The Kannada Safari

These days every telecommunication and semiconductor concern marches forward towards Bangalore on its very arrival to India. Towards the end of my under-graduation, it became apparent to me that I needed to be mentally prepared to stay at Bangalore for a considerable time in my life and career. In such circumstances, a weird idea struck me one fine morning. Why not learn the local language? Kannada!

Forget the sweltering heat of Chennai; as for twenty years I had warmed myself in Chennai and Tamil. All along my school education, teachers and books had kept telling me that Tamil alone is the most ancient of all languages and it is the sweetest of all as well. That was followed by a series of essays and stories on the morality, loyalty, bravery and blah blah blah of Tamil rulers and people. Almost no election is fought in Tamil Nadu without a mention of Tamil. That the current CM is an extremely talented Tamil poet and dramatist himself is a different story. This has always been a land where the language is worshipped by the people – quite unlike Orissa, a state where the CM manages to survive without even knowing Oriya!

So much for TN. I had a genuine opportunity at hand to verify the veracity of what my school teachers had imposed on me. The only way to find if one language is superior to another is to know to speak, read and write both languages. Prior to this, I had a misconception that I had utilized the Internet in every possible way. But mastering a language is no mean job and is much more difficult than to study techie aspects. Each of the three languages I know was learnt over a period of several years. A boost came with a cartoon of the “Health Capsules” – it said our lifetime increased with every new language that we learnt! Whether I followed every advice of Health Capsules can be reserved for a different argument. (Especially advices like the one to drink bowel prep liquids for prompt diagnosis of colon cancer ;)) Nevertheless I thrust myself the task of decoding Kannada…

The process began as it had for my mother tongue – letters first. Strangely, the mind began to correlate every letter of the alphabet with some character that I had already seen before in life. It was a nerve-wracking experience, especially when you get to feel that you see only a Greek “omega” everywhere, twisted here and there according to some being’s whims and fancies. I patiently bided time. There was one time when papers around me were littered with Kannada alphabets and members of my family looked down upon me as if I were drawing weird figures! They could have well presumed that I had fallen in love!

Quickly I unlocked the Kannada channels on my television. In hindsight, it could be a great move, as Kannada people block Tamil cable channels almost quite immediately when there is a feud between the states! I began to focus my eyes on the flash news in Kannada news channels. It proved a great exercise – I identified the miniscule differences between alphabets that were looking by and large similar. I also ended up learning new letters that were missed out in the internet – like half-stressing a letter in my own name (Shyam, just as they do in Hindi), having different notations for “ru” sound (like in maat’ru’bhaasha). Of LSRW, Reading and Writing are done!

Awaiting next was a greater challenge (LS) – comprehending what the native speakers spoke and to speak the language myself! Of course, it is an ongoing process and not something to which any form of timeframe could be allotted. Even today new words in Tamil seem to be created by the movies. One catchy word and the entire youth seem to be using it as a part of their everyday lingo! My main intent was to learn day-to-day Kannada – at least to the extent of conversing freely with auto-drivers, bus conductors, vendors and house-owners without the fear of being identified as a Tamizhan! Come on, who wants to comprehend Purandara Dasa at 21?!

My human tendencies reached their acme at this stage of the learning process. I felt almost every word in Kannada similar to the equivalent Tamil or Hindi word. The tense forms and the basic grammar (like the differences between usey, ussey, uska, uskeliye, usko etc in Hindi) were the ones that had the core variations. “I want” read “Enakku vendum” in Tamil and “Nanage Beku” in Kannada: so simple, isn’t it? Some ambiguities arose as well – Yen was “why” in Tamil while Yenu in Kannada translated to “What”!

While I have absolutely zero intentions of transforming this blog to some form of Kannada tutorials, I got to apprise you of other lessons that I learnt apart from the language itself. Given Kannada and Telugu share a script and that almost all of the words in the language bear a semblance with either Hindi or Tamil, isn’t a regional influence on the origin of language becoming starkly apparent?

We talk about patriotism and fidelity to the nation; we talk proudly of belonging to a state and a language; and unmindful of our wants we are identified in the society by our caste and religion. Battles are fought over recognizing the oldest of languages; researches are pursued over identifying, approving and improving the so-called classical languages. Politicians have accorded cult status to languages and religions. But after all, the fundamental truth is blatantly out in the open – everyone is the same.

It is time we forget and forgo boundaries and differences caused due to them. It is time we looked at a sports match between two nations as just one between two sets of talented individuals. Technology is often rebuked for reducing our life expectancy – remember it is the same technology that has brought together people from entirely different walks together and merged them without even the spot of a seam. There never existed differences – every patriotic thought or opinion that we possess today are merely ones that have been forced on us without our own knowledge right in our childhood. We simply carry the burden of wars fought long back; borders drawn ages ago; anthems sung in the past.

