Kya Kare Kya Na Kare

It has been more then a month since I joined VIT University. I was one of the interesting decision I made, as those who know me for sometime can't imagine me in the academic field. I joined on March 25th, and it was most weird time to join any education institute in India. The reason being that it as almost term end as exams are there in late April and May. So, there I was... 

After joining here, soon I realized that there was nothing much to do till Summer Semester starts in mid of May, so whole day you are sitting in your office (which is (un)-fortunately in front of Director's office and just above Chancellor's office). I came to know that at least 20 more faculty members are suppose to join in coming months... and then it all started. Suddenly, you became the most senior faculty member among new joinees (although your age and experience clearly shows as you are the youngest one)... many new faculties come to meet me and seek some guidance about finishing some formalities and all those kind of things... they face my face first with a feel of nonacceptance that they are talking to a student (who has faculty ID card and wears tight T-Shirts and designer jeans with Nike shoes). Then they all start speaking some alien language (which indeed called Tamil) and after explaining to them that I don't understand, they move to some other room or talk in English (in last month I spoke the amount of English that I haven't spoke in my first 3 months in US). 

So that was the beginning, after a few days I started to feel alien in my own office as all the new faculties have been assigned room in some other building which is at last 2 Km from here so a whole group decided to stay in my office as I was sharing the office space with two more faculty members (temporarily). Now you feel to realize that you are a product of globalized market... people around you are speaking the languages which sounds very similar and very difficult to understand (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayam.... all in a single room). Also, sometimes you hear some interesting versions of English (Tamil, Chinese etc.) I must add that after Made in China products, and next globally available phenomenon is Made in China Students... 

Finally, you have been assigned some exam duties where you just have to stand for three hours in the hot afternoon and you feel like crashing down to sleep... (I HATE EXAM DUTIES). Somehow, you finished the exam duties and you have been assigned a subject for summer... you start to prepare lecture notes, quizzes etc. When all preparations are in full swing, one night at nine you get an SMS from your colleague that all new faculties will take classes from next Fall semester and your summer class has been canceled :(( The ABET accreditation committee will be visiting your campus this December and you have been assigned responsibilities to develop an Embedded Systems Lab and they also requested (?) to offer a course in Embedded Systems coming fall... and so your life goes on and you SUCCESSFULLY finished your one month in academic field :D 

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 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!