First Salaried Lecture

1030 hrs, 31st August, 2010. This date and time will remain etched in my memory for the next few decades which I’ve on this earth. This is the time when I took my first salaried lecture. It’s not that I’ve not lectured before but never ever I had an audience of 40 odd students who were there just to listen me. And another aspect of this lecture is that it will be paid for by the college.

I had never thought that I would be teaching in a college let alone an engineering college. But there I was at the appointed hour all tied up in a new shirt and a pair of new shoes just for the occasion. It would be untrue if I say that I was not nervous. I was to the very core of my bones. And when the bus started delaying, my nervousness was shooting through the roof. I had kept rehearsing what will be my opening lines even in my dream. I had planned to rehearse once again before entering the class but the delay was making me uncomfortable. So, I rehearsed the whole thing in the bus itself (Of course in my mind. Otherwise, people would have thought me crazy)! At last I reached just 5 minutes before the scheduled time. Phew! Not a wise start to the very first day!

I had thought to start with Semiconductors as I was comfortable with it and had actually prepared well in advance. But a meeting with a senior faculty on Monday changed it all. He advised me to start with Electron Ballistics as it was more concise and clearly understandable. I luckily followed his advice and starting preparing for the lecture. I had just prepared two pages when my brother came with the internet dongle. I got engrossed in Facebook and forgot to prepare further. So, with that preparation, I went for the lecture.

I had planned to get acquainted with the students first and ease the nervousness on both sides. After asking their names, I couldn’t even remember a single name and I realized that this method won’t work. Instead I should straightway start my syllabus and in due course of time get acquainted with them. They are anyways stuck with me for the next whole session! So, I started with electron. But I found out that the students were much hesitant in coming forward with the answers. This is a problem with most students. Even if they know the answer, they wouldn’t reply in fear of what would the teacher say and mostly what would the other students think in case of a wrong answer. I remember my Astro classes when Dipankar Sir would not budge forward until he got the answer out of our throats. I tried that but to no avail. So, I started dropping hints about the answers. When they reached the answer, they realized that they knew that all through. I believe this habit has to be inculcated now. And that brought a smile everyone’s face i.e. including me. When Dipankar Sir used to give us that smile, I thought it used to be a sign of frustrated relief. But today I realized, it was a sign of satisfaction.

I was so engrossed in teaching that I actually overshot the allowed time of 45 minutes. It was not until the next lecturer came, I had no idea! But even when I was leaving, I wanted to teach more. The students I guess were relieved. Next lecture was 45 minutes later. The hara-kiri in my mind had subsided. I was assured that I was not at the wrong place. I can be a good lecturer. So, in the next lecture, I was more composed and confident. This lecture also ended with the dissatisfaction of not being able to teach more.

After lunch I had a practical class. But as was decided earlier, practicals were not to start until next week. So, I started chatting with the students. First I started with semiconductors but dropped the topic after half an hour. We chatted for another hour or so before we ran out of conversations. It would have been a crime to continue torturing them on their very first day and hence a holiday was declared. Thus, I ended the first day of my teaching.

I have to thank all my teachers right from School to PG, whose ways I was trying to emulate. I must also thank my tuition students Aniket, Akshita, Rushabh and not to forget Nauty. Without them it would have been difficult to understand the mentality of the students. I must also thank my friends whom I’ve pakaoed during my college days while explaining before the examinations. At last I must thank MIET for giving this rookie a chance to deliver his wares.

Hoping for a successful session of teaching.

Amen!!!