In that sense, I realize that I am not anything more than my name. God didn’t create India – how can I be an Indian? God didn’t create Tamil Nadu or Tamil as well! Neither were the religions or castes… Human beings haven’t simply multiplied and spread their progeny. They have infested their next generation with their own ideas. Exceptions that arose to such opinions were way less when compared with the number that faithfully carried it on to the succeeding generation!

That’s the biggest lesson I would take from my Kannada safari – to truly become a world citizen in my mind, heart, soul and spirit.

What I learnt at College of Engineering, Guindy?? - A Memoir

Four years have passed by and I stand at the Entrance gates of my Post-graduation at IISc. Yet questions linger in my mind on what I learnt, after all, in four long years of my under graduation. Maybe these would have been answered some months back had I planned to continue my PG at the US, as they demand rigorous SOPs and recommendation letters. Anyway, I list down all I learnt at CEG, point-wise yet in no order of their priorities.

1) Real learning takes place in your mind


There have been several occasions when I spend time with a view to learning something new, but ended up failing. The root cause of these is the lack of mind control. I believe I have made poor use of the sensory organs that God has gifted me. I don't feel the 'taste' with food in my mouth; I don't appreciate the intricate beauty of my legs as they walk. So the focus has never been there in whatever I do, resulting in an inadequate tapping of myself by me. The biggest demon I could ever encounter is my mind itself. An orderly mind can go a long way in scripting success stories.

2) Real  entertainment takes place in your mind 


The same argument jells well for entertainment. Indian people are always crazy about films. A 
great  "WHAAAAAAT" is always heard when you concede that you haven't watched a
particular acclaimed movie. Similarly, I have come across all sorts of crazes in CEG - about
films, sports like tennis and cricket (myself for cricket;)), outing and friends. Yet I have spent full days sitting before my PC, never feeling tired, bored and lonely.

3) Even two cooks can spoil the broth!


In any arbitrary event, the probability that one will succeed is going to be always small - say 10% or 20%. In that case when we depend on someone for succeeding in a teamwork, the probability that both of us will succeed is reduced poorly (say 10% (0.1) becomes 0.01 and 20% (0.2) becomes 0.04). Of course, an argument that the prob. that at least one of us will succeed is enhanced is impertinent - it takes two to tango in teamwork. So trust your individuality and independence.

4) The World is Not for the Meek

 
A really lovable person is one who is calm, composed and stoic. But that should not translate into being indifferent. Beneath the calmness, it is inevitable that we inculcate a cognizance of what we are capable of and what we cannot afford to forgo at any cost. Equally inevitable are the cries 
of our arrogance that come along with our voices against our oppression. But as the old story of
man-wife-donkey-river goes, it is impossible to gratify all people at all times.

http://nirvanamusing.blogspot.com/2007/08/how-can-man-ride-on-donkey-but-let-wife.html

5) The Omnipresence of Indolence


A truly amazing realisation from CEG. Retirement of professors, recommendations to some inept lecturers and unwillingness of the existing faculty to learn new ideas- Features which simply 
caught up with the students and incinerated their passion for ECE. Indolence is an obnoxious
weed - when you have 2 peers one of whom is lazy and the other hyperactive, you will be only drawn towards taking the cue from the lazy person. Unless you have the elephantine attitude 
to overcome that, of course!

6) Unswerving - Easier to enter than to Execute



Imbibed this from one giant of a professor at CEG. Amidst all low quality teaching there was this person who pursued silently the US university type of education; he worked all day on projects and burnt his head to understand research papers of yesterday; all this and more at an age of 50! Who else can provide me with a greater inspiration than him? Build ideals and principles - your life is loose if it's devoid of them. And work harder mindless of the environs to pursue them. In short, BE WHAT YOU ARE!

7) Pretension is an Incurable and Cancerous Disease


Face thy ignorance. It paves the way for your learning. Pretension can hurt very badly. Only empty bottles got to be and need to be filled. Pretension is like a gas that fills up the bottle of knowledge. Everyone in this planet can be awed by you - not the least until you are ashamed of yourself at some point of time in your life. Point all your vulnerabilities and vices to yourself. 
If being truthful can move mountains, truth to "your self" can do much much more!

8) Learn to Live with the Vices


Unlike in a mega-serial (soap), clear and well-marked demarcations don't exist in life as to who are the good and bad ones. Men are as good (or bad) as the wireless channel. Countably many factors contribute to their behaviour on a particular day (to wireless reception as well ;)). Many have been blessed with superb virtues which they exhibit on the majority of days.
Some behave (ostensibly?!) irritably on most of your interaction periods with them. Retain some of those vices within you as well (Kalavum Katru Mara,
Thirukkural, Thiru Valluvar). One of the best lessons that we learn in life is Tolerance. It makes little sense to be oppressive without being tolerant.

