1. Life at IIM Bangalore has been an amazing ride, and I ll never forget this place as this where I met Priti, and I still thank my stars for the day on which my waitlisted admission to B was confirmed, and I took the decision to join this institution :)
2. I have had a very modest and close to earth upbringing, which I feel is my biggest strength. I have seen bad times in my life, and that’s why I feel that I will never be irresponsible or irrational with my spending (although I do like to spend on small things which make me happy), no matter how much I end up earning in life. It also means that my feet shall always be on the ground, irrespective of how high I fly in my life.
3. I was, am and will always be a bookworm. I have read books in loo, while eating, drinking, travelling, watching TV, surfing, classes, labs, tutorials- basically anywhere and everywhere. I am also one of the biggest fans of Hindi comics that you will ever come across, I think I have read almost all kinds of Hindi comics from chacha chaudhary to nagraj to dhruv to even weird ones which no one would have heard of like Ram rahim, tausi, angara etc etc etc.....
And despite all this reading, Super Commando Dhruv remains my favourite character through the ages.
I have also read almost all editions of Hindi magazines as a kid which include champak, nandan etc.
4. School days were just the most awesome part of growing up. I rarely missed school (unless it was an exam which I wanted to miss, wherein I would conveniently have a headache or stomach ache in the morning :) ). I am still in touch with many of my school friends, and am still one of the most frequent visitors to my school, to meet my favourite teachers.
5. I am artistically challenged, my sketches and drawings have left me and most of my friends in fits of laughter during school days, and I still remember that once I just spilled over some water colour on the drawing that I was making for the art exam- and ended up getting the highest art grade I ever received on that particular sketch.
6. I am a firm believer in whatever happens is always for the best, and was “meant to be”, that’s why I generally do not complain if things aren’t going right. But I do feel bad if people don’t get what they deserve...
7. I am an introvert in general, and suck at making small talks with people. I take my own time to be comfortable with people, but once I am friends with someone, I can talk for hours at a stretch. I have never understood this conflicting side of my personality, and I think I never will.
8. I love driving and that’s one of the thing I miss most about Delhi, not being able to drive my car.
9. I am a big sports fan in general, and enjoy watching football, cricket, formula 1, tennis etc. I worship Sachin Tendulkar, have followed his career from the beginning, and instinctively I switch from total interest to indifference for a cricket match once he gets out. He is just been synonymous with cricket for me. In the past few years, I have also been a fan of Nadal. I also respect Steve Waugh and Lance Armstrong for their achievements on and off the field.
10. I HATE DISCUSSING anything about any examination once it’s over. I generally throw away or tear off the question paper once I leave the hall. And move away as far as possible to even avoid hearing any discussions by mistake.
11. I love listening to all kinds of music, from rap, to rock, to Hindi music and recently a good friend of mine introduced me to jazz as well, and I liked it too. Music was one thing which used to constantly play in the background when I was preparing for my IITJEE exams. Although I own two iPods, I am not a big fan of using earplugs to listen to music; I prefer to play it using speakers.
12. I have very simple choices in food, and generally I stick to them. I was once asked by someone about my favourite food, and all I said was North Indian (Dal paneer), south Indian (idly, dosa, vada and uttapam) and Pizza Hut- that kinda still remains what I generally eat.
13. I was very lazy during school days, and earned the nickname of “susti”. Till coming to IIM Bangalore, my normal sleeping time was 10 pm. The first night at IIM B, I had to stay up till 4 am due to interactions :) , and well that kind of set the trends for my sleeping time here.
14. I love watching movies in theatres (it doesn’t matter what the movie is, and how it has been rated- the kind of movies I have seen in theatre would send a shiver up the spine of most people), during my internship at Mumbai, I watched over 12 movies in theatre, and some of them even alone. For me, more than the movie itself, it is the other attractions which are a big draw- those who have gone to movies with me will certify that- I look forward to new movie trailers/promos and pop corns more than watching the actual movie :)
15. I consider myself to be quite good at pulling people’s legs
16. I am one of the few people to have never ever had a “C” grade in IIM B courses (had to say it loud for everyone to read), before this term came along. So I would also add in the same breadth that I have already received two of them this term :)
17. I am not very vocal with my feelings, and generally don’t create a scene even if people don’t actually behave in a mature manner, but I never forget such things.
18. I like going to zoos, I make it a point to visit a zoo at any place where I go. I have seen the zoos at Chennai, Mysore, Delhi, the Banerghatta National park, Bandipur sanctuary and many more. Snakes are the animals which fascinate me the most, and I have rarely missed any show on TV featuring them. Among the scary ones, my favourite animal is the King Cobra. I also find Hippos and elephants to be quite amazing.
