This is a book I have been wanting to read for ages. Ever since I heard that FPS is a lift off from this. Peter Robinson talks about life in his first year at Stanford Business School. Supposedly hell...
A lot many incidents in the book are something which I can relate too from my life as a BITSian. The mood-swings that affect the campus. It wears a sombre look all throughout the exams, apart from that it is so nice, vibrant and noisy.. During fests its full of freakish enthusiasm.. I remember last Oct, where it was hauntingly silent for 15 days.. The point is, the mood affects the whole campus, u cant stay aloof...
Then there are the changes that come in students with every passing semester. In the first, u are in awe of the institute, afraid of the exams, wanting to get good grades etc. etc... In the second you kind of fit into the scheme of things, figure out what you want out of engineering. Then come the CDCs in your third year, a lot of hard work and not enough rewards. And then finally at the end of it all are the placements. Phew.. Quite a journey.
I wouldnt miss BITS for anything. Its given me so much, it has made me who I am...
Anyway coming back to the book, its a must read for wannabe MBAs, and maybe for people who don't wanna be MBAs too!
Friday, 21 December 2007
Saturday, 15 December 2007
Feminism and more
Yesterday had a long and fruitful discussion with one of my friends after ages. Life is so hectic that no one has the time to sit and think, discuss, fantasize and philosophize... Enjoyed it a lot. Here goes a part of what we discussed:
Traditionally women have always been 'suppressed', so to say. The poet Manu even goes as far to say that a woman is always a liability. She always has to be taken care of. First by her father, then by her husband and finally by her son. Question is, is that right? S says it is completely true in the context then. Then, there would be foreign invasions and enslavement, markets 'for' women were all part of it. Was it not right then that they were supposed to be taken care of? Obviously, yes.. You would argue it is even a duty to protect your own.
So what has changed today? Today we live in our cocoon, in a human made artificial world, where things are better for women than before. They have the freedom and the opportunity to do as they please, without fear of anything. They can even growl that they are equals- not a step behind men. Blah blah...
Maybe its not so equal in some parts of the world, but still, there is hope...
For me, the truth is, it is not about men and being equal. Its about them being different, and being able to cherish each others differences. And that's why I believe, feminism of the 'women-can-do-this-too' kind is passe. What is the point of bellowing yourself hoarse that you do something. The whole point of equality is lost when you keep declaring women can do this, women can do that. That itself shows inequality, doesn't it?
I feel now is the time for post-feminism, an era where women work hand-in-hand with men, without much ado about it and at the same time appreciating the differences between the not-so-fairer sex and themselves.
Of course, all this is applicable only to urban India, where a woman can atleast choose to live her life on her own, hopefully without pressure to 'find someone'. In rural, or even semi-urban areas, I guess feminist thoughts do have some kind of motivational role to play. But even then, just having a token women president, who doesn't have that kind of stature, isn't going to help things much. (Except maybe we can crow about it...)
The argument against this is that in a marriage, even now, its the woman who is supposed to sacrifice her will for her mate... I don't know how to counter that, nor do I know when that attitude will change, but it will.
Traditionally women have always been 'suppressed', so to say. The poet Manu even goes as far to say that a woman is always a liability. She always has to be taken care of. First by her father, then by her husband and finally by her son. Question is, is that right? S says it is completely true in the context then. Then, there would be foreign invasions and enslavement, markets 'for' women were all part of it. Was it not right then that they were supposed to be taken care of? Obviously, yes.. You would argue it is even a duty to protect your own.
So what has changed today? Today we live in our cocoon, in a human made artificial world, where things are better for women than before. They have the freedom and the opportunity to do as they please, without fear of anything. They can even growl that they are equals- not a step behind men. Blah blah...
Maybe its not so equal in some parts of the world, but still, there is hope...
For me, the truth is, it is not about men and being equal. Its about them being different, and being able to cherish each others differences. And that's why I believe, feminism of the 'women-can-do-this-too' kind is passe. What is the point of bellowing yourself hoarse that you do something. The whole point of equality is lost when you keep declaring women can do this, women can do that. That itself shows inequality, doesn't it?
