The Unfamiliar Faces in very much Familiar Rooms

Those rooms which housed people who were so dear to us and so loving to us were vacant, some just after the end semester exams and most of them after convocation. They looked very dull with security locks on them and words like Ramadhir, Faizal, Corleone’s written on the wall unwantedly reminded me of the past. 

A lot of people are coming to our campus these days. Some for their Internships, a few for their Projects and most of them have arrived for Counselling Purpose in order to pursue higher studies from here.

When I encountered these rooms slightly open, which were previously locked with their lights on (which is very easy to spot through the ventilation window), a sudden ecstatic joy rushed with in me only to be dulled by “The Unfamiliar Faces in very much Familiar Rooms”.

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Marriage [Humor]

As a blogger this is my first try at Humor. I hope this creates a curve on your face at least as long as you read it. 

I may suck at writing, so, before any of you read any further, I'm inserting a few pictures clicked at recent weddings I attended, to create an aura. 

They say, “To find an age as when a man should get married, the best way is to ask him.”

If he says, Yes! It is certainly not.

If he’s not sure, then you’re just there.

And if he says No! There you go, you've a man who is fit to go round the sacred fire seven times.

What they forgot to add is that, this cycle doesn't end at that stage. After, the prolonged third season, people are back to the first. Some die midway during the third season, never to see the years to come.

Having said this, I've gone through all the three phases and I’m back to first. There was a time when I readily used to say YES, of course at that time I was a baby. All I could think was; so many guests in my house and everyone bringing me chocolates and toys. In my mind, marriage used to be an affair, where I would make a new friend, with whom I can play all day long without getting scolded by my elders for all play and no work.

I think I was partially right when as a kid I said having a wife is like having a friend but instead of being short sighted as playing all day long, I should have thought of playing lifelong.

Now as I grew I started to know things and well, that turned my world upside down and all I could think, marriage, well, it is a social license to “enjoy” (if you know what I mean). Every one of us are like an unstable electron and our octet completes only when we are married. That made sense because as I went deep studying on the topic ‘Sex’, I realized how necessary it is in a society.

Talking about importance, I think it is an unbeatable and unarguable point that, well, we are born out of it. How’s that for a start?

And then the age came, when, I’d say NO to all such questions because in my mind, questions like this embarrassed me. All I could think was “Free Sex” when someone shot me with this question but some people know a witty way to ask questions.

They don’t ask you whether you want to get married or not? They ask you, “What kind of girl would you like to be with?” I was too lame to dodge such type of questions and I replied to the latter one, only to realize a few years later, how my answer was shaped by movies I watch, my personal fetish and how actually innumerable porn or semi porn has taken shelter in my mind. Moreover, it was like having a wife who would just keep your social status in public apart from the other things that I mentioned. Is it really so?

Are wives for that?


When you’re in your very early twenties and you haven’t been with any girl in your entire lifetime, these are the things that circles in your mind. For example, you’re studying and as a result you see a parabola in your textbook, your mind diverts because in the backseat of your mind, there is a constant desire of being with a girl. You search and you “re search” a lot on a topic like this in order to find an answer which you know that you won’t be getting as these are things which are highly susceptible to personal experiences. But still, you try.

So, what are wives for anyway?

Here is an excerpt from Mahabharta, a Hindu mythological epic and the following conversation is one of the most religious and wisest conversation in that text after the so obvious Bhagvad Gita part. Explaining the whole context of it will take up a lot of space and deviate me from the topic and my style of writing, that’s why I’m putting it without any background references. [If you want to know more on this, you can comment below and I’ll be happy to help]



Yaksha: What is the friend bestowed upon man by the demigods?
Yudhisthira: Wife is such a friend.

Yaksha: Since dharma (virtue), artha (profit) and kama (desire) are opposed to each other, how can they co-exist harmoniously?
Yudhisthira: These three become congenial to one another when one has a virtuous wife.

Wives are more than anything you’ll encounter in this world. They are a part of you, an extension of you, without which your whole existence is incomplete. Not only it brings social harmony but at the same time mental and physical stability.
You enjoy the fruits of solitude and at the same time the joy of companionship. It’s like getting the best of both the worlds.
You have a person to laugh with and a shoulder to cry on. Someone who’d love you and make fun of you at the same time.


