I don’t know whether to call this series of events a mere coincidence or a strange divine intervention or a simple sign…
It all began on the 8th of Jan 2011. I was searching for an interesting project or internship to do my major thesis. I had been looking for one (hopefully with pay for obvious reasons) since August 2010. I had written to a lot of people, contacted many companies and sent my profile to a number of contacts with the hope of hitting something hard.
The new year (Jan 2011) dawned with a hopeful telephonic interview call from GE, Bangalore (which was one of my dream places). I was quite happy. But then, I did not manage to crack it. Something didn’t work (I had apparently not convinced that lady enough to give me an opportunity). But then, I seem to be having a strangely contorted luck with interviews. This has happened now many times over. Ofcourse I have succeeded many times too. ( Still, conclusion: I need to work on my soft skills and interview facing skills. Well, point taken).
However, since that didn’t work out, I had decided I would get back home for the delayed vacation and then keep trying till I crack it elsewhere. So I booked to return on Jan 8th. My father said he wanted to come there and help me as I had a lot of hostel-room-vacating luggage. He came and the day when I was about to start, just a couple of hours before I started from my cousin’s house, one of my friends messaged saying my train is delayed by an hour. I thought this was quite common since it was biting winter in Delhi.
And then after an hour, again a message: further delay. “Well, so far so good” I thought. But after that, the third message conveyed about 8-9 hours’ delay due to fog. Ok. Perhaps not out of the ordinary, still a wee bit strange. But right then, my friend sent another message saying, “I told you not to leave Delhi. See…”. Hmmm, A small ‘ringing’ inside me. I ignore it.
So we finally boarded the train and reached Chennai after a monotonous 19 hours’ delay. So after I reached and settled back here, the very first evening: my scooty tyre tube broke (Ok. No big deal for a vehicle kept idle for quite some time). I changed it that evening. Next day I went to drop my mom. The same tyre’s tube again goes psssstttttttt… phew. Changed that too…
I kept looking for opportunities. But it was quite similar to the first tyre experience – didn’t work. Just before I left the university, one of my faculties said that a company accepted to take me as an intern. But the stipend wasn’t great. Looked like I will have to spend more than what I will earn there. But that was not the only reason I was not very keen in that offer (Given that, I had expressed interest when they first asked. Still I didn’t seem to be very comfortable). I tried to explain to the staff that I wasn’t very sure I wanted it. But they said I had to take it up.
So, I did take it up (more out of having no other choices at that time). I had booked my tickets to go there by train. My father was to accompany. But the confirmation didn’t happen till the last minute. On the day of my scheduled journey, we went to the station and came back. We knew it wasn’t going to work. And I wasn’t allowed a don’t-have-a-confirmation journey. When we were returning, I got the news that a friend’s father passed away. So I went there. I thought maybe this is why.
I had an extra day and that day, we decided to buy a jewel because of an offer going on. We chose something to buy and came back home. It was apparently for me. I took it out at home and it went pssttt… broke right in the middle. I think, “Gosh, will this ever end? “. So we had yet another task for the next day.
We tried going to the booking office early next day morning for tatkal train tickets, while people tried the net.
No luck with either… so all we were left with was air option (which I wanted to avoid, given the expense). So we took the flight (that too not to Pune but to Mumbai. Took a cab from Mum to Pune) and reached Pune finally. I began my work there. Happily, I got it at least in the department I had asked for. People were friendly and most of them I knew already, due to early visits.
Yet, there was a constant void. A kind of incompleteness. Something didn’t still fit in. So all this was going on. There was a short 3 days’ vacation after a month. So I came home that time. I mean that was the plan. I reached on Friday mid night and was supposed to board a flight back to Pune on Monday. In between I had to travel to Madurai. But Monday morning, though we reached home before 6.30, I (unlike any other day) slept for a while and got late. I missed the flight (again, unlike any other time. I have had really close calls before also).
I felt really bad. This was the second time I went to the departure and came back home. Remember? the first time for the train. So since I anyway had to go, I was told to take the next day’s flight. I felt guilty because that was very expensive (world cup was on. I even met Nasser Hussain in the airport). So I sort of convinced dad to allow me take a bus to Bangalore and then from there I would take a flight. (Perhaps not a clever decision - but at that point of time, nothing else seemed economical). So I took the bus to Bangalore.
I went to my aunt’s place there – reached quite early actually. Was talking with them and just sorted out the bag to pack a few things given by aunt. (My gran and bro were there)
I had taken out the ticket to just check the timings and had absently left it in the table. Next day, I was supposed to start very early. You know the airport in Bangalore right? So, while leaving I forgot to take this ticket. (Urgggggggg… grrrrrrr… Hadd hai yaar) Came back again. Detour from Hulimavu to Kamanahalli.
