Dealing With Dust

I went to the hostel today, just to clear out a few things I had kept over there while having moved out to live separately. What I did not realize was that those weren’t a few things which I had chosen to leave, they were a whole Life of me which I had gotten cut-off from since I moved out. Among the important ones were a whole set of my writings which I have never published simply because I never got the time to do so. Also, all my work related to Politics and Philosophy, topics upon which I had deliberated a lot during the course of the first and second years of college and which I had felt were life changing, lay there like a distant past of which I had no recollection, just the knowledge that a few pages with my handwriting were kept there, protected even from my own self, never to be further thought about. About these Ideas and Ideals to which I had once subscribed, I would like to say today that –

“If Man wants, he can include Philosophy into his Life, thus making it a Never-ending Quagmire of Thought, Self-Doubt and the Reassurance that Man is Superior to Animal”

after Four years of Engineering, it has come as no surprise to me that I now believe in Hard Work more than ever. As I step into the part of my Life where I will be a part of the Corporate World, I have now this notion-

“The Simplest and Most effective way for a Person to live is to Work. Nothing else is as Important as working hard. And working hard is what makes Life easier than ever.”

Deliberations on Philosophy and Politics are indeed habits of those who have the Luxury of wasting their time in making their Lives Complicated. The Simple way of Life does not involve these, just a clear understanding of what a Person’s work is and what the resultant thoughts and beliefs are.

In digressing from the topic of cleaning up my Hostel room, I wanted to ensure that the thoughts that went through my mind when I was arranging my things together were noted down. However, the more important detail is about what all I found there.

The second Important thing I found there were some of my clothes. I got very nostalgic when I saw them, discussing with my roommate Lalit the amazing journey I made from being a size 32 waist to a size 38! I know I am fat right now and I am less than proud of it. But it is an amazing thing for me to see myself as a lean, weak boy with cheeks sunk deep into my cheekbones as opposed to a well rounded man with chubby cheeks and friends who keep reminding me that I must join the gym!

It is not everyday that One gets to look at their past and present in such a glaringly contrasting way, but this insight was amazing and has made me rethink a lot about what were my thoughts and beliefs when I was two years less-experienced than I am today and I now ponder over whether in the fierceness of my devotion to my Ideals, I was believing in the right things or not…

After all, today I am happy to be an Engineer, but at some point, I wanted to be a Politician!

p.s. I promise that those unseen writings of mine will be put up soon, complete with my favorite creative commons license!

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The Statue!

the many types of thieves…

A Statue, in honour of the Indian Criminal!

His head held high, encompassing all boundaries of politics, religion, region, caste and creed.

He is Everywhere.

He commits every type of crime- financial, moral, physical and non-humanitarian, knowing of his prowess and that of his money.

He is omnipresent, omnipotent and has every physical size, shape and appearance possible.

He is the black market and the black money and every black deed ever committed. He is friend to all, the terrorist, the dacoits, the politician, the policeman, the tax man, the reporter and the reportee, the society and even the common man.

He is Robin Hood when he wants to be, Hiranyakashyap when he feels like it and even the Leader of the Nation when it must be so.

He is the Nano and the Ferrari, Jet Airways and Kingfisher, Satyam and Infosys, Haryana and Punjab.

He is the MF and the PF, the fixed dividend and the High Risk.

This is not just a statue, this is THE STATUE.

This won’t be spit on or shit on or decapitated. Instead, it will be revered forever, as the True Saviour of our Nation.

All hail,

Our Grey National Hero.

Singh Is SuperMan

So I recently went to DT Cinemas to watch Singh Is Kinng

(God Bless Akshay Kumar for his versitality and DT and PVR for bringing the joys of Modern Theatre Experience to Chandigarh. FR; Sorry dude, you’re out…)

Most, well, all of my friends said it was a bogus Movie and it was, just that the amazing ability of Akshay Kumar of putting zeal into any character changed the whole scenario…

We all acknowledge that The Sikh community has gained cult status in Bollywood, starting from Daler Mehndi and moving to Sikh-centric movies and the presence of at least one Punjabi song per movie. But what Akshay did moves away from being just a fraction of the type of movies being made or a nominal presence in a movie. This movie can pave the way for a whole new Singh, for the following reasons :-

The raising of the Fist and the chanting of “Singh is King” makes the average Sikh a SuperHero, who has a tailor-made Symbol and slogan to go…
The introduction of the already well known concept that Sikhs are a large-hearted community and love to help people on main screeb cinema will have a long lasting effect on Bollywood story writers and will definitely help the Punjabis get to the ‘Spot’ in Cinema

Now all I’m waiting for is small mock ups of our dear Singh, just like the ones of Krish floating around…

And then was born a SuperHero for India!!!

