Why one's end could be the biggest teacher ?

I don't use the word 'death' as I am not convinced of it as we describe it.
End...the most intriguing mystery of all.The event where the buck really stops.The question on which the wisest amongst us agree to disagree. But it's always a feared entitity.Thats because it's usually accompanied with sickness, helplessness and pain ;reasons good enough to keep a safe distance from Yamraaj

But talk about one's own end....not the manner of dying...What is it really made of?

For it lets discuss something about life and world around us (yawn!)....from an Ant's point of view.For an Ant,the world is flat...probably black and white.It doesn't know about the laws of nature...universe...whatever we 'humans' ,due to our 'superior' intellect have been able to discover.Yet,it happily goes on about its daily grind.I doubt that an ant even knows about existence of human being as we are...or even if they do...do they acknowledge us as the masters of the current world.Maybe ants consider themselves as most organised and advanced species in what they consider as 'their world'.

OR

it could be opposite...there are chances that they might consider us 'the humans' as THE GOD.We are the size of galaxy as compared to them.Our simple 'yawning' will be a
cosmic storm for them.Our frisbee could cause solar eclipse for them.Our manholes might be the
'Black Holes' to them,sucking everything down the unending spiral. Some bright ants in 'ant society' might even try to understand the laws which govern these 'cosmic' phenomena wich are readily accepted
or even religiously followed in Ant world.How far from truth are those 'silly' ants.Whatever 'science' and 'truths'
exist in ant's world are obviously preposterous.

We know how things work here. Or do we? When living on the same planet ants
may not even realize human existence or may consider us as GODS.Is it unthinkable that 'WE' could be the ANTS for some
higher species.A species which exist right here....right now....just in front of our eyes.But we are unable to recognise their existence simply because they are Gazillions times bigger than us.We might just be a bacterial
species waiting to be discovered by someone.They must have found our world's science , laws and beliefs way rudimentary
and downright stupid....just as we find that of ants.It's possible that what we consider
as known universe is simply an Atom for some
larger universe OR what we consider as an atom contains within itself an
entire universe undiscovered by us.

Fellow human...we know nothing...what we are ? Why we are ? We can't say
for sure wether we are made of mass , energy , vibrations
or simply an oversized photon.Yet we spend our lives in
self-glorification.We are nothing but a speck of dust and we exist not more
than a tick of cosmic clock.



Still there is one thing which is appears to be certain in our lives...it
is end.This final act leaves us with two options.Either it's an end
of our insignificant existence and we die with our questions unanswered.

OR

on the brighter side...all our anxious doubts would be answered.In that one
moment ...you could become wiser than whole mankind put together.You'll be
above 'time'.In that one moment ...you'll be able to look into the entire past and
entire future of existence and explain every phenomena that ever occured or
is going to occur.You'll smile pityingly at the greatest human thinkers,philosophers and
scientists of current time at how off track they are.
This vague possibility is good enough reason to make 'the day you die...thebest day of your life.'

It so happened...

It so happened that it was Library week at office  from 16-20 th November.And it so happened that I came to know about it on last day of the week and managed to participate in its last event.And Finally,it so happened that all eight but one participants were chicks.....including some ' can't help but turn ur head and stare with eyes wide open types'.

The topic provided was "If you had more time...".A short writing for the graffiti wall was desired.
Here's my entry...

IF I HAD MORE TIME......

I would take a journey back in time....
I would read the thoughts of greatest minds.
I would rediscover gravity with Newton...
I would cross my swords with Trojan.
I would steer the 'Nautilus' in Oceans and Bays...
Or I could travel around the world in Eighty Days
With Holmes,would I solve mysteries of crime...
If I had a little more time !


And eventually it happened, that for one brief moment...all those eye poppers turned their head towards me when they called me up to recieve the first prize(which was a ruddy book...ofcourse)

Woh kaun thi !

After many days of procrastination and ultimately being rebuffed by my father,I finally went to Axis bank to sink Rs 2300 and purchase a form of XLRI/XAT.Its a big racket going on yaar... separate forms for xam and college ! Nevertheless,I queued up and came back with the pack.Before dumping it in closet,I decided to give it a look.Usually all such brochures look same.Same 'suited' students,with a 'perfect' confident smile in the backdrop of 'sprawling' campus.All set to become leaders of tomorrow making a positive 'social' impact.The thing which surprised me was the 'sameness' of all the faces in brochures of all colleges.They all appeared to be made from a single mould.I concluded that they can't be real students going about their routine stuff,just some people hired by brochure design agency.