Of course one obvious reason was I was quite sleep-starved. But I have been through this kind of situations before. Even when there was no body to wake me up or drop me off, I have managed to take all essential stuff and reach the station/ airport on time before.
But somehow, this time it all had to go wrong. (Murphy’s law :P)
Phew. Finally I reached Pune the next day. But ever since I stepped in that time, it was Murphy’s Law the whole squared.
I try to make dinner. My cooker’s safety valve broke. My phone fell in water and I was out of reach for two days (I had a duos you see. So both sims locked in one phone. No spare handset). My internet connection was suddenly not working. Not that these are very big issues and difficult to sort out. But all these - in the same week that I returned – in a matter of five days. Especially since I had been in 4 cities in 4 days: Pune, Chennai, Madurai and Bangalore. As a matter of fact quite unnecessarily.
I was a little freaked out.
First, it was as if, I was stopped in every possible way to not go there. Second, even after I sort of managed through all that, I was being bombarded with little inconveniences to create diversions.
And just after two more weeks, I couldn’t continue my work there any longer (due to some other reasons better left alone) and I packed my bags back home. I continued my thesis work here and completed everything.
The notable facts here are that, I had gone twice before to Pune the same year. Once in Oct and once in Nov. To the same company. Both the trips, I had a very memorable and happy journey, stay, etc.
In fact the Oct trip ticket was also not confirmed that time. RAC. But I got through easily. Only when I was trying to go there during my internship, there were constant obstacles. First, the delay in Delhi. Second, from home I had to go to Bombay and reach that too after a train attempt already. Third, I had to go to Bangalore and then reach - also after a missed flight.
And in the end, I had to come back home without completing what I went there for.
That is what I found to be strange. Do you get what I mean? This is what got me thinking. Do these little signs really have value? This has also happened a lot of times before.
When I take my scooty out to do some task, when the bike starts immediately I haven’t had problems. But whenever the bike gives a trouble starting, more often than not, my work is never completed.
It seems like a vicious circle. Is it the negative thought triggered by the first mishap that cascades down to a lot of further mishaps? Or is it the ignorance or refusal to acknowledge the first signs that cause so many continued inconveniences? I was as much optimistic as possible (or at least I think I was :p ). I tried to convince myself that, “Hota hai yaar. Koi nai. Could have been worse”… Still… ???
Besides, there is also another school of thought. All this can just be an unrelated but unfortunate set of events with no significance altogether. But my mind refuses to accept it that way. Can’t help thinking they are linked.
Moral of the story: Har ek friend Zaroori hota hai… (what if I had only listened to my friend earlier. Wink wink)
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Friday, September 30, 2011
Just wanted to share the wisdom I got by looking around me. Hope it will make a difference.
The whole world is trying to analyze how to overcome the energy crisis and all the other problems associated with it – global warming, climate change, exhausting fuels, carbon emission, etc. which form a rather vicious circle. A lot of knowledge base (colorful PowerPoint presentations) has been developed and alternative energy sources and technology have been patronized like never before. Many huge multi-billion dollar investments are at stake, for large scale power production using renewables, subsidies, policy-changes, phew...
Yes, all this is now quite passé. Old news, rotten bread…
Indeed, every second sees development of magnitudes, by far unknown to man. Exponential !!
Yet, all these efforts are like the proverbial ‘single step’ that begins a journey of thousand miles. But in the midst of all this, it has been also observed that, centralized system of anything is not a very effective cure-all.
DECENTRALIZATION is the key of sorts. Thinkers world over have started realizing this and efforts are on to reach out at a much smaller level.
So, what can actually be called the smaller level? What kind of sample population are we looking at…
It, according to my understanding goes right to the very fundamental subset of any population – an Individual element.
Or to say, a single person or even a group of two and three…
How? Every element should actually belong to the set right? Similarly, the idea of sustainability and conservation should be understood and accepted by all.
Utilization is the best way of conservation. Just like it is said that, money that is saved is as good as money earned, utilizing anything and everything fully is the key to conservation.
Not an epiphany good enough right?
Well, here are some of my observations and what kind of things could probably help. Trust me it is at a very very basic level.
1. Use paper cups but crush it fully while throwing it in the dustbin.
Reflection: you have anyways wasted a paper cup. Atleast do it in such a way that, unlike an uncrushed cup, a crushed cup takes up more space and can hold more trash. So, one trash bin in the place of two will do.
