My dictionary

‘Exaggeration’ – This is the first word when I referred to a dictionary. I will never forget it. It was spelled out by one of my friends when we were ambling to home from school in the evening of a sunny evening. To our left was a garden and to our right there was a pan-wala waiting eagerly to sell his pans to the customer who were standing besides him.

It was a rainy day, and the time was somewhere in the early evening. Our umbrellas were closed and the day was fine. We could smell the soil on the road, and fulfill the entire experience as one with Mother Nature.

I reached my house and hurriedly without waiting for long rushed to my dictionary and what I saw in the definition was something like this–‘to add to the interest of by including made-up details’.

I was happy and found real meaning in improving my vocabulary. I bought one book, 30 days to a more powerful vocabulary – by Norman Lewis.

Our professors

With his arrow like, sharp snout it isn’t enough to describe him. Additionally, he also has a chin protruding, elliptical, sponge-like, and slack; his cheeks sagging and as blunt as a butter knife. I still haven’t described his eyes; they two mesmerizing balls roving hither and thither searching for something precious he can possess or someone foolish whom he can play with. His crows-feet can any day take him to the Hollywood stage: he can be an extraordinary vamp. His entire face is wrinkled; more so, is his forehead. It wonders me when I see them like thin strips of knife cut bread-edges placed one top over the other or layers of yellow flat sandstones as in the Colorado plateau. After all, they represent wisdom.

More or else, he looks like all of us, otherwise. Are you troubled about who this man is? Do you feel I am disclosing every thing to you after you have read my piece? May be some of us will look like him. I recently saw them in my dreams. Again, he was our Professors - old and withered.

My dear friend

My Dear Friend,

Years seem to have passed without seeing you. Nothing seems to have changed except, the memories that we share together. My recent memories have overtaken the past ones. With you the times spent were precious. I take enjoyment in them till today.

How may years have passed? 3 years. Isn’t it a long time? Let us meet somewhere. Tell me, when are you free? Are you in the same place? Do you stay in the same house? Are you married? Do you have children? And finally, have you changed? I can think of more and more questions that I want to ask.

Remember, we had sandwiches at our canteen during our college festival. Someone even invited us to have food in the mess. It is as fresh as a coriander leaf. That tastes still sticks to my tongue. We were worried about bad stomach. You remind me of that. Do you still remember that we went to the college gymnasium and pumped us for a little while each of us showing our capabilities? Assignments! We had loads of them. No one remembers anything of those assignments. They must be surely at a stray cow’s stomach, ruminating now and then.

With his arrow like, sharp snout it isn’t enough to describe him. Additionally, he also has a chin protruding, elliptical, sponge-like, and slack; his cheeks sagging and as blunt as a butter knife. I still haven’t described his eyes; they two mesmerizing balls roving hither and thither searching for something precious he can possess or someone foolish whom he can play with. His crows-feet can any day take him to the Hollywood stage: he can be an extraordinary vamp. His entire face is wrinkled; more so, is his forehead. It wonders me when I see them like thin strips of knife cut bread-edges placed one top over the other or layers of yellow flat sandstones as in the Colorado plateau. After all, they represent wisdom.

More or else, he looks like all of us, otherwise. Are you troubled about who this man is? Do you feel I am disclosing every thing to you after you have read my piece? May be some of us will look like him. I recently saw them in my dreams. Again, he was our Professors - old and withered.

How shall we forget the games we used to play outside our premises, within the four walls of the hostel playground? They are all precious. Wonderful was our companionship. Do you meet any one of them? How are they doing? The more and more you live your life the more they seem to be precious. Memories aren’t they worth having. What is left with us? Isn’t it memories alone? We die with our memories still intact.

You are welcome any time to my house. I stay there only, near our college. Things have changed a lot. It would be great having conversations what each of us missed of each other’s experience with people whom we have met over the course of years. Share them with me. So will I.

I always will remain your faithful friend.

Regards
ABC

Her eyes

The further you look at her the more she mesmerizes you. Her eyes are no less than a national treasure. Without her eyes she wouldn’t be easy to describe. She is synonymous with the kind of eyes she has.

Have you ever seen the tint of her eyes? Some must have seen them; few must have taken notice of them. They are like brown marbles, shuddering in all the directions. When she cries the eye balls move more and not less. They shake, spilling more globules of tears. You see them roll off from her eyes waiting to cling to her cheeks and taking their own trajectories thereafter. The fine shakiness and nervousness of her eyes are enough to take India by storm.

Never contest our eyes with hers. The more you see them, the longer you want to see. The more colorful lens she wears the more dazzling they look. When she is fuming you can literally see those red nerves slightly extending beyond in small bundles. This gives realism to even the most mundane script. Don’t overlook; those eyes are nothing without their eye lashes. Long as they may seem, very few amongst us have them. I cannot comment whether they are genuine or not. She knows the most precious thing she has are her eyes. She has to take care of them. We all love her for what she does and what she does well. I can only plead; she shouldn’t spoil her eyes by wearing those artificial, rectangular, oddly shaped specs. By now, you would have known about whom am I talking – It’s YOU.

A few important things in our life

After introspection I have written a few things that are valuable to us in our lives. Hope, you will find it helpful to better streamline your life. The list is short and simple, but, valuable.
1.Relatives
2.Money
3.Education
4.Values (based on values character makes choices)
5.Religion
6.Virtue/Character
7.Personality
8.Influence/community
9.Achievements

A call from a company

I failed to tell you that I am searching for a job. Never ever have I missed a job so earnestly. I have realized the pain of not having a job and I shall never ever commit such harakiri. I am very serious about having one and next time it will never be me who will show my back. I am going to do it whole heartedly. Before I tell you this I shall tell you why I left my previous job. It is because for the whole and sole reason what every body knows is salary. Salary, Salary and only Salary. Salaries are the pride of any man it is a support for any woman. With this in mind I would never, never miss a job.

I received a call today from one of the employers to whom I had sent my resume' as per the advertisement given by them in one of the newspapers. 'Ascent' you must have heard it. It is quite a local name for job searchers and management columns. We all need jobs, don't we. I have to prepare as to what questions they would ask. The most valuable question is what were you doing for the past 10 months. I have the answer ready. I travelled across the city and faced 19 interviews along with my CV and could find none. I also sent online registration from naukri.com to nearly 150 companies. No reply from them at all. Either they don't want me or I don't want them. Some were within the city some were outside the city. I never ever thought that I would face such difficult times finding a job and working for it. My work ethic is never questionable, and that is what I fear. Sometimes I take it too far ahead without realizing it. Any way, wish me all the best for my new job as Executive Assistant to MD.

Adieu!

Honest ways of earning money

Have you ever tried in your lives about the many ways of earning money. The most Honest ways H capital because I really mean Honest one is supposed to do it in ways like
1.Become a producer eg. you may become farmer, operate mines and drill the sea for petrol and many other similar ventures available directly from symbiosis with nature.
2.Become an employee i.e. do what the employer says.
3.Become an employer i.e. do what the world wants
4.Become a professional i.e. help others about what you know.
5.Become a shareholder - i.e. Let them give their money and you make something big and return them what they want. This cycle is continuous
6.Sell products and services and information - i.e. make profits.
7.Finally, become a middle man or a trader.
The list is exhaustive. You can always place somebody in one of the above ways. They are honest ways of living and acceptable ways. No doubt there are some hooligans who may try to bend rules, but for them there is jail.
Opt, which one do you like.

Writing and engineering

I have progressed by being a once in a while writer to a diligent, consistent writer. Writing is a passion for me. I cannot leave it. Just as I cannot leave my typing. Typing has a wonderful scope today. Moreover, if you can write well and think clear then you have abundance opportunities left. I am proud that I have done my graduate when only 6% of the people do graduation in a country like ours. Moreover, there are fewer engineers. You may ask me what is common about writing and being an engineer. I have found personally, not hurting anybodies feeling that engineers are hard working and pretty sincere in what they do. This is not only true for me but also for others. I must say that they are working hard without even seeing them. This is how we were brought up. Our syllabus was vast, our assignments were gruelling and we have to say yes in the most difficult of times. Now a days, people don't value hard working people. They have a bent for smarter people. This thought has been going on in my mind whether I should be hard working as I used to be or become smarter. I still would place my bet in hard working category. Why you may ask? The reason is your opinion about smart people will soon change when they fool you. You enjoy if they fool others but you show your anger when they cheat you. This is not fair. What is common with engineering and writing. First, point is that they both require hard work. They both require proper method and rigorous training to become one. Some acquire writing skills but they fail to captivate the hearts of people. This only shows that they ahve not prepared well or they are fooling the people who would read them. Engineers never fool. Very small percentage of people do so and fail to meet the expectation of the world. Saying engineering is the best is also not right. You find capable individuals in different fields with different backgrounds and all of them equally eligible for taking big assignments. These things matter a lot for a person who is doing well.

