tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68218758775294496082024-03-13T10:26:48.224+05:30Random Reflections....A random collection of Reflections on my experience of life...Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-37005352337022884512011-01-14T21:21:00.004+05:302011-01-14T21:30:09.002+05:30The Chinese Perspective<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/TTByuHTlAMI/AAAAAAAAAzY/neOReJjIboA/s1600/great_wall_china.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 258px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/TTByuHTlAMI/AAAAAAAAAzY/neOReJjIboA/s320/great_wall_china.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5562071676363276482" /></a><br /><div><br /></div>The other day I came across a poem that claimed to echo China's sincere perspective at the way the world looks at them. And I couldn't help but wonder at the new light thrown upon the facts we already know. <div><br /></div><div>I still don't quite subscribe to it though. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here's the poem:<div><br /></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span"><i></i></span></b></div></div><blockquote><div><div><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" >What do you really want from us?</span></i></b></div></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', times, serif; "><em><span class="Apple-style-span" >When we were the Sick Man of Asia,<br />We were called the Yellow Peril.<br />When we are billed as the next Superpower, we are called The Threat.<br />When we closed our doors, you launched the Opium War to open our markets.<br />When we embraced free trade, you blamed us for stealing your jobs.<br />When we were falling apart, you marched in your troops and demanded your fair share.<br />When we tried to put the broken pieces back together again, Free Tibet, you screamed. It was an Invasion!<br />When we tried communism, you hated us for being communist.<br />When we embraced capitalism, you hated us for being capitalist.<br />When we had a billion people, you said we were destroying the planet.<br />When we tried limiting our numbers, you said we abused human rights.<br />When we were poor, you thought we were dogs.<br />When we lend you cash, you blame us for your national debts.<br />When we build our industries, you call us polluters.<br />When we sell you goods, you blame us for global warming.<br />When we buy oil, you call it exploitation and genocide.<br />When you go to war for oil, you call it liberation.<br />When we were lost in chaos, you demanded the rule of law.<br />When we uphold law and order against violence, you call it a violation of human rights.<br />When we were silent, you said you wanted us to have free speech.<br />When we are silent no more, you say we are brainwashed xenophobes.<br />Why do you hate us so much? we asked.<br />No, you answered, we don't hate you.<br />We don't hate you either,<br />But do you understand us?<br />Of course we do, you said,<br />We have AFP, CNN and BBC. . . .<br />What do you really want from us?<br />Think hard first, then answer . . .<br />Because you only get so many chances.<br />Enough is Enough, Enough Hypocrisy for This One World.<br />We want One World, One Dream, and Peace on Earth.<br />This Big Blue Earth is Big Enough for all of Us</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;">.</span></em></span></div></blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', times, serif; font-size: 17px; "><em></em></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', times, serif; font-size: 17px; "><em><br /></em></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', times, serif; "><em><span class="Apple-style-span">Courtesy:<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/16/AR2008051603460.html">The Washington Post.</a></span></em></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 17px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-87706473949356271522010-12-24T23:25:00.012+05:302010-12-25T10:16:23.576+05:30Surprise Gifts<div style="text-align: justify;">Imagine that you just received a gift from a very close friend. Wouldn't you want to open it up and discover what she got for you? I definitely would! The entire process is indeed delightful, right from tearing open the wrapper, unboxing the present and discovering your gift, to actually begin using it for real.</div><br /><br /><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/TRTw1mR-bvI/AAAAAAAAAyY/iYhJK5cGSjA/s1600/gift.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/TRTw1mR-bvI/AAAAAAAAAyY/iYhJK5cGSjA/s320/gift.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5554329044054339314" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a></div><br /><br /><div>Gifting is a wonderful concept.</div><div>It reminds you of someone you love. </div><div>It gives you an opportunity to show that you care. </div><div>It helps keep in touch. </div><div>It brings delight and excitement to any occasion.</div><div>It brings something new to your lives.</div><div>It helps spread happiness and joy. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are many occasions that present an opportunity to exercise this wonderful concept of gifting. It could be a birthday, anniversary, a promotion, new job, marriage, Christmas, New Years or a farewell. Each is special and in my opinion should be personal as well. The more personal it is, the more thought provoking it tends to be, and the closer it gets to being what I described above.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have a unique attitude towards gifting. I always think it is better to gift something of value rather than something that just looks pretty (flowers anyone?). I also tend to believe that a good gift is one that adds some kind of value. This is partly why I strongly dislike gifts such as money or gift vouchers - yes, it does make people happy, and they do get to buy whatever they want; but they could've gotten those things themselves too if it was so important to them. And if they buy things from your gift voucher that they wouldn't have otherwise bought, it probably isn't that important. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Besides being personal, it is really a matter of great self-satisfaction if you can find something that not only adds value, but is also quite unlikely to be bought by the person herself. I like to call this <i>unique value addition</i>. In essence, what you gift to people brings about a positive change in their lives which they probably wouldn't have brought upon themselves if it were not for you. There are many unique advantages to this.</div><div>It adds real value to the person you are gifting.</div><div>It shows your thoughtfulness.</div><div>It adds a personal touch.</div><div>It builds a connection.</div><div>It makes an impactful difference.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, what are <i>your</i> ideas on gifts for different occasions and what will you be buying?</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span">PS: Flowers are a wonderful choice of gift for certain occasions and nothing else probably compares in conveying the same emotion across. I am just against the notion of gifting flowers when its 'too much effort to go look for a gift to buy'.</span></div>Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-42947087242416568402009-01-30T14:42:00.025+05:302009-01-31T16:18:37.063+05:30Quark - The untold Journey...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SYQHoqcDwsI/AAAAAAAAAdM/ZYynlgFgbh8/s1600-h/quark08.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 70px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SYQHoqcDwsI/AAAAAAAAAdM/ZYynlgFgbh8/s200/quark08.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297367456862683842" border="0" /></a>I just noticed this post among the heap of "drafts" on blogger, that I had meant to post long ago, but for want of the final touch ups, it was left unnoticed - till now.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">This is an article that I wrote for <a href="http://www.bits-goa.ac.in/BITSAM/bitsam2008.pdf">Sizzling Sands</a>, and is a part of the <a href="http://www.bits-goa.ac.in/BITSAM/bitsam2008.pdf">2008 edition</a>. In it, I recount a major chunk of my experiences at <a href="http://www.bits-goa.ac.in/">BITS </a>- <a href="http://www.bits-quark.org/">Quark</a>, and its journey. Not only was Quark an excuse for me to involve myself in campus activities, but along with it, I got to interact with a whole lot of other people, make new friends, know different perspectives, try things out and discover much more.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">In a nutshell, there were a lot of times I would truly cherish, some experiences that I would rather forget, some that have been my best teachers, and most of all, the experience of quark has left an unforgettable impression on me, and my life that I don't think I will be able to forget.<br /><br />Here is the article:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">-------<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> 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mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size:85%;">I remember when I first walked into this campus around 3 years ago. Of all things, the most unique attraction to the campus was that it was new and fresh, sending a message out to the world that we were here to chart out our own new journey. Although I have been a part of many student organizations, I have had the most singularly unique experience as a part of the Organizing Committee <a href="http://xploretech.blogspot.com/2007/11/quark-2008-is-coming-start-thinking-of.html">QUARK – 2008</a> and 2007.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SYQJi9u_c7I/AAAAAAAAAdU/my8NA-0S610/s1600-h/P1010030a.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 187px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SYQJi9u_c7I/AAAAAAAAAdU/my8NA-0S610/s320/P1010030a.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297369557986407346" border="0" /></a><br /><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Whenever a new campus develops, organizations and student bodies take time to establish. I remember the very first QUARK (At the time, it stood for “Questioning the Understanding, Aptitude and Reasoning of the Kindred”) which was inter-assoc. That was the first time that unity among assoc members was sought and a competitive atmosphere established. Soonafter, I participated at various competitions at Techfest – IITB, and thanks to our team, we won a few prizes. Being a first glimpse of a mammoth technical festival, it instantly became what I describe as an inspiration for QUARK 2007.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size:85%;">Preparations for QUARK 2007-‘be fundamental’ started off around 2 months before the scheduled event. Although it was a pleasant surprise that I was made one of the Chief Organizers of the festival (the other one being our former President, Hari <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Sudan</st1:place></st1:country-region> who was actually the man behind Quark 07), the task that lay ahead of us was humongous. QUARK 06 was merely a science exhibition compared to techfests and so Quark 07 going national was our first foray and experience both in sponsorship, publicity, marketing and event management; quite unlike Waves 07 which went up to the intra-Goa level, and had a fairly successful experience to back up.