When the "VIVA" season is over, the only word that can describe any engineering students state is RELIEF.
Here are certain rules and observations that can be applied to vivas:
1. The external examiner shall never come on time. He/She has to be a minimum of 1 hr late.
2. Vivas shall never be good, they can just be bad, worse or worst.
3. The professor shall make all effort possible to confuse you.
4. The student shall be asked a minimum of one question that he/she cannot answer. Following the question, there will be many such questions from the same topic that the question belonged to.
5. The student shall find that asking questions that he/she cannot answer is not a form of revenge but it actually gives a sense of fulfillment to the internal examiner.
6. If vivas were to be recorded on video camera, the expressions on students face's can feature in world's best comedy videos.
7. Student has to agree with the examiner under all circumstances eventually only to learn that it was an idea to confuse him/her and get the wrong answer from him/her.
8. The only aim of vivas is to let students know that they know nothing of the concerned subject. Its a waste of time sitting in front of the two greats of the subject and trying to answer their googlies.
Nov 14, 2008
Nov 9, 2008
THE POWER OF YOU!
I just read this wonderful thought of an Angelic bishop...
""
When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits,
I dreamed of changing the world.
As I grew older, I realised the world would not change.
And I decided to shorten my sights and change my country.
But it too, seemed immovable.
As i entered my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt,
I sought to change only my family.
Alas, they would not change.
And now, as I lie on my deathbed, and realize( for the first time),
that,, if only I would've changed myself first,
Then ,by example I would've changed my family
And with their encouragement and support,
I may have bettered my country, and who knows?
Maybe I could've changed the world?
""
Powerful thought.
Not possible , you think?
Here's an example.
I recently read an article in the National Geographic on a region in China called Wenzhou.
Wenzhou is a cursed place.
No crops can grow there. The land in fact, is so bad that even roads can't be built there. In fact any Industrial Development progam would prove to be futile here.
But Wenzou has the advantage of an undying enthusiasm of the local people.
Families opened tiny workshops with fewer than a dozen workers and they produced simple goods. Over time the workshops blossomed into full scale industries and Wenzhou came to dominate certain low-tech industries. Today, one- quarter of the shoes worn by the world come from Wenzhou. The province makes 70% of the world's cigarette lighters. Over 90% of Wenzhou's economy is private.
The Wenzhou model has become a source of inspiration for the rest of the Zhejiang region in which Wenzhou lies.
80% of the Zhejiang enterpreneurs have an education of less than 8 years...
And it so happens, that this area has become now, the richest in the country! Industries are built within one day, plans are made within hours...and a dream of a young poor Chinese is converted to reality just within 48 hrs.
Magic.
The government there soon realised the power of the people's constructiveness. They promoted such industries and allow them to grow freely all over China.
And today, everyone watched in awe, as China played a fantastic host to the world's biggest games, The Olympics.
Maybe the little toy you got from Mc'Donald's today comes from Wenzhou. Maybe ten industries worked for an hour to get the final product for you. Maybe a village full of Chinese youth earned their wages, because you were ready somewhere in the world to buy a Happy Meal.
The point is that a poor village of strong minded poor Chinese people are changing the face of China as I am typing these words.
And if an 8-grader can bring about such a vast change...just by changing his own surroundings, then why can't we?
The world's a small place today.
It's reach, however ,is large.
I think it's time to harness this flat world's opportunities, to build ...not to destroy.
The world's moving towards becoming a village, JOIN THE CLUB!
""
When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits,
I dreamed of changing the world.
As I grew older, I realised the world would not change.
And I decided to shorten my sights and change my country.
But it too, seemed immovable.
As i entered my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt,
I sought to change only my family.
Alas, they would not change.
And now, as I lie on my deathbed, and realize( for the first time),
that,, if only I would've changed myself first,
Then ,by example I would've changed my family
And with their encouragement and support,
I may have bettered my country, and who knows?
Maybe I could've changed the world?
""
Powerful thought.
Not possible , you think?
Here's an example.
I recently read an article in the National Geographic on a region in China called Wenzhou.
Wenzhou is a cursed place.
No crops can grow there. The land in fact, is so bad that even roads can't be built there. In fact any Industrial Development progam would prove to be futile here.
But Wenzou has the advantage of an undying enthusiasm of the local people.
Families opened tiny workshops with fewer than a dozen workers and they produced simple goods. Over time the workshops blossomed into full scale industries and Wenzhou came to dominate certain low-tech industries. Today, one- quarter of the shoes worn by the world come from Wenzhou. The province makes 70% of the world's cigarette lighters. Over 90% of Wenzhou's economy is private.