2. This is especially for some – please don’t take it rudely.
Try first not to actually throw your litter FRIVOLOUSLY. There is a place where it should go. Leave alone separating trash based on nature of stuff. First, develop the mentality of SERIOUSLY throwing them where they should be thrown.
Reflection: It is absolutely disheartening to see even the Gen Nxt not doing this.
But, why???
Because, they grew up seeing their previous generation doing something else of throwing it as it is and they have learnt to do that too.
Agreed. No blames on you.
But then, You just DON’T do the same thing and spoil even your Gen Next. Atleast let them live better.
Just simply DON’T put litter away like that, at least when there are kids around you. Apparently you can’t keep glancing back to see whether there are and so don’t do it by default.
3. As long as you can help it, never lose your pen. That is by far easily the most produced and wasted without even having been used fully.
Reflection: I mean, try to not buy a new pen when you can still use refills on your old one. Or for that matter fully use your old one. The humble white and blue reusable Reynolds I would say is like the Ambassador car - has stayed through all its glamorous and stylish counterparts. Use and throw is not ours… nah
4. When you can actually go out and play, then just go out and play.
Reflection: Why think about being virtually present when you can physically be. And when you are at it, SHUT DOWN your comp, disconnect your internet and turn off the lights.
5. Do tailor shops generate a lot of extra waste by gathering all the cut pieces of cloth?
Can’t we improvise?
Reflection: By gathering all of it to make cushion/ pillow/ soft-toy stuffing, instead of foam/ sponge stuffing? Kabaad se Jugaad has been our practice for like ages right?
So, the question is, do you as an element, belong to the set?
The whole world is trying to analyze how to overcome the energy crisis and all the other problems associated with it – global warming, climate change, exhausting fuels, carbon emission, etc. which form a rather vicious circle. A lot of knowledge base (colorful PowerPoint presentations) has been developed and alternative energy sources and technology have been patronized like never before. Many huge multi-billion dollar investments are at stake, for large scale power production using renewables, subsidies, policy-changes, phew...
Yes, all this is now quite passé. Old news, rotten bread…
Indeed, every second sees development of magnitudes, by far unknown to man. Exponential !!
Yet, all these efforts are like the proverbial ‘single step’ that begins a journey of thousand miles. But in the midst of all this, it has been also observed that, centralized system of anything is not a very effective cure-all.
DECENTRALIZATION is the key of sorts. Thinkers world over have started realizing this and efforts are on to reach out at a much smaller level.
So, what can actually be called the smaller level? What kind of sample population are we looking at…
It, according to my understanding goes right to the very fundamental subset of any population – an Individual element.
Or to say, a single person or even a group of two and three…
How? Every element should actually belong to the set right? Similarly, the idea of sustainability and conservation should be understood and accepted by all.
Utilization is the best way of conservation. Just like it is said that, money that is saved is as good as money earned, utilizing anything and everything fully is the key to conservation.
Not an epiphany good enough right?
Well, here are some of my observations and what kind of things could probably help. Trust me it is at a very very basic level.
1. Use paper cups but crush it fully while throwing it in the dustbin.
Reflection: you have anyways wasted a paper cup. Atleast do it in such a way that, unlike an uncrushed cup, a crushed cup takes up more space and can hold more trash. So, one trash bin in the place of two will do.
2. This is especially for some – please don’t take it rudely.
Try first not to actually throw your litter FRIVOLOUSLY. There is a place where it should go. Leave alone separating trash based on nature of stuff. First, develop the mentality of SERIOUSLY throwing them where they should be thrown.
Reflection: It is absolutely disheartening to see even the Gen Nxt not doing this.
But, why???
Because, they grew up seeing their previous generation doing something else of throwing it as it is and they have learnt to do that too.
Agreed. No blames on you.
But then, You just DON’T do the same thing and spoil even your Gen Next. Atleast let them live better.
Just simply DON’T put litter away like that, at least when there are kids around you. Apparently you can’t keep glancing back to see whether there are and so don’t do it by default.
3. As long as you can help it, never lose your pen. That is by far easily the most produced and wasted without even having been used fully.
Reflection: I mean, try to not buy a new pen when you can still use refills on your old one. Or for that matter fully use your old one. The humble white and blue reusable Reynolds I would say is like the Ambassador car - has stayed through all its glamorous and stylish counterparts. Use and throw is not ours… nah
4. When you can actually go out and play, then just go out and play.
Reflection: Why think about being virtually present when you can physically be. And when you are at it, SHUT DOWN your comp, disconnect your internet and turn off the lights.
5. Do tailor shops generate a lot of extra waste by gathering all the cut pieces of cloth?
Can’t we improvise?
