WINTER 09

WINTER - Winter IISc National Training for Entry to Research.. This was one of the most awaited events in my calendar... coz WINTER 08 is the reason that I’m here. I was waiting too anxiously to see what it is like to organise such an event... how it feels by being a part of the organising team rather than being there form the participant side. Had lots of thoughts lots of ideas...

It all started long back... probably in September.. The meeting for WINTER 09, I was present there by default. The meeting started off by assigning different duties to different people. I went on commenting on the various flaws WINTER 08 had, without actually going deeper or thinking why that had happened. I never realised then that those who organised were after all students senior to us by just few years. if we can’t be errorless how can we expect them to be so flawless courtesy all the blabbering about the defects in web page of WINTER 08 in the first meeting itself it was decided that I along with shalu and digvijay would be responsible for the web page designing.. It was like a shock for me. When I don’t know abc of html programming how am I supposed to design!!! Then had an immediate relief when I heard that digvijay knew how to do it. That was the first time I came to know him.. Though in structures we had never met earlier.. Within a weeks time shivani di asked us to come together and show her the design.. Digvijay did the whole lot of work.. The only thing I did was to disturb him saying this and that had happened last yr.. blah blah blah.. I remember he had just asked for a suggestion of the colour scheme.. That also I think I couldn't help much.. So the web page was ready all by his efforts.. And so the responsibilities were off my shoulders.. Next thing I was asked to do was to prepare a excel sheet of a few student who had applied.. I think that is the only work I had done pre WINTER. 

Then again I was assigned the work of arranging the caterers as I was the one who had complained most against the food last time.. 1 month went by.. I got busy wid the classes didn’t think abt this.. Then one fine day a meeting is called and when asked .. Rest all had done their parts. except for the food arrangement.. Prof. Anbazhagan thought I’d do it after exams but then got furious when he came to know the fact that I was going back home rt the day after exams. and return just the day before WINTER. rescuer again was digvijay!! he said he would talk wid the caterers and arrange the food.. I was all smiles and went abt happily.. latter when I think back I feel that how irresponsible I was in working the things out.. shifting the workload from my shoulder to someone else's.. that way what happens is the system tends to get into chaos.. any ways thanks to digvijay he did all the parts so very well taking all the responsibility and accountability.. the only other thing I kept on doing  pre WINTER was responding and replying to the various queries and posts by the participants in the orkut community.. I learnt a lesson that day: if u can’t take a responsibility don’t say yes.. it only ruins the system by creating additional work load on others..

Then I returned back to IISc after a sweet trip from home.. results were out.. it was pathetic as expected but in some it was beyond my expectations and comprehension.. so with all that result tension in mind I came as a volunteer for WINTER 09 on 28th  dec. rt form the previous day since the time I had landed in the campus I had been in the hc seeing darshana. she was sick probably for the climate change.. but she had to be looked after. I remembered my IIT K days.. though I could not be of that much gr8 help as gyan bhaiya or saurabh bhaiya or ravish bhaiya.. I tried to do my best for her.. that gave a sense of satisfaction and the guilt in me for not contributing anything in WINTER subsided a bit.. the days passed by I got to know more of these campers and more of my dept people..

Though I knew anil since long we never got that time to interact so much after joining IISc. we had attended summer camp at IIT K winter at IISc together.. so knew quite much abt each other but after joining I guess we hardly had time to talk.. but in WINTER we had all the time.. then abhishek bhaiya... I had known him since last WINTER. he was our volunteer then.. this time we were friends.. all from the same side.. from the organising team it really feels gud then.. u see urself in a different position all together in just a yr.. it really felt nice when prof. Nagesh Kumar said.. changing roles :) with the work I came to know lots of people. came to know a lot of geotech ppl.. tarun, sandeep, gaurave, sreevalsa, arif bhaiya.. the friendship grew.. I came to know paramita di and amit sir better.. I had a new band of friends with me :)

The chat with digvijay, with amit sir and with abhishek bhaiya it was so nice.. I got one more lesson in life.. be happy with what u have; live and enjoy the life..then the new year eve.. the celebrations.. the cake.. the fun games.. anbu sir and his daughter cutting the cake :), the drive.. it reminded me of the days back home when for every alternate thing I used to go with my brother.. missed him the most that day..

