1 down and 7 to go!

First we talked in terms of quarterlies, halfyearlies and annuals, then came the time of monthly tests and now we deal with sessionals and semesters. The evolution is nearly complete! The first semester of studies at NIT Kkr is over and I'm at home(and loving it) for the break after a hectic semester, which involved coping with my late admission and endless trysts with seniors!

Staying away from home would never have posed a challenge for me. I had done that. But staying in a hostel certainly proved to be tricky! For a major portion of my stay at home from Jan-early Aug, I had been practically holed up in a room and had subconsciously built a cocoon around myself which was epitomised by my unaccomodating behaviour. Now I know from where the "Tu hostel mein nahin reh sakta" taunt from my bro came from. He had hit the nail on the head.
Hostel has made me more accomodating as a person. Sometimes you just have to go with the flow of things even if it compromises on your time with yourself( for studies or for any other recreational activity). Infact, in a multiseater room, you hardly get time to think about yourself, which perturbed me in the beginning. By the semester end though, I had managed to get over this difficulty and divided my time judiciously between studies and friends. The guys of my floor love their bhakchodi sessions, but sometimes they take it over the top, compromising studies in the process. And that is when I step aside and quietly proceed towards my room. They never miss me, because I'm not a big talker, but don't the different types of flowers look the best together! This worked for me in this semester. I did well in all of my exams and I should get a high GPA, which was my primary aim for the semester. As for making good friends, ragging took care of that!

Enter the seniors! At first, I took all this UP GT thing way too casually and it certainly reflected in the way I first presented myself to the seniors: in Reebok Pyjamas, bathroom sleepers and a trendy t-shirt(I was supposed to be present in 'formal' clothes!). "Kar kya lenge", I said to myself. And within those 15 minutes I had listened to more threats and swear words than I had ever had for a very long time! Lots of things have been firsts for me in the first semester, and this was one of those! I was even GT-out for a day and thankfully I thought the better of it, because in plain words, college is a rape for GT-outs.
So, the ragging ensued, and boy, weren't we ragged! From running around in the campus market with a shoe in foot and sandal in the other, to making love with a wall. We did it all. Except ofcourse the stripping, which is a strict no-no in our GT. There is some sense in this world afterall!
After all these months of getting raggged, surprisingly, the worst is yet to come. And its easy to visualise the seniors, rubbing their hands in anticipation of the arrival of 'bachha log' , to have a go at them for two more weeks, before we are set free. Hurrah! That should be fun! But the first two weeks of the semester will be anything but that.
The best thing about ragging is the friends I have made through it. Infact, the closest friends I have, are from UP GT. While cursing the seniors together, getting ragged together and attending those GT meetings, we subconsciously built very strong bonds, that should last with time. All the 20 odd guys of UP GT from our hostel are a united lot and are forever present to support a 'bhai' in need! Thanks to the GT, Kothyari was saved from getting bashed, not once, but twice. Thank you seniors, for uniting us! Ab jaldi se free kar do hamein..

The standard of classroom teaching is abysmal(except in ED and to an extent English), and I have come to expect no better, till I reach the 2nd year. This is the norm in govt. colleges(quite a sad situation) and this is the way the system is run. I've never been the types, who are ready at the tiniest of invitations to stage a battle against the system, so as long as the teachers mark the answer sheets well(leniently, to be more precise) and we keep getting good marks, I'm not gonna complain! I sincerely hope for the upgradation of teaching standards once we study in our respective departments. As for now, nothing doing.

Failing in the computer sessional was not the biggest letdown of the semester (many did!), messing up big time in The Helios(official mag of NIT kkr) induction interview was. This was a mag, I really wanted to be a part of, for obvious reasons. Not to be. Will try again next year.

This break has been a good one. I haven't felt bored, like I had during my previous visits home, and the time, like the first sem is speeding past. I must mention here, that the novel "The Alchemist" was a big letdown, and the hype surrounding it, is mystifying to me. In its aftermath, Paul Coelho became one of the most widely quoted authors, but I judge authors and subsequently the novels by their story-telling skills, not on the basis of some philosophy which an author tries to present. Come on, the basic essence of a novel should be its story, and if some philosophy and a message is interwined with the story, its ok. But the philosophy should never subsede the story. That's my viewpoint. I maybe right or wrong, but that's me!
Novels for me, should be analogus to sex! It should be a pleasure reading them throughout, and at one point of the novel, orgasm must be reached, in order to make it a pleasurable and an unforgettable experience. I refer reaching orgasm while reading a novel as a state when we are completely blown away(or in awe!) by the content of what we are reading. A state of absolute admiration and elation. Or a WOW!! . That's why Dan Brown is my favourite author. He takes the reader along a roller coaster ride and provides a WOW! moment which leaves the reader in absolute awe. I write this with all seriousness. No pun intended.
I'm heading back on 11th Jan. A brand new semester awaits. And more importantly, the Final Touch beckons. 'Bachha' pahunch rha hai Sir!!!