Underpaid नेतालोग

Last week was quite eventful. Shashi-Sunanda (the just friends) married, Pakistan accepted Indian aid u(s)nder pressure, Sehwag hit a six that blew credibility and honesty of the whole Sri Lankan team, and etcetera etcetera. But the news which remained on the chartbusters was our own नेतालोग asking for a 500% pay hike!
In the last month and a half I have seen what factor salary plays in one’s life. So, I can completely understand the agony of the नेतालोग. They were truly underpaid by a huge margin. Even now they are short by a good 20001 rupees. It is really humiliating for the neta to get less than the babu. And that also by such a huge margin. Anyways they always get the credit for all good that happens through their overestimated underperforming ministries. If something (always) wrong happens, that is the fault of the common man, rotten system, opposition and the eternal and most loveable foreign hand. Even these excuses seldom give him the reprieve. He is the one who receives the brickbats and now even the shoes! (Garlands have become costly and people prefer to get rid of their old footwear in an effective way!) So, I believe it’s his eternal right to receive a higher pay than the babu who always stays away from the limelight. आखिर उनकी भी कोई इज़्जत है !
This is not the only reason why the pay should be hiked. The entourage that always surrounds a neta has to be fed and cared. It’s a simple everyday observation that the more delicious and aromatic the eatable is, the more flies it attracts. Similarly an MP is bound to have a lot many co-workers (चमचे). Now with the escalating costs every day, it is hard to feed these people. Government has dealt this issue nicely by using scientifically approved cost cutting techniques (decrease the number of employees) but then our dear 545 + 250 MPs are the best and different from the rest. So, common man’s techniques are undesirable in these circumstances!
People are raising a huge furore over the issue of their free travel facilities. But they must understand that the नेतालोग have to fly business class and travel AC-1st class for three obvious reasons. First, they are not cattle class. Second, their time is precious and shady deals needs to be done in confinement. Lastly, they have promised to return after 5 years. So, if they show their faces earlier than that, there would be questionnaire waiting for them from every passenger (read Voters) they meet. Moreover, if we start charging them, they have to do few more acts of social work (corruption) to cover their expenses. So, for the better good of the society it’s a welcome decision.
Also, the burden of the social work that they have taken really hurt their shoulders. In the service of the society, they waste themselves without caring for their health. They become overweight, develop ailment in every possible body part and become insomniac. So, a contingency fund has to be build up for them so that they can continue to serve the country till their very last.
Another trouble which has prompted our dear नेतालोग to ask for the pay hike is the unavailability of funds through the havala route. These mediawallahs are always against them. Whenever the नेतालोग try to do a ‘havala’, these mediawallahs do a ‘tehelka’. The IT-department is also not behind. The innocent नेतालोग are not even allowed to take gifts (बेचारी mayawati) and donations. They are charged the dreaded income-tax for the money they receive, which actually is the immense love shown by the common man. So, this time they decided to earn some tax-free money through legal means. So, why oppose!
Also, this has also shown the world the fast decision making capacity of our parliamentary system. Otherwise every bill goes through the देखते है, सोचते है, करेँगे, जल्दी क्या है phase. This also showed the harmony and unity among our नेतालोग. In case of any other bill, it’s so difficult to bring them together but this bill is a real winner. I hope the bill will be passed in one sitting. (Well done Laluji. It would have been difficult without you.)
पैसा ऐसा चीज़, ख़ुदा से उनीस बीस !
Jokes apart, the mockery that these people have done of our democracy is worth a concern. Let’s not forget this when we meet them again for the 2014 general elections.
Jai Hind!!!

One Month In Office

(सोचा था की जब पहली salary मिलेगी तब यह article लिखेंगे लेकिन अब सोचते हैं की फिर कब लिखेंगे! Because salary तो भविष्य के गर्भ में चली गयी है, पता नहीं कब आएगी!)

