A couple of days back, I accompanied my brother to his Anna Univ Engineering counselling. Now Venki my bro is a classic example of MPD..lol..he was oh-so-tensed, but tried to put on this brave front, and ended up with a fever. He has his priority list set, and wanted Computer Science really bad ('I love programming..Im born to code!') but it was very sad, because his first and second choice colleges did not have any CSE seats remaining, so he had to settle for IT. All prepared, we stand in the queue, the family, for moral support, and we were, lets put it this way, listening to everyone else talk, simply because we had nothing else to do. So picture this. My brother, getting constant updates from friends..'dai machan, 3 seats left in Meenakshi da', my mum, who goes like..'cha, whats the point in having scored so much! No CSE..we should have paid up somewhere and got a seat..you know..XYZ aunty's sister's daughter got into CSC in ABC college paying 4 lakhs! What is the point in earning so much money..who else can I spend it for..' and on and on..!And I was just looking around, fretting about how old I have got, because I really felt old, looking at all the kids around..('man so young these people are.. oh great..Im aging :(' )
So then I was 'chanced to overhear' this girl's dad on his mobile. It was very convenient because she was standing right behind us. 'Sollunga maaplai, no problem! She will surely get computer science from PSG or CEG..Being an SC ST carries with it its own advantages!' My brother turned around and his jaw dropped like..like it would have hit the ground if not for all those muscles and everything else holding it in place. I mean, here is a girl, who is just as intelligent as my brother, who has scored the same marks as him, but is allowed to study in a college that any other equally intelligent student from a different caste will not even have in his priority list, simply because it is way beyond his score!
I know many of you reading this would have had first hand experience in the same. But well, what is the point talking about experiences right now. The question is what can be done regarding this??!! A good many private college (not those that sell seats) take in students on merit basis.For instance, SASTRA, Tanjavur, has just one criteria for students applying to it-a score of over 1100 for 1200. Colleges like Symbiosis have their own screening tests which only the best of the lot clear, and so do IIT and IIM, but the caste-shadow-ghost-evil spirit makes its presence felt everywhere.. and how! Finally, everybody, except those benefited by this, everyone else cribs about it. I mean..why why WHY cant we adopt something like the western education system??!! After one entire semester of a paper called Research Methods, and cramming this detail answer on how to do a questionnaire, my internship guide asks me to frame a questionnaire. My first practical attempt at it. I took one entire day with 3 re-do's. I mean, why dont we have any practical learning!! A few zoologist friends from the USA work in zoos through the summer, because such practical exposure will only get them into a good college. So how many of you guys have done anything like that...? I believe every module taught must have the students experiment it themselves. But this needs to be initiated from primary school.We might say how important this is, but we are not at all accustomed to this method and we might rebel..Whatever..Maybe I might just teach my kids to not make the same mistakes I did..to love derivations; to understand equations..and to revel in the magic of numbers..*sigh* OMG!!Did I pen that last line??!! Okay guys, lets bench that for now..Bring out the exam guides people..You shall PASS!! cheers!