This XLRI brochure seemed no exception; till I came across the face in above photograph.Of all the faces in the brochure,this one seemed to be 'more' familiar than others.I instinctively knew I had seen this face in flesh and blood,not in ink and paper and definitely not in pixels and LCD.The question was where?I scanned my volatile memory but couldn't come to a conclusion...But still...it wasn't a figment of my imagination.I had SEEN the person !

Could it be at office? No..How could somebody in office be on the brochure of XLRI?
Was she at IT-BHU? No...I hardly knew anyone from the fairer species there.....
Somebody at school...Come on...I was at a boy's school.

Ahh....now I remember....the concerned person was a FIITJee batchmate...a very smart student but for inexplicable reasons couldn't clear JEE(can't recall the name though).But she surely seemed to have made up for it now!
Well..along with the memory came pangs of guilt for not giving a genuine shot to anything for a while!

The conclusion....people in brochure are real students...my memory is not really that bad...and time has started when I'll look up in papers/magazines/brochures/TV/News websites/interviews/IPL/movie Item numbers/Election Speeches/Oscar Ceremonies/World Global Warming Summit/United Nations Convention etc and say.."Arrey main isko Jaanta hoon Yaar! Sach main... "

Fake up Sid !

A clear rip off from my profile pic! Even the color of shirt is same. I'm gonna sue Karan Johar.......call my Lawyers!

Face off !

Some Facts:

TIFR (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research): Country’s one of the oldest and best Research and Development Institute. Founded by Late Homi Bhabha, almost every great scientist produced by India post independence has something to do with TIFR. About 15 TIFR scientists are currently working on famous international CERN experiment, which aims to reproduce Big Bang conditions in a lab.

JMET (Joint Management Entrance Exam): A common entrance exam held by IIT’s and IISc for their coveted management program.

10:00 am, 13th December: The common time and date of both TIFR and JMET entrance exams for their PHD and MBA programs respectively. B-Tech/BE degree holders are eligible for both

CCM: Career Conscious Me…. the part of me who wants corporate success and all the fun in life that money could buy.

KSM: Knowledge Seeker Me…. the original self who entered the hallowed portals of IT-BHU 5 years ago but got lost somewhere in journey. He resurfaces occasionally.

Me: Simply Me…. confused and flowing with tide.

One fine evening, all three sitting in office cafeteria…

CCM: So what u guys want…. there’s macaroni on the menu today!

Hi KSM…been a long time …eh?

KSM: Yeah…I’ve been on a vacation…one Macaroni for me too..

Me: I’ll just have coffee

.

KSM: Why does he look so glum?

Me: Me…. yes…I’ve been troubled by something…something which must be decided upon fast before its too late.

CCM: What is it?

Me: No offense to anyone …but one of you gotta go…forever!

(CCM and KCM spurts out their Macaroni)

“But Why???”

Me: See…. here’s the thing…I’ve been riding on two separate boats…. in fact I don’t know how many boats …one after another and it seems I’ve been moving in circles for past many years.

KSM: I think something is wrong with your coffee.

CCM: Yes…”Free ki Coffee se aisa hi Hota hai”

Me: I’m serious…I’m fed up on being stretched up in two directions

KSM: Ok… but why this stuff all of sudden?

Me: You know what…since my childhood, when I used to read about some whiz kid making his parents, city or even country proud…the first thing I glanced upon was his age. Then I used to tell myself, I’m just 14…I have ample of years left...I’ll also do something by then. In course of time that 14 became 16 …then 19…now soon it’ll be 23.

But the age of wiz kids in papers never increased. Infact it is decreasing day by day.

Got the point….

KSM: That age of wiz kid decreases every year. Boy! Its Curious Case of Wiz Kid!

Me: No silly…it means all the people who matter or will matter in future get their best ideas in young age. The seeds of future greatness are sowed early in life. With the advent of technology and awareness…now, people set out on their journey at a younger age than ever. And I haven’t yet…

CCM: In that case choice is simple, it gotta be me.

KSM: Not so fast there…Its been I who has been nurtured for twelve years at school and couple of years at college. It was I who gave you immense joy upon solving an equation. It was your KSM part that cherished spending the entire day with Irodov.Some of your biggest strengths and achievements are credited to me. I am an integral part of you. The peaks you imagined as a child can only be scaled by me. Couple of misguided years can’t force you off track. I am the one who should be sticking. TIFR is the way to go…Its your last chance.