19. I love planning, even if things don’t always work out the way I have planned. Planning for euro trips was just awesome fun. Here and even in Delhi, I used to plan most of the reunions that we had with school friends, and I used to love the task :)
20. Ever since I started watching football, I have been a Man Utd fan. I also like Lionel Messi, and despite being on the opposition side, I have a lot of respect for Jose Mourinho, and his achievements, esp. with Porto.
21. Nike is my brand, for anything, everything :)
22. I like reading blogs, I used to write a blog too, but haven’t written anything for some time now, hope to get back into regular blogging in the near future- I really like the great Bong blog and his is one of the regular blogs that I follow
23. I hate using facebook applications
24. It may sound clichéd, but I can’t see my friends sad, I will generally do anything and put any fundas to cheer them up, or console them, I believe life is too small to take load about anything and I mean anything :)
25. Connected to no. 24, my own philosophy in life is best summed up by “ Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn “ :)
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Monday, February 25, 2008
Those were the days.............
When
The school reopened in June,
And we settled in our new desks and
benches!
When we queued up in book depot,
And got our new books
and notes!
When we wanted two Sundays and no Mondays, yet
managed to line up daily for the morning prayers.
We learnt writing with
slates and pencils, and
Progressed To fountain pens and ball pens and then Micro tips!
When we began drawing with crayons and evolved to
Color pencils and finally sketch pens!
When we started calculating
first with tables and then with
Clarke's tables and advanced to
Calculators and computers!
When we chased one another in the
corridors in Intervals, and returned to the classrooms
Drenched in sweat!
When we had lunch in classrooms, corridors,
Playgrounds,
under the trees and even in cycle sheds!
When all the colors in the world,
Decorated the campus on the Second Saturdays!
When a single P.T. period in the week's Time Table,
Was awaited more eagerly than the monsoons!
When cricket was played with writing pads as bats,
And Neckties and socks rolled into balls!
When few played
"kabadi" and "Kho-Kho" in scorching sun,
While others simply played
"book cricket" in the
Confines of classroom!
Of fights but no conspiracies,
Of Competitions but seldom jealousy!
When we used to
watch Live Cricket telecast,
In the opposite house in Intervals and Lunch breaks!
When few rushed at 3:45 to
"Conquer" window seats in our School bus!
While few others had "Big Fun", "peppermint",
"kulfi", " milk ice !" and "sharbat !" at 4o Clock!
Gone are the days
Of Sports Day,
and the annual School Day ,
And the one-month long
preparations for them.
Gone are the days
Of the stressful Quarterly,
Half Yearly and Annual Exams, And the most
enjoyed holidays after them!
Gone are the days
Of tenth and twelfth standards, when
We Spent almost the whole year writing revision tests!
We learnt,
We enjoyed,
We played,
We won,
We lost,
We laughed,
We cried,
We fought,
We thought.
With so much fun in them, so many friends,
So much experience, all this and more!
Gone are the days
When we used
to talk for hours with our friends!
Now we don't have time to say a `Hi'!
Gone are the days
When we played games on the road!
Now we
Code on the road with laptop!
Gone are the days
When we saw stars
Shining at Night!
Now we see stars when our code doesn't
Work!
Gone are the days
When we sat to chat with Friends on grounds!
Now we chat in chat rooms.....!
Gone are the days
Where we
studied just to pass!
Now we study to save our job!
Gone are the days
Where we had no money in our pockets and still fun filled on our
hearts!!
Now we have the atm as well as credit card but with an empty heart!!
Gone are the days
Where we shouted on the road!
Now we don't shout even at home
Gone are the days
Where we got lectures from all!
Now we give lectures to all... like the one I'm doing now....!!
Gone are the days
But not the memories, which will be
Lingering in our hearts for ever and ever and
Ever and ever and ever .....
Gone are the Days…. But still there are lot more Days to come in our
Life!!
NO MATTER HOW BUSY YOU ARE ,
DONT FORGET TO
LIVE THE LIFE THAT STILL
EXISTS..
just reminded of the good old days, wish I was in school again for the rest of my life ......
The school reopened in June,
And we settled in our new desks and
benches!
When we queued up in book depot,
And got our new books
and notes!
When we wanted two Sundays and no Mondays, yet
managed to line up daily for the morning prayers.
We learnt writing with
slates and pencils, and
Progressed To fountain pens and ball pens and then Micro tips!
When we began drawing with crayons and evolved to
Color pencils and finally sketch pens!
When we started calculating
first with tables and then with
Clarke's tables and advanced to
Calculators and computers!
When we chased one another in the
corridors in Intervals, and returned to the classrooms
Drenched in sweat!
When we had lunch in classrooms, corridors,
Playgrounds,
under the trees and even in cycle sheds!
When all the colors in the world,
Decorated the campus on the Second Saturdays!
When a single P.T. period in the week's Time Table,
Was awaited more eagerly than the monsoons!
When cricket was played with writing pads as bats,
And Neckties and socks rolled into balls!