The Wenzhou model has become a source of inspiration for the rest of the Zhejiang region in which Wenzhou lies.
80% of the Zhejiang enterpreneurs have an education of less than 8 years...
And it so happens, that this area has become now, the richest in the country! Industries are built within one day, plans are made within hours...and a dream of a young poor Chinese is converted to reality just within 48 hrs.
Magic.
The government there soon realised the power of the people's constructiveness. They promoted such industries and allow them to grow freely all over China.
And today, everyone watched in awe, as China played a fantastic host to the world's biggest games, The Olympics.
Maybe the little toy you got from Mc'Donald's today comes from Wenzhou. Maybe ten industries worked for an hour to get the final product for you. Maybe a village full of Chinese youth earned their wages, because you were ready somewhere in the world to buy a Happy Meal.
The point is that a poor village of strong minded poor Chinese people are changing the face of China as I am typing these words.
And if an 8-grader can bring about such a vast change...just by changing his own surroundings, then why can't we?
The world's a small place today.
It's reach, however ,is large.
I think it's time to harness this flat world's opportunities, to build ...not to destroy.
The world's moving towards becoming a village, JOIN THE CLUB!
Nov 8, 2008
Kahan gaye woh din....
Remember when you were young and went to a temple, the main attraction was 'prasad'. The small sweet white balls. known as 'sakhar futana' is what I used to crave for. I remember, our pujari used to give me a packet of prasad, I used to love him more than God. God was secondary then, tough at home I was thought that prasad was something that was secondary. How many times as kids we have gone to a temple and played in the courtyard? For me, it was many times. Its been long since I have gone to a temple. Not even for prasad, the one thing that used to take me there regularly.
Do you remember those days when whatever the teacher said was right. Even when our mother used to correct our teacher, we used to correct her. Teachers were meant to be right. Nothing said against our teacher was tolerated by us. She / He was the best person for us then. Respect was one thing that was always present for our teacher. Do you remember the last time you had respect for your professor?
Remember the days when cried without a reason in your mothers lap. You actually had tears in your eyes because your fell while playing cricket. You remember complaining your mom that a friend of yours has been teasing you with a girl? Do you remember the last time you went up to your mother and discussed you day's happening with her.
Remember you wanted to choose a profession like a conductor or a tv repair engineer? You found it more attractive than sitting in front of a PC and coding ALGOS. You didnt know that being a conductor is not the profession thats not respected. Do you remember the last time you hopped into a BEST bus and gave a smile to the conductor?
As kids we were used to do somethings without thinking twice. We just did things because we wanted to. Now, we do things because we need to.
We need to ask ourselves: " Kahan gaye woh din"
Do you remember those days when whatever the teacher said was right. Even when our mother used to correct our teacher, we used to correct her. Teachers were meant to be right. Nothing said against our teacher was tolerated by us. She / He was the best person for us then. Respect was one thing that was always present for our teacher. Do you remember the last time you had respect for your professor?
Remember the days when cried without a reason in your mothers lap. You actually had tears in your eyes because your fell while playing cricket. You remember complaining your mom that a friend of yours has been teasing you with a girl? Do you remember the last time you went up to your mother and discussed you day's happening with her.
Remember you wanted to choose a profession like a conductor or a tv repair engineer? You found it more attractive than sitting in front of a PC and coding ALGOS. You didnt know that being a conductor is not the profession thats not respected. Do you remember the last time you hopped into a BEST bus and gave a smile to the conductor?
As kids we were used to do somethings without thinking twice. We just did things because we wanted to. Now, we do things because we need to.
We need to ask ourselves: " Kahan gaye woh din"
Nov 7, 2008
THE ARVIND KHAMITKAR HOAX!
Maybe you have already recieved this mail. Maybe you will recieve it some time. Maybe you have forwarded this to many others.
""
""
Don't avoid, Pls read this mail)
FROM Arvind Khamitkar ,
I.A.S, Director of Medical & Research Div,
Chennai
Dear Friends,
A few weeks ago, in a movie theater, a person felt
something poking from her seat
When she got up to see what it was, she found a
needle sticking out of the seat with a note attached saying
'You have just been infected by HIV'.
The Disease Control Center (in Paris ) reports many similar
events in many other cities recently. All tested needles were HIV Positive.
