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.

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.