Eclipsography..

Hi Readers,

I dont knw what attracts the sky gazers, astrophysicyst and astronomers more , the view of ever dominant sun fighting to continue shedding light on earth fighting with Moon not to hinder its light OR is it mere lust to find something more exciting than usually seen… To me this 15th JAN 10 was just another day to witness the beauty of the world.Here are some of the Captures of a rare event for my channel one followers who would have otherwise just missed this scene at various parts of the world OR for being inside the office sitting before this 15′inch ugly looking machine. The dark hue on eclipse time is easily visible as moon partially hide sun rays pouring on earth !

World day to combat desertification & drought..

The Change is Evident , Lets decide the direction !




A Day in the Life of a Millennial..

Dawn of another Day !

Its a beautiful morning around 6 when pigeons in my terrace around my room start to flock at my salt lake rented accomodation and sun at its magnificence starts to rise high pushing me to come warm out of my balnket.The winter is knocking. I pull in my shorts and Joggers with my “Udaan theme music”–’Subah Ki kirnon ko roke woh salakhein hai kahan ‘. By this time my uncle engineer(I call this way to my landlord) starts to feed pigeons.I am out in serene and cold awefully loving winter morning for my mornign jog. Believe me, this is the time which pushes me hard to sleep early , Its so satisfying to know you have a beauitful mornign ahead. At one of my recent morning outings I encountered a improved yet sadistic look of life.I stamped into a Dog’s shit first and then crossed the mangnificent desgin made in red (You can guess what it was, a big splash of fresh Pan/gutkha Spit.)(This is sadistic) on clean black roads of saltlake(This is improved).The only diffrence is that at my home village I used to stamp accidentally into cow dung and intentionally into cow dung cakes made my millions village ladies out of childhood mischievies. I am a grown up now and so is this saltlake society considered high in living standards. I am just wondering whether we have actually grown up with spit of pans and dog’s shit at the midest of clean roads. Almost everyday , life fights numerous battles with career options , CWG and 2G spectrum corruption , political apathy for common man rather a General Category Millenial like me. Anyhow its time now when I will have my morning sip of tea with my TOI in hand at a nearby Tea joint.Now heading fast for the life I never wanted to live the way, but still loving it , for I am contributing atleast to building a better world in my quest to office.At 0820 I board my office bus,where in sitting beside a lady associate in a empty seat might be considered violation of her personal space , for am still helpless as the bus seats are too small for athletic build 5′5 /60 person like me.Am at the moment in my new office recently commenced under tag GTP.Got mails , discussions, training and deliveries today.Lunch breaks,tea breaks today and then back home at 7 with facebook in my laptop at my terrace room followerd by half cooked dinner tiffin and some before sleep daily chores I take to bed for another beautiful morning and Hope of a better tomorrow, Its a Never ending saga !

Sense is No more Common !

This morning I encountered a strange rush on the road at a typical circular iland around main road leading to a chief business hub of kolkata . “Road Closed for Repairs” said the billboard in big bold red letters.Its okay the Road is closed for repairs, not the Traffic signal. On a typical day this road hardly encounters jams for the traffic movement is smooth, and the daily commuters much to their habit of ignoring red signals and for want of any policing seemed to be ignoring the same today as well resulting in a visible ZERO SPEED Traffic JAM in a circular fashion aroung the circular iland threading four plus direction roads.All the Red signals were broken at both the ends of roads and thus the mesh of cars, lorries and buses around.
~I tried to make one of the driver to stop for one minutes and follow the traffic signal, but to my surpirse what I found is that the Sense is NO more Common~

An Ordeal with the Jawan !

