its great to be back to the school where i spent thirteen years of my life, where i learned the basics of life, where i made friends, where i became what i am today.
no doubt that St Joseph's Academy is like a temple to me and teachers there are my god. i have always felt pride in flaunting that i am an Ex josephite and would love to continue that. i have always felt that no matter there are schools like Welham's , St Georges, the Doon school in dehradoon but SJA is different and better from all of them. the reason which i had was that we are humble, we have attitude which is in the perfect quantity, we dont shy out helping the poor when we are in crowd, we have the values which make us human enough to understand the pains and pleasure of those around us. we have a heart. we are not like those rich snobs studying in the most expensive schools in the nation, we are far better.
recently i got the opportunity to be back to S.J.A. but this time not as a student but as a guardian of my niece who is in first standard. thanks to recession i had a little prolonged vacations, so i made it my responsibility to drop and pick her to the school.
i cant explain the joy to go back to the same place where we skinned out knees, played football, participated in extra curricular activities. to make it better the same teachers who taught me in junior school still recognized me... the feeling cant be defined...i met "AYA" didi who used to take care of everyone in the KG garden.
i really missed the OLD buildings which were replaced by modern, bigger blocks. the place i missed most was the HORSE SHOE the open air theater. it was the best place of junior school. the new stage where the historic PETER PAN was staged made me remember the "HIMBAHULLA PETAR PAAN" the "WHY DANCE" and my dance partners..nostalgia flooded my thoughts.
today i see my childhood in tanishqa, my niece. i wish she turns out to be a gem of this jewel box, and prove to the world yet again that JOSEPHITEs RULEz
Friday, August 28, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Ragging Days...
Requisite ragging
“4 students suspended in Graphic Era University, 8 girls suspended in Dehradun institute of technology, disciplinary committee on 20 students in Institute of management studies…..”
The same old story every year, it’s the new academic session and it shows. Every year there are number of cases where the seniors are either expelled or suspended from the college as punishment for ragging the new students. I don’t know what these kids are up to but seriously I treasure the “ragging period” when I was in first year of my graduation. I was an average kid not too impressive, one of those who are fun to rag, and so it happened I was one of the sought after fresher, seniors loved to “rag” me.
When I took the admission in D.I.T., I was very scared of what ragging is all about, all the stories which I heard from my friends and newspaper incidents made me wet my pants every time I imagined myself running nude in the campus, being beaten up by some drunk seniors, doing stuff conceived by devils. I think it was one of the reasons that I didn’t choose any far away college where I would have to live as a hosteller (ragging in hostels is far worse then for any day-scholar).
It was here, my mom who knew what all I was going through, (I didn’t show the fear, but parents as u know we can’t hide anything from them) told me that ragging is not at all that bad as it seems, in fact it’s the only time to know your seniors, make friends, and be open and bold. The more you run from it the bitter it gets. So just enjoy these days and gain confidence from it. But keep in mind they are your seniors and you have to spend rest of these years with them, don’t misbehave or insult them, its you who is joining them so always remember treat people the way u want others to treat you. These were the golden words and they helped me come over my fear and anxiety.
Soon I began going to the college. The college administration was taking all measures to keep the rowdy elements away from the first year students but it didn’t carry on long. Soon the blood thirsty seniors found their victims and started the junior hunting safari. I avoided places like canteen, dhabas, sunset point where the probability of being ragged was high. Moreover being six Feet, 90 KGs and having thick beard I was difficult to distinguish. I looked like one of them. It was after 17 days that I was ragged. I had shaved as I started looking professor rather then fresher and also the teachers asked me to do so. I got in the college bus and took a window seat. Soon the bus was overloaded with students, both seniors and juniors, and the series of INTRO started followed by Hindi movie songs and “DIT KI JAI” slogans. Every senior got hold of two or three BAKRAS and made them do funny acts which ranged from begging in the bus to acting like the bus conductor. All this time I looked out of the window pretending I was least interested in what they were doing. I felt as if someone was staring me, I dared looking at him. Suddenly some one started singing “kajrare kajrare…” in one of the most pathetic voice which made everyone burst with laughter; I stole this time to look at the person who was staring me. He was in casuals carrying travel bag, one of the senior who caught the bus from railway station, a final year student my super duper senior. He seemed one of the most wanted types. I quickly turned back towards the window not to look back at him. But it was too late… he caught me.