When few played
"kabadi" and "Kho-Kho" in scorching sun,
While others simply played
"book cricket" in the
Confines of classroom!
Of fights but no conspiracies,
Of Competitions but seldom jealousy!
When we used to
watch Live Cricket telecast,
In the opposite house in Intervals and Lunch breaks!
When few rushed at 3:45 to
"Conquer" window seats in our School bus!
While few others had "Big Fun", "peppermint",
"kulfi", " milk ice !" and "sharbat !" at 4o Clock!
Gone are the days
Of Sports Day,
and the annual School Day ,
And the one-month long
preparations for them.
Gone are the days
Of the stressful Quarterly,
Half Yearly and Annual Exams, And the most
enjoyed holidays after them!
Gone are the days
Of tenth and twelfth standards, when
We Spent almost the whole year writing revision tests!
We learnt,
We enjoyed,
We played,
We won,
We lost,
We laughed,
We cried,
We fought,
We thought.
With so much fun in them, so many friends,
So much experience, all this and more!
Gone are the days
When we used
to talk for hours with our friends!
Now we don't have time to say a `Hi'!
Gone are the days
When we played games on the road!
Now we
Code on the road with laptop!
Gone are the days
When we saw stars
Shining at Night!
Now we see stars when our code doesn't
Work!
Gone are the days
When we sat to chat with Friends on grounds!
Now we chat in chat rooms.....!
Gone are the days
Where we
studied just to pass!
Now we study to save our job!
Gone are the days
Where we had no money in our pockets and still fun filled on our
hearts!!
Now we have the atm as well as credit card but with an empty heart!!
Gone are the days
Where we shouted on the road!
Now we don't shout even at home
Gone are the days
Where we got lectures from all!
Now we give lectures to all... like the one I'm doing now....!!
Gone are the days
But not the memories, which will be
Lingering in our hearts for ever and ever and
Ever and ever and ever .....
Gone are the Days…. But still there are lot more Days to come in our
Life!!
NO MATTER HOW BUSY YOU ARE ,
DONT FORGET TO
LIVE THE LIFE THAT STILL
EXISTS..
just reminded of the good old days, wish I was in school again for the rest of my life ......
Thursday, February 07, 2008
This is all they teach you here….
It has been nearly three terms for me here, and here is my reflection on what I have learnt during my small stay at this reputed school. From what I have gathered by interacting with my other mates, life isn’t any better at the other sister institutions, so this post is not a crib about life here, it is just my take on the irony of the proceedings at these schools.
We are all at a school, from where we are expected to become future leaders, but the kind of qualities displayed by most here at far from those of a leader, and the systems here mold you into doing things which were unimaginable earlier. The intake does not focus on what an MBA is supposed to be, it is rather concentrated on evaluation patterns where the most dominating, or the most hardworking & slogging people make it, neither of which I must add are capable of becoming leaders that Indian and the international businesses require. There is constant pressure on the few (unlucky) normal people who actually make it to be converted into either the ever whining, ever crying about marks, grades kind, or to become the scheming, hypocrite, dominating individuals so as to survive. The academics add further pressure to it, where you either have to slog to get marks, or dominate in the class to earn the reward carrots know as CP. And of course, there is absolutely no relationship between your intellect and the grades/position you earn in class.
Then there is the question of leadership qualities to be instilled, which include team work, and getting along with people, who sometimes are better than you. Ask anyone here, and they will tell that these are the last things that are instilled by the system. You only reach the top if others go down, so there goes into the drain of learning to cooperate and coordinate with others. There is minimum sharing of information among people, and you tend to become more and more individualistic as time passes by, it is always about me and myself, how much more can I pull the person in front of me down, so as to be at the top. Here friendship is based on give and take, and gangs are formed as a matter of convenience, and I wouldn’t be surprised if tomorrow the so called great friends go on to stab each other in the back in order to gain superiority which could be in the form of grades, positions of responsibility, and/or jobs.
The situation is further encouraged by incompetent instructors (some, not all, and that is about the only positive thing here), whose way of teaching and grading is nothing to talk home about, they are irrational, unreasonable, and if you don’t vomit what they taught you (which anyways was nothing) exactly, then you don’t get “marks”, an indicator of performance. The way in which I have been taught some courses is downright appalling and it is like school again, you just mug, vomit, forget and in the meanwhile end up cracking the course.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Life in Bangalore
It has been two and a half months and I have finally settled down in what would be my world for the next two years. It surely has been a roller coaster ride, from the first week (which I would never forget in my life), to exams, and submissions, and fun, and parties. To start with, the campus itself is a stunning one, away from all the rumblings and pollution of a city like Bangalore, so much so, that the moment you move out of the campus, it is a different world, a different era.
Coming back inside the campus, here the human biological clock has been reversed totally, a person like me who had been used to going off to dreamland @ 10 pm, stay up till 1 am, and there is buzz in the campus at all times of the day, with major activities taking place in the night, but it is all worth it, once you get used to it.
