A journey more dangerous than a trip through the amazon. One month of my visit to the United states is over, and i have yet to start studying seriously. A grave error or not, time will tell. But one thing i can say is that i have continued my attitude from B.S in India to M.S in USA. This, i can surely state, is a dangerous play.

My first assignment is due on monday, and as is a habit with me, i opened it today, saturday, to look at the questions. As usual, i had no clue, so proceeding with my habit, i opened my book to learn and continue to finish the assignment. ok, i open the book…., give a secong glance at the first question…, find the topic in the book…, read the theory part…,and get back to the question to complete it…

Now, what am i playing at?!!!! The professor has asked for a program, in a language he has never taught, but one which the students are supposed to know to answer the questions!! Hmm… so next step is to learn the language…, which is btw Fortran used in CFD… Hehe, easier said than done….learn a language in one day and complete the problem?!!!… lol, so my attitude as usual makes me close the book, open the laptop, check my mails and the next thing i know… i am writing my next blog, for the first time in a month!!!

, So this is MS till now. What i have realized is that, i can’t just relax till the last minute. The approach towards studies is the more important player here. I have to learn a lot of extra stuff, to understand the stuff that i have registered to learn.

So, for now, i will close the laptop after finishing the post, open the goddamn book, study the theory part, analyze the question and come up with an answer, utilize the entire of tomorrow, which is sunday, to learn Fortran, write the code, run and debug the program, get the damn answers.. take the printouts and submit the answer sheets to my dear proffesor, who awaits it with a face similar to the Indian god of death, who sits with a smiling face on his vehicle, the bull, awaiting his next victim.

Bye Bye from Iowa

11 days have whizzed past, and still the feeling that The United states of America is a land of dreams and opportunities is something  that i have not felt. But then, it might be because i am in Ames, a small village, which boasts of a total population equalling a crowded Chennai mall.

The place is quiet, infact, too quiet for my liking. There are buses which cover nearly every major road in Ames. The city is so perfectly maintained. It is covered with grass, except those places spoilt by mankind. The traffic is orderly, i haven’t seen any  instance of rash driving. I sometimes wonder how drivers from Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai are able to maintain their calm under such excrutiatingly painful lane driving. The bikes are a luxury and i have hardly seen them around.

Then you have the departmental store called Hy-vee, a grocery store called Cubs Food and an Indian store called Pammel. I am yet to shop from the latter, but do know that the entire stock available in Indian departmental markets is available here, except that the price is sky high.

And most importantly, this city plays host to Iowa State University, my home for the next two years, and under some circumstances, this might extend upto 5-6 years.  Still to get an assistantship however, i am waiting for the most electrifying moment i have experienced in the US of A.  I have gone around the engineering buildings about a dozen times, and am quite enjoying the scenery and quiet that the place is symbolic with now a days. However, according to my seniors, this place would be quite a hand full during college hours.

Anyways, lots more to find out as college begins this monday. I hope for the best

United States Of America. A land where dreams are realized.

But i never dream. So why am i going there. To tell you the truth, no idea. Just that some university named Iowa State University has offered me an admit to do a Master of Science Program in Mechanical Engineering. What that is , i don’t know, but it involves a hefty sum, which i will try very hard to reduce.

Anyways, everyone says the first step after being admitted is to obtain the visa. Hell boy, they do forget to mention the fucking amount of tension that is mounting till the very last moment that the golden words are uttered “Your Visa is Granted”.

My Visa Interview lasted about 45 secs to 1 min

VO: Good Morning Sir, How are you ?

ME: I am fine, thank you. How are you ?

VO: Good. Thank you. Pass me your folder.

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VO: So, why Iowa State University ?

ME: Master’s in Mechanical Engineering.

VO: What’s you Under graduation aggregate ?

ME: 72% without back logs.

He seemed impressed, no idea why. But then i was lucky as two guys before me has 37 and 10 backlogs respectively.

VO: What are you going to do after that ?

ME: I am going to come back to my India and work in the industries. Learning the knowledge of improving the industrial processes is my main aim, as the processes followed in many companies are either redundant or outdated.

