Meaningful education !!??

Finally the taxing endterms come to an end today...Actually am supposed to be logically sleeping right now but for this early morning flight that leaves me with no option but to spend another night sitting if I don wanna risk missing it. And wandering on the internet to quench my thirst of information I stuck at some articles and news items related to educational reforms in India. The path being followed seemed intriguing.
The thing started with making compulsary for the private schools to accomodate some students from poor background. But then when actually these students reached those posh places they found themselves a misfit. They could neither match the affluence of the richer lot nor could they save themselves from continuaal jibery and mockery. In all we have created a frustrated mass of students and parents who find themselves guessing their faults. The fault that actually is of the government. The body who is responsible to provide basic education to all. Shrudding their responsibilty into these banal legislations is not going to address the problem. This actually reminds me something I have been taught recently. The funda of unintended consequences. I believe that intenstions behind the actions were pure and if idealism prevailed these would have in fact improved the level of education in India. but then expecting idealism seems to stretching the demands too far.
Next has been optioning out class X boards exam. We have been living with this for all our generations and now government wants to put an end to it on account of pressure creating activity. Agreed !! it creates pressure on students. Again the logic seems sort of illogical. It is for the first time students are exposed to the competition in true sense. After all they have to see the pressure and competition. or some politicial still planning some miraculous method of eliminating competition itself from the society economy and all other spheres? Seriously scrapping an examination which has over the years developed into a benchmark in itself. What fails my understanding is the way scrapping it would help reduce pressure in first place. You may relieve a proportion of students from the stress of failure at that stage but then what would they do for class XII boards or for that matter competitions ahead(May be bringing down the standard of JEE was a part of this strategy..) And all this would be done at the cost of some of the meritorious students. Just try to think what would be impact of someone supposed to score 89.4% (no points for guessing who is being talked about:). But the point is there is no end to stress, pressure and competition especially in today's world and atleast not by such frivolous attempts. Unintended consequeces again it seems. Now I realize how important those 8:00 AM lectures were that I simply ignored.
The fact of the matter is when we should be actually improving our education system, we are scrapping out some of the better elements of the system. At time when Mr. Obama envies India for its education systems and calling to emulate from it, we aren't concerned enough. I bet government and the HR minister should broaden their focus of outlook and should try bringing wholesome improvements inclusive in character. GLOBE GLOBE GLOBE he he yeah it is but then public policy can never be specific or particularized. Thus we elected a set of white dressed executives to take care of our woes and in them we keep our faith that one day they would steer India to become how we should envisage it to be(.)

the lost vehicle :(

So finally a commendable endeavor comes to an end..The unmanned lunar orbiter detaches itself from the shackles of the mortals trying to keep it under control. But now its a free being in itself exploring the realms of the universe.
Launched in october 2008 it indeed was a milestone in India's space exploration and would always form an important part of the story. Developing an indigenous spacecraft and launching it from domestic facilities was indeed a giant leap and commendable result of the hardwork of the scientists involved. The endeavor has really put India in league with few others who have been able to send material from earth into the space. The craft was supposed to send info about lunar surface and activities taking place on the most fascinated spatial body lovingly called the "Chanda Mama". According to the releases by ISRO I belive the machine did a wonderful job uptil now and has sent hundreds of photographs and loads of data which I am sure would provide meaningful conclusions.
Last few months, the Chandrayaan I has been amidst controvercies regarding of failure of the gyroscopic instrument which provided direction and balance for maneavouring the big machine. However, thanks to the ingenuity of the great minds at work, the satellite vehicle was kept under control by alternate mechanical mechanisms. But finally every conception has a climax and so was the case with this. But only was it abrupt and premature. There was still a 11 month stint that the craft was yet to work and the early loss is indeed a loss of knowledge.
When Mr. Nair from ISRO says that the experiment has been a lot infomative and enlightening, I would like to believe him and would still like to congratulate him for the great job done by him and his team. If nothing else, it atleast was a headstart to the regions unexplored. I hope the mistakes of the first attempt would provide improved insight for the Chandrayaan 2 and timely remeady of them are undertaken. It has positioned Indian tricolour on the surface of the moon and thats and achievement in itself. What I am looking forward is towards the day when an Indian vehicle carries a man to the lunar surface !

