Leader of Men

After the elections results are finally out, I'll resist the temptation to say "I told you so". Not because of any scruples, but because I didn't. Nobody did!

No one had any idea who would form the government this time around. There were genuine concerns over Mayawati finally fulfilling her dream and plunging this country into a horrendous nightmare.

What with only 44% voter turnout in Mumbai, the nightmare seemed liked becoming a reality. LK Advani, Mayawati, The Left Front...there was no one who was actually close to the public. The Congress itself was a mess trying to put together a non-existent alliance. Those concerned about the future of the country must have spent sleepless nights. I assure you, I wasn't one of them.

This time the elections were not about selecting the right candidates, it was about selecting those who would do the least damage. Irrespective of its notorious past (Bofors, Emergency etc.), the Congress this time was closer to the public's heart. Yeah, prices had risen, but they would have anyway. Yeah, there was recession, but it was handled superbly by the government. Although its allies kept threatening to destabilize it, the government stood firm on its ground. I'm talking about the Nuclear Deal. No, I don't know what it contained but if Manmohan Singh was ready to sacrifice his government for it, I would back it no matter what.

That's the whole point! Manmohan Singh may be one of the silent types but still he is a great leader. Leading by example. He does not ask anyone to obey his orders. He politely requests them on National TV to lend him their support. Better than Narendra Modi (or even LK Advani) who gain popularity by catering to the peoples' baser instincts...like xenophobia, religious discrimination etc.

These elections are not a victory for the Congress, they are a victory for democracy. Voter turnout was less. Those who did not vote should keep their mouths shut when the government makes any silly decision. After all, you had a choice, you made the wrong one. GTH!

Cheers to the Great Indian Democracy!

There's no government like no government! - Anonymous

Take a Bow

I never thought I'd be writing this post. But now, the end is near.

In the week 27th April - 1st May, I organized SYNERGY 2K9. The name was given to the otherwise boorish sounding ISTE WEEK last year. President Aashish Aggarwal and VP Anurag Saxena had come up with a unique name for a mini tech-fest consisting of five events in a span of three days. Mr. Kapil Goyal, a notorious teacher from the Mechanical Department had said it was impossible. "In your face, KKG!" was our triumphant response at the end of three days.

Fast forward to 2009. I had already proved myself with ISTE WEEK (See: Tears in Heaven). The name Synergy was going to become a fixture every year. Planning was in full flow. And then it hit me. My last contribution to college. My last hurrah! After dedicating three years of my life to ISTE, it was finally time to say goodbye. I felt heavy. No more events, just spend some time peacefully as a regular, ordinary student. But the path chosen 3 years ago did not let me return to mediocrity. SYNERGY 2K9 was destined to happen.

This time around, all technical events. The list:

• Tech Yard


• Web Hunt 2.0


• Bravado - The Corporate Quiz


• Bit Fighters


• Gladiator's Arena

We had an event from every discipline. From Mechanical to Computers. But something was missing. Electronics! There could be no robot making or circuit designing because frankly, ISTE in our college is a cash-strapped society. Our budget did not allow us the luxury of thinking about ICs or bread boards. We all were confused. And then- There was Light!

Tech-Chat was the answer to our prayers. Something that was loved by all...students as well as teachers. All applications duly signed and approved, all material bought. And so began the last dance.

The week preceding the events, I had gone to Ambala to place the order for the prizes. Nothing can be more embarrassing than selecting the trophy you are going to be presented with at the valedictory ceremony. I blushed but placed the order anyway.

In the prize distribution ceremony, I was where I had always wanted to be - on stage as an anchor. One last time!

May 1st 2009, 1545 IST: It was finally over. The name of the new President had been announced. Now was the time to be alone. ISTE had been my everything in college. I ran a lot less behind girls than I ran for events and meetings. It was fun, no doubt!

ISTE helped me salvage some pride. In a desolate middle-of-nowhere college run by a capricious management, it had given me hope. I used to think joining MMEC, Mullana had been the biggest mistake of my life. It wasn't. Whatever work I did, it benefitted me and my fellow students. I came in contact with talented individuals who were all ready to bring about a change in college.