About the studies, well I have been fortunate enough to stay as away from them as possible, unless and until absolutely necessary (example- the mid term exam or the next day quizzes), and there too, I am careful enough not to compromise on my quantity and quality of sleep.
Talking about the courses, and I must warn you, that much of this information is based on brief times that I am actually awake in the classroom and listening to what the esteemed person standing right in front of me is saying, all I can say is that they are one too many. I have been unfortunately blessed with a front row center seat (why does that never happen in places like where it is required) courtesy the name, and it becomes real difficult to listen to so much information in so less time.
There have been instances though, where I have realized the futility of staying awake. One of the courses has easily the most soporific lecturer I have ever seen, and I really wonder what would have happened if he would have taught at an undergrad college, I can however say with some confidence, that he may not have survived at mine.
Then there is this great general knowledge course, which of course has the one of the more charismatic lecturers that I have seen, he is funny at times, and the way he conducts the class , at least the first 40 minutes are very bearable (after this what happens, I have no idea, as I m off to la-la land), and as I have been told by my more esteemed colleagues, that there are mentions of Greeks, and all other names from other countries which I wont be able to remember even if my life depended on it.
then comes the open book exam course, which of course means that the book is useless, but the lecturer does have his way of making things interesting, he has a unique sarcasm, cynicism in his life, which keeps u engaged during most of the class, and the one class he took for another course was simply outstanding.
Not to mention, that as we have now learnt, the first term in these colleges is more about bringing u down to earth, and make u aware that all your past achievements count for nothing at all. This is all a “unfreezing, change, and refreezing" process, which gives you that unique edge from others who haven't actually studied at that place.
I for one feel, that before coming here, I had no misnomers about myself, so somehow there was never a need for the unfreezing exercise :(
It is a food for thought though, coz the pressures here have already started acting on people, with many getting psyched up before exams, not sleeping, panicking, I have seen it all during the past few weeks, and if they are something to go by, things are about to get worse in the next term.
I sometimes feel that this place is a different planet, I feel like an alien in this magguland, or better still "Planet Maggus", and if it remains like this, it would make life more difficult for the few good and genuine earth people remaining here. They will either have to "mug-up or perish", and this certainly means that there are troubled times ahead for people like me.
And I will conclude by a comment on the food (apart from breakfast) here, it is as good as the reviews for "Ramgopal Verma ki Aag"; I hope it is clear how it is.
Life in general remains good, with friends (real ones as well as the sitcom series) being great way for spending time, and some awesome movies which I have seen, and would be writing about in coming weeks.
Friday, May 18, 2007
A new beginning- IIM Bangalore
It has been some time since i wrote anything, a lot has happened since then, none of which is bigger, better or sweeter than the fact that IIM Bangalore is my new destination, i finally made it and it was great relief, more so for my parents than for me, i wasn't exactly complaining on Eurotrip from shell, along with great salary at Bangalore. But I guess it wasn't meant to be. Apart from that i had my final examinations, and they all went ok, and the results helped me preserve my department rank of 5 in IIT D mechanical department. i also gave the project presentation, which was another fraud practice with not many people actually thr to listen us (we weren't complaining )
apart from that, life has been busy in general, saw Spidey 3, nearly dozed off in the first half, which was very bad and very boring, the movie does pick up pace in the second half, and a block-buster climax is something which actually pays your money's worth, and although it was nowhere near the expectations i had, it was not a washout (compared to some earlier disasters i have had the misfortune of watching - nishabd, elaan, lucky being some of them), but compared to movies like 300 and LOTR , it was bad.
and trust me, getting no dues for getting an IIT degree is almost as difficult as getting into IIT, i have lost the count of number of signatures that i have had to take, and the number of people i have had to ask for signatures, and this being the great govt employee organization, thr were the usual- i have to go to lunch, come tomorrow and etc etc , but finally i did achieve it, and now i don't have to go to IIT again , at least for the no dues.
and this is another place where i say thank you to all my friends, and people i know in IIT, this place has given me a great job, worldwide recognition, and an advantage in my future college.
i am going to end this now, although i don't want to, but there will be more to come, especially from IIM B, here we go.
apart from that, life has been busy in general, saw Spidey 3, nearly dozed off in the first half, which was very bad and very boring, the movie does pick up pace in the second half, and a block-buster climax is something which actually pays your money's worth, and although it was nowhere near the expectations i had, it was not a washout (compared to some earlier disasters i have had the misfortune of watching - nishabd, elaan, lucky being some of them), but compared to movies like 300 and LOTR , it was bad.
and trust me, getting no dues for getting an IIT degree is almost as difficult as getting into IIT, i have lost the count of number of signatures that i have had to take, and the number of people i have had to ask for signatures, and this being the great govt employee organization, thr were the usual- i have to go to lunch, come tomorrow and etc etc , but finally i did achieve it, and now i don't have to go to IIT again , at least for the no dues.
