Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis, Term symbolising Change usually for the better. And also the name of Entrepreneurship Fest, that the newly established Entrepreneurship Development Cell, IIT Roorkee by four students from IIT Roorkee (me being one of them) organized.

One thing that IIT Roorkee lacks was an e-cell. This was what the four of us felt since our first year. Hence, we decided to take an initiative and start EDC as a students' body in IITR. Metamorphosis was to be our crowning glory, the last major event that we would organize in IIT Roorkee and maybe our legacy. Having organized various events before in our cult-fest and tech-fest, the confidence was sky high and organizing this was going to be a piece of cake.

Why the use of past tense in the above sentences. Because organizing a fest is different from organizing an event. Maybe there were commitment problems, overconfidence, unjust expectations but whatever the reason, Metamorphosis didn't make it to the standards we wished it to achieve.

However, it has been a learning experience to say the least. In the past month, I have seen and been a part of it all - Personality Clashes, Ego Issues, Questions on commitments, Bureaucratic Hurdles, Last minute ditches and a few more things that I might have forgotten. It is said that true friends are the ones you have the most fights with. I understand this statement a little better now.

Back to the usual cheery stuff. Barca v/s Arsenal in CL finals. Should be a cake walk for Barca. Schumi finally wins. Awesome race. Alonso trailed Schumi by 0.3 sec for almost 20 laps and made an error in the penultimate lap.

Summer time is here and lots of big releases are lined up. Da Vinci Code, M.I. III, X 3, Pirates of the Carribean 2 and a few more.

Feeling sleepy plus its a friend's birthday. Time to go and give him bumps.

Rang De Basanti

The first thing u'll notice abt this post is the text colour. Just watched Rang de Basanti twice over the past three days and still not able to get it out of my head. If u're still not able to get it, I decided to put the post in saffron as a tribute to RDB and this was the colour closest to it (according to me).

I am a big movie buff (in case, u dont know it already). I realized this during the period of 2001-2003 when I was in Kota. I averaged atleast a movie a week during this time. The fact that this was David Dhawan's golden age (& Indian cinema's dark age), is testimony to my perseverance.
However, times are changing. Over the past few yrs, Indian cinema has produced gems like DCH, Lagaan (2 bright spots during the dark ages), Lakshya, Iqbaal, Ramgopal Verma's productions, Swades etc. RDB lies on the top of the list alongside Iqbaal and Lakshya.

The success of RDB lies in the fact that it deals with a real life issue and ends on a hard-hitting note unlike most Hindi movies. This was summed up by Bela as "It makes you think". It fills you with hope, puts a spring in your step.

However, I am still sceptical abt the long term effects of the movie. If real life incidents like Satyendra Dube couldn't shake up the student community, the impact of the movie wouldn't last for more than a month or so.

Currently, I m in Indore for my Holi break. Indore no longer holds the same thrill as it used to. Parents are out of station, most friends have left for jobs, higher studies or in some cases have been married. That leaves my bro who is busy with his upcoming exams. I am missing Roorkee for the first time. The Full Metal Alchemist and other animes are calling for me.

Other updates - Madrid is out of CL. However, so is Chelsea and Liverpool. Madrid is facing its third trophy less season. I hope the galactico era is ending at last. Lets hope the new mgmt thinks of Real Madrid as a soccer club and not as a corporate entity.
Alonso wins the first F1 race of the season. However, true hero was Kimi. He started last on the grid and still managed a podium finish. Hope this time, Kimi gets what he has deserved for a long time.

Signing off from Indore. Wishing you all a very happy holi.

Personality

Your Personality Profile

You are elegant, withdrawn, and brilliant. Your mind is a weapon, able to solve any puzzle. You are also great at poking holes in arguments and common beliefs. For you, comfort and calm are very important. You tend to thrive on your own and shrug off most affection. You prefer to protect your emotions and stay strong.

The World's Shortest Personality Test

I swear, I haven't doctored this test. I got the link off Shradz blog and decided to give it a try. Now that I think abt it, everything I do - the way I talk, walk, sleep, smile as well as my sunsign etc can be used to tell me abt my personality. What's the use ? I suppose usually ppl know enough abt themselves to know their personality.

Interviews

Interviews - The essential part of ne placement procedure. An hour which can give a totally different direction to someone's life. Ppl prepare for interviews cramming the usual questions - Tell us abt urself, Where do u see urself 5 yrs,10 yrs,15 yrs etc, Strengths & Weaknesses etc.
But the eagerness to project themselves as the most suitable candidates leads to some hilarious scenarios as well.

Mr X is going to appear in Oracle interview. A semester ago, he had to get his resume verified by the institute. In the column for Computer Languages, he mentions Java, even though he hasn't worked on it thinking that he'll learn it in the time before placement. Unfortunately, he couldn't because of one or the other reason. A day before interview he reads the basics of Java.
Interviewer : Which computer languages do u know ?
Mr X : Sir, I am comfortable with C++, have done a little work on Microsoft Visual C++ and Java but for Java, I use the textbook in case of ne difficulty.
Interviewer : Ok, so which version of Java you have worked upon ?
Mr X : Hmm, Hmm Actually, one of my friends installed Java on my PC in my absence and I have been using it as it is. So I dont know the version as such

Mr Y is going to appear for IBM. One possible question he has prepared is "Where do u see urself 5 yrs from now".The interview ends but the interviewer didn't ask this question. Instead, the interviewer asks "Do you have ne question on ur side regarding the co, the work etc". Unable to come up with a question at the spur of the moment, Mr Y asks "Sir, where do u see me 5 yrs from now"

Another place where interviews play an important part is CAT. I didn't make it through CAT but have been doing a bit of a research to help my friends who got thru. It turns out IIM A interviews are the ultimate in stress interviews. Here are a few samples

The student enters the room and before he can say nething or have a seat
Interview panel : What r u here for ?
Student : I am here to appear for an interview for the MBA program of IIMs
Panel : U don't know the name of the program u r applying for. Get out

Panel : Which is ur favourite book
Student : Love in the time of Cholera
Panel : Ok, What r the symptoms of Cholera ?

As the interviews continue, such cases will keep on coming. Lets c how many more shall be there

Happy New Year

Another year goes by and time to catalogue the happenings in this year.

The year started fine with 7 of us working to make Chaos: The Gaming Carnival as one of the first cross country gaming event of its kind. This pursuit took the first quarter of my year as there was work to be done ranging from arranging of the sponsorships to getting the infrastructure in place. Fortunately, everything fell in place and the event became a huge success with 1200+ participants from across the country. In course of the event, we contacted Raptor Entertainment, a game development major in B'lore where I ended up doing my summer internship and started blogging. Chaos was certainly the highlight of this year for me.

After this, I have been blogging regularly. Hence, nothing new to put up.

10 of us decided to spend the new year camping at Shivpuri, Rishikesh. The place was awesome. The camp was at the banks of river Ganges,serene and peaceful but extremely cold. Played beach soccer and I am still tired. Lit a bonfire at night and had a blast singing at the top of our voices. In the morning, got out of there, came back and slept for 5 hrs flat.

Time to make new year resolutions (and this yr I intend to keep them like every yr)
1. Learn a foreign language (French/German)
2. Lose some weight (I know its a cliche but can't help it)
3. Get to know abt working of stock markets
4. Miscellaneous Resolutions like sleep well, eat healthy, do meaningful reading etc

PS: I forgot to mention that I got placed with Manhattan Associates, Bangalore.