My right in My IIT

A long time has passed, when the first thought to file an RTI in IIT Delhi crossed my mind. But, I assumed that it would be a clumsy affair and I would have to face similar unfavourable attitude in RTI cell as in some other offices (e.g. Accounts section) of IIT Delhi. So, the idea of an RTI was nipped in the bud itself by the pessimistic part of me.

But, some recent developments in my surroundings rekindled that thought and I convinced myself to actually do it this time. So, I collected all the required information essential to file an RTI - the Public Information Officer, the method  to submit the nominal fee (Rs. 10 only), some sample RTIs; and then proceeded to draft an application (which is nothing more than a list of questions on a plain sheet of paper) requesting for the information.

Next was the part which I was most reluctant about - dealing with a public office in IIT Delhi, being a victim of the inefficiencies of Accounts section on many occasions. But, it was a pleasant surprise when the lady responsible to register the RTI application greeted me with a smile, and politely cleared all my queries regarding the procedural details of RTI application. And thus, my first RTI applications (yes, there were two) were received and would hopefully be replied soon (not more than 30 days in any case).

Thus, in very short, the method to file RTIs in IIT Delhi is hassle-free, thanks to the supportive staff in RTI cell. Just draft your precise questions in plain english on a normal paper in a prescribed format addressed to the PIO of IIT Delhi. Submit the application in the RTI cell (opposite Diro's office) with the fee submitted through the usual challan forms. And you are guaranteed a response in maximum 30 days.

So, the next time you speculate about some information hidden from you in the IIT system, go ahead and file an RTI. Put an end to the rumours and get definitive answers. Let the age of 'information' prevail.

PS: I appreciate the support extended by young Nitesh Mor in filing the RTI by generously contributing the postal orders required.

The Decade that Passed By

This post is already about 15 days late than expected, thanks to the art of procrastination, but nevertheless, better late than never. Another decade in my and everyone’s life went by, but being born in ’90, my age can be roughly counted in decades. Thus, I turned ‘2 decades’ old quite recently (brownie points for remembering my b’day). So, I thought of reminiscing a bit on the turn of events in the past decade in which I can say that I grew up the most – having seen three different phases of age in a single decade; starting from a kid, going into adolescence (teenage) and turning an adult. So here it is - my last 10 years summed up in a 'few' lines - approximately my journey from what I was to what I am now.

2000-01 (Class 6-7):

Shifted school from AECS#2 (primary) to AECS#4 (secondary). Suddenly, turned the junior most in the school from the senior most, and frequently surrounded by tall fellows from higher classes. Also, the year of Kaun Banega Crorepati. Even, tried madly for KBC Junior.

2002 (Class 8):

Returned to AECS#2 due to some reshuffle in school system at Rawatbhata. Separated from some really dear friends of the childhood. Haven't yet been able to reconnect completely with them thereafter, but made some new friends and learnt to move on.

My sister moved to college. No more competition in ownership of TV and no more fighting for one thing or the other. But, realised soon enough that we miss people and learn their value only when they move away.

Gave to myself and gave myself to Volleyball – which would no longer be just a game to me in years to come, but that’s a long story – sometime later. Travelled for sports tours, away from home for the first time – one activity essential to grow up.

Lucky to get a great School Principal in MNVP Naidu sir. Faced some tough competition in academics – thanks to Ashwin. Taught me how to compete healthily and constructively.

2003-04 (Class 9):

Spent almost 4 months (2 of them continuously) away from home going through drilling (literally) NCC camps. Achieved the dream of an NCC cadet – attended the Republic Day Camp – 2004. Haven’t yet lived a tougher, more disciplined, and still more exciting life than those days. Still miss some of the people I lived with then, I wish there was some sort of Facebook then too.

Had my maiden flight in the Microlight (a 2-seater plane for NCC cadets). Developed a strong desire to become a fighter pilot in Indian Air Force through NDA. A bad idea keeping in view my fear of heights, but, the mind keeps taking crazy dives.

2004-05 (Class 10):

Return of Volleyball which turned out to be a nightmare. Got injured (a facture in right metacarpal) days before the tour. Turned selfish by still going on with the tour and wasting a place in the team (I still count it as one of the biggest mistakes of my life) and paid later in the form of complications resulting in a surgery. Actually, what attracted me was the venue of the sports meet (Kakrapar, Gujarat) which happens to be my birth place, where I spent the first 4 years of my life; just wanted to see it again.
Despite an ailing right hand due to the fracture, managed to do well in the board exams (with an astonishing 99 in Hindi, mainly due to an excellent teacher in Mrs. Rama Sharma ma'am). Cracked many other competitive exams (NTSE etc.).

