Medal!!

I had just finished my board exams of 12th and joined a 5 week Crash Course at Sahil Study Circle to prepare for the exam that may get me entry into the Delhi College of Engineering. This was a hectic course with the entire PCM curriculum being covered in 5 weeks. Classes would happen from 9 to 3 pm,  6 days a week post which you have to go home and do personal study as well. As such, conversion rate (students actually getting into the good engg colleges like DCE, IIT) was very low.

However, I was fully immersed in the preparations and liked the challenge of the rigor. Almost mid way into the course I might have caught the eye of the owner of the center, Mr. Suri who used to teach Chemistry. I had never seen a teacher so well versed in the subject.

Over a few classes when i happened to caught his eye due to my good performance, he started paying individual attention to me and helped me solve my doubts in person after the class. During those times he will motivate me as well with a pep talk. I was however, not aware at that time how much sir expected out of me considering very few students made it to DCE/IIT from Crash course classes and faculty used to stress mainly on regular students.

Slowly and slowly classes finished and exam was done. On result day, i got a call from Suri sir on my landline. I was elated to know that he remembered to personally call and know my result. I had stood close to 800-900 rank in the exams, which disappointed him as I would not be getting the best of courses at DCE. However, I had still made it and was the only student in 80-100 strong crash course program to make it to DCE.

Some days later i was pleasantly surprised to receive a letter from Sir inviting me to the prize distribution ceremony of achievers of Sahil Study Circle for the year. This included mainly toppers of exams of AIIMS, DPMT, IIT etc and I was again glad that I was also to be felicitated with a Silver medal that I still preserve with me as a most memorable achievement and a moment of happiness :)

Agra, Vrindavan

It was long time back I went to Taj Mahal, to one of the wonders on Earth. I always wanted to see it again having now grown up to comprehend its meaning better. The construction of super fast roads made it possible and gave us that motivation to go.

The super fast road is in itself an amazing construction, so grande - a little scary. Sometimes I feel humans create things that although is very beneficial in one sense but it also creates a possibility for wholesome destruction.

Taj Mahal is a wonder not only by the beauty of it but also by the story behind it..for why it was built.

Post Taj Mahal we went to see the temples of Vrindavan. For a lot of Indians its extremely important to visit their Gods in temples, come what may. I enjoyed some, did not enjoy some but all in all it was a good outing and a new kind of an experience of watching new places and meeting new people.

Bhutan!!!

Its called the 'Himalayan Kingdom' or 'the land of thunder dragon'. God must himself reside in this place for its so beautiful its evokes reverence. Right in the laps of nature, surrounded by flowing paddy and pristine blue river, momentous temples find their place. People bow their head in respect and take pleasure in daily activities. Most often they like to smile and so they measure their progress on how often they smile (Gross National Happiness). This small heaven has found life's true calling and so in place of maddening industrialization they have focused on human well being, togetherness and preserving nature along with due freedom to individuals. This is quite visible that its women are the most respected, free set of females in Asia. They take pride in their culture and are not daunted by how far behind they are in earning foreign currency, how fast their trains are (in fact they do not have a millimeter of railway track in their country) etc etc. Their ambition includes preserving their culture rather than being the richest in the world. Their pride in their history and religion could be seen by the way they narrate their stories. I wonder how different a life would be in that place, free from worldly desires, rat race, false ego, jealous and greed where love rules the way and smile is all that counts.

Compassion

Human beings are social animals. They depend on each other to survive..they 'need' one another to be happy. However, the dependence or need for each other is never matched cent - percent. Meaning one of the two partners (may be among siblings/parents-child/friends etc etc) may be more dependent on the other. Need of one partner may be more than the other. Its like balance of power.

But does that mean the one with more bargaining power treat the other with lesser respect?? Because he/she can 'afford' to do that?? Should not, alas, that's how people behave in reality. They misuse their advantage and other persons helplessness. The other person keeps on doing/being good to his/her partner but the other one does not acknowledge the same because it doesnt benefit/harm him/her. Mind you the same will not work in other set up like that of boss/employee relationship. The same employee knowing that boss 'matters' will always treat him/her in a different manner despite boss at times being dependent on the employee for work etc.