A Foreign Avocation

Yesterday a bunch of us were having a candid interaction at the dinner table and the topic of discussion was the latest resume submission due today..and somehow we rambled to the issue of hobbies..and all the usual dropped in..some were great readers while some were such involved in movie watching..(and not the english and hindi flicks I see :) ) ..there were someone who simply loved making softwares..and then there was I ..hobby - number crunching..and then there reactions werent any different from yours at the moment..confused...bemused...as they were..I had their constant attention...
May be its a hobby I inherited from my dad..but then it seems to be a constructive time pass for me...atleast it keeps my brains on toes..which, given my lethargic tendencies, is something I need desperately.
Now what is this hobby of mine. Nothing special- anything related to number..ranging from simply mulling over a number to find out something interesting about it ..learning some of the novel techniques in mathematics..or simply browsing numbers' websites (believe me there are innumberable of those). This hobby of mine got its feathers once I could get myself registered on a coveted website of prime numbers and my few submissions accepted. and then it gradually developed into a past time I have adopted in.
and the discussion ended with one more perspective of my nerdish image..but then I guess thats the way it is...
as far as general update goes..had a presentation yesterday..first presentation in formal dressing..and the whole class dressed up in suits really loooked as if managers were in making.. I do hope we do !! Tomorrow we have two quizzes and that is when I am writing this stuff..studies do have tendency to create distractions...endsems in a fortnight and then am flying back home for a quick chill pill at home..hope life gets a relief in that week...fihaal let me take a break from this and return to the books ..

Meeting of Minds

Two days....Two personalities and loads of food.(for thought)..
Yesterday we had an interactive session with Mr. Y V Reddy, the former governor of Reserve Bank of India. It was during his tenure that the global recession started showing signs of existence and he has been involved with some of the measures taken for keeping its effects external to India.
A close door small group meeting with such a learned personality could be a thought in mind for many which is a fact for me. He expressed his views on the ramifications of separating a Central Bank of a country from state control. An extent of autonomy is desired but complete separations has shown its ill-effects. He also spoke of the concept of decoupling of economies is more a matter of convenience rather than reality. He believes that no economy today is truly decoupled although the extent of interdependence may vary. Decoupling, in his words, is "contextually convenient but logically irrelevant. " He also spoke of need for the government to modify its working and policies to attract young intellectual minds towards state jobs. Importance of govt. sector, which he differentiates from the public sector, has not been truly realized and he maintains that private sector has stakes in the govt. sector. He also touched upon the difference between general and financial literacy and need to increase the financial literacy in India. In a lighter vein he said, that lack of knowledge about financial crisis means that we have been relieved of it upto some extent.
After the intellectually stimulating session, today we had a session with renowned journalist M. J. Akbar who was once the editor of Asian Age. The well read and immensely informed person that he is, he expressed his views on myriad of issues ranging from govt. interference in media to relationships with Pakistan and communal harmony in the country. He was critical about how the government uses media to get along the general support to some of the international policies. He subtly mentioned how he is also one of the victims of such govt. interventions. On Indo-Pak relations he said that temporary peace and betterment of relations was an imminent necessity to both the parties but a long term solution seems evasive at the moment. He also raised the prevelent biases in the country based on communal lines and expressed his concerns of their long lasting effects. He also spoke shortly about the demographic dividend that India enjoys and its benefits that need to be reaped.
In all these two talks opened up plethora of new dimensions of thinking of issues and provided completely novel perspectives to some of them. Looking forward to some more of such talks in coming days...