The winds of change are blowing harder than ever. I just hope that the foundations of the college do not crumble under the pressure.

And now, I'm gone! In July, a new batch of students will arrive. And I'll be just a memory...fading away into ignominy.

Goodbye ISTE, it was worth every moment!

Be the Change you to see in the world. - MK Gandhi

The Quest

In college, one of the things i discovered were WebHunts. These were tidy little sites which could fry anyone's brains.
The simplest was:
www.freestuffhotdeals.com/hacker/1.html

Once I was addicted, there was no looking back. I solved Klueless, Notpr()n and a lot of the like. The concept is simple, get to the next page by solving the clue given on the current page. Sounds easy, right. It isn't!
And then, I had one of those bizzare ideas. Why don't I create a WebHunt of my own?
ISTE's Synergy 2K8 proved the perfect platform for its launch. I don't know if it will be available anymore, but here's the link:

http://return.of.moriarty.googlepages.com

I got a lot of positive criticism (Why diidn't you make one earlier? was the most common question).
Fast forward to February 2009... Planning for the eagerly awaited Synergy 2K9 had started. And another WebHunt was forming in my mind.
Voila, WebHunt 2.0 was launched:

http://istemullana.googlepages.com/webhunt

GooglePages is going to migrate soon to Google Sites. And probably the WebHunt will be destroyed.
But, it was fun while it lasted!!
You can try the WebHunts whenever you like, and if you really get stuck...you know where to find me.

India in Slow Motion

Sometimes fiction is nothing as compared to real life. Sometimes, a writer's words do not capture the true essence of his thoughts. Its during times like these that I switch to reading non-fiction. Mark Tully's book; India in slow motion; turned out to be the newest entrant to my book-shelf.

The book is dedicated to all those who are striving for the good of India. It sure mentions a few of them. Mark Tully himself has a great deal of love for this country. Sure, he may look and speak like any another foreigner, his sympathy for this country matches that of any contemporary patriot. Born in Calcutta (now Kolkata) and educated in England, Mark Tully was a correspondent for the BBC in South Asia for 25 years. In 2002, he was working as a journalist in New Delhi.

Tully mentions Gillian Wright; his partner in many of his escapades; as co-author. However, the book is written from his own perspective. A book about India! I felt a deep sense of pride as I first read the cover. However, the contents of the book did shake that pride a little.

In the book, India is presented through the eyes of an outsider. A stranger in a strange land. He dwells on the glory of India's heritage and swiftly moves on to the deplorable condition the country is in today. No, he does not focus on the poverty and the down-trodden like another famous foreigner (Danny Boyle, anyone!). He focuses on other serious issues, highlighting how this country hasn't been able to out of its colonial mindset. How red tape and bureaucracy (babudom) are still holding back the potential of the largest democracy in the world.

The purpose of "India in Slow Motion" was not to highlight the problems faced by this country. India is often depicted as a victim of forces too wild to be controlled - of post-colonial malaise, of religious strife, of the caste system, of a corrupt bureaucratic machine. The book argues that change is possible and solutions do exist. It looks at the people who are trying to bring about this change.

The book is in the form of short stories written in the first person. Mark Tully has personally interviewed quite a few soldiers of truth. There is Mathew Samuel - the journalist from Tehelka.com who exposed the corruption in arms procurement in the Defense services. Also, there is Aruna Roy - one of the major proponents of the Right to Information Act. She was the one who got Right to Information implemented in Rajasthan even when the RTI was just a bill in the Parliament.

"India in Slow Motion" securely grasps the essence of the enigma that is India. A Third World country that has all the ingredients to become a Superpower but is hindered by the enemy within. Even if you are not an Indian, this book provides very deep insight and may even force you to re-think any preconceived notions you may have about this country.

In everything he writes, Tully's sympathy for and knowledge of India shines through...He is, indeed, incomparable among foreign observers of that bewildering, maddening, utterly enchanting medley of peoples.
- Geoffrey Moorhouse, The Guardian

PS. Mark Tully did not pay me to write this review. But I do feel that any person who thinks of himself as an Indian should read the book.