Over And Out.

Here’s An Interesting Solution

The Problem I wrote about in my last post was the reservation issue which is being shoved in the face of the IITs by the Government right now. Ideologically speaking, the Government can claim that the IITs give only too less back to the Government as compared to what they get as grants. This is due to the Brain Drain. Even though a lot of Companies have started to Relocate to India to gain the benefits of cheaper labour while keeping their cream- the IITians near home and feeling happy, thereby temporarily offsetting the problem; most IITians still aim at getting jobs which immediately take them out of the country and to Foreign Shores.

Here’s a Solution I propose that the Indian Government can apply to Gain back from the IITians and IIM Grads some part of the amount of Funds that goes in their Education-

Many of us know about Compulsory Military Training which some countries insist all their fresh graduates undergo to gain a sense of Discipline and to work in teams and learn to Respect others and to Defend themselves (don’t worry, I am not asking all IITians to be sent to the Barracks)

What the Government can do is to ensure that all IIT and IIM Graduates Compulsorily work for Two Years in some part of the Government to gain experience and to ensure that the Government gain from their Knowledge and Smartness before any other Company does.

The Grads may be allowed to choose the field they wish to work in- whether the Executive, the Bureaucracy or Aid in the various development contracts around India on Important projects like Dams, Highways, Town planning etc.

This way, the Government gains as it has a continuous supply of fresh brain to apply on their problems of Development, Finance and Judiciary and the Grads gain as they get high amount of Exposure and the Experience of working in and handling Government Machinery. Maybe some of them might even like their work and be allowed to Join the Government immediately.

This will ensure that all passing Graduates from the IITs and IIMs understand and Value their Country and learn to respect it before docking on foreign shores. Meanwhile, the issue of Castes and basing reservations according to them should be done away completely as they are nothing more than Social Evils which weaken the Fabric of Indian Society. I refer to the Idea of Castes Dividing us and not to the people who comprise them.

This may not be a very viable solution but it is certainly a step towards one because many Graduates would welcome this effort to create a Government based on Intellect and Knowledge instead of Politics and Party Agendas.

Hoping that someone out there might be affected by this post.

Indian Political Gimmicks and My Response

HRD orders faculty quota, IIT directors livid

News….

MUMBAI: Buoyed by its success in pushing through a quota for OBC students in
higher education, the government has now ordered IITs to introduce – with
“immediate effect” – quotas in the teaching faculty for scheduled castes,
scheduled tribes and OBCs.IIT directors, not surprisingly, were livid with the
decision, though none of the four TOI spoke to were willing to go on record.
The high quality of IIT faculty has built the institution into a globally respected
brand. Said an IIT-Delhi professor: “It is hard to imagine that even teachers will
now use the caste flag to get in.”
The order signed by Seema Raj, director of technical education in the HRD
ministry, read, “I am directed to say that the matter relating to reservation of
SC, ST, OBC categories in recruitment to teaching (faculty) posts in the IITs
was considered in the second meeting of the SCIC (Standing Committee of
IIT Council) held on 11/2/2008. The recommendations made by the SCIC have
been accepted by the chairman of (the) IIT Council. Accordingly, it has been
decided to implement reservation for SC, ST, OBC, in recruitment to teaching
(faculty) posts in IITs with immediate effect.”
For subjects in science and technology, posts will be reserved for lecturers and
assistant professors. In areas like management, sciences and humanities, reservations
will be applicable up to the professor level. The ministry allows IITs to dereserve
the posts after a year, if they do not get filled “despite all efforts”.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

My First Comment–
Beautiful. Unhappy that only the best students were getting to the IITs, they
introduced quotas there. Now they want to ensure that those studying there
get less quality education too. This is indeed, a <strong>NATIONAL SHAME</strong>.