Socha Na Tha :)

A month full of abstruse assignments, lengthy submissions, sacrosanct deadlines and then finally a short 3 day scheduled midterms....Life has seen some new colors on this campus. Yeah ended the midterms..first exams of my postgraduate life and may be this completes half of many such cyles of trimesters.. And on looking back on last month a thought, intelligible, creeps my innocuous brains - Life is way different for Engineering.
First of all students preparing readings before reaching the classrooms, which by the way are creations of due architectural undertaking to provide with the best of luxuries, was a completely new aspect. Enthusiasm of class participation, without the much needed contribution to grading, was something bizzare for me.
However there has been a lot of change for better. Firstly, all your creativeness and ability to globe and bakar are given proper channels to erupt and all for some useful constructive jobs....including examinations. There is far less to mug-up. Courses are more general in their scope and discussions revolve around topics of daily interest. And if this does not gives a feel one of the course had a case in midterms on Gay rights judgement of high court.

On the life apart academics...Yeah even among all this we get time to have something called life. The janta is fun and rabs every opportunity to enjoy. Birthday celebration is an event everyone looks forward to. The much controversial Hoosh is a nightmare for every mortal atleast on his manufacturing date. And ask aboout that to me..the inaugral being- on victim side- of official hooshing culture of our section. Yet for some one being Hooshed the consolation of being surrounded by friends on the day is more dominating and overwhelming.

On other angles, living besides guys much more experienced both in life and work is making me a bit more sensible, sensitive and groomed. Daily bath, ironed clothes and ordered room are just some of the illustrations. So much has happend in these last 40 days and yet its only around a dozenth fraction of all this life that is yet to come. Indeed I can say - 'Socha Na Tha.
signing off now to catch up with some sleep before this system again loads me with more assignments, submissions and deadlines!! Cheers!!

Entering the Hallowed Halls...

To start with..as has been the issue of plagiarism so emphasized, the title is not my creation but an innovation of some mortal displaying immense linguistic competence during one of the 'fun sessions' meant for us. Now coming to my actual intent of this piece of creation.
Have finally joined IIM Bangalore on 22nd of June. What seemed to be a slacked time of orientation week some how turned into an experience un-thought of. The schedule gave a list of sessions for group activities and other introductions to IIMB and its various components. After the registration, begun the inauguration of the orientation week and then we realized that these guys do not let any time go waste. The same session involved awarding DML entrants, and then a welcome by the direct, the PGP Chair and other dignitories of the college. Following that next few days had some sessions purely aimed at introducing to the systems and operations (managerial jargon !!) of IIMB. Talks by CAO, CC In charge, Librarian and others were informative for daily requirements here. PGP Chair made us aware of various academic and administrative rules and their severity. Then there were lectures by professors introducing to management communication and case studies. And it was this week itself when we had spicmacay performance by an IIMB alumni, a talk by BCG MD and partner James Abrahim and then Mr. Nandan Nilekani coming down to the campus to interact with the incoming batch.
In all the week was a peep into the life of IIM Bangalore and a cushion... a transition mechanism for the newcomers to interact among themselves, with the seniors and with the environment. And then the seniors were always ready to get you into the shoes of 'walking-talking' zombies. Aneways, friends it's now end of the orientation week and from tomorrow commence the regular classes. With an aim to be veritable participant in the classes and solemn student, the same that I set at the dawn of the engineering, I need to catch on with some sleep before the famed excruciating academic life of an institute of management as big as IIM Bangalore.