Are marriages made in heaven?

Dear Friends, Things have changed and I am grown up. Time for most other things are fleeting. Much have I acquired over the past few years. Learning has been immeasurable. I have made my friends and foes. They are however not so serious. Any way, coming back. I was about to tell you when would I marry. The first thing would be to ask whether YOU are married. If that is the case. Please share your experience. I am hungry for knowing what happens to anyone after marriage. Are your family members really a burden? Do you see sacrifice the what you are doing is an irrational argument with life? Is this sacrifice better on this side or on that side? All these things are cropping on my mind for the time being. I too have crossed 30 years. People generally marry somewhere here only. Moreover, there is not much that I can promise to my spouse; The fact is I don' t know anyone. The whom I knew left. There is not much to talk about. Marriage as they say is made in heaven. I doubt. Nothing by man is made in heaven except the rain drops that we see. I don't find myself competent in this area of life. Once again if possible kindly reply back to me. I am wholeheartedly waiting for your response. I may disagree in certain areas of your life you have made a decision to marry a wrong person, this only future will tell as to who has made the right decision and who has made a wrong one. Happy married life. Learn something from somebody who have married happily.

Thankyou in advance.

What about my typing

I am back with my typing speed. I know many of you may not care about typing. But believe me they are the most necessary skills for any educated literate person. Do not forget that both educated and literate people are different in the way they approach reading material or writing things down. Literate is the most basic form. It is a tool by which education has to be acquired. I love my language. It is free. No one has copyright. It can be learnt any where. They call it English. I am putting whatever effort I can in improving this wonderful language. People might be tired hearing that I am again talking about this language. Some might be even bored. But you don't knwo what this language can do once you have a command over it. Any language has got power. The power to speak up in front of a crowd or to write letters for bureaucrats and similar other things can only be done if you have good language skills. This is not only true for the past generation but is proving to be an invaluable tool for the coming generation. China is a big example as an English embracing nation. They are trying to beat America in their own game. Chinese don' t like Americans. They are very proud of their nation. They don't feel that America deserves the credit for what all things happens in the world. Neither do they feel that America has the holiest of values compared to other countries. The nation was very selfish when it came to World War II/. They supplied armaments to unknown small nations so that they can fill their pockets. Their indefatiguable notion about themselves was soon broken by the Vietnamese in their own war. Every body knows about it. Being defeated by a small nation is highly embrassing. Coming back to typing.

I am starting to write a book on typing. They are so precious I cannot tell you. They are the ones which I would publish in my late 50s. May be after I write enough. It could be by the time that all typing work will be replaced by something else. There is already a voice typing. But is very disturbing. One cannot talk to type. Talking makes the whole room atmosphere hotch potch and no one can concentrate on his work. I adore typing and I am very proud of typing skills. I will however share with you one tip for typing well. Do not see the screen while typing neither do you see the keyboard.

Happy typing.

We don't need more men we need more women

Do you know what is the ratio of men to women in India. They are about 930s to 1000 men. It is a number that raises certain questions. The first question is why are women less and the second question is where do the other men go even after there is polygamy that is prevalent in India. Do all of us marry? Are there 2 marriages? Do men die early before woman? Only if all these things were possible then the ratio makes sense. Some how things get rearranged and we meet the 1000 men mark.

Marriage is a very formal and an acceptable thing everywhere. But polygamy is not. There is just one state where women are more than men. Kerala. I don't know what happens to the other women. They lead a lonely life. What other reasons could there be. It also has a place where there is polyandry being practiced. That is not so good to hear for a country man. It somehow doesn't gels with one person's thought. How would it look? I don't like it. Any way, the question is how can we raise the percentage of woman in the country. The implementation still remains a mystery.

Anna Hazare

Anna Hazare is a famous name now. Every household member knows his name. He is the most alluring man in India today. Day in and day out we see his face on television news channels. What does he stand for? He stands for integrity, commitment and a free India. He wants to end corruption at the most unknown corners of India and wants all of us to join hands with him. Is it not good? India without corruption. India by world standards is one of the most corrupt places in the globe. What are we doing? We are only worried about our bread and butter and nothing less. We want to be aloof from such topics and activities. People said he would never be a success to end corruption. They did not believe in him. But now everybody has joined hands as they see his vision coming true to every nook and corner of\ the country. One of the news says that even US is supporting this activist. He is supported by the government but they want it to be done in a more formal way. This formality will take time and every one of us knows. So to end corruption faster we needed somebody like him. If he is a success he would be given a Nobel prize or even find a place to the TIME magazine among the most powerful people in the world. He is representing all the 110 crores people of India. What nobody can do Anna Hazare does it.

"Make India corruption free" is the slogan for everybody. Thank you Anna Hazare and team.

My sister's assignment

Today, I received a mail from my sister regarding leave for my mother from her school for about 20 days or so. She wants all of us to stay at her home to take care of kids. Nothing wrong. If she doesn't ask my mom who else would she ask. I am quite reticent to go there. I don't feel like home when I go there. Children play with me for some times and after that they become bored and they bore me too. I read something but how long can I read. There is no end to it. As you know by now that I am a voracious reader that doesn't mean that I am a 24 hour reader.

She is going to an assignment for IPS Training at Madhya Pradesh. I was quite surprised. She is doing well at what she does well. She probably likes her job even though it is taxing at times. She wants to be independent and others also be independent. She has managed that pretty well. She has also allowed children to be independent. That is a bonus. Children like their mother but they know that she needs some time doing her work. Very private, but very revealing and true as well. She is doing well. That is what I can see from an outsider.

Tell me about your siblings also if you want to.

Mom's assignment

Today, I got an assignment from my mom. Would you believe this what kind of assignment it was? It was sticking alphabets from A to Z and numbers from 1 to 30. It was wonderful to do something with your hand. It was highly relaxing and for a long time I have not experienced that pleasure. I don' t know why.

My mom teaches in a school. She has been working there for the past 25 years. She is a teacher. She is very strict with students, that is who she used to be then. I don't think that she is as strict as before. She has tamed herself and become more accomodating as a teacher. She must have realized that she has to be an elder sister and a disciplining mother at the same time. Vociferous she is when it comes to teaching. She is patient with me at certain times that is what she carries with her while teaching in her school. I only wish that her students learn things well and they realize that a teacher cannot do every thing. They don't have a magic wand. Parents, neighbours, colleagues, friends, siblings all have a role to play in what one becomes, a gentle man or a gentle lady.

Bye!

My new arena

I have suddently been driven into writing stories. I don't read them but I want to write a few. Well, how do you do that? The answer is write it. But don't get misled by the previous message. It only says write it. It doesn't give the easier message which is hidden behind the words that how should the story be written.

Any large work has to be organized so that it makes sense. Writing stories is also something like this. You have to organize and re-organize when you write something. Words don't flow linear. You have to make an outline before you start. Reading can also be done in a similar way. Outlining makes all the difference. It makes you the driver of your seat. You maneover the car, no one else does. But keep in mind the destination. The destination is that your readers are happy reading it and find some value in what they read. They are either coaxed by your writing or the story or get some relief for what they have read. This is not new. We must arouse interest. Draw them in to buy the product. Let us leave this to the publisher. But if you know the commercial aspects of writing then you would be drawn towards making a very customer centric book. Recently when I sent my 2 short stories I made it very clear in my head that I send the best one so that the publishers know what to do with them. I am no guru of writing, nor am I the next Chetan Bhaghat or Amitav Ghosh or Chekov. I wish I could.

Thanks for listening

How to improve your writing

Remember that it is all about choice. Some people like to do marathon and others like to do sprint and they are good at it. Writing is similar. Your choice is different from others choice. You like to write letters/emails, or write short stories or essays. All these things are various forms of writing. All are different and need different bent of mind. I don't know anyone who has jumped from being a good letter writer and shifting it to writing a novel or fiction or even non fiction. These kinds are difficult to find.

Do you wnat to improve yoru writing. You need to read well first. Listen to the music in your ears. Only then you can be a good writer. Listening well will make you a better writer and also a better reader. If you start to work for information alone in reading then you cannot listen to the music that it gives. Write daily and don't forget to edit it. Editing is where the whole game is. Good editing must never be overlooked. They must be a part of any good writing. Where do you acquire editing skills. First you have to make up your mind that editing and writing are two different things. Editing has proof reading, checking the facts and improving the grammar, the tone and diction throughout your writing. How do you do that. There are lots of interesting and exhaustive books available in the market which teaches you to edit and write well. Buy them. Life gets shorter as you get old. So get old and write faster. Some science fiction writer was asked what would he had done in his life if he had more time to live. HE said that he would write faster and more. THis is the message.

