கிறுக்கல் - 1 !!!

ஒரு மனிதரின் நிரந்தரமான அடையாளம் தான் என்ன ?..

கண்ணுக்கு தெரியும் முக அழகு நிரந்தரமாக நீடிப்பதுமில்லை.. பலர் மார்க்கெட்டில் கிடைக்கும் Cream களை பயன்படுத்தி கெடுத்துக் கொள்கிறார்கள்.. இன்னும் சிலர் Plastic Surgery செய்து மாற்றி விடுகிறார்கள்..

என்னைப் பொறுத்த வரை மனிதரின் குணாதிசயங்கள், அவரைப் பற்றிய நினைவுகள் தான் என்பேன்.. ஒருவர் தன்னை எவ்வாறு நடத்திக் கொள்கிறார்.. சக மனிதர்களிடம் எவ்வாறு பழகுகிறார், பேசுகிறார் போன்ற விசயங்கள் நம் மனதில் நினைவுகளாக ஆழ்ந்து பதிந்து விடுகின்றன..

பல வருடங்கள் இடைவெளிக்கு பிறகு, தெரிந்த ஒரு மனிதரின் பெயரை பிறர் சொல்லக் கேட்டாலோ, எங்கேனும் படித்தாலோ அவரைப் பற்றி பதிந்த நினைவுகள் மட்டுமே நம் முகத்தில் ஒரு புன்னகையையோ இல்லை சுழிவையோ தோற்றுவிக்கின்றன..

இந்த நினைவுகள் நம்மை சில சமயம் பாடாய் படுத்தி விடுவதும் உண்டு.. ஒருவர் செய்யும் தவறுகளை அவ்வளவு எளிதாக மன்னிக்க முடிவதுமில்லை.. நமது மூளை அந்த நினைவுகளை, கேட்ட சொற்களை recursive முறையில் process தொடர்ந்து வாதங்களை முன் வைத்த வண்ணமே இருக்கும்.. இந்த வலையில் இருந்து நம்மை நாமே மீட்டுக் கொள்ள மிகவும் சிரமப்பட வேண்டி இருக்கிறது..

கணிணியைப் போல் மனிதரின் மூளையில் பதிந்த சில நினைவுகளை நிரந்தமாக அழிக்கவும் , சிலவற்றை மறுபதிவு செய்வதும் சாத்தியம் என்றாகிப் போனால் இவ்வுலகம் எப்படி இருக்கும்..

ஹும்.. சிந்தித்துக் கொண்டே தூங்க போகிறேன்.

மனதின் கூப்பாடு...

கொள்கைகளை இறுகப் பற்றி,
ஒழுக்கத்தின் மேன்மையை
ஓங்கி உரக்கப் பேசி
இவரைப் போல் பண்பாளன்
எவருண்டென்ற புகழாரம் கேட்டு
நெஞ்சை நிமிர்த்தி நடந்து
மற்றவர் எடுத்துக்காட்டுவதற்காகவே
வாழ்ந்து.. ஹும்.. மகிழ்ச்சியில்லை.
போதும் மூளையின்
கட்டளைக்கு அடிபணிந்திருந்தது.
எஞ்சிய சில நாட்களேனும்
மனதின் கூப்பாட்டிற்கு
செவி கொடுப்பேனோ !!!

The Pilgrimage to BITS, Pilani !!!

Couple of years ago in June 2004, I enrolled to MS Software Systems Course offered by DLPD Division in BITS, Pilani. The idea was to make use of the free time and do something usefull that would help in career growth. Some of my friends got enrolled in to the course and they were in their second semesters.. With all the enthu, I joined the course.. it only got dampened in the subsequent sems.. some how managed to complete the three sems with theory exams without taking breaks.. then came the time I need to register for the project sem.. what project to do.. whatever I came across were interesting theory papers and I did not get much clue on what I should do for implementing the same. If I choose few work related topics, more chances that I run in to trouble due to strong infosec guidelines.. The next one year (two sems) just went away with me "actively" searching for suitable project title. basically I took breaks on these sems without registering.