As the twilight drew close that pretty 24th september evening heartbeats started pumping nostalgia from core within.The city of joy,kolkata prepared the theme for musaifr to recollect the energy silently with a holiday for him from his challenging,fast moving life plying between sector 1 to 5.I boarded azad hind to kickstart another ghar aaja pardesi kind of trip back home on vacation.My train slated to reach hometown next morning around 5:30 Am,am lying in wavering dreams of having sweets and mamma made delicies on top berth aloof from any insecurity to my belongings in train.Suddenly someone sounded unusally loud,Champa station aa gaya,coming out of dream,I woke up looking at my wrist watch I was sporting even while sleeping,It was 5:38 Am to be precise,am still cursing that bastard to wake me up from such a sweet dream to find myself in trouble of my sudden and prompt reaction,Had I even over shoot my destination I would have easily come back with some delay in reaching home,The train was already moving by then and I was helpless with no option but to stop the train by using Self service Brake ” To Stop Train Pull Chain “…...which always fascinated me since childhood.I Came out to see the TTE,Guard & few men from GRP standing at the gate of the my train in RAIGARH station(sadly A station Before my destination ) ~~~~
“Kaun Khicha hai chain…” ~~~Till date since childhood chain Khichna referred to the Chain at Trousers meant for the Pee thing whenever Required Anyhow the gentleman and clam Engineer within me Woke up which smelling the Trouble ahead behaved modestly.
“Maine Khicha hai chain “…I said~~~ As if its my birthright..may be if not birthright atleast its meant for people like me in that situation
“Kyau ! ” (Why) ~~~ Angrily said one of the RPF men
“I was in Deep sleep,I had to drop at champa station and its almost the time for my destination 5:40 Am”`~~~I am giving honest Reasons now
“Kahin bhi chain khich doge ,tumhari saas ka gadi samjha hai ka “~~~RPF man Yelled again, in typical bhojpuri tone
Train was moving by now and I was amidst 7-8 Rascals bargaining the price I had to pay for my Deed,forwhich they first had to prove me wrong,which was nothing more than a mistake,But for Mistake you have to pay a PRICE always
“Jaante ho 6 Mahine ka Jail aur 10,000 jurmana hota hai”~~~ I am quiet completely,to my own Surprise, with no signs of fear or tension within.
“Chalo tumko Bilaspur le kar jana padega ” ~~~ Fattening his chunk of tobacco on hand
“Iska Reporting hota hai pura ” ~~~ now chewing the same like a Cow
“Kya jawab denge hum, kyu khicha hai chain”~~~Fake show of concern for Indian Railways
“Arey biwi chut jaye, baccha reh jaye toh samajh bhi aata hai “~~~ He sounded very mischievious now
“Sala yeh toh accha case ban gaya hai “~~~Feeling great about the cash he would claim & recieve from me now
They took me to next compartment where one more RPF men was sleeping after selling all Horses,Ghoda Bech kar so rha tha..one of the rpf man says to one whoz sleeping~~~
“Ehi Utho,Dekhte nahi ho Cain Pulling ho gaya hai , tum so rahe ho, hum itne mushkil se pakad kar laye hai”~~~as if he as caugth the most dreaded criminal whom even InterPol is Chasing and He need his help to do justice to the nation
Soon Three more TTE’s joined the big league of 7-8 officials around me showing fake concern for Railways as if I have done a terrorist attack ,which is nothing more than a claim for their share in the price I had to pay somehow as end result,I don’t want to waste my time settling on the matter from bilaspur and coming back from there to my destination to live my small holiday.I took aside one of the RPF man while others inciting their objection about the punishment and actions to be taken and to take me to Railway regional HQ for action,left for their rounds in train for chase of similar culprits rather Prey like me.I am close to reaching my destination CHAMPA its 6 Am now.
“”Dekho dada bolo kya karna hai “”~~~~ just taking to him one corner , I am DADA now(elder bro of bengal)
“”Jaoge bilaspur”" ~~~~~asks rpf men,now he came to point ,sounding like how much could I pay
“Mai toh champa mein utrooonga ! “~~~ I said in a funny sounding tone
“Kaise utroge, Reporting hota hai na iska, Dekhte nahi ho kitne log hai, sabka muh band karna padega na”~~~
“Teen mahine ka kaid hota hai aur 3000 jurmana “~~~ he automatically came down from 6 months to 3 months and 10k to 3k.
“Itna toh nahi hai” ~~~~I said like a typical Engineer, as if I am doing any favour to him by paying him, but actually I was.
“Kitna hai”~~~Now that bastard came to the point from where the ball was in my court
“saw rupaye (100 Bucks) “~~~~I said,for once I thought that to be too clumsy,for someone demanding 3k I am offering just 100 bucks
“Rama Rama Rama aaise kam nahi chalega na, itna log Ka muh band karna hai “~~~ he said beating his head as if her close aquantance has left this world
“Hum akela hota toh kab ka chod diya hota ” ~~~
“Ticket dikhao” ~~~~He wrote my name, phone number, address and PNR number as if that will scare me
“I dont have 3000 now, I will pay you at champa station, But not 3k,I said I will pay 500 “~~~
“1000 kar do dada ” ~~ now I am dada for him, the tone of speech has changed now, which I refused to pay,I was firm on 500, still I havn’t paid him a single Penny yet.
I informed dad on cel about everything while he was there to recieve me in station with one of his nearby acquaintances,a little influencial person.I came out at champa staion and that RPF man came out with me to get his money which was decided to be 500 bucks.
My dad acquaintance said to RPF man watching him coming down with me,I think he knew the RPF men, ” I came to knw that my child had some trouble in train,whats the matter..”
RPF man a little scared now , says ~~~~”Kya Mahraj , aapka baccha hai kaise takleef ho sakti hai ”
“Theek hai fir chalte hai “”~~~~~ said my dad’s aquaintance..
“Mahraaj bahut log hai train mein “~~~ said clumsy RPF men
“Dekho aage se baccha log Ko pareshani nahi honi chhahiye,yeh 200 rakho,ab hum chalte hai ” ~~~RPF man leaves without shame.
This is what all I had to face for using something that is meant for the convenience of Common man,had someone else been there in my position with no aquaintance to any influential person ,would have bore ardent consequences like being thrown from train,Illogical torture & harrassment thereby making him pay huge sum.Let alone think of the purpose for which those RPF men are meant for in Trains.
No surprise to what happened recently with group of WB girls returning from kerela. Man in Uniform Sold His Duty in mere 200 Bucks
Whats your say?????