Counting all these benefits that comes with it, this July when my parents celebrate their 25^th Marriage Anniversary, I’m actually thinking of telling my Mom that “Meri liye Ladki dekhna shuru kr do (Start looking for a girl for me). As soon as my come out of college, I want a degree in one hand and a Biwi (Wife) on the other.” :D :D

One Afternoon at IIT Guwahati

It’d be very wrong on my part if I talk only about the beautiful rain and the black clouds that swirls around just a moment prior to the rains (and even when it does not rain, they sometimes just come and go); and not mention ‘the actual summer’ of Guwahati.

No doubt our campus looks majestic when it rains, just a little less majestic than the River Brahamputra himself.

But the dryness and humidity in the weather that pertains for longer duration during summer, drains out every single drop of liquid from the body. Well in these times, I prefer spending my whole day in the Library rather than staying in the room.

This is a photograph which I took in the evening when the Sun actually thought of showing mercy to all the inhabitants of this place, but still everything looks bright. Just wonder, how bad the afternoon would have been.

But this is just one aspect of the photograph.

The other one is, when I look at this young tree in the middle which is facing the scorching sun all by his own and at the same time trying to protect the grass that comes under it’s shade, it reminds me of an orphan kid in this world who cannot take care of his own properly but still wants to help others. This reminded me of retro Bollywood movies in which the actor is orphan right from the birth but still goes on changing the face of nation or the society from which he comes from. We students have problems of our own, I don’t deny that. We have limited financial resources, time crunch etc but that should not stop us from helping others, don’t you think?

An Open Letter to George R R Martin: Extremely Saddened due to Game of Thrones S03E09

The following text contains Spoiler. Read at your own risk.

The last time I was out in tears watching Game of Thrones was when Ned Stark died. We all know, that this series is full of grey characters, i.e., you can’t label characters as good or bad but if there was someone who didn't deserve to die (except for the deaths of children) it was Ned Stark only.

And what did you Mr. Martin?
You killed him twice.

Just when Talisa Maegyr told Rob, “Won’t you love teaching little Eddard ride horses?”, you let the men of that stupid old fuck, who can’t raise his head properly because he is busy looking at women’s tits; stab her in the womb.
You killed him once again.

Now tell me Mr. Martin, do you have any personal grudge against the House of Stark? Did they banish you to Castle Black because, I see that you were unmarried from 1979 to 2011?
Were you afraid of Wolves when you were a kid?


And if just the death of loved ones were an understatement, you let other Starks see the death of their loved ones. Both Sansa and Arya watched their father die. Lady Catelyn saw her eldest son Robb, being robbed of his breathe and just when she started liking her daughter in law, you made the butchers slit her throat. Just when Arya was about to get a family reunion, you sent her to oblivion.

What did you do George R. R. Martin?
What did you do?

Message to all my Juniors: How to Make the Most of Your Summer ?

This message is for all my juniors working for Techniche. Thank you for inspiring me to write once again..

I thought to write “Message to all my First Yearites” in the heading but then I realized that End Semester exams are now over and hence, you all are not a first year students anymore.  The days of being kids are over and now you all are responsible individuals. Be it Techniche or IIT Guwahati in general, your actions will speak for you and your words will be noted.

BE RESPONSIBLE

Your Summer Vacations have now started.

Congratulations to all those who were able to bag internship in their very first year. Make IIT Guwahati proud wherever you go.

And those guys and girls who are not able to fill in the above mentioned category, well. You have better days ahead. Let me tell you why:

This is perhaps the only holiday in your life that you’ll ever get. This particular one is the first and the last.

Why (you ask)

When we were kid, we all had summer vacations, winter vacations, festival vacations and session break but these vacations had their own share of Holiday Homework and Session Breaks, were consumed thinking about mark sheets and results. In addition to that, when we were young, we weren't allowed to tread outside our narrow domain. Our parents and family members kept us under their scrutiny. Now, the domain is wider than ever before. Go out and Explore.

And the years ahead, think about it, “Are you going to get any holiday (this long) in your near foreseeable future?”

NO, a disappointing NO

So, these three months of your life are extremely important, more important than any of your semester. Use or rather Spend it wisely.

Here are the list of few things that I did and a few things that I regret not doing during my Holidays.