I think that's where one should remember to be 'compassionate' to other fellow beings. By nature not everyone is made equal. Everyone has their own journey. Being compassionate helps us to build a better society and create some sense of equality, helps fulfill the need of fellow inhabitants, and understand and share our lives in a more meaningful way.

New Mobile Phone!!

Nothing seems more exciting to my mind than using a new mobile phone device. It never behaves the same when i buy new shoes/clothes/bag/spectacles etc etc.

I bought a new one recently a couple of days back and couldn't help notice that i behaved in a way similar to when i had bought my first ever mobile phone. In fact i clearly remember the days and the happiness on all the 4 occasions of buying a new mobile phone :)

The first one was way long back, a Samsung phone and i would have literally spent the night without sleeping. The second was a Nokia phone (latest of its time) and I was amazed at the new features it had. The third one was again a Samsung one (again latest of its time) and remained with me for day and night for approx 3 long years. Like a true friend, helped me all the time connect to fellow being in my hour of need. I was kind of attached to it. In fact some of its features are still incomparable. Its little camera still seems to give competition to any other. Many of my trips were dependent solely on my phone's little camera and it did wonders.

This one is a Motorola device and i still was quite excited to open the seal of the new box and pull out my device and accessories. and m still taking care of it like a precious diamond. I feel i am not too materialistic but one thing which certainly makes me happy is a new mobile phone :)

Rafting Trip April 05-08 2012

It was time for some north side trip with my BoB friends this time. So while I had already shifted to Delhi all of the others traveled by train and our long awaited trip began on April 05, 2012. We traveled all the way to Mussorrie which took us 10 hrs by cab (with panditji at the driving seat offcourse :P). I was glad to be back at the hill station after 20 long years but the place disappointed me a little bit. The highlight was the amazing place where we had dinner and drinks with a singer singing live music and creating some atmosphere.

Next morning we roamed a bit of the place and left for Rishikesh via Dehradun. I always used to wonder how Dehradun would be like and was glad to visit the place. We luckily again found a wonderful lunch place and had an amazing time having lunch. We shortly reached Rishikesh and sight of river Ganges uplifted all our moods out of our tireness.

It was exactly 3 years back that i had stayed for a night at the shivpuri camp and i was glad to be back. I spent some time recalling my last trip with my close XL friends. We enjoyed till late evening and chatted a lot and soaked in the most amazing view of the trip - full moon with river Ganges flowing in the arms of mountains.

Next morning we were too excited to begin what we came for - 24 kms of rafting. The fact that i was doing it for the second time did not make a difference and the 4 hr stint had the same calming effect on me. It was overwhelming to say the least.

We left for Haridwar post lunch at famous Chotiwala and reached just in time for the main Aarti. Not all of us were amused by being the victim of the pandit scam at Haridwar temple but so was it. We left the city early morning next day and came back to Delhi for lunch. It was April 08, 2012.

We traveled some 900 kms in 4 days time by cab. Looking back we would have wanted to cut down on some of it. Still going to new places is something i enjoy a lot. Its the time i treasure a lot and remember for a long long time.

Kalaghoda Fest 2012

My joy knew no bounds when I realized that my favorite KGF has also began as I reached Mumbai and the thought on been able to attend my straight third edition made me glad as ever.

Something makes KGF so close to my heart though I dont exactly know what it is as yet. I have been a fan since I attended it for the first time in 2010. This year it seemed even better, even colorful. As always, the entrance welcomed you with some fine sculptors/modals each sending a message in a beautiful way. As you step inside you are welcomed with stalls on both the sides displaying some very innovating to very basic pieces of clothes/accessories/stuff you use daily etc etc.

At the center is erected the small stage. This time around I could see a lot of folk dances lined up for performance on this stage. I also walked over to the Horniman circle to catch up a play in progress.

Above all, I was glad deep inside to see the lovely crowd from all sectors of society, clicking pictures, posing, shopping and appreciating the efforts done by unknown artists of this country.

Sadly I could just manage to catch the fest for only a day unlike previous 2 years when I paid multiple visits to the lanes and gardens holding the festival. But yes still feeling lucky to catch it at all even once this year too...