The real Start.....

Oh yes... Its Muzaffarput now. The train was late by 40 minutes. This helped us to reduce some time to spend but still we had to spend more than an hour for the next train i.e Mourya Express. So we thought to go to some cyber cafe and check mails. My mobile also started working as there was no service of TATA Indicom at Narkatiaganj. We were amazed to see that cafe was full of rush. We were happy that at least people of muzaffarpur are using mails and internet. Anyway, we could not check mails but were satisfied after good meals.

At the railway station, Amit with his father was waiting for us. We rushed back to railway station and met uncle. Mourya was late about an hour. We got our berths easily but only to seat and that also was not comfortable because there were more than 15 passengers in a compartment having 8 seats. No body was saying others, waitlisted people, to move out as they were already in problem and there tickets did not get confirmed. Only 5 coaches for second class sleepers were in the train and this is the only train of this route. Of course, we were not traveling first time but in this route, yes for the same college where we spent our valuable four years.

In the very first year there was a north Indian mess and that also for only 6 months. But in second year, north Indian mess was stopped and we had to manage in the only one south Indian mess. Chapaties (breads) were limited and only for two days a week. I do remember the day when I threw my dish on this issue in the first year but again the same thing. I can not say what I achieved in first year but one thing, that is a groupf of good friends. Amit, Surya, AbniKant, Samir, Vikki, bhaskar, Rajesh and Guptaji were some among them. This is not less than an achievement. Isn`t it.

In second year, we got shifted to AV hostel from PV. Abhay was my roommate. my all the three roommates got separated. That sincere and well maintained Laxminarayan, Sleepy and studius Rakesh babu and simple living & High thinkingAmit jhaji.. all these people got shifted to different rooms. Amit jhaji liked RLV and other two were in AV with different roommates. For me, Abhay was with me, so I did not have any issue as we were living together for years.

The section was changed now from D to B. I met new people. Actually not new as I was knowing about all of them, but they came closer to me in this section. Slowly all the section B people became my good friends. The first few were Madhav & Prem and then Markandey and Jyoti (Tripathi ji). A well disciplined section of 37 students and every one was closer to each one of the class. But yes, I got some change in myself and started to study something.

I started study about Watermarking and wavelets. Both topics were very new. Wavelet was really very tough and was not related to my branch and even B. Tech (for any subject). Anyway, I arranged some materials and stated to work on them. In between Amit, who was in Section A now, started to pressurize me for a paper and finally a paper was ready to be sent in a student contest at Annamalai university, Chidambaram and it got selected also. We were happy and it helped a lot in building our self confidence. We got good respect from students of Annamalai university. The presentation was nice and I won the first prize in computer gaming also. Although we could not get any prize in the paper presentation but yes, I got a partner for a long way, i.e. Amit and still he is with me. Now I started working to go for a better contests and conferences.

I also was nominated as executive member of ACE (Association of Computer Engineers) and also gave one seminar at image compression : A mathematical approach. It was not a paper but knowledge sharing session but I learned a lot. I came in contact with Mr. K. Sridhar (M. Tech program coordinator) and through him Ms M Vijaykalyani (Sr. Lecturer, now working as trainer at Infosys Technologies) who was working on a project for "Content based image processing". I was happy to see the real time application of wavelets and she helped me a lot.

As a whole I can say that again I did not achieve anything but yes, This was a real start.

A Journey towards the first job-2 : The first year in SASTRA

Oh yes, I was talking about Packing. Although I have maa that I need not to have anything but some thongs like pickles, sattu, murabba, masalas etc were packed. Counting for election was going on. Pitaji was deputed in counting. But anyhow he managed to return home at about 1.00 AM. As soon as he came, he changed the plan. I was about to leave by SaptaKranti Express which was scheduled at 09.00 AM. I was relaxed went for sleep.

Wokeup in the morning, finished the breakfast and started with Pitaji for the train. Train was on time. Half-an-hour late is called on time in our place. Fathers some more friends came. Had tea and catched the train. Abhay was waiting for me in Bettiah. Abhay is my cousin but we are together from class 5th. And the train was running on the wheels of time.

