It's the day of Lord Ganesh and it's celebrated with real pomp and show in various parts of the country. Hers this festival is mainly popular among students and it's the students who worship Lord Ganesh on this day in their schools/colleges.
We too arranged for the Puja in our hostel's common room-it was great! The preparations for the Puja had started two days before-collecting money from the boarders of our hostel and planning out things such as what would be the expenditure and at what time the Puja is to be done. There was a group consisting of some 5 people who were in-charge of all the things but anyone suggestions were most welcome and everyone had an equal say in all the matters-this is the spirit of NITians freshers!
The Puja was done at 7 in the morning and though it's always a real pain to get up early in the morning and have a bath but there was an amazing enthu today and eveyone was ready and we got collected in the common room and the Puja was held very nicely and peacefully.
There is also a Puja in the AV Hall of our college but had not been there till now-because we had a cricket match after the Puja and I was the captain of the team- well we lost it ;-))) Not good at playing cricket nor at captianing a team! Will be most probably going to the AV Hall in the evening if I don't feel too lazy;-)
In this respect,our Hall was the the unique one as it was the only Hall to organise the Ganesh Puja in the Hall itself- the other Hall members had to attend the Puja in the AV Hall- ya,ya freshers are the best in this college ;-)
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Thursday, August 24, 2006
IIT and NIT
(Disclaimer- The information about IITs and foreign universities given here are collected from various sources and no work has been done to check the authenticity of these.)
Lately, I heard that there is a proposal of upgrading our college NIT,Rkl to an IIT-which is indeed a great news for all of us. It brought a mixed feeling in me- both happiness as well as the past forgotten wounds of not getting into an IIT came alive once again.
Yesterday night from some sources I got to know about the atmosphere in an IIT and compared that to with that of a NIT- and concluded why are IITs "the IITs"and a NIT just a NIT and thought of writing about that today. So am I doing!
There are a lot of differences between IIT and NIT. It goes as follows-
Attitude difference. A very important aspect as such. There is a difference between students at the IITs and that in NITs. From the first day itself IITians are said to believe that they are the best unlike that in NIT. Infact we really do believe that we are inferior to the IITians and no one tells us not to believe that-the atmosphere is really very differnet here. Yesterday night,infact, we were discussing about our scores in JEE and most of the students missed by some very less marks-some getting the cut-off in total but missing it in a particular subject. So if one sees that way the people in IITs are not really the best ones-but are believed to be so-some smarter ones may be somewhere else. But what makes the difference is their attitude.
Faculty-student interaction. I heard that in IITs,the student-faculty interaction is excellent. Professors move to the hostels to interact with the students and help them in any way possible way leaving aside syllabus-but also with other forms of education-projects,and other things- which is much unlike in the NITS. Professors here are hesistant to move to hostels.
Scoring well. In NITs,the main emphasis is on getting grades and cramming up things rather than really understanding how can one use that in real life and enginnering-unlike the IITs.
So if really NITR is to be brought up to the level of an IIT,there is a long way to go.
This is purely my own thinking and there is no outside influence governing this. But I don't say that NITs are not at all worth studying in- it's really a good college if a comaprison is made with other colleges-the student quality is amazing here as well,which otherwise is thought to be just okay.
And yes,I completed one month in the NIT today and really it is a fantastic place!
Lately, I heard that there is a proposal of upgrading our college NIT,Rkl to an IIT-which is indeed a great news for all of us. It brought a mixed feeling in me- both happiness as well as the past forgotten wounds of not getting into an IIT came alive once again.
Yesterday night from some sources I got to know about the atmosphere in an IIT and compared that to with that of a NIT- and concluded why are IITs "the IITs"and a NIT just a NIT and thought of writing about that today. So am I doing!
There are a lot of differences between IIT and NIT. It goes as follows-
Attitude difference. A very important aspect as such. There is a difference between students at the IITs and that in NITs. From the first day itself IITians are said to believe that they are the best unlike that in NIT. Infact we really do believe that we are inferior to the IITians and no one tells us not to believe that-the atmosphere is really very differnet here. Yesterday night,infact, we were discussing about our scores in JEE and most of the students missed by some very less marks-some getting the cut-off in total but missing it in a particular subject. So if one sees that way the people in IITs are not really the best ones-but are believed to be so-some smarter ones may be somewhere else. But what makes the difference is their attitude.