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size:85%;">The inexperience in sponsorship, marketing and too little time made the festival very challenging to organize. Apart from going prematurely national, one of the major problems was that the event was a week after Waves, leaving only 7 days for the majority of the active students to work for Quark. Considering these hurdles and that we received a very low sponsorship amount of around 4 Lacs, we managed to pull out a festival and organize all the planned events, with around 180 outstation students. However the financial mismanagement and lack of transparency by the then CSA will leave a distasteful memory of their contribution.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Quark 07 was a great teacher and a unique experience. Through such an event, you get to know a lot of people, learn about handling situations and make new friends. I got to know a lot of wonderful people and seniors, who are now alumni of the BITS family. And of course, some of my batchmates without whom the event would have been impossible.</span><br /></span></p><!--[if !mso]> <style> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);} </style> <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:TrackMoves> <w:trackformatting/> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:donotpromoteqf/> <w:lidthemeother>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:lidthemeasian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark/> 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{parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SYQL3dNBonI/AAAAAAAAAdc/6fR2zEIJjUs/s1600-h/mascot.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 106px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SYQL3dNBonI/AAAAAAAAAdc/6fR2zEIJjUs/s200/mascot.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297372109054517874" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:85%;">Early next semester, I found myself discussing the issues of <a href="http://xploretech.blogspot.com/2007/11/quark-2008-is-coming-start-thinking-of.html">Quark 2008</a> with Chaitanya. We recognized that establishing a structure was essential and successful delegation along with financial transparency was required. I remember when we had jointly coined the terms “Information Management” along with “Special Nights” Committee – “Aurora!” recognizing the importance of information flow and the glamour aspect of Quark. We decided that delegation of responsibilities along the committees of information management, finance, specials, competitive events and marketing would be necessary within the next Organizing Committee, to ensure that rather than “everybody doing everything” there was “somebody doing something”. 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We started as underdogs, with an under estimated expectation. 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font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size:85%;">The next few months saw through meetings, meetings and more meetings; decisions, selection and rejection of events, resolving conflicts ranging from technical infeasibility to pure ego problems. We came up with a mixture of events ranging from crowd pullers(like trasholic), innovative attractions(like M^+ka and Ignoble), unique ideas(like contrive) to glamorous(ATT) and even experimental(<st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Reacto Drive</st1:address></st1:street>) events.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SYQToBXjtbI/AAAAAAAAAdk/ugkU_2YaBv8/s1600-h/Org2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SYQToBXjtbI/AAAAAAAAAdk/ugkU_2YaBv8/s320/Org2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297380639977485746" border="0" /></a><br /><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:arial;font-size:117;" lang="EN-IN">I must confess that working for Quark 08 has been a pleasure as I am sure everyone who has been associated with it would also agree. All of us contributed to the best of our ability, and thanks to the elaborate delegation, each of us knew exactly what to do with minimal conflict or argument. It came as no surprise, then, that our model of delegation was applied to the newly formed Organizing committees of Waves, and later <st1:place st="on">Spree</st1:place>! Planning for the events rules and schedule, financial management, arranging for special and professional shows/workshops, marketing, handling the website and sponsorship occurred smoothly (although not without their own share of issues). Initially, we ‘lost’ two of our OC members and that’s when we reorganized our responsibilities. Nimit <i style="">‘guys, listen!’</i> took care of our marketing and specials – ‘Aurora’, Amit <i style="">‘ppl, I have something to say!’</i> and Sreesan <i style="">‘What bullshit!!’</i> looked after paper presentation and guest lectures respectively, Ankit looked after the CC infrastructure and events, Angad was our ‘Infoman’, Onkar was responsible for the certificates and logistics (‘ho jayega’) while eeshan, with the rest of us looked after workshops. Santosh <i style="">‘wassup’</i> and Aniket <i style="">‘Ill get it done’</i> were our finance members ensuring accountability of expenditure, while Chaitanya was the man behind all the events, not to mention our ‘crisis manager’ (</span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:Wingdings;font-size:85%;" lang="EN-IN"><span style="">J</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:arial;font-size:117;" lang="EN-IN">). Of all planned activities, it is sometimes fun to contemplate ‘what if’ we would have had a little more to spend! An Egyptian based company with a Virtual reality 3-D exhibition, interactive setup from Playmotion and a robotics exhibition were few of the things almost confirmed until budget constraints dismissed them. And of course, while juggling with the uncertainties of sponsorship and expenditure, accommodating FTF was an adventure of its own accord (as the organizers would ‘fondly’ recall!).</span><span style=";font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SYQWcLIHyvI/AAAAAAAAAds/B2dVO4O67Jg/s1600-h/night+lights.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SYQWcLIHyvI/AAAAAAAAAds/B2dVO4O67Jg/s320/night+lights.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297383734973549298" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><br /></div><!--[if !mso]> <style> v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);} .shape 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extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_3" spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="quark1" style="'position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:0;" wrapcoords="-428 0 -428 21005 21814 21005 21814 0 -428 0"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\Abhishek\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg" title="quark1"> <w:wrap type="tight"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >At Quark, we learnt to have fun while at work. From Sreesan’s <i>“elephant jokes”</i>, Nimit’s <i>“dumbasses”</i> to Chaitanya’s <i>“Papad rule”</i> (People, all perspectives are dumb!!) our meetings always had something new to look forward to. And of course, from Angad’s “six thinking hats” to “Mutt and Jeff” we tried out a lot of managerial tricks believed to be confined to folklore, sometimes just for fun, while sometimes, to surprisingly successful effect!</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SYQW9IU-kjI/AAAAAAAAAd0/Au4s7RbXQE0/s1600-h/quark_ftf.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 163px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SYQW9IU-kjI/AAAAAAAAAd0/Au4s7RbXQE0/s200/quark_ftf.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297384301157847602" border="0" /></a><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;">After the Pre-Quark workshops and the untiring efforts of the OC members, departments, sub committees, event managers, and volunteers the stage was set. Three unforgettable days of exciting technical competitions, innovative workshops, breathtaking performances, valiant efforts by participants and exhilarating revelry sum up Quark’08. Described as the fastest growing national festival and the biggest technical festival of Goa, Quark’08 became an international festival with participation from institutes like BITS, Pilani – Dubai Campus and </span><st1:place style="font-family: arial;" st="on"><st1:placename st="on">Rutgers</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>. With a budget of over 20 Lacs, over 4500 registrations, 30+ events, packed performances and colleges ranging from IITs to NITs, Quark 2008 was a major success. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:arial;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size:85%;">Apart from competitions, Quark’08 presented “<st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Aurora</st1:place></st1:city>”, showing how technology can be an artist's canvas. There were great performances by Dramatics, Mime, Music and Rock Clubs; an air show on myriad aero-models, gliders and helicopters performing tricky manoeuvres; a magic show performed by Mr. Saras Chandra, a National award-winning magician. 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<o:shapedefaults ext="edit" spidmax="1027"> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:shapelayout ext="edit"> <o:idmap ext="edit" data="1"> </o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify;"><!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" spt="75" preferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"> </v:formulas> <v:path extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" connecttype="rect"> <o:lock ext="edit" aspectratio="t"> </v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_2" spid="_x0000_s1026" type="#_x0000_t75" style="'position:absolute;left:0;text-align:left;margin-left:233.75pt;"> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\Abhishek\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.png" title="" croptop="17429f" cropbottom="15105f" cropleft="5322f" cropright="11706f"> </v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size:100%;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:85%;" >Quark ’08 has been innovative and unique in many ways. The Corporate Exhibition and SchoolBag have been one of the first steps to connect the campus not only to the industry but also reach out to the School Children who will be the future citizens. The BITS Research & Development Exhibition showcased the exciting academic work done by the departmental assocs. The entire schedule of events and information coordination was done through an online software system ‘Natasha’ developed especially for this purpose. The Structure of a dynamic Organizing Committee coordinating with the various departments and clubs provided flexibility and impetus for the Quark’08 team to reach higher in ways that a traditional rigid system could never provide. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-family: arial;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SYQaAR-dU0I/AAAAAAAAAd8/wAn42sysblQ/s1600-h/rockshow.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SYQaAR-dU0I/AAAAAAAAAd8/wAn42sysblQ/s320/rockshow.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297387653822239554" border="0" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" face="arial" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size:85%;">Quark’08 has become one of the biggest tech-fests in India thanks to the sponsors for their support, the Organizing Committee members for the organization and conduct of the festival, various departments and clubs for their dedicated hard work, the participants from outside, the support of the BITS faculty and the alumni, and the colossal efforts of every BITSian. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span lang="EN-IN" style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Most importantly, I felt we succeeded in sending a message to the world that our journey has begun; and announcing our presence for times to come. However, preserving this notion would be an arduous task; especially in the face of personal vendetta, corruption and power which inevitably always occur at an expense of goodwill and trust. The student body must realize that protests, questions and general body meetings are a healthy notion and the basis of a working democracy. Justifying financial opaqueness on the cover of “greater good” is always perceived as a tool of corruption. And if there is anything that we have learnt from the short history of our campus, it is that “power corrupts”. And absolute power corrupts absolutely.</span></span><br /></span></p> <span style="line-height: 115%;font-family:";font-size:100%;" lang="EN-IN"><span style="font-size:118;"><span style="font-family:arial;">It is my sincere hope that Quark will blossom into a grand festival attracting talent all across the nation, inspiring the students and instilling in them an aptitude for Science and Technology.<br /><br /></span></span></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:78%;">(Disclaimer: None of the Photos published here have been taken by me. Some have been taken off DC, while some are from the Dept of Photography, and some taken from personal collections. Apologies for the lack of credit.)</span><br /><br />-------<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Now, that Quark 09 is <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Goa/Kalam_to_attend_BITS_Pilanis_tech_fest/articleshow/4044516.cms">around the corner</a>, its time to experience the technical festival once again, albeit in a different flavour...<br /></div></div></div> </div> </div>Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-13345410370418517412009-01-26T23:01:00.002+05:302009-01-31T16:05:51.143+05:30"The Purposeful Life" -AbstruseGooseYou think <span style="font-style: italic;">we</span> dont have a purpose in life?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://abstrusegoose.com/strips/purposeful_life.JPG"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 279px; height: 1737px;" src="http://abstrusegoose.com/strips/purposeful_life.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;">... Well, there are billions more humans than there were dinosaurs. What do you think our purpose is?<br /></div></div>Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-86122158238104854152008-11-24T11:44:00.002+05:302008-11-24T11:50:23.986+05:30On putting things off...<blockquote>"Its never too late to reconsider an Important Decision<br />It helps you attain more Precision<br />You can explain things with Concision<br />But everything is Preceeded by a Distant Vision"<br /></blockquote><br /><div style="text-align: right;">- An anonymous BITSGian Spamming on DC<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Of the innumerable things that each of us has to do, we choose to put off some for later, while concentrating on few others. Often, there are things we keep putting off without realizing what we are losing out on. And most often than not, its the long term things that we put off, and prefer to complete the short term ones, so that we may focus on the long term "things" when the time comes.<br />But then that time will probably never come until we choose to <span style="font-style: italic;">make time</span> for them.<br />And for me, <span style="font-style: italic;">that</span> time has to come.<br />Now.<br /></div></div>Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-23064354146320108072008-11-10T14:26:00.001+05:302008-11-11T09:52:37.135+05:30State of statelessnessIt is at times such as these that you wonder the state that you're in. And the only solace you can find, is in the belief that "itll pass".<br />If you're confused, so am I. Coz I find myself in a state where I have ample time for nothingness, and no time for work. Will get back to blogging when I'm out of this state...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SRkIC_6KrwI/AAAAAAAAAbw/Ws_gNSMCz8w/s1600-h/cycle.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 166px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SRkIC_6KrwI/AAAAAAAAAbw/Ws_gNSMCz8w/s320/cycle.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5267250086794669826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;">(Picture courtesy <span style="font-style: italic;">phdcomics.com</span>)</span><br /></div>Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-70534574467263075312008-11-01T23:21:00.006+05:302008-11-02T00:35:12.899+05:30The Smurfs...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SQyjm1NgI8I/AAAAAAAAAa8/_aLurC03eHo/s1600-h/paradise1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SQyjm1NgI8I/AAAAAAAAAa8/_aLurC03eHo/s320/paradise1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263761952003335106" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">This is a tale of a place far away</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">paradise on earth, its an island at bay</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The 'Smurfs' as the inhabitants were fondly called by the people,</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Had nothing to do with their skin-colour being purple</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The smurfs were happy, they knew no desire</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">No competition, no fancy fashion, no claim on property, no quest for attire</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">It was all fun and joy, and everyone was content</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">until one fine day, arrived a jew... , with a malicious intent</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">He sold them an idea, a business, a plan</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">He sold them a dream, He said 'together we can'</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And so it was, and indeed, together they did</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The smurfs worked hard, they were diligent and intrepid</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Scrooge, the Jew was visibly overjoyed</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">It was his farmland for which the smurfs were employed</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">He grew crops and fruits and vegetables that were nice</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">of breeds exotic, befitting the smurfs' paradise</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The smurfs were happy, for they got fat payments</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">10 coins each, for a day's work, for enjoyment</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Within under a month, Scrooge was overjoyed and excited</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">for his tiny little market, brimming with buyers, was crowded</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">He also ran a restaurant, where he offered delicacies exotic</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The smurfs watched in amazement</span> -<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">-as the fruits and vegetables of their island, transformed- </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">-into delicious retreats of wonder and magic</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Scrooge was happy, satisfied, overjoyed and content</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">He brought new joy and pleasures to the ignorant smurfs; he had a happy intent</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Even the smurfs, their payments increased</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">With new delicacies to relish, their excitement had peaked</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And so the smurfs were happy again, they knew no more desire</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">No competition, no fancy fashion, no claim on property, no quest for attire</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Until one fine day, a new dish adorned the menu. It was called the 'paradise bright'</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Those who had relished it, cried out in ecstacy; nowhere on earth will you get such a delight</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">But alas, the heavenly desire cost 50 coins per dish</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">'How are we to arrange, for so costly a dish?'</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Dont worry, said scrooge, you can take it now, if you want, for ten</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">your earnings will increase, and with your savings, you can payback then<br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">But every day you delay, you incur upon yourself</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A payment of interest amounting to a coin a day in itself</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The smurfs thought for a moment, decided it through, and said why not</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"we earn 15 coins a day; and for today's delight, we can spare a coin or two a day, can we not?"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">So it was decided, and the smurfs were happy again</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">From every perspective, it was everyone's gain</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">They were overjoyed and content, it was anyone's call</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Living beyond one's means is so much fun after all</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">But then one fine day, Scrooge decided</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">It was time to expand, new land to be added</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">More smurfs to be hired, expansion is fine</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"But How am I to pay, the new smurfs who join?"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Dont worry, I know what ill do" thought Scrooge, he was proud.</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">He summoned the new joinees, and told them aloud</span><br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">I'll pay you half your wage, every day for this month</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">and give you your rightful due, in installments from next month</span>."