it was my birthday on 26th and pj called me in the morning to wish me on my birthday. she also said that i have been tagged in blogger. now, i dont know what that means. i thought it might be some kind of a birthday gift. now i come to realise that when you are tagged, you have to write many thingss, which is exactly what i am trying to do now.
FOUR places i love
well, i will start with this.
1) trivandrum: my favourite because this is where it all started. the butterfly came out of the coccoon; trivandrum is the place where i started learning. many things. my life really began there.
2) palakkad: my hometown; wherever i am, i always want to come back to this place. this is a place which makes sit and analyse my life. when tension or frustration mounts on me, i catch my train to palakkad. gave me my best friends in life. (i shall include you also to the list, PJ coz you belong to this place). peaceful, peaceful and more peaceful.
3)chennai: i have been to all metros (except kolkatta; and i am including banglore also in the list of metros) and chennai is the one i liked. there is something about this place which draws me close to it. the people, places, i think i am one among them. and real film fanatics... they are very sensitive but give their life for people they love.
4) manipal: new to this hill station but i already like this place. my blogs to come will certainly carry more about manipal.
FOUR unforgettable trips:
1) goa trip from college : people who know me know the reason. my family follows my blog, so i am not elaborating.
2) sliptop-valpara trip: i rate this here because this is a trip we went on our own driving all the way without external help. and the place is simply superb to visit in nov-feb. we went in jan.
3) mysore-masanagudi-ooty trip: linu was driving his innova. reni and i were in it. initial plan was to stay at mysore and return next day to calicut, seeing a few places at wayanad. but the plans kept changing and we finally ended up in ooty. it was a wonderful trip.
4) munnar trip: i joined linu, swaroop from ernakulam and we had a 3 night, 2 day stay in munnar; a wonderful hill station in kerala.
FOUR hotels to visit in Trivandrum
1) sharma's dhabha: in aristo junction, sethu annan owns a small dhabha where i used to go very frequently. and his roti with aloo subji or aloo paratta with curd were awesome. and we always finished with a lassi.
2) buhari : near east fort in mannacaud road, this is the place for puttu(steamed rice cake) with mutton curry. i dont know how many times i have been there but given a chance i would go again and just for this one dish.
3) park rajadhani: famous for the buffet, in my 4 years in trivandrum, i have been to park for around 100 times and i love it for what it offers for 150 rupees(i dont know what it costs now, they increase rate every month).
4) zam zam: tandoori roti with tandoori chicken and a special zam-zam exotica icecream to finish the course, they serve you the best food.
to be continued...
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
28.07.2009
this is in apology to my seniors in college. we were supposed to have our introduction cum interaction with seniors today evening. we had actually started that on a very friendly note but had to be discontinued since some of my batchmates found it inconvenient. they were offended by the event and went and informed the staff of the same. i want my PG friends to realise that it is essential to know our seniors and also get a feel of the place and i consider that such interactions are actually meant for that.
ragging has moved away from freshers and has now actually been redefined as harassing the seniors and putting them through lot of mental stress. the authority that is trying desperately to stop ragging doesn't seem to know where exactly to draw the line. i agree that physical and mental torture of a student should be condemned and believe it is a punishable offense. i am of the view that strong measures should be taken against people who indulge in such activities.
when our parent's friends come home and ask to sing and even our parents encourage that, we have no complaints and actually do it happily. but when seniors ask us to do that in an equally polite manner, we feel inconvenient and go around complaining about the "villanous" act. we were asked to introduce ourselves (our name, locality, previous academic qualification and hobbies). it is obvious to ask a person to sing if singing is his/her hobby. same goes with dancing.
i dont want to sound like i am writing this to get any favours from my seniors but i would close this post by mentioning an incident that happened in my final year. i had a junior named meera who was in the industrial engg. dept and she was more like a sister to me. she was in the third year. on this particular day, she was having her workshop and hence was wearing the uniform. i was talking to her in the bus bay and since there was no place near me for her to sit, i had to make her stand which she was comfortable with. that was the time when new batch was started and first years also had the same workshop and hence the same uniform. the team of 5 teachers (principal, dean, union counsellor and 2 other staff) came that way to monitor that no ragging was taking place. they saw me talking to meera and was so angry that they asked me for all my details, took away my id card and anything else that i was carrying.(okay.. now i was getting ragged. why don't you believe it? i went through mental stress.)they didn't even bother to ask meera about the scenario and it was with great difficulty that i convinced the team of my innocence and that i was not "ragging".