VO: So, who is funding you

ME: My parents and i have also availed a bank loan of XXX. ( Told my parents annual salaries to evade further questions about financial resources)

VO: All right Sir, I am issuing you the visa. It will mailed to you in 3 days time. Enjoy your stay there.

ME: Thank you

And i came out with all the documents with which i had gone in sans the passport, which i duly received after 2 days.

I guess the only worrying factor about the visa interview should be the amount of backlogs. Apart from that, a straight face should do the trick.

End of imperialism, that’s pretty sure. Can the fallen king summon his army to reconquer his lost territory? Highly impossible. Not when the elder wand has chosen a new master.

Hail Rafael Nadal, clay court specialist. Hmmm…Ok….So now grass court too. The list might be extended to the hard courts in the following years. But i will have to time to write for him. So let me get back to the fallen king.

Where is the man in the white cardigan? Where is the warrior whose arrows were poison? Where is the greatest player ever? Or is he? But if he isn’t, there will never be one.

The man closest to impersonating the Rockhamton Rocket, climbing Mount Sampras and surpassing Ice Borg is being laid to rest in 2008. He is 26, old in this world. His nemesis is 22, ripe and ready to replace him.

6 months ago, we were talking of him overtaking Sampras this year end. Now we will be talking about him passing 12 when. Surely, if he cannot win in Wimbledon, where he achieved greatness, he can win nowhere else. Only  2 titles this year, but 9 losses already. He has not amassed so many losses in the past 2 years together. And to top it all, 0-4 vs Nadal in 2008.

Move aside King Federer, its time to start betting in tennis again. Because we know for sure that the greatest time of the greatest player is gone. Will he retire with grace or will he be disgraced, the next few years will tell. But one thing i can say, 14 looks a leap year away.

TC – Transfer Certificate. Its the receipt to freedom. For me, more specifically, its freedom from M.N.M.Jain Engineering College.

Lets accept the facts. No college requires its passed out student’s particulars for a long time. No alumni would ever want to return to this college every other day. So when both sides want to stay apart at such distances which can be measured in units like only ‘light years’, why is it not happening in our dear old institution.

My department, which is mechanical, has 9 laboratories. The number is not even close, but they want to show that they have some labs. And then, the only 9 professors which my department consists of, are made in charge of one each. Each passed out student is required to get a signature from each lab in charge, stating that he doesn’t owe the lab any thing(Also called as No Due). The joking fact about my dear department is that, we are being forced to compulsorily submit a book to our department library, which is one of the above mentioned labs. Only then will the in charge sign.

I had gone to my college on Wednesday. This in charge didn’t sign since i refused to donate books. So i went to the HOD.

Me: Sir, I require a sign from the in charge of dept lib, but he is not putting his sign.

HOD: Why

Me: Sir, I am refusing to donate a book to the lib. Hence the problem.

HOD: So donate a book and get his sign.

Me: Yes, but i don’t have books. So i can’t and hence refuse to donate.

HOD: But without donation, we can’t sign.

Me: I cant possibly go buy a book and donate it.

HOD: So i can’t sign

Me: Ok, so what is the next step.

HOD: (Quiet)

Hence i took up the matter with my principal, who immediately called the HOD and informed him of the difference between ‘mandatory’ and ‘obligatory’. Ok first hiccup parched. However i ran out of time and the prof ran out of college and i couldn’t get his sign.

So i went back on Friday. The respective in charge was absent. So i went to the HOD.

Me: Sir, i have to get a sign from the prof in charge of the Dept. Lib.

HOD: Ok.

Me: Sir, He is absent. I request you to sign the form on his behalf.

HOD: I don’t understand you.

Me: I am asking you to sign the form instead of the other prof, who is absent. It will ensure that i can collect my TC today.

HOD: Who are you to tell me what to do.

Me: I am not telling you what to do. I am asking you whether you can sign this form instead of the other prof. This will help me collect my TC today, so that i can go for my Visa Interview in peace. I have my Visa Interview on Monday. So i urgently require the TC today.