The Things That Happened In Between..

Back at last!! Considerable amount of water has flowed under the bridge since the time I wrote the last post. My u-turn regarding dropping an year to prepare(and I thought I had that one sorted out!!), my one week stay at Pantnagar: I really liked the place, and finally taking admission in NIT Kurukshetra, which, given my situation was the best alternative there could have ever been..

The toughest week of my life was the one I spent in Kota after I decided to take the drop. Apart from the severe accommodation crisis, came the realization that this was one decision I had taken in haste and going ahead with the same enthusiasm would be utterly impossible. I look back at that decision as the biggest mistake of my life as yet, one which caused a great deal of uncomfort to my family. I've learned a lot from that experience and have moved on from it. Thankfully, 'coz moving on hasn't ever been my cup of tea!!

With ubiquitous greeenery and its very own culuture, came Pantnagar, bringing along the most carefree week of my life!! I remember registering the shock when I came to know that my roomie Anil was a chain smoker. This was gonna be one hell of a ride! Most importantly though, the mess food was heavenly. I made friends with a typical Roorkee guy, Dikshant. By the typical Roorkee guy, I mean someone who always uses sugarcoated words, makes filmy promises, is jealous to the last fibre of anyone's progress , is fun to hang around with but is never worth trusting and backbiting is his forte! And so the week went by playing volleyball, having chat sessions, but subconsciously I made a note that this place had everything to offer, except studies, given the location of my room and the circle of my friends!! But the surprise of all surprises was yet to come!!
A visit to the DISCO aka disciplinary committee room, awaited. Its a place where many a carrers are ruined and many a lives are changed forever, for the worse that is.. and those who come out unscathed, consider it to be a gift from above! The proverbial studs of the First Year: Anil, Avnish and Aswal were 'guilty' (wtf!) of playing football in the hostel lawns at midnight. This is supposed to be normal anywhere except Pantnagar(told ya about its 'very own culuture', didn't I!) and the 'hungry for attention' warden Arun Chaudhary ne disciplinary committee bithaa dii..People and their idiosyncrasies!!! My room was next to the studs', and hence I came into the net too. The very morning bro had messaged me informing about my admission in NIT Kkr through the 2nd round of counselling and Pantnagar conspired to give me a farewell, in its very own style! I remember it vividly. I was yawning in the empty corridors of my wing(I had decided to bunk that day's classes, what good was it now!) when the the caretaker came upto me and asked "Aap Ankit Dubey hain?". I said in my mind "Have I been shortlisted for an award or something?", but my imagination was rudley cut short and the contrary happened. "Aapko disciplinary commitee ne bullaya hai". Oh dear!
And so, there I was, sitting outside the cursed room. On my way to the seat I had partially caught a glimpse of the way Aswal was being grilled. Tell u what, it was typical Five Point Someone style DISCO. Some 8 professors with those killing, unforgiving eyes were waiting for me. Great, I thought! I summoned enough courage to knock and enter the room. Immediately after I sat down I was asked for my intro. I laid stress on my sound educational background(being an IIT prof's son, greatly helps you in situations such as these, especially if you are innocent) and clarified that I was not the one playing, but the one watching. It was the truth. I think the professors decided to spare me once Aswal had clearly said to them that I was not involved. This is what I like the most about some of the proverbial studs. Although they care two hoots about their grades, about the money they splurge or the fistfights they indulge in, but at the end of the day, they are good at heart. And rest assured, they'll back their friends, without caring about anything. Getting the rough treatment from the authorities is nothing new to these guys and expectedly Aswal , Anil and Avnish were slapped with the fastest CP(Conduction Probation) in the Pantnagar history! And my time in Pantnagar, had come to a dramatic end. Dad came next day and I teed off for Kurukshetra. The Pantnagar sojourn ended then and there! And guess what, the typical Roorkee guy, hasn't called back since!

"Wow!", was what I said, upon my first look at the NIT campus. Open and calm are the two words which describe it the best. "Eeew!" was what I said at seeing the congested hosted rooms. But with time, Viney(my roomie) and me and learned to manage the space well, and we no longer regard it as congested!
Currently, the semester break is on and classes resume from Jan 12. I'm quite happy the way my life is, at the moment. Uncomplicated and smooth. I think I'm in control like I've never been in the past 3 years . And some new ideas I'm working on, with Navdeep makes it even more interesting. All about the first sem at NIT kkr in the next post..gudbye till then!