowing that this url features on someone's address bar when I'm asleep gives me enough reason to put it up in the first place.
Have a great life!
Monday, November 26, 2007
5 women in a man's life - The Fourth
This is the story of Mickey Mouse and God:
One for all those hey;-)'s that did take them somewhere.
Two for those morning dates when God would play the guitar.
Three for those yummy dishes Mickey Mouse fixed for God and his friends.
Four for the time God was insane enough to turn up stoned at a date.
Five for those bike rides that took them there, there and there.
Six for the old man who coughed.
Seven for their T-shirts that went unnoticed in the crowd.
Eight for being a gentleman.
Nine for the vodka that made it; and the wine that didn't.
Ten for the time God ran like hell.
She's the college sweet-heart who you didn't get enough of.
One for all those hey;-)'s that did take them somewhere.
Two for those morning dates when God would play the guitar.
Three for those yummy dishes Mickey Mouse fixed for God and his friends.
Four for the time God was insane enough to turn up stoned at a date.
Five for those bike rides that took them there, there and there.
Six for the old man who coughed.
Seven for their T-shirts that went unnoticed in the crowd.
Eight for being a gentleman.
Nine for the vodka that made it; and the wine that didn't.
Ten for the time God ran like hell.
She's the college sweet-heart who you didn't get enough of.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
5 women in a man's life - The Third
And somehow these crushes manifest into a like and in between stutters, hi's and blushes, you get her number. The faintest excuse to talk to her will seem totally concrete. And every morning you want to get to school for that 15 minutes short- break where you will take her to a side and kuchi-koo. Making out is not on the agenda. Holding hands behind the basement stairs can seem like paradise as you stand there looking into her eyes, saying nothing.
You want to be at your best in the game during sports hour, for she might be noticing you from the corner of her eye from across the ground where she's playing an excuse for a sport called throw-ball. It's pitiful that you can't ride the same bus back home; the city is too big to live on the same street.
At home, your ears are receptive to every phone call, hoping this one is hers.And when she eventually calls, that assignment you were working on half heartedly becomes the last thing that deserves your attention. Even that yummy Mushroom Roll in the kitchen isn't very attractive. There is a time to eat, a time to work, and a time to sleep. Never a time to talk to her.
She's the high school sweetheart. The one you thought would stay with you forever.
Cheers to this girl who lit the unforgettable fire in you.
You want to be at your best in the game during sports hour, for she might be noticing you from the corner of her eye from across the ground where she's playing an excuse for a sport called throw-ball. It's pitiful that you can't ride the same bus back home; the city is too big to live on the same street.
At home, your ears are receptive to every phone call, hoping this one is hers.And when she eventually calls, that assignment you were working on half heartedly becomes the last thing that deserves your attention. Even that yummy Mushroom Roll in the kitchen isn't very attractive. There is a time to eat, a time to work, and a time to sleep. Never a time to talk to her.
She's the high school sweetheart. The one you thought would stay with you forever.
Cheers to this girl who lit the unforgettable fire in you.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
5 women in a man's life - The Second
Navneet jumped off bus no. 1 at Central. He crossed the road to pick up a packet of Lays. On other days, he would have started walking the long stretch on the side walk running along Sampige Road where Raja Mills once stood (Mantri Greens has taken over today). But tonight was different. He would wait for a blue bus that said 'Infosys' on it. He would wait for the bus to come to a halt.And then she would step outside and start walking on the same side of the road as he was on.
He followed her unassumingly for a couple of steps and then as he came nearer, he took a deep breath and said – “Excuse me”.
Her tired eyes turned around and looked at him. They looked just as beautiful as they had at 645 in the morning.
“My name is Navneet. I wanted to ask you, do you work in Infosys?”. I mean, how lamer could a starter question get? A gorgeous young lady getting off a bus that says 'Infosys' can by no length of imagination be an employee of Wipro. [For the record, this an IT joke. All geeks in the house, laugh.]
“Yeah. I'm a software engineer there. My name is Sumana.”
They talked for the next 3 minutes till she came to a crossing that took her home. She said - “Nice knowing you, Navneet.”
“Hey, same here! Want some chips?”, he said holding out the packet of Lays.
“Uh, no thanks. Good nite!” and she was gone.
-------------
I followed a ritual each morning. As I bathed and stepped into the room to put on my uniform (these are still high school days, mind you), I played Metallica's Turn the page on Winamp. In a rebellious youth's lingo, the song pumped life into an otherwise dull morning. And I would step out into the cool early Bangalore morning that had been holding up a thin blanket of mist. The bus to school stopped 100 meters away from my house. Like any other day, I pondered on what was in store for the coming day. Classes, shitty as usual. Only perhaps Satya's grilled sandwiches to look forward to in Chari Maam's Physics class. And yes, Suchit was supposed to finalise Raceforge's logo that day.
