A nation full of 'engineers'

Asmita smiled as she put the finishing touches on the purple horizon in her painting. It depicted the beautiful dusk she had one seen from her Aaji’s house in the village. It showed a glowing sun setting amidst the blue mountains, far away in the evening haze. Cows grazing on the yellowed landscape, and a silhouette of the dry trees parched for water, in the hot, dry Indian summer. With a last sigh, she glanced with wistful eyes at the painting as she put away her tools - her palette, paintbrushes and the oil paints she had just finished using - into the box-bed. This was the last time she would paint in a long time to come.
Rohan’s Mom called him back home for dinner just as he was about to score the last fifteen runs required for his team to win the T20 cricket match with kids from the neighboring building. “Coming Mom”, he shouted back impatiently, slightly angry. Cricket was the only thing he had ever cared about for as long as he could remember. His eyes twinkled as he faced the opposition’s bowler, his bat swinging in a wide arc, cleanly striking the ball along the pitch for a boundary. This would be the last time he played the game for the next three years.

Nakul sat crouched under the bush, patiently and noiselessly as he waited for hours for the bird to show up. He had spotted its nest just after noon. It was high up on the tree, cozy between the trunk and a thick branch, away from the wind. It was close to dusk, surely the bird must return now, as they always do. Maybe it had gone out hunting for the day, as they always do. His legs hurt from sitting all day in this position, the camera hanging around his neck, his neck sunburned. He waited with baited breath, and... There it was! She had just flown home. In a sudden rush of excitement, he clicked away furiously, capturing the bird in its full glory; swooping in on its nest, landing nimbly on the edge, trying to be fair to all the bird babies as her beak went around distributing the spoils. The chatter of the babies made him happy, joie de vivre running through him. It was the last that that camera ever clicked nature.
Today, and later in the month they will all be appearing for their engineering entrance exams. Fighting to get into the 10,000 or so seats that ‘good’ engineering colleges in the country on offer. Not one of them will get a seat. None of them will be good engineers.

Not because they are not smart. Not because they are not intelligent. It is because, they were not supposed to be engineers. They were supposed to be painters, and poets, and athletes and ornithologists, all excelling in their fields. 5 years later, they will all be working for as ‘software engineers’, working at a tiny back-office, fixing bugs created by some unseen overlord in some far away land where they have never been. Or faking accents, helping some middle aged lady in Wyoming figure out how to use the new blender she just bought.

Working for a different overlord than the one they gained ‘independence’ from 60 years ago. Or the same one.

Very few of them will actually go back to work at their passions.

Very few of them will actually do work that will change the world in some way.

Very few of them will actually be ‘independent’.

Very few of them will ever be free...

The Dream II

I was standing at the cliff edge. The roaring sea far below, pounding in all its majesty to my right; a small hut behind my back on the left – a poor man’s shop offering some snacks and drinks. Shabbily laid out plastic tables, not exactly new and shiny, but still offering solace to the weary traveler, and a hot cup of tea with biscuits if he so wishes. The day was hot, and the three of us had come a long way. My companions till now were – my friend, a vastly more experienced person at this kind of a thing, pointing out to me all the perils that the way had brought, unfailingly, in a way that would not be possible unless it is from the very bottom of the heart; and then there was the guide. Rugged, acquainted with the way of the mountains as well as a mountain goat, unflinchingly leading us through valleys and passes, never once unsure of his footing; as though He himself had created the rocks which we trod upon.

The journey had been challenging, but it was all towards this end. It was here which would decide the destiny, the path of all that would matter. The way down to the sea was from the left, winding, across plateaus and mountain paths. It seemed reassuring, considering that the guide and the companion were both already heading down the path. Did that look like the best way for me? I had faithfully followed them this far, unquestioning and without any harm, but was that the right way for me? Or could it be that the time had come when we split, me heading out in the search of my own destiny.

Unthinking, I veered towards the cliff edge, the waves crashing at the bottom of the cliff, threatening, menacing and unforgiving. Losing my balance, I almost careened over the edge, when suddenly I heard my name called out from the distance. It jolted me back into conscious, but I had now seen over the edge of the cliff. I had seen the sheer face of the mountain. It stood gloriously, for all these years, withstanding all the battering of the sea, the yellow sandstone gleaming under the bright hot mid-day sun. Was this it? Was I meant to take the plunge? Wouldn’t it be much faster, if not a sure shot way to reach the sea?

Just as I stood contemplating all of this, clouds gathered in the sky. As if reflecting the tumult in my mind, the environment transformed. The wind started blowing across strongly, the waves, small and calm till now transformed into large ones, dashing against the rock displaying an anger known only to them. Beyond the mountain, a twister swirled into life. The monster started snaking its way towards the cliff as I watched, transfixed, rooted to the spot.