The Center also reports that needles have been found
in cash dispensers at public banking machines. We ask everyone to use extreme caution when faced with
this kind of situation. All public chairs/seats should be inspected with vigilance and caution before use. A careful visual inspection should be enough. In addition, they ask that each of you pass this message along to all members of your family and your friends athe potential danger.
Recently, one doctor has narrated a somewhat similar
instance that happened to one of his patients at the Priya Cinema in Delhi .. A young girl, engaged and about to be married in a couple of months, was pricked while the movie was going on.. The tag with the needle had the message
'Welcome to the World of HIV family'.
Though the doctors told her family that it takes about 6
months before the virus grows strong enough to start
damaging the system and a healthy victim could survive about 5-6 years, the girl died in 4 months, perhaps more because of the 'Shock thought'.
We all have to be careful at public places, rest God help! Just think about saving a life by forwarding this message. Please, take a few seconds of your time to pass along.
With Regards, Arvind Khamitkar ,
I.A.S, Director of Medical & Research Div, Chennai.
Rather than forwarding irrelevant mails, kindly pass
this to every one.
Probably ur mail can help some save his/her life
FROM Arvind Khamitkar ,
I.A.S, Director of Medical & Research Div,
Chennai
Dear Friends,
A few weeks ago, in a movie theater, a person felt
something poking from her seat
When she got up to see what it was, she found a
needle sticking out of the seat with a note attached saying
'You have just been infected by HIV'.
The Disease Control Center (in Paris ) reports many similar
events in many other cities recently. All tested needles were HIV Positive.
The Center also reports that needles have been found
in cash dispensers at public banking machines. We ask everyone to use extreme caution when faced with
this kind of situation. All public chairs/seats should be inspected with vigilance and caution before use. A careful visual inspection should be enough. In addition, they ask that each of you pass this message along to all members of your family and your friends athe potential danger.
Recently, one doctor has narrated a somewhat similar
instance that happened to one of his patients at the Priya Cinema in Delhi .. A young girl, engaged and about to be married in a couple of months, was pricked while the movie was going on.. The tag with the needle had the message
'Welcome to the World of HIV family'.
Though the doctors told her family that it takes about 6
months before the virus grows strong enough to start
damaging the system and a healthy victim could survive about 5-6 years, the girl died in 4 months, perhaps more because of the 'Shock thought'.
We all have to be careful at public places, rest God help! Just think about saving a life by forwarding this message. Please, take a few seconds of your time to pass along.
With Regards, Arvind Khamitkar ,
I.A.S, Director of Medical & Research Div, Chennai.
Rather than forwarding irrelevant mails, kindly pass
this to every one.
Probably ur mail can help some save his/her life
""
I recieved this mail today morning. This messege looks pretty convincing to the first eye's glance. In fact it is enough to scare the wits out of anybody. What if i was unknowingly pricked.?
What if this happens to me? Who could be doing this?
What if this happens to me? Who could be doing this?
Panic.
A quick search on Google revealed this....
""
A hoax mail is causing sensation among netizens these days. The mail is warning about people being prickled by HIV infected needles in public places. Though, the original mailer is still to be traced out.
The mailer naming himself Arvind Khamitkar, I.A.S, Director of Medical & Research Division, Chennai, tells an instance of a girl from delhi who was infected by HIV virus containing needle and died in 4 months. He claims that the needle had a tag, which read ‘‘Welcome to the family of HIV.’’
The Health Department officials have described the e-mail as a hoax.
‘‘There is no such IAS officer or Department in Tamil Nadu. There is no cause for an alarm’’ a senior Health official said.
Dr Usman, former director of Institute of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Government General Hospital said, ‘‘For the virus to be transmitted, it has to freshly taken in the syringe and the anti-coagulants had to be mixed.
The virus stays fresh till the blood is moist and it has to injected immediately on a person. But in the hot climates the virus cannot survive outside for long.’’
‘‘I would call this a combination of spam and prank,’’ said Na Vijayashankar, director, Cyber Law College, Chennai. According to him, especially younger Internet users indulge in such crimes to prove their technical capabilities and to satisfy their ego.
The police can easily trace the Internet Protocol address from which the e-mail had originated, he said.
""
This messege first began doing the rounds in 2006. especially this year, it has spread all over the country.
It is in our hands to verify the content of any mail before clicking the forward button.
I don't know if anybody could ever die of AIDS in this manner, but i surely am convinced that wanton spread of such hoax emails could bring about a "Shock-Death" or two!
So, live life KING SIZE!!!
