I.C.A.S.D.A - International Conference

     It was only a month after the tour that our department had organized an international Conference – ICASDA on 7, 8 and 9th of December, 2005. There was sense of unity in us and zeal to perform. Being the third years, we were supposed to frame the backbone of the organizing committee.

     We were divided into groups and made responsible to a lecturer, each group being assigned a task. Eminent international personalities participated in the event, of whom we were specially impressed by Mr. J.N. Reddy and Mr. C.M. Wang. They possessed immense knowledge, yet were humble at heart. We felt privileged extending our hospitality to them.

     Some of the seminars were thought provoking as we found them practical. We made it sure that the participants felt at home and even accompanied them on their visits to various tourist places in the city. The event was a success and the department and especially we received accolades from the college and the participants.

(Excerpt from Reminiscences - Our Slam book in final year of Engg) 

Dare Devils

There were quite a few testing times in our brief sojourn in the campus - Situations where we felt subdued and wronged. We always had two paths to choose from. One was to bend our heads and let destiny take its course; perhaps the easier one. The other was to stand undaunted and condemn the atrocity unanimously; which we did.

Two such prominent instances which deserve being recorded are the T-shirts issue and the Boycott of the Mid term exam.

• With whose permission?? No character!! Call your parents….

These chidings were showered on one of us for the crime of wearing a T-shirt when no rule of GITAM forbade us from doing so. The person concerned was not permitted to write mid exam even. This incident made us reflect upon and we decided that we were not going to keep mum.

For the very next mid, all of us (boys) turned up in T-shirts with an intension to proclaim that we were not to stay quiet when our rights were curbed. The unity with which we raised our voice against this injustice made the department think over the lecturers’ stand and he eventually had to take a back step.

• Machine design was the second mid exam of our 3rd year first semester. We, as a class had decided to boycott this exam for a common cause of the entire engineering students.

It was a non-cooperative movement against the management, for the weird notice which was sent stating

that we had to pay Rs 50 for each day that we were absent.

Not bothering about the internal marks we stood ready to sacrifice the remaining mid exams unless the notice

was annulled. There were 60 of us standing for the cause of 1600. Once again our unity forced the management to yield and all the fines were cancelled.

Cheers to our unity!!!

(Excerpt from Reminiscences - Our Slam book in final year of Engg) 

Punyagiri - Our first outing in Engg

After a bit of friction and opposition from our BELOVED sir we set out our first picnic - to Punyagiri. We were to go out together for the first time with our classmates; buddies with whom we would cherish memories of a life time.

We assembled at RTC complex in the wee hours of the day. We had a bus booked along with three sumos. All the girls were into the bus along with a few ambitious boys who had clinched the opportunity to interact with them for the first time. The rest of the troop followed in sumos. Lot of energy was exuded in the journey with songs being played and we booing each other at the stroke of every overtake.

As we drove along, the country side seemed wrapped in a sense of ineffable peace. On reaching our destination, we chose a place to sit around and play. We had all the fun that we could. After having our lunch, we set out on our adventurous expedition, holding each others hands and taking calculated paces, careful not to miss our steps. We went past tall shrubs and sloping valleys in small groups making weird noises and communicating. Having spent a few anxious moments, we finally reached the water falls. Each one of us got under the chilled water enjoying its freshness and splashing at each other.

All in all, a perfect ten for the first outing with class in our Engg. Life. This was the stepping stone for various such outings thus far.

(Excerpt from Reminiscences - Our Slam book in final year of Engg) 

World Cup blues

SHATTERED HOPES: India's loss in World Cup has disappointed many fans.

GITAM: In the wake of the recent cricket matches of the ICC World Cup, India had realised its worst ever dreams come true - a thrashing from the so-called grade-B team, Bangladesh, and losing an all important do-or-die qualifier with the Lankans.

The hopes of a million people were shattered and in a matter of a few hours fans turned into fanatics. Violent protests were carried out at various parts of the country by people who surely had a special taste for the game. Effigies were burnt and houses were vandalised. Dhoni, who had been an icon and so influential even in revolutionising the hairstyles of many youngsters bore the brunt. An appeal was made by the people to seize back the land gifted to him.

The recent revelation of the fact that Bob Woolmer was in fact murdered seems to be only the tip of the iceberg. But, is this irate response from the people justified and what should have roused their emotions to this extent? The reasons can be attributed to the cult - status which cricket has acquired. There is so much hype for the game and we have been so very obsessed with it that a loss in a crunch match cannot be assimilated, which instigates the people to treat their demi-gods as demons.

Yet, at the end of the day, it would be wrong to find the entire fault with the players. The people have the right to question and demand an explanation for the poor performance. But more importantly, they need to sit back and analyse as to what makes our team so very laid back when compared to other world-class teams - the invincible Aussies, for instance. It isn't that we lack the ability. There is bounteous raw force waiting to be groomed.

In a land where playing cricket as a kid is indispensable, why have we not been able to produce enough legends? It is the difference in what could be called as the "Cricketing culture" (I fear if I could use that term). An abstract noun for which the Indian cricket's Thesaurus fails to have got the right sense.

