Sunday, April 24, 2011

Comments on Assos and a Fresher’s role @ NIT


In recent times we are witnessing a phenomenon of over protectionism, something which any free being would feel disrespectful about. We are forced to be over-submissive to the authorities.
(The recent naïve piece of mail which lies in ur insti’s mailbox was a quite a message and a driving force for me to jot down my understanding of the problem.)


Quite unaware of the total scenario, a fresher who enters this so-claimed elite institution falls prey to a system common to some NITs and IITs across the nation, the system of Asso(read State associations). A fresher having lack of gadget+internet+rock culture+galla activities and above all a whole lotta warmth of a senior-junior relation, which he has never seen in his school days seeks gratification and respite from an already existing load of academics and peer-pressure. Being submissive (hez a bichara fresher), joins up a State-Asso eg.UP, CB, KSA.. thus falling prey, himself totally unaware or may be inconsiderate, to the whole damn effect of "regionalism".
Now lets have a broader picture, What on earth makes me think that Asso is bad, is it because I never joined one?

When we join a ‘National’.I.T. seldom do we give a thought of the talent pool we are surrounded by. We are sadly pessimistic of any good/great that can possibly germinate here. Under the system of Asso, we tend to lose our abilities to actually interact with the best brains of higher years. We, out of obligation tend to meet up people and seniors of our own communities thereby gaining and cultivating warmth in this small group which parties together, raggs together(read Intro), dines together etc. Regionalism does no good and it’s a lesson which is the need of the hour. With the authorities taking good interest in stopping the menace and the present fresher batch evolving out with lesser effects of Assobaaji, we can expect to have the renunciation of the Institute’s values and ethics.
If we want our students to be responsible, ethically sound and timely exposed we shall put an end to the system of Assos, however making new ways for senior-junior interaction which plays vital role in a fresher’s upbringing and thinking abilities. The system of Year-wise hostel allocation does more harm than good and we need to learn from IITs in this regard, where students of all the years live together in single hostel. Don't authorities over there have scare of ragging?
We need not be over protective.
The Proud feeling of Oneness of being an NITian for all the inmates, rather than being from Mumbai, Chennai or remote Northeast is the only thing that can pave way to agree for the claims, of the Institute become an elite one.

-Parker

Saturday, February 5, 2011

“A miscellaneous article”


For me education is all about having knowledge which makes your life meaningful, simple and comfortable. We educate not for jobs but to share our experience and expertise. In this chaotic and ultra fast moving world our degree of socializing has gone down. Getting glued to our desktop for hours on stretch are making us good for nothing and is a serious threat to our future generations.
When we, as juniors enter this prestigious institution, we are exposed to a lot of activities, some we chose, many we leave. “Writing”, one such activity, has seen a boon with the newly come up platform of blogging, but it too has eventually gone into hay way. Pen is mightier than sword and we as academic individuals do have our weapons. We have our weapons to showcase our concerns, to make people realize the glitches in the world around us. India has produced notable writers and individuals who have made significant contributions with their writings.
An ethical EndNote: It becomes very important for us to realize our potential and work to our limits to contribute to a change in our society, towards our nation. We all are privileged ones to have reached to this place for our education, and it thus becomes our responsibility to pay back to the ones who have given us this platform to realize our dreams.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Words and Notes (Some musical experiences)

Music is a tool, you won't learn without practice and prior knowledge. I often come across questions by friends, when I just pick up an instrument and start playing without any prior knowledge, to whom I reply, all one needs is to play music first in mind and then it jot down on his instrument, whatever he is playing. Music for me is unarguably a mental performance rather than physical.
I remember when I was judged by my Violin guru, Shri G N Kapoor, who before taking me as his student asked me to tune up a Taanpura, which I did tuned to fairly decent perfection only coz of the Vocal teachings I had in music. For me it was replication of what I was thinking in mind.
I would advise people who read this and are related to music to stop playing instruments by reading notes.
I also want you to know that 'Indian Music', though tethered in its present form, is an awesome experience. There is no restriction for you to create your own stuff out of it, say, Shankar.E.L are doing phenomenal in their music compositions, hardly people know about their Classical-Music base. Other master is John McLaughlin, who has done a lot in popularizing Indian Classical-Music across the globe. India is own such country which has given a lot of Culture to Humanity, its ours (your and mine) duty to carry it with ourselves, not to dump it or let it being dumped.