Gandhi - the Vision and the Glasses

Congratulations to all my brethren for getting back what was rightfully ours. A certain pair of glasses that were under the hammer at a very big auction. India's prestige has been restored in the International community. Vijay Mallya turned out to be the greatest patriot of 'em all by shelling out a cool $ 1.8 million for the Gandhi Goodies©.

Somehow, I've begun to doubt my own sense of patriotism. My chest just refused to swell with pride when the news was announced. I apologize to Indrajit Hazra for quoting him here with the quote unquoted as he quoted exactly what I had been thinking.

My only question is: If we Indians wanted the Gandhi Goodies © (glasses, slippers, bowl and blood report)so badly, why did we ask the government to get them for us? After all, unlike the Kohinoor diamond and most of the Indian artifacts scattered across various museums around the world, these Gandhi Goodies© weren't stolen property that left an unholy imperialist-hegemonic ooze-trail across continents and time. This was fair and square deal in which the owner of the Gandhi Goodies© had decided to sell them to the highest bidder...No burglaries, no customs rackets, no Tomb Raider sequences, no RSS hanky-panky that we are so familiar with...All legit. So, why couldn't one of us, so keen to suck every Gandhi item scattered across the globe, raise his hand and make a bid at the Antiquorum auction last Tuesday night at New York?

No, you don't have to answer the above question. Not that I expect you to, anyway. What's the big deal with the glasses? I thought Gandhi was about ideology and not idol worship.Frankly, I have come to accept the Great Indian Hypocrisy as a way of life. To think of it, alcohol was the vilest thing according to Gandhi (That's why October 2 is a Dry Day!). Almost six decades after his death, India; his own country; cheered while his belongings were purchased at an auction by India's biggest liquor baron. Another one bites the dust in front of the Great Indian Hypocrisy! May his soul rest in peace.

This one flew right over the KINGFISHER's nest!

Epoch

We judge ourselves by what we feel capable of doing, while others judge us by what we have already done.

H. W. Longfellow

The following events took place between 12^th Feb 2008 and 12^th Feb, 2009

February '08

• Infosys recruitment drive at MMEC, Mullana. I got selected by my dream company. How? Check this out.
• Immediately after the selection, I head off to Lucknow for my cousin's marriage.
• Within one week of the placement drive, "Trojans" was born. Nishant and I founded the society for the students of computers department.

March '08

• Literati '08 held at NIT Kurukshetra. One event Junkyard Wars caught my fancy. It would not be until November that I would be able to realize my dream. Read my exploits by clicking here.
• My love story took a nosedive. Read about it here.

April '08

• ISTE organized Synergy - 2K8. Five events in the space of three days. Encoding, Paper presentation, quiz, Big Fight and Webhunt. I paid my tribute to those crazy, whacky net puzzles like Klueless with my own Webhunt. Click here for details.
• Won first prize in Trojan Hunt, Nishant's rendition of NIT's webhunt. I would not have participated if it had not felt like a challenge from him to me. He's good! He managed to bag second in my WebHunt. Quite a few eyebrows were raised but both of us knew the truth. We had not cheated. Our consciences were clear and that's what mattered the most.

May '08

• A major fiasco - the closing ceremony of Trojans. Somehow, the show fell to pieces. Oh well, the less the said the better.
• ISTE's end of the year party at our favourite dhaba. I raised a toast to four very special seniors; Aashish Aggarwal, Varun Soni, Vikas Goyal and Sandeep Dhiman. If it had not been for them, I would still be just an unknown face in the crowd at MMEC.

June '08

• The semester papers started after preparatory holidays that lasted for almost a month. Life was hell in the scorching summer.

July '08

• I took my tiffin-box of a PC to Chandigarh and got it upgraded. Wrote as many articles as possible for my blog. No, I'm not going to place links to all of them. If you are interested, look them up in my blog.
  