9) All Limits tend ONLY to Infinity


That's again an undeniable truth. We always have little to boast of, whatever we achieve. There are numerous people who can confront you and say "Have Been there and Done that" without 
batting an eyelid. With proper goals set in life, it is only apt that we keep moving them from time to time away from us. It is like when a mother teaches a child to walk and keeps moving herself farther away from the baby as it eagerly approaches her.

10) Patience - The Ever-So-Elusive Possession


Till date, there is one nice word that I proudly use to describe myself - "frenzied"(borrowed 
from one of my team-mates as he described me). Patience has cost me some really valuable 
things in life. I have been left pondering over the "What-Ifs" on those occasions. Getting
ready for college, waiting for and boarding the bus, lecture hours, preparation for exams
and browsing on the Net - are just some few times (!) when I have found myself
distinctly incapable of being patient.

So guys, time to wind up. I am proud to have found myself in good humour and cheer for most of the times at CEG. These learnings stand proof enough for the fact that academics are not the only things you get to learn from a college. If that were so, I believe I could have learnt more from home than by coming to college. College has enabled me to build a unique personality; to appraise problems and suggest solutions; 
to be vocal wherever I am and to be lucid in explaining about myself and my goals.
I pray to God that I retain these lessons from CEG for a long time and not forget these in a jiffy.

How important Attitude is in Life.........

It's a difficult task that I have thrust upon myself now. To write an article about something I always lack, yet am equally keen forever to ensure that it coalesces with the rest of my attributes.

Attitude is something which can peak you to great altitudes in life. Not just for the sake of rhythm did I mention that. Personally, I have come out of dogged days and periods of inactivity or lull only with the aid of attitude. It is that sort of a dagger that can tear apart the veils of indolence thereby exposing real and luminous talents. It constantly reminds one of the significance of consistent improvement. It does enough to ensure that we don't go off-track from the original path.

There have been some very difficult periods in my life. I had the eagerness to study and understand new things, yet I was curbed by a feeling of satisfaction that overtook me once I knew "What is What". I felt impotent that I was not able to delve deep into the underlying Mathematical beauties or Physical meanings. The single book that I used to read was not capable of providing me with any perfect salvation on the topic. There seemed no way out - like being surmounted by a giant wall and needing to look for a minute interstice thereupon.

Events other than the ones concerning academics forced me to pass through days where I had little other stuff to focus upon. I plunged into my studies and swam with the solitary motive of touching the floor. Slowly an attitude built by itself - to focus, focus and re-focus. A single book was never going to be sufficient to understand 
anything for a persevering engineer. I gathered all resources, and while doing so thanked my seniors who had toiled all day and night to bring about this thing called the Internet. Resources started falling into the respective places on my desktop PC. Thirst of knowledge increased dramatically, I never stopped with just the definition.

Again, this attitude came about naturally and I never spent time trying to create it. So, the destruction also came as smoothly as its formation. I became a wanderlust again and the journey of life resumed with the same old craving present previously.

Note: There may be students of Engineering going through this blog. My kind request to all of you people is to fully exploit the Internet. Almost every great book on any subject is there (here.. somewhere[ ;)]). By restricting yourself to the lecturer's notes and prescribed textbooks, you are denying you self an opportunity to understand,innovate and specialise.  

Try to evolve the habit of studying from e-books - its a luxury today but a necessity tomorrow.

Memories of a fresher

Months since I created this blog and I have not written anything here.. But now it is time to believe that the time has come.

The transition from school life to college life is always an unforgettable experience in every individuals' life. Every moment we are in college, inevitable comparisons are carried out and the dearness of our school friends and teachers is reestablished.

The path to my college days began tragically, putting it in the dilutest of words that come to my mind. 12 May 2004 - All eyes were on me. My father is always a person who has consistently placed high regards on my abilities and backed them up with great support and encouragement. My mother, reticent in relative, has not been far behind though. This day the State Exam results were set to arrive and my father was a busy man praying at our Pooja room for me getting State First and also occasionally switching the TV for checking out if results had come.

I remember myself playing a simple game those days. I had a "cover" ball ( tennis ball) which I used to bounce from the wall and then bat it out with a meter scale! A meter scale inevitably added precision to my batting or so thought I then!! I never wanted State ranks - but just prayed in the midst of my "batting practice" to ensure that I don't miss out on the Medical seat, but those days I was so proficient in those daub State Board textbooks that there wasn't a soul
among my teachers, friends and parents who believed that I would miss out eventually.