Then after 2 days WINTER came to an end but I was glad that it was fruitful for me too.. there is a saying "Days pass by but it’s the memories that remain.." though over long back it still gives me a sense of deep satisfaction of getting involved in it. and I can say WINTER has given me a lot of things.. 

And the best gift I had from WINTER was a group of sweet brothers here at IISc Abhishek bhaiya, Digvijay, Amit sir and Anil..

Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore

It’s been more than 4 months that I joined IISc... I still remember the 1st day. I had come in with my mother. The first time I stepped into the campus as a student, the feeling was a bit different. It felt gr8. The campus seemed to be so different; not that I was coming to the campus for the first time; I had been here in Winter last year.. had come here for the interviews.. had known all the places so well. The roads in front of the library, the main building, Nesara - the campus restaurant seemed so familiar yet so different.. different because now I was going to be associated with all these.. I would be a part (though a tiny speck) of the history of this 100 yr old institute.. this was going to be my home, my work, my temple and my altar for the next few years of my life..

Research always fascinated me.. loved civil engineering.. I loved structures.. but at the same time had never thought that I will end up doing research in one of the finest research institutes of the country. I always had a thought that management was my cup.. that’s what I wanted to do.. had thought of enjoying and freaking out wid frnds for a few years by joining up any of the 4 companies I was selected in during the campus recruitment drives.. but again it’s like, man proposes and god disposes.. So while joining IISc , I was in a great dilemma.. but then thought of giving it a chance.. I never disliked research..infact in some corner of my heart that was also a thing that I craved to do.. so thus began my journey at Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.

The initial days the hostel formalities and all were a bit of a mess with the mismanagement from the hostel office.. but then on the other side in the civil dept the professors were so caring and helpful that all the trouble of the previous week seemed to be so trivial.. the love and affection one gets from day 1 was simply awesome.. I still remember.. I was in a state of dilemma, whether or not is it the place for me.. while completing the formalities I just went  near Prof. Nanjunda rao saying that I’m unable to decide.. should I join or shouldn’t I?? The way he explained was so simple and clear.. I thought of staying back and seeing.. then I met my advisors.. Prof J M Chandra Kishen & Prof. Ananth Ramaswamy. I think they were the best professors I could think of having as advisors.. so caring so loving and affectionate.. down then I think that was the only motivating factor I had.. at least I would love the professors with whom I would work..

Then with the classes.. time seemed to fly past.. mid terms.. and results.. and again mid terms.. and then the finals.. just completed the last paper today and thought to pen down some thoughts.. I somehow liked certain subjects.. while certain papers seemed so boring.. but still one has to complete all the credit requirements.. but I learnt one of the biggest lessons of life.. reading is easy but it takes lots of effort to study.. one needs to spend some time to study.. exams were not that easy.. not because the questions were tough.. rather they were the easiest papers one could really think of having.. it was difficult because one did not spend the amount time and thoughts over the topics.. one more thing I learnt.. we learn from each and every moment in our life.. be it while we r awake or half asleep.. the monotony in one of the classes was so killing that I could not help and stay awake.. all that I learnt in that class were so basic and so fundamental that I have nothing but regards for the professor who had put down all the facts so concisely and precisely before us.. now I regret that I spent most of the time in the class sleeping.. though I expect some pathetic grades in that subject I can say that I learnt a lot both in terms of course and the attitude one should have while going for a class..

