1st Feb 29th@IIIT (hopefully the last)

     It has been quite an eventful Feb 29th, unlike the last one when I was slogging for board exams. It has been a long journey from then in many a sense..I have found friends, fought fiends. Sometimes I won, sometimes I lost. I have had moments of joy and agony. I  have taken both of them in my stride. There were challenges which I did not take up, which I would always regret. In these 4 yrs, a few people have come close to me. Most of them are back on their path while some lucky souls (one of the few times I m showing off, I guess..) still retain their bond with me.

In all these years, my proficiency at striking a conversation with strangers ( especially gals) have somewhat improved a bit. Though I hardly try to get some warmth going in my talk (with the exception of 2-3 gals), I wonder why they put faith in me, revealing their secrets. May be they want some one, who doesn`t ask questions , to dump all their information into. May be indifference is an effective manipulative weapon. I should concede that not many gals have fascinated me. Some irritate me with their damned statements like “99.9% guys are bad!”. It needs some will power to shun this sort of people when the female to male ratio is so low, when no batch in your college has a gal:guy ratio of atleast 1:6. Now that I have avoided such people, determination, single-mindedness and what not are in the queue after will power.

Now before I take it too far, I realize that the post should do the title some justice ( which most people fathom by the end of their posts) ( For those who think I have composed this post under the wrong title, this should serve as a reason). This Feb 29th, I was playing TT from midnight to 1. And then we played cards till 6. It was a memorable experience, 9 of us (me,sandy,rammy,gbr,oa,yaso,bodla,satti,naagas) enjoying the counters shot at one another. Naagas was the odd man out with a towel, none of us wanted to sit in front of him. Satti was the center of attraction with his ITEMistic game though naagas tried to take some counters upon himself..

1 of them:

X telling the names & scores of everyone

Y calls satti ***** (censored)

Naagas: (cannot hear the scores) arey! call my name again ra

The timing was so perfect that naagas became *****

At 6, we went out to Indiranagar for breakfast. I suggested a new place to eat and by the time we went there, it was closed. So, we have to come back all the way and go in other direction. We ate puris and came back by 9. I slept like a log till 8 pm. Then I, koyya n pramodh went out fr dinner and saw the mov “gamyam”, one of the better movs I have seen this year. Thus ended the DAY.

P.S.1. Seein many movs these days..5 this month as far as I can recollect..KA,visakha express,sundarakanda,ontari,gamyam

P.S.2.The last week of this month is full of mixed emotions for me..IIMB is the culprit

P.S.3.I donno when the post on IIM-L will see light.

P.S.4.Spending time alone@lab rocks

P.S.5.naresh is going well in movs..he starred in 3 out of my last 4 movs

My IIM-I GD&PI

     time:8.50…date feb 12th

rewind…I had not found sleep till morn 3 as I played tt till 2 and can`t avoid going out for a walk in the cool breeze..I wasn`t really sure whether I would wake up in time or not..finally woke up at 6.50…got ready by 8..was able to reach the venue in time..thanks to pramodh..There were 9 ppl in our panel, out of which 1 was absent.that makes it 7 guys n a gal..the ratio quite unsurprising for a IIITian of course…

There were 2 profs in the panel…1 of them a bit old and supposedly a telugite ( what I can gather from his questions and accent). the other relatively young..I wud put him at arnd 40-45( the techie prof which I found out later)…he must have been from central India. They called us in a order and made us to sit in a hemispherical position..unfortunately my name was the first and so my position in gd was a corner..In a sense, it was gud cos I realised that I m the person who spoke the least there..if any one who had contributed more was pushed to a corner, it would have been bad for him…

We have to read the topic for 5 mins, ponder over it and then discuss it for 16 min..shud write a gd summary for 5 min at the end…The gd topic was a case study.. X owns a general store in Indore and made good profits till a big departmental store came up..the store offered many varieties of items at cheaper rate which made the customers go there even though it was 10 km away from the colony..now waht should X do? How should he counter this position?….the gd was not exactly what I would call decent..but it was like so-so…There were many interruptions and everyone tried to hog the airtime..I spoke just twice (effect of lack of sleep)…The gal suggested that X should sell swadesi goods and instill the fire of nationalism in the customers, which promptly sent me into fits of silent laughter…by the end of 16 min, same points were repeated..the group ran out of ideas..I was lookin at the watch and the panel, waiting fr the signal to stop..finally it came…I wrote arnd 9 points in the gd summary and handed over the sheet to them.

