The Road To Take Or Not To ???

People often wonder where their life is headed… I happened to ponder on these lines once, Here’s what came to my mind.

View :

Wise Men before us have said, “The Path You Choose to Take, Makes You What You Are.” There are a few of us who live a life of meritorious academics, towering grade points and are adored students in the faculty circles. They invite the envy of a lot of peers who want to be like them. They have, what most of the others crave for. However one day one such topper tells me “I wish I had a life like you, full of freedom and expression, I chose to leave all this when I sought academic excellence.” I told him, The path he chose made him, what he was now.

Counter View:

Recently, I happened to see a movie, which challenges the above general convention and remarks “The path you choose to leave makes you what you are.” On the surface, one doesn’t find much difference between the two lines but look beyond and you will spot subtleties hidden. I try to explain the difference through another incident. A friend of mine who himself admits that he lives a wasted life, told me “Dude, I did not choose this kind of life for me, all I knew was what I didn’t want. After three years of toil, I didn’t want any more academic pressure, no more exam deadlines and forced midnight sittings”. The path he wanted to leave had made him what he had become now.

My Dilemma:

I talked to myself; There are two kinds of people in college. Ones who think ahead and work for it and there are others who know what they don’t want from their experiences and stay away from it. I asked myself, so in which group do I belong? Do I know what I want from life? I had ambiguous answers like I want to be successful, well known, rich etc. Then I thought about what I didn’t want. The answers this time were a struggling future, harmful addictions etc. I neither exactly knew what I wanted, nor I knew what I did not want. In simple words, I was confused.


The Way Out:

There was a Almighty King. He gave everyone in his kingdom a chance to explore beyond his kingdom by sharing his riches with all. An opportunity to discover and embark on a journey where one could choose his own direction. The opportunity came with one rider though. The king could call anyone back any time and they would have to return immediately to the comforts of his kingdom. There was no particular destination for all of them. All they knew was that they were free to take the journey wherever their heart wanted to go.
Some thought about where they wanted to go and tried to go there climbing mountains, braving deserts, crossing rivers searching for the place they wanted most but they forever thought there would be a place better than this somewhere else and they planned further and travelled further.
Some knew where they didn’t want to go, and ran away from such places as soon as they thought they were nearing it. They were happy living everywhere else.
And there were the third kind, who didn’t know much about the world. They just travelled every day, wide and far, stopping everyday for a break, drinking the surroundings, enjoying the trek, resolving stupid mysteries and allowing themselves a deep breath of happiness whenever they saw a beautiful place making them feel happy. For they believed the King wanted them to live the journey and find the destination for themselves, rather than pick a destination and live the journey finding it.

The Realisation :

Whenever I am confused about the road I have to take, I neither choose a road advised, nor take a road not maligned. I make a road of my own and feel good about it for I’m the one who is doing it. It might lead to nowhere, but it still would be a place where nobody has gone before.


Aeshverya Jain,
3rd Yr

Rain Drop

Twinkling as a star, on concrete.

Every drop, distinct, discrete.

As it falls, so it breaks

Into several droplet-mates.

Parting with its friends,

Ripples across, it sends.

That converge and diverge,

Humming a love song or a dirge.

Relieves the scorched ground;

Joins the river, ocean-bound.

The sweet aroma of wet soil;

The cool breeze, a pay for toil.

That little drop, in us inspires,

To spread joy, every soul requires,

To adapt, to be loved, to mingle,

To dance to the tune of life’s jingle.

- An original contribution by
Elika Garg
I year B.Tech
Biotechnology

Blast you morons!