Graduation Engineered

Finally the coveted degree in hand and am now officially an engineer from an IIT. My last few post must have already enlightened all to the fact of how can this degree be engineered. Still finally having it in hand gives me the special status that comes with it and am atleast a graduate if not an engineer. Atleast the picture that the world sees is bright and thats enough to make me happy.
Yeah during the visit to grab the degree we visited the Pabitora Wild Life Sanctuary which I believe is only place in country where an elephant can take you so near to a rhino that can only be a story of imagination. That was one thing other than the IIT that I guess I would remember for some time.
Filhaal I am over with a phase of life called under-Graduation and am soon to enter the one called post-Graduation and fully enjoying the transition phase. The only matra of life seems to be "Eat Healthy ,Sleep Better" and am truely sticking to it... The apprehensions of sleep being at premium at my new abode furthers my determination.
Leaving for Bangalore on 19th of June and if nothing important comes up I may be back after joining there..Busy with all the stuff U Know...!![:D]

Cleared for take off !!! :o

Aptness of the title can only be recognized by someone who has beard the burnt of four years at an unidentified place in realms of concrete buildings, monstrous professors, regular examinations and subsequent quest fro grades. With the submission of the No Dues Form, the toughest job of the ultimate semester, I have been relived of all my duties towards a BTech Degree [:)] and so as the title says I am......
Looking back at last few weeks at life in this paradise,as in my own words, I realize the extents to which a BTech degree can be farzi yet authentic, the later representing only the literal meaning. The pre-endsem period when everyone was haywire about submission of the undergraduate thesis, most of us finally rested on some or other manipulations of truth:P for the final dissertation.
Ours very own case presents the best of examples of this earthly reality. Devoid of an reliable approach a week before the due date, we finally end up getting a perfect grade is a living testimonial of hows the way to go about and around :D Few strokes of trial and error, slight modifications on good old MS PAINT and finally a bit of pursuations with regards to impossibility of certain tasks is enough to convince some unsuspecting Mr. Paily to realize how hard two innocent looking (subject to perceptions :o) have worked and that the results truely is outcome of that work. Hiding the existing work on the same topic is only a cherry on the ice-cream. And these realizations manifest into professon vehemently(exaggerations accepted!!) supporting these two beings at the presentation where a Mr. Bose was bossing around leaving everyone flummoxed. And since he expects to get a journal paper out of that crap of 4 nite-outs, I guess thats a win-win for everyone:).
And as if that was enough for the day, the clearing came with the news of another AA and an AB, in courses where the syllabii for the examination was presented the nite before. And with this I rest my case that nothing is impossible is something not said arbitrarily. When you can be passing as a BTech department rank 2 of electronics and communication engineering without knowing the directional arrows of a MOSFET there's nothing in the world that you can't achieve!!
But then the only fact to know is Who Cares. As in words of Director, we are just one more passing batch for the faculty who is ready to embrace a brand new wagon with similar apathy. We or for that matter some of us like me going for a hands on with new fields and realities, the technical knowledge rendered was just a means to the end..the end being the document I am supposed to receive on last working day of May with huge fan-fare. And so its just a moment to relax and enjoy my last day ..or infact the only night that is left...at this campus. Signing off now with a hope that atleast people who have been named in this declaration do not visit:) untill I am safely gone....

it's The ENDofSEMS !!

Finally over with the end sems or rather end of sems at IIT Guwahati. Coming out of the examination hall after the last exam of the ultimate semester of the four year BTech, Mixed feeling erupted deep within. On one hand was the joy of finishing the long journey, on other was the glum of reaching the destination. While on a path the destination..the ultimate goal seems to be the only end of voyage...but the uncertainitities of the path has its own charm. And at the end of it you only remember the journey without which the destination has no meaning. Any philosphical that these words may sound, its today I realize their meaning.Out of my last assignments as the student at IITG, I realize the importance of the four year tenure, which during its course was the only thing I hated.
Keeping the boring rhythm of emotion crap aside i realize, still is left the last pinch of the "dreaded" BTech..the undergraduate project. Have to prepare a presentation for the tuesday session,the final one. Still am supposed to write a conference paper on the work and also have to get done with an implementation. So lots of work at hand and forsee few sleepless nights. However I guess in these final times, the night outs would would be one of the events of life at college that I would cherish down the lane of time .. will only be back after the presentation...so till then Chill Maadi !!

