It's Been So Long...

...since I have updated this place. I had lots to write, but no time. And a block. And no internet. So you can't really blame me. Now, sixth sem has ended too, I would daresay the most eventful one so far. It's not something I would put up here, but I'll just say things are as good as they could be(if you don't sount my placement chances, that is). I don't even want to think about the next sem, where first and foremost, we would be fourth years. Secondly, its the placement season, where even friends turn ugly. I'm not exactly looking forward to it and the only thing that will get me through this ordeal is the prospect of a job and the fact that I can EARN. And pay my own phone bills because they have been causing a lot of trouble lately.

As for the holidays, they seem like a blur. I should be studying for CAT and others, and not pay attention to my training, but I don't think I'll be doing much apart from eating, sleeping or driving to the other end of Delhi to catch up with "friends". It takes a lot of motivation to do that. Maybe I'll just ask them to come here instead. That's better.

So, What's New?

Now that I'm in my third year, I feel like I'm repeating the same story all over again. As for the fests, the technical fests were a lot of fun, and a lot of work, while the cultural fests were just the opposite. It just seemed like a mere formality, and the star night was the worst of them all. But it was not totally uneventful. A lot happened, which probably cannot be put up here, will land me in more trouble.

Yes, everyone has been writing about their mba classes, so maybe I should chip in too. Mine are okay, though we unanimously agree that our English teacher is not so good. In any case, I find RC classes boring, so I don't think changing the teacher would make any difference. My friends are still trying hard though. Okay, now I feel I'm writing just for the sake of it, maybe I too need a tag. Swayam, any ideas??

About Me On TV

First and foremost, I didn't really see my bits on the show, simply because I can't see myself on screen. I would never watch myself in home videos, and better still, I would be the one behind the camera. The good thing here was that they did not edit my bits out, unlike those of others, who had probably said a lot more. While recording, there was a lot of "mic-snatching" around, and considering all the peripheral hostility, I'm glad I got to say so much at all(and that the NDTV guys thought it was good enough to be stayed). Its is a different matter that I was shouting throughout the show, which could not be caught on the mic. I guess the same went for the AIIMS guys, who had plenty of comments to pass throughout the show, which were not exactly for the general junta.

P.S. The best reaction from all the viewers was that of my mum, who exclaimed,"I couln't recognize you in the first place!", not having set her eyes on me from the past two months.

From DCE to NDTV

When I had decided to appear for the Innova council, I knew it was a learning experience. But what I didn't was that it would also get me on TV. We were invited to be a part of NDTV Metronation's show "U-special". Besides us, students from NSIT, AIIMS and other DU colleges were also present. The topic of discussion was which stream is better? Medicine, Engineering, or the courses offered by DU?

It was a pointless topic, because I don't think one can compare medicine or engineering with each other. Its like pitting apples against oranges to see which are better. The arguments were even more idiotic, with the DU people constantly harping on their "extra-curricular activities" and how it makes them so superior. At the risk of sounding pompous, I think we are much more than that. There was a lot of shouting and mud-slingling, but I dont think their boom mic caught all of that, like the producer lady told me, "Ma'am, you are screaming on top of your lungs but I can't hear a thing, because you don't have a mic". It was totally sabotaged by the first-year bimbettes that our president had tagged along with him. And, of course, he had no opinion to offer when the cameras started rolling.

As for the "DU girls", the Miss-Fishnet-stockings, and the Miss-Red-Streaks, they were just present to be on TV. They would say anything and then start shouting about it. Of course, they impressed the host a lot, who had precariously placeh himself in between the girls and forgotten everone else. It did go on as a one-sided show for quite some time till we passed sarcastic comments about being ignored.

Now that I read whatever I've written above, I don't really sound so happy about the whole experience. But I must end by saying that it was a lot of fun. Just the sheer fact that we are going to be on TV is exciting, and the reason and means to it don't really matter.

Go Green!!

It is not long before Innova '09 actually starts, and then ends, but there shall be a lot of things that we would remember on the way. Being a part of the council means work, but then it also kicks off remincenses. To begin with, how my association with Innova started in '07. We were clueless first years, who constantly tried to evade work, and would give the PR desk a wide berth. That year, all the fests were organised in a single week, so there was always something to look forward to, and sitting all day long at the PR desk was not so appealing. Before the fest commenced, I had no idea what events we had, and what all those fancy names stood for. They were explained to me, and my friends, by a very patient senior. We were asked to run errands, make posters on the spot, but overall we didn't really do much "work".



In the second year, we did help a lot more. We were part of papyrus, the technical paper presentation, and made sure there were always some first years around to man the PR desks. We had also helped to jazz it up a little bit. Then, of course, we took part in paradigm, the bridge making event, and strutted around structure D, wearing the sponsors caps, just because we were told to do so. That was fun.






This year, the fest is organised by us, and we intend to make it the best. When the council was formed, I wasn't acquainted with the members of the council from mech branch, but we know each other a lot better now. And, of course, we have also learnt a lot of lessons on the way. Like how it is important to get the work done, it doesn't matter who does it. How ones ego should not come in between work and workmates. And how we should all learn to compromise with whatever we have, be it the new Innova room on the second floor with no furniture (it will get furnished in a day or two), or the decrease in incoming cash thanks to economic recession. Its all fine and its all a lot of fun.

The College Has Lakhs To Spend On Making Parking Roads.........

..........can they please spare a couple of thousands and invest in a couple of washing machines and geysers? Please!





On our trip in Dehradun, we were appalled to see that there was no hot bathing water. There was finger pointing at the management, and everyone involved was blamed. Now, that we are back in hostel, I don't think the situation is any different. There is no hot water available and no working washing machines and we are talking about the senior hostel in a Delhi college. Is anyone listening??

Oh yes, The Trip......

10 days taken from my precious hols, just so we could complete our prescribed journey to the hills, an important milestone in our training as civil engineers. Whatever. The only word that comes to my mind when I think back is : surprise. Right from the begining till the very last day, there were moments that shocked me and those I'll probably never forget. There will be a day-by-day analysis later, but, for now, a few quick words.

I loved the freedom that we got. No girls hostel, boys hostel, no curfew and no nagging teachers(a few lab assistants, but that was all). New years' celebrations were unique, with no music systems, no TV, no parties. Just a bonfire and a guitar. I don't think we were there as tourists, or that we did much sightseeing, but just roaming around the streets of Dehradun and Mussourie wondering where to go, running downhill amongst the bushes to our surveying site, having coffee at the dhaba outside, serving our own classmates, playing cards all night, or just walking on dark roads at 8pm was (to quote our CR) "once upon a time in a lifetime experience".....