Adieu!

Reading well

YOu may not know my other side. I am a far more diligent reader. I like reading non fiction books. We all must have a reading habit. My first question was do we really improve when you read. The answer for which I was trying to find and seems to have partially found it. I went through a summary of a book. It states that memory changes when subjected to authority. Reading is that authority. And once you read you register something. Reading must not be blind. It must be easy to recall later. How do we recall? We recall only if we understand and make meaning. They all must be logical and touch your emotions and feelings.

Reading is a passion, one more passion. I find it very difficult to read but yet I do it. Most of the time I spend reading. I am very happy about that. But does that change you. The answer is a resounding yes. I love my reading as any other educated man will do. Life cannot be read. But we can know a lot about life if we are able to read good books. All gentleman and gentleladies have a bent towards reading. I once again tell you that reading is not linear. It has to be understood and to understand you must be able to dribble your eyes up and down, sideways and sometimes even come back to understand what the author wants to say.

Adieu!

My writing passion

Dear Colleagues, you are seeing here the next phenomenon on writing. Yes, that's me. Quite bold. Yes, quite true as well. These finger tips are running and asking for more work. I am here with more things to read. My unique selling proposition, I make short stories fast, and eventually I write letters and emails faster and better. They are purely official so there is not much to mention about it. Recall the last time you met a writer. THis writer is more meticulous than all the writers you have had experience with. People say I am crazy. I agree, Nothing less than that. You need not be a poor, swollen eyed, empty pocketed, old clothed author. Writers today are different. India wants more writers. Because they are one of the only breed who take lives seriously. OThers are too much involved in having peace of mind. Writing a hundred page can break your neck, break your back if not done carefully. Passion breaks it. But that is what attachment is all about. Attachment to your occupation and attachment to your craft.

100% people want to be a writer. 20% start, 10% get to the middle and 1 percent write. Fewer than that become famous. Writing is a marvellous profession. I love it. I know so do you. Sitting and writing in front of the computer is all what it takes. I say break your back. That is what will give you pleasure, more pleasure than anything else in the world can. The next thing that will give you pleasure is a job well done. Don't write frivolously, write with care. The other person is judging you time and again, time and again, time and again.

Bye!

Walking down the lane

I have been walking down the lane for quite sometime. I see many people walking. Seeing these young people walking is really exhilarating and charming. They have so much hope I too could associate myself with their hopes. They are also smarter far more smarter than people in our generation used to be. What do I mean by smarter is that they are asking the tough and big questions we generally refrained from. They make their life by themselves without depending on others. They have internally told themselves that no one is responsible for my life other than I myself. This learning is still very western where children take their own decisions. In India this doesn't happen. People grow late here. They face their problems in their late 20s and early thirties. I never used to ask such questions when I was in my early 20s. They seem to have found answers to questions like where they would work, how much money would they spend and how much time they will surrender to their friends and so on. They don't worry saying no to anything. We on the other hand are very much pleasers rather than confident. I myself am a pleaser. I can wholeheartedly tell you that I am not confident at all I may feign, but I am not.

Blessings to all people younger than I am and the generation Y as I call them.

Adieu!

Matrices in real life

Very few of us knows that matrices are used in real lives and also that I like mathematics. I can't say I am excellent but I feel that I am somewhere around average. My liking however for the subject is far more than my excellence.

There are various uses of matrices. I am writing this particular column for the only reason that I find myself convinced that I know matrices. Mostly in our education we are not taught about the applications of such operations. They are only used in higher studies. We can't wait for that. Matrices as I have seen has many uses one of them being heat flow. The matrix represents a set of data arranged in tabular form. Various points are represetnted by different degrees of heat or temperature. This is hwo we know and understand matrices. Stress, strain, force acting on various parts of a metal can all be studied with the help of matrices. Even weather can be learnt with matrices. How do they do it. IT is simple. Each miniscule point in space represents say temperature in degrees of the cloud or wind. They automatically affect the nearby areas and there is a chain of such temperatures. Pressures of air can also be represetnted by matrices. Simulatneous equations as we call it can be represented by Matrices. This is of great value.
Bye!

The writer in me

The writer in me is not dead. I have found a way to keep myself busy. To make things more interesting like a tom and jerry show. I am forced to apply some of the tips given by great writers because people believe in them. One of them being 'Don't use jargons'. I have taken inspiration from Orwell, Hemmigway and Kurt Vonnegut. This has helped me to keep focus , as sharp as a blade of grass. I have surrendered to their rules. There are around 15 of them. I have to apply them consistently, regularly and without doubt in my writing. They are the gurus of writers, could be gurus', gurus as well. People have followed them. they have practiced it that way. They have breathed that way. I like to breathe their air as well. It may not be practical to use these rules verbatim but we can always follow some rules and break others if need be. That is what writing and life teaches us and that is what they teach us.
Upcoming writer
oaktreegrass.

Life Vs Computer

Since we all are working on our computers throughout the day and don't do much traveling, we don't experience much in our lives, except a very few of us. Most of the time we are facing the computer screen or holding a mobile. Life doesn't happen on the screen or mobile. It has to be lived. That is why Life Vs Computer. Only then we will have something to write and something precious to share. Now we are just exchanging information that we see on the net, which is there for every one of us. We all seem to have been devoured by ADHD. But how long will we share about websites, a month or two, after that what.
I myself spend near about 7 to 8 hours on my computer either doing my typing practice or surfing flipkart or some other worthy websites. Some months back mujme bhoot chad gaya tha ki main writer banoo. The itch is still is there. But it has lessened over the time.

To surprise myself, I bought Corel Draw Instruction guide and am planning to learn the tricks and tips from the book so that it will prove useful to me at some stage. Comparitively, it is a nice one, because I have even bought some things which are not upto my satisfaction.

For a surprise 2, my sister is intending to come this Saturday. Now Raksha Bandhan is about to come. I had thought of giving R K Narayan - Mahabharat to my sister. I had also planned to give some other books but at the end my mother asked me Rs. 1000 to buy something for her. That was a big fatka for me I could see a big hole in my pocket. Otherwise, she i.e. my mom is a nice lady, she generally talks of rounded numbers and she always picks up the greater onem I don't deny that she has been kind to me also whenever i go out. Probably she will buy some dress material or bangles or earings or something of that kind.

Bye!
Happy Raksha Bandhan and before that Happy Independence day.

feedback time

Dear Readers,
How did you like my first short story? Please, let me know. I am eager to know how it is. Thank you.
Regards
oaktreegrass

A CITY STRANGER

A CITY STRANGER

Early in the morning I woke up. It was already 10 o clock. Nothing new to me. After all I am jobless. Startled! There is still something more startling, without job for the last 8 months. That seems to be a lot of time. Isn’t it? I can’t blame anyone, neither you nor me. But I can blame us and the way we run the world.

Tired of constant shower of words from my neighbors who don’t give me a chance to take my breathe. I have already decided that I will go for a walk and come back after an hour or so. I walk to the garden sometimes, then, I walk along the pavements near the main road. Luckily the traffic has changed. I mean to say that the traffic has reduced, because there is a flyover that is constructed over the main road. This makes crossing safer for the pedestrians. There is still some problem like the underground of the bridge is not clean. For the time being the people in the car are spared of such visuals.

By the way it is better to mention what I need to do rather than what others have to do. While walking I see some kids making fun of something, it could be me, neither the time not the inclination to do postmortem.

As I travel further I meet up with a confused driver who wants to know where Shanmukhananda hall is. It was far away from where we were standing, but I was ready to give him direction more towards it rather then explaining it fully. He thanked me for that. And you know whenever I am thanked I feel great. Just as one praise lasts for three winter months?

I came back to my home. The laughter was gone. They had changed their mood. I think somewhere I must concentrate on what I do rather than poking nose in other’s affairs. I am deaf. I say it aloud, once again. I am DEAF. I walked further and I came back to the garden. They call it 5 gardens. There are 5 gardens surrounding one garden. The area is huge. There is enough space for people. I have seen pairs walking together, I have seen bikers doing their stunts, I have seen people who have fat tummy jogging, a group of 5 to 10 college students gossiping and having fun. This I like very much. They are so vibrant. Other guys who must be doing physical work, building their muscles at the garden premises. They forget the diet part. I should I told them but that is quite uneasy to talk to a stranger about what you are doing is wrong. It is so unfortunate that our vibrancy goes after we become old. Any way, I continued my lackluster walk around the 5 gardens.