I think this is more than enough of the thoughts deep within..Now let me tell about a few of my new friends and some fun I had here.. The worst thing I noticed here was that ppl expect u to be ‘buddhas’ here.. fun and merriment seemed to be their sworn enemies.. u r supposed to study.. either go to lab else sleep in ur room.. u r not supposed to hang out with frnds.. but habits never change.. I had some really good friends and found out enough time to go out of the campus and hang out at forum or garuda.. move abt the streets at commercial brigade or mg.. I got some really sweet wing mates.. anusmita, sangeeta, bharati, ramya and some very good friends in the dept like shalu. Lepakshi, somayya, anil. And some gr8 seniors like fathima didi, sonalisha didi, hemalatha mam, payal, abhishek bhaiya, amit sir, paramita di..

The fun I had with anusmita and sangeeta.. the diwali celebrations and the shopping sprees.. it’s lovely..Every time I go out with anusmita and sangeeta the shopping never ends till the shops close :P With shalu it always used to be a eating joint that we r out for.. be it kfc or mc donalds or 8^th cross malleswaram, each time we went out we brought one thing for sure.. food and chocolates .. I think after being with them for a while iisc doesn’t seem to be that bad a place..I simply cannot resist the opportunity to tease shalu for some of her typical antiques and anusmita for her oriya.. her accent.. it’s so lovely.. and I love the way sangeeta talks.. all of a sudden outburst of words.. the fresher’s party was nice and the Kerala trip with structures lab mates was fun too.. came to know a lot of seniors, enjoyed the antaksharies in the bus, digvijay’s singing, the boat ride.. the card games, the photo shoots and guruji aka biswanath and his pose, one of which was wearing gogs at evening even inside the bus :P, little shambhavi.. it seemed ppl at IISc are not that boring after all :D

So hoping for some more fun and some disastrous results of the sem exams I take leave till the next blog post on my experience of being a part of the organising team of WINTER (Winter  IISc National Training for Entry to Research) of which I was a participant last year..

Reminiscences...

Just 20 more days to go.. and we'll be finishing the 4 years of our Engineering Career... yet it seems to be too less a time we spent.. never thought that colg will end so soon...

it still feels like yesterday wen i first went to 460 office with my mother.. met a few ppl while waiting for the introductory lectures.. the 1st day at college.. the wait for the bus.. leaving maa's hands and going all alone for the 1st time... the longing to reach the college campus... the excitement to meet new ppl.. new frnds.. new teachers... and then the campus tour.... the walk infront of the old block.. the untended roads towards the mechanical labs....

then the 1st yr begins.. those were the moments i can never forget.. the way i used to go to colg.. some times i had a regret but yet was happy.. the hair style.. the shoes.... the times wen the seniors used to come and rag.. wen I used to sing songs.. chant bhajans.. the leg pulling by abhisekh bhai, manti bhai, smarak bhai, manmath bhai, sangram bhai, gopabandhu bhai, krushna bhai … the nonchalant crowing of sambit bhai aka kau.. the emo rush of girls for abhisekh bhai.. the dread for his shouts.. the masti behind their back.. pravin’s pole dance, smarak bhai’s dance in bus, the final yr dance in bus.. the I card issues.. jiten bhai’s slap on prafful and the blank luk on prafful’s face there after…. the pathetic ragging by civil 2^nd yr girls.. the dread of going near the banyan tree infront of old block.. the ragging and the embarrasments there after... the single filed lines… my frndship wid changu mangu.. and wid karubakee… the brotherly affection of jaymant.. the hospital visits of subhshree.. the rush to campus health centre...

the sweet chant of “subhashree.. subhashree tike dekha ma” from nilu bhai, the crushes of all the final year bhaiyas, and the elder brotherly affection and advice of kisku bhaiya, the protection and cover he gave is simply unforgettable… the questions of Rambo aka preet bhai… then a phase of masti wid final yrs.. those were the best seniors one can expect to have.. then the fights inside class, the fights for marks in internals, the late night preparations for workshop vivas and lab vivas.. then the sudden mass ragging in colg and colg suspension.. the rakshya of partha rath bhai.. his protection, love and affection.. the care he took.. and his fury… the friendship with romil and sanjeevani.. meetings with stutee and itishree.. the two schul mates i had in colg.. the friendship with rohit... and then the 1^st year fests and the way leading to the freedom of becoming a senior..

