IIT SOCIALS

The red carpet was rolled, place was cordoned off, momos were brought and the “nerds “were all set to socialize. After all, hadn’t all of us waited for this red letter day since last year? Deep under the poker faces of IITians lies there strong urge to dance, hangout and have fun with the hottest chicks. True, harder a desire is suppressed stronger it becomes and the vigorous IIT preparation and the strict IIT regimen definitely makes everyone a Romeo in their dreams. Lo! All was sent to change…bright halos of intellect, knowledge, wit would melt into pure grace, beauty and charm…an enviable fusion. The socials were of course supposed to be something remarkable.

It was 5’o clock when the last class was over and as we all are champs in 11th hour preparations, we rushed to the hostel. Some rushed to the bathroom to have a bath (socials a strong excuse for doing that) some dabbed in cologne, some trimmed their moustaches and some started googling “pick up lines”.
Finally the damsels descended. We all rushed downstairs. Many admitted later on, they weren’t as thrilled even after clearing JEE. As it is, dreams are always brighter and “fairer” (I make no bones of the general fixation for fair and therefore lovely girls). The music gradually began playing and those who considered themselves good enough started meandering towards the girls. Gradually everybody started sashaying. However the disconnect was ostensible. Somewhere something was missing and we people are after all Indians...I haven’t yet heard of 5 minute love…I am no Jackson and I descended from the dance floor. I went on a stroll and found a sweet girl standing alone. I approached her and we began talking. I was glad I had found someone who didn’t like dancing (is it ok ma’am?)And I was quite confident we would have more similarities. She was very elegant, sophisticated and well nurtured. But somewhere she appeared to be tethered to a totally different mindset which I think is responsible for her sudden mood swings which I discovered later on.
That night the hostel was abuzz. Apart from a few unlucky (or lucky?)ones all had found their “ideal match”.
1 month on...the minors over...the hostel was still abuzz…everyone had a tale to tell. Hardly anyone of us went on a date after that...and I don’t know about a single guy who is still on…it is not Bollywood where the endings are happy; unfortunately it is not even Hollywood. Truly socials as they are aptly called meant only for socializing, a great catalyst for sand castles to be built .Just a word to the freshers...”Remember we are not kings yet, don’t expect the queen so early.”

expectations......

Dishan was a small town boy, brought up in dust laden streets where the tranquility camouflages the obliviousness , where the bankruptcy of the Lehmann bros or Morgan Stanley fails to make into the small talk, where the falling sensex doesn’t mean falling love between couples or where people usually aspire to be doctors engineers or the next Ambani.
Being a very obedient and the only son of his parents he was a pampered brat. Every alternate week meant a 50 rupee note from his mom...to the mom it was a way to prod Dishan to higher attendance, higher marks and of course peace of mind from his constant nagging..But for Dishan it was much more. It was his way to a Ferrari, to more envious glances from his friends and of course it was his means to zoooooooom to fun and frolic.

Dishan started doing well in school...hats off to him and his parents…he completed his homework on time worked hard and he was the topper. He started reading the newspaper when the backbenchers in his classes couldn’t even join letters to form words. Newspapers meant a window to him...it was his foray into the big world…in the world which expands out from the earth to space…world where abject poverty and stinking wealth coexist , where people die for money and where someone called as L.N Mittal invites everyone to his daughter’s wedding with a silver card…of course Dishan wasn’t invited...but in his dreams he thought, I will be the next L.N Mittal….his dreams had now started expanding at a frantically higher pace and he had started to develop a thirst for more...he wanted to work his way out from the maze of his mofussil town and jump into the limelight…his parents though rewarded his good performance in school with more 50 rupee notes but he had started to think more of what a 50 rupee couldnot buy….he knew a 50 rupee note was just not enough in this world…
He convinced his parents to send him to the nearest metro...seeing the glitter and determination in Dilshan’s voice hardly could have anybody relented. The big city lights …the flashy cars …the ultra mod girl friends ..City was just as Dishan expected…amazing to those who are ready to slog , else you perish...however now his desires had become an obsession...he didn’t “dream “ to be in BMWs ...he actually chased BMWs in his bicycle when they surpassed him...hoping he will catch up some day…but Dilshan didn’t fail his parents’ trust in him. He slogged really hard...outshone everybody else in his league...and he got the sweet fruit of hard work. His expectations and reality had converged and he was in ecstasy. But his dreams kept on expanding and his performance did not . After all there are just 24 hours in a day…..however the gulf between the expectations and reality kept on widening…And the ecstasy kept on evaporating...he was getting more frustrated and depressed. He had surely come a long way...but he looked himself as an underperformer….his shoulders were hung low his head was bent in shame..… He had lots of 50 rupee notes in his pocket but hardly did they matter to him. What mattered to him were his dreams , his ambitions and not what the world thought of him...until the world shook under his feet..And his entire hard work crumbled into a rubble...again a 50 rupee note meant a lot for him…again it was his means to happiness and joy...again he was contended with just A 50 RUPEE NOTE......no wonder when I met him in the bus ..He trailed off saying ...”Life is indeed a full circle but of varying radius, my friend”….

aaj ka arjun

Some time back…Rendezvous was on and it had crept into my sub consciousness too…however just as dreams are usually I was in a very elite company….there were arguably the three most illustrious persons of the century with me ….Albert Einstein was there at the entrance doing the frisking of the visitors in Pro Night….his bushy moustache and his glasses both looking quite out of their places…..next I saw Hawking…He was there in his chair…but he was playing the keyboard…his eyelids narrow but the face very grim…the lack of his usual cool caused a certain twitch…and there , I was among the crowd fiddling my buttons...occasionally glancing at the phone ….and then I walked upto the insti …only to find Jackson muttering formulae hysterically…..