I see my college. Old and retired as ever. They seem to be constructing road. I am not sure but I saw something like this. Near the outskirts of the hostel there is a Chinese road side food-monger. He seems to be in full short. Wonderful smell as I pass around it. People don’t have chairs. They sit near the cement hedge of the college and have their dinner. I presume it to be a dinner because they eat at 8 to 9 o clock. I encircle the college and then it is one straight walk. From one end to the other end, it takes 20 minutes or so. Some cars zoom across my sight and others trod. Some whooshes while the others are big daddy of cars impressing every pedestrian walking on the road. To the right of the pavements is a leprosy hospital and near that again is my school. If I would have taken that path I would have had to walk still further. I refrained doing so. So I continued my night journey walking on the footpath and that is what we call a walkway. There is the Don Bosco School. I failed to tell you that I had a phone from my earlier colleague asking me where the school or rather to be particular where the church is. I took left from there, finding the coconut seller beside my college shut his shop. I have a thumb rule as such when I find my legs paining then I move towards the house and when I find my legs are okay then I move away. This is a simple heuristics but so often we fail to see what we feel. So my tired legs told me loudly I cannot walk further so take a left turn and that is better. I continued to walk towards my home and then in a zig zag I was pleased to find it. The Pan wala made it easier to detect that I am walking towards my home. Have you eaten pan? It is delicious.

What I get most irritated during my walk. Cars’ headlights. They are so bright they take away the safety and pleasure of walking. They glare you right on your eyes. Doesn’t matter. Like any other Indian I am also used to it.

My day doesn’t end with all this. I have my intermittent food and probably at the right time. Sometimes it goes wayward. It all depends on my sleeping time. The time I wake up. I instantly put my computer on, or on my TV to see the recent bomb blast where 13 people were killed and around 117 people injured. It is sad. Even with so much development we still have to face terrorism. The politicians are doing a good job but sometimes it could be that… I don’t know.

As my computer starts, I prefer sitting on the plastic chair rather than on the wooden chair. The latter is tiny, meant for kids. It is comfortable for other purpose like eating, just taking a rest etc. My legs feel comfortable when I sit on this small chair. This reminds me of another thing. I have a stooping posture. This was acquired especially during my college days. I need to correct it. My shoulders are paining because of it. My pencil neck is also a matter of concern for me. Ram Jane what will happen if I am not aware.

I failed to tell you about my computer. It takes time you see. The time within pressing the button and asking for my password I can tell you nearly half of Ramayana.

This is my first assignment. I shouldn’t have told you this. You must speak like a pro does and let the narration dictate. My computer is on the brink of opening, I enter the password. And I face another problem. This problem is the connection to the net is pretty slow. This is again a recent problem and I have learnt to live with it. As the management gurus say you must adapt instead of oppose. I surf through the net especially flipkart and amazon (for getting details about the book) and try surfing it for a while. I spend nearly half an hour to one hour surfing to know what is the in thing about the latest books in the market. In our language they say that even a dog doesn’t bark at the person who doesn’t have a job. I shouldn’t have mentioned it but this is what they say. It is a popular statement amongst every body. I therefore retain at my present job as a narrator. Joking.

I ate some food made for dinner and then read some books in my cocoon above and that tells me to later that I should go to sleep. I recall my Sir and then I go to sleep. End of day.

The next day I have an interview and I have to prepare for it. In what way can I prepare. I don’t know. They sometimes ask so nasty questions. I went to meet my friend and a senior and a well-wisher to my automobile company where I had done my training during my college days. I was so happy that I couldn’t tell you. I took the train, I don’t remember the time now. Ah! Let me leave it. Clock is circular, time is not important work is etc etc. I went to the station. It took about 1 hour to reach the destination. Before that I forgot to tell you that I had gone to a printout wala. My pen drive he told wasn’t working at his computer. What a crash of ideas. My whole SOP had to be changed. It was all squares inside the document. I refrained from taking printout anything like this obviously and took my pen drive and changed my way. Rickshaw, that is what I had to catch before I make some mental rehearsal as to what should I say. I opened my bag and searched for cash to give it to the rickshaw. We went through sharing. Three people you see, totally different people from different backgrounds sitting in one rickshaw. Great idea! Hope we could share some other things also like that.

While sitting I could see a traffic policeman managing the crowd there and pretty diligently. In the mean while I placed a Rs 100 note in my pocket. Where did I end? I ended in the yellow gate of the company. I was still not prepared. Just not prepared. It felt so selfish of me to talk to them only when I wanted a job. But I did remember them from time to time so I moved forward. Rain God showed his presence and then I had to open my bag and run straight under a tree to protect me from rain. There I opened my umbrella and felt pretty safe for the time being.

I rushed in the moment the rain went off. I asked the security about the gate pass and he kindly told me that I need to get it from the other window beside him. I signed the register and the person inside me told them I was wrong. I shouldn’t have signed. This register is for vendors. I think that is what he said. I could be wrong. I don’t remember. He gave me the number and I was happy and contended to receive it. After calling from there I took the gate pass and then I went inside. Turning left I walked by the road side (the premises was huge) and entered into a tower where a person was sitting and most probably he was the receptionist there. He was wonderful and kind in coming with me and directing me where to go. It was on the yellow side not on the green side. I had to go to the first floor and that is what I was told. Later, panting and panting I went to a person and asked. Probably, he was seeing me and he was courteous to come with me and show the exact place. I thank him for that. Or I would have still traveled more. Later I met the person whom I came to meet. I was enthralled to see him. He had shaped French beard and that was it he was looking the same.

I greeted him first. I presume he too was happy to see me. Unfortunately, when I asked him where the others are he told me that they all have left except one. I told him seriously that I want a job in the company. I presented him my resume and then he went through it once. I don’t think he would not consider my CV frivolous. I asked him whether I can get admission in the present department. I also showed some interest in joining other departments like Maintenance. He said it was not possible to get into maintenance with my CV. He also told that he could help me in joining the HR Department. He will send the CV to HR and let me know. He also told that they cannot create vacancy for anyone however they can forward it to HR Department. The system works this way. The President signs the vacancy list. He told me to send the CV to his email. I thanked him and he also wished me luck. I am sure that next time he calls me I am going to give him a treat.

I returned back to the gate where I surrendered my gate pass and the id card. Looked for a rickshaw outside, caught a train and then went home.

The next day as I was sending the resume I found that I hadn’t sent it to the right address. What to do? I tried all possible combinations. Nothing worked. I even thought of calling him. But later I sent one last email and hopefully to the right address and then it reached. I thanked God for that. This is what I wrote:
Date: Jul 15, 2011

Dear Sir

Once again Hi! How are you?

I couldn’t articulate myself when we met a few days back. This is a
very special letter from one of your trainee. I really had a wonderful
time at ‘our’ department. I call it ‘our’ because I feel very close to
you. Remember the day when I last called you. It was when I got a job.
I was so thrilled to tell you. You all were also happy for me. By the way,
I was confused whether to address you
all as Sir or by your first name. Please don’t mind it. You all are
not old.

I remember one day that my computer went down and I lost all the
report and you told me I could have helped you if you had told me, you
shouldn’t have switched off the computer. I am sorry; I couldn’t
contact you after that. The experience with you has certainly been
worthy. People still tell me you have done your project from there.
It is a great company, isn’t it?

It is very unfortunate to say something like this. I am searching for
a job for time being

Give my regards to everybody. Please give my heart felt wishes to all of them.

Thank you for reading.

Regards,
Me

He gave me a reply mail and then my happiness outsized me. But was a bit disappointed as to hear from him that I would not get in maintenance nor in industrial engineering department. However, I sent a detailed letter to him, since I could not express myself in front of him. I sometimes write good letters. I have to be more consistent. Fingers crossed good news. Just waiting for it.

In the mean time, I have given my resume to a tutorial that is close to my house. I am not sure whether they will accept it or not. So much time gap is not worth appreciating. But I still feel it is not in my hands. After giving around 19 interviews I am sure any Tom, Dick and Harry would have got by now. Instead of asking the almighty, I should have asked men who operate the world. God is just a puppet in human affairs. He seldom changes his laws. Neither men change nor God. I have to ask them whether I have any vacancy.

Here, I sent a mail to my earlier company. The letter looks like this:

Respected Sir,

How are you? I hope you are doing fine. It is embarrassing to say that
I am in a job crisis. I have been working at a company called Liberation
Coaches Pvt. Ltd but however, due to limited increment in my salary I
left it and I am writing this to you. I have tried at many places but
still unable to get proper response.

Please give my regards to everyone in the plant. I hope that you will
certainly help me get a proper job in the plant or in the office. From
my CV you will come to know that I have HR Experience also. My memory
of Production Planning Department is still fresh.