i close this post with a request to the HRD ministry people to sit together and reconsider a few things. i also thank my friends for not contacting the anti-ragging cell number and thus avoiding a formal complaint.
first impression was not that good an impression. hope second one is.
ragging has moved away from freshers and has now actually been redefined as harassing the seniors and putting them through lot of mental stress. the authority that is trying desperately to stop ragging doesn't seem to know where exactly to draw the line. i agree that physical and mental torture of a student should be condemned and believe it is a punishable offense. i am of the view that strong measures should be taken against people who indulge in such activities.
when our parent's friends come home and ask to sing and even our parents encourage that, we have no complaints and actually do it happily. but when seniors ask us to do that in an equally polite manner, we feel inconvenient and go around complaining about the "villanous" act. we were asked to introduce ourselves (our name, locality, previous academic qualification and hobbies). it is obvious to ask a person to sing if singing is his/her hobby. same goes with dancing.
i dont want to sound like i am writing this to get any favours from my seniors but i would close this post by mentioning an incident that happened in my final year. i had a junior named meera who was in the industrial engg. dept and she was more like a sister to me. she was in the third year. on this particular day, she was having her workshop and hence was wearing the uniform. i was talking to her in the bus bay and since there was no place near me for her to sit, i had to make her stand which she was comfortable with. that was the time when new batch was started and first years also had the same workshop and hence the same uniform. the team of 5 teachers (principal, dean, union counsellor and 2 other staff) came that way to monitor that no ragging was taking place. they saw me talking to meera and was so angry that they asked me for all my details, took away my id card and anything else that i was carrying.(okay.. now i was getting ragged. why don't you believe it? i went through mental stress.)they didn't even bother to ask meera about the scenario and it was with great difficulty that i convinced the team of my innocence and that i was not "ragging".
i close this post with a request to the HRD ministry people to sit together and reconsider a few things. i also thank my friends for not contacting the anti-ragging cell number and thus avoiding a formal complaint.
first impression was not that good an impression. hope second one is.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
WHAT UNIVERSITY TAUGHT
I was not surprised when my friend quit his Rs. 40000-a month job for a job in the state government; the reason being our own experience at Kerala university. Ranish got a job offer from Burgan Oil Company in Kuwait and was very excited about that. He had to produce his degree certificate to get the visa. So, he came all the way to Trivandrum to get the certificate. I was working in Trivandrum at that time and that brought me into the mission automatically. I was comfortable with it as it involved just a day's work. but that was what we, and only we, thought.
Procedure for obtaining degree certificate is very easy(in paper).Any student of the university can apply for it after the successful completion of the course. The certificate will cost Rs 500/- and its receipt, a copy of provisional certificate or final year mark list, and completely filled application form are all you need to complete the application procedure. Once it is submitted, you can take rest at home waiting for your call letters or go for a job(if you happen to have one); the certificate will reach home safely(I received it this way). After the final year results are announced, the council will meet and decide to issue the degree certificate. Once the decision is made, it will take just six months for the certificate to reach you. This is owing to the high number of B.Tech graduates passing out every year. For a moment, you would feel that you could have studied in Tamil Nadu instead. Every college there is a deemed university. They can issue it very fast and without all the scrutiny. Now, if you want the certificate on the very same day of your admission, you can . This is the benefit of studying in a deemed university, and thanks to the long list of Union Ministers from Tamil Nadu, almost all colleges are deemed. But, the poultry farm-turned-universities is not my subject.