Oct 20, 2008
POINTLESS
I was walking on the foot over bridge at Kurla station when i overheard a conversation between a mother and his son
Son: Mujhe 4 rupiya do na, vada pav khana hai, bhai ko bhi khana hai
Mother: Nahi, tu akele khayega, usse nahi dega
Son: do na paisa, khana hai mujhe
Mother: Paisa nahi hai mere paas, ja tu abhi
The same day, I had planned to have a pizza. A pizza by myself when people cant have a vada-pav for themselves. A pizza costing Rs. 200+ and a vada pav costing Rs.5-
The only feeling that was left was guilt. I don't know why, but there was guilt. Why am I having a pizza for me when people around me cant have basic food that they like. If he would have been asking for a chewing gum or a chocolate, I wouldn't have felt guilt. But what really moved me was he was asking for food. A filling food of vada pav.
Some people like to generate political mileage over "marathi manoos" and "we will resign for North Indians" when the common man doesn't even have money for a days food. Why not work for this common man instead? You want votes, dont you? Well, here is your chance to get votes and at the same time help the needy. Does a person who doesnt have 1 meal think about what state he is from or what country he belongs to? No, he just wants food. We talk about marathi culture deteriorating in Maharashtra, but we dont understand, why are immigrants coming here. At least the basic necessities are fulfilled to some extent. A person may not be getting even single meal a day at his hometown. In Mumbai, atleast he earns 1 meal per day. Its all for living. I didn't mean to talk about this issue in the post but it just came up.
The matter than needs to be stressed is many people in India cannot fulfil the basic necessities - food, clothing and shelter. Be it farmers from Vidharba or Biharis. The same goes for Oriyas and Andhraites from villages. We, sitting here in big cosmoplitian cities hardly care for them. We have other agendas on our mind. These people can easily be lured for a vote, and thats w government is formed (may be). Education is the cure to all this. Education - the golden word. Why can't we as educated people, help the backward. TIMES OF INDIA TEACH INDIA CAMPAIGN is restricted to cities alone, why not villages?
As you might have noticed that the post starts and brings up one point and ends at a different point altogether. Thats because may be, all these points are just entangled. Its a cycle, and once one link is broken, we might have a truely developed country.
Son: Mujhe 4 rupiya do na, vada pav khana hai, bhai ko bhi khana hai
Mother: Nahi, tu akele khayega, usse nahi dega
Son: do na paisa, khana hai mujhe
Mother: Paisa nahi hai mere paas, ja tu abhi
The same day, I had planned to have a pizza. A pizza by myself when people cant have a vada-pav for themselves. A pizza costing Rs. 200+ and a vada pav costing Rs.5-
The only feeling that was left was guilt. I don't know why, but there was guilt. Why am I having a pizza for me when people around me cant have basic food that they like. If he would have been asking for a chewing gum or a chocolate, I wouldn't have felt guilt. But what really moved me was he was asking for food. A filling food of vada pav.
Some people like to generate political mileage over "marathi manoos" and "we will resign for North Indians" when the common man doesn't even have money for a days food. Why not work for this common man instead? You want votes, dont you? Well, here is your chance to get votes and at the same time help the needy. Does a person who doesnt have 1 meal think about what state he is from or what country he belongs to? No, he just wants food. We talk about marathi culture deteriorating in Maharashtra, but we dont understand, why are immigrants coming here. At least the basic necessities are fulfilled to some extent. A person may not be getting even single meal a day at his hometown. In Mumbai, atleast he earns 1 meal per day. Its all for living. I didn't mean to talk about this issue in the post but it just came up.
The matter than needs to be stressed is many people in India cannot fulfil the basic necessities - food, clothing and shelter. Be it farmers from Vidharba or Biharis. The same goes for Oriyas and Andhraites from villages. We, sitting here in big cosmoplitian cities hardly care for them. We have other agendas on our mind. These people can easily be lured for a vote, and thats w government is formed (may be). Education is the cure to all this. Education - the golden word. Why can't we as educated people, help the backward. TIMES OF INDIA TEACH INDIA CAMPAIGN is restricted to cities alone, why not villages?
As you might have noticed that the post starts and brings up one point and ends at a different point altogether. Thats because may be, all these points are just entangled. Its a cycle, and once one link is broken, we might have a truely developed country.
Sep 7, 2008
Indianess - part 2
Sunday, 7th September, 2008.
Time: 11.00 am
I double click on "Connection to five network" icon. Click on Dial.
" The username/password you have provided is incorrect."