I get up today morning at ten thirty, (don’t judge me…was up last night with some important work….anyways, this isn’t about me!) and I see the headlines plastered across the newspaper, “29 DIE AS 17 BLASTS RIP THROUGH AHMEDABAD”. Bloody 17 blasts!!!! That’s the most no. of blasts I have ever heard of in a terrorist attack on my country since I was born. Cumulatively!! I try to get up off the bed but there’s still only two words resounding in my head, “Seventeen Blasts!!!” .Walk toward the bathroom to brush my teeth, and they’re still there, “Seventeen Blasts!!!” .Walking back to the room, “Seventeen Blasts!!!”. I decide to go to my friend’s room to vent my frustration. He opens his door and I blurt out, “SEVENTEEN BLASTS!!!” His reply, “Fifteen blasts”. I give him a puzzling look that even the Joker from the earlier Batman movies would kill to have on his own face to go with his diabolical schemes. But that’s what he chose to refute with me about - the number of blasts reported by his newspaper vs. mine. Does nobody else see the sheer ludicrous insanity of the actions of these so called terrorist organizations? Okay!! So we’ll take the magic number as fifteen for future references in this rambling monologue of mine. But is fifteen any better? There shouldn’t even be one blast to read of in the newspapers. And here I am being greeted on consecutive days with news of how the security apparatus of our…no wait…my country is just a complete mockery of the meaning of the word “secure”. Do I feel secure? Hell no!! Not about my life, not about my family’s life which by the way lives in Ahmedabad. But that’s beside the point. I don’t feel terrorized by this news, may be for the sheer reason that if I do, I’m letting these sadist Tiffin bombers actually succeed in their intensions. But what I can’t believe or rather understand is that why do we keep letting this happen. Can I never walk in piece on the roads without the gushing urge to call the bomb squad every time I see a deserted cycle parked in a civilized street? Shouldn’t I not have to stop reading the newspapers daily just because they give me the most repetitive feeling of déjà vu? Shouldn’t there be an actual organization that tries and prevent these incidents from repeating over and over again? OH yeah!! There is such an organization, the POLICE. Right…Well we all know how great they are. A murderer kills two may be three people? A robber may kill somebody while making his escape. But freaking 29 people killed by an organization that used the email to claim responsibility. And there’s no way to figure out actually whodunit. Even if they come knocking to our doors once every month with the most stony calling card of death, we don’t consider them worth spending our time and effort on.

To think such incidents happened right after the government’s “victory” on the nuke deal is really laudable. And I’m not even being sarcastic. We can see how involved the country’s governors are in a deal with the country that perhaps is the most used example of global hegemony ever. Sure, our internal safety measures might be as obscure as the Indian Postal Service, but let’s keep up the image of being en route to being the next global power and turn a blind eye to our “little” problems within. They’re ‘internal’ right? We can solve them anytime. All right, guess the sarcasm kind of leaked out in spite of my best attempts. But before I wrap up this dialogue, I would really like to know what can we do individually to prevent this. Every time the tabloids finish by pleading everyone to be more vigil and keep their eyes and ears peeled to notice any inconsistency. It doesn’t work that way people. One person’s imagination may get him labeled as being paranoid and frowned upon. Think what would happen with everyone’s paranoia let loose on the streets. Utter chaos perhaps? But let’s not forget that it is each individual’s duty to keep a watch out but there’s a limit to our reach, and then helplessness prevails simply because of the sheer enormity of “the unknown”. AAMIR anyone?

Trip down the memory lane- Lantern 2007

Our beloved staff advisor, Dr. D. Kesava Rao

A lighter moment

The first year crowd @ Lantern 07

Frantic correction of the prelim papers

Winners of Lantern 2007

Runners up

Second runners up

The Executive members of second year- the event conductors of Lantern, with our staff advisor

Dr. D. Kesava Rao flanked by the Additional Secretaries of LnD, Anand Rajagopalan and Nitin Lakhotia (left to right) and Secretary, Tony Sebastian (extreme right)

A Day in the Life of a Class-attending-NITWian

4:00 AM- Home: Computer Desk

Had a lot of work all through the day. Couldn't resist any more. Entering the state of pure, unadultered freedom for some somnolence.