Day 1 @ Cognizant !

The bold Joining Humour

After a long wait,When the life was already a DAGLING POINTER, this day has come nothing more than a surprize when “one fine day ” My rediff mail box brought me the news that read ”Cognizant Welcomes you“.I felt, oh ! they still remmeber me.I had proved that I have successfully passed my Engineering degree (for those who never saw my gradeseets) and 2 yrs back the party that I threw celebrating “Day Zero“ offer wasn’t a bluff.Anyways waiting for something one desire for deerly and dearly is always tuff.This wait accompanied opportunities for some with New bussiness avenues , like Agriculture and Dairy farming( being the only ones with some scope for Business) & frustration n apprehension for some.Anyways most of us with Day Zero offers did nothing for the last 11 months, in short..Lets stop giving excuses.Then Came a seemingly endless search for our batchmates in So called sites Which are BLUE in clolour. And to most of the joinee males apprehension grew strong for a boring life ahead, not to find intresting gals around in those Blue background sites.Anyways there are still , lots dynamic men in business around for a great work life ahead.. was the only funda with what they could console themselves anyhow.Finally the said day came when We had a date with our talent manager.The morning scene;8:30AM ;Monday morning at the gate of TCPX facility;security folks welcomed me,handing over my PEHCHAAN PATAL (Identity card) …..;Welcome to BENGLISH culture, enough of hinglish.. Time for a change.The day1 delight , started with induction formalities , signing lots of papers with ma PARKER pen,felt as if am CEO now.Then came were individual and group games. Now that was fun coz the games that test teamwork with linguistically different people has a great humour in itself; folks disucssing plan in bengali and every conversation sounds “kakrokaro che” or Chockroach….Now the best of ma experiences were the song in bengali sung by a batchmate”Bhalolage bandhu“; which changed my perception about the language from harsh to soothing. Now, am in the self heard singing mode to this bangla number.
(Although I dont understand the lyrics now but a feet tapping music…..somehow I tried to remember the first 3 lines of the song)
Bhalolage sapnire mayajaal bunte;

Bhalolage uiyaakashed tara gunte;

Bhalolage meghladini nishpaloke rondhanu khuchte;

…………..Bondhu !