This is a Comment I read on the Comments page–

Sewaklal Khobragade,Bangalore says:This is a great move towards bringing eqality and quality of education to
underpriviledged masses. No one is borne scientist. One has to groom into
right atmosphere and directives to achieve technological excellence or achievements.
I am sure SC/ST and OBC also will do BEST if they are given chance to prove
themselves. I am thankful to the ministry of HRD for this right step in right
direction to implement guidelines laid down in Indian Constitution.

My response to this–

Dear Respected Editor, I am sorry for writing again into this Comment box,
but the comments of one Sewaklal Khobragade,Bangalore regarding the same
article and displayed just a few comments below mine has come to my notice.
The Author points out that “No one is borne scientist. One has to groom into
right atmosphere and directives to achieve technological excellence or achievements”
I agree deeply with this person’s thoughts. But why should people be given the
right to teach on the basis of who they are born? The Pillars of Education are
being shook up by the very thought that it is not merit and intelligence which
are going to define the Mentors of the cream of India’s students, instead, they
will be chosen on the basis of family history. Is this the path Envisioned by our
Mahatma? Did ever any God of Indian Mythology decide to visit a devotee based
on his/her caste?
Forgive me for writing in again and I do not worry that my comments may not
be posted.
I do not, in any way, wish to incite anybody against anyone because of my
comments.
Lastly, I would like to point out that I too aspired to get into an IIT but I accept
that my Aptitude and more importantly, Attitude towards my studies did not
allow me to. I do not regret that, but I do regret that the Directors of the IITs
have accepted this Political Gimmick hands down.
I do not see my Mentors with the eyes of a Judge, for me, they are Leaders, no
matter what they are called.
Thanking You for allowing me this opportunity to express these thoughts via
your medium.

Overall Comment-

It is not just a Shame that this is happening but also that we are allowing this. People can easily come up to me and say that hey, this is not your fight, so why are you commenting?

India’s Progress is Our fight, the fight of the coming Generation. Equality is our fight, the fight of every worthy Child of India

But above all this, I wish for everyone to understand that I would not like it if any of my friends would have to look at his Mentor and Think even ONCE before believing his words. I would not want anyone in the whole of India to believe that the Teacher/Lecturer teaching them is anyone other that that Idiot who keeps giving them assignments and deadlines. (S)he is just that, no more. Not a name, Not a caste, Not a religion, just an Underpaid, Overpriviledged SOB who likes to fail boys and pamper Teacher’s Pets and give Assignments like they were the Elixir of Life.

Sorry for the Satirical tone. It comes Naturally now, ever since the HRD Ministry put a Quota on the Type of jokes you can make. Now 49.5% have to be about SC, ST and OBC.

How I Saved A 100 Bucks

Here I am, driving out of Sector 17 this evening and I dare to take a wrong side which, naturally, everyone takes else having to face a long circuitous route to get to the main route. Unfortunately, I have the habit of getting caught by cops on those days about which I’m so extremely confident that they are passing well. Well, I nearly run down the cop who stops me mid-flight to tell me that I would be challan-ed. He asks for my documents. I quickly look into my wallet and ascertain that I don’t have a single 50 Rupee note on me with which I can bribe this Mama (Hindi Slang for Policeman, Just like Cop) and since I don’t wish to loose sight of my precious 100 Rupee notes, I must try to evade the ticket. I try to coax him with the usual talk- I’m a Student, won’t do it ever again, etc etc…

But since he sees a reluctance in me to get loose on the cash, he refers me to his boss who simply takes out his Challan Book and starts looking up the details of my Drivers License. This is it, its now or never. So I fall down on his knees and clutch them, leaving them not till he relents and pushing me off, hurls a few abuses at me and gives me back my DL and RC and tells me to get lost. Trust me, I did that more than happily, having pulled this gig for the first time.

Morals of the Story- Grab the legs, you won’t believe it although its been said to you many times, but it really works!!

— The old Indian tradition of touching the feet of your elder ones as an offering of respect surely has more using than as a good back exercise!!!

Until my next,

Cya,

15 Till I Die

So yesterday I went to the market to get some Ice… The markets in India, as we all know employ a large number of helpers, sometimes upto three in one shop only. The first thing which I saw when I got there was a little boy, probably twelve years of age (probably younger, I’m very bad with identifying age) standing near the counter lifting and arranging packets of chips. I have, as many have, heard about the new law by the Indian goverment increasing the minimum age for a person to work to 15, below which it is considered as Child Labour. It was evident at first glance that this boy was much younger. So I asked him two questions–

Do you have Ice Cubes?
What is your age?