1.       Teach Voluntarily

This is perhaps the noblest thing that you can do right at this stage. It costs virtually nothing and the satisfaction that you get at the end of the day is limitless. This task was easy for me because my parents run an educational institution and I taught students of Class 9^th and 10^th. Generally, the students of Bihar Board (the regional education board) are weak in English. I taught them English on a regular basis and took a few substitution classes.

I understand that for me it was easier but if you try a bit and all you got to do is to meet the owner or the one who runs the institution, once you mention that you’re studying in IIT, they’ll definitely allow you to take a few classes.
We all blame our professors that they don’t how to teach. Step in their shoes and experience for yourself that how it is to be like a teacher.

Plus, it‘ll make enhance your communication skill.

2.       Spend time with your Brothers and Sisters

Well, we have already been doing it. Why to emphasise on this point? The reason I’m mentioning this particular aspect is that, you see, we all are getting older every day. Pehle School mein the, now we are in College and with us, our brothers and sisters are also growing. Then one day, you’ll get a phone call from your home informing you that

“Di ki shaadi honi wali hai” or,

“Ghar mein bhabhi aane wali hai.”

And once you’re married, no matter how much you deny it, but you aren’t the same person anymore. Priorities change and the way you act and behave changes. And then you’ll be no longer able to enjoy the way you did together.

I have my one of my sister’s wedding scheduled this summer and all I wish is that if I could have spent more time with her.

Isliye, make the most of it. Spend maximum time with your relatives too because, time management is difficult. Your 8-9 months are spent in the college itself then next year se you’ll be going for intern and summer training, so, it will be extremely difficult to meet every one of these people personally.

3.       Date a Girl/ Boy

An important thing to note here is that,  I’m asking you to date, I’m not asking you to get into a serious relationship. Take that step, once you are very sure. Try talking to people who have same interest as you do and you'll be flabbergasted to know what you've been missing about the stuffs you like. Talk to people who don't have anything common with you. You'll get to know new things at a lightining fast rate. It'll also make you more tolerant. And while you talk, you might end up being great friends. I had my first heartbreak during my first year summer vacations and I'm grateful for it. Do it and you'll thank me later.

4.       Pick up a Music Instrument

This is a wonderful time to actually start learning a new instrument. In today’s world, being musically literate is considered an important personal qualification. Plus, it relaxes your mind, makes you feel good about yourself and life. So, why not learn it and play it in your free time.

5.       READ a LOT

The whole point of typing the letters keeping the CAPS LOCK on is to make you all understand, how important this is. By reading, I don’t mean that you pick up a Chetan Bhagat’s novel and your reading part is over. Read about current affairs, newspapers, weekly magazines and articles. Be aware of things that are happening around you.
It’s better to be aware-d that to be Beware-d.

Side by side, keep on reading books and novels. Your control over language will increase and you’ll be able to present your thoughts more properly. If you immerse yourself in Literature, you'll start discovering aspects of yourself that you would never have known otherwise! Philosophy and literature nourishes you somewhere.

So, here you are at the end of your first year and the small list that I gave you is not exhaustive. People might suggest you going for different things and those things might be even better that what I have mentioned here but the whole point of making you go through this is to make you all realize that how important these days can be.

Happy Holidays.

Enjoy to the Fullest…

Before departing, let us all shout in Unison.

On the count of three

1

2

3

Jai Techniche !! 

Message to all the First Yearites

I wrote this a week back for all my juniors in the Marketing Team of Techniche. And just today Piyush Bengani, a very good friend of mine told me that how inspiring he felt when he went through the message. Therefore, I am posting this on my blog page. There are few points which may be irrelevant to other people but similar analogy can be drawn in that case in relation to their department.

It’s been hardly two months since we have come to know all of you but it feels like you were there for a long time. And we want all of you to continue working in this team.

The only reason which may stop you from pursuing this is “Unsatisfactory Academic Performance”. The reason why I wrote unsatisfactory and not poor is because everyone has his own expectation level. Of course all of us want to be among the top but when you compete among the best on common grounds then there is always a first and a second and a last. This however doesn't mean that the one who stood last is worthless.

Why am I telling all of you this?