He veered towards the cliff, threatening to swallow my people in one gulp. As I glanced towards my left, I saw the desk, with my laptop calmly resting on top. In one moment, as if deciphering my attachment to it, he moved swiftly to swallow the desk – laptop and all, never to be seen again. As pangs shot across my heart, worrying next for my beloved, the devil circled about, waiting for me to make my next move. A look of fear must have flitted across my face, because even as I regained my composure, he seemed to sense my weakness and snort at me, a smirk almost discernable within the dusty folds.

Then I saw it. Beyond the hut and the twister, stood a building, on the leeward side of the mountain, away from the sea, protected from the elements by the mountain, playing shelter to scores of children.. In a flash, my life flashed before my eyes, it was time for Qayamat – the Final Judgement. I had to decide, what I would do next. I could still dive off the cliff, and in a moment all of this picture would be behind me. I would have to count on him to be taken by surprise, and follow me into my dive leaving the others alone. I had to trust myself to land safely into the sea. If my dive failed, it would still be over quickly, I would crash onto the rocks, still spared the pain of indecision. Or I could run and join my people, the same people who I had trusted through the entire journey, and who still looked beseechingly at me through frightened eyes, ever worrying for me, the soft kindness visible even through their dilated pupils, always wishing the best for me. But I knew what he was about to do. Even as these thoughts formed in my mind, he swirled to the building – as if following my instructions, tearing apart the building, hurling innocent children to the ground, mockingly inviting me to fight, to save them, to take on a might far beyond anything I had ever dared to in my young life…

Memories: BITSAT

Some of the best things you get in life are the ones that you plan the least for. Call it Murphy's law or whatever. Take getting into BITS for example. All of 11th-12th was spent in preparing for the JEE. The BigDaddy of exams, the thing which was going supposed to change your life forever. After hundreds of hours of misdirected preparation, when I finally gave the JEE-mains, I knew that I was not going get a seat of my liking at an IIT of my choice, or for that matter, I wasn't going to clear the Mains at all. (This doesn't mean that I didn't shed a tear when the results came out ;) )

BITSAT was just an aside to the main story. A till-exam-day neglected poor brother of the JEE, for which I wasn't even sure whether to appear or not... I remember, my family had a holiday planned out at Mahabaleshwar, immediately after the BITSAT. So I was kinda looking forward to that, the exam being a minor hiccup in the euphoria of FINALLY being free from all entrance exams! Who in the lord's name would go to godforsaken Pilani, or the tourist haven of Goa, leaving a seat in the COE, Pune. Pune, the Oxford of the East! Pune, my hometown! If I was to leave Pune, it had to be to go to an IIT! I even seriously contemplated retaking the JEE next year.

I know BITSians will not like this, but in my pea-brain, BITS did not figure in the list of must-do things! I think, this was more because of the environment than because of my own doing. I did not know even one student who was at BITS at that point in time. Later, when I decided to go to Goa, I had to dig out contacts of contacts of contacts who had passed out from BITS 15 years back. So much for the BITS network! Also, I think, the BITSAT being in its first year, I didn't know what to expect out of it, what the cut-offs for various branches will be, and so-on.

For the record, the exam went well. I scored 305 (later re-evaluated to 309) and I remember cursing my PC, coz I was so sure that at times, all options on the Maths test were wrong! But who cared, right, it was all over in 4 hours or so. Yay!

After the exam, I remember driving back in the car. The radio was playing 'Zaraa Zaraa' (The song still takes me back to that moment!). Not even 20 minutes on the drive back, we were held by the traffic constable from aamchi Mumbai. Mama, so to say. Oops, stupid Puneite me, who cares for seat-belts in the post-exam euphoria! So then ensued the pleading, the 'Mama, Punyahun alot, lakshat nahi ala.. Jaudya naa..' Typically, he retorted with, 'Udya gaadi station warun gheun jaa, fine bharun.' (Take the vehicle tmrw from the police station, after paying the fine.). Then, the path of least resistance. Bribe the fellow :)

My mood (and pocket), considerably lighter, I headed back home, where a delicious Mom-made meal awaited a ravenous me!

Turns out, the heavens had conspired to make it the biggest day of my life. It shaped the course of the next 4 years. 4 wonderful years; and when I think about it, its not just 4 years, but my entire life! Looking back at all the wonderful experiences I had in Goa, I would not trade that for anything else. But that makes for an entire different series of posts...

For now, some of the best things you get in life are the ones that you plan the least for!

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?

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...