Realizing that my internet has been deactivated / expired, I call Swastik net (2522XXXX) and here is how the conversation takes place.
Me: Hello, me 36/A kamgar nagar madhun boltoy. Mala majha internet renew karaycha aahe.
SN: userid sanga.
Me: sunil_desh "s u n i l _ d e s h"(Spelling it out)
SN: Thik aahe, hooun jaail.
Me: Kiti time lagel?
SN: Eek ardha taas.
Time: 12.00 noon
Same damn username/ password incorrect message
Call Swastik net.
Me: Me 36/A kamgar nagar madhun................................(Same as above) Me 11 vajta fone kelella, tevha tumhi 30 mins bolla ajun jhala nahi aahe
Again I am asked for my username and told that it'll be done in 15 mins.
The same thing is repeated 5 times till 4'o clock.
And I am pissed now. I am controlling myself from shouting at the top of my voice on the operator just because people at my house were sleeping.
At 4.00 when I call them, that time I get the reason why my internet connection has not been renewed.
SN: Tumcha payment baaki aahe.
Me:Tumhi ghyayla aala ka? tumhi jevha yeta tevha payment hooun jaata, tumhi yeyla tari pahije!
SN: Ho saheb, aamhi aamcha manus pathavto, tevha tyala payment dya. Hooun jaail.
Me: Thik aahe, pathva.
The man comes at 4.15 nd collects the payment. He calls their office and asks them to renew the account from my house.
At 4.45, I check, and still my internet hasnt been renewed.
Again the same old procedure of calling and firing those guys
At 5, its activate and running as I write this blog.
I dont understand, if the operator had told me the reason for not renewing my account at 11'o clock itself, I would have had my internet connectiong running at 12 noon. But theres lack of management in every sphere of life. A internet provider can easily keep a recored of payments and reason for non -renewal of account canbe told then and there rather than making the person call 5 times and then telling him the reason in the first place. You can observe this everywhere in India. No work is done unless u spend Rs 10. on telephone calls. May be its because of our "Indianness" -in reference to the INDIANESS article that I have written. These are somethings that need to change.
If they dont:
We are there to adjust
but HOPEFULLY THEY WILL!
Time: 11.00 am
I double click on "Connection to five network" icon. Click on Dial.
" The username/password you have provided is incorrect."
Realizing that my internet has been deactivated / expired, I call Swastik net (2522XXXX) and here is how the conversation takes place.
Me: Hello, me 36/A kamgar nagar madhun boltoy. Mala majha internet renew karaycha aahe.
SN: userid sanga.
Me: sunil_desh "s u n i l _ d e s h"(Spelling it out)
SN: Thik aahe, hooun jaail.
Me: Kiti time lagel?
SN: Eek ardha taas.
Time: 12.00 noon
Same damn username/ password incorrect message
Call Swastik net.
Me: Me 36/A kamgar nagar madhun................................(Same as above) Me 11 vajta fone kelella, tevha tumhi 30 mins bolla ajun jhala nahi aahe
Again I am asked for my username and told that it'll be done in 15 mins.
The same thing is repeated 5 times till 4'o clock.
And I am pissed now. I am controlling myself from shouting at the top of my voice on the operator just because people at my house were sleeping.
At 4.00 when I call them, that time I get the reason why my internet connection has not been renewed.
SN: Tumcha payment baaki aahe.
Me:Tumhi ghyayla aala ka? tumhi jevha yeta tevha payment hooun jaata, tumhi yeyla tari pahije!
SN: Ho saheb, aamhi aamcha manus pathavto, tevha tyala payment dya. Hooun jaail.
Me: Thik aahe, pathva.
The man comes at 4.15 nd collects the payment. He calls their office and asks them to renew the account from my house.
At 4.45, I check, and still my internet hasnt been renewed.
Again the same old procedure of calling and firing those guys
At 5, its activate and running as I write this blog.
I dont understand, if the operator had told me the reason for not renewing my account at 11'o clock itself, I would have had my internet connectiong running at 12 noon. But theres lack of management in every sphere of life. A internet provider can easily keep a recored of payments and reason for non -renewal of account canbe told then and there rather than making the person call 5 times and then telling him the reason in the first place. You can observe this everywhere in India. No work is done unless u spend Rs 10. on telephone calls. May be its because of our "Indianness" -in reference to the INDIANESS article that I have written. These are somethings that need to change.
If they dont:
We are there to adjust
but HOPEFULLY THEY WILL!
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