11th of August, I finished one month at my job. I’ve mentioned earlier that my last trial at a job lasted just 2 days so this is indeed a remarkable feat (Given the fact that I’m not particularly very satisfied with the job that I have now)!
As I’ve written before that now I’m a lecturer (Assistant Professor in college rolls) at MIET, Shahapur, Bhandara and will be teaching(?) Physics to students of First year BE. It would be untrue if I say that I was overjoyed to get this job. My idea of a job, for the last few years, has revolved around research. I wanted to join a premier research institute for my PhD and then join over there itself or somewhere else and be with research for the rest of the days, I can manage to survive on mother earth. I would be the undisputed boss of my life and would be paid handsomely with money, respect and satisfaction. But it was not to be. So I went for my next love, teaching.
12th of July when I went to JM Patel College, Bhandara, I had no idea that I’d be starting my lecturer’s duty that very day. So, when Dafre sir asked me to write the “Letter of Joining”, I couldn’t believe my ears and had to ask him twice whether or not he was saying exactly the same thing that I had heard.
And from that day started a new innings. I had to learn new ways to fit myself into the new order that was beckoning me. As soon as I reached the college, the guard at the gate asked me about my purpose of visit. When I told him that I was a newly appointed lecturer, he immediately saluted me. I was shocked as this was the first time someone had done something like that to me. From that day on this has been a regular practice, taking namastes, salutes, Good Mornings from guards, non-teaching staff and my colleagues. Even though I’m saying colleagues, I’m the second most junior on the list. The next young guy is 5 years older. The youngest is only 15 days younger to me. But since he has one year experience, he is treated as a compatriot while I’m treated as a kid. They are always there to take care of me and guide me and readily point out my mistakes. I’ve also learned and absorbed so much from them. They have been in this field for quite a long time and I’m learning the tricks of the trade from them. Especially I’m fond of Fandi sir and Shende sir.
But the man who holds all of us awestruck is Nema sir. He is 61 and has retired from WCL. But the fire within him is more than any of us. He defies his age with astounding energy levels which makes us ashamed because of our inability to match with him pace to pace. Not only physically but also mentally he is young. He will generally think what we GEN-Y think! Especially his use of technology and computers has made all of us his ardent fans. I always love talking to him and 1 hour spent with him gives you a year of wisdom. His vision is far more clear than most of the others associated with the institute. Even if I don’t gain anything, his companionship will be an achievement for the entire life.
This one month included 26 days of inaction and 5 days of admission rounds. Both the phases taught me important lessons. The days of inaction were very long and tedious. It was after a long time that I was travelling every day. 4 hours of travelling everyday has made me immune to ST buses that I don’t like as a mode of communication. After reaching Jawaharnagar, we have to endure the agony of travelling in the rickety six-seaters (It’s just the name. It is actually a 10-11-12 seater). And then starts the long day in which the only productive work is LUNCH! We chat, watch movies on my laptop, roam here and there, just sit idle, and even sleep but even then the day doesn’t seem to end! It really has improved my patience, endurance, sleeping powers, talking powers and my knowledge on many subjects both sense and nonsense. At quarter to five, we start getting ready and at five to five we go for our end-correction (signing the attendance register) so that we can leave exactly at 5!
The 5 days of admission were more energy consuming but at last we had something to do. We even worked on the Sunday, thanks to DTE. Our monochromatic life now had some colour as so many people came with so many different types of queries. It’s always lovely to meet people and help them with their troubles. But this time the meetings had me on the other side of the table for the first time. Instead of being counselled, I was the counsellor. I was really enjoying my seat of power. Variety of people came from different places. Some were dumb, some smart and some oversmart. Many were afraid, some confident and some overconfident. They had queries from hostel to fees to infrastructure to lecturers to …… We were to answer everything satisfactorily keeping in view that any student entering through the door should not return back. His admission had to be confirmed. Other teachers were experienced in this matter while I was a greenhorn. But I believe I did my job to near perfection. There were times when the heart was saying to slap and swear the guy in front of me but I kept smiling and got him admitted as well. There were times when making the fellow understand my point of view was next to impossible but I somehow managed. I always thought these counsellors are overpaid and overestimated. But it’s true that without sitting on the Hot Seat, nobody can feel and understand the heat. I sometimes deviated from the path but others pulled me through. I’m proud to say that we managed to bag 88 seats in the very first round even though the college was new and had made very little publicity (We have students from Mumbai to Salekasa). Those five days greatly improved my public conversational skills (I must thank my Pune gang, especially Aradhana, without whom I’d never have learnt the art of public speaking).
Another thing that I’d to change was my attire. For the last seven years I’ve never tucked my shirt in and wore my shoes irregularly. My dressing sense is a complete faux-pas. Here I’ve to bath every morning and then prepare myself for the whole day. If the college authorities stick with what they have said then I’ve to wear light coloured shirts, dark coloured pants, shoes and tie for the rest of the year and maybe soon learn some dressing sense as well. (I hope I soon get a research job and be able to wear my kurta or T-shirt with my bermuda coupled with my chappals!)
Even though I was thrilled to be part of such a big education society, I’m not fully satisfied with the work conditions. I know my utopian vision of an educational institution is an impossibility but still let’s hope I get at least 20% of what I think is needed.
Next wish is quick delivery of our salary so that I can buy things on my list which I planned even before getting this job!
And last but not the last wish is your cooperation, help, blessings and love for a successful life.

