And miles to go before I sleep..

"The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep;
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep;"

This for me are the four most beautiful lines that describe the human life in the present world. But I take it with a pinch of salt. Back in IITM, where I first heard these lines, I took these lines as trivial as each individual has some responsibilities to live upto.. But as I move on, I realise that the deep and dark woods signifies the more promises we make as we move on. So, this game of moving on and fulfilling the promises never ends. To give you an example, I thought doing well in my undergrad was a promise I had to keep when I first heard this quote. But now, I need to repeat it for my grad and later on in my job.. And to the family.. The count can just be unlimited. The humans are stuck in this cob web where, the more you get, the more you need to get.. The more you deliver, the more you are expected to deliver.. After all it takes just two meals a day and a close circle to be happy. We will find that the people in the lower strata of the community quite adhere to this. But as we move up the strata, we become more greedy, me expect more, we sleep less and we are less happy. Its not what I am saying. You can have a look around you. Personally, I dont remember when was the last time I slept without knowing when I had to get up. That for me is slavery, where you are a puppet in the hands of the materialistic world. Guys, there is life more than money.. the promises you need to keep are those you made to yourself and no one else..

The Economics of Life

It seemed just the start of another week ahead on the 21st day of July 2008. How was I to know what lay ahead. All I knew that the weekend would be special. And in more than one way. A month into IIMB, and my smooth running came to an abrupt halt. The Convocation was a temptation that loomed large in the foresight. But the road to the convo was something I had never planned. And the return not even imagined. So cometh the Monday, we were given cases to submit on Friday, the big day in my life. So, I had to get to work against all odds all by myself. The first glitch: I had no idea how to go about it. There was a sense that I would put some crap.. which i earnestly did. But after 3 straight night outs and bunking of classes for the first time at IIMB, I thought I ended up with something decent. The exam at the weekend was far off my mind till I finished the report.

Off I went to the sultry and hot Chennai, the only solace being I could catch up with old friends and be honoured as a B. Tech in Biotechnology. We had a ball. With all the red gowns, the hall looked like a garden of roses. I was utterly disappointed that I couldnt bag the Institute Merit Prize but I am more than willing to make up for it out here. The night was as planned. Dinner with friends, received lots of gifts. gave none, forgot some and all kinds of stuff. Finally, the long awaited walk, one with which I have to be content for a long long time.

Back to Bangalore, ran into an auto driver who wouldnt compromise. Got into a belie with him, the fact that I was in insti was heartening. Exam Sunday morning loomed large, but what loomed larger was the lack of sleep, and off I went into the dreamland. Exam I cupped for sure, but lesson learnt. There is so much more to life and we need to go fetch it. Everything comes at a cost. This is the Economics of Life. The indifference curve after all makes sense, that I had to trade off an exam for going to convo. And this is called learning. As practical as it can get. But, I am now assured that the satisfaction was the highest i could have attained irrespective of the exam.

The perfect recipe

The perfect recipe for a wonderful evening:

1 teaspoon of kshitij (for humour)
1 teaspoon of aditi (for digging her own grave. aka.bakra)
1 teaspoon of aishwarya (for someone to bulb)
1 teaspoon of purvi (for eating up all food)
1 teaspoon of ganesh (for being dumb)
1 teaspoon of ankit (for hmmm... u can comment.. :) )

and a place by the beach side.. and thats it my friends.. that evening lasted four years...

"And that my FRIEND is called CLOSURE"

A night at Bhupath and Jyothis'

Amidst the unbearable hot and, more importantly, extremely humid summer, I found refuge at this amazing place Bhupath and Jyothis'.. From the exterior, a five star hotel, lives upto expectations of a student searching for heaven on the island of heat. I say this because I have often heard that hell comprises of burning flames which will cook your flesh and purify and anoint you.

