Convo,Suicides & the art of being happy

I went to my Alma-mater last weekend for receiving the coveted B.Tech(Hons.) degree, for which I slogged out during the 4 precious years of my life in a small suburb called Kharagpur, which is 120 kms & approximately 3 hours from Kolkata(which is the worst metro :P ).That brief moment reminded me of the movie "Lakshya", where the soldiers take a 'antim pag" or final step.My greatest asset was not the degree but the friendships that gathered along the way.

Now come to a topic slightly off track, about the recent suicides in Kharagpur.Among them was one first year student, who committed this unholy act on the very first day he arrived in the campus.

When Pandit Nehru had inaugurated this premier institute of technology, which was located at the same place as English detention camps, he wouldn't have even thought that it would become a jail for some of its students & they will get so frustrated so as to commit suicide.

From my personal experience , i didn't expected much glamour in IITKGP or for that matter in any IIT.I thought of them as a place to study along with the sharpest minds of the country.

But in IITKGP we were not even given basic amenities.We were those unfortunate set of students who were not given a LAN connection during their first year.We lived in a hostel which looked very great from outside but didn't even had a mess of its own.Passing through these tough times made us so resistant to problems that eating "good food" & LAN connection became life's luxuries for us.

On top of that the girl boy ratio had reached a new low during our batch.To survive four years in a place where you can't even see a good looking girl, cannot eat good food & be satisfied with your life, that is precisely what IITKGP has taught me.

If most of us can endure all these pains & get through them to receive the degree from the director himself , then why can't others bear the brunt of life & pass its tests.Why surrendering your life has become so easy??

Bad times will come & pass by.You can always go on in a hope to see better future.But if you are determined & are going to take this irritating step, then think about your family first, what will happen to them??

Coorg Trip Day 1

I went to Coorg 2 weeks ago.The trip was organized by Bangalore Mountaineering club.After boarding the bus, I just awaited for the 8 hour long drive to end so that we can reach to the scenic hill station which is also known as the Scotland of India.After a few halts( one of them @ CCD) we reached there.Rain Gods greeted us with light drizzle.The view of the mountains from our guest house was breathtaking.After a cup of coffee, we headed towards our rooms & changed into our trekking clothes.We had one of the Coorg delicacies in breakfast, which seemed to be steamed rice rolled into balls to be served hot with sambhar.

The Trek

Before starting the Brahmgiri mountain trek, we had a brief intearction with the whole group, where each one of us had to describe ourselves in one word & one quality which supports the adjective chosen.Meanwhile we were told by our guide Nanjappa that leaches will truoble us during the trek, so the trekkers who were wearing sandals had to apply a protective lotion.As soon as the trek started so did the rain.It was really awesome & it reminded me of the Thakshang trek in Bhutan.The trek had three stages.The path that we were following was made by rain water.It was just as if we were on a hunting trail, following the footmarks of some wild animal.We even found some footmarks. But the most prevalent animal which interacted with us was the Leach.Then began a counting procedure called Leecheck & there was one undisputed winner at the end.After the first stage the whole group was relieved that there will be no more leaches to bother us.We had a photograph session.

But bigger heights awaited us.So we trekked along braving,the rains & winds coming our way.After trekking for almost an hour we reached the second stage. The sight was splendid, we can see the peak in front of us, covered with fog.It was surreal.We were so close to our destination, the peak which was 5200 ft above sea level.It was downhill from here & the uphill again.But as fate would have it, right at the moment we thought to go forward, torrential rains poured in.We just faced them staright at our face as even the umbrella could not be held steadily due to the strong wind.Somehow our luch packs were prevented from being wet.As soon as the rain stopped, two of us made a move.Unfortunately some of the group members decided not to go any further.

Thus the third stage started, this time we were climbing on a wet soil & the grip was getting weaker.The shoes were getting waterlogged.It was crazy.Just one sight towards the ground below you got an idea that how high you are.One wrong step & it could have been the end.But the adventurers in us just put those fears aside & managed to reach the coveted Brahmgiri peak.The kodak moments followed.We were giving different poses.Although it was raining, the camera was still on.