I hope that I am not giving much trouble by asking for a job.

Once again thank you for reading this email

Awaiting eagerly for your reply,

Regards

Me.

I should not write this. It is too personal. Isn’t it? With both letter spent I am little loosened up. I am particularly thinking to get into a Department of my liking. That is all in my head for the time being. I have to convert it into reality. I will increase my head ache and that is what I feel but I am ready to dip myself into the pond. I end my assignment.

Skills to pursue

I am quite sure of the fact that skill is applied knowledge done repeatedly well. Now the next question that arises in my mind is which skills are more important and which are not. The best example I have experienced is my typing. Initially, I just tampered with the keys. I started with 20wpm. I think I have told this one in my previous blog. Any way, for those who are reading it now I shall tell once again. With just the knowledge about where the keys were like ASDFEX etc I am now able to do it in a incalculable speed. I am really proud of it to acquire such heights in my typing. You would say what a useless skill it is to pursue. You will say that typing is best left to typist. That is true to a certain extent but on the other hand, if you are not the CEO of a company you have to type for yourself. No one else will help you do it.

Other skills I have explored that are totally different from this skill. And that is listening, speaking, other communication skills, managing skills, leadership skills, and so on... the list is infinite.

The skill you pursue is totally dependent on the profession you are in. If you are a orator then you need not have typing skills that is very clear. If you are an officer goer you need these skills. And that is why they have appointed you.

I thought the moment I have the knowledge I would soon become skillful. That is certainly not true. Skill is so much woven in your life that if you don't use them they become extinct. The above mentioned skills can be acquired only when you are in the proper platform or should I say the skill you want to direly pursue. An MD or a VP will be more interested in leadership skills and communication skills. They speak the language of their followers. They cannot seperate from them. They speak should I say local. That is all.

Other skills for the employees are letter writing skills, report making skills, making balance sheet, taking interviews etc. If these skills are not there then you would never become a good employer. Companies hire you for that. No doubt, they also look for attitude. We assume here that attitude is required and every one possess it. Competence in a particular skill can be highly rewarding and may fetch you the next promotion and increment. So diligent people strive for it. They do it all day.

To master one skill all I have found is you need diligence, determination, devotion and persistence. Once you put these into practice then you have mastered the craft. Every craft needs dedication and that is how we have talented employees who are hot favourites in the organization.

Writing Functional and Aesthetic

Hi! Give me a break.

I feel that I am more convincing at functional writing rather than writing aesthetically. Poetical, is just not I am comfortable with. But aesthetic writer is what I aspire to become. You cannot write formal letters without a dash of salt , what I mean is without a dash of aestheticism attached to it. You have to use Figures of Speech, Idioms, Phrasal verbs and other means to write really really well. They take their own time. Those flowery languages are essentially good for advertisements and fictions. Now a days, even fiction are barred from flowery languages. The sales letter or copy writer as they are called is the only place in business who write their language really aesthetically. It is commendable to write aesthetically for business. It keeps the reader motivated, enthralling and interesting. So keep writing anything you want but better is to decide whether you want to write business letters or personal letters. Both require effort. However, I would say business letters are easier than writing personal letters. Personal letters have more fallacies , but business letters are succinct and cannot be untrue.

A visit to my company

I remember day before yesterday I went to my earlier organization. The surprising thing is that there was nothing surprising. There were two old, senior men sitting beside the gate. I had asked one of them to tell me where Mr. XYZ would be. He probably had some doubt. He went through the phone list and then asked me whether he was Dr. XYZ. He also enquired whether I have his mobile number. Nothing was sure. He also communicated with the other person in case he knew Mr XYZ. He asked me whether he was an employee or a manager. I replied instantly, he is a manager. Probably even a plant manager. He was very senior to all of us. All attempts went vain. So I asked him whether I would get the plant phone number. He instantaneously gave me and then I was relieved. He told me to come some other day. But at that time I resisted because I felt it is better to call and go. Also go when he is free from the days work. I didn't know who was I going to meet. He could be a very senior person or even junior. I caught my train and I came back home.

Hindi is back

Welcome to the new me. The me that I was finding for a long time. I had made certain resolutions for the blog that I am writing. Things aren't getting so interesting. What should I do? This is what I was thinking yesterday and early morning today. I surfed through the BBC learning website and I was actually searching for help from people who want to write but somehow were not able to do. Could be because of family responsibilities, lack of time or just the fear as to what others will think.

Any way, coming back to what I have started new. This is it. I am thinking of promoting Hinglish now and then through my blog so that people will like to read them. So please welcome my new me. After nearly 100 blogs I have to make some changes to fascinate more people like you. Most of the time I feel that how come with so much information around, one optimizes one's search. I know they use these marketing tricks, where they use certain words that will help them to move up the search engine list. They call it Search Engine Optimization. These tricks don't bother me. New name old tricks.

Adieu!

Oxford in a day

I must tell you this. Today was a day where I encountered Oxford dictionaries. Oxford dictionaries have their own specialists dictionaries for every subject. This made me think as to how can i find a word in the general dictionary. It isn't possible. I have a 1991 edition of Oxford English dictionary which is quite old when I consider today the different and more specialized dictionaries available.

As I was going through flipkart I saw things like Dictionaries from French to English and then Dictionary from English to Hindi (Apna local language). I then pleaded not literally to my mother that she buy me one Hindi Dictionary when she goes out. She too was very enthusiastic about it. That enthusiasm propelled her to buy the dictionary. SHe like me also likes dictionaries but she seldom refers to it. She asks me some times. I saw the dictionary. It was pretty good. It had its English word at the beginning and if we don't know the corresponding Hindi word we are supposed to look for it. After all this too was from Oxford. Most reliable. Most dependable.

The inside was fabulous. I feared that the content will not be on par with the cost. But that was not the case. I found it pretty interesting. I saw some words like sukumar. And I started laughing at it. Because it reminded of my friend whose name was Sukumar during my school days.

I also went through flipkart for French dictionary. Later I decided that it is not required. I went through Latin dictionary also. Most of the words in English are from latin. Please buy a dictionary now different from what you have lying with you in your shelf. I have now 4 dictionaries. It is a secret.

Bye!!

Cars the star

Today, I went to one of a leading automotive company in India. Why did I go? Not to buy the company but to ask for a job from one of my senior colleague. As usual I had to catch a train and go to Kandivali. I thought of taking a printout letter for him but couldn't. The shop keepers' computer wasn't taking my pen drive. What to do? So I cancelled the idea of taking a printout.Printout was a scrap idea.I couldn't execute very well with my available time and energy. Now what to do?

Then later I went to catch an auto rickshaw. They have sharing rickshaw there. I took up sharing rickshaw and then he drove to the company in a very small amount. Rs. 5/- only for such a crucial assignment. Then as I reached the yellow gate and that is what they call it, I stood outside for sometime and saw whether all the things in my bag are in proper places. Then I had to stand under a tree. I checked my bag and in the mean time Rain God showed his presence. The fall was very immediate and fast. I stood under a tree and checked my bag and pulled out the umbrella and took note of my bag.

Later, I went into the company. I had to get a gate pass from the security. He was kind off explaining me on how to go inside. However, I signed in a wrong register and he told me to scrap it. Then I waited for him. He gave me the gate Pass. Thereafter I went to the place where the IE Department was there and thereafter I met the receptionist wh0 was a very kind man and came out and explained where should I go. HE told me that Industrial engineering department has changed its location. I shouldn't forget that I talked to my colleague on phone and he told me to come in. Back to the receptionist who showed me the direction. Then there was another person whom I had to ask for. He said that the IED Department was in the first floor. Then I went to two other departments and couldn't find my senior. A person standing outside told me and took me to the department. There finally I met him. I was excited to see him and breathed a sign of relief. He was doing something in his computer. Thereafter he offered me a seat. The office was nice. Reminded me of my old office. He asked me about my wellbeing and he too did as a part of an ice breaker. He asked me about the reason for coming and I told him what was the case. Thereafter he asked me whom I had met in the past. I asked him whether they were there. He said that Jena Sir was the manageer of the department and he had gone for a meeting. I showed him my resume' and he told me that it was possible to get what job is there in the company website. I told him that I had seen the company website and told him where was the vacancy. He asked me a few questions and finally told me that he had some vacancy in the axle department. He also told me it is not possible to get in Engineering but in production since I had done my engineering in Production. Is it getting too long? Please wait. I was eager to meet Jena sir but I was so engrossed talking to him that I really forgot and then I remembered later. I shall surely meet him in the next visit.