Job: To Be or Not To Be

When I was young, I thought that for getting a job astounding qualifications was the sole criteria. As I grew towards jobhood, I found out that in case of insufficient qualifications, contacts (setting) and even bribes have to be incorporated into the CV! I had no contacts and nothing to bribe. Morally I’m against it and even if I succumbed, monetarily it was impossible. So, I decided to embark on the path of attaining the best qualifications needed for a satisfying job.
2005 was a great year. I was in BSc(Final) and was undecided about my next step. My college profs sent me for an interview for a IT job at MBT (now TechMahindra). I went there empty minded just to attend it. But, in the evening I was among the four who got the job. In another month or so I accompanied my friends for another interview to Infosys Progeon (now Infosys BPO) and landed up with that job as well. By the end of the session, I had decided to move my ass to Pune for Masters in Physics with Astrophysics as my specialization. I couldn’t fulfill my wish that year and just out of frustration went for the BPO job. I didn’t like it and left in just 2 days! Next year I fulfilled my wish and went for my masters to Pune. In two years, the idea of job and for that matter earning large sums of money by grinding my ass was summarily rejected by me. I decided to dedicate my life (big words!!!) for research. So, I started applying to all national level institutes for PhD. I cleared some entrances but always fell at the last hurdle (interviews)!
By June 2010, it was totally clear that I wasn’t to be enrolled for PhD this session or even later. By luck, I have a nice AIR25 in NET(LS) examination. So, I decided to exploit it for a teaching job.
I started to gather information about the requirements and emoluments about my prospective job. I found out that teaching in a Science college in Nagpur will suit my taste but not my pocket! The colleges which would match my taste were in areas that didn’t match my taste. So, I had only one option and that was to join an engineering college. Pay was good and that was one of the basic requirements. Having fixed my mind, I started applying to various engineering colleges in and around Nagpur. In the meantime, I kept emailing Science colleges in Pune and Mumbai. St. Xaviers, Mumbai surprisingly called me for the interview. But as luck would have it, the call letter came very late on a Friday evening for the subsequent afternoon’s interview. I couldn’t go and missed a great opportunity. I kept viewing ‘aspire’ columns in Lokmat and in other Newspapers. One college was happy to have me for the interview but told me that it was unhealthy for them and me if I joined them. They cited that I would not stay for long given my qualifications and that would not be good for them. They also added that they can’t pay me the deserved pay and that would be an unsatisfactory start for my ‘would be illustrious career’.
I got rejected by 2 other colleges on the same flimsy reasons. I was contemplating about my decision when I suddenly saw an interview for MIET, Shahapur. The college belong to Gondia Education Society, chair manned by Mr. Praful Patel. I had no hope of getting a job even there. But, since the interview was at Hotel Centre Point (near to my house), I went there. But surprises are a part and parcel of life. 4:30 PM, Saturday, 10th July 2010, I gave the interview and in less than 23 hours I was on the faculty list of the college with a promised pay of 15K.
Since, 12th July, I’m attending college. Life has played the tricks. I’m working where I never wanted to be in the first place. I travel daily 2 hours one-way for my job and still am surprisingly healthy both physically and mentally. Maybe getting a job has given my mind the required energy to focus on my unfinished endeavours.
Since, the admissions are yet to happen, we have nothing much to do (I wrote this blog in college time)! This would be first time in my life when I would be paid for doing absolutely nothing.
I pray to God for a successful run in my subsequent adventures in the job world.