<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">So it was decided, and Scrooge was happy again</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">From every perspective, it was everyone's gain</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">He was overjoyed and content, it was anyone's call</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Living beyond one's means is so much fun after all</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Until one fine day, the weather gods relented</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">It thundered, it stormed, it poured unbounded</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The crops were destroyed, the produce wasted</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The land was flooded, and the smurfs were disappointed</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">With nothing to grow, the profits finished</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The employed smurfs, had their incomes diminished</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A frustrated Scrooge demanded his due: "You all owe me for the 'paradise bright'</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Which you so excitedly relished, with much delight"</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"How can we pay, with our incomes dwindled?", said the smurfs with exhaustion</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The end of the month was soon approaching, it was a perilous situation</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">For now it was time, for the installments to begin</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"What do I do now?" thought scrooge, from within</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The smurfs owed Scrooge, and he owed them</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"The bubble's burst; this crisis, I have to stem"</span><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">The smurfs, concerned, demanded a fresh start</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">But despite the crisis, Scrooge was smart</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">He went to the landlord, of his own accord</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">and Demanded some credit. "Liquidity Crunch, My Lord"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">And so they discussed, and they all agreed</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">That liquidity and credit was the solution indeed</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Why not?" said the landlord, "I have some credit"</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">If you promise to repay from a part of your profit</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">So it was decided, and everyone was happy again</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">From every perspective, it was everyone's gain</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">They were overjoyed and content, it was anyone's call</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Living beyond one's means is so much fun after all</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Until, that is, the bubble bursts again; and you fall...</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Yes, I know what you're thinking, and before we jump to that, lets see what different people say about the situation:<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The <span style="font-weight: bold;">nazis </span>would blame the jew. The jew robbed the honest and hard working smurfs, a rich and happy and content island; and corrupted them with greed. The jew should be executed and all those who dissent should be too.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The <span style="font-weight: bold;">Socialists and communists</span> would blame capitalism and the free market system. "Its evil" they'll say. They'll criticize the landlord for supporting the Jew. And would ask for a complete nationalization of the land and resources and let everything be owned by the state. They forget, though, that by doing so, they are putting themselves in Scrooge's shoes; except, they have absolute power and control over law.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">The <span style="font-weight: bold;">free market thinkers</span> of the likes of Edmund spencer would put this off as a case of inflated economy, and would call for corrective measures and increase in credit and liquidity...<br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Me?</span> I just feel that the people are dumb. The free market way is the best way there is. Its the people who misuse it. If a street rogue comes to you and sells you a watch which you later find out is fake, who are you going to blame? Its you who is to blame.<br />If someone commits a murder with a swiss army knife, you arent going to sue the manufacturers, the culprit is the guy who misused it.<br />Its the people who misuse the system and since no-one likes themselves blamed, the blame shifts on to the system.<br /><br />As long as our mindset will be focused on the belief that we can relish, now, the fruits of seeds we are yet to sow; then there is something fundamentally wrong with our thinking...Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-74258883733032578432008-09-03T19:36:00.008+05:302008-12-13T11:11:29.626+05:30Within the margin of error<div style="text-align: justify;">This post is inspired by an anonymous saying which goes <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">'Dont let art be all about comprehending the expression of the artist. Its so much more than that, and indeed it is this very incomprehensibility that makes art truly and uniquely beautiful' </span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Indeed, what I gather from this saying confirms what I believe generalizes all of human emotion. If you ever give it a sincere thought, human emotion has arisen from things beyond our understanding. There's no clear definition of beauty that is documented; neither is there an epitome of perfect beauty accross which anything else could be compared. The inability to understand ourselves, the working of our mind and that of our own body confuses us, and causes us to react so. <br /></div><br /><div align="center"><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SFQRku6WMcI/AAAAAAAAASQ/hax7QL8pP7A/s320/dreams2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SFQRku6WMcI/AAAAAAAAASQ/hax7QL8pP7A/s320/dreams2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Just to make it clearer for those who have reached so far, this post may seem utterly pointless and even a waste of time for most of you; and indeed you would be right. To those of you, please proceed and devote your time to something more fruitful. But to the rest of you, I would like to appeal to your sense of understanding, to grasp the inadequacies of the heuristics we take for granted; and relate to what I feel truly describes our life - within the margin of error.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Lets start with an example. Lets start with the word '<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">Ideal</span>' (you would associate it with <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">perfect</span>). For those of you who watch Boston Legal, you would recall a scene in Season 1, episode 6 'Truth be told' :<br /></div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204);">(background: Sally is defending a guy who jiggered in a spoon right thru a toaster and got himself electrocuted. Sally's case - its the toaster manufacturer's fault for not considering safety of users, while the defendant claims its the guy's fault for behaving non-idealistically)</span></span></blockquote><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 204, 204); font-size:13px;"><br /></span>Sally Heep exits Alan’s office, walks down the hallway, and enters a library area and picking out a book.Denny Crane is there.<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Denny Crane:</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Ever used a computer?</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Sally Heep:</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Denny. Um, yes. Yes, I have.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Denny Crane:</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Remarkable machine.</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Sally Heep:</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Let me ask you a question. A manufacturer of toasters should anticipate that their written safety instructions will be ignored to the extent that they’re counterintuitive and should plan for that contingency, right? </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Denny Crane:</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">In an ideal world</span><br /></blockquote><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">My second take: In an ideal world, we would expect every user to use the toaster only within the limits of its stated usage. And in such a scenario, It makes no sense for the manufacturer to plan for contingencies arising out of un-idealistic behaviour, in an Ideal world. <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I know I'm playing around with point-of-view or frame-of-reference (From the point-of-view of the toaster manufacturer, an ideal world would be one where every user behaved ideally and within limits of stated usage instructions; while from the user's point-of-view, an ideal world would be where every toaster were manufactured to handle any conceivable usage), but whatever it is, we have just succeeded in thwarting the impression of the word 'ideal'. So now, 'Ideal' is not so ideal after all.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">Similar arguments apply to beauty as well; and in fact to any known human emotion. Going back to the original saying:<br /></div><blockquote style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">'Dont let art be all about comprehending the expression of the artist. Its so much more than that, and indeed it is this very incomprehensibility that makes art truly and uniquely beautiful'</span><br /></blockquote><div style="text-align: justify;">Okay, so when the artist goes about making a piece of art - be it a painting, sculpture, inscription, or anything, s/he has a mental picture of what s/he wishes to convey. And more often that not, the mental picture is either a mixture of emotion, or a message. Whatever it is, once the art-form is ready, what it conveys differs from observer to observer. Many artists have considered this implication a positive one. They say: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">The true beauty of art is to convey an expression and let it imply different meanings to different people. And if you happen to observe true art, you must find the conveyed meaning in your own way, and not necessarily the way the artist meant it. This is why art is 'so much more' than just a medium of communication. </span><br /></div><br /><div>I do not disagree.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But I would like to point out an objective view, that questions this behaviour. First of all, if the observer is unable to determine what the author had in mind while creating the art, it is evidently clear that either the artist was <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">incapable </span>of, or the mode of art chosen was <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">insufficient</span> to convey the emotions / expressions effectively to the user. And this incapability / insufficiency is something which we as humans <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">cannot bring ourselves to face</span>. So we find solace and choose to extoll this rather unique form of expression, where the incapability / insufficiency is regarded as necessary for the resulting beauty that art cannot do without. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Since it is unclear as to what the artist wishes to express, the observers make their own interpretations of what the artist probably meant. And since this interpretation depends on individual personality, it must be different for different people. </div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">Associating this differentiation with beauty or the brilliance of art is something that artists take great pride in doing. Indeed, this is probably the only reason that art as a profession even exists.