He took my CV and there after I explained him what is there in the CV. He was kind enough to go through the CV and gave me assurance that he would help me with this. He also said that it is impossible to create a vacancy because the annual vacancy is approved by the President of the company. He told me to send a softcopy to his email id. Any way I was happy to meet him. I will be very glad to meet them later.

I went out and then I gave the Gate Pass to the security and then I went out and reached my home

Satisfactory day.

Machinery handbook

You may wonder why there is a stark difference in the tempo and a sudden change in topic. Yes, I feel I have learnt something during this nonsense gap. I had gone through what I know and I finally felt where my calling is. I have decided that I would do engineering for the next few years and maybe throughout my life, can't say.

Engineering is a wonderful profession and I would like to pursue it further. Not only do I have realized that there is a commercial bent to it but also the technical side to it which I am more inclined to. I wonder how well would i do in this profession. This is also called maintenence. But I am sure that I too have a bent of mind towards engineering to be more specific mechanical engineering. I went through some of my old book, sent resume to my earlier employer. I am just waiting for a call. Tomorrow I am going to one employer where I had done my Industrial training.

Please wish me luck.

Thank you for reading.

Garden, Police station, Job

You may wonder how have I written a title: Garden, Police station and job. Yes, today I went to MT for vacancy as a mathematics teacher.. They asked me what would I specialize in. That lady sitting on the other side of the desk told me that I have two options one algebra and other geometry. It didn't take me time to say that I wanted to teach algebra. They asked for my CV. I had to find it and couldn't find early. I was pretty embarassed for not getting the CV on time.
Unfortunately, the lady said that she would handover the resume to her HR Department and they will call me.

Then I went to garden. It was a pretty long walk. By the time I thought the book shop will be open but it wasn't. Why even I don't know. Today is Tuesday. I walked, walked and walked. Then on arriving at the garden I had to find a place. I was really tired after my yesterday's walk. I sat down on a bench and for one hour I sat beside a man who was sleeping on the next bench. He seemed to take a nap. I wondered he would get up. He didn't even after a long time woke up. His paper flew down. There were many people in the garden. I thought either all of them are without job like me for the time being. Any way, from there I took a walk and I saw many light hearted youngsters. I was enthralled by it. It reminded me of my old days.

Then walking and walking I had not even had my lunch. I went to drink one energee. It was 17 bugs pretty expensive. I remember I used to drink at 12 bugs. Any way inflation you see. Catches hold of every one.

I returned to my house. Then I saw if there is any email in my Gmail account. From there here I am sitting to say what happened throughout the day. Oh, yes I went to police station to draw the line straight on my neigbours tendency to intimidate me. This is still not completed. Hope it completes as early as possible.

Adieu! Quite a sad day.

Travel day

Hi!
I woke up fairly early in the morning and today after a long time I visited my earlier company from outside. It was tough for many reasons. The place had totally changed. I thought my company was gone and out of sight. Any way, I was happy to see that it is there. I came back to the railway station and then had to wait for the queue. Now I realize that I did not take return ticket. I had to stand in a line. Now, what to do? There were nearly 20 people standing one behind another and this number showed its significance even for the other two ticket collecting windows. From Nahur, as the place name is, I caught a train to Mulund, I had Thane ticket. From Thane I caught

Typing again

This time hurrah I did one more time. Now my typing speed has shown its presence beyond the 100 mark. I am really happy about it. I know if I don't practice it enough it will show its back, but I have to find more and more opportunities where I can put typing to use. It could be anything from writing a form, a letter, email etc. previously mentioned.

CONGRATULATIONS, I NEED A PAT ON MY BACK FOR MY ACHIEVEMENT.

Hip, Hip, Hurrah!

Newspapers again

I have made a new resolution so as to continue reading newspapers. They are a wonderful piece of man's creation I must tell you the advantage of reading a newspaper before I tell you something else.
The list goes something like this
It foremostly improves your English language
Before that, it makes you aware what is happening across the world.
It makes you a better reader
It talks to you about business in and outside India.
It depicts what is moral and what is immoral and how people react under such circumstances.

All you need to know is your language and way it goes like swimming in one of the clearest water. I have tried to read many times the newspaper from top to bottom, but failed. The reason being something doesn't interest you and this is where you must at times place your focus. But I don't know for what reason we don't even skim those news. It is just not you and you don't read such news. It just doesn't feel right. Newspaper is not for grammarians it is for people who want to know what is happening throughout the world.

Read your newspaper daily, if you can do from head to toe nothing like it. My personal opinion is that you must try and read somethings which are even at times embarassing to you as a reader. This requires a brave heart. Even though others might not appreciate it, they would say what kind of news are you reading. Still the answer remains yes. They may just not have a taste for such news. However, continue reading.

Adieu!

Drug mafia

After my 100th Blog I have planned to incorporate something useful and interesting for all those you read it. Recently, I saw a documentary by NGC which was about Escobar, a Columbian drug mafia. It was startling after hearing someone doing something like this.

Columbia is the country where this great mafia was brought up. Columbia 80% of the world wide drug deal. US, where the problem is critical, spends about 170$ million every year to hunt the drug dealers and manufacturers. The whole operation is highly organized but it looks as if they were unorganized as people from different places were involved. Columbia still holds about 75% of the drug dealership across the world, even after the death of Escobar.

Till now 20,000 people were dead per year. Escobar, the 7th richest man in the world at those times show how power corrupts. He lived in a palatial house which had more than 3000 hectares of land space. It is luxurious apartment where it had private zoo. He used to bring friends and relatives regularly to have good time with him.

The reason Escobar was powerful is that he was the 'Robin Hood' for the needy and poor. He built stadiums and schools for the people he not even knew well. Every body there labelled him as the hero and the mesiah of the poor.

The reason he was wanted is that he killed at will and did not have any conscience as to what he was doing, digging his own grave. There were 400 police men that he killed, ample amount of politicians and judges. During the beginning of the 1990s the President of Columbia asked him to surrender, and negotiate an agreement with them, instead of he being killed in the battle. Escobar agreed. But he demanded that he would need a palatial prison. His terms were agreed. This time he made a grave mistake of killing one of his fellow men after they tried to deceive him. This time the President said that he cannot protect him.

This time the President took the help of US. US sent their sophisticated equipments to trace him. Columbian soldiers were trying to track him near the palatial prison. The aerial surveillance team could detect his presence within 100 m but still it was difficult to find him because thousands of people lived in those regions. However, they had to catch him at any cost and this was what the higher authorities had decided. So they sent a US Delta Team, the best in the country, to do the job.

His family knew this that he was walking on a dangerous path. At last he was killed. But he was a mesiah for the poor. During his death there were thousands of crowd who placed homage to him.

Note taking

This is my 100th blog. A nice omen to cross. This time I would want to tell you about how to make notes. Note taking is a substitute for not keeping things in memory. It also serves you better in case you have to increase your comprehension. Text books, lectures, meetings etc all need proper note taking. There are many forms of note taking. They are all diagrams meant for different kinds of note taking.

Few of them are linear note taking like sentence note taking or paragraph note taking. Some people even reserve key words and use them in mind maps. I have found mind maps to be seriously flawed because it needs too much of coloring, and organization of space. At the end it looses its flavour and becomes a mess. Coming to linear note taking. Note taking can never be linear most of the times. A good note taker is always looking for key words and cues that will make him understand things later.

Keep your note taking skills high enough and you will never complaint both as a student and as an employee.

Adieu!

What Next?

Do you know what I am for next. Make myself good at mathematics. This may seem a very vague way of putting it. However, the main subjects I am going to deal with will certainly be more practical. Operations research is going to be one. There are many things that you may find in OR. All engineers and technicians and management men use OR for improving their effectiveness.

The main objective of using OR is to run the practical problem at hand in a most effective way. The one good thing is that you can develop your own models in Operations research. For that to happen you must be good in proper reasoning and be familiar with the problem. OR is only for operations. This is wrong.

OR can be highly helpful in solving day to day management problems. Remember OR is a military subject so it most often talks about resource and time and cost and efficiency etc. I would recommend that for people who know their math well to make their own OR methods and solve day to day operations problem.

typpp

I have been typing for quite a long time by now. I hvae increased my speed tremendously but some how for know not what reason I am stuck between 80 and 90. It doesn't seem to get ahead of it. I did make a 100 score a few days back. Even I have made 92, 96, 98 on few other occasion s. I am really proud of it. But I have found that you need to change your style to get ahead of this 90 mark.

I have tried things like not seeing the typing material, slow start, the errors never seem to go away. What should I do is still a question. Websites don't offer many things about this. I have tried to search them but unable to find one more trick in my pocket. Typing well is a wonderful experience. I insist everyone should learn typing. It helps in emails, letter writing, presentations, project assignment. etc. These activities take most of our time. The stream of conscious with which we are able to type gives a lot more natural feel role to it. It is as if we are speaking or making a public speech to an audience.