We even didn't realize how drenched we were.But our guide got serious now & said the journey so far was the easy one.Now came the tough part.Going downhill. When you are climbing up, you are more aware & slightly more in control.But controlling your speed during coming down is an ordeal in itself, that too on a wet soil just adds to the difficulty.It seemed unreal as to how we had climbed through such thin pathways.Just one slip & I could have been tossed into the valley.I slipped twice but managed to hang on somehow.We reached to the second stage where most of our friends were.After that we opened our lunch packs & finished eating the now frozen pulao & something which tasted like raita.

The same route followed for the downhill journey.The leaches once again started crawling on our shoes & sucked our blood.But the journey not ended smoothly. There were few complications as the permission to trek was not sought from the Forest department which made us infiltrators.Somehow the matter was resolved & we managed to get back to our guest house.

In the evening we went to Irpu falls.I used the power of the falls to massage my back.It was situated at some height & it took 1.75 kms of trek to reach to the falls too.Not only the power of the falls but the scenery around it was marvellous.Here is one video.

This was the first day in Coorg.The day did not ended after this also.We were lost in the paddy fields as well, but that story in the next post.

"BIG"

Most of you must have seen this Tom Hanks' flick "Big" where he wishes to become older in order to impress girls.Coming to more common life instances , any action/adventure flick is always preferred being watched on big screen.There is a constant quest to increase the height of television sets.So why do we love "Big"??

This question came to my mind while I was checking out the Apple Imagine store. My gaze was fixedon the magnificent 29 inch LCD screen.Why do we fascinate "Big". Why do marketing promotions introduce tag lines like "Bada hai to behtar hai".
I think the answer may be that if we see more then we can imagine more, just like if an artist is given a bigger canvas he/she can paint a bigger & better picture.It is not always true, but this is as close as i can get to the root of this inbound human trait.

Another measure of grandness is bigger capacity, be it a car or a hard drive, the bigger the merrier.Even certain special body parts should be greta in size for being attractive.

But certain things are preferred in mini sizes only.Be it girl's dresses or exam papers.So just analyze why we have this habit & you will come to know a lot of things about yourself, as I realized some of mine.

25th May 2009

I have put this date as the title of my blog, not because it is the birthday of any of my relatives or friends but that day both expected & unexpected events took me by surprise.We had just returned from a holy trip from Haridwar with family.Everybody was tired because of the sleepless night in the car,yet we remained awake all day.That day JEE result was going to be announced & two of my brothers were waiting for their results.

Initially the server was not allowing us to go to the results page & then it started showing various types of errors.I suggested to dial the numbers of the various IIT's as I had done during my result day.But only 15,000 students were requesting results then, not the massive 4 lakh which were eager to watch how they had fared in this prestigiuos exam.

Finally my brother in law gave us the good news that both of my brothers have qualified.One had an AIR 30 & the other had AIR 3738.

I had also qaulified the same exam, so i knew the worth of being selected.The media frenzy occupied our house just after few hours. There were press people who wanted to interview my family & brothers.However my brother was a bit dissappointed to have secured a rank higher than the Top 10(Damn fool)...The other one was genuinely sad( I understand bro!!)But being in IIT is a good thing in itself..Ranks & departments don't matter a lot.That's what I have learned , the Brand IIT is the most important.

I also was interviewed for a job & was accepted so it was like a good day for me too(But had to join too early.) The excitement of that day still makes me very cheerful.My parents were very proud of my younger brother & I was happy that the hard work he did had paid off..My brothers also dedicated a part of their success to me.(They don't know me that well.)

Kaash somebody would have been there to help me out too.I was the guinea pig of my family.However others benefitted from the fallacies i committed.In the end the result was a satisfactory one for me too.

P.S. I knew many of my IITan colleagues whose brothers gave the exam this year & invariably the younger brother had secured a higher rank than his senior sibling.This shows that bhai sher to chhota bhai sawa sher.

15 Minutes to Salvation

This is an ode to my guide, my mentor & the person responsible for completing my Project & Engineering degree.I was lucky to have such a great Project supervisor.I am grateful to you sir.This one is for you.It is actually a very inspirational poem.