CCM: Nice preaching there…you talk a lot about history …because that’s where you belong. Yes you did a lot of stuff, but your part is over now. If you were to stick around, you could have done something substantial during past crucial years. You could have laid some kind of foundation to build upon…Instead, it was I who has been carrying the flag for a long time now. Whatever base for future exist, no matter how uncertain…. was built solely by me.

KSM: Did I step back or was pushed back forcefully? Or was it simply an induction effect of your environment? Who knows, if kept in conducive atmosphere what I could have achieved?

CCM: Does it really matter? What really matters is the present…. the present where you do not belong.

KSM: Though not in present …but what about future? (To ‘Me’) Don’t you want to picture yourself driving the real progress of the world? Isn’t there an iota of desire to use your talent and imagination to best possible use? Isn’t that your moral responsibility? With TIFR, you’ll be able to do that.

CCM: Its time to stop picturing and start acting. Probability of your wishful thinking coming true is not even an iota. Do u even know how exactly you are going to do it? And aren’t you a bit late too? How many batch mates can you remember who have gone this path? The best you can do is to fend for yourself. Between Economics and Science…. its always been science which ends up on losing side. (To ‘Me’) Don’t even think about TIFR.The fact that you are having doubts is a reason good enough to give up…

Me: Enough!

Cell phone rings…End of Imaginary Conversation.

On 13^th December 2009, it’ll be a Face Off between country’s top Fundamental Sciences Institute and a reasonably good Management College. How many potential scientists country loses? Where the scale will tilt is a no brainer. Where it should tilt is a wishful thinking...

League of SuperKids...

Treat for those who patiently read my last post.....Here are few of the wonderful kids whom we wish to groom and bloom in our schools....

What an Idea Sirjee !

So its official now...speculations are over,curtains have been drawn and in words of Kapil Sibal "Exam Phobia Psychosis has been cured." Ministry of Education has come up with a new plan for 10th boards.So while relieved students are throwing back books in closet, some sincere one's confused and parents simply confounded , here are some of its salient features-

From now onwards,

-->CBSE Boards would be optional and conducted on-demand (In age of on-demand movies,on-demand food and even on-demand matrimony...how can education be far behind!)

-->Board examination will be graded,thereby making a guy with 91 marks equivalent to the nerd notching 99 marks.(They always said school is a big equaliser!)

-->Weightage of marks would be 60 pcnt academic and 40 pcnt on overall development to be internally evaluated by school.((My punjabi neighbour Mrs Chadda have stopped bragging about her son's academic conquest and is looking for a football and music tutor now ,lest her son lose competitive edge)

Amongst all the steps taken,I feel grading is the most needed one.Grading ,if implemented uniformally would save the child from the quintessential rat-race at the age of 15.Now if I get 'just' 91 pnct marks in 10th I need not give up my dreams of becoming Particle Physicist.On the other hand I wouldn't be forced to study rotation and electomagnetism if all my interests involve brush strokes and pastel colors.I will be evaluated on the subjects I love rather than forced upon.

But the most important accomplishment would be nurturing a generation of multidimensional personalities.It is a proven fact that most of the innovation results in past came from mixing of knowledge of many unrelated fields of study.We will have keen learner of sciences with creative and artistic bent of minds.We will have hundreds of Da-Vincis, Newtons and Franklins in the making(No , I'm not talking about Priory Of Sion!).We will not be creating doctors and engineers simply to serve Big Corps but a breed of enterprising thinkers and doers.I recall words of a dunce school student and one of the greatest minds of all time-

"Logic will take you from A to B...Imagination will take you everywhere"

-Albert Einstien

Those who remember the Vigyaan show broadcasted during solar eclipse somewhere in around 1997(Dont remember the year precisely...but it was my first solar eclipse ever and I watched that show simultaneously participating in a Havan!) will remember Prof. Yashpal Sharma voicing similar concerns.He said children being so engrossed in scoring marks that they have ceased to enjoy art ,literature and creative pursuits that spawn imagination.The steps by education minister...might just be the remedy.