The end is inevitable

So finally the day has arrived..have been bid farewell by our juniors last night. Although it should be an emotional moment, it went all as an enjoyable treat and a night full of fun and masti. It was however realized that our days in this campus were numbered and it is now time to plan for a change of abode. The night began by few performances by our junior and then few inspiring words by the faculty who was kind enough to take part. This followed by the dinner digressed into an informal bakar with everyone remembering salient memories of life in last four years. Among this was also a session in which everyone was given a plain t-shirt on which messages from friends could be recieved so as to keep memories alive for a long time. Everyone elegantly dressed in Kurtas as was the required dress code, it was a complete change from how everyone looked in the afternoon.
We had a batch photo session at 3:30. 250 guys dressed in their formals and foraying to have their photos in every possible group combination possible and groups were as wierd as room no 306 of every hostel :). However it was a single occasion in last four years when the whole batch gathered for something of no compulsating requirements. with all these activities it develops a nostalgia in heart. I never thought I would feel this when leaving this place but i guess I now knwo why they say that its difficult to forget the college life !!!

The idleness is over it seems..

So far the last semester at engineering has been treating me well. Academic workload at its minimal..infact marking it to be negligible would not be far from exaggeration. Shortlisting for interviews at all the seven IIMs was more than a happy start.Frequent trips out of this remotest place of world brought welcome changes to life style even though they were for the dreaded IIM interviews. and finally getting selected to study at coveted center of learning for management studies ..The IIMB..was something one could only wish of !! :D
but as the times of engineering comes to its end , things seem to get hectic it feels. Have a HS presentation on monday followed be other one in next week for an elective course picking which I consider by biggest mistake for the four year term !! Then there is the Big BTP catching up. Forgot the thing for the whole semester and that comes to haunt me with its weightage on the credit list. :(
As of the moment I do not have slightest idea of how am I going to wrap this stuff within the required time frame. But I guess its the final test of how we have learned to "manage" things at last moments and I am preety sure that I have been a good learner :P

And ya amidst all this are the usual social responsibilities that one has. Have to give up a talk on how to bell the CAT for CEPSTRUM, the ece student body as if getting a selecting has had me figured out the secret to it :o. But I guess success has certain attachments and strings and it seems I am loving this at the moment .

Converting to IIMB !

Hey friends its finally 10th of april descending into a new day with cocking ticking to 0:00 hrs..the day is up and was indeed special not because it was a friday ...the day of the week which presents a new set of bollywood flicks to scan DC for(Hope most of you know that .those who dont itz a lifeline :) Even the great good friday isnt enough a reason to make this day.. Itz a day when the good old IIMs have come out with their perceptions of budding managerial aspirants. Yups results of the GDPI rounds are out carving out the future of some 2000 odd guys (sorry also gals). and here I am sharing this day with you before it finally dimnishes into the excitement of the new coming date.
exactly around 24 hours ago started the war...with your laptop..internet connection and the damn jammed IIM servers and not to forget the pagalguy(the supportline of every cat aspirants). and god knows when those 'F5s' turned into a deep slumber unaware of the facts that my destiny was being determined by some dumb offica guys preparing the final draft of the results. Up comes the morning and first reaction is to hit the 'F5' again and there are results for IIML and C. the shaking hands and unnerving chill hinders entering the regn no and shit ...It sedately informs me of my rejection. Gosh I so hoped to get C through. Starting with tho rejects the starting was indeed not so good on a GOOD FRIDAY. still the heart goes on. And next comes up the pdf at IIMBs unmanaged and scrambled website. Finally I have a convert. Wooo...a selection and a new direction to life. then came kozhikode, ahmedabad and indore in that order and none helped much with preety much all rejects and the 130th waitlist in IIMI did not really helped. But I already had what i required...The B support.
The news gradually spreads and in comes loads of selfish(i do not literally mean that !!) congratulations. friends flogging to shake hands with that ever sweet words 'congrats'..I love that. And then came some of the dearest friends of the campus..good old mantri and chadha...no marks for guessing their mind. a lovely treat was all they were calling for and I had to oblize. the day went in the city trip for the treat. am back and preety tired and much more excited by the feel of getting to go to an IIM..the sweetest three characters, ofcourse after and IIT.
Guess I gotta have my bed a pleasure of my company for now. Will put up more of my experience all through this journey of going through CAT 2008 and getting a convert. Really looking forward to be at a "place to B"