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Serious Thoughts
It had been a very long time since I saw the Nat Geo and Discovery channels. There was one point of time when I used to be really crazy about those.. Wildlife and conservation and the like.. At one point of time all I wanted to do was to live in the jungle like Mowgli. No laughing please. Then somewhere sometime, a lot of *well wishers* drained that idea from my head and here I am. MBA. Any way, no regrets. But I got to make many many friends who also had this 'wildlife-y' streak, and one of them is Ram (www.ramnathshekar.com ). Ram is one of my very good and famously famous friends. And he had worked with Nat Geo on King Cobras, and they made this documentary movie of which he gave me a copy and hence broke my sabbatical. Super. :) It is an excellent movie. Highly recomended, They air it very often on Nat Geo these days, and please do watch it!! (If you are not snake-scared that is). It touched on a lot of issues and one of them was the man-animal conflict. Man encroaches into animal territory, animal is homeless. Animal wants place to stay and food to eat. So it does what it has been doing since it had evolved. Hunt. Only that now, animal has no choice but hunt only available prey- domesticated animals. So man gets wild, and kills the animal, and one fine day, its extinct.There are some movies that get you thinking. This was one. Because, this is one issue that everyone can relate to. Especially everyone at the new SSN ladies hostel. (Strictly no laughing)
Our hostel had no inmates, except, ofcourse, us. And sudenly, on one blessed morning, this family of monkeys came to stay. And trust me; one of them was huge!The Macaca rhesus (right spell?); the ones you find in the temples. Bless them. We never had a problem with them..we kept to ourselves, and so did they. Until one fine day, when they toppled our big blue dustbin, scavenging for food. okay..forgiven. Next, they raided the bathroms. God knows for what joy. They messed up the entire bathroom, toppled those bins, and what not. Forgiven. No damage caused. But it reaced the climax when did the same thing when X* was in one of the loos. She screamed and yelled and cried and brought the roof down. Well who could blame her. She had this super mega size primate-o-phobia. Which has only increased with time. Poor thing. But this was a day before we left for vacations. I have no doubt the watch men would have tried relocating the monkey family by now. But the problem is that relocation almost always never works! They have tried it tim,e and again in Delhi, and in Chennai too, with dogs. But animals accustomed to one environment will will most certainly come back o the same. The only permissible solution is to do the birth control thing to them, so that the adults will not have any progeny, and the blood line will die out. Sadness.
Our hostel had no inmates, except, ofcourse, us. And sudenly, on one blessed morning, this family of monkeys came to stay. And trust me; one of them was huge!The Macaca rhesus (right spell?); the ones you find in the temples. Bless them. We never had a problem with them..we kept to ourselves, and so did they. Until one fine day, when they toppled our big blue dustbin, scavenging for food. okay..forgiven. Next, they raided the bathroms. God knows for what joy. They messed up the entire bathroom, toppled those bins, and what not. Forgiven. No damage caused. But it reaced the climax when did the same thing when X* was in one of the loos. She screamed and yelled and cried and brought the roof down. Well who could blame her. She had this super mega size primate-o-phobia. Which has only increased with time. Poor thing. But this was a day before we left for vacations. I have no doubt the watch men would have tried relocating the monkey family by now. But the problem is that relocation almost always never works! They have tried it tim,e and again in Delhi, and in Chennai too, with dogs. But animals accustomed to one environment will will most certainly come back o the same. The only permissible solution is to do the birth control thing to them, so that the adults will not have any progeny, and the blood line will die out. Sadness.
Monday, May 4, 2009
why girls like guys
So here it goes..
(This is an original)
1. The way they ARE there, no matter what
2. The fact that they will move mountains to just see you smile
3. When you put your head on their shoulder, everything is going to be okay
4. The way they hold your hands and cross the road
5. The way they make you believe you ought to audition for the Miss World crown
6. The way they feed you ice cream from their cup
7. They share chocolates!
8. They are okay with you crying into them
9. You dont have to act brave while watching a horror movie with them
10. The way they relish whatever you cook for them
11. Because they will hit anybody who makes a pass at you
12. The way they put their arms around you that sends across the message..’my girl!’
13. They way they sing for you
14. They always manage to get tickets for your favourite movie
15. The way they always make you feel like you are the centre of their world
16. The way they fight with you and make you cry
17. And the way they make up with you, and make you cry again
18. The way they introduce you to their friends
19. The way they say ‘my baby’ and you are instantly transported to heaven
20. The way they put up with your pms and mood swings and tantrums
21. The way they travel 40 kilo metres with your favourite pasta ‘with extra mayo, please’ because you are not in the mood for roti that night (this one is for Pri )
22. The way they tuck your hair behind your ears
23. The way they pluck flowers off the road to give to you
24. The way they kneel and mouth ‘i love you’
(This is an original)