Australian great, Michael Bevan - one of the best ever finishers of the game was dropped and I wonder why he could never make it back to the team and eventually had to retire.

A newcomer doesn't require much time to prove his worth and to proclaim the world of his arrival since they are seasoned players who have come through the rigours of the selection.

On the other hand, India is stung by corruption. There is venality in every aspect of the game. Politics and recommendations have a heavy hand on the proceedings. The result being, the country doesn't get the best 11 and the team fails to perform. Ultimately, it is the people who are fooled to have laid their hopes on presumably their best team and to vent their anger, on losing, while the actual reason waits to be pondered. This has been the situation and would forever be, unless there's a miracle. Perhaps if a Lenin or a Martin Luther is born in Indian soil could fight for crickets' cause - a renaissance for the men in blue to overcome their world cup blues.

*****Please find below the link to the e-version of this article published in THE HINDU*****

http://www.hindu.com/edu/2007/04/09/stories/2007040907330600.htm

The dawn of a new day

A SIGHT TO BEHOLD: The morning sun lights up the sagging spirit.

GITAM: The myriad golden rays emanating from the rising sun, which seems reluctant to leave the horizon, serves a mute siren to the paddling silhouettes, set off for yet another venture into the sea. The medley of the grayish black clouds against the backdrop of the sky holding the crescent moon and sparsely scattered stars appear waiting for their metamorphosis. The chirping birds seem to give an ovation to this aesthetic harmony of the nature or perhaps due to their bafflement at the paradoxical panorama of the sun and moon's coexistence. The veteran mountains stand gravely with an air of nonchalance, presiding over the proceedings. Peering through the window of our vehicle at the Marina beach in the wee hours, I stole a glimpse of this breathtaking landscape, which seemed to bear a significance. I visualized myself sailing towards the dawn of a new day leaving behind the waning darkness of the previous night. The abating darkness implied the receding days of college life - the golden days of one's life. The juvenile life spent with mirth and enjoyment. But emerging through the fading darkness comes a new phase of life with challenges to face and responsibilities to fulfil. On the threshold of a new facet of life I stand ready to confront the world with its multifariousness. The environment around me would metamorphose from college to office, books to files in accordance with the transfiguring clouds.

The joyous birds signified my friends and well-wishers, elated at my eventful voyage and the grave mountains represented my teaching personnel bidding me an adieu. The sudden screeching of our car brought me back from my thoughts and I felt nostalgic for being far off from my alma mater.

*****Please find below the link to the e-version of this article published in THE HINDU*****
http://www.hindu.com/edu/2006/10/23/stories/2006102300850400.htm

All for the dream job

CLIMBING THE LADDER OF SUCCESS: Students are busy with campus recruitments.

GITAM: The academic year 2006 has witnessed a revolutionary breakthrough in the campus recruitments by the IT industries. Never had one expected so many recruitments in the first two months itself.

Companies, which were not even heard of in our brief sojourn in the campus, are approaching with a voracious appetite for students.

What could be the reason for this sudden improvement? Perhaps an unforeseen downpour of projects!! My seniors (mechanical) recruited in the software companies account for only 1/5th of our present number.

But at the end of the day, what effect does this IT boom have on us?

While it could be a dream-come-true for the software streams; for other branches it is a debate to be argued upon. It is a choice between lucre and job satisfaction.

Handsome salaries and attractive incentives are the focal point of software companies.

The ladder of growth is very steep and a person working there for quite a time is destined to be rich.

Notwithstanding all the allurement of the IT industry, a person cannot be sure enough if he could sustain the turmoil and competition.

The breakneck work schedule keeps the employees preoccupied and could lead to debility in the long run."Stress" is another cause of concern which most of the employees are reluctant to admit being affected of.

On the other hand stand core companies (as the terminology goes to indicate a company of one's own branch)-

The ultimate destination of an engineer and being placed anywhere else would make him feel incongruous. A place where a person would feel he is applying what he has learnt and could seek job satisfaction.

But the major criterion for a job nowadays seems to be "growth factor" and "monetay benefits" and the software jobs have an edge over the core jobs in both these respects.

Further aggravating the adversity, the "only one job" policy empolyed by the college managements has left the students with no choice.

Though desperately aspiring for a core job, a person cannot be sure if he could make it when the company comes which is usually towards the second semester.

One cannot wait and brood over his dream of landing into a job of his choice while his peer group settles down.

In this mad man's race for jobs everyone seems to have landed up on the common platform of software industry, where it is the survival of the fittest.

*****Please find below the link to the e-version of this article published in THE HINDU***** 
http://www.hindu.com/edu/2006/09/25/stories/2006092501260400.htm

My first Mobile

Yesterday, I had the opportunity of acquiring the most effective tool of communication. Finally, I am the proud owner of Nokai-1110 a sleek phone in black and silver. Now, I needn't hire my sister's mobile or request friends to lend their's for the occasional sms'ing :)

Though I had the desire to possess one from the past one year, I could only express it after getting placed. Am very grateful to loving mom for being resolute in granting my wish though I had not got a green signal from dad and chacha. They said, it would affect my studies (They had a point though). Thank you Lord for your grace and help me in preserving it.