A Walk To Remember

A walk to remember.
A walk with my training facilitator to MS SQL SERVER 2005.

That Beautiful face with a firm soft voice , spelling intricate lessons on technology that I don't know and that I feared learning at some part of life for I may not understand it well.

A 20 minutes walk , way back home which felt her fragrance as walking together discussing life, introducing each other with scope of new technologies in today's times thinking of the world,I started to think about her World,with small family centric girl daily walking to office to deliver intricate lessons, that walk at twilight is still a part of my sweet , quixotic memoir with Avantika's ambience in it;that lifts the passion to be into another world altogether above from practicality of this life.
Thanks for making me Re-live that Golden Past.

Let me live in that world itself , don't wanna come to light for it has no fragrance of Goodness in it.

Wait !

Life has become a wait for a new start !
After living a life at the formula 1 speed the hamara bajaj speed seems a little frustrating.In a quest to attain the same speed according to NEWTON's law of STATICS, searching for new avenues amidst those downtrodden looks and behaviour of folks in and around home for Contracted berozgar Engineer who has already spent huge bucks on studies ,I find myself in a war of ideas and thoughts some inculcating attitude of being an engineer and some showing the Mirror. I always find a Stranger in Mirror of my thoughts,a new human being withing my AKS. A spiritual guru, an Industrialist and an Environmentalist together an impossible combination ever thought of on earth.I can all say if the wait doesn't end soon a Rare combination is on wait to sprout.

An Industrialist.
An Entrpreneur.
A service provider.
A milkman.
You see what all an engineer can think of for a career :p

Publish Post

PS: Written Out of Deep Frustration

Sabjiwala's Dilema

A bright cool spring morning with beautiful breeze blowing . A perfect time enculcating cozy feelings of Loving times in college.The Day started well and what could be more better than having morning cup of tea in hand , national news channel on TV set and family besides.what I call an Ideal morning.On one such Ideal morning,NDTV's gorgeous news reporter delivers something on sabjiwala's that struck my attention.
She reports, this season Punjab farmers witnessed the bumper Potato crop and uttarakhand witnessed a bumper tomato crop.Their Dilema is how to get out invested capital back let alone think of making benefit.The corp Produce is so huge that Prices of these daily consumables have fallen below Re 1 per KG.

""Bhai sahab ek Kilo aalu aur tamatar khet se baazar tak lane mein ek rupaye kharch hojate hai...fir fasal lagane se lekar pakne tak khaad, pani aur majdoori alag."" Say's a modest Farmer.

I wonder why Maggi tomato ketup maufacturers and potato chips giant Uncle chips and Lay's selling same potato @ Rs 100/KG in form of chips with modest inputs , haven't yet took a benefit of the situation for mutual benefit of the Farmer's and consumers for their finished products like Tomato Ketchup and Potato chips. I can only estimate a good platform for the farmers to sell their bumber crop with marginal profits is missing.A proper help from the state government thereby promoting local Ketchup and chips maufacturer.And why not to transpot them to other parts of the country where Prices of these potato and tomato are somewhere in range of Rs 10 per KG. Atleast Transpotation costs won't be more than Rs 3 Per Kg to even the remotest location in India.
This will not only help few to get Employment but even help farmers not to commit sucides out of loans there by giving relief with their Farm products sale.Will not only allow us as consumers to have theie daily use consumable at cheaper prices which noticed a high price in matket during weak crop season.Anyways this just reminds me of a Dialogue from movie SHAURYA where the Actress ,A journalist in a national Daily yells an officer "apna KAAM karo yar "...I hope folks sitting on top of ADMINISTRATIVE levels w'd hv Heard this Dialogue or even this NEWS.