“which year?”
It was no use lying now, if I said 2nd year and he found out that I was a fresher it would have been disastrous.
“First year SIR.”
“Branch ?”
“Mechanical SIR.”
“SAALE itni der se senior khada hai aur tu mast baitha hai, bahot bada aadmi hai tu….”
“sorry SIR, I didn’t know you are a senior” I said as I was getting up to give him the seat.
“don’t try to be oversmart, ok take this bag put it on the seat and remain standing. Give INTRO.”
I gave INTRO for the first time and after every mistake I was asked to start all over again. After many tries when I got it correct, I was asked to repeat it in Hindi. I don’t know what fun it was but it sucked. After I finished with the INTRO, I was asked to sing a patriotic song. As it was 17th AUG 2005, there were patriotic songs everywhere. I sang “VANDE MATRAM”. I was soon asked to stop as it became unbearable for the seniors.
By this time we had reached college,(thank god).
“Aage se seniors ko ekdum seat de dio warna roz gana gana padega. Waise tu mera branch junior hai isliye zyada kuch nahi kia. But mind you don’t try being oversmart.”
This was how it all started and I met mohit sir one of my fav. Seniors. After that incident I came into the limelight. It became a routine to sing in the bus, shouting out loud “seniors are always right and juniors are always wrong”, running after friends with sheet holder and drafters yelling “dhishkiaauuu dhiskiaauuu”, abusing vehicles and trees, dancing on the tables and proposing senior ma’am. It was fun and quality time with seniors who never tried to be rude since we were always polite. The time flew fast and it was our fresher party. Again this was the best college event I ever had. Total masti and enjoyment. After the freshers everything seemed monotonous same classes, boring college bus, no breaking rules, and all places accessible. Sure I was missing my “ragging days”.
It was during those days that I made good friends seniors as well as peers, I enjoyed every moment of college life and realized that I am no more in the school. It helped me become mature and compatible with other people.
I feel ragging is an integral part of college life and it should me taken lightly and maturely. Of course the seniors should stay in limits and the juniors should remain obedient.
“4 students suspended in Graphic Era University, 8 girls suspended in Dehradun institute of technology, disciplinary committee on 20 students in Institute of management studies…..”
The same old story every year, it’s the new academic session and it shows. Every year there are number of cases where the seniors are either expelled or suspended from the college as punishment for ragging the new students. I don’t know what these kids are up to but seriously I treasure the “ragging period” when I was in first year of my graduation. I was an average kid not too impressive, one of those who are fun to rag, and so it happened I was one of the sought after fresher, seniors loved to “rag” me.
When I took the admission in D.I.T., I was very scared of what ragging is all about, all the stories which I heard from my friends and newspaper incidents made me wet my pants every time I imagined myself running nude in the campus, being beaten up by some drunk seniors, doing stuff conceived by devils. I think it was one of the reasons that I didn’t choose any far away college where I would have to live as a hosteller (ragging in hostels is far worse then for any day-scholar).
It was here, my mom who knew what all I was going through, (I didn’t show the fear, but parents as u know we can’t hide anything from them) told me that ragging is not at all that bad as it seems, in fact it’s the only time to know your seniors, make friends, and be open and bold. The more you run from it the bitter it gets. So just enjoy these days and gain confidence from it. But keep in mind they are your seniors and you have to spend rest of these years with them, don’t misbehave or insult them, its you who is joining them so always remember treat people the way u want others to treat you. These were the golden words and they helped me come over my fear and anxiety.