Pandrah minute
Pandrah minute hai tumhaare paas
shaayad tumhaare zindagi ke sabse khaas pandrah minute
aaj tum achcha present karo ya bura
yeh pandrah minute tumhe zindagi bhar yaad rahenge
toh kaise bolna hai aaj main tumhe nahi bataayunga
bas itana kahunga, ki jaao aur yeh pandrah minute ji bhar ke funda de lo
kyun ki isake baad aanewaali zindagi mein
chaahe kuchh sahi ho ya na ho
chaahe kuchh rahein ya na rahein, tum haaro ya jeeto
lekin yeh pandrah minute, tumse koi nahi chhin sakata, koi nahin
toh maine socha ki iss BTP mein kaise bolna hai
aaj main tumhein nahi bataayunga bal ki tum mujhe bataoge, present karke
kyun ki main jaanata hoon ki agar yeh pandrah minute
tum apani zindagi ke sabse jyada funde pel gaye
toh yeh pandrah minute Civil Engineering Department bhi tumse waapas nahin maang sakata
toh jaao, jaao aur apane aap se, iss zindagi se, apane khuda se
aur har uss insaan se jisne tumhe, tum par bharosa nahi kiya
apane pandrah minute chhin lo.

P.S.
1)This poem is written on a serious note. Strict action will be taken against those who try to mock it.
2)I have written it before writing my Presentation. Expecting an Ex in the last exam @ IITKGP.
3) Special thanks to Denzel Washignton, Shahrukh Khan & makers of "REMEMBER THE TITANS"
4) BTP: B.Tech Presentation & Ex: Excellent

4 years of my life

I have experienced a whole new dimension of myself & life in general in 4 years of IIT life.To leave this place is a dilemma because these were the 4 best years of my life.I had my share of laughter, fun & disappointments.I made some of my best friends here only.A whole bunch of people who can do anything for me.The following poem is not exactly mine, but it expresses the feelings through which I am going.

Raah dekhi thi is din ki kabse,
Aage ke sapne saja rakhe the naajane kab se.
Bade utavle the yahaan se jaane ko ,
Zindagi ka agla padaav paane ko .
Par naa jane kyon ..Dil mein aaj kuch aur aata hai, Waqt ko rokne ka jee chahta hai.
Jin baton ko lekar rote the Aaj un par hansi aati hai, Na jaane kyon aaj un palon ki yaad bahut aati hai .
Kaha karte the ..Badi mushkil se char saal seh gaya, Par aaj kyon lagta hai ki kuch peeche reh gaya.
Na bhoolne wali kuch yaadein reh gayi,
Yaadien jo ab jeene ka sahara ban gayi.
Kaun raat bhar saath jag kar padega ,
Kaun mere naye naye naam banayega.
Mein ab bina matlab kis se ladoonga,
Bina topic ke kisse faalto baat karoonga ,
canteen me chaay kis ke saath piyoonga , Wo haseen pal ab kis ke saath jiyoonga,
Aise dost kahaan milenge Jo khai mein bhi dhakka de aayein, Par fir tumhein bachane khud bhi kood jayein.
Kaun mujhe mere kabiliyat par bharosa dilayega, Aur jyada hawa mein udne par zameen pe layege ,
Meri khushi mein sach mein khush kaun hoga , Mere gam mein mujhse jyada dukhi honge.
Yaaro aaj jana to mujhe padega, par dil ko ye sukoon hai ki mera ek hissa hamesha yahi rahega.

Kuch Khaas hai Zindagi mein

Recently I was talking with my dear friend Ketan(Makhau) & we were talking about the fact that I'll be leaving the college.Suddenly we said in unison that our first year in college was the best time in our lives.Things were going fine until makhau said that why are we always missing our past & are not content with our present.

When we came to college we used to say that school time was best.In the final year we miss our first year.When we will start to work, we are gonna miss everything.Even in school we had missed our childhood.But there is a fine balance between remembering your past & wasting your present.

Most of us are in the situation they are because of the decisions they made on their own.I came across a quote last day in a video which said "Why cry for the things which have not happened instead just laugh for things which have happened."

It is very trivial to say but there are people who are in a much atrocious situation than we are in,If they are still surviving & fighting to live on,then why not we.The best way to enjoy life is to live in the present.Life is what you make of it.Consider each moment as precious & try to make every one of them unforgettable.

Live as if you will die tomorrow.