Faculty-student interaction. I heard that in IITs,the student-faculty interaction is excellent. Professors move to the hostels to interact with the students and help them in any way possible way leaving aside syllabus-but also with other forms of education-projects,and other things- which is much unlike in the NITS. Professors here are hesistant to move to hostels.
Scoring well. In NITs,the main emphasis is on getting grades and cramming up things rather than really understanding how can one use that in real life and enginnering-unlike the IITs.
So if really NITR is to be brought up to the level of an IIT,there is a long way to go.
This is purely my own thinking and there is no outside influence governing this. But I don't say that NITs are not at all worth studying in- it's really a good college if a comaprison is made with other colleges-the student quality is amazing here as well,which otherwise is thought to be just okay.
And yes,I completed one month in the NIT today and really it is a fantastic place!
Thursday, August 17, 2006
In the NIT
Its 23 days now since my classes begin and have already been fed up-classes are all crap! Its been long time since I have posted-I think I last posted on 21st July-missed blogging as I was so much in to this. I think I would have made some marvellous posts if I got an oppurtunity to do so...I am sorry people missed some of the fantastic posts which were etched in my mind.
Life here is quite monotonous-going to class at 8 in the morning and coming back to hostel on 5 in the evening. Ragging period is over- ragging was very minimal in our college. Yes,Paavani- ragging was like a social interaction here as well as you had told me.
Apart from the academics, too many cultural programmes are held here-almost everyday-mainly the orientation program of various clubs and I have attended almost all. Had thought to write about these in detail as and when they were held but didnt had access to the internet.
Yes, coming to NIT,Rourkela has aroused in me a mixed feeling-at one time it is really boring with all its classes,sessionals,assignments and at the same time really great with its cultural life here.
Life here is quite monotonous-going to class at 8 in the morning and coming back to hostel on 5 in the evening. Ragging period is over- ragging was very minimal in our college. Yes,Paavani- ragging was like a social interaction here as well as you had told me.
Apart from the academics, too many cultural programmes are held here-almost everyday-mainly the orientation program of various clubs and I have attended almost all. Had thought to write about these in detail as and when they were held but didnt had access to the internet.
Yes, coming to NIT,Rourkela has aroused in me a mixed feeling-at one time it is really boring with all its classes,sessionals,assignments and at the same time really great with its cultural life here.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Leaving for Rourkela
I am leaving for Rourkela tomorrow morning and I must admit it that though I am excited but today, for the first time, I got the feeling inside me that I am going to miss home once again. Though this time, the magnitude of nostalgia will be of course less but still that will persist for some time.
Yes, one more thing is that I don’t know if I would be able to blog from Rourkela. Though Internet connection has been provided for each student in his or her rooms, but I am not taking a computer this time as I will not be needing it intensely this year. I don’t think that we would be allowed to blog from our lab-it’s for studying not for blogging! I will be taking a computer next year and then I can continue posting-but still will try to post whenever I get an opportunity.
I came to know from one of my senior that classes will be from 8 in the morning to 5 in the evening with just a one-hour lunch break! God! But yes, there will be a 15 minutes break after each class. Well, for the first I did shop for some formals to wear to college- I hate wearing formals- I am always in my favorite jeans ;-) I wonder if we have to wear formals to college for 4 years or it is just a rule for freshers made by the seniors!
Yes, one more thing is that I don’t know if I would be able to blog from Rourkela. Though Internet connection has been provided for each student in his or her rooms, but I am not taking a computer this time as I will not be needing it intensely this year. I don’t think that we would be allowed to blog from our lab-it’s for studying not for blogging! I will be taking a computer next year and then I can continue posting-but still will try to post whenever I get an opportunity.
I came to know from one of my senior that classes will be from 8 in the morning to 5 in the evening with just a one-hour lunch break! God! But yes, there will be a 15 minutes break after each class. Well, for the first I did shop for some formals to wear to college- I hate wearing formals- I am always in my favorite jeans ;-) I wonder if we have to wear formals to college for 4 years or it is just a rule for freshers made by the seniors!
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
A Wild Post!