Soon I began going to the college. The college administration was taking all measures to keep the rowdy elements away from the first year students but it didn’t carry on long. Soon the blood thirsty seniors found their victims and started the junior hunting safari. I avoided places like canteen, dhabas, sunset point where the probability of being ragged was high. Moreover being six Feet, 90 KGs and having thick beard I was difficult to distinguish. I looked like one of them. It was after 17 days that I was ragged. I had shaved as I started looking professor rather then fresher and also the teachers asked me to do so. I got in the college bus and took a window seat. Soon the bus was overloaded with students, both seniors and juniors, and the series of INTRO started followed by Hindi movie songs and “DIT KI JAI” slogans. Every senior got hold of two or three BAKRAS and made them do funny acts which ranged from begging in the bus to acting like the bus conductor. All this time I looked out of the window pretending I was least interested in what they were doing. I felt as if someone was staring me, I dared looking at him. Suddenly some one started singing “kajrare kajrare…” in one of the most pathetic voice which made everyone burst with laughter; I stole this time to look at the person who was staring me. He was in casuals carrying travel bag, one of the senior who caught the bus from railway station, a final year student my super duper senior. He seemed one of the most wanted types. I quickly turned back towards the window not to look back at him. But it was too late… he caught me.
“which year?”
It was no use lying now, if I said 2nd year and he found out that I was a fresher it would have been disastrous.
“First year SIR.”
“Branch ?”
“Mechanical SIR.”
“SAALE itni der se senior khada hai aur tu mast baitha hai, bahot bada aadmi hai tu….”
“sorry SIR, I didn’t know you are a senior” I said as I was getting up to give him the seat.
“don’t try to be oversmart, ok take this bag put it on the seat and remain standing. Give INTRO.”
I gave INTRO for the first time and after every mistake I was asked to start all over again. After many tries when I got it correct, I was asked to repeat it in Hindi. I don’t know what fun it was but it sucked. After I finished with the INTRO, I was asked to sing a patriotic song. As it was 17th AUG 2005, there were patriotic songs everywhere. I sang “VANDE MATRAM”. I was soon asked to stop as it became unbearable for the seniors.
By this time we had reached college,(thank god).
“Aage se seniors ko ekdum seat de dio warna roz gana gana padega. Waise tu mera branch junior hai isliye zyada kuch nahi kia. But mind you don’t try being oversmart.”
This was how it all started and I met mohit sir one of my fav. Seniors. After that incident I came into the limelight. It became a routine to sing in the bus, shouting out loud “seniors are always right and juniors are always wrong”, running after friends with sheet holder and drafters yelling “dhishkiaauuu dhiskiaauuu”, abusing vehicles and trees, dancing on the tables and proposing senior ma’am. It was fun and quality time with seniors who never tried to be rude since we were always polite. The time flew fast and it was our fresher party. Again this was the best college event I ever had. Total masti and enjoyment. After the freshers everything seemed monotonous same classes, boring college bus, no breaking rules, and all places accessible. Sure I was missing my “ragging days”.
It was during those days that I made good friends seniors as well as peers, I enjoyed every moment of college life and realized that I am no more in the school. It helped me become mature and compatible with other people.
I feel ragging is an integral part of college life and it should me taken lightly and maturely. Of course the seniors should stay in limits and the juniors should remain obedient.
stupid swine flu control...
pune the education hub of india, which is nowdays in news for the maximum number of swine flu cases, is indeed a dream place to be for every student. no doubt there are students from all over the country studying there and many come from abroad. as the number of swine flu patients increased the INDIAN government took precautions to stop the flu to spread.. as a result the schools, colleges , universities, movie halls , malls were closed for some time. a good step as this deadly disease spreads from person to person. the common public which was now asked to stay at home were restless youth who were asked to stay at home for a week or so. but most of these students were from different states and saw a nice vacation home. so why close themselves in hostels and PGs they packed their bag and baggage and off they went to every part of the nation.
The sad part is some of them carried with them the deadly H1N1 virus.
the number of cases being registered of swine flu is now increasing in every town of INDIA. as this virus spreads exponentially its hard to control it now.
from PUNE now its everywhere. even in my small town DEHRADUN.
was the decision gud or bad but certainly it added a lot more name to the H1N1 positive list.
