Mr. Lonely

Days are passing by without any action, as if life has come to a standstill. Moreover, I am not sure of the reason of me staying back at IITD right now, though the excuses are many - volleyball camp, extended minor project, civil services preparation. But, I can't really find out the reasons out of the excuses, because I don't observe any progress on any of those fronts. Besides, I have been feeling lonely too in the last few days. I don't know whether the loneliness is due to the lack of progress, or vice-versa, but I carry the sensation of loneliness from the moment I wake up early in the morning to the time I somehow fall asleep every night.

On the field, I'm not sure of the purpose for which I'm burning out my muscles every morning at 6 am, when some of my "experienced" mates find it to be the least priority activity in their life at present. Whatever energy I can conserve out of the workout (read burnout) doesn't appear sufficient to keep me awake for rest of the morning. The extended minor project has hit a roadblock because I've no clue what am I aiming to accomplish. Additionally, probably due to thinking more than required, somehow I find myself so much entangled in the thought of civil services preparation itself that I can't pick a loose end of the string to start off.

And without doing anything worthwhile today also, except watching a hilarious (but elongated) movie "Pyaar ka Punchnama", I've no option but to sign off without any expectations of something exciting from the coming day.

CS07, Farewell to Thee!

Batch of 2007CS, IIT Delhi

Here is a short write-up on similar lines with the short "speech" I made during the CS07 farewell yesterday, with a few extensions of ideas and better expressions:

In this farewell, I could have been on the other side of the line (with the ones passing out, and not with those staying behind for another year). But, I chose to get "dualized" and sometimes, I am presented with reasons to consider that decision to be a mistake - another year of academic load, another year at IITD but without many of the friends. Well, the internet ban in the nights from the next semester is another major concern.

As I look at myself today, I find that as a person I've grown up the most in the last four years of my life. I entered IITD as a young kid, who hadn't faced the world alone much. After four years, I would like to believe that I've matured a lot as a person. The major contribution to that comes from the people around me - the students and the professors alike. The students coming here from diverse backgrounds have something different and special in each of them, and there was something I could learn from most of them. With friends, the experiences have been mixed - some funny incidents, some tense moments. Similarly, the time with profs has also been a mixed bag. Jokes have been cracked in classes, and nights have been spent on assignments.

Now that four years of awesomeness have passed, I doubt the next year will match up with those standards. The Bharti Bldg will remain the same, but with the people inside it, who actually matter, gone, it would be nothing more than just the dept building. The GCL will reduce to a large room with hundreds of computers, and will no more be a fun place to hang out.

B.Tech. people, you'll be missed. As CS07 batch starts to scatter, the google group will be silenced (the last week has been phenomenal), the hostel corridors will look emptied, faces in GCL won't be so familiar any more. Though in a shrinking world, it is most certain that we'll remain in touch through various means, life will never be the same; because as per my experience, long distance relationships don't work out so well.

So, as the lovely people of this rocking batch enter another phase of their lives, I wish them the best. Guys, it was an honour serving with you, "May the Force be with You".

"Forever" - Really?!

"Friends forever". I could never understand how long is 'forever'. As per laws of the universe (or Gita), everything that has a beginning has an end. But, how close/far that end should be. Death is an obvious option, and of course, "till death do us part" is a common oath taken with another social contract (marriage), but friendship is meant to be free from all such bindings. So, as all things are meant to end sometime, friendship too has to have a similar behaviour - an ascent to the peak, then stagnation for sometime there, followed by the inevitable fall. Why so? Because priorities change, and so do affinities. Therefore, as one friendship wilts, the seeds for other ones are sown. Then follows a competition which ends in survival of the fittest. God-damn you, Darwin!

A Week of Victory and Hope

The last 7 days or so have been unprecedented. Never before in my life have I seen two different reasons for people to come out on the streets within a week. Last Saturday, the world witnessed the long-awaited world cup victory for Indian cricket team, which India celebrated with unseen fervour. If I believe hearsay (I missed it myself), about 50,000 persons gathered at the India Gate on the same night itself to celebrate the resurgence of India in the world of cricket. Right after, when everyone expected a week full of lull and boredom (IPL4 was still a week away), something happened which touched the Indian people from within. An almost unknown Anna Hazare pledged a fast unto death to demand a joint-committee to draft an almost forgotten Lokpal Bill. As all the euphoria that followed, some very remarkable and unparalleled things happened.

Firstly, Anna Hazare represented a beacon of hope in an otherwise helpless society who had given up in front of the rotten system and had accepted corruption as a way of life. Government’s acceptance of all demands of Anna gives people hope that a strongly determined will of the people can ring bells in ears of the deafest of regimes. A well-inspired movement can enforce participation in even the most insensitive of representative democracies. I am filled with optimism that it is still too early to give up on the Indian system. Indians are seeking a worthy leader and as and when they would find one, the support would be voluntary and overwhelming.

Secondly, this crusade was driven by the eagerness of the common man, even the silent middle class, to leave their comfort zones, to sacrifice their petty interests and come out in support of something they believe in. Being present at Jantar Mantar on both days when the fast began and the fast ended, I observed around me united support to fight the common cause of resentment, coming from across societal, geographic, economic and generational lines. Before this, the cynic in me thought that the only motive that connects every Indian is cricket and no other reason would be important enough to strike the chord in all of them. But, the cynicism had to make way for positivity.

With the official notification of a joint committee to draft a strong anti-corruption law, the struggle towards a better future has just begun. I hope with a bit of apprehension that the enthusiasm and oneness that people displayed during a short protest doesn’t get diffused in the long run, and the faith in power of united effort to change and improve the system is not lost. 

हो गई है पीर पर्वत-सी पिघलनी चाहिए,
इस हिमालय से कोई गंगा निकलनी चाहिए।

आज यह दीवार, परदों की तरह हिलने लगी,
शर्त लेकिन थी कि ये बुनियाद हिलनी चाहिए।

सिर्फ हंगामा खड़ा करना मेरा मकसद नहीं,
मेरी कोशिश है कि ये सूरत बदलनी चाहिए।

मेरे सीने में नहीं तो तेरे सीने में सही,
हो कहीं भी आग, लेकिन आग जलनी चाहिए।

 (by Dushyant Kumar)

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.