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And yet, there is another explanation. Probably, art is indeed not about a form of expression or communication. It is about rediscovering ourselves, as we observe the piece of art. <br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Often, as a part of psychological analysis of patients, researchers display them abstract images drawn on a paper by threads dipped in paint. They make no logical sense, but when forced, the brain tries to draw analogies to make sense of the painting. Through these analogies, patients either see 'snakes' or 'cats' or 'lions' or 'tigers' or what not. It is these interpretations that lead researchers to their understanding of the patients' mind or cognitive state. But is it really true <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">'understanding'</span>? In my opinion it is just a manifestation of how little we understand ourselves, so much so that we pride ourselves for researching on how little we know about it. And the more we know, the more we realize how little we know. <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">We constantly live in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">heuristics</span> of what we consider to be benchmarks of beauty, of joy, of happiness, of freedom, of serenity, of peace, or of emotion. How can you define peace, when your definition of violence itself is clouded? How can you define imperfection when you cannot know what perfect or ideal is? I do not wish to be misunderstood, and am not against the claim made by artists. Indeed, what our mind conjures or is capable of conjuring in the form of art or science (yes, true science is inseparable from art), truly transcends all our perceptions of beauty and emotion. But taking such an interpretation for granted and as the basis for understanding is, in my honest opinion, a false premise. <br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Writing </span>has always been considered a mode of communication and expression. However I believe it is much more than that, it is also an art. What you interpret from what I've written above may not be what I intended to convey in its entirety. Probably you have formed an interpretation that draws meaning in your own unique way; that instills in you an understanding of a different kind. In such a case, you will truly realize the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">essence</span> of what I intend to convey, that we live in our own unique world bounded by its own heuristics that we have learnt not to question. But when we <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">do</span> question, we realize how little we know <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">without</span> the heuristics to support us. And scary though that thought may be, it is the true reality. we live within a Margin of Error, the bounds of which we still do not know...<br /></div></div>Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-70324635684273265332008-09-02T21:00:00.003+05:302008-09-02T21:04:20.133+05:30Goa Beer Festival 2008Anyone wants to join in?<br />Goa Beer Festival, coming soon...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SL1cbFM15DI/AAAAAAAAAVk/HOYWnC4s_ik/s1600-h/goabeerfestival.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SL1cbFM15DI/AAAAAAAAAVk/HOYWnC4s_ik/s320/goabeerfestival.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241447161651389490" border="0" /></a>Yes, I know. Its been postponed to October this year.<br />Its goin' to be a fun experience, the first of its kind. You Game?Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-50899672393815521802008-08-31T16:20:00.004+05:302008-09-02T21:34:06.191+05:30Amazing...Amazing by aerosmith... Its been twisting, turning, ringing and churning in the depths of my subconscious all morning.<br />The Lyrics just don't seem to slip out of my mind...<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">I kept the right ones out<br />And let the wrong ones in<br />Had an angel of mercy to see me through all my sins<br />There were times in my life<br />When I was goin' insane<br />Tryin' to walk through<br />The pain<br />When I lost my grip<br />And I hit the floor<br />Yeah, I thought I could leave but couldn't get out the door<br />I was so sick and tired<br />Of livin' a lie<br />I was wishin' that I<br />Would die<br /><br />It's Amazing<br />With the blink of an eye you finally see the light<br />It's Amazing<br />When the moment arrives that you know you'll be alright<br />It's Amazing<br />And I'm sayin' a prayer for the desperate hearts tonight<br /><br />That one last shot's a Permanent Vacation<br />And how high can you fly with broken wings?<br />Life's a journey not a destination<br />And I just can't tell just what tomorrow brings<br /><br />You have to learn to crawl<br />Before you learn to walk<br />But I just couldn't listen to all that righteous talk<br />I was out on the street,<br />Just tryin' to survive<br />Scratchin' to stay alive<br /><br />(Chorus)<br /><br />"So, from all of us at Aerosmith<br />to all of you out there, wherever you are.<br />Remember- the light at the end of the tunnel<br />may be you. Goodnight!<br /></blockquote><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SL1gA3MKh5I/AAAAAAAAAVs/hyae2J5xpK4/s1600-h/aerosmith-logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SL1gA3MKh5I/AAAAAAAAAVs/hyae2J5xpK4/s200/aerosmith-logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241451109260363666" border="0" /></a>Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-63729552961012227432008-08-30T13:57:00.007+05:302008-09-02T23:03:44.415+05:30The last time...<div style="text-align: justify;">A long time since I updated anything here, and this post wont do justice to the short interlude between the two 'eras' of my college life.<br /><br />There are a lot of experiences that all of us go through, and never have a chance to experience again. Yes, the list goes on... childhood, friends, the first time you went to a new school, the first time you went out with friends for a weekend trip, the first time you you came to college, the first time you spent a night out with friends... All of these and more will always be cherished and probably never forgotten.<br /><br />But then there are <span style="font-style: italic;">other </span>experiences. When you know you can only have it <span style="font-style: italic;">one last time</span>. And you cant really plan it out. Like the ones I'm gonna talk about in this post...<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SLkUBHLTp6I/AAAAAAAAAU0/iQRnJLlCh20/s1600-h/near-death-experience-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SLkUBHLTp6I/AAAAAAAAAU0/iQRnJLlCh20/s320/near-death-experience-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240241650761181090" border="0" /></a><br />It all probably started on 25 July 2008.<br /><div style="text-align: justify;">I finished My internship at IISc, and left for home by bus, bang in the middle of the <a href="http://seekingalpha.com/article/87118-bangalore-blasts-threaten-indian-outsourcing">bangalore blasts</a>. The bus was delayed by more than an hour and as is typical of lady luck, it started pouring as I (and the other passengers of the ill-fated bus) desperately waited for it to arrive at the KSRTC bus stand.<br />After boarding, a general discussion swept us all inside the bus about the bomb blasts and the traffic situation.<br />And we soon discovered it ourselves, when our bus was checked twice for bomb suspects in front of hyderabad house!.<br />I can distinctly remember a gentleman too fat for anyone of his stature on an adjacent seat, praying over and over again. There was this young business-professional lookalike in a 3-piece suit sitting behind the <span style="font-style: italic;">fat-ass</span>, who was always on the phone; and every now and then when the connection snapped, he would begin to panic. What added to this truly unique atmosphere were 2 kids on the last seat who couldn't stop howling and screaming all the while, and all the cajoling that their moms could offer seemed insufficient.<br /><br />And as it played out, we were watching Live on the news about the discovery of 2 more bombs in other areas of bangalore within the last half hour. Our bus was enclosed with surrounding traffic by the police and separated from the maddening crowd for fear of a live bomb.<br />Thrilling - You say? Gross understatement.<br />But it was all over by midnight, and we were out of bangalore for good!<br /><br />"Finally Going home!" I thought. But somewhere at the back of my mind it echoed "For the last time". It was the last time I was going to Kochi, calling it my home. In another 2 months, our family would shift to Delhi which would be our new home.<br /><br />So the next 5 days (yes, thats how long my summer <span style="font-style: italic;">vacation</span> lasted) was fun. Back at home with family. Kochi, the green, cool and beautiful place (with lots of rain and insects though).<br />It was fun driving along the foreshore road facing the backwaters at Katari Bagh, into the golf course and around the place in the morning. Its probably the last experience I will have, of living at 04-Katari Bagh.<br /><br />And then, I had to return to college for my last semester on campus, with just 4 months of college life left.<br />After the course registrations and placement worries drift into the past, I still have to figure out how to spend the last 3 months of college life I have left.</div>Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-75027153974552127982008-08-11T12:14:00.002+05:302008-08-11T12:18:51.559+05:30Beauty<div align="justify">It seems to me that whatever else is beautiful apart from absolute beauty is beautiful because it <em>partakes</em> of that absolute beauty, and for no other reason. Do you accept this kind of causality? Yes, I do. Well, now, that is as far as my mind goes; I cannot understand these other ingenious theories of causation. If someone tells me that the reason why a given object is beautiful is that it has a gorgeous color or shape or any other such attribute, I disregard all these other explanations—I find them all confusing—and I cling simply and straightforwardly and no doubt foolishly to the explanation that <em>the one thing that makes the object beautiful is the presence in it or association with it, in whatever way the relation comes about, of absolute beauty</em>. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">I do not go so far as to insist upon the precise details—only upon the fact that it is by beauty that beautiful things are beautiful. </div><div align="justify"> </div><div align="justify">This, I feel, is the safest answer for me oranyone else to give, and I believe that while I hold fast to this I cannot fall; it is safe for me or for anyone else to answer that it is by beauty that beautiful things are beautiful. </div><div align="right">- (Plato, Phaedo, 100c-e)</div><div align="justify">Don’t you agree? I do.</div>Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-66993709216873309902008-06-22T10:33:00.007+05:302008-12-13T11:11:30.196+05:30Multiple PersonalitiesThere is this magical connotation attached to the word 'personality'.<br />Everyone is obsessed with it, without exception.<br /><br />From concerns of a first impression, to job prospects to even social interactions, personality is always at the forefront.<br />And the only thing that's constant about it is change.<br /><br />With all the experience that life brings our way, we change; and so does our personality. But somewhere on this transition, we leave behind footprints and memories of what we were earlier.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SF3mYnkNteI/AAAAAAAAATc/jN5DKxXGXhc/s1600-h/personality.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SF3mYnkNteI/AAAAAAAAATc/jN5DKxXGXhc/s320/personality.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214577254177027554" border="0" /></a><br />From when I've arrived at bangalore, its been almost a new start.