This post is about nothing specific. It’s about many things at the same time. Basically it's about the events happening.
24th July is nearing and my excitement heightens as approaches! College life will be commencing soon. But somewhere there is also a nervousness-ragging! Want to see what this “ragging” is all about that it’s so much talked about during the pre-college days.
Learning C! Studies begun before the college has started. I always thought that learning a programming language was boring but learning C is really interesting- though not very easy!
Missing friends! My friends who had come during their vacation are now back as their classes have started. And I am getting bored alone at home. No more roving on bikes till late nights, no more masti hanging around. Sometimes I feel I am alone in I this world. Especially missing Deepak who is now in Bangalore. Deeps, I miss you!
Very few days left for staying at home and then a new life-lets see how it goes!
24th July is nearing and my excitement heightens as approaches! College life will be commencing soon. But somewhere there is also a nervousness-ragging! Want to see what this “ragging” is all about that it’s so much talked about during the pre-college days.
Learning C! Studies begun before the college has started. I always thought that learning a programming language was boring but learning C is really interesting- though not very easy!
Missing friends! My friends who had come during their vacation are now back as their classes have started. And I am getting bored alone at home. No more roving on bikes till late nights, no more masti hanging around. Sometimes I feel I am alone in I this world. Especially missing Deepak who is now in Bangalore. Deeps, I miss you!
Very few days left for staying at home and then a new life-lets see how it goes!
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Mumbai- the rudest city?
I was going to Rourkela in train when I grabbed a copy of Reader’s Digest (July edition) and turned to read the article about politeness and according to Reader’s Digest (RD), Mumbai is the rudest city in the world! It had conducted a survey in some of the major cities in the world and had concluded that Mumbai is the rudest city.
It tested about politeness in three different aspects- a “thank you” said by the shopkeepers when they bought something, helped by someone on dropping a folder of papers and keeping a door open for someone entering a shop by the workers. And they complained about everything in Mumbai.
When being asked by a sales-man why he didn’t say a “thank you” when the man bought something, he had replied that he smiled and asked if that was not enough? Not enough for RD. For you? For me a smile is worth more than a “thank you”- a person giving you a smile is more polite than someone saying “thank you” without feeling it-at least for me this holds true. I have encountered both the situations and I am likely to visit the shop again which returns me with a smile- I do so! But RD has “strict rules” and doesn’t count it for politeness. But RD doesn’t report how many people in New York (labelled as the most polite city) said “thank you” with actually meaning it!
RD doesn’t stop here. It went on. More on labeling Mumbai the rudest city with all sorts of examples.
Now after the Mumbai blasts, I think RD should re-consider what it had written. The way people helped others was really awe-inspiring. After the blasts instead of being in their homes in safety, the people were geared up to help in any way possible. Now this is what is the spirit, the real picture of Mumbai- not what the RD had portrayed and put into words.
Then after this, RD had also written about the brighter side of Mumbai- and had written that the young were found to be more polite than the elders and so the future is bright. RD claims that Mumbai is the rudest city in the world and why can't it take as it had written? What does writing about the brighter side mean? Just to appease the people? No need of that, RD! You have done much favour. Thank you. I was just polite.
I think that RD instead of publishing an article has done more a “lawyer” kind of job and “played” with words.
It tested about politeness in three different aspects- a “thank you” said by the shopkeepers when they bought something, helped by someone on dropping a folder of papers and keeping a door open for someone entering a shop by the workers. And they complained about everything in Mumbai.
When being asked by a sales-man why he didn’t say a “thank you” when the man bought something, he had replied that he smiled and asked if that was not enough? Not enough for RD. For you? For me a smile is worth more than a “thank you”- a person giving you a smile is more polite than someone saying “thank you” without feeling it-at least for me this holds true. I have encountered both the situations and I am likely to visit the shop again which returns me with a smile- I do so! But RD has “strict rules” and doesn’t count it for politeness. But RD doesn’t report how many people in New York (labelled as the most polite city) said “thank you” with actually meaning it!
RD doesn’t stop here. It went on. More on labeling Mumbai the rudest city with all sorts of examples.
Now after the Mumbai blasts, I think RD should re-consider what it had written. The way people helped others was really awe-inspiring. After the blasts instead of being in their homes in safety, the people were geared up to help in any way possible. Now this is what is the spirit, the real picture of Mumbai- not what the RD had portrayed and put into words.