HOD: Again don’t tell me what to do. You come back on Monday, and if the prof is present, get his sign and then only come to me.

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So i left. I will go on Monday hoping for the presence of the one guy who can sign the goddamn paper which will help me to collect mark sheet. And that day will be added to this post.

I next intend to publicize the pathetic condition this college is in. I would require the help of all the former students, as well as the current students, to help me out in this regards. Only such actions from concerned seniors will help save the college.

I was reading the newspaper today morning, when i noticed the article titled ‘UPA should avoid double standards’. My recent interest in world affairs, led me to reading the article from top to bottom. After going through the article, i started to browse the net regarding IPI, of which i have heard, but not in detail. Below are my findings which seem quite astounding.

IPI is the abbreviation of Iran Pakistan India gas pipeline. Everyone knows that the South Pars/North Dome field in Iran and Qatar is the largest gas field in the world. But i was surprised to note that the proposal of the project was established in the year 1989. It has been nearly 19 years since that, and yet things are seemingly at crossroads even now.

Year after year a new reason has been sounded by India leading to the delay of the project. In the current UPA regime, it was initially unrest in Balochistan, then it was the tense situation in Pakistan and now it is the 123 agreement.

India had been warned by US that, if it goes ahead with the IPI project, then it can kiss farewell to the 123 agreement. This was due to the tension between US and Iran. But US, of late has seemed to realize the growing strength of Iran in todays situation and is keen to make amends. In fact Mr. Bush is trying to reestablish a communication between the two countries. So if the US is willing to partner Iran, i think the latest hassle has been crossed. And before any new breed develops, it is time for the government to sign the deal.

The threat of the deal evaporating increases exponentially with time. China which is in a situation similar to India has offered to replace India in case of the deal falling out. European nations are turning towards Iran to provide fuel for their economy. So in todays changing politics, it will be all the better for India to go ahead with the plan which will supply Natural Gas to quench our ever growing economy.

I do hope i am right in my thought All these are based on a single article and a few minutes of browsing the net. I look forward to your comments, which will enlighten me.

Starring : Amitabh Bachan, Abishek Bachan and Aishwarya Rai Bachan

Story line: A plot to change the succesor to the Sarkar,

Story:

The Sarkar(Amitabh Bachan) is old. Its time to hand the reins to his successor, his son, Shankar(Abishek Bachan). But another man(revealed later) has different ideas.

A proposal is brought in front of the Sarkar by a MNC employee(Aishwarya Rai Bachan) to open a power plant in a specific region of Maharashtra. But his involves the movement of nearly 40000 people. The Sarkar initially rejects it but is convinced by his son to approach his mentor to discuss the proposal.

What follows is the meeting with the mentor, interupted by a comotion caused by the mentor’s grandson, Somji. The mentor gives the go ahead for the proposal, and the investment is begun. Shankar tries to win over the people by stating the benifits of the proposal, but he faces a rival in Somji, who begins to attract masses against Shankar and Sarkar.

Three people with a common objective to dethrone the Sarkar are introduced, and as the story progresses, they plan to kidnap Somji, thinking that such a strategy would induce anti Shankar feelings. The kidnap is comitted which is followed by the killing of the Sarkar’s daughter in law. Shankar takes the loss personally and immediately fires his bodyguard.

The bodyguard, being very close to the family, discovers the place of Somji’s captor. A battle ensues in which Shankar rescues Somji, and they settle their differences. In the battle one of the three villians dies.

The other two villians take drastic measures and hire a hitman to kill Shankar. Just when love seems to hit the air between Shankar and the power plant employee, the hitman strikes. Shankar is assasinated.

Now enters the Sarkar in full action. He immdiately finds out the second villian, who divulges the identity of the third villian. Both of them are finished. But the story does not end here.

The Sarkar narates the reason behind so many characters in the movie to the MNC employee(Ash), who seems to have officially entered the family on Shankar’s death. The real king maker is revealed in the very end. He is the mentor.

The mentor’s plan is to replace the successor of the Sarkar from Shankar to Somji. The plan doest not by pass Sarkar’s eye, and in the end both are killed.