I still cannot comprehend the way we bunked classes wen ever we got a chance.. the bunks at the colg canteen.. the bushes behind the old block.. the abandoned culvert at the side of the road leading to old block which used to be ‘khatti aada’ then the sweet luv story of anand-silpa and a few more.. sum bhai –behan relationships.. the holi celibs wid tapas bhaiya, pintu bhai etc.. all drenched and splashed yet attending classes.. the sweet talks wid sandhya didi.. the masti with priyanka didi.. the fights wid subhashree.. the new frndship wid hostel girls.. till date I donot recollect how hostel became my 2^nd home.. I used to spend more time there rather than being at home..

I remember the times wen I got bugged up by the calls, Kamalji!! I learnt the art of talking form him… and yes one disclosure we(romil, sanjeevani and me) used to mess up wid harsha’s hair in the bus from behind yet he knows not abt this till date.. the innocent luks and the silent badmashi.. the dumbcharades in the shashtri nagar route bus wid bapun bhai, manaswini didi, bubu bhai and grp..

The masti wid romil, swati and sanjeevani.. the bus stop.. I guess I have the record time of being late.. its just 45 mins from the scheduled time.. abhisekh and the way he used to board the bus.. swati and her jalwa..

Then the 3^rd yr.. of fun.. the rate at which the classes were bunked tended to grow in a geometric progression.. we had then developed a strong sense of responsibility.. a strong bond of frndship.. all the feelings and emos during the year were extreme.. were to the heights.. be it campus and related issues or friendship.. the initial seriousness for studies.. the group parties.. the friendship wid silpa, pragyan, subhashree, anand, ashish and azhar.. the frndship wid devi.. the nights before internals and sems wen I used to call up silpa every alternate minute asking doubts.. the full day stay at hostel in the pretext of studying.. but god knows how the time flew off and yet we culd not stop talking rather than studying.. then the busy march and april...the chats with sushovan.. he was my schulmate but i had a talk wid him only after we got into the colg.. the fights with pragyan.. the hot headed talks with silpa.. the growing bonds and the increased fights.. the collective action during sems… the afternoons at the portico of 261… the work outs with chaitali.. the classes with preeti and chaitali.. the freaking with subhashree.. the campus drives of tcs.. infy.. Vedanta..

Then finally comes the final yr... initially it was like.. ahh!! finally in the final yr.. there was a sense of satisfaction and a tint of pride of being seniors.. but then I cannot forget the moments.. the day we got into essar.. practically it was for the 1^st time I saw my frnds so happy after the results were out… lipi’s satisfaction.. nandita’s sigh of relief.. subhashree’s excitement.. the glittering eyes of debashish.. I was simply spell bound.. then the day pragyan got her campus.. it was like I felt ohh god u have been fair at last.. I become nostalgic with the thoughts of those days.. the days wen we could move around and roam around with nothing in our minds.. with no tension of exams and schedules.. As the days moved on the friendship grew stronger.. then the rush for the course completion during 7^th sem.. the minor project and the run to irrigation dept. govt of Orissa..the seminar preparations.. the fights with dj and sujit…the chats with devi... the serious talks.. the leg pulling.. his caring attitude... the seminars.. the fights with mom mam.. wid profs... the runs to manas sir's house... the early morning calls of chaitali... their wait near satsang vihar... the the last moment exam preparations.. the CADD exam..