Well, you have your exams coming up, which is likely to carry 50% weight age of the entire semester. So, it is kind of make or break situation you are into. I personally certainly don’t believe that CPI or SPI is the hallmark of once intelligence but it is not bad to score well. Many a times it has been noticed that people leave the team when they are not able to score good academically. [A convincing reason but not a valid one] But we forget that it is not our co-curricular activities that came in between but it was our own lack of dedication and devotion.  Let’s talk about Marketing in that aspect:

• ·         Half an Hour is all you need to profile one company (maximum)
• ·         Meeting (One and a half hour) which has never been scheduled daily rather it has always been consulted by every one of you when it comes to this.
• ·         Going to City, which has actually not been started yet but we’re not telling you to go to city every day.

All of you told me that you’re going to have your exams next week. Good! Study for it. But
Saturday ko toh ja hi skte ho.

Can’t you manage these three things with your study? And all of us have been in Second Semester, we know kitna padhna hai.

Academics is why you’re here and Academics should be the most important thing until and unless you’ve found your passion in something like Music, Dance or Writing etc. That’s why in the very first meeting itself, we gave you an inequality equation,

Blah Blah Blah < Techniche < Academics

So, All the Best Wishes for End Sems. (Although I’m posting this but this is on behalf of every senior)

I know exams 22 se hai but it is always good to start early, isn’t it? Aur make the most of your Lab Exams as they are quick and easy way to score. :P

Just like during the JEE days, people wished us; in the same breath I’d say:
Paper phod kar aana. J

All the best Guys and Gals !!

An Observation

The lessons learnt are as a result of personal experience so it might vary from the reader’s perspective and may be partly because I might not be able to fabricate all my experiences in words.

1) All of us have aims and goals in life. Not all of us are particular about the long run but we all have immediate goal like getting into a good college, bagging a good scholarship, getting out of the famous “five point someone domain”, winning inter hostel or inter college competition or may be something like achieving pre-defined target under a given timeline.
2) We’ve to work hard for it. [Everyone knows that.]
3) Apart from these two, there is a third category which includes everything that doesn’t come under the first two. You can broadly call it a Sustenance Factor, or the factors that gives meaning to life.


Many of us are not able to achieve our so called goals and sometimes when we do achieve we realize that we are late. Now as a result of the outcome we decide to cut down activities from the third part thinking that the time spent on those things can be reduced so that time spent on fruitful work can be optimized (Quite a reasonable decision). One can reduce the third part to mere zero but then that condition won’t stay for long because for the second category to deliver efficiently a proper amount of third category is needed.

We are morally taught that if we follow religious doctrines and keep away from things like booze and liquor, we‘d be successful person for sure. Well, it might be apt but only to an extent. If you really want to get something, work for it. Being ridiculous about it, isn’t going to help. I’ve heard people saying that, I’m a very nice person. I don’t smoke and I don’t drink but still God is unfair to me and the guy who lives next to me does all rubbish things and is still getting promoted while I’m stuck at the same desk from the moment I joined the company. [This example can be easily extended to college or school life. All you have to do is replace promotion with better marks.]

First thing,
GOD IS NOT UNFAIR TO ANYONE.

He’s perhaps the kindest of all. If you’d have been in his position, you may have awarded yourself with even lesser happiness quotient. Now the guy next to you is getting promoted because he worked for it (apart from getting wasted all the time, he must be giving enough time on his work which is the reason why he’s successful today). People who just keep bitching about others stay where they are. It doesn’t matter what you choose from the third category, if you work on the second part you’ll definitely get to the first part. There is no if and but here.

Another instance is that most people blame their relationship when they are not able to perform academically or professionally. There are three possibilities when they walk out of their relationships.
a) Success remains same
b) Success increases
c) Success decreases

Now the most important part before you decide to walk out is to identify what your relationship is all about. If it didn’t mean much to you and she/he was just to keep you engaged for a while, you’ll be in the category (a)
If she/he was waste and you genuinely wanted to get and you knew beforehand that he/she just an obstacle in your way, then category (b)
And if she/he was your support system, then category (c)

Another side to these incidents is making silly resolutions like “Until and unless I get this done, I won’t be talking to him/her”. This is another pragmatic situation which needs to be addressed on a personal level. For some people this acts as a boon and for some it has side effects. The reason being the same, every one of these situations affects us differently. The bottom line is just don’t bring relationships into work and vice-versa. Your professional goals and achievements depend on how much work you put into it and not how much relationships you sacrifice for that.