Wednesday, September 14, 2005

:-"

I am blogging after a long time and i am blogging at night after a longer time. Much has happened and quite a lot will continue to happen. After gaining experience of giving interviews :D and observing a press conference from close quarters and recollecting past experiences, i have a few ..umm observations. Most of the news reported about general people (i.e who arent known to the world) may not accurate. The problem is that, they are given some set of names, and they take pics of that set of people, but they have problem in associating who is who in the photograph since they havent noted it down anywhere. The photographers would ask you to act normal i.e talk with the others, type the keyboard etc etc because they want to take some 'shots'. Also i have a conjecture that some agency attends the press conference and takes photographs and then supplies those to the individual newspapers. They take different kinds of photos and supply each newspaper with a distinct type. I know i am not being clear at all but its 4 o clock now, nearing to 24 hours since i woke up, so dont expect much lucidity.

I am now a project guide to 8 people. That translates to 22 credits!! And i dont even have a project of my own :(. Have been postponing a lot of work since a lot of days. So much that now i dont even remember all the things i was supposed to have done ... So what do i do now? Runaway ... exactly. I dont like this post. And i am bored of everything.

What do you do if you do not think that you have accomplished the task any better than expected (actually worse) but people all around you are congratulating you?
Smile and say thankyou :). Because this makes you realise that you could have easily performed much worse ....

Friday, September 02, 2005

I persisted and ...

this is what the result was -


International Institute of Information Technology. When I first heard this name, i felt it was funny. To give such an institute an international tag just to retain the epithet 'IIIT' some how did not sound normal. The first time i came here and noticed the manicured shrubs adorning the roads, I felt that the institute was projecting an air of artficiality. The first time I looked at my hostel, I was enamoured by its shape, spaciousness and ventilation. Thus began a wonderful journey.

IIIT. What do IIITians think of it? Its like asking what do Indians think about India. Can it be described in 700 words? No way. Similarly, I dont even want to attempt to describe what IIIT means to me. In that case, what are these paragraphs about? They will just give an idea of the average IIITian's life and how IIIT has depicts different meanings on different ocassions.

In the morning, the IIITian wakes up, unconsciously lumbers upto the pc and checks mail. Then brushes the teeth and freshens up. His stomach then cries out in hunger. So he uses the pc to check in which mess he is supposed to nurish his body. After that, He is all ready to go to class. He is taught some stuff using slides projected onto a white screen. Does not note down anything much, as the slides will anyway be put up on the site. Assignment time. Completes the assignment which could be a program or textual answers and then uploads it on some portal before midnight. At the end of that hard day, relaxes by playing some game or watching some movie on the pc. IIIT is about living with computers.

Let us see what happens in a typical academic year. Mid July, its the start of the semester and the end of the summer holidays. For most first years that would mean a change, but not much difference for the other batches who have been staying on campus itself throughout the summer. Registration time and most students are in a dilemma. A wide array of courses to choose from. IIIT is about choice.

A few months into the year, some competitions are held. Generally, a participant would know all other participants personally. Some win prizes. Many are noticed. Thus, living in IIIT is also about being recognised and appreciated.

The start of the second semester. Placements for the final years are on. The salaries being offered are shooting up in a frenzy. While the senior most people celebrate their fortune, the juniors brag about it to their poor non-IIIT acquaintances. Thus IIIT is about feeling pride.

With the advent of the new year, comes the college fest Felicity. A lot of people are involved in its organisation in one way or the other. The organising batch tries to outperform the previous batch. They talk with companies, contact other colleges, raise expectations and then attempt to fulfil them. Many new ideas are realised and implemented. IIIT is about learning how to manage and being creative.

Soon, the academic year draws to a close. Its time for the farewell. The final years look back over the years. They share their memories and reminiscise about the sweet years spent here. Friends, who saw each other's faces for almost every day of the past four years, part with promises to keep in touch forever. Thus, IIIT is about life-long memories and friendships.

Now for some low downs. The student wakes up early in the morning at 6 to do PT and curses his luck. He desperately wants to sleep but lumbers to the class and sleeps uncomfortably there, all the time his mind railing against the 'demonic attendance rule'. After the class, rushes to the mess for lunch. Partially fills his stomach with what is generally agreed upon as tasteless and nutrientless stuff being passed off as lunch. Plays football in the evening, bruises his leg and complains against the lack of a proper grassy playground. Thus IIIT is also about grumbling and adjusting with what you have.

My institute is the place
where i spend my four years
from my memory, will never erase
all the joys and the tears

50 people turn up at midnight
to wish me on my birthday
IIIT is where i listen to others
and also have my say.

IIIT is where i gain in brain
and it is where i lose my hair
IIIT is where i feel many a pain
and also live without a care

IIIT eats up four years of my prime
So, i just hope to have a good time.
To ask what IIIT means to me,
is like asking what you mean to thee.

Tried for the answer to the question below ..

Started promisingly and then suddenly found myself devoid of words. Well, here goes the attempt that died a congenital death.

International Institute of Information Technology. When I first heard this name, i felt it was funny. To give such an institute an international tag just to retain the epithet 'IIIT' some how did not sound normal. The first time i came here and noticed the manicured shrubs adorning the roads, I felt that the institute was projecting an air of artficiality. The first time I looked at my hostel, I was enamoured by its shape, *spaciousness* and ventilation. Thus began a wonderful journey.

And then i found that i cannot express anything lucidly. Everything is jumbled up. So ended my essay.

I dont want to sleep in the class tomorrow (technically today). Hence i slept early. Atleast tried to. But woke up after a futile half an hour. And now i fear i will sleep in the classes once again. Why!! Why!! I dont want to sleep in the class!! :((

Thursday, September 01, 2005

This is the question ...

... for the competition. The conversation begins:

A: I never expected to end up here. but now i feel it is one of the best things to have happened to me.
B: Really!! I just want to get away from this place as soon as possible.
A: Come on, my life was enriched here like never before.

Noo ... this attempt falls flat at its face. Its going nowhere. Guess am not in the mood to be creative now .. sorry dude, maybe we can hash up something in the morning ... But then, why not try once more??

A: I am really happy i ended up here. It has been a cool time here. The years just flew away.
B: Really?? I just cant wait to get out of here. Such a critical part of my life has been wasted here !!
A: Come on da, kya bol raha hain. IIIT nahin hota, to hum dono kaise milte??
C: Thats what na, we are judging the institute by the atmosphere and the students. Lets ask if it has really made us a better person.
A: Arent you a better person now than when you came here?
C: Yeah, the credit for that lies with the students here, not the institute as such.
D: Arent both one and the same?
B: Whatever, my main purpose here is getting a decent job. Thats all what matters.
C: Kya yaar, what about reeesearch ?? Thats the objective of the institute, not the pays that the students may get.
B: Oh yeah, thats why the salary figures are touted at every possible instant.
A: However, life here is cool. You cant expect a better life anywhere else.
C: I concur.
D: Yeah, IIIT has made a huge difference in my life.
B: I dont think i am so senti about it. All that i would take from here is a good job. Hopefully.

I guess this attempt is pretty much better. Will it suffice O' organiser?