Some memories would remain etched in the heart forever.. the it all began with silpa’s last bday at colg hostel.. the water balloons during chilly winter.. the splash.. the gpl.. the trip to nandan kanan.. the run back to nandan kanan to retrieve my lost bag and cam.. the undue shouts and and hurling of abuses.. the treats.. daily shopping at market building.. the astarang trip.. the motor boat ride to the island.. the bet with ashish.. it was the time I tasted and tried sum different stuff.. the fun and masti on beach.. subhashree’s nautanki.. ashish’s nautanki.. pragyan’s thoughts… anand’s disyllabic “naasta”.. ricky’s surprised luks and tension on seeing deep water… then with just within two days the colg picnic to dolphin sanctuary… the fun in bus.. pragyan’s stunts.. the full nautanki of boat no. 3 with gaurav in the lead position always posing for photographs.. one thing i can never forget.. the way gaurav poses for pics.. unique style.. trying to show off his attitude but pata nahi usmein atti kam nautanki jyada dikhta hai.. still it was fun clicking up his pics.. to apease his humour... the picnic and dj’s sleep just like a log.. chitta’s acting.. the late evening lunch.. I guess it was more of a dinner…

When I go down the memory lane I can never forget that return journey.. the pulls and fights with harsh and ashish, the secure shade of bhai aka anand... kamal and his talks.. and yes the fight with kamal.. it was so amusing.. I just enjoyed hitting him and was thrilled by seeing his helplessness.. and then bhole - my saviour from the pranks of these bugs . I get nostalgic when I think of the last holi at colg.. the fun and thrill.. the splash of colours.. the gpl in the dirty water pool.. the varnish covered faces.. the pranks of harsh.. ashish, bubu and anshuman.. not to mention abt W arvind aniket and grp.. luckily or unluckily I don’t realize which.. I missed them during their stint befor 261... the bending moment quiz.. gaurav's tashan.. then the run back again to KIIT campus.... the lull in gaurav's face... the sharp shooting by gita balakrishnan.. 'all gauravs r alike'...

then this odd project of ours.. the const and design of railway bridge no 553.. the trips to site.. the fun there in.. the photo shoots.. the climbs on the girders.. the walk over the railway bridge over the deep mahanadi river near naraj barriage.. the run for life hearing the approach of a train over the bridge.. the heatbeats while standing on the trolley refuse.. the model preparation… the hassles.. the hot discussions.. the evening before grand viva at colg.. the ride back home.. the photo sessions on the day of comphrensive viva voice..gaurav’s tashan while clicking pics.. and the most tresured of it all is fest.. the tech and spring fests which we organized.. tinku sir’s appreciation, love and affection.. the 2^nd day of zazen.. sagars 'eire hei' and his monstrous laughs.. the evening dj.. the fun during zephyr.. and to top it all .. I was the discipline coordinator.. the 2^nd day of zephyr.. the traditional attires.. my deadly combo.. shoes socks saree and the schul bag… the photo shoots.. the emotions and sentiments..

and then comes the final days at our college.. our last internal.. the shouts.. the sentiments.. the feelings and appreciations.. all penned down on our t-shirts.. the climb up the fountain.. the photo session in department.. infront of the administrative block.. at the bus stop.. and in the acharya vihar 2-wheeler parking stand.. the last day regards to profs..

the most memorable of all were the evenings at imfa park.. the cool evenings.. the fun games.. dumb charades.. the endless talks on nothing.. pragyan’s attachments towards kids.. unlimitied photo shoots.. the word game.. I cannot ever forget the ‘rumal chori game’ and ashish’s unique game of ‘para ud.. hati ud..’ those were the days we enjoyed to heights..

the real dumb actings of azhar.. bmc for jab we met’s famous nagada song, pragyan’s actress list which included the likes of rekha and dimple kapadia in new movie releases but missed out kareena kapoor.. the thrill of the photo sessions.. I still roll in laughter wen I think the way anand enacted.. every movie that he meant to say had the same gesture .. his hand movements.. the glitter in his eyes wen he thought that he has come up wid sum thing implausible.. pragyan’s ‘bhak sala’ silpa’s ‘nahi nahi’ subhashree’s pose.. azhar’s stint as a poet and philosopher.. a single thought of this brings a smile on my face..

20 days hence we may be separated miles apart but I hope that this innocent bond of friendship would keep us tied up together forever.. time goes on and on.. and we must follow on.. its time to bid adieu to all ..

gud bye.. gud bye OEC

And this is for all my frnds “hum hain rahi pyaar ke,fir milenge chalte chalte"