It was when she would become the class monitor that she would transmogrify herself into a ‘Nayak’ of sorts. She would dawn on the soul of upholder of truth and justice and be the common flesh and blood no more. All this can be taken but the fact that she would have a special liking for writing my name on the board ( and I am sure every student in the class felt the same) can’t be taken. I mean while all the barbaric acts of indiscipline were being overlooked I was being punished for the least movement of the lips. Well it was fun too to steal a chat while the monitor looked away. So, the monitor would write the names of the students who would talk on the board and the teacher would punish them when she comes to the class. But there was an exception: those students who would keep silence and behave well for a period of time as felt appropriate by the monitor would have their names erased from the board. And that was the caveat that made it statistically safer to finish your talks in the first phase of the monitoring because you then have all the time to be the best student in the world. And there were these liberal monitors who would warn you at least three times before they write your name on the board. And with the smallest stint of silence, before the teacher has to enter, would erase your name. And these were exactly the monitors you want to be in good terms with. Everything said the monitors did the thankless task of disciplining us, although it must have been quite a pleasure to see the lesser mortals in their fear and subjugation.
Thursday, 3 March 2016
Friday, 1 January 2016
Kota Chronicle: When excellence is the norm
At the surface Kota is thought to be a fiercely competitive environment where students are fighting for their choicest dream. For me, however, it was a different story and I will many would agree with these. My fellow students all had great humane values coming forward to help each other even it meat personal sacrifice. an there was very little ego. I mean no matter how intelligent people were they all behaved as if everyone is ordinary. Maybe when excellence becomes a norm pride has no place. I personally never wished any other student to perform less so that i could go ahead, and others felt the same way towards me. There was a sense of healthy competition, a sense of respect for each other which I do not find in much less 'successful' groups that I have come across. There was no prejudice either, we hardly knew about each other's background in detail. There was a common objective of excellence and we were quite comfortable with the fact that one who puts the best effort gets the best result. Even the teachers were very relaxed and did not put any pressure. For me, who has never worked under a pressure to perform, it was a sigh of relief. They teachers were never moved by fleeting show of excellence or a drop in performance. They knew that life is a long game and sustained efforts is what ultimately pays you.
In the present environment in which I live is not composed of the most academically successful people but still there is jealousy and back biting. May be only when excellence becomes a norm pride has no place.
In the present environment in which I live is not composed of the most academically successful people but still there is jealousy and back biting. May be only when excellence becomes a norm pride has no place.
Sunday, 13 December 2015
Kota Chronicles: The leaky piston
It was a usual chemistry class. Amay Pandey Sir was in his usual intellect and charm. I was in my usual meditative focus I had cultivated in those IIT days. Class was usual, filled with many friends and a few competitors. I was sitting in the second row, the optimum for Amay Sir's style of presentation: not getting too overwhelmed by his aura, nor being out of his sight. Then came the challenge. It was a piston-cylinder system which was leaking. It was being heated as well. The piston would go up or down? He framed the question twice. That was it. It seemed to be a normal trivia. But, it was not. I realized it when the answer eluded me and carried me deeper into my thoughts. I would not let it go either. I took up the challenge and put the problem in the category of 'constant contemplation' problem. These problems would be very tough only my subconscious mind in partnership with some higher intelligence could solve it. I went everywhere with my new friend: the leaky piston.
It was there with me on the cycle. My maximum attention on the problem, I only cared about not being hit by the vehicles. In the room, in the washroom, the mess, everywhere I went I argued with, coaxed and threatened the leaky piston. It was not yielding. Then, voila! in a flash it was there, it would go up. I rechecked my logic. I played it in my mind. It would go up! Was is it a special problem, sir did not suggest it to be so. But, it took all my thoughts to arrive at the solution. It must be special.