But is this picture too rosy to be true? At this point I am reminded of a center fresh advertisement (hyperlinked)showcasing New Powerful India with its army of dedicated scientists,doctors, policemen and even politician with a patriotic background score.Ad freezes midway and is replayed...but this time without background score and true corrupted face of India is revealed as if its part of our social DNA.Ad ends with punchline..."India...Baatein Kam ...Kaam Zyada"



So is my optimism about future generation simply an illusion due to some background score.Will Indians,true to our DNA depicted in AD, find a shortcuts and bypass this reform too.Here are few of the things which might play a spoilsport--

-->Without a third party evaluation(CBSE)..almost entire evaluation reside in the hands of local teacher.Since favouritism/buttering is rampant in schools...a fair assesment might not be possible.Recollect your school days.Don't you remember ur marks especially in practicals and Viva directly infuenced by ur 'Image'

-->In India,where every pot of money seems to have 'Connection' with someone in ruling class,'Influence' from well to do families will give undue advantage to many.

--> Without clear guidelines of evaluation,a teacher's opinion of overall development varies a lot.Hence it'll be difficult to maintain uniformity.

-->With structure of 12th class board being the same ,one may surely be apprehensive of removing 10th boards which were a great practice for it.One might think...."When I'll ultimately be evaluated only on academic front in 12th...why take a different route in 10th"

-->We might end up creating more Mrs Chaddas(read salient features above) whose sons will be coerced for extra-curricular tuition now

Let us hope that necessary issues are looked into...and future scientists/economists/artists/musicians/actors/soldiers get the launchpad they deserve.Otherwise they all will end up with a screen name pallindrome writing a blog called notrawketscience.....:)

Mark Twain's India

The American humorist Mark Twain (1835-1920) came to India ostensibly to write about it. He did a few articles on what he saw and the people he met but what he had to say about the country, he summed up in the following words:

“This is India! The land of dreams and romance, of fabulous wealth and fabulous poverty, of splendour and rags, of palaces and hovels, of famine and pestilence, of genie and giants and Aladdin lamps, of tigers and elephants, the cobra and the jungle, the country of a hundred nations and a hundred tongues, of a thousand religions and two million gods, cradle of the human race, birth place of human speech, mother of history, grandmother of legend, great grandmother of tradition, whose yesterdays bear date with the mouldering antiquities of the rest of the nations — the one sole country under the sun that is endowed with an imperishable interest for alien persons, four-lettered and ignorant, wise and fool, rich and poor, bond and free, the one land all men desire to see, and having seen once, by even a glimpse, would not give that glimpse for all the shows of all the rest of the globe combined. Even now, after a lapse of a year, the delirium of those days in Bombay has not left me and I hope it will never will.”

Phew......is this a memoir or RawketScience ???

Just another morning in Noida ....

Hi..Like many of the professionals working in and around Noida ,my
biggest challenge of the day starts much before I reach my office

i.e.-Traffic

The 6 km journey from Vasundhara to Sec-62 might take about 40-45
minutes..ie at average speed of about 8 km/hr.
Navigating through choc-a-bloc traffic and serpentine car queues is no
smaller a feat than securing F1 pole.Situation aggravates to such an extent
during peak office hours,that noblest amongst us could be seen landing
expletives as well as fists on the nearby drivers purely out of
frustration.Frayed tempers often results into major friction.

Its a funny to see people using 3.1 Mbps USB broadband while driving at
3.1 km/hr in Chaotic Blunderland.It also symbolises lopsided growth
story of India where infrastructure hasn't kept pace with economic
development....but lets save that story for another day.

Coming back to traffic ,its a lopsided affair too.In morning,the left
side of the road for Ghaziabad to Noida is packed with other side
almost deserted.In evenings,the returning traffic saturates the Noida
to ghaziabad side of Road,other side having scant number of vehicles.

Occasionally, to save time cars move to the wrong side of the road(which
is almost empty).But are intercepted midway by traffic police and
forced to take a U-turn into the correct but congested lane ,thus
worsening the situation due the haphazard moving cars.

But whenever I have managed to bypass the traffic police in wrong
lane,I end up saving 33% of journey time and also fuel consumed.This makes me wonder ...why to follow rules by rote when its worsening the situation.

Hence I suggest to officially allow a extra lane in wrong side of the lane DURING PEAK HOURS ONLY.This one lane will reduce the burden of traffic on the left side by 1/3 rd which means stoppage time and fuel consumed at traffic light also reduces by 1/3rd.Multiply this benefit by
millions of vehicles passing everyday for whole year and we end up
saving a lot! Not to mention lesser frustrated people...
To Illustrate.....following pics are provided....and trust me...All we

need is a simple solution....

NOT RAWKET SCIENCE !!!


Current Scenario AND Proposed Solution(In Peak Hours only)