I was first to be called in my panel may be cos I m the only fresher..I went in and greeted them with a half-smile..I will refer to the profs as old prof and young prof though I don`t think more than 10 yrs separate them…

OP: take ur seat manoj

I: (sat down, handed over my file)

OP: so u r from A.P.?

I: yes, sir (expecting some ques on the state)

OP: so u r in 4th yr now?

I:yes, sir ( thats what my certis say)

OP:so y dont u go further in technical field?

I: I m not that interested in technical aspects,sir.. I believe management is ideal for me.

OP: (looks at YP) would u like to ask something

YP: yes, manoj (his voice was so soft that I pushed myself a bit nearer to him) what are ur fav subjects (here I was able to reply “MAT..”…he struck the nail in me) in computer science?

I: (Oh nooo, i m going to be stressed on acads) data compression,sir (got an A here)

YP: still

I:(will take a risk here) Algorithms, sir

YP: STILL

I:(OOO..does he want me to list all the courses I have done) AI and crypto, sir.( thought I could blabber something on this)

YP:do u know wat is an algorithm, manoj?

I:(relieved) blah blah

YP: tell me about space and time complexities, manoj?

I: (this is not as bad as I expected it to be) blah blah

YP: which is better, nlogn or n^2?

I:blah blah

YP: why?

I: (told some thing with the help of a graph)

YP: give me an example of O(n^2) algo

I: Bubble sort

YP: can u explain me how it is n^2

I: blah blah

YP:what is ur btp

I:more blah on reversible programmin

YP: wat is reversible prog

I: some crap

YP: is it dynamic

I:no, dynamic is random programmin ( blunder 1) and it is used when there is recursion

YP:Wat r applications of reversible prog

I: some crap that it is used in ATMs ( donno that I can lie so convincingly…afterall flexibility is a key managerial quality rite?)

YP: How do ATMs work

I:( ayyo! I have never had an ATM card ) some technical jargon like server, node blah blah

YP: wat other courses have u done

I:(Forgot to project LP) Linear prog, sir

YP: tell me a method ?

I:(wow! I remember only one) simplex method, sir

YP: Have u heard anything about NP-completeness

I:(CAUGHT..) sorry, sir.. I have heard abt it but unable to recall

YP: turns to OP (indicates I m done)

OP: ok manoj, u said u were destined to be a manager..y so? y do u feel that u make a good manager?

I: sir, I was down with jaundice in intermediate..I could only work for limited time..there was so much pressure on me naturally..but I managed to get a good rank..this made me realise that “smart work” is more important than “hard work” and as a manager requires the former more, I believe I can make a good manager.

OP:But our students come back and say “sir, we are working for 14 hrs a day..it is so tiring and all these stuff..so smart work itself is not sufficient”

I:( Was prepared for this…) sir, I think “work” is what a body is obliged to do and “play” is what a body is not obliged to do( thanks to mark twain)..I like the work..so it shud not be a prob fr me

OP:What other qualities do u think are required fr a manager other than smart work

I:I think he should possess a calm, balanced mind in any situation, sir( could not think of anything better at the spot)

OP:So u are from a.p…do u know anything abt saakshi

I:(Was about to reply..it is an old movie…sanity prevailed) It is a newspaper owned by Y.S.Jagan , sir

OP: is it launched?

I:I m not exactly sure sir, but I think it has not been launched yet.(it has not been launched as I remembered just a moment later)

OP:so u read newspaper?

I:yes, sir

OP: which papers do u follow?

I:eenaadu and hindu, sir (now I realise that I shud not have mentioned eenadu..as jagan and ramojirao are bitter rivals..the prof mite have been pro-jagan as he asked me abt saakshi)

OP:which section do u follow keenly

I:sports, sir

OP: what was the recent controversy regardin sania

I: Told

OP: in which state cpm is in power

I:w.bengal

OP:are they in power at the centre

I:no, sir..they are providin support externally

OP:what is their stand on indo-us nuclear deal

I:blah blah

(ALL this cos I have mentioned political science as my alternate career option)

OP:what is the recent happening in mumbai that affects all of us?