The next Amay Sir's class was here. I took my seat, felt a turn in my stomach and a bit of temperature. Did he remember the problem he asked in the previous class? Will he ask for the answer. Yes he did: "Soocha kisine?". There was a silence. There were all these geniuses in the class, they had not got the answer? I took a deep breath. Should I divulge my answer or will it be too outrageous, out of norm. I think it is best to keep quite. "Kisine nahi soocha?" he repeated. I thought he expects to hear the answer from someone. I had to tell: "It would go up". There was silence. He looked in my direction. "It would go up," I repeated. He winced and then grinned. "Senior se puch liya kya?" he questioned quiet surprised. I said I thought it out and explained it in short. "Badhiya yaar pehle kabhi koi nahi bataya iska answer", he said and gave that charming smile with dimples. I was pleasantly relieved but behaved as if everything was normal. But, I was excited to my bones and shivered a bit. He winced and smiled again, turned around and continued with his usual intellect and charm.
It was there with me on the cycle. My maximum attention on the problem, I only cared about not being hit by the vehicles. In the room, in the washroom, the mess, everywhere I went I argued with, coaxed and threatened the leaky piston. It was not yielding. Then, voila! in a flash it was there, it would go up. I rechecked my logic. I played it in my mind. It would go up! Was is it a special problem, sir did not suggest it to be so. But, it took all my thoughts to arrive at the solution. It must be special.
The next Amay Sir's class was here. I took my seat, felt a turn in my stomach and a bit of temperature. Did he remember the problem he asked in the previous class? Will he ask for the answer. Yes he did: "Soocha kisine?". There was a silence. There were all these geniuses in the class, they had not got the answer? I took a deep breath. Should I divulge my answer or will it be too outrageous, out of norm. I think it is best to keep quite. "Kisine nahi soocha?" he repeated. I thought he expects to hear the answer from someone. I had to tell: "It would go up". There was silence. He looked in my direction. "It would go up," I repeated. He winced and then grinned. "Senior se puch liya kya?" he questioned quiet surprised. I said I thought it out and explained it in short. "Badhiya yaar pehle kabhi koi nahi bataya iska answer", he said and gave that charming smile with dimples. I was pleasantly relieved but behaved as if everything was normal. But, I was excited to my bones and shivered a bit. He winced and smiled again, turned around and continued with his usual intellect and charm.
Thursday, 3 December 2015
Kota Chronicles: Failure is the stepping stone to success
Well we have heard this so many times: take lessons from your failures and make them a stepping stone to success. And this happens in the lives of most people who have achieved something worthwhile in their lives. This is what happened to me as well while in Kota. Not remaining with crowd had many advantages and disadvantages in my life. At one time what seems as a disadvantage turns into advantage at other point in life. So, the 10th boards were over, me and bhaiya were going to Kota. I had already filled up the form of Bansal classes. I had not filled up the form of any other coaching institute. I heard that my other classmates were already there in Kota finding materials to prepare for the entrance exams of the coaching institutes. I was not really inclined to join them. I always remained sort of independent bird. The exams came and I thought I had done fine but Bansals thought otherwise. I was not selected but all my other friends were, I think 7 of them. It was a set back. But, something incredible happened after that setback. After that failure I would enter into a regimen that would cruise me through to IIT-JEE. I took stock of myself and started preparing for te second phase of entrance with full decisiveness.
I did a few things that mark the method for success in any field in this world.
1. I found a mentor: I would call it a divine arrangement that I met Shivam in the same flat that I was living in, Few things had influenced me as much before than he did. He was ranked 3 in the Bansal entrance test and a formidable candidate for top 100 rank at IIT-JEE two years later. His way of thinking for solutions to problems astonished and educated me. Problems that I would fret with for 2 hours, he would solve in just two minutes. My brain grew trying to grapple with Shivam's intellectual level. He was intelligent, helpful and humble. The very combination that I wanted to be myself.
2. I found the right materials: It was also incidental. I already had a NTSE book of TMH. But when I went to the book shop I found a NTSE book of MacMillan. I flipped through it and found some questions similar to those of Bansal entrance exam. Although I am always very cautious at spending money, I ventured and purchased that book. And well, it was the exact material that I need for the entrance tests. For the next one month I poured over the book and solved every part of it cold.