The sad part is some of them carried with them the deadly H1N1 virus.
the number of cases being registered of swine flu is now increasing in every town of INDIA. as this virus spreads exponentially its hard to control it now.
from PUNE now its everywhere. even in my small town DEHRADUN.
was the decision gud or bad but certainly it added a lot more name to the H1N1 positive list.
Monday, August 24, 2009
8th july 2008...the big day
today when i got up in the morning, as usual i was thinking that its
been more then an year now that i have been placed in ashok leyland and
still i haven't joined it... it was on 8th July 2008 that i gave the
interview in the company's corporate office in gurgaon. the company
visited our colg on the 28th of April 2008, when it conducted the
written and preliminary rounds, three guys manish, sourav and me made
it to the next round, the interview.it took three months to confirm the
date of interview. it was delayed 8 times before 8th July. the venue
was changed twice, Lucknow and Delhi. ashok leyland is one of the dream
company of mechanical engineers. the wait for these three months was
worth every day.
every time the prospective date was fixed for the interview i could
feel the excitement,the tension,the dreams of making it into the
company, the adrenaline rush. it was amazing. but each time the date
was delayed the fear of failure cemented. finally the interview day
came.
manish, pahwa and i reached gurgaon on the 7th, we took the direct bus
from dehradun to Jaipur via gurgaon. the trip had to be fun, all three
of us were excited brimming with zeal and dreams. we were discussing
our fav subjects and suddenly the girl siting in front of us turned
back and handed us a fat file.
"you were talking about six sigma, well here u can read from my notes
till roorkee, thats my stop.."
everyone of us just stared her with our jaws dropped down. this was the
day i said to myself, a girl taking the initiative to talk to us wow.
we took the notes and then we began our "boys talk".
[ lets not digress its not what i want to write about here.. the girl
got down in roorkee.. Shift DEL.]
i usually don't talk much while travelling and so did manish, it was
saurav who was finding it difficult to control his excitement, full of
life, his great sense of humour, his apt comments on fellow
passengers.. it was fun.
we reached gurgaon and decided to visit the company to take a look at it
and make our self comfortable. the auto drpped us rite infront of a
multi storied building with the blue ashok leyland logo. we talked to
the guard there who was a jolly person, we were asked to come the next
day and he wished us all the best.
THEN THERE WAS THE HOTEL SEARCHING AND THAT TOO WAS A CLASS ACT, I WISH
I CUD WRITE ABOUT IT HERE. lets keep it a secret.
finally it was the day we have been waiting for last three months, the
day which was crucial for all of us, but specially for me for i knew
manish and sourav cud crack any exam they will sit in and are capable
of getting into companies which are better then ashley, but for me this
was DO or DIE. we got dressed and had our breakfast. its fun when u
live in a hotel with friends, the previous night mann and i were
watching star movies while sourav was eating his books, its funny that
both pahwa and me had brought a bag full of books for the interview of
which i didn't even open a single one. i mean how can we go through
everything in one night when we hadn't studied for months. ;)
we reached the interview venue well before 5hours. there were around 50
more students from other colgs. every one was trying to show that they
were calm and easy, but all were damn nervous. we were asked to sit in
the reception and fill the information form. i swear i was unable to
write my own name!!! my hands were shaking as if i had fits. it took me
15 min to fill it which on a normal day would take 2mins.
manish was the first one called inside. he was interviewed for 20 mins,
all this while i was making myself comfortable with the office and
preparing myself mentally but the more i thot abt the interview the
more i felt like hiding myself in the air conditioned lift of the
building ( it was awesome pure steel with perfect finish )
next it was my turn....
INT-"tell us abt urself"
Me-" sir i am rajat bla bla bla....."
INT-" ohk cut it short tell me abt ur training at ONGC"
it was the best time of my life those two months were the most
memorable masti time i spend. hardly i did nothing which i cud tell
there.