And so the day passed slowly - the emotions were strongly rising in the process. A couple of walks to the Internet Centre proved futile - what with a long queue of students waiting for the same. Finally the moment of reckoning arrived with a phone call from my mother's younger sister. And the words I heard blackened out my vision for some moments. Lost out on a centum in Maths and ended up with paltry scores in language papers which I was really good at. Waves of injustice ran through my heart and I felt God had deliberately marked me out for an undeserving punishment. The cheer in my house vanished nowhere and a period of mourning started.

With that sort of parents I have and with the indomitable faith that they possess in me, a period
of obvious attempts at redeeming pride followed. Photocopies of answer sheets and revaluation processes made one thing crystal clear to me - there was just one college where I could possibly join; and finally that was where I landed up. So, when the journey to the College of Engineering, Guindy began in July 04, when it was increasingly becoming apparent that it was here that I would be heading to in X months of time, where X solely wrested in the hands of the Judiciary!

College life always begins with a lot of doubts in our minds - especially here in India, the doubts are primarily about ragging. Ragging had shown its ugliest face some twelve years ago culminating in the death of a professor's son, yet the escape of death sentence by the murderer did its thing to illuminate the loopholes in our law. Putting aside history, my mind was plagued by questions of how successful I would be at
college. My cheer was well destroyed by my impotency to quell my parents' desires and within my heart I longed for the court battles due to a scandal in our Entrance exams to prolong for Eternity.
Days passed by passing time - nothing notable I did in this period except watching movies, playing games and creating my E-mail ID: scintillatingstuffs - a name that was more a product of epiphany rather than thoughtful execution. Finally on a August morning (6th, the Friday), I realised that it was finally time for me to face my fate - the counselling session for the Engg. seats was scheduled on the coming Tuesday - the 10th.

Like a lamb to the slaughter, I prepared myself for the day. I never chose to deliberate about the courses with people. Newspaper Information told me that ECE was the first choice followed by CS and EE, so my prerogative was to try for ECE and else go for EE. Given the hard luck I was having those days, I had made my mind up for becoming an Electrical Engineer at CEG.

But God had other ideas as always. Traditionally with a rank of mine, ECE at CEG was impossible, yet I suffered from another quirk of fate and ended up as an ECE student. I was required to join college 8 days later.

Cometh the hour, cometh the Bus. This has been the quote for me all through my UG days. With a distance of 20 km to and another 20 fro to travel day in and day out and coupling this with the appalling frequency of buses en route, reaching the college was the usual first ordeal that I faced. Aug18,2004 wasnt any different. I climbed onto my 47G and watched at the passing
scenes from my window seat. As the bus neared its destination, my heart came closer to my mouth. Finally an hour later, I found myself at the entrance of the Vivekananda Auditorium, something now popular as Vivekaudi.

Seniors looked at me up and down. When it was confirmed that I was a fresher, they simply frowned. The program had begun an hour earlier. And more prominent was
my apparel first day into college. A fluorescent green shirt that could assist people in picking you up from a crowd of a five-hundred. I never knew that it could itself be a target for seniors to pick on me.

Notwithstanding my temerity, seniors sent me into the auditorium and except for a lone event
where a sophomore "requested" me to be more formal in my dressing sense, I passed the day to a monotonous lecture on language skills. Another replica of a day passed
and I had succesfully evaded my ragging blues and had my first weekend of collegiate times to cherish.

Monday, the 23rd was my first day in the college classroom. Scenes of joking and laughter from the DAV days kept flashing through my mind. I felt I
had enough of all that and chose to lead a silent and "ascetic" life at college. I chose a quiet corner seat in the front bench of the room and was largely reticent. For the next month or so, I barely spoke with some tens of pupils in a class of 80 and used my free will to bunk as many classes as possible - not to enjoy some movie but just to go
home and sleep.

The jackal can jump into a blue paint but it wont take long for its true colours to reveal. A couple of guys brought my true self back and I wasn't strong-willed to go against. Following this, a period of infatuation began for me. The girl was, unlike me, taciturn by nature rather than will. Extremely sincere, academically focussed, "girlishly" talented, commodities that I would on anyday search in a girl. I absent-mindedly blurted out my feelings to my near, and the usual teasings ensued.
Academically I inculcated the collegiate tradition of studying for exams the previous day, something that would have been heinous at school. I coped well with it, as it did not burden me with portions which I felt I wasn't naturally talented in. Except for a physically demanding workshop, where once I burnt my eyes and spent a full sleepless night troubling my parents as well with my mumblings, I felt myself at ease with all the courses.

Semester 1 passed out somehow and I topped it with a grand CGPA. In the next semester, I had to be in a classroom full of ECE students, and my infant feelings of love broke. I wasn't isolated by any means, but somehow I felt bitter. I craved to see the face that I would see every morning. But reality got the better of me as time passed and my mental state was restored to normalcy.