Now, Ranish does not have six month's time and wanted to obtain it as soon as possible(that means 1-2 days). So, on a fine Monday morning, we reached the university by 9 a.m. But that was totally unnecessary. University, like students, is late to wake up and that meant we had to wait till the office hours. Our wait went past the official office hours into the unofficial office hours. By 11 am, university was alive and business resumed as usual. We went into the information centre to enquire about what can be done. The angry man send us to the arrogant man and after his fast speech and advices, we were send to the pleasing man for a detailed explanation. But everyone ended up at the same point. It would take 2-3 weeks for "fast issue" but can be brought down to 2 days if we have acquaintance in the university. Now, we didn't have such a person in the university and we couldn't wait for three weeks also. With no other options alive, we decided to make acquaintance there and thus began our search for a suitable person. Our search ended at a tall, dark man. Ranish went to this person with all the papers he got from the company and the consultancy. He was explaining his situation to this man and his body language was that of a flood victim. Their situations also matched. It was a question of survival for both of them. The man was happy to help and he, Dixon sir, was more than happy to help. He opened the doors of the B.Tech dept. for Ranish, which would otherwise remain closed till 3 pm.Ranish searched for the person to whom he had to submit his request but found only an empty chair. Now, it was difficult to say whether the person had gone for tea or to speak in the union meeting and that made him wait. It was tea break because the person came back after half hour. But he was about to leave for the general body meeting and had come in just to collect some papers. He was furious at Ranish for not acting according to his situation but couldn't show that. He collected the papers and asked him to come back at 3 pm. The meeting was soon followed by a grand feast and he returned to his chair by 3.30 pm. He went throught the papers, asked few questions and kept the paper back in the file. He was in a hurry as his tea was getting cold in the cafetaria.
We were standing at the university gates next day, thinking what to do. The file was not moving and had to be pushed hard. Our decision to involve student politicians was soon taken back. Comrades have forgotten the language of requesting and their arrogance makes them command things. This does more harm than good. Dixon sir, who was passing by that way, remembered us and he enquired about the progress. He felt very bad to know how we were treated and apologized(he had done a big help and here, he apologizes for the ill-treatment by his colleagues). He came along with us to the office, took the file past every table it ought to travel and got it ready within the little time they had between teas and the certificate was ready.
But that was just the draft. It has to undergo verification at five different tables before reaching the VC's table. First person was on leave, second on duty, third delivering keynote address at the union meeting. It was hard to get all these people together and on the same day and thus, after four days and many tea sessions, the file reached the Vice Chancellor. It took just five minutes to get signed by the VC. We had high respect and regard for the new VC. His administration and decision- making is praised by many; students and teachers alike and he didn't disappoint. And the certificate is ready.
So you think. But, that's not the case. It needs hallmarking and that took just 4 hours and it is ready to be delivered. But there came another problem. University dispatches degree certificates only by post and not in hand. That would mean another four days in postal delay and time is what he didn't have at that time. A university rule came to our rescue and they said they could give it to the person if someone gives in writing that he/she knows the person for a minimum of five years. Dixon sir came to our rescue again and the certificate was received. Visa followed and Ranish left in two weeks.
In Kuwait, he had to work on a 12-hour shift and twelve hours was twelve hours and on most occasions, felt more. He was not given a moment's break in between and his senior would shower abuses if found resting. An employee was send back home for questioning the authorities. The only occasion they showed mercy on Ranish was when he lost a finger while working in the oil-rig. He was given first aid, taken to a hospital and asked to rest at the base till his next shift. After 70 days, he got a month leave and he decided not to go back. He is appearing for state govt. job tests now. If he gets it, life would be peaceful. He need to reach only by 11, can go for tea at 11.30 till 12.15; lunch from 1-2 which can be extended to 3 even and another tea break from 3.30 to 4.15. If you go back home after the tea, nobody would question and your job is secure as long as you are a member of any of the 1001 unions in the state. They protect you from any rule that threatens your tranquil office life(the state wide protest against punching is a proof in this regard).
My friend, I completely agree with your reasons and support your decision but I have only one thing to remind you. We need more Dixon sirs to help poor Ranishs.
Procedure for obtaining degree certificate is very easy(in paper).Any student of the university can apply for it after the successful completion of the course. The certificate will cost Rs 500/- and its receipt, a copy of provisional certificate or final year mark list, and completely filled application form are all you need to complete the application procedure. Once it is submitted, you can take rest at home waiting for your call letters or go for a job(if you happen to have one); the certificate will reach home safely(I received it this way). After the final year results are announced, the council will meet and decide to issue the degree certificate. Once the decision is made, it will take just six months for the certificate to reach you. This is owing to the high number of B.Tech graduates passing out every year. For a moment, you would feel that you could have studied in Tamil Nadu instead. Every college there is a deemed university. They can issue it very fast and without all the scrutiny. Now, if you want the certificate on the very same day of your admission, you can . This is the benefit of studying in a deemed university, and thanks to the long list of Union Ministers from Tamil Nadu, almost all colleges are deemed. But, the poultry farm-turned-universities is not my subject.