ME-" sir i was in the power generation department where there was a 16
cylinder diesel engine for running the alternator......"
INT-" you have gud 10th /12th score why didnt u drop and prepare for
some better colg"
Me-"sir i dont see any reason why i shud have dropped , as even after
doing my graduation from not so gud colg i am sitting here to give
interview for the top notch company of the nation, i feel i have done a
better job without wasting an year".
the ball was in my court now.
then there were some technical questions out of which i answered some and bluffed the rest.
he asked me a riddle i answered it quickly but not accurate...
then the final question.
INT-"u have filled that u wud like to work in Chennai , y ?"
ME-" sir i have spent 23 years in the same city doing my BTECH as a day scholar, i am kinda bored of that place i wanna live independently."
The interviewer began laughing and said -"u want to run away from ur parents dont u.."
soon i was out and i felt so relaxed. i didnt cared abt the result but the feeling that i have given the interview was gr8.
a lot more happened during that trip which ofcourse is there with me..
i am writing this b cause i feel this memory needs to be preserved...it was an important day for me.
been more then an year now that i have been placed in ashok leyland and
still i haven't joined it... it was on 8th July 2008 that i gave the
interview in the company's corporate office in gurgaon. the company
visited our colg on the 28th of April 2008, when it conducted the
written and preliminary rounds, three guys manish, sourav and me made
it to the next round, the interview.it took three months to confirm the
date of interview. it was delayed 8 times before 8th July. the venue
was changed twice, Lucknow and Delhi. ashok leyland is one of the dream
company of mechanical engineers. the wait for these three months was
worth every day.
every time the prospective date was fixed for the interview i could
feel the excitement,the tension,the dreams of making it into the
company, the adrenaline rush. it was amazing. but each time the date
was delayed the fear of failure cemented. finally the interview day
came.
manish, pahwa and i reached gurgaon on the 7th, we took the direct bus
from dehradun to Jaipur via gurgaon. the trip had to be fun, all three
of us were excited brimming with zeal and dreams. we were discussing
our fav subjects and suddenly the girl siting in front of us turned
back and handed us a fat file.
"you were talking about six sigma, well here u can read from my notes
till roorkee, thats my stop.."
everyone of us just stared her with our jaws dropped down. this was the
day i said to myself, a girl taking the initiative to talk to us wow.
we took the notes and then we began our "boys talk".
[ lets not digress its not what i want to write about here.. the girl
got down in roorkee.. Shift DEL.]
i usually don't talk much while travelling and so did manish, it was
saurav who was finding it difficult to control his excitement, full of
life, his great sense of humour, his apt comments on fellow
passengers.. it was fun.
we reached gurgaon and decided to visit the company to take a look at it
and make our self comfortable. the auto drpped us rite infront of a
multi storied building with the blue ashok leyland logo. we talked to
the guard there who was a jolly person, we were asked to come the next
day and he wished us all the best.
THEN THERE WAS THE HOTEL SEARCHING AND THAT TOO WAS A CLASS ACT, I WISH
I CUD WRITE ABOUT IT HERE. lets keep it a secret.
finally it was the day we have been waiting for last three months, the
day which was crucial for all of us, but specially for me for i knew
manish and sourav cud crack any exam they will sit in and are capable
of getting into companies which are better then ashley, but for me this
was DO or DIE. we got dressed and had our breakfast. its fun when u
live in a hotel with friends, the previous night mann and i were
watching star movies while sourav was eating his books, its funny that
both pahwa and me had brought a bag full of books for the interview of
which i didn't even open a single one. i mean how can we go through
everything in one night when we hadn't studied for months. ;)
we reached the interview venue well before 5hours. there were around 50
more students from other colgs. every one was trying to show that they
were calm and easy, but all were damn nervous. we were asked to sit in
the reception and fill the information form. i swear i was unable to
write my own name!!! my hands were shaking as if i had fits. it took me
15 min to fill it which on a normal day would take 2mins.
manish was the first one called inside. he was interviewed for 20 mins,
all this while i was making myself comfortable with the office and
preparing myself mentally but the more i thot abt the interview the
more i felt like hiding myself in the air conditioned lift of the
building ( it was awesome pure steel with perfect finish )
next it was my turn....