Remarks:

The story is quite good. The start is fantastic, the middle is great, but the film slows down towards the end. It could have been finished sooner than the 2.15 Hrs. Worth watching.

This month is really hectic in the sporting world, with Euro and Wimbledon topping world charts. But viewers of Asia Cup will be firm favorites for top honors this week in the subcontinent.

The Asia Cup was started in the year 1983, with the top three teams, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka fighting in a round robin league. Slowly other teams have entered the fray, and this year, the event hosts 6 teams. They include India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, UAE and Honk Kong. This millennium is witnessing its third Asia Cup, Pakistan having beaten Sri Lanka in 2000 and Sri Lanka having beaten India in 2004.

This year, M.S.Dhoni’s team seems to be the team to beat, irrespective of their loss to Pakistan in the recently concluded Tri Series in Bangladesh. They have beaten Australia down under, and after their T20 triumph, this team seems to be oozing with confidence.

India has been paired with Honk Kong, and more importantly Pakistan. Both teams are expected to go through to the Super Four stage, which has again been set as a round robin league. The other group consists of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and UAE, with the first two likely to progress. The top two teams from the Super Four will fight it out for the cup on July 6.
I hope India will win inspite of stiff resistance from Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Starring : Akshaye Khanna, Genilia , Paresh Rawal and Shobana. Oh ya and Om Puri

Story Line: A son tried to unite his widowed father with his true love

Story: The son(Akshaye Khanna) is an eligible bachelor, who seems to have a lot of love for his widowed father(Paresh Rawal). Soon we learn that, he has been quite naughty in his college days, driving a girl(Genilia) out of college. The girl wants revenge, and some silly scenes later, the girl realizes the enormity of her mistakes, reveals herself to the son, and thus starts a friendship.

The father’s friend(Om Puri) is also an eligible bachelor, whose role has been to create humorous situations . But they hardly move our lips. As the story progresses, we find that the love girl resides with her close friend’s mom(Shobana), who is a music teacher. This is followed by the revealation of the information that the father used to love the teacher. But he couldn’t marry her because of family constraints.

The son and his love find the facts and set about plans to reunite the couple. They succeed in doing so after every normal film drama. And after this they realize that their own friendship has turned into love.

So when the stage looks set for the finale with a double wedding, enters the father of the bride(Naseeruddin Shah). He prolongs the film by another half hour stating that either the son or his father can marry, not both. The loving son that he is, he reunites his father, forsaking his own love. Looking at the devotion of the son, the father of the bride agrees to a double wedding.

The End

Rating

Story : 6/10

Acting: 4/10

Remarks:

I really think that Genilia should consider another career. She is totally lost in this world, both in Tamil and in Hindi. Om Puri’s character is completely unnecessary(Plus that guy cannot do comedy). The audience could have saved half hour without the intervention of Naseeruddin Shah.

I have started to read the newspaper every day for quite some time, ie other than the sports page. Having always kept myself informed of the current President, Prime Minister, the ruling party and also a bit of other political things, i assumed myself to be updated. Only after having studied the press clippings have i realized my mistake.

For example, i didn’t even know of India’s position as a rising power. Until i read the papers. This activity has lead to a few doubts arising in my mind. Is India really as powerful as our politicians and media project it to be. Can it lay a serious challenge for world supremacy by the year 2020. Can we indeed become a developed nation as Dr. Abdul Kalam dreams by then.

My personal feeling is that, our gentle neighbor to the north, China poses a more significant threat to the US. Furthermore, the mutual enmity between the US and Russia might lead to Russia teaming up with China. As i understand, at present, India faces a huge dilemma. Should it align with the US, to whom it has been yielding under pressure for quite a while now. Or should it align with China and Russia, who as a team can wield a bat as heavy as Sachin used before his tennis elbow problem. I am not talking about a World War. Rather i am talking about diplomatic stances which is like the only path to survival.

I am rather new at commenting on such topics, but i do invite your comments as to India’s current position as a growing powerhouse.