3. I worked hard: If that failure had not happened to me, I would have never taken the decision to work that hard. I studied almost the whole day at the same time maintaining my mental sharpness by light exercises. I could get a sensation that I was making mighty intellectual leaps.
As it happened I cleared Bansal, Resonance with Scholarship and Delhi with Scholarship. It was all happiness and I chose Resonance as it provided scholarship.
I did a few things that mark the method for success in any field in this world.
1. I found a mentor: I would call it a divine arrangement that I met Shivam in the same flat that I was living in, Few things had influenced me as much before than he did. He was ranked 3 in the Bansal entrance test and a formidable candidate for top 100 rank at IIT-JEE two years later. His way of thinking for solutions to problems astonished and educated me. Problems that I would fret with for 2 hours, he would solve in just two minutes. My brain grew trying to grapple with Shivam's intellectual level. He was intelligent, helpful and humble. The very combination that I wanted to be myself.
2. I found the right materials: It was also incidental. I already had a NTSE book of TMH. But when I went to the book shop I found a NTSE book of MacMillan. I flipped through it and found some questions similar to those of Bansal entrance exam. Although I am always very cautious at spending money, I ventured and purchased that book. And well, it was the exact material that I need for the entrance tests. For the next one month I poured over the book and solved every part of it cold.
3. I worked hard: If that failure had not happened to me, I would have never taken the decision to work that hard. I studied almost the whole day at the same time maintaining my mental sharpness by light exercises. I could get a sensation that I was making mighty intellectual leaps.
As it happened I cleared Bansal, Resonance with Scholarship and Delhi with Scholarship. It was all happiness and I chose Resonance as it provided scholarship.
Monday, 30 November 2015
Can hurt people's feelings but not people
The intolerance debate is boiling hot and there is a subtle thing we are all missing. There is a group of people who hurt the sentiments of others and when others protest they are labelled intolerant. They are labelled intolerant because the form of the protest is different from the harm caused. Harm is caused to the sentiments while the protest is physical. Yes it is the fault of those who protest physically for they do not have the education to reply in terse logic. Yes it their fault to not have the popularity to garner public supports. They are afterall unwanted barbarians uninitiated to educated criticism. If they can't reply with words they should better tolerate and live humiliated. When their beliefs are questioned and disgraced they should tolerate for they are not articulate enough.
Sunday, 29 November 2015
Passionate Childhood days
From the childhood days,
Machines were my plays,
Cities of high rise and helicopters,
Guns, missiles and robots, I played with them all.
I never compromised on thinking deep,
Even when my score cards would weep.
I remember I failed in Math before the boards,
But never gave up understanding the matter deeply.
I fretted and fumed to make sense of things,
In two months I improved mighty steeply.
I was never attracted to marks or fame,
But the sheer joy of knowing would give me a gush I couldn't tame.
Yes, what fun it was to teach,
Concepts they never would understand how deep.
And fun it was to play,
Before school, in recess and at the end of the school day.
Hey, that was a magnetic typewriter that I designed,
And the multiple tube experiment that I designed.
Zeroing on the definition of gravity in class 9,
And threadbare understanding of buoyancy was mighty fine.
Teachers were god for me,
But disagreement was my norm.
I asked CP sir about the area of a rectangle,
And yes I stumbled upon integrals.
Oh what fun was poetry and prose,
With Brutus' dialogues, my hairs rose.
'Miles to go before I sleep'
'And toiling upwards in the night',
Great lines were always in my sight.
It was all music fin and play,
There was no pressure to perform.
I am a normal guy after-all,
Never one of the upper crest,
I can thus follow my heart,
Without becoming another rat.
Oh what satisfaction integrity, sincerity, dedication and hard-work would bring,
Who cares if success comes my way,
But success did come b'coz that is its mechanism.
Remember the debates with Renu M'am,
And the quote I wrote in my class that time
"I never let my school interfere with my education"
Following the mainstream, I never did,
No matter what was my career speed.
I was ready to fail in subjects,
But not let them go without having understood them.