INT-"tell us abt urself"
Me-" sir i am rajat bla bla bla....."
INT-" ohk cut it short tell me abt ur training at ONGC"
it was the best time of my life those two months were the most
memorable masti time i spend. hardly i did nothing which i cud tell
there.
ME-" sir i was in the power generation department where there was a 16
cylinder diesel engine for running the alternator......"
INT-" you have gud 10th /12th score why didnt u drop and prepare for
some better colg"
Me-"sir i dont see any reason why i shud have dropped , as even after
doing my graduation from not so gud colg i am sitting here to give
interview for the top notch company of the nation, i feel i have done a
better job without wasting an year".
the ball was in my court now.
then there were some technical questions out of which i answered some and bluffed the rest.
he asked me a riddle i answered it quickly but not accurate...
then the final question.
INT-"u have filled that u wud like to work in Chennai , y ?"
ME-" sir i have spent 23 years in the same city doing my BTECH as a day scholar, i am kinda bored of that place i wanna live independently."
The interviewer began laughing and said -"u want to run away from ur parents dont u.."
soon i was out and i felt so relaxed. i didnt cared abt the result but the feeling that i have given the interview was gr8.
a lot more happened during that trip which ofcourse is there with me..
i am writing this b cause i feel this memory needs to be preserved...it was an important day for me.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
accident prevention for tractors
Tractors are powerful special purpose vehicles which are used widely in agricultural and infrastructural fields. These machines have high torque and power which makes it the best option for carrying loads, working in the fields etc.
most often we see tractors attached with a trolley which contains the goods to be transported. recently i noticed that when this tractor trolley assembly is moving on the road at high speed and in case brakes are applied, it takes considerable amount of time to bring it to rest, but also when the brakes are applied suddenly (in case of emergency) then the tractor stops but the trolley sways around the hinge hitting the vehicles on either sides of the road.
As shown in the above figure, fig A shows the tractor trolley moving in a straight line.
In fig B the brakes are applied to the tractor which slows down, but the trolley keeps moving under the effect of inertia due to which it sways left or right, making it prone to deadly accidents.
what i believe is that the trolley should also have its own pair of brakes which should work in synchronization with the main brakes of the tractor. when such an arrangement will be provided then the ability of the tractor to come to a halt at the right time will be improved multi folds reducing the chance of any mishap.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
changing times
when i look at the present climatic situation which has drastically changed in the past few decades, i feel scared and timid. the exponential decrease in the number of trees is one of the several reasons for this climatic degradation.
can this problem be fixed? is there any way to improve the quality of flora and fauna?
through years the degree of deforestation has certainly gone down, but we failed to understand that deforestation alone cannot halt the green house effect, more trees have to be planted to compensate the loss of the trees cut down since ages. thus i feel now is the time that we put on our gloves to revolutionise afforestation.
in my opinion the best way to spread the message of afforestation is through schools. As when the children are made aware of the importance of planting more trees they spread this word to their parents and relatives which makes the society aware of the need to plant more trees. the schools have the power of motivation and enlightening the students which will certainly make them conscious about trees and their importance.
here are some steps which can me implied in schools and homes.
the schools must encourage the students to plant at least a tree on their birthdays, rather then spending money on their birthday parties.
the school picnic should be organized in such places where it is feasible to plant trees and every student should be made to plant a tree on the trip.such school trip will be beneficial in planting more trees where students will have a first hand experience with planting trees.
the families should inculcate a habit of planting trees on all the family occasions and family functions.
every house must have at least a tree in their lawns and gardens
all the housing societies and colonies should have green clubs which take up the task of plating trees in their localities.
i am sure these steps will create the public awareness among the students and parents.
the time is now to bring about a change to preserve the gifts of nature.
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