Sunday, January 14, 2007

Follow a dream

Let’s follow a dream

A dream to dream.

For some the problem is inception

Rest say it’s continuation.

Most halt prior to start

Rest taste sweat of salt.

Does the coal know

His future is in fire.

Does the flower know

His future is in pyre.

Does the coal know

Jewels are there to adore

Does the flower know

God is there to bore.

Who knows what is heaven or hell?

Let’s follow a dream

A dream to dream.

God helps those

Who help you

Take a step forward

He is always with a clue.

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

A journey to Kumbh

After 3 and half hours of tiresome journey, one of my friends yelled: hey! Look, it’s beautiful. Expecting nothing great, I slowly turned to find really a scenic beauty. We were crossing the bridge at Allahbad and the lightings of Ardhkumbh were at their best stretching to around 5 odd kms on both sides. My friend started to take pictures and I had to be content only with my mobile phone camera which was really unrecognizable at the end.
My sole aim of this visit was to get a feel as to how does one feel when others are busy writing their paper (for which they had come) and you are free as a bird to do anything you wish. After a good night’s sleep we went to the Sangam.
At the ghat, I easily found the monopolistic ladies selling small cans for filling water, so called pure Ganga jal. When I neared the place of holy dip through the small boat, I was feeling ashamed of the bathroom with just the sky as the roof. Everyone was telling the importance of the dip and I was ashamed of the ladies (though they were also taking the dip). To add to the agony the saviour of our religion, the pandits were busy making money with four liners mantra and the multiple times used coconut. Used because, small children were hired by this man to find the used coconut from the Sangam for further use. One should really learn how to make business without investing 2 pennies (one penny for coconut bought for the first time!).
Leaving this aside, I also did not know how to swim. Only one of my fiends knew and I was pretty sure that at the time of need he will be first and only one to be at the shore. Finally I decided to get into the Ganges/Yamuna/Saraswati. The water was so cold that I immediately empathized with the souls of Titanic tragedy. How would they have felt when they sunk into freezing water .It was not as cold and my legs had started getting numb.
After the dip I now was considering myself pure and at that time I could see interface of Ganges and Yamuna, Ganges with dull brownish colour and Yamuna with greenish attire.
Though earlier the reason was, I was busy seeing something else.
The enormity of the Ardhkumbh was awesome and no qualms as to why, brothers getting separated in the kumbh mela was the theme of uncountable Bollywood classics. We also would have needed to go to “bhule bhatke shivir” thanks to tariff free call to local airtel connections.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Blowin' in the wind

How many exams must a man pass by
Before you call him a man?
Yes'n'How many lands must Bush crash down
Before he sleeps in the sand?
Yes'n'How many lives must a cigarette now take
Before they are forever banned?
The answer, my friend is bolowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind

How many times must a man look down
Before he can cheat from the page?
Yes'n'How many ears must one man have
Before he can hear the sage?
Yes'n'How many expels will it take till he knows
That too many people have left?
The answer, my friend is bolowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind

How many years can hatred exist
Before it's washed in the sea?
Yes'n'How many years saints exist
Before they are allowed to be free?
Yes'n'How many times can a missionary turn away
Preending he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend is bolowin' in the wind
The answer is blowin' in the wind

Thursday, January 04, 2007

My experiments with an interview

This is a summary of my experience during the process. Many things one can get from the site itself, and rest of the stuff when they will come for PPT

Best part of the whole process was its transparency. They detailed us the various steps they would follow and the corresponding skill sets required. Their main focus was on CAR and T

Capacity – 1) How does one analyze the data

2) Thinking out of the box

Achievement 1) Perseverance and patience

Relationship 1) How does one work in a group

Technical This part was related to the technical project done which was to be presented in the most simplified way.

The process was distributed in three parts Case study , Group Exercise, Technical interview

CASE STUDY:

My program started at 6’o clock in the morning. I was given a 20 odd page foreground of the case , the earlier evening. Then in the morning I was supplied with 22 page case to be read in 80 minutes. They also gave a sample case during the ppt. It related to various problems meshed in one. After the time was over, I was called up by one of the experts. They were really very cooperative and ever smiling. I was asked to present the theme in 5 min. The last day we were given a mock exercise and were given some tips as well about the presentation. They were expecting the theme to have

1 Key issues

2 Short term and medium term actions

3 Strategic actions/ long term solutions.

It was followed by 20-25 min questionnaire session . They asked almost all the practical questions possible and simultaneously picking up questions from my presentation.