7:30 AM- Home: Bed

In the past seven days, I have successfully completed 40 hours of sleep, including the 12 hours bonanza offer on Saturday and Sunday. Well, today is another day… new hopes… new opportunities… new thoughts… but the same old routine, same old faces, same old cycle… Oh well, I'll probably make it to the class on time.

7:50 AM-Home: Breakfast

Mom starts the questionnaire, and the breakfast is ready along with the usual scolding for getting thinner day-by-day. Achyuth at school was an obedient boy who diligently did his homework, completed the assignments regularly in time and studied hard for doing well in exams. Achyuth at college copies his assignments, works hard at the peak hours exclusively during night-outs and to the questions asked by his mom, "When are your exams?" and "When will you start studying for them?" replies "Mid April" and "-do-" respectively :P

8:20 AM- College: Second floor, CED, 1^st hour of the day

I boldly go where few men have gone before. As I rush through the staircase leading to the classroom in the second floor, the sound of the footsteps disturbs the melee of uncaring, lost souls. 57 pairs of eyes turn on me.

The Professor smiles. "Another delinquent. Do these pitiful souls think that they can actually come late to the class?"

"Why are you late? Stuck in the crowd at the mess?" (Boy, he's smart, probably knows all the excuses)

"No sir. I am a day scholar. It has been late as I had a problem with my bicycle." (Big grin)

(Stares at me, cursing under his breath, I'm sure) "Very well… take your seat."

I join my comrades, not awakened by this clever debate, lucky to have my last bench seat reserved for me.

Me: "What's up?"

Witty-friend: "The sky"

Really-witty-friend: "Nothing under the belt…"

Some-guy-in-front-of-me: "A lecture, what do you expect?"

Sure, everybody's a comedian.

9:40 AM- Where am I???

Having lost all sense of time, space and person, I sit and stare at the scene surrounding me. I think of Akbar, Jodhaa, CEA, and LnD!!!! What's the purpose of life?

Me: "How can one sleep in this heat? Hey… are you sleeping?"

Target-of-question-friend: "Of course! I'm also sleep-talking."

Last-word-friend: "No, he's Nishanth Reddy."

Me: "Sorry I asked"

My thoughts now drift towards what I'll have for lunch today. Probably the same old…… Oh! I forgot that this was a lecture on a very important topic. As I look for place to throw up, the professor sees a much awaited opportunity.

"You there! Get up!"

5 guys stand up, hoping to get thrown out.

"No, that boy in the white shirt. Do you know where we are?"

All eyes are on me. (That's the second time today. I must be looking good.) A sea of innocent faces, squinting at me, trying to stop the sweat trickling down their forehead into their eyes. I see desperation, confusion and even awe in their faces. It was as if they were suddenly whisked away from a magical, mystery land of books into the harsh realities of civil engineering.

Maybe I should respond with "Second floor CED, Sir!" That would give them quite a shock. Some of those faces might even show a rare smile.

"Sir, we were discussing the various aspects of safe construction of buildings, especially for tensile, compressive, flexural, shear and bending conditions"

That should cover just about everything…

"Get out of my class"

Not much argument there. I walk out, telling somebody to proxy for me. Boy, it's heaven outside.

9:50 AM- 7^th block, Boys Hostel

I wake up my slumbering pals, for lack for entertainment. Their colorful language sure perks up my day. If I'm going to attend the next lecture, might as well take a few more down with me.

Seems like everybody went to watch the late show of some movie and have some great reviews in store. We spend the next 20 minutes discussing why Balakrishna is a better actor than SRK.

Meanwhile, the other guys arrive.

Wide-eyed-friend: "Yaar, mere group wale saare 3 mahine IT karte hain!"
Wider-eyed-friend: "Abe, mere mein to saare 4 mahine karte hain winter ke 1 mahine ke saath!"
Fashionable-friend: "Nice shirt!"
Cool-friend: "Yaar, kya karenge ye log IT lagake? Good Engineers banenge?"
Mr.Bookworm-friend: "Pata hai, kal BPC ka test hai!"