I feel now is the time for post-feminism, an era where women work hand-in-hand with men, without much ado about it and at the same time appreciating the differences between the not-so-fairer sex and themselves.
Of course, all this is applicable only to urban India, where a woman can atleast choose to live her life on her own, hopefully without pressure to 'find someone'. In rural, or even semi-urban areas, I guess feminist thoughts do have some kind of motivational role to play. But even then, just having a token women president, who doesn't have that kind of stature, isn't going to help things much. (Except maybe we can crow about it...)
The argument against this is that in a marriage, even now, its the woman who is supposed to sacrifice her will for her mate... I don't know how to counter that, nor do I know when that attitude will change, but it will.
Thursday, 13 December 2007
Back to the future
The exams are finally done, definitely among my worse semesters. Anyway, whats done is done, and now I can get back to things I love the most. Plan to get on the next-sem project and gonna start with the micromouse now, designing the sensor circuit.
Active filters, here I come!
Active filters, here I come!
Madhouse Rock
This morning was reading up for the Electronic Devices and Integrated Ckts (EDIC) exam. It was the last paper, and was in a bad mood. The subject is quite difficult, although interesting.
Point being- I saw these activities in the hostel:
1)People running ragged hither-tither, hair askew, like they are about to miss a train.
2)Somebody oscillating in corridors, holding a book to himself, muttering what seem to be obscenities under his breath (maybe he is cramming up formulae!)
3)People shouting, 4-at-a-time, discussing whether or not the IMPATT diode will bring about a lag of 179deg or 181deg!
4)Rock music playing so loud that the whole of BITS hears it.
5)Rock music playing so loud that the whole of BITS hears it.
6)Rock music playing so loud that the whole of BITS hears it.
7)KK shouting out 'Iin Dino", just for the fun of it, to irritate people.
8)Harried people, who have probably been up all night, responding with 'Ae's and asking him to shut up...
Doesn't the scene bear an eerie resemblance with a mental institution?
Point being- I saw these activities in the hostel:
1)People running ragged hither-tither, hair askew, like they are about to miss a train.
2)Somebody oscillating in corridors, holding a book to himself, muttering what seem to be obscenities under his breath (maybe he is cramming up formulae!)
3)People shouting, 4-at-a-time, discussing whether or not the IMPATT diode will bring about a lag of 179deg or 181deg!
4)Rock music playing so loud that the whole of BITS hears it.
5)Rock music playing so loud that the whole of BITS hears it.
6)Rock music playing so loud that the whole of BITS hears it.
7)KK shouting out 'Iin Dino", just for the fun of it, to irritate people.
8)Harried people, who have probably been up all night, responding with 'Ae's and asking him to shut up...
Doesn't the scene bear an eerie resemblance with a mental institution?
Saturday, 8 December 2007
Microelectronics
Just had my 4th paper.. Microelectronic Circuits. Its a beautiful subject. Its amazing how you can control devices at such small scales. The sad part is, you have to everything on your own. Faculty crunch hurts here the most. Not enough people is one reason, but what about those who are here? Shouldnt there be some quality control on teachers?
A big step in that direction needs to be evaluation of teachers by students, not the other way. Coz lots of times, I am more interested in learning than that guy is interested in teaching (or more likely, its the lack of ability on his part) :(
Anyway, got no paper for next two days. So peace...
A big step in that direction needs to be evaluation of teachers by students, not the other way. Coz lots of times, I am more interested in learning than that guy is interested in teaching (or more likely, its the lack of ability on his part) :(
Anyway, got no paper for next two days. So peace...
Thursday, 6 December 2007
Does it matter?
Life is not about constantly worrying how it would turn out to be. It is about making the most of the moment. And the sooner I come to grips with this, the better
Wednesday, 5 December 2007
Bob Dylan
Have recently started hearing a bit of Bo Dylan.. Blowin in the Wind is too good. And yesterday heard another of his songs.. The lyrics go something like this:
Am I?
Clowns sittin to the left of me
Jokers to the right
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you...
And I am wondering what it is I should do,
Its so hard to keep that smile on my face...
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you!
Jokers to the right
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you...
And I am wondering what it is I should do,
Its so hard to keep that smile on my face...
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you!
Am I?
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