Nice having you hear me.

Adieu!

Back to Math

Hi everybody.
Wish all of you in good health.
I have restarted working on my math skills. Even though I am on Day 2/2.5 precision matters you see. This is something of a new I am discovering that I am unable to remember what I had read and done long time back. I am also trying to decodify what normal and simple signs of mathematics are about. The more I unveil this secret that more I will divulge in this b,log of mine.

I am now far more wiser than before. But in poor condition. I ahve realized that it is not possible to change the human brain even though things around you can change. Human mind will remain same for the next thousand years or so. Today newspaper says that Osama Bin Laden is death. We are in the 21st century. I don't knwo what kind of reaction his death is going to cause.

Back to Math. I have realized that even thought the equations are same their interpretation are different. I will not make things simplistic for you. But I would request you to relearn what you had learnt, give a new perspective . Since what we did was not within our capacity. We worked without asking questions. Now life poses many questions. and we have to formulate them better.
Math is a wonderful subject but too abstract at times. I just wish I knew more.

Bye do your math well.

Memoire

I have applied for Assistant Stores manager at Mahindra and Mahindra, Kandivali Divison. Felt great after I saw the company has some posting. I am very much attached to this company because I had a good time working there for my projects. It is a wonderful place and an apt place for people from technical background. There are so many machines, you name it and they have it. The process and good practices are top notch.

I don't know how Mahindra has changed over the time but it is one plant in Mumbai that is huge. I had done my project in the same company. I was in industrial department but I also learnt some IDEAs software. The first few days was very informative. Then I know not for what reason I didn't explore much of the plant. I was given a project and I learnt things on Motion Study and other things. The food on the other hand was excellent. I miss all of those.

The body shop, paint shop, assemblies and sub assemblies all were wonderful. I am keeping my fingers crossed that my application will be accepted and I be their new Assistant Store Manager.

Autograph please film stars

I have my own icons who I like. Besides personally who I know, I like celebrities like Aishwarya Rai, Aamir Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan and Salman Khan recently. I also like Karan Johar. Is this pretty out and out.? Yes, this is.

These icons have a separate place in my heart and the moment I see them my mood changes and they give me a new energy to work ahead. What is so special? I really don't know. Having icons may sound childish but they are not. We align ourselves well when we see these people. They radiate so much power. Good, charismatic power. I shall in the due course tell or not tell about why do I like them. Each of them have their own plus points. Making a general statement I would say it is not only me who likes them but the entire of India. Are we not proud to have filmmakers and icons like them. They just pick up the right project, they maneouver their lives so well. They are mortals having immortal names. They will not be forgotten for the next 1000 years. The then historians and archeologists will come to know how they looked like and what these people did. They will write pages and pages about these people. They just make lives so good.

Mykard

My new card

My recent interview

One more interview. Tired of it but what to do. The interview was brief and didn't take much of my time. Neither were their any queues. I just waited for 5 minutes and then I was asked to get in. I was applying for the post of a Managerial cadre. The office was lovely. What do I do now? I sat on the chair, and handed over my resume to her. She asked me about my past. I told about my education, work experience, my family background etc. She asked me few more questions and she also meanwhile asked me for the salary. I told her. I cannot tell you what I told her. It was a pretty good, decent interview. Nothing out of sync. Then she told me that she will contact back in a few days.

I went out of the interview desk, the automatic door opened and there I was on the road searching for a rickshaw. Right in front of me there was one. I fortunately didn't have to wait for long. They are quite efficient at certain times, and quite negative at certain times. I cannot blame them all. They have their own reasons. I paid the cash and then I took a ticket and from Jogeshwari I moved towards Dadar, my home station; walked over the bridge which I am quite used to by know, walked down the road and there it was I was at home.

My interview, I have to keep fingers crossed.

Hopefully through.

My neighbors

My neighbors. What do I do? Day and night, morning and afternoon, you name it and they are waiting for me to fall down. Very few give signs of being well wishers. I am really really and really tired of them at times.

Name Hidden (Pitty) says every word that I say in my head to myself. This makes my life terribly difficult. I don't know what kind of technology they have. I don't want to know it, stop it. In the mean time, God soften your laws. Men are not worth it. Some of your magic tricks on us makes us laugh but others make us cry. Moreover, my concern for my job has increased now. My concern for my GATE exam has also increased. I don't feel right. Just not right.

I have more to say... I shall be back.

Me on the other hand have also become bitter. I don't like bitter people. They are victims of the ways of the world. I am coming out of it but their torture has become more and more rigid. They are on the other hand too bold in pinning me down. Why so? Commonsense tells me that they are either acting on other's pressure or doing and adding some masalas of their own. They are following some authority. I don't know who it is.

Either way. They are asking me to go out. They don't want me to stay in my house. Why? Ask them. I have no real idea. They are becoming bitter and bitter day by day. I can't stand it. I understand why civil and social issues are so taxing. I feel victimized for the present time. I can't read anything, can't write anything. While writing this I am literally feeling their presence. They are shouting a loud no.

Any ways... oh no not any ways... This way is the most torturing thing that I have ever faced in my life. People with brains should work like they have brains.

I need a pill. See ya!

Regards
U NO WHO

Job searching never ending.

I have been searching for a job and unfortunately my hit rate has been pretty pathetic. The problem is not me and neither it is my employer. The whole thing is that I am confused as to what the market has to offer based on my experience. I have also been flexible in my job search and intend to hit before I drop landing up somewhere.

Job market has always been a trouble for job seekers and job hunters. Why is that the right candidate is never there and so is the right company. I am taking a U turn seeing that the next 5 years will be very important for me. All jobs have high responsibilities and are utmost boring. Thanks to Mr Ford. He started assembly line, you see. All companies look the same from inside. The only difference being the layout and no of and the kind of machines.

I am presently searching for a white collar job. My Sir has been very kind to me in helping finding me a job. He is one of the few persons that I like both in his presence and in his absence.

One thing I must say that today's office was wonderful.
Adieu!

Food, more food.

How come we are so blind to food? What are we thinking throughout the day. Are men thinking about women and women thinking about men. Children thinking about when they will play. Most of us think how we look before going outside. Am I walking right, am I saying right etc. We are buying things that ought not to be bought. It is so displeasing when you see someone giving more importance to wafers than giving importance to nuts and healthy fruits and vegetables. Make your potion of vegetables more from today. Make your fruits one portion more from today. Visit a dietician. Every occupation needs different diet at different age and different stages of their lives. Do you know that you ought to eat 600 gms of food everyday. Are we eating it. We are increasing the portion of rice and wheat when what we ought to do is that we must increase the potion of vegetables. Children hate vegetables. Have we asked why? What wrong thing are we doing when we are not including vegetables in their diet. Why are children running away from food? There is a simple answer. We don’t know how to cook. Eating food in a restaurant has become more delicious than eating at home. Look at your expenses as a pie chart. Increase the percentage of fruits and vegetables that you buy rather than doing something else. Buy appealing foods like plum, red apples, cherries, grapes which children will like to eat. Keep one fruit atleast daily after dinner. Even bananas are ok. Ask them not to eat much rice but bananas instead. Fruits prices are rising high. Include that cucumber and tomato raw with your dinner. Why we are not doing it? There are only two reasons that I can think of. Either it is tradition, or it is that children don’t like them. It doesn’t matter if you use chatt masala along with fruits and vegetables but prefer reducing it. Don’t peel off the skin of your fruits. It has lots of nutrients in it. Carrot eat it one. It has vitamin A. Don’t buy too much vitamin tablets but instead substitute it with proper food. One column in the newspaper said once that carrots are better than B-carotene consumption. Stay happy, stay healthy, stay fit.

Do we need managers or systems?

I am not sure whether I have read any managerial books but I do know that I have worked under many managers. Quantity being around 7. I must say they all were different. They did only one thing. Fulfilling their KRAs but their approaches weren't the same. They even spoke the same language.

Good managers are those who can use minimum resources with maximum effectiveness. They must also be endearing to their people. You will say this is what all managers need. This is unfortunately not true. Most managers I met where not endearing to their people neither did they not circumspectly avoided breaking rules. They did it however selectively. Obviously, this is not true for all of them. Some where highly rule oriented and others were highly people oriented. They were very good motivators both in positive sense and negative sense. They reprimanded their people, they set relationships, they even spoilt relationships. How do these managers knwo what is right for the situation. This is what I am here to find out.

