The Bucket List... Travel

1. Leh-Laddakh (India): One of the most amazing and sacred place of the world... An open jeep or something similar will add to the flavor of the place.

2. Euro Trip: I just want to drive down, crossing countries and visiting people and places...

3. Caribbean: No description needed...

4. Siberia: One of the coldest place on earth, and equally interesting...

5. Africa: Some remote part of Africa will be fun to visit :)

P.S.- There are some other places, but this is my must visit list :)

To Do List...

So, finally boring days are over and VIT people have given me some responsibilities. In the mean time I was also working on some of the project ideas and finally feel like I am very close to start something new here. But, before starting the real work so ground work needs to be done... and here is my to do list-

1. Work on the setting up the embedded systems and programmable hardware lab. (I have most of the hardware avaliable here, but formalization is indeed needed)

2. Its really hard in India to get Computer Science students for some hardware projects, they are mostly interested in software programming. So, I am thinking of starting a fun group that will focus on some fun projects. I hope I will get some students through it.

3. The internal protal here is a big let down, specially to conduct short quizes, and assignment distribution. I have to find some better way of doing it... (Suggestions??)

4. Prepare lecture notes and lab assignments for next semester's Embedded Systems course.

5. Work on some project ideas for B.Tech and M.Tech students and also looking forward to start some basic research which may take some time.

6. I really hate these exam duties, have to bear it till May 12th.

7. How about a weekend road trip?? Have to go out of this killing summer for some time...

A Catalyst Needed!

Its been a while since I have posted any 'content' post, for last month or so I am just posting some links or random thoughts that come across my mind, and I must say that this post is no different. Couple of months back, I used to think that after joining VIT, I might be busy and loaded with work but still will find some time to write about experiences of the new life. But, the face is I am getting enough time as workload is very less and I do have some not-so-interesting stories, and still I am just killing time.

Last week, I have opened Voyage many times and set down to write something... but seems like a catalyst is missing which force the chemicals inside my mind to write something. I have so many stories about VIT, IPL, Shashi Throor etc... and everyday I am getting new updates on news, but still that cloud of late-back attitude is hovering over me.

I really have to find the missing catalyst before alienating myself.

P.S.- After writing this blog, I am feeling little better and may be after reading it 2-3 times over coming days, will get back my missing catalyst... this is what called self inspiration ;)

कुछ हिंदी में हो जाये!

काफी दिन हो गए है, लेकिन हिंदी में कुछ नहीं लिखा, तो सोचा की आज हिंदी में ही कुछ लिख लिया जाये, आखिर पड़े-पड़े लेखनी मैं भी तो जंग लग जाता है ना! आज कल काफी समय मिल जाता है, तो कुछ समय हिंदी साहित्यिक रचनाओ एवं पत्रों को पढने में व्यतीत कर लेता हूँ| कभी कभी आश्चर्य होता है की साहित्य की इन बेजोड़ रचनाओ का भविष्य क्या होगा जब इस अंग्रेज़ पीढ़ी के बच्चे बड़े होगे जिन्हें की हमारी भाषा और संस्कृति के बारे मैं पता ही नहीं होगा, लेकिन मुझे दुःख नहीं होता अपितु इस नौजवान पीढ़ी पर दया आती है की ये पीढ़ी कुछ महान रचनाओ से वंचित रह जाएगी|

Another Poem from Dushyant Kumar

I have just finished with the last blog, and suddenly I saw this poem from him and couldn't resist to put it on the blog--

Is nadi ki dhaar me thandi hawa aati to hai,
naav jarjar hi sahi lahro se takrati to hai,

Ek chingaari kahi se dhoond laayo dosto,
Is diye me tel se bheegi huyi baati to hai,

Ek khandahar ke hriday si,ek jungli phool si,
Aadmi ki peer gungi hi sahi gaati to hai,

Ek chadar saanjh ne sare shehar par dal di,
Is andhere ki sadak us bhor tak jaati to hai,

Banjar maidan mein leti hui nadi,
Patharon ki ot mein ja ja ke batiyati to hai,

Dukh nahi koi ab uplabdhiyon ke naam par,
Kuch ho na ho aakash si chati to hai.