2005-06 (Class 11):
Came to know about something called IIT-JEE (believe me, I didn't know about it earlier). I feel fortunate to be picked up by Sri Chaitanya Academy on a 100% scholarship, because otherwise I wouldn't have joined a coaching and cannot predict where that would have landed me.  Experienced hostel life - late night studies, later night masti, poor mess food, petty quarrels, gossips about girls, crushes etc. Fun-filled days in general, too much pressure sometimes.
Visited HBCSE for a week through KVPY (and later for Olympiad camps). Got to meet some bright people of my age (who're going to be big names in near future) . Felt elite for the first time.

2006-07 (Class 12):
Rented a room outside, Maa moved in, pretty organised life, almost at home. Big aims in eyes, consistent efforts, some ups and downs, but finally a year ending in extra-ordinary achievements - AIR50 (JEE), Silver medal (IChO), decent 92% (CBSE), all of which, I believe, became possible only because of my Mom.

2007-present (IIT Delhi):
This phase, I think, has contributed the most to my growth and maturity (whatever I exhibit at times). Not only because I turned officially adult during this time, but because it gave me real freedom and opportunity to make many crucial decisions for myself - some of them I got right, many of them wrong. Made some really close friends - friends for life. In fact, this phase of life is an era in itself. It would be an injustice to try to shrink it in a few lines. Would dedicate a complete post some day, may be after I turn an alumni.

So, that's it. A pretty 'short' memoir of my life in the past decade. I hope to make the next one more memorable and if possible, more diverse.

Denial and Sacrifice

Often in life, we face situations when circumstances play villain in denying us some things which we would so much love to have. But, there are other instances in life when we show great will power to keep us away from something which we otherwise love, for something else more important and more lasting. That act of sacrificing fills you with a sense of gratification and satisfaction for your control on your mind and senses. But, then very rarely a combination of these two occurs - when we go a long way to settle our minds to sacrifice somethings, but then the villain circumstances deny us that sacrifice too. This phase of "denial of sacrifice" is the most painful, because you are stripped of the satisfying feeling of sacrifice, and strangely even the things sacrificed earlier by you don't taste that sweet.

PS: A vague representation of some recent incidents through abstract ideas. A cryptic post which only some close people can decode.

Facebook - Connecting people, Killing action?

In the current times, it would be difficult to find a person who has internet access but doesn't have a Facebook (FB henceforth in this blog) profile. Lately, FB became the third most populated 'place' in the world after China and India with over 400 million users. [1] But, as I see FB (and many do agree) that it's just a waste of time. Apart from the possibility of connecting with long-lost friends with no possible recovery of contact otherwise, FB just features shitty apps (I too was addicted to Farmville some time back), fraud quizzes (though some people feel happy that FB knows them so well) and who-likes-what, and who-is-friends-with-who, etc etc! So, it gives some losers enough reason to remain glued to their screens 24-7 (been there, done that).

But, does it end here? Is it just a wastage of time? Didn't I ever participate in a discussion as a series of comments on a status update, or share my inner thoughts through my status updates? Though FB gives power to broadcast your thoughts, but generally it's more of a virtual identity which people create so as to gather maximum number of 'likes' or 'comments'. It is not at all uncommon to find people check their FB profiles moments after they connect to internet, and update their status to reflect "What's on your mind?". After all, when was it so easy to express yourself! Too easy to be a cause of inaction in 'real' life? Yes, I'm talking of posts which though invoke opinions when thought about, but the result of the thought process is nothing more than a series of comments. Because it is so much easier to write a few lines on your status update and initiate a chain of comments, it kills the urge to act when and where it really matters. It's not just about cases like Ayodhya verdict or CWG, which aam junta like us have no control over. But, this is relevant to our own local problems (local to IITD), which nobody from outside is going to come and solve for us. Problems as basic as lack of drinking water or poor mess food in hostels. When we all know that raising these issues on Facebook won't make a difference, but troubling the concerned authorities would, yet it feels satisfying to have registered our discontent on some public forum. Such instinct to take the easier way out has extinguished some sparks which had the potential to grow into a large fire if fanned the right way. May be, it is the path and not the destination itself which guides our decisions after all.

Long time no see!

Aha! My blog! My precious! 2 months since I wrote something down here. I started blogging at the first place to give a vent to my thoughts which keep springing up now and then. So, did I not think anything and let my mind rest relentlessly all these days? No, nothing of that sort! I did one thing and one thing only! I reactivated my Facebook account. So, all the thoughts, which when pondered over had the capacity of developing into full-fledged blog posts, found themselves on my Facebook profile as petty status messages, attracting unexpected number of likes and comments sometimes.

So, why back to Blogosphere? Did I gather enough courage to deactivate (or better, delete) my Facebook account again? No, nothing of that sort either! This time, I am back with a few crazy reflections, which I don't expect someone to listen in detail - the primary reason being that they are crazy at the first place.