• My love story found a new chapter. Unfortunately, the sequel had an even more agonizing ending. Damn!

August '08

• Found my lost groove with the help and support of a great friend, Prashant Diggi. Playing Pro Evolution Soccer 6 at his home brought back my touch on the real ground. I have no explanations for it. Playing football on the PC improved my game on the ground too. Magic!

September '08

• My final year at MMEC begins. ISTE has a new President. And all hell breaks loose.
• Abhivyakti-2008, our college fest taught me a valuable lesson. Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer. Every night during the fest was like an audition straight out of Roadies.

October '08

• Symptoms of imbecility were being shown by the President of ISTE. I was confused, nervous and unsure.
• Infosys Campus Connect (Soft Skills training) was held in our college. Fortunately, it managed to bring me back from the dead.

November '08

• ISTE Week was organized and we went where no MMECian had gone before. Six events in the span of 4 days. The events themselves had never been conducted in our college before. Reverse coding, Half-A-Minute, Turncoat, Youth Parliament, Big Fight and my favourite: Techyard. The mini fest got rave reviews and woke up the college management. And I had regained my confidence. The details are all placed here.

December '08

• Exam time again! 9 more papers and I would earn the title of Engineer.
• Presentation - the only thing I contributed to my team's minor project. Heck, I had been too busy pondering over what I could do that I actually did nothing. Embarrassing; but I had learnt another lesson.

January '09

• Watched 'Slumdog Millionaire'. I just can't understand these self-professed protectors of Indian culture. Great Indian Hypocrisy! My sister has already copyrighted the title so I can't write anything else about it (Do I even need to?). I'll place the link to her blog as soon as she publishes it.

February '09

• The Final Frontier! Last semester at Mullana. I've written a lot about my college. Check out the stuff here and here. Love it or hate it, its my college anyway!
  
• Infosys; after a gap of exactly 365 days; sent us our joining letters. Its official, I'm an Infoscion! Absolute bliss!

The preceding events happened between 12th Feb, 2008 (The date I was selected by Infosys) and 11^th Feb, 2009 (the date I got my offer-cum-joining letter)

Turn the Page

It was a fine Tuesday evening. Masterji was returning home from school. He teaches in the government school in a nearby village. The school happens to be the only one in the district. As he walked down the battered road, he let his mind to dwell upon the day's happenings. Today, Charan was absent. His father was lying drunk in the middle of the road last night when a truck ran over him. Preeti too would not be able to attend classes. Her parents had strong objections to sending their girl to school. Masterji would have to stop by their house tonight and try to convince them...again. His class consists of ten students. He can't let ignorance block the path to knowledge.

Masterji was engrossed in his musings when something caught his eye. A hundred rupee note was lying on the ground.

Masterji teaches Moral Science at the government school. He also teaches Hindi, Maths and Science along with anything that he feels will help the students. Masterji had now stopped beside the hundred rupee note. A look around told him that nobody was watching.

Masterji is a religious person. He spends thirty minutes in silent meditation and prayer every morning. Also, he is very dedicated and sincere towards his job. Many teachers had refused to work at his present position. A lot of them had pulled even greater number of strings to get transfers to someplace more urbane. However, Masterji had stayed behind. He wanted to help in his country's progress. "The real India is in the villages", he vaguely remembered the quote.

Masterji owns a bicycle. However, he likes walking the five kilometres to school. Today, A hundred rupee note was lying right in front of him. He could make out a few people standing quite some distance away. What should he do? He had been standing and thinking for over fifteen minutes now.

Masterji stooped. With an elegant stretch of the limbs, the note was in his pocket. Nobody saw him. Masterji walked on to his home.

It is true that Masterji teaches Moral Science at a government school. It is also true that he is the ONLY teacher at the government school. It is also true that he hasn't received his salary for the past six months.

Only the educated are free. - Epitectus

(Inspired from a short story that I had read somewhere a very very long time ago. I don't remember the name of the original author. In fact, I only remember the gist of the story. This is my adapted version of the Hindi original. This line issued in the spirit of GNU. Give credit where it is due.)