IIM Interviews - Season 2 (S & C)

So here I was back in kol for the interview season 2. Right now I am in train going back to guwahati seeking to kill some time while misssing all the fun and colours of HOLI that the world outside is enjoying :(. Had the Shillong and calcutta one on 8th and 10th of march. Had a midsem stretch from 1st to 6th and hence there wasnt much scope to get on with the happenings around the world and that made me lose an edge behind others. Getting the formalities done for the mischievous kol form!! had to get HOD to attest my academic record..which he felt was a arduous process.and then having the academic section shell out a certificate in two days time...it was almost a run against time..and all that amidst the exams that were goona ensure I could use all this stuff. Anyways all done I left on 6th evening and back to kol rest house on 7th night. The next day was the IIM Shillong interview in afternoon session. For a change fom all previous ones this was at IISWBM,an institute which the present director of IIMS once headed.
Now a new venue brings with it a altogether new search for it. Built amidst the conundrum of collage square it was quite a task to resolve it. But contrary to expectations the place had the standards to host an IIM interview.The auditorium was opened to be the waiting area. Had our Gd at 2:00. It was a table prepared for 11 out of which 8 had turned up to be present. The discussion was to be on a case related to an official confusion on India's stand at WTO meeting. THe decision of supporting either the EU or an australia led group rested with the official. The format was 5-15-5 in order of reading-discussing-summarizing. However we were cut short in the last part and were asked to return the sumary paper in aroung 2.5 mins. Then again as most of the cases I was third last to appear for the interview. Presence fo familiar faces from last interviews brought solace to the 3 hr wait. Finally I got the chance to present myself before the panel comprising of three professors or so do I think. The right most gentleman started with the difference in CDMA and GSM and went on to antennas taking the strictest of the technical route finally yielding me to give up. Then the rightmost guy started on with women empowerment and asked me for a 2 min extempore. Thank god I went through the morning Times of India which had the coverstory related to women condition in India (later realized it was women empowerment day). amidst other things the central prof(or an alumni) occasionally chipped in with his seemingly sarcastic smile. I was asked about female prime ministers in the world..the first..ones at time of Indira Gandhi.Based on my statistical answers to some question they deviated finally to sample surveys and other stuff and bid goodbye after a 20 minute get together.!!!
Next after a days break I was present at IIM Calcutta campus for coveted interview. The Gd was on the relevance of planning in times of dominant market fources. The 2-10-1 min schedule seemed too less in starting. 2 minutes to think on topic and discussion for 10 mins in a group of 12 was unproportions so as to say. However we had a good discussion overall with seldom "fish-market" situations. again was numbered 8th for the interview. My luck!!or unluck..the usual bakar prevailed in the waiting lounge. When called for my turn I entered the room with (again) three panalist. The right most began by asking for my form. Contrary to others we were asked to get our forms and photocopies of certificates attested in the office and hence original file was not asked for. Started with railways to question with regarding Dad's posting adn other usual stuff of which all places I have been. Then there a sweet(uhh) smile on reading my hobbies..Number Theory..batton passes directly to the third person. The proff with stern looks and typicall frightening aura I relate to one of my profs back at 'G'. Started with an efficient way to get GCD of two numbers..efficient ?? I knew only one method taught in 7th standard.so hands up...then he came to prime number checking and that was my forte...i mean epicenter of my preparations.....gave him root N method..supplemented it with fermat's theorem. went ahead to pseudoprimes and finally he was getting satisfied he pitched in whether power function's(fermat's theorem) use is an efficient way for which I could mummer about my ignorance of a better method. And with this ends grilling on my hobby and I take a sigh of relief now middle proff enters the debate with his ex India knowledge and went to my Zurich. Langauages and other tourism related things. then again the right most proff chipped in the railways with a question on all the fuss about Indian Railways making huge profits. Again something I prepared well for. So muttered all the facts and figures. logics in some cases were questioned and i guess explained well. The middle one then asks the concluding question of my plan next day. Told him was taking a train back. On his enquiry of why not to spend holi with friends in kol..my answer of need to reach Guwahati for a class the day after(As if I would attend that :)) seemed to leave some impression. So in all it was a mach on home ground in which my innings went well..but still a home ground does not guarantee that opposition would not perform..So have kept my fingers crossed. Planning to go back and get on the nes from the world and the GCD's efficient method:) for A and L.