Reflection: By gathering all of it to make cushion/ pillow/ soft-toy stuffing, instead of foam/ sponge stuffing? Kabaad se Jugaad has been our practice for like ages right?
So, the question is, do you as an element, belong to the set?
Sunday, August 7, 2011
NOSTALGIA… I had written this for my school's 25th year celebrations...
It has been four years since I stepped out of this second home called “school” to pursue my “engineering education”- A transition from pampering to maturity, fantasy to reality and playfulness to responsibility. A second home indeed it was to me, since the day I set foot here when I was still a thumb-sucking four year old. The days when my teachers saw me grow up from a stubborn little kindergarten student to a self-motivated individual are perhaps the best thirteen years spent by far. A lot of cultural but religious beliefs and traditions followed here, right from starting the day with invocations to the almighty to singing in unison on auspicious Friday mornings have always spread an aura of positive energy to the inmates.
The motherly care and concern of teachers along with their dedicated tutoring routines are factors that have made me what I am today. Of all the places in this small but beautiful campus, my favorites are the little temple of Lord Ganesha, the physics lab which stills leaves me nostalgic when I think of the days I was fascinated by mercury and prisms and the library which opened my horizons to a wider world and made me comprehend the pleasure of imagination. It influenced a lot of students’ development. Thanks to our good old librarian and the school management. The volunteering days in school were fun, as it involved accompanying little kids to class, taking care of primary classes from mischief during lunch breaks, pulling out pranksters who are responsible for the flat tyres in cycle stand and so on.
With school annual day come the welcome days of cutting classes for practice and rehearsals. The participants feel mighty important as they actually belong in it. Activities like scouting and guiding have transformed so many students’ perceptions about life outside home. Away from the vigilant eyes of parents, along with just friends and spirits out in the open, teaches many valuable lessons in life. Another interesting aspect of our school is their system of “value education” where we were made to follow a value every month. I still remember the month of cleanliness and the way we cleaned my class and made it look like a miniature wedding hall. Patience, politeness, punctuality, discipline and many more to add to the list contributed to improving the outlook of students.
Appreciation is always encouraging to those who deserve and there is no dearth of it in my school. Plenty of competitions, prizes and scholarships continuously drive the students in pursuit of excellence. Excursions and recreations emphasize the importance of joy and togetherness. Ultimately, be it the daily news in the assembly or the pledge or daily thoughts, every activity is carried out with the students’ development as the primary motive. Academics, co-curricular activities, sports and cultural events in right proportions can transform the students to confident and independent individuals ready to face the world. On this 25th year of its relentless service, I extend my gratitude to all those people who have contributed tremendously in my formative years in this school.
With all my prayers and wishes for the continued development, improvement and success of my second home…
-Lakshmi. S
The motherly care and concern of teachers along with their dedicated tutoring routines are factors that have made me what I am today. Of all the places in this small but beautiful campus, my favorites are the little temple of Lord Ganesha, the physics lab which stills leaves me nostalgic when I think of the days I was fascinated by mercury and prisms and the library which opened my horizons to a wider world and made me comprehend the pleasure of imagination. It influenced a lot of students’ development. Thanks to our good old librarian and the school management. The volunteering days in school were fun, as it involved accompanying little kids to class, taking care of primary classes from mischief during lunch breaks, pulling out pranksters who are responsible for the flat tyres in cycle stand and so on.
With school annual day come the welcome days of cutting classes for practice and rehearsals. The participants feel mighty important as they actually belong in it. Activities like scouting and guiding have transformed so many students’ perceptions about life outside home. Away from the vigilant eyes of parents, along with just friends and spirits out in the open, teaches many valuable lessons in life. Another interesting aspect of our school is their system of “value education” where we were made to follow a value every month. I still remember the month of cleanliness and the way we cleaned my class and made it look like a miniature wedding hall. Patience, politeness, punctuality, discipline and many more to add to the list contributed to improving the outlook of students.
Appreciation is always encouraging to those who deserve and there is no dearth of it in my school. Plenty of competitions, prizes and scholarships continuously drive the students in pursuit of excellence. Excursions and recreations emphasize the importance of joy and togetherness. Ultimately, be it the daily news in the assembly or the pledge or daily thoughts, every activity is carried out with the students’ development as the primary motive. Academics, co-curricular activities, sports and cultural events in right proportions can transform the students to confident and independent individuals ready to face the world. On this 25th year of its relentless service, I extend my gratitude to all those people who have contributed tremendously in my formative years in this school.
With all my prayers and wishes for the continued development, improvement and success of my second home…
-Lakshmi. S
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