SSB INTERVIEW

MY EXPERIENCE IN SSB INTERVIEW FOR INDIAN NAVY !

DAY ZERO: 

We reached yashwantpura main station at 5:30 hrs on 26^th January amidst no hallucination for republic day seeming much of the interest of north Indians only. Anyhow we got a decent room in hotel at “kotton pet” near bank of Mysore at moderate rents. While priyank goyal decided to sleep at room, me n gaurav kotaida (priyank n gaurav being other accompanies for interview with me)decided to explore our first experiences in the India’s biggest metro and have a feel of republic day at army HQ of nation. Visited vishwasriya technological & industrial museum, cubbonpark,vidhan sabha bhawan (only place where we found the tricolor hoisted in Bangalore) and then finally reached a place more of our interest , birds arena, commercial street in evening with full of fantasies of branded showrooms and chicks. Its known here that when u throw a pebble upon air falling down it will either hit a dog or an IT professionals, such is the number of IT pro.here.We returned to hotel by 9 :30 pm and had uttapam ,cooked deliciously from a road side vendor having ice cream after a walk in return to hotel room.Next day we had to report to 12 SSB at 3 pm, while we visited more places in city before that time since morning like ISKON temple.

DAY ONE:

2:30 PM, 12 SSB candidates labeled Bus arrived Bangalore city main station.A military peroson started with loud scolding ”Jaldi karo Bus mein saaaman dalo aapna apna”,”Jagah na mile toh khade hi jana padega, 70 admioon ki bus hai , tum aaye ho 100 se zyaada” !I felt like the testing started for individual from this point itself, but it was fun with students hailing from all parts of country like Bhuj, vishakapatnam, cochin, agartala , jammu, Bhopal, Chennai, ernakullum Chhatisgarh and all prefinal year and final year engineering students , everyone has a story to recite about their Boring teachers and college fun.Upon reaching the SSB again scolding started “Jaldi karo aur wahan shade ke niche bath jaao”.Filling forms for personal Details and travel charges reimbursement form and other announcements and undertakings form. This form filling procedure itself judges your ability as an officer hoe appropriate you are in filling your personal details. Mind it candidates have doubts in filling these personal forms as well.Briefing from the SSB hostel warden, SHM who is a hard military dressed man shouting all the time on disciplinary actions of the heavy attendance of candidates on first day(100+).Mind it he will brief you a very comfortable stay but your are not intended for comfort here at SSB for next 4 days of stay.We were free after these formalities for some hours before 6 PM the closing time of SSB after which candidates are not allowed to move out.

DAY 2:

Morning 5 AM , hostel warden with a huge kettle of Tea on hand shouts ”Utho, Chai peeyo, paani chalu hai, jaldi jaldi taiyar ho jaao” No movement from students, “AAre bhai UUTHo”…. Shouts again!! After crow bath and all night insomnia due to bed bugs all over in 12 SSB Barrack beds , had simple and light breakfast with bread toast jam and butter with a glass of milk and Boiled eggs for Non veggies.We had 3 continuous tests, 45 Que each 25 minutes, testing quantitative skills, English and intelligence and general perception tests.Next we had to under go Psychological test which consist 60 SRT, situation reaction tests in 45 minutes, where we have to give how we would react to a particular situation mentioned in the question. Situations are very common but the reaction differ largely among students and it’s a test of psychology taken by psychology scientist and no chances of bluffing is there of any sort, remember it’s not the test of you English.Next is 60 WRT, word reaction test, a word is projected for 5 sec on screen and have to write a first meaningful sentence that comes in mind watching that word that comes in intervals of 10 sec, 4 words per minute and 60 words continuously.After so many questions and testing you are almost Fade up and ur energy levels are deteriorating since morning wake up call at 5 AM , arranging water for basic amenities and reaching testing arena at 7, testing start at 8 AM and now at 11 pm you are completely off after 120 aptitude question 120 SRT and WRT .Next stage in rounds starts of a PPT i.e. picture perception test to test and write a story on the basis of your perception. Picture displayed for 15 sec and is very blurred and unclear image; write a story in next 10 minutes on it.And I must say One can cheat with others but can not HIDE/CHEAT himself from his own self and that’s how SSB people judge you.Next you have GD session and stress on General etiquettes, body language and your imagination being aggressive and positive is rewarded any negative thinking and destructive mindset can be clearly spotted by interviewing body from your story and its recitation during GD. Loud , aggressive and Clear mindset with sound energy levels and confidence wins.