<br />Even though I wouldn't say I'm a hard-working-student here at IISc (am I? :-D), my every effort here is in trying to prove just that to my mentor and guide. Back at hostel, though, my sincere room-mate believes I'm a party freak and night-life addict who just comes back to the hostel for the night, late, and goes off in the morning (sometimes even staying all the night out, and almost more regularly recently!). I would've told him that its not really regular parties that keep me up every night, if it werent for this strong urge to play along... I'm still trying to understand the source of this great urge to 'play along' so to say. Probably its fun to just let people make assumptions and see how things go on. And probably it brings the fun back into your life and makes it a little more entertaining.<br /><br />And again, there's this veteran owner of a chain of restaurants here who thinks I've just entered college. Of course he would, I had figured that while seeking accommodation, rather than explaining people about the concept of summer internship, I'd rather blend into the crowd and become a college-goer looking for a decent dorm. And now its fun to see him advising me about college life whenever theres an opportunity for an interaction between us. Again, wouldnt it spoil the fun if I told him I was 3/4th of my way through college already?<br /><br />Of course, all of us have differing personalities. We are different to different people, and different at different situations. Some are radically different, while the others are far more subtle. But here's one thought worth deliberating: what if somehow one or more of these personalities came to a clash? Imagine if, say the veteran restaurant owner somehow turns out to be a relative of my faculty guide at college (O.o) Such are the what-ifs which convince one to live a simple and transparent life, void of inconsistencies. But living on the edge somehow seems to be a fascinating exercise for me (of course, only when taken lightly and not on a very serious note). Probably just adds a little spice to the mundane life we have. Or probably I'm just too idle to be thinking up all this (then again, if I wouldnt be so jobless, I wouldnt be writing this post).<br /><br />I guess its time to try and figure out which of these personalities probably got someone to puncture my cycle tyre today morning...Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-20375798863286732972008-06-15T15:08:00.006+05:302008-06-18T19:08:56.397+05:30Random Musings...'convince the unconvinced'<br />---------------------------------------------------------<br />There was once this eccentric professor at college who was known for his absurd obsessions especially when it came down to testing the students for what they had learnt in a semester long course of Philosophy and spiritualism.<br /><br />It was one such occasion, when the professor handed out test questions to all of his class students. The paper had just one question. Before the start of the exam, he had placed a wooden chair atop a table. The question asked the students to argue and prove that the chair did not exist using all the profound knowledge they had supposedly gained after the Philosophy course.<br /><br />While all the students were busy jotting down theories, arguments and counterarguments to prove the nonexistance of the chair, one student had surprisingly finished the paper and handed it back within a minute. Considering him to be an ill-prepared student sure to flunk, the others continued on their quest. From buddhist non-materialistic view of the world to the various other analogies, the students profoundly related them to this particular chair, all in an effort to imply its non-existence.<br /><br />Later after the exam, when the results were announced, it came as a surprise that apart from that one student, the professor didn't consider anyone worthy of having completed the course.<br /><br />Upon request of the answer sheet, it was found that his paper had a one-line answer "What Chair ?"<br />-------------------------------------------<br /><br />A little snippet I found adorned on someone's gtalk status :-P<br /><br />Positive thinking is....<br /><br /><blockquote>A little bird up in the sky,<br />U look up & it shits in your eye,<br />U dont mind & U dont cry,<br />U just thank god that...cows dont fly!!!!!<br /></blockquote>--------------------------------------------Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-42945014114020598622008-06-15T00:04:00.005+05:302008-12-13T11:11:30.218+05:30I'm Looking for a dream...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SFQRku6WMcI/AAAAAAAAASQ/hax7QL8pP7A/s1600-h/dreams2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SFQRku6WMcI/AAAAAAAAASQ/hax7QL8pP7A/s320/dreams2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5211809991540224450" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I'm looking for a Dream</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">a glad respite yet a true calling...</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">savouring memories, so close and yet so far</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Its not easy, not now or ever, to be me</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">I'm just here to find</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">the better part of me</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">and I realize I'm the kind</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">who was never meant to be</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"close the world,think it through</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">is this, really, who is you?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">not today, not tomorrow</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">maybe when your time is through...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">They won't tell you,neither can I</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">it's your prerogative, learn to Fly</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">You are the one, just haven't figured it out yet</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">there's still Time, take the Plunge, make a Bet"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Im looking for a Dream</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">A Vision of hope, without judge</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">a glad respite yet a true calling...</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">until I find, decide and take the plunge...</span><br /><br /><br /></div>Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-42494359623644379582008-05-23T20:13:00.002+05:302008-06-15T22:59:25.045+05:30Bangalore CallingAfter a semester (rather eventful one), I find myself in Bangalore this summer, as a research intern at SERC(Supercomputer Education and Research Centre), IISc.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.imc.pi.cnr.it/%7Ecodenotti/IMG_2996.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 185px; height: 139px;" src="http://www.imc.pi.cnr.it/%7Ecodenotti/IMG_2996.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>Barely did I come here that it began to rain. A glad respite from the unrelenting heat in goa.<br /><br />Just got my accommodation fixed up at a pretty decent dorm.<br />Still waiting for more bitsians to join me. Itll definitely not be lonely with friends and college-mates around. Some will be coming around the end of this month, while others will be coming in july (PS2). Till then, its working time. (The pic on the left is the main building - IISc)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sharathrao.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/iisc-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 189px; height: 142px;" src="http://sharathrao.files.wordpress.com/2007/11/iisc-1.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Bangalore is a pretty nice place to be, quite contrary to what one would expect of a growing metropolitan. The photograph on the left is that of a botanical garden close by. I would love to share my experience here at bangalore (or rather bengaluru now), but that will be some other day. <a href="http://sharathrao.wordpress.com/2007/11/17/whats-there-in-bangalore/">Here</a> is a short description by a once-upon-a-time blogger; but IISc has changed a lot since then.<br /><br />A pretty random post. So ill end it up pretty randomly with a song that echoes through me right now:<br /><em><blockquote>Enjoy yourself, it’s later than you think.<br />Enjoy yourself, while you’re still in the pink.<br />The years go by as quickly as a wink.<br />Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself. It’s later than you think.<br /></blockquote></em>(180 version of Enjoy Yourself from The Specials)Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-79551973574035847972008-05-04T13:53:00.002+05:302008-06-15T23:00:06.867+05:30On Letting go...To let go isn't to forget, or to ignore. It doesn't leave feelings of anger or regret. Letting go isn't about winning,losing ,giving in or giving up. It isn't about loss or defeat. To let go is to cherish the memories, &to overcome and move on & have confidence in d future. Letting go is learning & experiencing. To let go is to 2b thankful for the exp that made you laugh, made you cry, and made you grow. It's about all that you have, all that you had, and all that you will have. To let go is to open a door, and to clear a path 2 set yourself free.Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-59452607139592332702008-05-01T17:10:00.004+05:302008-12-13T11:11:30.468+05:30The 3rd yearThis post is a later update to serve as a substitute for the missing continuum in my sporadic posts...<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SFUBo2wXP2I/AAAAAAAAAS8/aQC84NzIuaI/s1600-h/bits2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SFUBo2wXP2I/AAAAAAAAAS8/aQC84NzIuaI/s320/bits2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212073945155977058" border="0" /></a></div>The 3rd yr whizzed by with <a href="http://www.bits-quark.org/">Quark</a> 2k8 occupying most of the time and effort spent.<br />Was also involved in Evangelizing sun technologies and learning and using them as the <a href="http://in.sun.com/communities/univ/campusambassadorprograms.html">Sun Campus Ambassador</a> and coordinator of Sun Club.<br />LUG-BITSGoa (Linux Users Group) also grew in activities and structure.<br />Also qualified for the nationals of <a href="http://www.imaginecup.com/">IC08</a>. <a href="http://www.bits-waves.org/">Waves</a> and <a href="http://www.bits-spree.org/">Spree</a> also fell in the same semester, so activities were on a high.<br /><br />Next, looking ahead into the internship @SERC, IISc, Bangalore.<br /><br />End of update...Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-79043029850184964662008-03-31T12:55:00.002+05:302008-12-31T15:05:30.198+05:30Hypocrisy as a way of life<div style="text-align: justify;">Yes, thats true. Hypocrisy has come to become a part of our lives whether we like it or not. Hell, we might as well like it, considering the kind of hypocrites we've become.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">First, its the sena against valentines day. Then its the BJP against the cheerleaders in IPL (although the very same members of the party prolly enjoy the item numbers on bollywood). The double talk by ppl like mayawati and the enforcement of 'standards' by the mumbai police. As <a href="http://gowingoa.blogspot.com/2008/03/freedom.html">gowry</a> puts it,<br /></div><blockquote>"Ur Free to piss on the streets, but not kiss"</blockquote><br />Its everywhere around us. Those who deny it are the worst of the hypocrites.