The dong of my alarm clock awakened me...Oh! Again I was late for the 8 o clock class….but that entire day the dream was hovering in my mind...and more than once I was transported to my first 2 days in iit…
Just into the hallowed corridors called iit I was a bundle of nerves when the physically diminutive but having a bigger than life stature , the Dean was giving sermons on how iit is the place to have fun with axioms , principles ,curves( no pun intended) and not with toys…..
However the next day in our hot common room in hostel the warden emphasized on how 5 pointers make it to the top league flashing their extra curricular credentials….no wonder I was sure there was a conflict of thought in iit….the debate was on…
Cutting back to the present……..and perhaps quite suitably ..my bsp rep told me when I just accidentally dawdled into his room it was the theme of the next issue of CR……I spontaneously sat down with goose quills to pen down my usual so called arbitaaps…..
The first school of thought I feel just see the first part of the dream that I saw….definitely Einsteins and Hawkings are much more comfortable in the labs and extra curricular activities are a distraction…but if BRCA or BSA is completely shut wont we lose a Jackson or an Usain Bolt drowned in the formulae and unable to prove their real mettle….after all the various clubs are a great way to vent out the steam generated from the heavy workload here….and to be an aaj ka arjun..Is academic prowess just enough?

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5 pt smthing

When I was told to write an article giving a few tips to freshers a sense of inadequacy enveloped me. Though not a social pariah but not exactly in the social groove either I may not be exactly the right person to give sermons on how to make friends in iit…

I scratched my head and it struck me that it wont be too bad an idea to give 5 pts on how to eke out a decent cg in the first sem.


1. I know this point would be causing much chagrin to my contempories but as it is I love to call a spade a spade. (not a great idea in hostel though)…if you are not one of those guys who have the gift of the gab and love to trick people then it wont be a bad idea to keep a straight face to your seniors and avoid giving ragging…it helps you to maintain your focus and after all the more pristine you stay the better it is for you.


2.Once in college many guys tend to have their adrenalin surging in their veins a bit more strongly than it ever did..Those who always used to keep their collars buttoned try to roam about bare chested…man take it from me…it is always cool to have a decent cg and good resume …..but thrusting yourself in useless activities or bunking classes will only elevate the mercury within you.

3.It is quite natural to have your hair flowing in the breeze of rendezvous but don’t let your mind flow away with it…Enjoy the evenings do your work in the mornings…after all some guys just keep on working in iit..and your grades are affected by their performance as well..

4. Well this is where I screwed up big time…the period between minor 1 and minor 2 is extremely crucial..and also the most enervating…. Most people do well in minor 1 but it is only those who score well in minor 2 who get counted…

5. This point might end up being the talk of the town…perhaps that’s why I kept it at the last…I assume all of you have read the 5 pt sm1 before coming over here…. the point is self explanatory…. if there is a Neha (no pun intended) waiting for you over here then…..You have my envy otherwise however hard you try…tough luck man…
befriending the proffs is a better idea!!!


Live your life to the fullest guys….try to bath when there is no water in the hostel…try to sleep when the lights are on and the speakers are blaring…perhaps “Ara ka enthu high hai” has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Changing Times

As a child I was born weak and fragile. Being the only child of my parents I was heavily pampered upon. All my demands were fulfilled steadily and surely. As man grows up and sees the world in his own eyes he develops fantasies .In the age of 6 I was bitten by the video game bug.

Considering the exorbitant prices that they sported during the 90s they were truly and expensive buy. However I was extremely bent upon their purchase. But I too displayed a shocking but realistic trait of humans and they were soon forgotten.

The onset of the 21st century marked the entry of the Chinese dragon into the market and Video Games soon became affordable. The idea of buying one resurfaced in my mind and with a lot of pestering I succeeded in owning one. It soon became cynosure of attraction among my friends who envied my position. I felt joyous and elated. However as it is life is a full circle and every dream has its end. The plummeting of marks meant full stop to Video Games.
With the passage of time they have lost the charm and are now gathering dust. When I ponder I realize change is the only permanent thing in the world.

RISING LIFE

I wrote this poem 6 years ago....sad to say it remains my best composition till date....I m sure maths and science have taken their toll.......

Sun rises behind the snow clad mountains
lightning up the vistas of horizon
bringing joys in the lives of some
others will have it in the long run
spirit leads past misery
those who don't have it cry cowardly
Earth is a garden of flowers
some blooming some fading
some potentially winning
death is like sunset
It is the end of one's fate..