The first year in college was not remarkable for me. At first I faced lots of problems physical as well as mental. But afterwards, everything became normal. There were three students expect me in my room. But one by one everyone left the college. Someone told this college worst, some one told another college is better and someone by other reason. But I did not have any other reason. I was not able to return back. So, finally decided to struggle and will see what happens. I always have believed on time. I do not now why I assume that although there might not be any good thing but nothing can be bad with me. And till now I have found myself lucky in this way. S, I decided to find my own way to proceed towards this new path. The very first thing I found that although teachers were not of that much good quality, but they are following the same syllabus and good books. If I listen to them then there is no need to study any thing extra. As I am a son of a teacher, so I do have a different respect for teacher. I used to listen them and respect them. Many of students thought that this is “Chaploosi”, but who cares for them? Many of teacher (sirs as well as madams) started liking me. The same thing was continued all the four years. Many of the ladies teachers were younger than me. Anyway… completed the 1st year with a average good CGPA 8.7

A journey towards the first job !! - The 1st part

June 18, 2006. Narkatiaganj. Sun is in its full form. It looks like that the sun is determined to burn all the sins from the world. In the same condition I have to leave tomorrow. So, need to make necessary arrangements. Although I have told maa that I do not need anything, but still I need to have some important things. My train is at 5.00 AM tomorrow. I have reserved a birth in Mourya Express from Muzaffarpur which is scheduled at 2.00 PM and 3-3.5 hrs are enough for travel from Narkatiaganj to muzaffarpur. But, who will rely on these trains. Have to cover a long distance of about 3000 kms. Who is going to take risk? Still I have not started the packing.

Today I am thinking to go for a big shopping. Yes, shopping for vegetables. Although Narkatiaganj is a very small place but all the things for primary needs are being sold here. Need not to buy vegetables in “Paw” (means 250 grams) like Delhi & Bangalore. Vegetables are cheaper and fresh, direct from the farm. 1 kg Parwal, 1 kg jackfruit, 1 kg bitterguard, 2 kg spinach, 1.5 kg nenua, 500 gms nenua flower, 1 big round pumpkin, cucumber, dhaniya leaf, lemon etc only within Rs 50/-. I am fully satisfied after buying this much of vegetables.

Now have to start for packing. This is not the first time. I have to travel this much long once every 5-6 months. But this time I was going college not to study & stay there, but have to get issued certificates as have to join. The feeling was similar to that as it was July 23^rd, before four years. I was going to be admitted in the same college. There is a normal saying “Samay se pahle aur bhagya se jyada kuchh nahi milta “ (nothing you can get earier than time and more than fate). I do have a proof with me. After completing ISc in 1997, I was continuously trying for IITJEE. I don’t think that the system is faulty for this. Either this was my fault or it was beyond my capability as after trying hard continuously for 5 years, I could not get into any of these IITs. People surrounding me were asking what happened? Something happened or not? Where were you wrong? Oh! It’s a matter of bad luck !! etc etc… Although I was getting penetrated by comments also, sympathies were bitterer. I was not able to cry too.

Finally I decided to leave so called Engineering field. I thought that this is beyond my capability. I started planning for civil services. That is my luck that from from the same year, CBSE stated its “AIEEE”. Although I do not use to fill any form other than IITs, I filled this form after seeing its popularity. But, either I was more relaxed towards IIT results or was not much fascinated towards the colleges in AIEEE, I did not even see the syllabus and exam paper’s format. After going through more than 50% of the question paper, I got to know that there is negative marking also. Anyway, I could not do anything more. I was expecting a very poor rank in this. But, I do not know how, got a ok type of rank. And also call for counseling. At that time I was in Delhi and the counseling was scheduled in Delhi only. So, after suggestion Pitaji, decided to attend the counseling. One of my good friends, Sandeep, told me that colleges of South are really good. He suggested some names. I got one of them. It was “Shanmugha Arts Science Technology and Research Academy” i.e. SASTRA. I decided not to take admission and prepare for IIT. Even I started to give some tuition also. But, one my father’s close friend told that this is a good college. Pitaji suggested taking admission and I started for that. I came home for certificates and money as well as. Narkatiaganj was flooded at that time. My college was closed. Anyhow, pitaji managed to get issued the certificates. I started for SASTRA for admission. My younger brother, Bhawesh was the guardian for me. This time there was no packing. I thought that I will just take admission and will come back. Again I will go for classes which might take about some 15-20 days. But the situation was different. I took admission on 27^th July and the classes were going to be commenced on 29^th of July.

me and mine !!

This is just a start.. Will blog in the next