My view of the road was blocked by a stationary auto. I made my way around the auto staring at the crest on my tie. And then I looked up. It was like one of those times when you pour a bucket full of cold water on your body and find yourself gasping for breath. I looked right into her eyes. And they were so attractive that I had to withdraw mine. I walked to my spot and took my place in the bus stop. I was smiling from ear to ear looking the other way. And I would turn towards her and size her up. And what I saw was mind blowing.
Later that day in class, I asked Jesu if he had seen her at the bus stop too. He hadn't. Neither had Satya. I spent 10 whole minutes explaining to Sridevi how this 'bus stop girl' looked.
“The way you're describing, it seems like she's an actress.” Sri said.
“No, she works in Infosys. I saw her getting into the bus.”, i said.
-------------
2 months later, over the legendary coffee in Halli Manne I challenged Navneet to find out her name. And he won the bet. But I didn't lose it. I won it too. I won a memory; a memory of the longest crush I've had on a girl. A girl we called 'Infy'. And i wish her well from here, for only the Good Lord knows where,how and what she is today.
A man pins his first crush solidly to memory. And then for a while, girls come and and go out of his radar. Some catch his attention for a short while and he moves on. Few others stay longer giving him time to fantasise. But only one stays in memory long enough to qualify as a man's longest crush.
Hope you enjoyed meeting the 2nd girl in a man's life. Isn't she still the same as she was when you first saw her?
He followed her unassumingly for a couple of steps and then as he came nearer, he took a deep breath and said – “Excuse me”.
Her tired eyes turned around and looked at him. They looked just as beautiful as they had at 645 in the morning.
“My name is Navneet. I wanted to ask you, do you work in Infosys?”. I mean, how lamer could a starter question get? A gorgeous young lady getting off a bus that says 'Infosys' can by no length of imagination be an employee of Wipro. [For the record, this an IT joke. All geeks in the house, laugh.]
“Yeah. I'm a software engineer there. My name is Sumana.”
They talked for the next 3 minutes till she came to a crossing that took her home. She said - “Nice knowing you, Navneet.”
“Hey, same here! Want some chips?”, he said holding out the packet of Lays.
“Uh, no thanks. Good nite!” and she was gone.
-------------
I followed a ritual each morning. As I bathed and stepped into the room to put on my uniform (these are still high school days, mind you), I played Metallica's Turn the page on Winamp. In a rebellious youth's lingo, the song pumped life into an otherwise dull morning. And I would step out into the cool early Bangalore morning that had been holding up a thin blanket of mist. The bus to school stopped 100 meters away from my house. Like any other day, I pondered on what was in store for the coming day. Classes, shitty as usual. Only perhaps Satya's grilled sandwiches to look forward to in Chari Maam's Physics class. And yes, Suchit was supposed to finalise Raceforge's logo that day.
My view of the road was blocked by a stationary auto. I made my way around the auto staring at the crest on my tie. And then I looked up. It was like one of those times when you pour a bucket full of cold water on your body and find yourself gasping for breath. I looked right into her eyes. And they were so attractive that I had to withdraw mine. I walked to my spot and took my place in the bus stop. I was smiling from ear to ear looking the other way. And I would turn towards her and size her up. And what I saw was mind blowing.
Later that day in class, I asked Jesu if he had seen her at the bus stop too. He hadn't. Neither had Satya. I spent 10 whole minutes explaining to Sridevi how this 'bus stop girl' looked.
“The way you're describing, it seems like she's an actress.” Sri said.
“No, she works in Infosys. I saw her getting into the bus.”, i said.
-------------
2 months later, over the legendary coffee in Halli Manne I challenged Navneet to find out her name. And he won the bet. But I didn't lose it. I won it too. I won a memory; a memory of the longest crush I've had on a girl. A girl we called 'Infy'. And i wish her well from here, for only the Good Lord knows where,how and what she is today.
A man pins his first crush solidly to memory. And then for a while, girls come and and go out of his radar. Some catch his attention for a short while and he moves on. Few others stay longer giving him time to fantasise. But only one stays in memory long enough to qualify as a man's longest crush.
Hope you enjoyed meeting the 2nd girl in a man's life. Isn't she still the same as she was when you first saw her?
5 women in a man's life - The First
In 1997, I made the big crossing from SHS to NJS. If you aren't my friend from either of the two places, here's what they stand for – SHS is Sindhi High School and NJS is National Junior School. After class 5, I was to make the switch, much against my likes.