To the First question, I got a prompt affirmitive, but for the second one, the little one wavered and then said he was 15 years of age. Well Lied, I thought. Then I thought that I must do what I can about this situation. So i asked the price of the Ice Cubes and was redirected by the boy to the Shopkeeper who had just returned from inside the shop. I accosted the Shopkeeper and without looking even once in my eyes, he said that it was none of my business. He seemed right at that moment and I bought the ice and walked away.

But the thought that I did not do anything about the boy kept hurting me the whole day and I will probably be ashamed of myself everytime I will think about it.

So today, I sat down to think what I could possibly do about the Situation. I came up with very few answers as follows–

Do Nothing, which, trust me, is as bad an idea as punching your father-in-law in the face.
Punch the shopkeeper and then run for it, because if you stick around, the people of the market association will thrash you to glory.
Call the Police and report to them, in which case either the shopkeeper will be fined and then he’ll again employ a young child or he won’t have to worry because the head of the market association has already bribed the police.
This one seems to me the best solution to me and I will follow it every time i see Child Labour around me– Ask the price of a lot of goods, ask the shopkeeper to pack them and then walk off without buying them after commenting casually to the shopkeeper that you don’t support Child labour. This will frustrate him and even if two to three people do this to him, trust me, he get an above age helper.

I don’t suggest that you stick to my plan, although I’m sticking to it already, its your choice.

On the other hand, you could also think about what if that kid was the only one to support his family or that he was aiding his family in finance needed because of the large number of his siblings. If you wish to take this route and support Child Labour, just think about this for a minute– Don’t your Children go to School? So isn’t the right place for a Child a School?

A SubPrime Crisis for India

India is always fast in picking up various trends from the International markets. Whether it be clothing, fashion or foreign policy. Thus how is it possible that India not pick up international faults and repeat them in its own style? Well, I’m not just talking about the cost fluctuations due to Oil Prices and the whims of the Oil Sheikhs and those of the Federal Bank of the US. I’m talking about taking the biggest blunder of the century being adapted to the Indian scenario. We all know what the sub prime crisis has done to the United States, the world’s biggest economy is now at the brink of a recession best remembered way back between the World Wars… And its not even War right now, it least not for a majority of the world (I hate to say this, but I’m wrong, it IS war for most part of the world). But India is Unique in that unknowingly it is having a sub prime crisis too. No, not food grains, Cellular connections. India is currently one of the largest growing cellular markets and in order to woo the populace, the many cell operators in India Introduced very early various schemes for which the ICM (Indian Common Man) fell hook, line and sinker. But these amazing schemes have a draw back. Lifetime prepaid is a dream well dreamt, but most people are not staying with it at all. Thousands of free smses per month are a boon for the college student, but the companies providing these facilities are now facing the heat of not just TRAI but also the fact that they have to earn money in order to buy more spectrum in the coming years. So companies like Hutch (now Vadophone) and Spice have done a volte-face and upped their prices. MTNL and BSNL still hang on to the Great Dream but they too will soon realise that the government is not interesting in funding their whims and fancies.

Worse of all is the fact that the govt will be introducing Number Portability as early as 2009 in many circles. This will give undue power to the consumer in threatening the Cellular Operator into giving away freebies or loosing vital subscriber database which already has their favourite phone number. This will lead the companies to join hands under the Aegis of TRAI and set the minimum standards for call and sms rates. This will also lead to a uniformity not achievable as yet as each operator tries to use some loophole to their benefit.

For Example- TRAI told all operators to start charging rupee 1 per sms on goverment denoted holidays or festivals. This was a bane for prepaid consumers who had to develop strange habits of being overpunctual in wishing their relatives a day before the festival in order to save precious talktime. But odd it is when you still recieve many smses on the good day too! These are from PostPaid consumers who, amazingly have been granted the boon of being exempted of such silly reforms.

May God only Intervene in the Crisis now ravaging the minds of the mobile happy ICM.

Hoping that solutions be Just a corner away,

Nitin.