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;">And it doesnt end there. Even at BITS, with the self proclaimed aim of nurturing its students enabling their self development to the fullest, the treatment actually is akin to that of a prison cell. With specific time (4 hours each day on a weekday) where students are allowed out of campus, and a lockdown of hostels at 11! The ban on birthday parties in hostels by the chief warden and the clear and distinct expression of dislike at any activity that indulges the students in any kind of pleasure. But ofcourse, as they always claim, they dont mean to harm the students, neither do they intend to keep us from doing what we like. They 'want' us to be 'happy'. And they're doing whatever they are, coz its <span style="font-style: italic;">good</span> for us! Welcome to the age of hypocrisy.<br /></div><br />But looking at the bright side of things, it brings out the rebellious and brave front within us. An irony of sorts, but yes, the reality. The last day of waves and all the people who were a part of it and witnessed it will agree.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SVsqKTLoBYI/AAAAAAAAAcA/xzQKeA0ZglA/s1600-h/waves08.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 307px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SVsqKTLoBYI/AAAAAAAAAcA/xzQKeA0ZglA/s320/waves08.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285864944085501314" border="0" /></a><br />It started off on the usual note. Events galored and everyone had fun. Ofcourse we as an educated institute denied the display of blatant hooliganism during shows like fashp. But thats just the tip of the iceberg. More than 3/4th of the campus probably wouldnt know what actlly went on during those 3 days at the J. Or in the parking lot. Neither do they know about the quarrel on the maingate that led to the police arrival.<br />But what everyone does know, is that the wonderful performance by Junkyard groove on our own open air stage, was interrupted by the arrival of the police van with its interminable echoing of the siren amid growing silence. And soonafter everyone was dispersed back to the hostels within 5 minutes. And that is when DC came in to feed on the rumours. Within half an hour of the incident atleast 10 different stories, all claiming credibility, were floated and discussed on mainchat freely as though they were matter-of-fact.<br />I do join everyone in condemning the way the night ended. Everyone seemed to be looking for a scapegoat to dump the blame on. Of course, what could you expect? But that is the kind of end that the festival had. Waves '08. The only way one could be oblivious to it, is by attaining Nirvana; the state of statelessness that the cultural festival claimed to be all about.<br /><br />And the ripples that it started off are felt even today... But nevertheless, the day was <span style="font-style: italic;">entertaining</span> in the least expected manner. And denying that I enjoy entertainment would be hypocritical.<br />I'm just happy Quark didnt end up in a mess like this.<br /><br />Yes, even I'm Hypocritical at times. And I dont admit it.Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-51727658200399402582008-01-10T10:39:00.000+05:302008-02-24T13:15:29.086+05:30Random Musings...A man piloting a hot air balloon discovers he has wandered off course and is hopelessly lost. He descends to a lower altitude and locates a man down on the ground. He lowers the balloon further and shouts, "Excuse me, can you tell me where I am?"<br /><br />The man below says, "Yes, you're in a hot air balloon, about 30 feet above this field."<br /><br />"You must work in Information Technology," says the balloonist.<br /><br />"Yes I do," replies the man. "And how did you know that?"<br /><br />"Well," says the balloonist, "what you told me is technically correct, but of no use to anyone."<br /><br />The man below says, "You must work in management."<br /><br />"I do," replies the balloonist, "how did you know?"<br /><br />"Well," says the man, "you don't know where you are, or where you're going, but you expect my immediate help. You're in the same position you were before we met, but now it's my fault!"<br /><br />-----------------------------------------------------<br /><br />A radio conversation between a US naval ship and Canadian authorities...<br /><br />Americans: Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision.<br /><br />Canadians: Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.<br /><br />Americans: This is the captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course.<br /><br />Canadians: No. I say again, you divert YOUR course.<br /><br />Americans: This is the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln, the second largest ship in the United States' Atlantic Fleet. We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers and numerous support vessels. I demand that you change your course 15 degrees North, that's ONE FIVE DEGREES NORTH, or counter-measures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.<br /><br />Canadians: This is a lighthouse. Your call.<br /><br />-----------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Three engineering students were gathered together discussing the possible designers of the human body.<br /><br />One said, "It was a mechanical engineer. Just look at all the joints."<br /><br />Another said, "No, it was an electrical engineer. The nervous systems many thousands of electrical connections."<br /><br />The last said, "Actually, it was a civil engineer. Who else would run a toxic waste pipeline through a recreational area?"<br />-----------------------------------------------------<br /><br />Reaching the end of a job interview, the human resources person asked a young engineer fresh out of Stanford,<br /><br />"And what starting salary were you looking for?"<br /><br />The engineer said, "In the neighborhood of $125,000 a year, depending on the benefits package."<br /><br />The interviewer said, "Well, what would you say to a package of 5-weeks vacation, 14 paid holidays, full medical and dental, company matching retirement fund to 50% of salary, and a company car leased every 2 years--say, a red Corvette?"<br /><br />The engineer sat up straight and said, "Wow! Are you kidding?"<br /><br />And the interviewer replied, "Yeah, but you started it."<br />-----------------------------------------------------<br /><br />When my three-year-old son opened the birthday gift from his grandmother, he discovered a water pistol. He squealed with delight and headed for the nearest sink. I was not so pleased. I turned to Mom and said, "I'm surprised at you. Don't you remember how we used to drive you crazy with water guns?"<br /><br />Mom smiled and then replied..."I remember."<br />-----------------------------------------------------<br /><br />An astronomer, a physicist and a mathematician (it is said) were holidaying in Scotland. Glancing from a train window, they observed a black sheep in the middle of a field.<br /><br />"How interesting," observed the astronomer, "All Scottish sheep are black!"<br /><br />To which the physicist responded, "No, no! Some Scottish sheep are black!"<br /><br />The mathematician gazed heavenward in supplication, and then intoned, "In Scotland there exists at least one field, containing at least one sheep, at least one side of which is black."<br />-----------------------------------------------------<br /><br />One day, a professor was giving a big test to his students. He handed out the tests and went back to his desk to wait. Once the test was over, the students all handed the tests back in.<br /><br />The professor noticed that one of the students had attached a $100 bill to his test with a note saying: "A dollar per point."<br /><br />The next class the professor handed the tests back out. This student got back his test...and $64 change!Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-66888476675476399792007-09-17T23:07:00.002+05:302008-12-13T11:11:30.652+05:30Of the era that was and the age that is: electronicsIts funny that I pen down a title like that (above) when what I really intend to do is write about my experience at Pilani during my summer internship.<br /><br />In one way, May 15 - July 15 brought about a myriad of experiences, each unique in its own right.<br />Although this fact alone should have accounted for my jubilation when I first received my confirmation mail, the fact that it is one of our reputed research institutes got me excited.<br />Pilani is about 5 hours from Delhi - by road - and there is no other means of transport to get there. So, after a 5 hour grueling bus journey, I finally arrive at my destination: A land full of camels and the desert wind. The land of the Rajahs, as they say, and the town for education - Pilani. It took me a bit of time to adjust to the extreme climate, not to mention that adjusting with peacocks as your friendly neighbourhood stray animal was a pretty formidable task in itself! An oasis in a desert, It could put many fairylands to shame.<br /><br />Of course the most striking factor about the place was the pace of its functioning. Time would literally stay still as you would take your own sweet time to adjust and go on.<br />Hardly a few days of stay, and I was already convinced that I had entered a new world.<br /><br />And then, I was proved wrong when I entered CEERI - the real new world! A lot more than what it appears on first sight: A modest research institute established under the CSIR. The History attached with the place is compelling: A lot of technical breakthroughs without which the country would probably have had to shelve lumps of money for technology transfer; and of course, live without television! But again it was a new experience, a new way of life and a new world to enter.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SFT9lW7vYsI/AAAAAAAAAS0/FHnvHTOzOzw/s1600-h/ceeri1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M2AR4hOFO6U/SFT9lW7vYsI/AAAAAAAAAS0/FHnvHTOzOzw/s200/ceeri1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5212069487027643074" border="0" /></a></div><br />A glimpse into the developments that are going on here, and I begin to wonder about the era that was and the age that is: electronics. Since the turn of the century we have had numerous breakthroughs and path breaking findings, even revolutionary progress; yet we seek to answer the same fundamental questions and are groping for the still more fundamental answers.<br />One begins to question the nature of revolutions themselves, based on the scope that they claim to affect.<br /><br /><blockquote>"New hopes, new styles, and, most important, a new way of seeing. Revolutions do not come piecemeal. One account on nature replaces another. Old problems are seen in new light. Something takes place that resembles a whole industry retooling for new production. It is rather as if the professional community had been suddenly transported to another planet where familiar objects are seen in a different light and are joined by unfamiliar ones as well." - CHAOS, James Gleick<br /></blockquote><br />And this is the situation that people at CEERI try to address and bring about all the time. We may talk about the next big breakthrough, the next big Silicon revolution, even path breaking findings that may allow us to look back and laugh at what we currently regard as the highest achievements we have made.<br />Yet, in the foreseeable future, I cant help but see a fraction of us smirk at those who laugh, for we still, as always will, remain in an endless pursuit of answering the fundamental questions that stare at us.Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-40957207398518740712007-08-31T10:30:00.000+05:302007-08-30T22:47:29.743+05:30A new start<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">Lights go out, and I cant be saved</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Waves that I tried to swim against</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">have drowned me in this sea of change</span></blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /></div><br />Long time to cover up, lots of spaces to fill in but the composition more or less sums it up. Last couple of months have been a helluva lot of first-time-experiences jam packed into one hell of a ride.