and this is another place where i say thank you to all my friends, and people i know in IIT, this place has given me a great job, worldwide recognition, and an advantage in my future college.
i am going to end this now, although i don't want to, but there will be more to come, especially from IIM B, here we go.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Shantaram
On the looks of it, it looked like another one of the big, burly novels, which have more pages for decoration's sake, and to impress readers, but Shantaram is not one of those. It is an epic novel, which looks into the life of one human being, but encompasses nearly a 3 countries, and a wide gamut of people. Size wise, it was one of the biggest i have read, at 940 pages, ( LOTR is the biggest novel i have read), and it was as enjoyable as LOTR was.
Story wise, the novel is about Gregory Roberts (the author) himself, who runs away from a high security prison of Australia, travels to India, where he becomes known by the name of Lin (which is given to him by Prabhakar, the local guide whom he meets in Mumbai, and who is one of the focal points of the novel, and one of the very likable characters). He falls into love with an enigma of a character, Karla, who is portrayed as cynical of Love, goes and lives in slums, where he uses his first aid coaching to good effects and opens a free health clinic. he also becomes a part of the Mumbai mafia, and sees a father figure in Lord Abdel Khadar Khan (a philosophical personality), with whom he shares great relationship, along with other mafia gangsters like Abdullah, Nazeer and others.
He then gets into trouble, goes to Indian jails, because he helps Karla trick a powerful lady called Madam Zhou who runs a prostitution racket, and suffers torture, and nearly dies. When he comes out, he regains his health, only to fall into the heroin trap (because of the death of his friends Abdullah, and Prabhakar). After recovery, he goes to Afghanistan along with his Khader khan, Nazeer etc to fight with the Mujaheddin, and gets injured in the war. He is smuggled back to India, during the war, he learns of many truths about Karla, his own "recruitment" into Khader's gang (who himself dies during the war), and of the traitors who betrayed them.
When he comes back to India, he takes up a more central role in the mafia, and even gets involved in an encounter, which puts a stop to the gang wars in the city, and makes his gang the supreme one.
The novel ends with him falling in love with another of his friends (at least it indicates towards it ), and leaving Karla although he forgives her for betraying him and not telling him about her relationship with his mentor Khader khan, and that's when he comes to realize about his aim in life, which was to fight for what he believes in life and to stand by it in all situations.
This is about the story, and the novel also captures the Indian culture especially the slums and Mumbai city very vividly and thoughtfully, the group of friends is the one to envy for, and the trip to the village by Lin, is as amusing as it is thought provoking.
The book is a must read for everyone, as it showcases the struggle of one man against various odds in life, you suffer with him in the prisons, and you enjoy his fun during his trips and his time with his friends, along with his achievements, and alongside you learn a lot of other things, especially the rules of street fight, and the theory about good or evil as preached by Lord Abdel Khadar Khan, which gives a unique way of looking towards your acts in life.
That will be all for now, but this is one novel which left me exhausted and I enjoyed it at the same time.
PS- To Government of India- Please let the autonomous institutes decide on their admissions, it is getting irritating now, and I hope the Supreme Court gives you what you people deserve.
Story wise, the novel is about Gregory Roberts (the author) himself, who runs away from a high security prison of Australia, travels to India, where he becomes known by the name of Lin (which is given to him by Prabhakar, the local guide whom he meets in Mumbai, and who is one of the focal points of the novel, and one of the very likable characters). He falls into love with an enigma of a character, Karla, who is portrayed as cynical of Love, goes and lives in slums, where he uses his first aid coaching to good effects and opens a free health clinic. he also becomes a part of the Mumbai mafia, and sees a father figure in Lord Abdel Khadar Khan (a philosophical personality), with whom he shares great relationship, along with other mafia gangsters like Abdullah, Nazeer and others.
He then gets into trouble, goes to Indian jails, because he helps Karla trick a powerful lady called Madam Zhou who runs a prostitution racket, and suffers torture, and nearly dies. When he comes out, he regains his health, only to fall into the heroin trap (because of the death of his friends Abdullah, and Prabhakar). After recovery, he goes to Afghanistan along with his Khader khan, Nazeer etc to fight with the Mujaheddin, and gets injured in the war. He is smuggled back to India, during the war, he learns of many truths about Karla, his own "recruitment" into Khader's gang (who himself dies during the war), and of the traitors who betrayed them.
When he comes back to India, he takes up a more central role in the mafia, and even gets involved in an encounter, which puts a stop to the gang wars in the city, and makes his gang the supreme one.
The novel ends with him falling in love with another of his friends (at least it indicates towards it ), and leaving Karla although he forgives her for betraying him and not telling him about her relationship with his mentor Khader khan, and that's when he comes to realize about his aim in life, which was to fight for what he believes in life and to stand by it in all situations.