On the fine 'first morning' at my new school, I walked up 3 floors to class 6 A. I wore a jelly coloured yellow bag, a pair of new denims and a blue T-shirt that my uncle had gifted me for the last b'day. My feet were shaking furiously for this was my first time as a first timer in a new school. As I walked up towards the class, a million thoughts rushed through my head. Who would my friends be? Would they be as good as my old friends? Do the teachers here beat up the kids...?
I turned and faced the class trying to look absolutely unperturbed by the fact that 43 pairs of eyes were fixed on one. And the teacher said - “This is B S Arjun. He's from Sindhi High School.” And I was told to take the last seat in the corner row. As I bent my head and walked towards the benches, I couldn't help looking at a face that sat right there in the first bench. There, right there, was the cutest face I had seen in all my years till then. She had short hair, a little longer than a guy's, fair skin and dark eyes. A mole on her left cheek was the icing on the cake. And as I walked past her, my heart skipped a couple of beats, I went and sat at the end and stared at her back hoping for her to turn around so I could catch a glimpse of her one more time. Just once more.
Mrs. Sharmila was brave enough to trust a nutty lad like me to become the class monitor on day one. If she thought I could, so did I. And that did help me break the ice with Ms. Cute Mole. It took 3 attempts and several blushes after which I shamelessly said - “Hi, what's your name?”
Every man treasures his first crush. Some prefer calling it 'puppy love'. She is the first of the five women in a man's life.
Stay tuned for the next 4. Coming soon, this November.
On the fine 'first morning' at my new school, I walked up 3 floors to class 6 A. I wore a jelly coloured yellow bag, a pair of new denims and a blue T-shirt that my uncle had gifted me for the last b'day. My feet were shaking furiously for this was my first time as a first timer in a new school. As I walked up towards the class, a million thoughts rushed through my head. Who would my friends be? Would they be as good as my old friends? Do the teachers here beat up the kids...?
I turned and faced the class trying to look absolutely unperturbed by the fact that 43 pairs of eyes were fixed on one. And the teacher said - “This is B S Arjun. He's from Sindhi High School.” And I was told to take the last seat in the corner row. As I bent my head and walked towards the benches, I couldn't help looking at a face that sat right there in the first bench. There, right there, was the cutest face I had seen in all my years till then. She had short hair, a little longer than a guy's, fair skin and dark eyes. A mole on her left cheek was the icing on the cake. And as I walked past her, my heart skipped a couple of beats, I went and sat at the end and stared at her back hoping for her to turn around so I could catch a glimpse of her one more time. Just once more.
Mrs. Sharmila was brave enough to trust a nutty lad like me to become the class monitor on day one. If she thought I could, so did I. And that did help me break the ice with Ms. Cute Mole. It took 3 attempts and several blushes after which I shamelessly said - “Hi, what's your name?”
Every man treasures his first crush. Some prefer calling it 'puppy love'. She is the first of the five women in a man's life.
Stay tuned for the next 4. Coming soon, this November.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
A Perfect Circle
11-11-07, 5:45 p.m.
"For the last two hours, one thing has been constant on this desktop. That bearded mo'fucker on the steps there; yeah, he's more jobless than us."
I turn around and through the glass wall I see this guy on the flight of black stairs that connects The Mall to the Ridge.I can see him. He's got his hands on his head and his knees are joined. His head is bowed and is oscillating with a time period just sufficient to cover 27 human footsteps. And from where I'm seated, I can say that his cap is more to conceal the stares rather than to keep his hair in place.
"But he's jobless, dude. I'm writing. You're playing the guitar.He's holding his head."
"I'm dedicating this song to him. Let it be."
When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom
Let it be
Words of Wisdom: There are two ways to see the world go by. One requires you to check in and out of airports, hail taxis, ride buses, walk where wheels can't tread, cycle around streets that have no name and talk to people stranger than yourself. And here's the other: Sit down by the window side table in Barista Coffee House on the Mall and do nothing besides sipping on a hot latte and watch city beautiful (and I believe that 'beautiful' describes the people living here) as she walks past you.
Twenty four hours earlier
"Your telling me that this store crushed the competition?" Pratik asks looking at Rohit 'Good Host' Kondal.
And we burst out laughing.
"Imagine the competition in that case.", I'm quick to dish out my smart arse comment hoping to put the situation from Funny Gear 3 to Funny Gear 4.
We oscillate The Mall (Solan) a couple of times. No bro, this ain't anything like her cousin Shimla. But yes, every smackin' 'ol ATM is here, trust me.
I'm hungry. I can eat a whole Jumbo Burger. We walk into 7's Cafe. And this is when it dawned on me: this is the best interiors of a restaurant I've seen in the hill state. Probably the first floor at Balajees in Shimla compares distantly.And then maybe the bar at HHH ;).