<br /><br />Well, lets see, It all started last semester with the Imagine cup national finals. In concurrence with murphy's laws, it happened to be bang in the middle of our compre exams and we had to be given a makeup for it. The going was great, though not amazing, we managed to get our project working despite faulty net connections, Windows config problems, many of those [dangerous bugs that dig their tentacles deep into your app and plan to surface at the perfect time they could cause the maximum possible damage], and of course, pathetic luck. It was pretty amazing, believe me, the we finally did get it working on d D-day! The ordeal went fine, and as luck has it, we managed to come second (well actually, its National first runner-up, to be precise :)).<br /><br />Experience is the only thing that one can take out of time spent. This summer found me as a project trainee at CEERI, Pilani. A fresh experience - that; besides the rajasthan climate, that is. (The hottest place ive ever been, and probably will ever be: regularly touched 48+ degrees in d aft). But you cant take the credit away from the land of the 'rajahs', an oasis in the desert, swarming with peacocks as your friendly neighbourhood animal. And of course, the camels.<br />It really does put fairylands to shame, doesnt it?<br /><br />Well, I did manage to get out of fairytale and back to reality, and <span style="font-style: italic;">gladly</span>! Now I have a fresh semester to face and the entire 3rd year of college beckoning. The single most effect that this summer has had on me is the change of perspective. A fresh new way of looking at things, some say, can mean a world of difference. Change is the only thing constant and the only thing that prevails.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;"></div><blockquote><div style="text-align: center; font-style: italic;">The all-pervasive power of change<br />will break you free of all your chains<br />and slowly, but surely, before long,<br />It will take you where you truly belong<br /></div></blockquote>Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-76193362527430130732007-07-04T00:08:00.000+05:302007-07-04T17:28:00.935+05:30A Delightful Read: The Elephant turns into a Tiger...Very rarely do we find needles in a haystack and even rarely, gems in a stone pile. Well, I did discover a gem of an article on a wild cruize through the jungle we call the internet. Its a beautifully crafted story explaining the history and growth of India from a neutral perspective (I dont buy the we-are-the-best norm without substantiating :)).<br /><br />Oh, and btw this one is written by Shashi Tharoor, India's nominee for the post of UN secG. Happy Reading!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span> Miracle of miracles! All the animals came to look, and admire. Some were afraid: imagine the strength of a tiger within the size of an elephant! What would happen to the rest of the jungle? Others said there was no reason to worry: whatever stripes she grew, the elephant would always be an elephant at heart<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.jorgetutor.com/india/india_2005/india.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.jorgetutor.com/india/india_2005/india.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span> Once upon a time, in a hot and humid jungle (though one with stretches known better for heat and dust), there lived an old elephant. She was a big, slow, lumbering elephant, with a long but not always happy history, and it was widely accepted that she had known better days. </span><br /><br /><span> She was prone, the other animals knew, to lie back and scratch herself and talk nostalgically about the glorious past, her great accomplishments in times long gone by, but when the other animals listened they did not forget that that was really a long time ago. </span><br /><br /><span> After all, for some time, the elephant's own stretch of the jungle had come under the sway of a fierce lion from far away. Despite her size and strength, the elephant had proved no match for the lion and had been cowed into submission, until the day when the lion, tired of subduing distant lands, had finally slunk away. </span><br /><br /><span> Despite this experience, the elephant tended to lecture the other animals, secure in the conviction that she had all the answers. </span><br /><br /><span> She would raise her trunk and trumpet her views about the right way to do things, the correct manner of living, the ideal principles according to which to organise the jungle, and the other animals would nod politely, trying not to point out that the elephant herself hadn't done all that well, and that she was visibly becoming a bit mangy and flea-infested. </span><br /><br /><span> She certainly was not the strongest animal in the jungle, for her way of doing things meant that she did not grow as big and strong as she might have. (The other animals, not entirely kindly, spoke somewhat patronisingly of "the elephant's rate of growth"). </span><br /><br /><span> She was large, of course, and that meant she could never be entirely ignored; as she came steadily, unblinkingly (and unthinkingly) on, the smaller animals at least had to get out of the way. But the number of animals who did as she did, and lived as she told them to, dwindled with each passing season. </span><br /><br /><span> In another part of the jungle, to the south-east, another group of animals was faring much better than our elephant. They were a sleek band of tigers, their stripes glistening in the sun that seemed inevitably to shine on their patch of forest. </span><br /><br /><span> The tigers were lithe and well-muscled; they ate well, they bounded about, and they grew strong and contented. While tourists still came occasionally to photograph the elephant, the tigers attracted swarms of visitors, who took pictures and films which framed the tigers' fearful symmetry. </span><br /><br /><span> The visitors also gushed about the greenness of the grass the tigers grazed on, brought them ever more food and water, and stroked their backs till their coats glittered. </span><br /><br /><span> If the elephant noticed what was going on, she pretended not to; far from wondering what shoulder and what art might have twisted the sinews of the tigers' heart, she acted as if the good fortune of such small little creatures was of no consequence for an animal as large and important as an elephant.<br /><br /><br /></span><span> But then, one day, she fell ill. She lay down and bellowed, until the veterinarians from the big animal hospital came running to see what the matter was. </span><br /><br /><span> And when they had examined her, they told her the sad truth: either she would have to change the way she was living, allow others into her jungle patch and pay attention to the needs of the other animals (needs she could help them fulfil), or she would soon have to sell her tusks to be made in-to ivory trophies for the mantelpieces of distant humans. "My tusks!" she exclaimed in consternation (and horror). "i'll never sell my tusks?!" </span><br /><br /><span> "Why, then," the vets said, "you must change. You must become more like the tigers." The elephant blanc-hed (which looked particularly awful under the grey pallor of her mottled skin), but said nothing. She lumbered heavily to her feet and plodded uncertainly towards her new destiny. Slowly, very slowly, but with the deliberateness for which she was known, she began to change. </span><br /><br /><span> As the seasons passed, the other animals began to notice that there was something different about the old elephant. She brushed off the fleas that had begun feasting on her. A certain sprightliness entered her step. </span><br /><br /><span> She still moved with that familiar elephantine gait, but there was a pronounced sway from side to side now, as though she was prepared to entertain all possibilities. The old fat began to give way to muscle. Her ears flapped in a way that suggested she was — surprise! — actually listening, instead of merely lecturing others. </span><br /><br /><span> She dipped her trunk into clean water and sprayed it liberally on herself, washing away decades of dirt and mud (though some clumps still stubbornly clung to her). She began to grow — how she began to grow! Soon the visitors started crossing over from the tigers' sanctuary to take a look. </span><br /><br /><span> And they started chattering to each other in excitement, since they could not believe what they were seeing. For, appearing on the elephant's back, at first faint but soon clearly visible, was the unmistakable sign of stripes. </span><br /><br /><span> Large, black stripes, swirling confide-ntly around her torso. And then, even as the visitors gawped with disbelief, the elephant's dirty grey skin began to acquire a distinctly golden hue. </span><br /><br /><span> There was no doubt about it. The elephant was becoming a tiger. Miracle of miracles! All the animals came to look, and admire. Some were afraid: imagine the strength of a tiger within the size of an elephant! What would happen to the rest of the jungle? </span><br /><br /><span> Others said there was no reason to worry: whatever stripes she grew, the elephant would always be an elephant at heart. And still others said, it can't last; the stripes will fade away soon enough, and we will again see the comforting sight of our old plodding, stumbling friend. </span><br /><br /><span> Which of the animals would be right? Who knows? Tune in a few years from now, when we will recount the next episode of our favourite animal fable.</span><br /></div></div>Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-19892677513853421112007-06-20T10:22:00.000+05:302007-06-20T10:24:16.245+05:30A lookback at our experience @ Imagine cup India SDI Finals - The BeginningIve put in some thoughts abt it <a href="http://xploretech.blogspot.com/2007/06/lookback-at-our-experience-imagine-cup.html">here</a>Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6821875877529449608.post-9419114947963031162007-06-19T08:39:00.001+05:302007-06-19T08:39:55.781+05:30Wind UpFound this somewhere on the web...<br /><br /><h2>Wind Up</h2> When I was young and they packed me off to school<br />and taught me how not to play the game,<br />I didn't mind if they groomed me for success,<br />or if they said that I was a fool.<br />So I left there in the morning<br />with their God tucked underneath my arm<br />their half-assed smiles and the book of rules.<br />So I asked this God a question<br />and by way of firm reply,<br />He said - I'm not the kind you have to wind up on Sundays.<br />So to my old headmaster (and to anyone who cares):<br />before I'm through I'd like to say my prayers<br />I don't believe you:<br />you had the whole damn thing all wrong<br />He's not the kind you have to wind up on Sundays.<br />Well you can excommunicate me on my way to Sunday school<br />and have all the bishops harmonize these lines<br />how do you dare tell me that I'm my Father's son<br />when that was just an accident of Birth.<br />I'd rather look around me - compose a better song<br />`cos that's the honest measure of my worth.<br />In your pomp and all your glory you're a poorer man than me,<br />as you lick the boots of death born out of fear.<br />I don't believe you:<br />you had the whole damn thing all wrong<br />He's not the kind you have to wind up on Sundays.Abhishek Kumarhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16301277323018014045noreply@blogger.com0