This is about the story, and the novel also captures the Indian culture especially the slums and Mumbai city very vividly and thoughtfully, the group of friends is the one to envy for, and the trip to the village by Lin, is as amusing as it is thought provoking.
The book is a must read for everyone, as it showcases the struggle of one man against various odds in life, you suffer with him in the prisons, and you enjoy his fun during his trips and his time with his friends, along with his achievements, and alongside you learn a lot of other things, especially the rules of street fight, and the theory about good or evil as preached by Lord Abdel Khadar Khan, which gives a unique way of looking towards your acts in life.
That will be all for now, but this is one novel which left me exhausted and I enjoyed it at the same time.
PS- To Government of India- Please let the autonomous institutes decide on their admissions, it is getting irritating now, and I hope the Supreme Court gives you what you people deserve.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
300, and a lot of cricket- and a new name
First and foremost, go watch 300, it is easily one of the best visual effects and CGI movies (may be THE Best), and although that alone may be a reason to watch such a movie, here there are more.
The slow motion sequences are breathtaking, and the one liners, (look out for the queen saying - "only Spartan women give birth to real men"- and u will understand why) are just awesome, the action sequences make you jump and applaud, and you just come to appreciate honor , valor and bravery much more, as many others have already said it, it portraits the basic human emotions amazingly, and it was one of the few movies I actually wanted to see it again, as soon as I left the theatre.
The slow motion sequences are breathtaking, and the one liners, (look out for the queen saying - "only Spartan women give birth to real men"- and u will understand why) are just awesome, the action sequences make you jump and applaud, and you just come to appreciate honor , valor and bravery much more, as many others have already said it, it portraits the basic human emotions amazingly, and it was one of the few movies I actually wanted to see it again, as soon as I left the theatre.
Now after movies, comes cricket, a lot of has been spoken and written, and a lot of dirty linen has already come out in the open, (quite expected, how come all the leaks started after Greg came to India ), but there is one thing which I always maintained, and saw getting executed, that the team was really hyped up. This team was never as bad as it has been made to be, the only problem is it never really was AS GOOD AS FANS THOUGHT. Honestly the only people who thought we could make it with the kind of bowling attack we had, (although realistically we are out because our famed batting didn't work), should be given some award for optimism.
The World cup on the other hand has had its moments till now, and I am really backing my favorite team , the New Zealanders, to go all the way, and break the arrogant aussie stranglehold on the cup (although Matthew "hulk" Hayden has indeed played the knock of the world cup so far- the 158 was breathtaking).
and finally, courtesy Manu, I was given a new name which goes as
quite extraordinary.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
So long, and thanks ............and a new beginning
It has been a long time coming, and frankly I got lost too much to remember about this part of my life, my blog.
My life has been a roller coaster ride since the last time, with more ups than downs, and today I stand before possibly a cross road scenario, with the choices that I make defining my entire life for good. It is an old debate for students like me, and something which has got no correct answers.
I got placed in a cool and comfortable job in Shell, which has money, easy life, and some trips to foreign shores, while on the other hand, it is the possible selection in IIMs, which are synonymous with money, and great jobs.
Since the institutions haven't announced their results, I still haven't given a thought to this scenario, and as of now, its Shell which is my future confirmed destination.
And these two pretty much form my highs of my past year, along with an amazing experience at my internship during last summers.
The internship began with taking trips to Mumbai for a day of orientation, and then to Orai, (and by googling it- You will find that its a small place somewhere in between Jhansi and Kanpur), it was an internship which along with some technical learning taught me virtues like patience, (try opening orkut on a dial up connection which gets disconnected every 5 minutes), and sports like badminton (which playing on concrete with your normal shoes isn't a good idea- trust me) where I had a great time with my HR manager and two other Job trainees, who are my very good friends now. It also made me experience 50 degree temperatures (although Delhi people have got experienced to closer temperatures). It was my first time away from home, andIi had great fun.
The last summers also brought me newer contacts via the now famous site - orkut
where I found many new friends, and met some very old friends who I had lost touch with after school, and it is one place where I have been most active in the past few months.
After my intern, I gave my GRE, and suddenly started dreaming of MS and PhD abroad, and in the hindsight I think it was for the better that I couldn't make it to the selected schools where I had applied, as I had come out of my attraction for further technical education, seeing the situation and the studies involved.
Then came perhaps the two most important cracks, first was getting through Shell, where apart from me, everyone else was convinced that I would crack it, and thankfully I did, and the most important thing that got me there was my intern and my performance in the college.