ALL IS A TEST OF YOUR IMAGINATION, THINKING, ENERGY LEVELS, PRESENCE OF MIND AND PSYCHOLOGY.

One pm we had lunch and soon results were announced for first stage of selection. All the procedures and way of conduct is purely military disciplined and well managed. Upon calling my chest number I had to speak loud standing on a white square box in front as ”Devesh Agrawal first July Eighty five” clearly showing energy level and mind set of the candidate.

Unselected candidates had been dropped to railway station by SSB bus. we were free after this and could roam in city and we did it daily at commercial street , garuna and central mall.

DAY 3:

Chest No 42  : First Round Selected ones , Goes into the record books of 12 SSB Banglore

Some had interview and some had ground tests.

Personal interview question are from your family background, your records and school from 10^th to 12^th and your entire engineering career, your activities , you hobbies and extra curricular achievements are counted heavily here. Knowledge of current political and social affairs, and ones personal view on a global issue like global warming, terrorism etc. are asked. Thus a sound knowledge, good communication skills, basic body language, energy level and officer like etiquettes are highly sought in interview that lasts anywhere around 30-45 minutes upon satisfaction of the interviewer to judge you fully. They don’t want to miss out any deserving candidate.

DAY 4:

Ground tests include military planning and discussion where in a small operation layout to combat enemies if shown and a discussion is to be done and group is required to come to a particular conclusion. GD on two general topics for 10 minutes is conducted one after other. Next we had to deliver a lecture on a small topic given instantly preparing for 5 minutes and speaking for 5 minutes.ALL these things are done in groups of 7-10.Next we had obstacle passing and other tests using “Balli” , “Patta ” and “Load” based on simple principle of Leaver and fulcrum. They are meant to gauge the leadership qualities and communication skills among a group.Same tests dividing it in subgroups are meant to have a closer watch at the individual. A sound energy level and presence of mind showing good leadership qualities can be a good cause of your selection. Last is individual obstacles like high jump , road jump, double ditch jump, and tarjan jump that tests the individual qualities like hard work and fitness levels.For another long tiring day of continuous ground tests one needs to be mentally alert and Physicaly fit and High on eneygy levels at any point of time in a day.

DAY 5:

Results of the candidates being referred to army, navy and air force for induction to its services by SSB are announced after small conference , a formal visit to all the interviewing officers like Vice president, psychologist, ground test in charge and other members sit and collectively decide about referring a candidate for induction to armed services.I was conference out on final day and I was very happy to have witnessed this best and satisfying testing procedures, out of last 45 candidates left after first phase , 9 were recommended and they all deserved it I believe.A SSB conference out candidate is not so that he is not appropriate for anything in life, its just that the required quality that they sought in you to be a officer in elite Indian armed forces is either not present in you or you failed to show it. We have next chance again to apply in response to advert. And to show the required potential as they say.For recommended students have to undergo strict medical fitness test and merit list to be commissioned in armed forces.

I am happy to have undergone a genuine testing procedure as a guest of Indian government and to know my potential with candidates coming from all parts of the country and I know working upon with my first experience at SSB I can materialize it to a good Rank in armed forces but to live up some other’s dreams one has to sacrifice with something and decision is entirely dependent on an individual if he would live a life in pride for his nation and its service or as a civilian for his family.

A CANDIDATE COULD HAVE MISSED DELIVERING A QUALITY IN HIMSELF BUT SSB COULD NOT MISS ANY QUALITY THAT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THERE SERVICE AND IS SHOWN BY YOU IN 4 DAYS OF JUDGEMENT.

DEVESH AGRAWAL