Then after this, RD had also written about the brighter side of Mumbai- and had written that the young were found to be more polite than the elders and so the future is bright. RD claims that Mumbai is the rudest city in the world and why can't it take as it had written? What does writing about the brighter side mean? Just to appease the people? No need of that, RD! You have done much favour. Thank you. I was just polite.
I think that RD instead of publishing an article has done more a “lawyer” kind of job and “played” with words.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
The Reservation Saga Continues...
During my counselling at NIT, Rourkela this reservation thing again popped up among the qualified students who had attended the counselling. This was because we came to know about the students (the SC & ST candidates) who were allotted seats the previous day. We saw the list of students who were allotted seats in the various institutes along with their All India Rank (AIR). Clearly it was totally obvious that these students were the under performers in the AIEEE exam as was apparent by their AIR.
The starting rank for the ST candidates was 56241(at this rank a general candidate is ineligible for counselling but the ST candidate secured a seat in NIT, Rkl in Electronics and Communication Engineering-the most sought after branch) and the highest rank for the SC was 18446(he secured a seat for Computer Science in NIT, Surathkal and a general candidate can’t think of securing any branch in NIT, Surathkal).
The next day when our admission list was released, it left many students fuming and speaking abuses against the system and it was totally justified. The starting rank was 615 and the last rank was 9939 and all good branches in all the good NITs were filled up in the first day itself and counselling will be continuing till 6th July! As on 4th July, I have found out that nearly all the seats have been filled up and the students who will be counselled further can only expect to get a seat in any college-or I must say not even that!
[Anyone wishing to check about the correctness of these figures, click here.]
There were discussions among students concerning this thing and separate discussion among the guardians as well relating to the same issue. I also got to meet some reserved category students, who had come to collect their admission letters, but didn’t had a chat with them-or I must say didn’t wanted to. Nor for that matter did anyone else! I was just thinking that how is it possible to cheat students so openly and no one even opposing the system!
Discussions were going on in small groups and I was also in one of these groups. Someone said that what was the guilt that we have done that we receive such treatment? At this, I said the guilt is that we are born in a family who does not belong to reserved category. At this someone else said that this reservation system is similar to the situation as giving a “four runs” on hitting a boundary while to some other hitting the same shot is awarded with “six runs”. We laughed with gusto at this joke!
Now is this system itself not a joke? Should we laugh at this system? Or should we laugh at ourselves? Has the quota protests died forever? And are we contented as to what will happen?
The starting rank for the ST candidates was 56241(at this rank a general candidate is ineligible for counselling but the ST candidate secured a seat in NIT, Rkl in Electronics and Communication Engineering-the most sought after branch) and the highest rank for the SC was 18446(he secured a seat for Computer Science in NIT, Surathkal and a general candidate can’t think of securing any branch in NIT, Surathkal).
The next day when our admission list was released, it left many students fuming and speaking abuses against the system and it was totally justified. The starting rank was 615 and the last rank was 9939 and all good branches in all the good NITs were filled up in the first day itself and counselling will be continuing till 6th July! As on 4th July, I have found out that nearly all the seats have been filled up and the students who will be counselled further can only expect to get a seat in any college-or I must say not even that!
[Anyone wishing to check about the correctness of these figures, click here.]
There were discussions among students concerning this thing and separate discussion among the guardians as well relating to the same issue. I also got to meet some reserved category students, who had come to collect their admission letters, but didn’t had a chat with them-or I must say didn’t wanted to. Nor for that matter did anyone else! I was just thinking that how is it possible to cheat students so openly and no one even opposing the system!
Discussions were going on in small groups and I was also in one of these groups. Someone said that what was the guilt that we have done that we receive such treatment? At this, I said the guilt is that we are born in a family who does not belong to reserved category. At this someone else said that this reservation system is similar to the situation as giving a “four runs” on hitting a boundary while to some other hitting the same shot is awarded with “six runs”. We laughed with gusto at this joke!
Now is this system itself not a joke? Should we laugh at this system? Or should we laugh at ourselves? Has the quota protests died forever? And are we contented as to what will happen?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)