I also cracked CAT, irrespective of the fact that I hadn't prepared for it, and that the exam was one peace of holy crap that should never ever be repeated and that going to the IIMs, the worst place you could go to after the cool and chill life of IIT Delhi, was last on my mind, but I did crack it with a great percentile too (99.93 to be precise, with all calls) :D
I attended my A,B,C interviews and C was the best one, followed by A with B being the only bad one. Still have my fingers crossed for a good result (see how things change in a few months- one time no IIMs, now crossing fingers for a good result)
There is an end to my great and wonderful year, with the main hiccups being that of BTP, or (Big Time Pain project) which is the only thing that can still ruin it all.
On a personal front, there was great progress with meeting my close friends, gang meetings and movies with a most unlikely gang possible, playing cricket, and watching great new series like "how i met ur mother " (if you haven't seen it, u have missed a lot in life )
And here it is today, on 5th of April that I make a new beginning, where I shall start writing again, anything and everything on which I am entitled to have an opinion, starting with the world cup of cricket, but that will have to wait for now, since it has been around half an hour, and a long long post.
My life has been a roller coaster ride since the last time, with more ups than downs, and today I stand before possibly a cross road scenario, with the choices that I make defining my entire life for good. It is an old debate for students like me, and something which has got no correct answers.
I got placed in a cool and comfortable job in Shell, which has money, easy life, and some trips to foreign shores, while on the other hand, it is the possible selection in IIMs, which are synonymous with money, and great jobs.
Since the institutions haven't announced their results, I still haven't given a thought to this scenario, and as of now, its Shell which is my future confirmed destination.
And these two pretty much form my highs of my past year, along with an amazing experience at my internship during last summers.
The internship began with taking trips to Mumbai for a day of orientation, and then to Orai, (and by googling it- You will find that its a small place somewhere in between Jhansi and Kanpur), it was an internship which along with some technical learning taught me virtues like patience, (try opening orkut on a dial up connection which gets disconnected every 5 minutes), and sports like badminton (which playing on concrete with your normal shoes isn't a good idea- trust me) where I had a great time with my HR manager and two other Job trainees, who are my very good friends now. It also made me experience 50 degree temperatures (although Delhi people have got experienced to closer temperatures). It was my first time away from home, andIi had great fun.
The last summers also brought me newer contacts via the now famous site - orkut
where I found many new friends, and met some very old friends who I had lost touch with after school, and it is one place where I have been most active in the past few months.
After my intern, I gave my GRE, and suddenly started dreaming of MS and PhD abroad, and in the hindsight I think it was for the better that I couldn't make it to the selected schools where I had applied, as I had come out of my attraction for further technical education, seeing the situation and the studies involved.
Then came perhaps the two most important cracks, first was getting through Shell, where apart from me, everyone else was convinced that I would crack it, and thankfully I did, and the most important thing that got me there was my intern and my performance in the college.
I also cracked CAT, irrespective of the fact that I hadn't prepared for it, and that the exam was one peace of holy crap that should never ever be repeated and that going to the IIMs, the worst place you could go to after the cool and chill life of IIT Delhi, was last on my mind, but I did crack it with a great percentile too (99.93 to be precise, with all calls) :D
I attended my A,B,C interviews and C was the best one, followed by A with B being the only bad one. Still have my fingers crossed for a good result (see how things change in a few months- one time no IIMs, now crossing fingers for a good result)
There is an end to my great and wonderful year, with the main hiccups being that of BTP, or (Big Time Pain project) which is the only thing that can still ruin it all.
On a personal front, there was great progress with meeting my close friends, gang meetings and movies with a most unlikely gang possible, playing cricket, and watching great new series like "how i met ur mother " (if you haven't seen it, u have missed a lot in life )
And here it is today, on 5th of April that I make a new beginning, where I shall start writing again, anything and everything on which I am entitled to have an opinion, starting with the world cup of cricket, but that will have to wait for now, since it has been around half an hour, and a long long post.
Saturday, December 24, 2005
I hate hypocrites
I have just got one of the biggest shocks of my life, and I am sad coz the ppl concerned have acted like such hypocrites. The week already was a bad one for me,with programs for movies and get togethers getting cancelled due to one reason or the other,and so when ppl u think r ok act like hypocrites , it makes it a perfect ending to a bad week.
The only shining point in the week was KINGKONG, an awesome movie which truly deserves each amt of money spend on it, wont write a review, not good at it neways, and of course a gentleman calld Mr Arnav has already written it, so check it out on his blog (sea inside )
I have spend most of my holidays doing arbit projects and watchin cricket, yes a lot of cricket and it helped dat our team has been doing really well over da past two months.
I read One night @ call centre, a crappy read, time pass only if u have nothin else to do.
I once again cracked my sem, scoring a 8.84 on 10, although I did realise that after some time and some CG, it really does not matter at all, and ppl may not beleive me, but I really did not study this time, me crackin the minors had helped, and so it was an academically satisfying sem for me, I hope HLL trng this summers turns out to be good.
I also saw the promos for da vinci code movie this week, it is awesome as far as the promos go, and I cant wait for May 2006.