Now, Ranish does not have six month's time and wanted to obtain it as soon as possible(that means 1-2 days). So, on a fine Monday morning, we reached the university by 9 a.m. But that was totally unnecessary. University, like students, is late to wake up and that meant we had to wait till the office hours. Our wait went past the official office hours into the unofficial office hours. By 11 am, university was alive and business resumed as usual. We went into the information centre to enquire about what can be done. The angry man send us to the arrogant man and after his fast speech and advices, we were send to the pleasing man for a detailed explanation. But everyone ended up at the same point. It would take 2-3 weeks for "fast issue" but can be brought down to 2 days if we have acquaintance in the university. Now, we didn't have such a person in the university and we couldn't wait for three weeks also. With no other options alive, we decided to make acquaintance there and thus began our search for a suitable person. Our search ended at a tall, dark man. Ranish went to this person with all the papers he got from the company and the consultancy. He was explaining his situation to this man and his body language was that of a flood victim. Their situations also matched. It was a question of survival for both of them. The man was happy to help and he, Dixon sir, was more than happy to help. He opened the doors of the B.Tech dept. for Ranish, which would otherwise remain closed till 3 pm.Ranish searched for the person to whom he had to submit his request but found only an empty chair. Now, it was difficult to say whether the person had gone for tea or to speak in the union meeting and that made him wait. It was tea break because the person came back after half hour. But he was about to leave for the general body meeting and had come in just to collect some papers. He was furious at Ranish for not acting according to his situation but couldn't show that. He collected the papers and asked him to come back at 3 pm. The meeting was soon followed by a grand feast and he returned to his chair by 3.30 pm. He went throught the papers, asked few questions and kept the paper back in the file. He was in a hurry as his tea was getting cold in the cafetaria.
We were standing at the university gates next day, thinking what to do. The file was not moving and had to be pushed hard. Our decision to involve student politicians was soon taken back. Comrades have forgotten the language of requesting and their arrogance makes them command things. This does more harm than good. Dixon sir, who was passing by that way, remembered us and he enquired about the progress. He felt very bad to know how we were treated and apologized(he had done a big help and here, he apologizes for the ill-treatment by his colleagues). He came along with us to the office, took the file past every table it ought to travel and got it ready within the little time they had between teas and the certificate was ready.
But that was just the draft. It has to undergo verification at five different tables before reaching the VC's table. First person was on leave, second on duty, third delivering keynote address at the union meeting. It was hard to get all these people together and on the same day and thus, after four days and many tea sessions, the file reached the Vice Chancellor. It took just five minutes to get signed by the VC. We had high respect and regard for the new VC. His administration and decision- making is praised by many; students and teachers alike and he didn't disappoint. And the certificate is ready.
So you think. But, that's not the case. It needs hallmarking and that took just 4 hours and it is ready to be delivered. But there came another problem. University dispatches degree certificates only by post and not in hand. That would mean another four days in postal delay and time is what he didn't have at that time. A university rule came to our rescue and they said they could give it to the person if someone gives in writing that he/she knows the person for a minimum of five years. Dixon sir came to our rescue again and the certificate was received. Visa followed and Ranish left in two weeks.
In Kuwait, he had to work on a 12-hour shift and twelve hours was twelve hours and on most occasions, felt more. He was not given a moment's break in between and his senior would shower abuses if found resting. An employee was send back home for questioning the authorities. The only occasion they showed mercy on Ranish was when he lost a finger while working in the oil-rig. He was given first aid, taken to a hospital and asked to rest at the base till his next shift. After 70 days, he got a month leave and he decided not to go back. He is appearing for state govt. job tests now. If he gets it, life would be peaceful. He need to reach only by 11, can go for tea at 11.30 till 12.15; lunch from 1-2 which can be extended to 3 even and another tea break from 3.30 to 4.15. If you go back home after the tea, nobody would question and your job is secure as long as you are a member of any of the 1001 unions in the state. They protect you from any rule that threatens your tranquil office life(the state wide protest against punching is a proof in this regard).
My friend, I completely agree with your reasons and support your decision but I have only one thing to remind you. We need more Dixon sirs to help poor Ranishs.
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