(Count on him to spoil the fun)

Me: "Chal yaar, kal padh lenge. Abhi cricket khelte hain"
Chorus: "Saaley, Ja Doob Mar. I'm going back to sleep. Meet you in the Lab at 2."

Thus ending, 4 guys retreat. So much for great ideas.

10:20 AM: Classroom (A lecture is in progress)

The sleeping beauties arrive.

They join us, all smiles.

Me: "Late ho gaye kya?"
Hosteller-friend: "Nahin, to! What makes you think so?"

Me and my big mouth.

11:55 AM: Canteen
We managed to finish the lecture 10 minutes early and well… here we are!

Broke-friend: "Yaar, Buy me a Appy."
Me: "Sure, just pay the bill. I'll help you finish the Appy"

(Boy, was that witty or what)

Still me: "Do we have to attend the lab?"
Waiting-for-a-chance-friend: "Well, you see…"
Me: "Forget I asked."

After a hearty meal at the canteen, we stick 10 rupee note into one guy's hands and leave him to foot the bill.

2:15 PM- Some Lab
Working at blinding speed, I finish whatever was supposed to be done and join my pals hanging around the new cute machine.

Wolf-friend: "Sir, Please check my folder."

(This HAS to be a first)

He: "Leave it on my desk, I'll check it later"
Wolf-friend: "No problem, sir, I'll bring it to you when you're free."

(Perhaps he should add "Over dinner tonight?")

3:30 PM- I MUST LEAVE NOW

I must leave now. I must leave now. If I stay a minute longer, I'll explode. The lab gets over and I rush home at the earliest. Should come back to college by 5 PM to attend some or the other event, or at least to utilize the LAN :P

My thoughts now drift towards roofs, floors, stairs…… at BPC test the next day.

Do men need to be chivalrous.??

Don't you think that the world can do without chivalry in the 21st century.? I mean its been decades that women have been talking about equality and doing great things in all walks of life. Last I heard, equality was a thing of the past and i think i overheard this, "women who aspire to be be equal to men just arent ambitious enough." or something to that effect. So now that female equality has clearly been established, I'm made to wonder why they should expect chivalry. After all, isnt asking and hoping for chivalry from men tantamount to saying,"I could need some help here." You know even thats fine with me-some work just cant be done alone-but in that case why is help solicited only from men and not from women. If women can do everything men can,then why cant they be chivalrous ??
Lets go back in time and see why chivalry was required. Mankind lived in caves, man was the provider,women stayed back in the caves-cooking and taking care of the kids.If the cave-woman needed a large boulder to be broken or moved or a bear to be killed then she'd need the cave-man. That's it-that's where chivalry came from.Right.?? Now we can fast forward to the 19th century. Men were becoming doctors and discovering things and studying while most women stayed indoors n brought up the kids. Women wore dresses and obviously had mobility issues. So when they wanted to mount a horse or get onto the carriage or even walk a bumpy road,a little help could be used-enter the chivalrous 19th century man.
But why all this now.? The fairer sex don't need men by their side anymore-not for support atleast. To get answers I asked a friend of mine who was sad that it was getting more and more diffucult to find chivalrous men.Apparently, its nice if men are there to keep open the door when they want to enter (say a car) and to offer to hold their hand when they are walking on a bumpy road.! Whoa...!! I am reminded of Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman. He's blind and is so accompanied by this young man.The fellow holds Pacino's hand when he's about to start walking.Pacino curtly yet strongly says,"Are you blind ?...Then why are you holding my hand ?" See the analogy girls.? So don't really hope for chivalry-detest it...unless ofcourse you're afraid opening the car door will chip your nail polish.