Finally in June 2007, I decided to ahead with some idea on the software engineering topic which appeared to be a very generic.. I hardly had 4 months to complete the project as the final report submission must happen by Sep 2007 end.. Inspite of the Six weeks long onsite acitivity at US, managed to do decent work with respect to the original project objective and submitted my report on time.

And I chose the day I had to travel to BITS, Pilani for my project VIVA / Presentation.. Booked my Air Tickets with makemytrip.com - Airdeccan as the prefered Airlines whose timings suited me the best.

As against all the odds, I left Chennai with Airdeccan flight on time.. this was my firstever Domestic Air travel.. And my experience was not so bad when compared to woeful stories I had heard.. Landed in Delhi - Indira Gandhi Intl airport, came out of the Aiport, took a Auto to ISBT - Interstate Bus Terminus, Kashmere gate - 20 Kms away from Airport. Got a deal to share the auto with another passenger and I paid Rs 120 to the Auto.

At ISBT, went to Counter No.23, that sells Haryana State Tranport Bus tickets to Pilani.. One of my friends joined there..
The Bus route was: Delhi - Rohtak - Bhiwani - Loharu - Pilani.. It was a tiresome 6.5 hours journey.. the road was so poor with many traffic diversions due to construction work.. Pilani is typically a village without much facilities. you do not find ATMs of the common banks in India.. Got down at Pilani, went to VFAST - Visiting Faculties and Students Hostel at BITS Pilani - walkable distance (~ 100m) from Pilani Bus stand..

The campus reminded me of the REC (NIT), Trichy campus where I did my BE full time course.. The VFAST Hostel facilities and food were really good and far above the standards given the kind of place Pilani is.. Got to share the room with another student from Delhi who came for the project VIVA.. Had some long walks with him in the night after we are done with the dinner..

On the day of project VIVA, I went and reported in DLPD Building.. participated in a orientation session.. The Deans got to talk in length about the history of BITS as a Institution, the programmes offered - both Full-time and Distance learning options, evaluation methods, major tourist attractions inside the campus.

As per the schedule, I went and met the Prof, gave a brief about the work I had done and a demo for the same.. It got over in just 20 mins time - the "dharshan" time of the "BITS Pilgrimage" as quoted by one of the Deans repeatedly. :-)

I spent some time in new Library building - made of Pink sand stone, constructed 3 years back.. Its well planned, so spacious, more organised and huge collection of books and related materials.. Took few snaps and came out. I did not have the time to sit there and go through the books.

I visited the Birla Museum later - an ultimate collection of "functioning" work models for different Power / Energy related projects, Ports, Evolution of transportation system and more.. A perfect place for the school kids to spend time at.

Towards the end, I went to Saraswathi temple built tall with marbles. On the side walls, you can find the sculptures of the major scientists, well known people in different fields including literature, science, engineering etc.. something that is unique about this temple.. Ofcourse it has got Goddess Sarawathi statue placed right at the center facing the east..
Its so neat and well maintained place that attracts many tourists.

I took quite a good number of snaps that should help retaining my BITS memories.. Left Pilani in the evening.. joined my friend and returned to Delhi in a Car.. It was hired by him while coming to Pilani from Delhi.. The car travel (a Indica) was much better.. It still took 5 hrs time as we had to take breaks couple of times since the Driver wanted some rest in between..

Now I am at the Delhi Domestic Airport (known as Palam, Indiragandhi Intnl Airport).. Got in to the Airport by 2 am early morning.. was wondering how to pass the time.. by typing this blog managed to kill an hour nearly..:-) still left with 4 more hours before I board the Airdeccan flight to return to Chennai. I hope it departs on time without making me stay here any longer..

Hopefully I had completed the last and final requirement for me to graduate as a M.S (Software systems) from BITS, Pilani.

Congrats Anand.. You have done it finally !!!.
:-)