I: (put a blank face, then gave it a try) instable stock market, sir

OP: havent u heard anything abt amitabh bacchan over last few days

I:(bad one) no, sir

OP:comin to the stock market, what happened

I:Reliance power share value falls by 25%, sir

OP:Have u heard anything abt tht TATAs recently

I:no, sir

OP:nano?

I:I heard that sir, but it was not that recent..i gave some figs abt nano and a south korean company coming up with a similar-cost car of Rs 130,000

OP: ok..how did ur felicity go?

I:(Wow..IIIT is quite popular) It went fine , sir

OP: what did u do?

I:(ABBAA)I haven`t done anything this year, sir..last yr I organised an event( how long can I speak only truth?)

OP:ok, so u r interested in management..u must have done some thing at coll related to management?

I:  listed a couple of courses

OP:tell me something practical which u have done

I: Sir, I was a college mag team member..as a member, I had to manage the magazine and blah blah..(this is true indeed)…added some more that I have done managerial wrk for last yr felicity( haha! The manager in me is coming out)..actually sir, we dont get many chances to exhibit our managerial talent in our coll

OP:ok…we are done with u..

I:thank u, sir

I:lookin at my admit card on the table

OP: yes, u can take it.

I:( took it and stepped out)

comments are most welcome…

P.S.1.I was not really sure till the last moment whether I would be going or not.

P.S.2.I had to give a courage booster to all those waiting outside that everything was fine.

P.S.3.This Valentines day will be unforgettable (not for the obvious reason though)

P.S.4.IIM-L post in the making..it was the interview I enjoyed a lot

P.S.5.got a break…have the B-ig one after a month

P.S.6.I think this supposedly is my longest post till date.

My V-day post

    One more year has passed and the prospects of me becoming eligible to celebrate this date are becoming bleaker and bleaker. Until last year, there was at least a consolation that I had not really tried to find a suitable gal… o`er the last few months, I have found couple of them only to be left heart-broken (on further thought,  left-heart broken would be better…which would enable me to reserve my better half of the heart for my best half)…Coming to the significance of V-day, I think the major benefactors are rose-vendors and ice-cream parlors. For a fraction of youth, this day is just another feel-good factor in the relationship…It is just desired that one get a partner on the V-day…and of course u can always change him/her for the next year…. how tough it would have been if the DAY were to occur once in 10 years, making it a must for ppl to adjust

Coming to my plans today, I want to go to some area where bajarangdal is more vociferous, find a pretty gal, and just somehow engage her in conversation.. (hahaha….job done)..this is one day I feel like I am out of this world, having nothing to do with it..if I venture out, it will look like I m out of place.. for many a year, this day brought a sour feeling..this year, I feel happy seeing the number of ppl who are different in many aspects being bound by love and the glimmer of hope this day has brought me could not have come at a better time…I find it really irritating when girls ask me about my plans for today..the look they give when I say the truth..ohh noo..unbearable..

P.S.1.Had my indore interview a day back..will write abt it in next post

P .S.2.Guys can give the bajrangdal idea a try if u are above 18

P.S.3.Hope this is the last post I write on a V-day..the coming V-days should find me extremely busy

P.S.4.Hope my enrollin for religion course is the last blunder I commit at IIIT..gals may disagree

P.S.5.There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.

P.S.6.Happy Valentines Day to all the readers and their lovers for this day.

Telugu Antakshari – diplomacy needed!

    This is the first year that telugu antakshari has been conducted as an event in the felicity. I appreciate the efforts of all those who had contributed to this event. Coming to the event, 22 teams had enrolled and 15 were selected based on a set of 20 ques..and then these 15 teams had to sing the pallavis of as many songs as they can..6 teams are selected precisely based on how well they compress the raagaas( me havin done data compression, it was no surprise that we were in the final 6) …was a bit surprised by the organizers expectin melodious pallavis from us..(funny selection)..and then the finals on the main stage…i think the organizers should have done some simple things which would have bettered my feedback.