GROUP EXERCISE:

They had specifically mentioned, do not show aggressiveness. This round is to check ‘A’ and ‘R’. Do not try to employ CSR type of GD funda. Here also we were given a case. We had to reach to some conclusion. Also the plan suggested was to be strategically explained. This was a great problem as my partner could not read the material due to paucity of time and he was beating around the bush neither was he helping me to reach any conclusion. Finally we could not reach to any. This was the thing which was troubling me during the result as it was my weakest link, though due to the group.
I tried to be as polite as possible. All this gave a feel of the real tedious task of the managers.
After the given time they asked us to summarize. I took this opportunity (after asking the group). I explained the possible options but as some of the others had not given their strategy I left it( I was asked to stand up after I started speaking without standing). Then the assessors asked others if they had any comments. They had a few of their own points.

TECHNICAL INTERVIEW:

Another set of guys. Probably two HR and one technical guy. The interview started with the normal question of “ tell me about your self”. They had thoroughly read the resume as when I left my robo war contest they was quick to add it.

As we were asked in the mail, following were stressed upon

#Objective of my (preferred) project.

#What are the things you did ?

# Specific challenges faced

# The steps employed

# What is the utility of your project

# What financial advantages does it have, some specific questions which was coming up from my answers itself. I showed them by calculation that a profit of $1million can be had with this project.

Any Questions?

---------------------------------------------------The END--- ----------------------------

After the results feedback were given to a few students (who were not selected). Amazingly their feedback correctly pointed out the original nature of the students. So one should not try to fool them.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

UTSAV REVISITED

Since the inception of UTSAV in 1997, it has never looked back both in terms of quality of participation and the funds. As far as UTSAV’06 is concerned there were many inspiring developments. First of all Prashant bhaiya was present. Though he curtailed our liberties to a great extent we learnt a lot from him. He made us prepare the words to be spoken on stage before the event. Initially we got irritated but it was for the ultimate good, as could be seen that it certainly gave a direction. It also gave a sense of responsibility. Rajesh bhaiya was once again on the spree.
For the first time we organized the Alternative Career Workshop and it was certainly a huge success. At least the forms filled showed the pathetic condition of the students of Purnea. We certainly need to cater to such needs. Problem is how? If any body just visits Purnea, just read the career alternative workshop forms, they are so vague. I mean the guys are not aware as to where they are heading to.

As far as lit events were concerned, I personally found that guys/ gals did not come forward to speak of their own. Though it was the condition when we were at that age but we need to change it. While some people spoke I found that they had a good command over the language especially girls but they were unable to speak maintaining the eye contact. We can break such virtual shells by interacting with them when ever we visit to Purnea.
The fine arts events were fabulous. People put up their ideas efficiently over paper.
From us Utsav certainly helps to train what it means to organize an event of such a scale. For us this acts as a great leap when the point of organizing the events at institute comes.
One very pleasant thing which any body can witness is the friendly competitiveness.
Finally we also must appreciate some of the students who participated in almost all the events right from cricket to debate.
Congratulating everybody for making UTSAV a success.

Wind of change brought out by Utsav

( It is not an act of plagiarism but a salute to the song and Utsav)
{Utsav is a fest organized in Purnea under our Sir's guidence (Batul Da)at a gala scale during December. Koshi flows via Purnea and the event's place is near Runbhoomi( a park)}

Winds of Change

I follow the Koshi
Down to runbhoomi
Listening to the wind of change
A december chilling night
Students passing by
Listening to the wind of change

Utsav continuing
did you ever think?
That we could be so close, like brothers
I can feel it here(heart)
Blowing with the wind of change

Take me to the workshop
Holding every breath
where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the wind of change

Walking down to Sir's place
with fading memories
Igniting them.
Listening to the wind of change

I follow the Koshi
Down to runbhoomi
Listening to the wind of change

Take me fore stage
awe looking the faces
Listening to the wind of change

The wind of change blows straight
Into the face of time
Like the freedom bell for peace of mind

Take me fore stage
awe looking the faces
where the children of tomorrow dream away
In the wind of change.