IIM Interviews - Season 1 (I K and B)

So here i am to jot down highlights of my first season of IIM imterviews which included that of indore, kozhikode and bangalore. The strategically planned dates compelled me to stay in kolkata for the whole 10 day schedule. First GD/PI was of indore on 11th of feb and so there I was in kol on 10th afternoon with a friend. All three inerviews were held at same place- The Kenilworth Hotel in Palk street. And yeah in case you wannna check my profile visit academics page and my autobiography on expressions page.!!
After reaching resthouse and taking the much needed rest we got to the "work"..preparing ourselves for the awaited show off!! and so started the process ..getting formals out of the packaging, having the suits ready, knotting the tie, polishing shoes..and then the more serious stuff like completing the form and arranging the certificates. Next day waking up at 5:30 for an 9:00 interview was something i must have done for the first time. Reached the venue well before time and were called at 9 for the GD session. Had a discussion on a case problem presented to us.The case dealt with a company known for bringing innovative products in market. The recents launches of the company have been a failure and hence a solution was sought for the deadlock between various wings of management. Then was the turn of the Interviews. The order of presentation being random allowed existance of anxious wait which in my case was further complemented by the fact that I was the third last person to be called. The wait in the speciall room alloted was quite enlightening both intellectually and personally. All sort of knowledge based questions floated around covering the diversity of fields from politics , economics to art and design. Fortunately there was someone or the other to give in an answer for most of them. Further the presence of IITians in majority allowed for all sort of useless gossip "bakar(to say technically)" to find its way. Finally came the call (yeah my panel were calling candidates on a landline providede by the hotel). The interview overall radiated an sense of eager interviewee and bored interviewer. Started with my intern at IIT Bombay in signal processing. The prof seemed to be a bit into filters and I had to face some unheard of words(jargons) of audio(my guess) filters. Then came the lady prof with her inquisitiveness about Europe. Reached there by my significant incident she started by asking me to explain that and then further covered basics of what I can say as "a senior advising someone on a foreign intern." finally at the end I was offered to pick a couple of toffees from the bowl and was permitted to leave. And out came me guessing whether the chocolate was a consolation gift or an statement of congratulations(given the fact that they were offered selectively) !!!!
Then I had a break of a day before my kozhikode interview and so took the time off to rest. The eve of second interview again witnessed some hasty or nasty preparations going on but with diluted vigour. The existing protocol prevailed and things were brought in place.Am presenting this part of the season in more of a direct speecha s I remember most of it (hopefully!).
A group discussion was conducted at the starting. The whole group was devided into two panels.We had a group of 10 people and the topic of discussion were health facilites for poors and further various oppressions they have to deal with. It was a good discussion on a whole where everyone who wished to speak got a chance. I guess I performed preety well with chipping in for 4-5 times. I hope I guess it right !! The GD got over without a proper conclusion but i think this is inevitable when theres' an IIM seat at stake.