-By Dushyant Kumar

The other side of coin...

Before posting the link, I must say that what Naxals have done yesterday (killing 83 CRPF Jawans) was absolutely not accepted and should pay for that, at the same time I am not a big fan of Arundathi Roy. But, this whols Naxal story has other side too... and looking at such a detailed account I have to believe that if not all then some part of it is definitely true, and which is very disappointing. Its a shame of the whole country and the government that this kind of things are happening and people who are responsible for this are sitting in some position at center or state. Its a big article, but do take some time to read it... its a worth read.

http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?264738-0

In the end in words of Dushyant Kumar-

हो गई है पीर पर्वत-सी पिघलनी चाहिए,

इस हिमालय से कोई गंगा निकलनी चाहिए।

आज यह दीवार, परदों की तरह हिलने लगी,
शर्त लेकिन थी कि ये बुनियाद हिलनी चाहिए।

हर सड़क पर, हर गली में, हर नगर, हर गाँव में,
हाथ लहराते हुए हर लाश चलनी चाहिए।

सिर्फ हंगामा खड़ा करना मेरा मकसद नहीं,
सारी कोशिश है कि ये सूरत बदलनी चाहिए।

मेरे सीने में नहीं तो तेरे सीने में सही,
हो कहीं भी आग, लेकिन आग जलनी चाहिए।

till next time... Ciao!

A Phone Call

This morning, I was doing my regular stuff at VIT. Suddenly my phone rang with some unknown number...
"Good Morning"
"Good Morning, may I speak to Mr. Anoop Jain... I am calling from ***** Communications"
"Yes, this is Anoop. How can I help you?"
"I have seen your profile on one of the job protals, as you are working in the hardware design and development so we have a good job offer for you in our company"
"O.K., can you send me the job description on my email mentioned on the same portal"
"Sure, I will send it to you. May I know what is your current location and where are you working now?"
"I am currently in Vellore and working as Assistant Professor in VIT University"
"Oh, so you are in academics?"
"Yes, Sir I am!"
"I am really sorry Sir, I have mistakenly called you. We can not offer this position to you"
"OK, not a problem. But may I know why?"
"(silence...)"
"Sir you there..."
"Yes...we are looking for professionals..."
"...and not looking for those who prepare these professionals?"
"(silence...).... its not like that sir"
"...anyways, thanks for your time... "

.... I don't know how and when this mentality will change... but this needs to be changed.

a new avenue

First of all thanks to Harshil for this title "a new avenue", so, finally I am here at Vellore and starting a new career as Asst. Professor at VIT University. I am confident, but still have lot of questions about this career. I still wonder that this noble field is still considered 'untouchable' among students here in India. May be they like A/C offices and money involved in the corporate lifestyle. But, looking at the newly selected batch of faculty members here, I am sure that good time is coming in the field of education in India. As for me, I am just following my dream, as Priyanka told some time back "not everybody gets second chance". So, I am all set to enjoy my "second chance".

I wonder sometimes that how much adventure we have in this field, right now I am just having a chat with one of the new joinee with me along with writing this blog. She worked eight years in a University in Chennai, and there they have rule that you can not teach same subject in conseuctive semester, WOW... means lot of new things to learn and expend the circle of knowledge which is really good for someone beginning his career in this field.

Looking at the University and meeting some of the wonderful minds of the country gives me a great satisfaction and proud feeling, I just can't wait for some foreign Universities to come and revolutionalize and revitalize this field in India!

My house hunt is still on, and once I get the place to live I will start to look around and search some of the hidden natural treasures in this part of country... 

till next time... Ciao!