Patriarchs or Just Chauvinists

This month my friend is getting married. While excitingly talking about the marriage, she told me that may be her name would be changed as per some marital rules. I reasoned with her that how can she accept it. Her name is her identity and why would she compromise to lose it. She told me that it was the custom and she had to respect it. I asked her whether or not her husband will change his name as well. She laughed at my suggestion and said that a man never does that!
Well, that’s the truth. The man never does anything in the society. All the sacrifices and compromises have to come from the feminine side. We are a patriarchal society and if somebody tries to voice concerns for the women, he is either laughed at or given the adjective, FEMINIST.
This patriarchal intervention is not present only in India but from Alaska to Australia and China to Chile. But it was not always the case. In the Old world, even though patriarchal society existed, the fairer sex had an equal say and respect. All old religions had goddesses which were not anymore part of the new ones, most of which grew as offshoots of older ones. Sita, Mandodri, Draupadi, Ahilya, Savitri, Anusuya were not only respected but were also equal partners to their counterparts in all respects. But the advent of the new millennia changed it all. More and more anti-women rules began to come. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the most hardcore religion in this matter is obviously Islam. I have not read Koran and have no idea what Allah has to say about the state of the women. But the so-called guardians sure have not painted a rosy picture in our minds. The western world was the first to come out of this Dark Age and have worked very hard to have an equal and liberal society. It’s not that they have completely succeeded but are obviously ahead of others. The Muslim world is still in Dark Ages and apart from few countries others are not coming forward enough.
Coming back to India, we find that even though cities have improved, the vast rural population still works according to the old order. Yeah, we have been able to abolish sati, decrease child marriage but many unanswered question still stay. Few of them are:
1) People go on conceiving one girl after girl in hope of a solitary boy. Why?
2) A girl has to miss school if her parents are poor even though her brother can go. Why?
3) Girl’s population in a school is never proportional to country’s sex ratio. Why?
4) There is a difference in their legal marriage ages. Why? (Biological reasons are bull shit!)
5) Marrying a younger woman is a rule while the reverse is a crime. Why?
6) Even though sati is abolished, a widow has to follow certain rules. It’s still a taboo to marry a widow. While for a widower no such rules exist. Why?
7) Girls have to change their surnames and sometimes even their names after marriage. The boy doesn’t have to. Why?
8) Sindoor, Mangalsutra, Shankha and other accessories have to be worn by the woman to show that they are married. We never see a man with any such symbols. Why?
It’s not only these questions. The disparity can be seen everywhere. One famous person once said that, “History is written by the conquerors!” In our society, men are the conquerors and they have framed rules as per their convenience. That’s why when a woman is having more than one relationship at one time, she is termed a slut but in case of a man he is just a flirt! Our forefathers laid down rules as per their convenience. The unequal caste system is another example in which the upper castes tormented and tortured the lower castes as per their will. These men who took upon them to be the guardians of the society were also the one responsible for demeaning the position of women in the society. Through generations this has continued. Although the satraps have now mellowed down but the heat still remains. That’s why fathers, brothers and husbands have the universal right over their daughters, sisters and wives. They want to rule them and decide what is good and what is bad for them.
Modern literature, media, cinema glorifies heroes but heroines don’t have any existence if she doesn’t have male company. Cinema has only song and crying sequence for the heroines. Why can’t she be given an equal opportunity? Very few like Indira Gandhi have been able to make a niche for her but even she had only male advisors. Until a few years ago even the prize money at the Grand-Slams were different. Closer home, while everyone knows the entire male cricket team along with its support staff, naming five women players would be difficult (even for BCCI)! These are just few examples. Disparity is a common occurrence.
The subjugation has been going for such long time that even women have accepted it to be their fate. Some even believe that it would be a sin not to accept these regulations. They not only do that themselves but also make others toe the line even if violence is required. And surprisingly it’s not limited to the illiterate! Sometimes literate people do such heinous activities to uphold the sovereignty of men that even God will be ashamed for creating them.
It’s high time; we stop promising and start delivering. Everyone has to pitch in with their individual efforts and dedication in this issue. Expecting help from the lawmakers will be foolishness. Those fellows can’t even provide 33% reservation for women and talk utter obscenely about the whole issue. They may even give into the demands by the Khaps and any other untoward demand that may be. Don’t forget that they are the flag-bearers of that part of the male society which has been producing these fanatic rules for ages. It’s only that they have changed names and shapes. Rest remains the same.
Please don’t forget it was a woman who brought you to this world and any feminine discrimination that the man can show because of his physical (God gifted) and social (created) superiority will be a direct abuse of her.