Yeah, so coming back to this place, it had a lavish interior decoration in the middle with a dome at the top and a well laid granite and marble with a delightful texture of sand. Go to the second floor, and you experience the bliss. A difference of about 15 degrees, a humdity of about 10 per cent, comfortable rocking chairs, two pretty females working there, provision of laptops with neck breaking speed of the internet connection, a database of almost every movie to be made to choose from, what more could one ask for.. Well... one can... ORKUT... I mean TEEN PATTI.. and someone to play along with it.. And here is the part of the story you need to move away from the girls and you need guys... I got them, and lets leave it there.. We played teen patti... lost then won and then lost again... I lost the appetite for losing money and turned to actual cards.. Bluffing has always worked for me.. Be it in cards or in front of professors or core members or anyone... So, we start playing bluff... And the girls joined in.. In the middle of the game, I kept losers to treat.. I knew I would win.. :D So we played Bluff in the room... watched DDLJ... played music.. I wonder if we could dance next time as it would complete a perfect stay at the Bhupath and Jyothis'...

Its high time!!!

Well.. I hope you are aware of the AXN reality series named "Girls Gone Wild"... I am glad to say I might be soon on the series due to my presence at one such party. Where girls were going really wild. While I was lucky to be kissed by two different people, I was at the receiving end and I had my share of bruises too.

Hmmm.. The Indian traditional wear suddenly turned nasty when girls were seen in nothing but t shirts, white non-opaque t shirts, inviting everyone for graffiti. Hmmm hmmm.. and guess what.. Their backs and fronts were all written over... I guess most of them were not in their senses but for those who were, one of hem being me, it was a sheer delight. With the t shirts going up and down and the girls falling like nine pins, I never expected such a wild party so soon.

Well, gals u rock... and with u on alcohol... the world rocks...

Of all the memories into the RGs..

Well its RG time... By RG I don't mean that I have any exam... It's time when everyones kora chitta is filled with all the good, bad and the ugly deeds in the past four years. Its fun running down memory lane and picking out events which are the most funny, most memorable, most endeared for something which will be remembered all life. Its a session where your closest friends toast you and everything is printed on an A3 paper for all to know about you...

Some people find it embarrassing, some don't like it and yet another lot just gives it the full thrust. I would typically fall into the third category playing no hand in concealing whatsoever. But sometimes, some of my friends come to me and say, no this did not happen and that did not happen. Sometimes, they ask not to incorporate. But why, isn't it all going to be fun.. Isn't this what we crave for all four years. To have people like you, to know that people love you, to know that how much your life has affected theirs and that it would have been a completely different story if you hadn't been there around. I sincerely ask all you friends to take a chill pill and don't go about contemplating about whats being written. No one will write a word wrong. These are memories close to their hearts and after the saga gets over close to yours too.

Long ago, may be in my first year here, I used to get so many forward messages.. Nothing struck me as this one. One day, we will look back at what we did and we will cry for the times we laughed, and laugh at the times we cried. This is life friends.. Live it!!

The beginning of the end...

The last month due tomorrow. And the season of farewells has already begin with the Adieu organized by the institute. A kuntry max event as any IITian would call it, there were huge queues for food and people breaking in. Well, thats IIT for you. The girls were quite over dressed for the occasion but later I came to know the use of it. Ill get back to that in a while. As I said, the season of farewells... And we had a BT picnic organized yesterday. It was fun but in a different way. Seemingly overdone at various points of time, it was something to get away from the joblessness we all face in our lives. The toasts were the only thing which interested me a little but then people keep extending which cost me a very dear night.

Hehe.. Coming back to the Adieu, everyone was fascinated by Vineeta Singh who but all looked ordinary. There has somehow always been air about her presence but the charm is long gone. A little old with age, she looked worn out by all the PE job offer and the consultancy work she has been doing. I could see some Sharav junta grouping around her for no reason and not quite to her liking. She was wanting to get away from them. Udaan started modestly with no one paying heed but as people settled in they gained momentum with numbers like Tere liye and Pehla nasha rocking the crowds..

There was always a bustling feeling when you got down into the bowl. People were taking photographs with everyone else possible and this was going on one after the other. It was a nice feeling but to me the need to take a pic spelled nostalgia. Spelled that its of course, farewell...

Holi Hai!!