Acting, dancing, sports, music, debates, I loved to try it all.
Oh and all those good friends of mine,
Arpit, Sumit, Umashankar and Mayank.
Machines were my plays,
Cities of high rise and helicopters,
Guns, missiles and robots, I played with them all.
I never compromised on thinking deep,
Even when my score cards would weep.
I remember I failed in Math before the boards,
But never gave up understanding the matter deeply.
I fretted and fumed to make sense of things,
In two months I improved mighty steeply.
I was never attracted to marks or fame,
But the sheer joy of knowing would give me a gush I couldn't tame.
Yes, what fun it was to teach,
Concepts they never would understand how deep.
And fun it was to play,
Before school, in recess and at the end of the school day.
Hey, that was a magnetic typewriter that I designed,
And the multiple tube experiment that I designed.
Zeroing on the definition of gravity in class 9,
And threadbare understanding of buoyancy was mighty fine.
Teachers were god for me,
But disagreement was my norm.
I asked CP sir about the area of a rectangle,
And yes I stumbled upon integrals.
Oh what fun was poetry and prose,
With Brutus' dialogues, my hairs rose.
'Miles to go before I sleep'
'And toiling upwards in the night',
Great lines were always in my sight.
It was all music fin and play,
There was no pressure to perform.
I am a normal guy after-all,
Never one of the upper crest,
I can thus follow my heart,
Without becoming another rat.
Oh what satisfaction integrity, sincerity, dedication and hard-work would bring,
Who cares if success comes my way,
But success did come b'coz that is its mechanism.
Remember the debates with Renu M'am,
And the quote I wrote in my class that time
"I never let my school interfere with my education"
Following the mainstream, I never did,
No matter what was my career speed.
I was ready to fail in subjects,
But not let them go without having understood them.
Acting, dancing, sports, music, debates, I loved to try it all.
Oh and all those good friends of mine,
Arpit, Sumit, Umashankar and Mayank.
Monday, 9 November 2015
To chase or not to chase
To chase or not to chase my cherished goal madly is the question that I am faced with right now. I know very well that if I chase my goal with full deliberation, I am sure to achieve it. I have done it before and I can do it again. But the big questions that I face is was that chase worth it? Well herein I want to say to myself that the chase was indeed worth it and I need to chase a goal once again. I am cognizant of the fact that I achieved the goal last time but something went wrong after that. I feel it was not because the goal chasing was wrong, nor the goal itself was wrong, indeed it was a cherish-able goal, what was wrong was that it was not enduring. Once I achieved that goal there was a sense of vacuum that I felt. And I did not fill it with an equally appealing goal. I took to spirituality but I forgot the achievement gene in me. I recall the instructions given by Sri Krishna to Arjuna in Bhagavad Gita that Arjuna should not hesitate to fight the war and be a beggar because when people will despise him, he will not be able to tolerate. Sri Krishna asked Arjuna to fight so that it gives him a sense of material satisfaction but to also spiritualize his fighting so that he is not bound by the karmic reactions and achieves peace of mind.
I too have to follow the strategy of Arjuna. Well, I want success in technology, research and I want huge sums of money for me. I AM GOING TO CHASE IT WITH FULL DELIBERATION. I am only going to do a few things that will ensure that I will not be frustrated at the end of all this and do indeed enjoy my life all throughout. These things are:
1. Keep in touch with a good number of people both online and offline.
2. Have a deeper friendship with atleast one of them.
3. Take time off to visit family
4. See how you can benefit more and more people with your technical and business knowledge.
I too have to follow the strategy of Arjuna. Well, I want success in technology, research and I want huge sums of money for me. I AM GOING TO CHASE IT WITH FULL DELIBERATION. I am only going to do a few things that will ensure that I will not be frustrated at the end of all this and do indeed enjoy my life all throughout. These things are:
1. Keep in touch with a good number of people both online and offline.
2. Have a deeper friendship with atleast one of them.
3. Take time off to visit family
4. See how you can benefit more and more people with your technical and business knowledge.
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