It was clear that they wanted the team representing their batch to finish in the top 3 pos..They would have earned less flak if they limited the registrations to only a particular batch..that would have increased the audience also..or else they should not have declared at the start there will be only 4 rounds..they could have stated then itself that there will be indefinite number of rounds till a particular team X is ensured of their predetermined position..hmm they had not done that..they could have awarded a bonus of 10 points to a team willing to start the proceedings..instead of asking everyone to choose randomly from numbers 1 to .. they could have put tougher questions to other teams ( like they did in the last round..asking a proper noun “bobby” in the dumbcharades to our team)..may be they would have thought that by asking for the participants choice, they cannot be questioned later..

They could have heard the “swarabhisekham” answer prompted by the audience and come up with a new question cos the team they wanted to win was in trouble with that one…They made themselves pretty obvious when at the end of 4 rounds, they decided to add another round just to eliminate some teams …this may seem like a losers talk but I was just disappointed with the diplomacy levels displayed by our students who should have gained pretty much of that during the FSIS sessions.

p.s.1. have seen visakha express and sundarakanda this friday (watchin naresh in both movs was like jekyll n hyde)

p.s.2.there is a possibility of today going down as an important one in my life (reasons personal)

p.s.3.heard from some one that 2k5 rocks…now i know that at most 168/170th of it rocks

p.s.4.have I-interview in couple of days and lookin forward to it. have V day in couple of couple days and lookin forward to find the other half of me.

CAT `07

      I think I have been qualified to write a post on CAT officially in this month. Though a percentile of 99.79 is not exactly satisfying, I would still be happy with getting a B call. Let me begin with my preparation. It can be the best summed up as solving 10 model papers. I was never really that intent to clear CAT. I wanted a job badly and become a “purse”ram ( cannot resist myself). I always felt that quant was my strong point and tried to pick up on my verbal ability.

Coming to purchasing the application, I was one of the last to get it in our coll. Donno why I am so casual. Just a fortnight before the D-day, I have started my streak of nite-outs, watching movies. And on the exam day, I started off just in time, travelling on the foot-board in an empty bus ( such a fun). I got down at the wrong stop, had some walking to do and finally reached the center 15 min before the exam. I was looking at everyone, observing how tense they were and how their parents contributed to that. (Thank GOD! I have no one to accompany me)..

Then we went into the allotted class rooms and at 10 we were given the omr sheets. An announcement regarding the following procedure was made and the guy had such a funny yacshent.. (alas! most of the ppl did not notice it I guess owing to the pressure they are in). After a looooong wait, we got the question paper. I started off with  quant and was trying to solve every problem. The questions needed a different approach and I am lucky there, I guess. I was done with quant in 75 min and moved on to verbal. missed out on a couple of sitters..took 45 min fr verbal..then finally to DI. selected 2 easy sets and answered 8 ques (later, I found out 1 was wrong). spent some time in deciding to go for which set.. made my decision a bit late I guess..5 min were remaining..started feeling a bit tense.

solved 2 ques in 3 min.. then wasted remaining 2 min on the question in which there was a printing mistake..came out with a mixed feeling..that I have done quant well..english reasonable and DI hmm not enough time to work upon. That day, it was all pagalguyying like a pagalguy..then I forgot about it..On the day of results, I was sitting (perhaps I shud say dozing)  in PECN class..I was not really eager to check out my result.. I know I would be getting atleast 2 out of 3 frm L,I,K and may be one from the big three with a bit of good fortune. By night, the frequency of calls increased and I had to check. I was a bit disappointed that I am not a 100% iler in quant..my result : quant 99.99, di ( the culprit) 86.12, verbal 94.7 and overall 99.79. calls from BIL.

Many of my classmates and frens were of the opinion that I should have spent more time on DI. But, I wanted a B call more than A or C ( sounds odd rite). So I have to try to be among top 10 in quant as my gpa aint too gud.. And even if I scored well in DI, I would have still missed out on A and C cos of my verbal. Had my L interview recently. It was absolute fun. A post on it is in the making.

P.S 1.The first month in this year has seen some radical changes in me.

P.S.2.Need 3 recos for IIM-B ( On the hunt)

P.S.3.My last felicity is coming up!

P.S.4.HCU canteen rocks! If I had known of it earlier, would have saved 5000 bucks

P.S.5. As this is 5th, I will say this. I have seen 5 movs last month  (om,krishna,vaana, pourudu, mr.medhaavi) I would rate them in the reverse order though. This month starts with krishnarjuna ( I liked most parts of it)

P.S.6.All are getting a job..mera number kabhi aayegaa