1. The way they ARE there, no matter what
2. The fact that they will move mountains to just see you smile
3. When you put your head on their shoulder, everything is going to be okay
4. The way they hold your hands and cross the road
5. The way they make you believe you ought to audition for the Miss World crown
6. The way they feed you ice cream from their cup
7. They share chocolates!
8. They are okay with you crying into them
9. You dont have to act brave while watching a horror movie with them
10. The way they relish whatever you cook for them
11. Because they will hit anybody who makes a pass at you
12. The way they put their arms around you that sends across the message..’my girl!’
13. They way they sing for you
14. They always manage to get tickets for your favourite movie
15. The way they always make you feel like you are the centre of their world
16. The way they fight with you and make you cry
17. And the way they make up with you, and make you cry again
18. The way they introduce you to their friends
19. The way they say ‘my baby’ and you are instantly transported to heaven
20. The way they put up with your pms and mood swings and tantrums
21. The way they travel 40 kilo metres with your favourite pasta ‘with extra mayo, please’ because you are not in the mood for roti that night (this one is for Pri )
22. The way they tuck your hair behind your ears
23. The way they pluck flowers off the road to give to you
24. The way they kneel and mouth ‘i love you’
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
A few reasons why guys like girls
1. they always smell good, even if its just shampoo.
2. The way their heads always find the right spot on your shoulder.
3. The eas with which they fit into your arms.
4. The way they kiss you and all of a sudden everything seems right in the world.
5. How cute they are when they eat.
6. The way they take hours to dress but in the end its all worthwhile.
7. Because they are always warm, even if its minus 30 degrees outside.
8. The way they look good, no matter what they wear.
9. The way they fish for compliments.
10. How cute they are when they argue.
11. The way their hands always find yours.
12. The way they smile.
13. The way you feel when you see their names on the caller ID after you have had a big fight.
14. The way they say 'Lets not fight anymore' even though you know an hour later..
15. The way they kiss you when you do something nice for them.
16. The way they kiss you when you say 'I love you'
17. Actually, just the way they kiss you
18. The way they fall into your arms when they cry
19. They way they apologise for crying over something silly
20. The way they hit you and expect it to hurt
21. The way they apologise when it does hurt
22. The way they say 'I miss you'
23. The way you miss them
24. The way their tears make you want to change the world so that it doesnt hurt them anymore
source: the internet.
But its here simply because I think it makes a lot of sense :) coming up next, why girls like guys :) please feel free to add your points for the same :)
2. The way their heads always find the right spot on your shoulder.
3. The eas with which they fit into your arms.
4. The way they kiss you and all of a sudden everything seems right in the world.
5. How cute they are when they eat.
6. The way they take hours to dress but in the end its all worthwhile.
7. Because they are always warm, even if its minus 30 degrees outside.
8. The way they look good, no matter what they wear.
9. The way they fish for compliments.
10. How cute they are when they argue.
11. The way their hands always find yours.
12. The way they smile.
13. The way you feel when you see their names on the caller ID after you have had a big fight.
14. The way they say 'Lets not fight anymore' even though you know an hour later..
15. The way they kiss you when you do something nice for them.
16. The way they kiss you when you say 'I love you'
17. Actually, just the way they kiss you
18. The way they fall into your arms when they cry
19. They way they apologise for crying over something silly
20. The way they hit you and expect it to hurt
21. The way they apologise when it does hurt
22. The way they say 'I miss you'
23. The way you miss them
24. The way their tears make you want to change the world so that it doesnt hurt them anymore
source: the internet.
