Where I belong

As I sat on my seat in the well

I thought how in place it all fell

Each one was more equal than the other

Yet there was absence of any bother

The class begins, everyone is ready

To go in their state of steady

Chuddi is all energy, Papa is in slumber

BloJo’s sleep, even Bijli could not cumber

She and Nippo are in deep talk

About the next target he wants to stalk

With his arbit CP round the corner

Udee is relieved of doing the honour

Hugga is damn happy not to have such pain

While Laudu again decides to abstain

Shabbo reserves her right to enter

As Samosa is dragged left, right and centre

There is no need for Sodo to hide

And Gigi has the privilege to subside

D’Ice saves his wisdom for the world outside

Where he meets Orgy, all starry-eyed

Cumcum is about to be disturbed

NursBandi’s insightful CPs are trying hard to remain curbed

Bendy is concerned of the economies of sleep

Burger comes up with his marketing beep

As we reach the Upper Cut,

Gullak sits with a creative glut

Dhinchak has something to contribute

Gilli has some answers to attribute

Maggi is at a different level

On a path people less travel

Nirodh hides his brain with his hair

And Linga listens to the Prof with care

Not concerned about Sheiky on his left

Who in his Niche is heft

Today’s session will go in the book

As Anand is saved of being alone in the hook

4play is wondering why is he here

Even as Mala finds the Prof’s words as music to his ear

Now we come to that section of the class

Which has been somewhat different from the mass

Harish has never volunteered for a word

Paise also belongs to that herd

Bodhi has remained mum for long

Though Sandeep has broken sometimes from the throng

That way Phullan has been misplaced

His sleep and speak, the class has been graced

O-Maal has a dictionary on his lap

Looking at the next opportunity to tap

+2 finds the happenings around dull

Aadha still remembers the court martial

Gulabo is thinking about his long list of crib

Geyser wants to know the time of his lib

Amarendra is looking at the technicalities

Feebo finds everything as externalities

Haddi keeps coming with MHU, which to his despair

Nobody ever wants him to share

Guppi has to be attentive for there might be a cold call

Dixcy is spreading his smile to one and all

Miski is confident, any questions she would block

As Suwer looks at the instructor with shock

Masal is by far every Prof’s favourite

So, Smoothie does not have to do anything great

But to relax and enjoy

For things would be taken care of by Sukhoi

Zuli is positioned well to avoid

Sumata considers the discussion devoid

And ‘How does it matter’ or ‘That’s alright’ is what he wants to utter

As Sambhog’s point makes things less of a clutter

He brings in unseen dimensions as a perfect consultant

HaiHai gets ready as an articulate respondent

The last one-third of the class

Is consisting of that mass

Who have a lot to say indeed

And towards whom the class looks in times of need

Bubli is giving her best to understand

Always is raised Khujli’s hand

Ready to pounce on any mistake in his ken

Sitting between him and another great soul is me, Laalten

Osho (Daddu) knows what all this is about

Doesn’t take much time to figure out

Chapper though good with numbers

Have lost count of his hours of slumbers

Raddi (Sarkar) has already analysed the case

Fukta is ready for any brace

Why hasn’t Lavdy ever spoken?

And who has the guts to keep Fiat woken

Supada is being missed a lot

All the reading at the tip of his tongue, has Softy got

Lalu is the section’s romantic boy

Chewii will not be caught in any Prof’s ploy

Fadka talks from his experience

Lundon needs to be listened to with patience

Silence for Combo is voluntary

Suji is all gallantry

Sylar takes his entire point through

Forcing anyone in the way to flew

Quaddro is speaking abstract

Blomie does a playful act

Duski does not know whether to speak or not

Mag’O is listening but sometimes the words do not get caught

Scuba will make up something on the spot

The class is not the place for Bubbly to say a lot

Lectures come and lectures go

People in here have an unusual glow

May be they do not share the greatest of bond

But there is definitely a special fond

That runs through like a thread profound

Keeping all jewels closely bound

Reel world

In some lecture I attended a while back, the speaker mentioned a point about Bollywood movies which I hadn’t come across earlier. He said that in the 70s, the audience like the image of an angry young man in movies since the citizens at large were themselves angry. The reason for the anger may be due to the prevalent political system or something else.

As you moved towards late 80s, early 90s and henceforth, the attraction towards a chocolate hero gained momentum and happiness was the name of the game. Again, according to the speaker it reflected the general mood of the public.

So, you had the release of Hum Aapke Hain Koun in 1994 which was based on a family and had shown marriage celebrations in all its entirety and elaborateness. Different movies that followed had their major theme being dominated by joy and happiness in its various forms.

However, I am still doubtful what the contents of the movies at large portray with respect to the reality as per the audience. It is true that the movie directors and producers many a times take stories and incidents from real life or the topics are very much relevant. But does the general theme across movies actually represent the existing reality or does it just portray how people would like reality to be or may be neither, I am not too sure.