We order. I didn't, they did.And 15 minutes later, it dawned on me again that I hadn't tasted tastier butter naans before.
She's wearing a pink top and a lovely black pant. I say 'lovely' because it tells me she's 30. But her company suggests she's 40 (I do think of Demi Moore). And as she throws her hair aside and glances towards my table, I figure it all out. She's 20.
We pay the chek. I have eye-balled her one too many times to walk away under a pretence of her absence. I go over and say it all in one breath - "I'm sorry to disturb you, but I think you have great eyes."
She mouths a thank you in between a smile.I flash a thumbs up and send her out of my life by walking away.
That night, we smoked a vanilla cigars over some fine Raffles Whiskey; the English way.
Five hours earlier
Every bus that stops is crowded.
"I aint making a two and a half hours journey to Chandigrah on my feet. I'd rather do it on my arse. And I say you take my word." Some things are best thrust up on others for their own good.
Pratik starts the day on two shots of whiskey. I prefer the conventional soap and hot water.
Ten minutes later, we cross the road. Literally. We decide to head back to Shimla. The chiks are better there, it seems. And besides that, what to do in Chandigarh anyways?
11-11-07, 5:45 p.m.
We pay up and walk out into the cold winter evening. We know why we made this trip. One person was to be healed. And the other guy was running out of ideas for his blog.
We got what we wanted, and so did you.
Travelling heals.
"For the last two hours, one thing has been constant on this desktop. That bearded mo'fucker on the steps there; yeah, he's more jobless than us."
I turn around and through the glass wall I see this guy on the flight of black stairs that connects The Mall to the Ridge.I can see him. He's got his hands on his head and his knees are joined. His head is bowed and is oscillating with a time period just sufficient to cover 27 human footsteps. And from where I'm seated, I can say that his cap is more to conceal the stares rather than to keep his hair in place.
"But he's jobless, dude. I'm writing. You're playing the guitar.He's holding his head."
"I'm dedicating this song to him. Let it be."
When I find myself in times of trouble
Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom
Let it be
Words of Wisdom: There are two ways to see the world go by. One requires you to check in and out of airports, hail taxis, ride buses, walk where wheels can't tread, cycle around streets that have no name and talk to people stranger than yourself. And here's the other: Sit down by the window side table in Barista Coffee House on the Mall and do nothing besides sipping on a hot latte and watch city beautiful (and I believe that 'beautiful' describes the people living here) as she walks past you.
Twenty four hours earlier
"Your telling me that this store crushed the competition?" Pratik asks looking at Rohit 'Good Host' Kondal.
And we burst out laughing.
"Imagine the competition in that case.", I'm quick to dish out my smart arse comment hoping to put the situation from Funny Gear 3 to Funny Gear 4.
We oscillate The Mall (Solan) a couple of times. No bro, this ain't anything like her cousin Shimla. But yes, every smackin' 'ol ATM is here, trust me.
I'm hungry. I can eat a whole Jumbo Burger. We walk into 7's Cafe. And this is when it dawned on me: this is the best interiors of a restaurant I've seen in the hill state. Probably the first floor at Balajees in Shimla compares distantly.And then maybe the bar at HHH ;).
We order. I didn't, they did.And 15 minutes later, it dawned on me again that I hadn't tasted tastier butter naans before.
She's wearing a pink top and a lovely black pant. I say 'lovely' because it tells me she's 30. But her company suggests she's 40 (I do think of Demi Moore). And as she throws her hair aside and glances towards my table, I figure it all out. She's 20.
We pay the chek. I have eye-balled her one too many times to walk away under a pretence of her absence. I go over and say it all in one breath - "I'm sorry to disturb you, but I think you have great eyes."
She mouths a thank you in between a smile.I flash a thumbs up and send her out of my life by walking away.
That night, we smoked a vanilla cigars over some fine Raffles Whiskey; the English way.
Five hours earlier
Every bus that stops is crowded.
"I aint making a two and a half hours journey to Chandigrah on my feet. I'd rather do it on my arse. And I say you take my word." Some things are best thrust up on others for their own good.
Pratik starts the day on two shots of whiskey. I prefer the conventional soap and hot water.
Ten minutes later, we cross the road. Literally. We decide to head back to Shimla. The chiks are better there, it seems. And besides that, what to do in Chandigarh anyways?
11-11-07, 5:45 p.m.
We pay up and walk out into the cold winter evening. We know why we made this trip. One person was to be healed. And the other guy was running out of ideas for his blog.
We got what we wanted, and so did you.
Travelling heals.
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