But its here simply because I think it makes a lot of sense :) coming up next, why girls like guys :) please feel free to add your points for the same :)
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Where NOT to do an MBA :P
I am doing my MBA. I study at SSN and I love it. It has excellent infrastructure,the culture rocks, its ranked among the top ten private colleges in India, and when I say 'I study at SSN' people go 'Oh wow!SSN?!!!' But it's basically an engineering college. There are about 2000 undergrads, as compared to say 200 post grads studyin here.Now its not for no reason that everybody suggests you get your MBA from, lets call it, an institute that specialises solely in MBA, rather than, say an engineering college like mine, even though its considered one of the best. The most obvious reasons are that we must comply with University rules, we cannot tweak the syllabus to gain that 'extra' something that sets us apart from people from places like TAPMI,BIM,Symbiosis, etc (I wont even mention the IIMs). But there are a lot of unsaid reasons too. Some that get us really wild, and some that are hilarious.
For instance, this friend of mine from another engineering college, refers to the MBA students in his campus as 'aunties and uncles'. This irrespective of the fact that most freshers in the PG course would be much younger than him, because he is doing a five year course. The other day he was telling me, 'Hey guess what, our college aunties are playing a cricket match!' Now I never gave that comment much thought until yesterday, because yesterday, WE had a throw ball match, with some of the engineering kids for spectators, and one of the chaps there suddenly reminded me of my friend so much that I had to call for a time out; I was suddenly feeling very very yuck!
Then again there is the case of mistaken age differences. When we approached some third year engineering students to part with their ball for us to 'practice' for the throw ball match, one of the girls gave us one whithering look that made us feel like a cockroach cluster, and said, 'First years right???Wait.It wont kill you.' Then one of us said,'Excuse me..We're PGs' and then Miss Attitude became Miss I-am-your-faithful-junior and apologised with many 'sorry sorry akka!!!'s. Ye, 'AKKA'. Now thats another word that has me terrified these days. I mean, am I really getting THAT old??!!!
There is also this incident that I wish I'd forget asap. A friend and I used to discreetly but, I must admit, quite shamelessly, go 'sigh, sigh' over this super cute guy in our bus. 'Hey we're both wearing blue today' I'd whisper into her ear when he got on the bus, and she'd snap back sayin 'even I AM! Look, BLUE watch'. once or twice we think he caught us giggling. And one day his bag brushed my friend when he walked accross, and he turned to say 'oops..sorry' and my friend was gloating about it for a week. But I should admit, it was not just her. And I wont tell you all the crap I did, simply because this is MY blog :P Then it was exam time, semesters. First semester exams for first years of all streams and we see our dream boy walk towards the same examination block as us! Now we did know he was an engineering student, but we were hoping against hope that he'd be a fourth year..or, atleast, a third year..?! He recognises us, even tries to smile, but I think it kinda froze there, after he saw our expressions. I leave the rest to your imagination as we have conditioned ourselves to forget those terrible, disgusted-with-ourselves times :P We gave up even looking at other boys after that :P
So here we are, reformed :) And my advice to girls , do I need say it ?? But the boys, nothing for the boys :) My class boys are loving it here, Im sure you would too,if you re a guy that is ;)
For instance, this friend of mine from another engineering college, refers to the MBA students in his campus as 'aunties and uncles'. This irrespective of the fact that most freshers in the PG course would be much younger than him, because he is doing a five year course. The other day he was telling me, 'Hey guess what, our college aunties are playing a cricket match!' Now I never gave that comment much thought until yesterday, because yesterday, WE had a throw ball match, with some of the engineering kids for spectators, and one of the chaps there suddenly reminded me of my friend so much that I had to call for a time out; I was suddenly feeling very very yuck!
Then again there is the case of mistaken age differences. When we approached some third year engineering students to part with their ball for us to 'practice' for the throw ball match, one of the girls gave us one whithering look that made us feel like a cockroach cluster, and said, 'First years right???Wait.It wont kill you.' Then one of us said,'Excuse me..We're PGs' and then Miss Attitude became Miss I-am-your-faithful-junior and apologised with many 'sorry sorry akka!!!'s. Ye, 'AKKA'. Now thats another word that has me terrified these days. I mean, am I really getting THAT old??!!!