The world doesnt really need a man who's nice to a woman because she's a woman-thats not chivalry-thats lame. We need people(both men and women) who are nice to other people(both men and women) because thats who they are,thats what they do.

A day in the life of the holidaying NITWian

5:20 fight for your right to sleep five more minutes. Plead, push, pummel finally give up the matador bull named mom. [oops I meant matador cow :D]

6:20 get caught red handed for sleeping over the morning paper. Get sent to the kitchen by Hitler to help the matador cow out. Help, learn your basic lessons in kitchen simply because “you have grown as big as a guy-buffalo”. [Courtesy: Amminniamma, my sweet maid servant. You have to translate the phrase into malli to appreciate it]

7:20 help your sister with her homework. Fully utilize the chance. Give her a long lecture on why it is important to be regular, else you end up like the author.

8:20 wave your parents goodbye as they leave for work. Do a jig. Celebrate your hard earned freedom by hitting the couch.

9:20 relish your moments of blissful sleep

10:20 wake up with a jolt as the phone rings. Answer the matador cow’s “you weren’t sleeping right?” with an emphatic no.

10:25 try every other number you know. Only to hear

1) “the Vodafone customer you are trying to reach is switched off”

2) “hey da, sorry me in class. Might get caught any moment. Ttyl ok”

3) “ya will catch up with sometime. Did you say you are leaving on 20^th. Damn it man!! I got university exams till 21^st.”

4) “Internal exams da. I am already on the verge of flunking. Hey btw me free on any day after 22^nd. We will have a blast then. What you leaving on 20^th. No Xmas hols?? How dumb.”

11:00 curse the dude from surathkal.

11:05 switch on the tv. Realize that you have no idea who is having an extra marital affair with whom in the saas bahu serials; That the mallu family tear jerkers are exactly at the same place where you left them 3 months ago; That you have seen every other movie, thanks to the LAN; that you are above the Indian television and settle for India- Pakistan test series.

12:00 curse the dude from surathkal

12:20 walk into the kitchen. Get the strong feeling that okra fry and fish moily is too boring. Go online. Download “The Mexican cook book”. Scan the recipe. Find alternatives for every other ingredient coz u can’t find them in the kitchen.

13:00 hear the door bell ring. Answer Rasheeda aunty’s “is everything ok mole? I could smell something burn” with a sheepish grin.

13:20 thank your stars that the fire engine didn’t turn up. fish moily and okra fry does taste heaven.

13:25 sit down with the Hindu Crossword, Roget’s thesaurus and the oxford dictionary. Stare for one hour. Get two clues right, lucky if you are

14:20 go down on your knees. Pray to a certain wizard of words famous for his glutTony.

14:25 realize crossies aren’t for engineers with pea sized brains.

14:30 shift your focus to the last page of the paper. Try the sudoko. Waste an hour. Get enlightened to the fact that it is too hard. Curse your pea sized brain. Oops no curse the dude from surathkal

14:45 go online. Find similar holidaying NITWians (HN)

Excerpts from a conversation

“Me: hey

HN1: howdy?

Me: bored ra to death

HN1: same here. Every friend of mine has exams now

Me: same pinch

HN1 : ouch that hurt

Me: :)”

“HN2: hey

Me : hows u?

HN2: bored to death man

Me : same here. Every single friend of mine has exams now

HN2: same fate here

Me: kill the guy from surathkal”

15:20 invite every other holidaying nitwian you know to a group chat. Swear at gtalk for not doing the job well. Shift to YM. Listen to your friend say he doesn’t have YM installed Shift back to gtalk. Play the fool around. Conspire to murder the dude from surathkal.

16:20 do some orkutting. Classify people on your friends list into buggers, big buggers, and bigger buggers. Write dumb testimonials for dumb friends ;). Go be a fan of some arbit guy.

17:20 welcome the matador cow back home

The author wishes to terminate the article right now. She is simply too bored to continue any more. Happy holidaying!!! And ya to hell with the dude from surathkal