The only shining point in the week was KINGKONG, an awesome movie which truly deserves each amt of money spend on it, wont write a review, not good at it neways, and of course a gentleman calld Mr Arnav has already written it, so check it out on his blog (sea inside )
I have spend most of my holidays doing arbit projects and watchin cricket, yes a lot of cricket and it helped dat our team has been doing really well over da past two months.
I read One night @ call centre, a crappy read, time pass only if u have nothin else to do.
I once again cracked my sem, scoring a 8.84 on 10, although I did realise that after some time and some CG, it really does not matter at all, and ppl may not beleive me, but I really did not study this time, me crackin the minors had helped, and so it was an academically satisfying sem for me, I hope HLL trng this summers turns out to be good.
I also saw the promos for da vinci code movie this week, it is awesome as far as the promos go, and I cant wait for May 2006.
Friday, December 09, 2005
Lara Vs Tendulkar
The cricket season is back again, and for a change , the Indian team is doing quite well, with wins against Sri Lanka and a draw against South Africa, and me being the passionate fan that I am, of cricket, also got hold of a match between Australia and West Indies (boy they are getting really bad these days, except for a genius called Brian Lara, who seems to have been in the wrong team , in the wrong time , and against the wrong umpires, I have never really understood this, but it is a fact that, he has been on the wrong side of doubtful decisions, throughout his career ).
Well fortunate I was to catch hold of Lara smashing a double ton against the Aussies and breaking Border's record, but that once again started a decades long debate on who is better, between Lara and our very own cricketing God (yes he is , in India at least ), someone called Sachin Tendulkar.
The debate dates back to early 90s when both these players had started blossoming for their respective countries, but while Lara showed signs of being the best test player, Tendulkar slowly got ahead of the bunch in the one dayers ( and believe me nobody would be bale to braek some of his records in the one dayers ).
well according to me, the comaprison between both players is like comparing a bollywood movie with hollywood, or like comparing chalk and cheese. Both have their own importance in their teams.
But the pure weight of expectation which Tendulkar carries makes him more under pressure, with the status of a demi-god in India, and I still remember a remark which Gavaskar made while Tendulkar was reprimanded for ball tampering during the South Africa series in 2001 ( remember the Mike Denisse controversy, which ultimately resulted in him being not made a match refree these days ), that " In India , u can get away by saying anything to the Prime minister, but u cant get away by saying anything about Sachin Tendulkar ", which actually sums up quite nicely what the entire country feels about him, and although he has been going through a lean patch, but there is nobody who will ever even think of dropping him from a team.
Lara on the other hand has been facing different set of challanges, the sponsorship problems, the controversies with the cricket boards, and the most important being a brand ambassador of a game which is quickly losing its magic in the Carribean, with ppl moving towards basket ball, and other greener pastures, and that is an equal if not more difficult pressure than what Tendulkar faces.
To sum up, the game of cricket in the 90s would not have been the same without these two and although now there are more entertainers in the form of Afridis and Dhonis and Kemps, the world would never be the same without the two small in height large in stature cricketers from India and the carribean.
PS: who is ur favourite among the current lot of hitters ??
Well fortunate I was to catch hold of Lara smashing a double ton against the Aussies and breaking Border's record, but that once again started a decades long debate on who is better, between Lara and our very own cricketing God (yes he is , in India at least ), someone called Sachin Tendulkar.
The debate dates back to early 90s when both these players had started blossoming for their respective countries, but while Lara showed signs of being the best test player, Tendulkar slowly got ahead of the bunch in the one dayers ( and believe me nobody would be bale to braek some of his records in the one dayers ).
well according to me, the comaprison between both players is like comparing a bollywood movie with hollywood, or like comparing chalk and cheese. Both have their own importance in their teams.
But the pure weight of expectation which Tendulkar carries makes him more under pressure, with the status of a demi-god in India, and I still remember a remark which Gavaskar made while Tendulkar was reprimanded for ball tampering during the South Africa series in 2001 ( remember the Mike Denisse controversy, which ultimately resulted in him being not made a match refree these days ), that " In India , u can get away by saying anything to the Prime minister, but u cant get away by saying anything about Sachin Tendulkar ", which actually sums up quite nicely what the entire country feels about him, and although he has been going through a lean patch, but there is nobody who will ever even think of dropping him from a team.
Lara on the other hand has been facing different set of challanges, the sponsorship problems, the controversies with the cricket boards, and the most important being a brand ambassador of a game which is quickly losing its magic in the Carribean, with ppl moving towards basket ball, and other greener pastures, and that is an equal if not more difficult pressure than what Tendulkar faces.
To sum up, the game of cricket in the 90s would not have been the same without these two and although now there are more entertainers in the form of Afridis and Dhonis and Kemps, the world would never be the same without the two small in height large in stature cricketers from India and the carribean.
PS: who is ur favourite among the current lot of hitters ??
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