A trend setting movie of its times was Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge released in 1995. It was a major success and a theatre in Mumbai is still running a show of this movie from the time of its release. One major deviation from the trend that this movie envisaged and which I believe the people liked is that the hero of the movie does not ask the heroine to run away with him (which was generally how it worked in movies before). He was of the opinion that one should win the consent of families on both sides before moving forward. He wanted to have their blessings with their choice and not because they have no option. The father of the heroine finally realized that it was best for her daughter to be with the hero.

I am not saying that was right or wrong. But as India is getting more and more westernized and the trend of love marriages is increasing, was it that the depiction in the movie was against or for the current mannerism in which things progress? Or was it actually trying to show a way in which both generations need to move so as to attain some kind of equilibrium in society?

The more important question is regarding the people liking the movie – were they appreciating this novelty of the idea or did they actually think that society should be going this way? I again don’t know. Has the society moved in the direction, assuming it wanted to?

To return to our previous hypotheses of movies depicting the mood of the audience, it does not seem to be so black and white.

Memorable group

At my institute, one of the first things that is part of the system is dividing the students into groups of 5 or 6. The students are divided into 4 sections and the group members are all from one section. Though I have worked earlier in academic groups, the previous groups were more formed on an informal basis. Generally, my policy is (or at least I would like to believe that my policy is) that whoever asks me first to form a group, I don’t say no. So, previously my group formation was either with someone who asked me first or with some of my close friends.

Forming a group on a random basis is very helpful for you get to learn to work with people you don’t know; people who you are almost meeting for the first time. Such kind of working with a new bunch of people can be very helpful in one’s career especially for jobs which involve constant rotation of people form one team to another.

The institute tries to have a balanced group in terms of work experience of the members, their backgrounds etc. I would say I was lucky enough to get a well balanced group (partly you would see from below descriptions). We were a 5 member group and I would say that the class looked up to us many a times when in need (of at least some group having prepared well for the class). I would describe my group members here (as I see them) and would be very frank:

V (D): I will start with the lady first. She is a very enthu, energetic, ready to do things kind of person. She has excellent networking skills and I guess almost everybody on campus knows her and vice versa. She has one of the coolest of attitudes and is there for you in times of need. A very approachable person, she is always willing to help. She puts in a lot of effort for almost everything and I wonder where she gets all the energy from. She does things as situation demands and is ready to sacrifice personal comforts (sleep etc.) in times of need. But when herself in need, she does tell others about it but wants to tackle things on her own.

K: Eldest of the lot, he is a very experienced person. He seems to have seen a lot in his life and always gives quite good insights from the practical angle. His presence tremendously helped the rest of the group to understand things more clearly. As if this was not enough, he is very modest, down to earth kind of person. He always said that he himself is a free rider when actually he did as much work, if not more, as the rest of us. He always maintained a humble attitude and is someone who naturally generates respect for himself.

ML (S): He is pseudness (in a positive sense) personified. This is the first impression you would have if you work with him. I share a special bond with him (am not sure if he feels the same, but I will like to believe he does). In some ways, we are just opposites but still I can say that among my list of friends he would be right up there. I have learnt a lot from him and am just amazed at his attitude towards life. He remains cool with everything which happens. With initial interactions, one might not be able to appreciate him, but it won’t take long to do so. He has exemplary communication and presentation skills.

PK (OM): He has been a good friend from the time I came to know him. He is someone you can ask for things and not hesitate about it. Attentive to details, he does a good analysis of the situation at hand. He is very good at presenting stuff. He very well knows what he is doing and likes to have a good grip on the subject at hand. Again a chill person and does not mind things. At times, when I behave a little rudely, he is very understanding and does not carry grudges along. Sometimes behaves as a child and sometimes has the maturity of a 60 year old.

Something which goes for everyone is that all of them were ready to share their knowledge etc. and were not afraid of that. So, if one of them got a solution to a problem (say), he/she ensured that the rest of the group gets to know about it as soon as possible. We studied together even for things which were not mandatory to be done together (for e.g. exams etc.).

This group is assigned for the first term and from the second term, one is free to form a group of one’s choice. As you would have guessed that my group remained intact. I haven’t said this to anyone, but I sincerely believe that a major credit for me doing a decent job in the first two terms (and also after that), goes to my group. It is hard to imagine what would have happened if these people had not been my group members.

In the third term, each of us had to be a part of a different group, for reasons which were very external and nothing related to the usual reasons why groups fall apart. Yet we still make it a point to get together periodically for studies or general chit-chat or for going out for dinner etc.

Not every member of the class was happy with the new groups formed in the third term. There were people who were so taken aback by change that they were too reluctant to put in any effort for making the group work. I am happy to say that my group members are ones who are trying their best to make things work in their respective groups and I commend them for that.