Let the Music play, let the bhaang go in, let the thandaai cool it off... This happens every holi... So whats special about this one.. Well for starters... I was woken up from sleep and straight taken to charge... The juniors Lays Shammo and Ugri came banging my door... Although I would have been angry if anyone else in this world did it, these guys surely weren't going to bear any of my wrath. On the other hand, I peacefully resigned to what they wanted to do and was coloured even before I was fully conscious. It took a while to get into the groove but I didnt know what awaited me..

The "Matka Phodi", a new entrant into the Alak culture, was a big hit.. Though the structure collapsed twice or may be thrice, people didnt lose hope. I had to take it upon myself to do Shri Ganesh as I lifted katrina on my shoulders and it was some sight. If Deja and I were a sight at Saarang a couple of years back, this is one step higher. The scene was of two men standing vertically, one on top of the other. It was hard doing the balancing act, and to some extent dangerous, but we did it, thanks to all the spirit IIT has got into us.

This was not it for the day though.. Due to all the rains in Chennai for the past week, the quadrangle the shape in which it was invited to fore the "Shaitani" dimaag all of us have. They started pushing everyone turn by turn into the muddy water and my got it hurt me. My back is fully scratched and burning. God why!!

Beedi.. Another new addition to my repertoire here in IIT.. The Czar came over to my wing after I had removed the colour quite a bit. But how was I to know that Czar and his army were still to attack. I had colour all over again. And this time no water to wear it off... Nano came in half conscious to the room and everyone desperately waiting for water, the moment it came we had bath two in one bog. Beat that!!!

Well, I had decided that I wouldn't play holi ever... But I just can't say no to these set of people who have become a need if not more. Love ya guys... May these colours brighten up your life and wishing you good luck ahead..

Holi hai!!!!

Elections ke liye saala kuch bhi karega..

Well I am not writing about any country or state elections. As the title of my blog goes, I shall proceed with the institute. When I think of IIT and the elections that I have so closely been involved in for the past three years, I realize it is all a big farce. Be it insti or hostel, SAC speaker or any other post open to students, a good candidature is the last criteria considered before voting. It all boils down to how many of the various factions existing here can you pull. And the word spreads like fire. I remember me discussing how the word spreads in the most abundant faction out here. To give an analogy, its something like the "Uncontrolled Chain Reaction". It increases exponentially with everyone for some reason very loyal to their head. To prove the point, it is so predominant that people have considered changing names for elections. Beat that!!

Coming to the other side of the elections, the so called meetings, is just a congregation of selfish diplomats who are their to shell out something good for each of them. Everyone wants to blow his whistle, and the prejudice is and can never be eradicated. I have never seen any solution out of this meeting and it makes sense that nothing comes out. It takes more courage to withdraw your nomination than to file it for it involves sacrifice and lowering of pride. Coming back to the meetings, as I said people try pointing fingers at others, people try BSing and people also try being emotional. Its like that candy ad: "Kuch bhi karega for Candyman". And it indeed looks like a candy to all people. For more power, for more money and for a good job. Yeah, a good job. As someone said a couple of days back, "Please let me contest. I have my ambitions and I need a good job. I have no credentials." What does this line say to you? It makes me rethink my post's title. Shouldn't it be "Job ke liye saala kuch bhi karega!!" But alas, its about power too. People have lost the trust in anyone's word and it all boils down to who is more desperate. Rarely, has anyone stood for the post to work for it. And even more rarely has anyone won an election to work for it. It is always working for oneself.

As I have seen this year, trying to keep out of elections, it just bounces back on you. You seem to be a traitor now. It is such a spiralled community that once you get in you keep drowning in the whirlpool. Hats off to these people who devote so much time and attention to these posts and worship it. Last night, was the final time I sat in a meeting and I am still waiting for an outcome out of it. Guys, I know IIT is known for all the smart brains, but the abuse of democracy in this section of the society does not serve good for the country nor for the students themselves in the future. But with three new IITs coming up, I wonder is there a new ray of hope for IITM, or is it something that cannot be changed. This year we have seen the shift of power, but is it not from a devils hand to another?