There is also this incident that I wish I'd forget asap. A friend and I used to discreetly but, I must admit, quite shamelessly, go 'sigh, sigh' over this super cute guy in our bus. 'Hey we're both wearing blue today' I'd whisper into her ear when he got on the bus, and she'd snap back sayin 'even I AM! Look, BLUE watch'. once or twice we think he caught us giggling. And one day his bag brushed my friend when he walked accross, and he turned to say 'oops..sorry' and my friend was gloating about it for a week. But I should admit, it was not just her. And I wont tell you all the crap I did, simply because this is MY blog :P Then it was exam time, semesters. First semester exams for first years of all streams and we see our dream boy walk towards the same examination block as us! Now we did know he was an engineering student, but we were hoping against hope that he'd be a fourth year..or, atleast, a third year..?! He recognises us, even tries to smile, but I think it kinda froze there, after he saw our expressions. I leave the rest to your imagination as we have conditioned ourselves to forget those terrible, disgusted-with-ourselves times :P We gave up even looking at other boys after that :P
So here we are, reformed :) And my advice to girls , do I need say it ?? But the boys, nothing for the boys :) My class boys are loving it here, Im sure you would too,if you re a guy that is ;)
Saturday, January 24, 2009
The Choice
Like the day and the night
Memoirs of one always follow the other.
She regards them both as equals in her eye
The day-bright, sunny, scorching at times
Tears produced, like sweat; they cleanse once again.
She basks in his warmth, a lone flowering bush
She owes him her happiness; he has been generous with it
He dotes on her, he hurts her yet he cares for her, she knows.
She needs him just as much as he, her
Yet the sun never can and never will
Claim such a flower his own.
As he fades, the dark night she awaits,
In his envelope, she finds comfort.
With every moment, new mysteries she uncovers
She learns the languages of the moon and the stars…
She is soothed by his touch
His murmurs make her smile
She raises no questions, she feels secure
She settles into his embrace; cherished, content
When time plays his rude game once more.
As dawn breaks, her world is sunny again
With the sun, raise questions on her gratitude and loyalties
And now she is asked to make her choice.
Memoirs of one always follow the other.
She regards them both as equals in her eye
The day-bright, sunny, scorching at times
Tears produced, like sweat; they cleanse once again.
She basks in his warmth, a lone flowering bush
She owes him her happiness; he has been generous with it
He dotes on her, he hurts her yet he cares for her, she knows.
She needs him just as much as he, her
Yet the sun never can and never will
Claim such a flower his own.
As he fades, the dark night she awaits,
In his envelope, she finds comfort.
With every moment, new mysteries she uncovers
She learns the languages of the moon and the stars…
She is soothed by his touch
His murmurs make her smile
She raises no questions, she feels secure
She settles into his embrace; cherished, content
When time plays his rude game once more.
As dawn breaks, her world is sunny again
With the sun, raise questions on her gratitude and loyalties
And now she is asked to make her choice.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Therefore, she lives
With today, the genies and fairies have failed her.
As the clouds gather, she braces herself,
Revelling in the silence, before the storm.
Her sun, his warmth he has extinguished
But not before he has left her singed
Sliced her with his words, she bleeds.
For the sun chose her himself, not her; him
He willed her to be a lotus, his own,
To rise and fade with him; she was smothered.
Independent she is, the gay wild flower,
Her mistake she acknowledges; amateurish, hasty.
And she forgives herself, and she forgives him.
For the storm may come, but she will remain,
Rooted firmly, she knows, this too shall pass
She may wilt, but she will blossom again.
As the clouds gather, she braces herself,
Revelling in the silence, before the storm.
Her sun, his warmth he has extinguished
But not before he has left her singed
Sliced her with his words, she bleeds.
For the sun chose her himself, not her; him
He willed her to be a lotus, his own,
To rise and fade with him; she was smothered.
Independent she is, the gay wild flower,
Her mistake she acknowledges; amateurish, hasty.
And she forgives herself, and she forgives him.
For the storm may come, but she will remain,
Rooted firmly, she knows, this too shall pass
She may wilt, but she will blossom again.
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