Then started the dreaded PIs. they called in according to the order in which we were called for the dscussion. I was fourth in order. All stories of stress interviews, professors laughing on answers and other tactics were are hovering all around. However as interviews progressed these were being subdued..atleast for our panel. A technical oriented grilling was what I was hoping when I entered more so when there was a systems prof there in the room. As I entered I found one of the prof was away and the only left there threw -- Introduce yourself !! Sir, My name is..I hail from..and blah blah goes on..-- Then he picks my grad marksheet and asked me about my favourite subject..Now that was something i guessed would be...Said Communication, specially mobile communication. He then asked me to explain how communication takes place between two end mobile sets. knew the process and hence explained. Then came to exact method in technical term for gsm..Sir, TDMA is used for the purpose. Modulation scheme ?? Frequency modulation sir. Then again some Hows and Whys. Answered most of those and then finally we came to repeating what I already had said. So change of topic. mean while the second professor had appeared on the scene, Started with my website on envormental club ..its contents.. Answered most questions except about a word that came from nowhere and had no idea. If you are made the the chairman of the pollution control board then what steps would you start with... talked about public transport..metro etc..and then about irregular traffic management..switching engines off during traffic jams.(hope i mad some sence there) Then a twister..PI going international...Who is president of Afganistan ? Sir Hamid Karzai..Forgot to precede with Mr. .. Is he an Indian ?? Sir he has roots in India but am unaware of actual relation. What is capital of Burma ?? I dont know sir. Bhutan ?? Sorry sir. now he realised lack of international geography in my knowledge base so came back to India. How many North-Eastern States are there? sir, 7. Can you name them..now I was ready with the names. blurted them. Ok Tarun, what was the first question you were asked. Sir I was asked to introduce myself. Apart that. Sir about my favourite subject. Are you sure ? Yes Sir. Ok Tarun thank you. It was nice talking to you. Thank you sir. Thus ended the second of seven GD/PIs that CAT 2008 has entitled me to appear for. Next was the salivating Banglore.
Again a morning slot..started right on time..called for a gd..and ya just for info..there is only a single panel of two profs..8 guys in all...had a discussion on whether foreign companies be allowed to establish centers in india.got 10 mins to read the caselet and jot down points. than a vocal discussion followed where i chipped in 5-6 times with 2-3 good points..at the end we were asked to wait outside and were called for interview in order as we were called for discussion. Guys went and came out..and unlike all other interviews(I & K) noone seemed to be any helpful to guess what was going on inside. The max they could say was a bit of probab and no idea after that. This was enough to frighten in itself...and yeah this time i crossed the indore boundary..was the last guy in the row..and hence again a wait till 1 o clock to be grilled. finally came the moment..was called in and then started the dreaded intraction with the two highly intellectual beings for the moment...introduce yourself..the prepared one..ambition in life...blah blah..why to go for an mba now..fundas...coaching for mba..further fundas...if not then where did you pick all these stereotype answers..??..no idea...no funde..sir i m true in what I say...so where have you been placed? sir so and so company..hm and what is you work profile going to be..sir software development...so is it anything related to your graduation..no sir..so you wasted all your time..answered with recession fundas.lack of companies...now the other guys taking charge..SO tarun you have done a course on probability.Yes Sir in fourth sem...so what were you taught there..answered..so how do you define random process..random variable..?? ..some arbit stuff was my reply..then what is area under a pdf.?? sir 1. okay..something about ur hobbies..and then finally the relief..do you wish to tell us something..No sir..(I just want to runn outta here and take some air..:D) Thus ended the seemingly long grilling session and my third interview...god knows if it was a stress interview or were they really pissed off by my stereopes and fair isaac. god help.. going back today by the evening flight. Got to catch up on a lot of stuff back..Yearbook, BTP , and then the midsems lined up...