Honour Killing: A By-Product of Modern India

We live in a modern country called India. We are developing. We fired a rocket to moon. We are the biggest film industry. We are intelligent. We are the next big thing. We are blah blah blah. But are we really that modern, that great????
On one side we have reaped the fruits of outsourcing, our scientists are world renowned, we grow our own food grains, we produce our own steel, we do many other things but on the other side we have illiteracy, female infanticide, dowry deaths, khap panchayats, hatred in the name of religion, region, language and any other nonsense anybody can invent. These things show that the modernity has not reached into all strata of the society. The latest product from our great honourable society is, “Honour Killing”. And this is what I’m going to talk over now.
Every week there is at least one Honour Killing in the badlands of India. But what worries me the most are the Honour Killings from the so called modern urban areas. Whether Rizwanur Rahman or Nitish Katara or now Nirupama Pathak, the list is endless. Politicians are also a party to it and giving into the demands of the Khap Panchayats and are trying to get same-gotra marriage banned. There is even a demand that marriages in the same village be banned as well. In short, what they are demanding is that love marriages should be marriage. Inter-caste, inter-religion, inter-region marriages are already a taboo in this so called modern India! But I ask whether loving someone is such a big crime that they have to be killed! And that also by their own near and dear ones. Why can’t parents accept what their kids want?
I would request all the powers who are concerned to get out of their old rotten shells and embrace the modern world. Please stop moral policing and interfering in other people’s lives. Beware of the fact the Supreme One is watching and that day is not far when you have to pay back for your heinous crimes. No Panchayat, Association, relative and even a parent has the right to impose his/her dictum on a grown up adult. You may suggest what you want but can’t force it down the throat. Choosing the Life-Partner should be the right of every individual and that should be respected.
Please break the shackles of caste, gotra, religion, region and accept love. This is what every religion has taught which have been remodeled by the so-called custodians to their own favour.

Love & let love flourish…

Sister: That I Don’t Have

I’m back from the trip from Bengal with memories of the trip still weighing in my mind. The trip has caused several effects on my mind. But one that has affected me the most is the fact that I don’t have a sister of my own!
In several of my blogs, I’ve mentioned that I hated the feminine gender. But lately I’ve realized my mistake. But still the need for a sister didn’t arise. I was happy with my very few feminine friends. But this trip changed it all.
I’ve a maternal sister, Bidisha, whom I didn’t like very much before. This time around I felt affection and love towards her right from minute 1. But what made me emotional enough to write this stuff are the sisters of Sanjay, Kingshuk & Anustuv; my friends whom I visited. The camaraderie these guys share with their sisters is phenomenal. The love, peace, tranquility, help, encouragement these fellows enjoy because of their respective sisters (they don’t even realize what they are having because it has become an everyday affair to have the sister for them) made me jealous to the core of my heart.
Even though I’ve a great younger brother, a sister, preferably younger or even older, would have been nevertheless excellent. My brother has wished for a sister for a very long time. He is lucky to have a girl who is a great sister to him. And he takes care of her like her own brother. We have one Rakhi sister but after her marriage the contact has declined to a bare minimum. And I’m not ashamed to say that I didn’t have any sibling feeling for her which I certainly have for Bidisha, even when I didn’t like her very much. I’m not a guy who can have sibling feelings outside my blood relations.
It’s my personal view that girls are more intelligent, reliable, supportive & understanding than their male counterparts. If in trouble, I always like to have views of a lady as it is generally correct and most importantly different than what I think. Seldom will a man have a different view. Also, they are good listeners and have an indefinable comforting aura surrounding them. Till now I have shared all my troubles, views, solutions, grief, happiness with my mother but there are certain things which can be shared with a person of same age only. And what better person it would be than your own sister! I believe a sister would have been a great stress buster. Her mere smile would have ended lot of my troubles.
I am a person who is hungry for love and care. I love to be pampered and I certainly love to pamper. And the pampering is always effective in persons of opposite sex. So, while sons are their mother’s darlings, daughters are more pampered by their fathers. Similarly, brother-sister relationships are stronger than brother-brother or sister-sister bonding. Although I like to pamper my brother, I would certainly have pampered my sister more. I would have bought gifts for her during all festivities and especially during Rakhi and Bhai-Duj. These are the festivals when I feel the loneliest. I believe if I had a sister, I would have been more social, more human, more understanding, more caring and more …. And yes I would have the elusive girl-friend as well… Fulfilling her demands would have given me a certain divine pleasure.

If I’m lucky enough to get married and then blessed enough to have a child, I would like it to be a daughter!!!!