If you know about how an organization functions then you can easily judge and understand as to what and why managers do the way they do. Still there were other managers who lived in I am right and you are wrong paradigm. How a manager grows is he understands that he is the moral pillar of his or her department while others are humans. After all there has to be a balance between morals and performance. We must also agree that there is a boss - subordinate relations with managers. The boss has its own challenges after all they are also people like us.

One more thing that I noticed is that managers don't mix up with each other very well. When two or more managers meet there is always a tussle. They don't agree. Most times the tussle is very healthy but other times it is just not so. They realize that they are independent and each of them have different views and morals. During the observation I also saw that systems and managers play a complementary role. Systems are friends of managers. Most job get done via systems. Systems is invisible but it is a powerful force in our society especially in organizations. People come in the morning to their work place, they don't stare at their bosses, they just do what the system has asked them to do. This one time system setting and there after it's changes are the job done by the managers along with an expert who knows about the systems or who has experience about the systems.

Are managers replaceable? Can't say. But certainly the managers having more systems can do much more work done than alone a manager can.

For the time being let us assume that this way is the best way.

Adieu!

Chapter 1 What about typing

You must be wondering, how apt it is in the age of computers anybody talking about typing. Typing is not seen as a professional skill. It is underrated. But one must accept it. We all have our speed when it comes to typing a document, sending a mail or writing a letter. We do not understand how pace is important in case there is urgency. The stream of consciousness happens well only if you type well. A normal individual works so hard in increasing his typing speed but most of the efforts are in vain. Why is it in vain?

Typing like any other discipline requires focus and effort. It has to be learnt like we learn the alphabets. The best way to go about typing will be discussed in the multiphase chapters and you will always be thankful for such advice. As a secretary or for that matter if you are working in an organization you always know how urgent it is to do your work. Preferably as a software programmer or a student you have to type many assignments. People chat on their computers and post blogs nowadays.

When I started my typing was around 25 wpm. I even remember in joining a typing class during my school days. It increased my typing speed to 35 wpm. Then after learning, we had no way of implementing in our daily work and studies. I lost the touch and typing once again became esoteric.

When my job started I had to type minutes, and send emails. All these could not be done slowly. We generally think faster than we type. This is obvious. So the problem not lies in our thinking it lies in our speed. When you Google you shall find many people having great typing speed. Some of them even are above 100wpm. The Guiness book of record shows that one man can type about 160 wpm. This is amazing. I don’t expect you or me to type at that speed but anywhere above 60wpm is a good typing speed.

I have worked hard on my typing. My motivation was one of my colleagues who had a competitive typing speed and later for me it grew to a passion. If I had any time I would type. There are many software available freely on the net where you can learn your typing and increase your speed. My present typing is 80 to 90 wpm. It varies depending on the material also.

Others need not go through the same turmoil. Some of the things would be discussed here and they require immediate attention for data entry operators, students, secretaries etc. The chapters have been kept shorter because that is what how much you need to know. Mostly it should be done in under one reading. You can revise or repeat the same and every time you do so you will find some new tips for doing things better.

Touch typing as you call it has two types of key boards. One is QWERTY and the other is DVORAK. I use QWERTY. Most of us in India use QWERTY. I will not say I know how many do but in the market mostly you have this layout .

Two finger typing is what most of do in the beginning. After that we learn that we have to place your fingers on the middle row. We will come to what these rows are ahead.

We shall also come to the kind of finger and arm exercises you need to do regularly when you are tired of typing. Even I miss out some of these exercises but recently I have pledged to start it. Let us begin today.

Now we get into specifics. Any keyboard has a top row, home middle row and bottom row. In QWERTY we place the fingers on the middle row. You must keep the four fingers on A,S,D,F while the other fingers on your right hand has to be kept on ; ,L,K,J.

Police at my house

Police, when I saw them I was startled. I didn't know what to say. Should I welcome them? All sorts of things floated my mind. Then when they told they have come to verify my complaint about my neighbor, I thought it the real things are here.

It is an unfortunate incident but it was a brave one. Then they took their statements and told us not to be worried. If anything happens they said that we can call them whenever you like. I do not want to disclose anything in my blog. It was slightly bitter. The policeman even asked that his son was studying IT what can be his future options. I recommended from what I know that he can do his masters or do an MBA. His son seems to have given CET Paper. The cutoffs are high. If he passes the exam with good colors then nothing like it.

Adieu!

My faulty neigbours

Do you know who is your biggest enemy or friend? They are your neighbours. We seldom realize it. They are the spy, they are your messenger, your grape vine and ultimately people who will carry you to your graveyard when you die.

Unfortunately, I don't have a good neighbour. What do you do about it? The truth is you can do nothing unless you have a rapport with them. Calling an external agency can be risky. This may mar the relation and grain in sourness. What if their family are big? Still and a bigger mess. What if they give you vulgar words, still bad? What if they are not afraid of law and order , worst?

Their presence makes it still a bigger threat. If they surround you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 12 months a year. What do you do? The answer is only to retaliate back or run away. One more option is there, keep mum. But keeping mum, even they can do. Why should I do it? When they encapsulate you from all the sides. It feels like wolves surrounding you in the midst of snow fall. I can only see werewolfs all around. Unfortunately, I thought there would be Mowgli along with them, but I couldn't find him. Who will go out still remains? Obviously, it always be I. Because I am a nice guy.

Adieu.

Connect education with longevity

Don't you think we have all forgotten why are we educating ourselves. We are for the time being. The 21st century has not made life easy it has made it more challenging and difficult. We are educating ourselves but not for things under concern like longevity, freedom from disease and injury. These are being left to experts.

It is our duty to take responsibility for our own self. We are sacrificing life for meals. We are forgetting that good, healthy, nutritious food is the need of the hour. Other things must not be subordinate to these things.

Educating oneself is becoming more of a status war than true education. That is why we see people not doing well in life because they give more importance to getting degrees rather than educating themselves. Similiarly we are also seeing people who we never thought would do well , do well because others are doing the wrong things. All this mesh can be untangled if we follow a simple routine or follow a simple principle that health is wealth. We must stick to it and spread this philosophy around the world wherever we go. Remind people that good health is a road of better choice than any other choices.

This reminds me that I am sitting in front of the computer for more than 4 hours, do you know that it may lead to heart attacks sooner. What to do? This is an occupational hazard and we are paying to get paid. For the time being.

Adieu!

GATE paper

Dear Gate,
Again I disallow you. You are again difficult even though I have read few topics. The starting point is missing just as the point on a circle. If I catch any track I am lost. Little did I understand you why you are so difficult. If the number of seats are less I don't mind bringining seats from my wallet.

Sorry, don't take me wrongly but you are too impractical and unfriendly.

It is far more better to see you from di stance than to look at you with lens. I even thought of changining the subject but that too was not comprehensive. Still I think I shall give it a try and row as well as I can in your white waters. God, please help me. I heard somebody told Amin.

GATE difficult to open

Dear GATE:
You are too difficult. This is what my conclusion is.

My first option was doing GATE in Mathematics. I understood that I knew my Math only upto 10th. After that I realized that I didn't know anything. Maths is difficult and impossible at times. I don't like taking any other option because it will mean starting from scratch.

I asked my mother to bring a copy of GATE. The first impression itself was not pleasant. The book didn't have proper theory and it asked more from me than I asking more from it. They told me that the book was a panacea for GATE. Unfortuntaley, I became ill after skimming it.

GATE however is a wonderful exam and every one should do after they complete their graduation. The earlier the better. However there are no such rules.

Bye bye GATE.

Don't read more

For the past few days I have been reading voraciously on some subjects of my interest so that it can improve my employability. Many of us read voraciously. It has a drawback. Firstly, you will never remember what you have read. Instead, reduce the number of reading material and read indepth. Indepth reading makes reading more real and more alert. Reduce and skip some reading materials as and when. Here you can prioritize your reading material. You can also jump from one topic to another over a period of time and repeat your reading. Repetition is good for remembering and it makes a lot more sense than reading the material once for awareness and placing it on the bottom of your shelf.

The magic mantra is "Read better" rather than "Read more".

Let us C

It is very important to all of us that we understand programming language. Main of them being C, Java. Why? You may ask. Answer is that the everyone is moving in this direction. If you are not good in programming you shall have to become obsolete.

Languages like C hold a high treasure value in it. I have recently started learning C language. I have a very good book, unfortunately it is needs quite higher level of understanding. Atleast for me. Language learning is a big hurdle or I would say obstacle in learning things that operate around us. C holds a high value in this regard. Learning C is difficult. It is not easy. If you go deeper and deeper one can understand the sophistication it requires.

C is after all one more language and then we use it to support other things that we do in our day to day office work. You will keep your boss happy and your colleagues helpful if you can understand this language and help them solve in their day to day activity. It is also good for you.

Keep learning something.