Cricket: its just a game...

Delhi to Lahore via POK:
This is not the first time we(or the esoteric leadership of ours) have decided to sacrifice the cricket ties with Pakis at altar of "tough talk". The irony, though is where we(again...) were holding fragile Pakis(and subsequent concern for security of players) as prima facie for calling off the scheduled cricket series; post 26/11 we scrapped it because of carnage that followed in Bombay(our intel, leadership lapses, our pathetic internal security that is just not able to keep pace with the economic boom and attention we seem to allure) . Actually our intelligence, our internal security lapses and of course the democracy have lead to the 26/11, and revoking cricket ties will do little if at all; the terrorist organizations don't give two hoots about the game, let alone stop pulling the crap.

(What do you want Cricketers to be? Symonds was (is) one! Not an angel and certainly not a fiend! )

Chennai has got Mumabi's back:
About the historic win that we were able garner against the really admirable English unit, i think will be anything but anesthetic. Cricket or for that matter any other game is just where some highly talented individuals take the center stage to showcase their talents and it has without a doubt some good entertainment value, but they are not the heroes, the saviors of life. Its at our behest to tackle the proceedings outside the arena.

peach

pics of 2008, courtesy TIME

1.washed away; 2.victim Georgia ; 3.Tienanmen sq. Olympics Beijing

4.farewell S.Pleshette; 5.Swaziland; 6.On his way to first speech after winning nomination

7.farewell Hillary; 8.drunk Russian soldier; 9. Congo


10.coffins, Georgia; 12. adrift; 13. Baghdad normalcy

the sorry tales of esoteric politics in India

It takes a high to scribble
about souls so abominable
nonchalant trash talks
myopic, equivocal semantics
high on platitude
all for lucre, nothing for home
blatant vote bank politics.
the sorry tales of the hypocrites...
the sorry tales...


(repugnant to the sense of decency yet they seem so alien to the very thing; it is so so fugly)

this is a psalm of my beloved: the Nehrus, Gandhies, Thackreys,
Lalitas, Badals, Advanis, Mayavatis, Gowdas, Yadavs
and scores of Singhs.
posterity with all pristine DNA
all incessant immortal souls
readily attesting the progenitor.
the tales of the swivel chair..
the sorry tales...


(bloody terrorists failed to blew up the Parliament, the Pentagon; the Pandemonium...
Now how dare they feast on the innocents, feeble lives of merry???)

once in a while
more frequent off late
namaste, a spurious smile, jai bharat mata ki
door to door, the same tantrums
dusting out the old promises, the very same speeches,
for the nth time
as if his father has come back to life.


(the real outsiders were here, but the uncle-nephew rather hid in their cowardice... but when quoted on camera they have the all season-ready BS to deliver)


an unwilling resignation is at loss to convince
obfuscating elections,
like straightening deck chairs on the titanic
up against a brick wall
templates of attrition
so jaded to vote, Meh!
yearn for the sunrise on the dark horizon,
sunrise on the dark horizons...





(who to vote for, leaves us as comfortable as a bum on a porcupine, so i prefer a nap over the ordeal... but very often we pay a heavy price with sleepless nights for the very nap we just could not fight )




they have left million in the tracks,
but unwittingly we've made a paradise,
for them to encroach n change
caught in the thick on thin,
now run helter-skelter for cover,
the echos of gunfire, grenades are here.
pointing fingers have spun into pointing guns.

(Sir, i wonder if you could not shake a leg, shove that fat ass of yours a bit more!
Son, Pakistan, China, US, the former governments, lack of resources, time lines, opposition, the govt.... scores of alibis, apocryphal.
oh man, i wish i could deport them to Moon, only if we had hundreds of chandrayans )

u know what is really petty?
staunchest ally of evil ain't
the Islamic green or Hindu saffron
or Sikhs' khanda sahib or cross of Christ
it is these demons who take us for a all round spree.

(the derogatory remarks: aisa chota mota hadsa itne bade desh mein to ho hi jata hai is what they have after all is blown away)

Play it down, they preach
as they race away with their entourage
in guzzling, fortified SUVs.
the talks of theirs retaliation catches eyeballs
only when cricket is called off.
media abuzz with tearful anecdotes
all fizzles out as anger instills
when we hear them speak.


(we condemn, we stand united, my heart goes out, we ll teach a fitting lesson, tribute to martyrs,
this inhumane act ll not be tolerated, common minimum program, fight against terror, secularism, equal opportunities.... the list is endless, all no gospel...)


some years down the line,
democracy such a stunning beauty,
demagogues shoot her point-blank.
all in cold blood
anxiety in the hallway,
don't know if she will make it through.

(but don't u think we're as responsible as they are supposed to be, the sorry tale is as much our's as it is their's)

the present is what we have,
to recuperate her well being.
i don't trust god for them to rot in hell
can't help feeling dismayed, loosing drive
but don't you see?
no fire, no nature, no grave
can put this endemic to rest.
We've got to do our shoelaces, stand up
to stop the chicken on its way to the butcher.


as our heroes die, do we've a leader who would give an arm and leg for the country? If we want f#%*$#g CHANGE then we better be that CHANGE.

The favoured child

Insomnia is the bite,
sour grey eyes,
sweat in bed 'n' cold vibes.

A demon is loose
i don't know, who?
I guess
i just left my job undone...

Death, suffering is all around 'n' beyond,
with no fault, no cause...

Today, ages ago, crying on my way
i said this hell, hey!
As a child i used to fight,
a hero will make i,
slaying the demon, salvaging some pride.

Nothing has come true,
I've turned twenty odd,
yet so f-dumb...
as i celebrate the day, my birthday, eh!
without a care for the less dear...

I've forgotten the chance, the dice
no longer care,"'I'm the favoured child".
Its just not my fight, not in my might;
but i lie,
am sorry for those,
who ain't phony,
ain't the favoured child!

I've got to do something.
My life has been so mean,
can i, will i paint a silver line?
Sand is slipping away
the fist is clinching by the day...

Oh! I've to, I want to... yeah
Oh! I've to, I want to... yeah
yeah! yeah! yeah!
Oh!Oh!Oh!
Nah! Here i go, all dreams,
a plunge into sleep,
the dark so bold,
the night so cold.
The favoured child has one more day to mourn....
The favoured child,The favoured child,
it is so cold...

Transience

The world as I see,
the beauty which has bewildered me, is in transience...
Not the world but me,
not the world but me...

Eyes have grown a shade of Grey
We all play, but don't admit, not say
The smart-asses, we think we all are
Just morons inside the bar...

Alibis, blames all but gain
we choose to close our eyes n ears
to reject the transience as is here

Take a stride, bring a change...
Does he have to comedown
to chivvy and set the pace?
The journey has to start with thou...
It is u who has to come true...

The transience is what we need
to kill the demon we all feed...

CRICKET - the latest fray "3rd umpire review system"

"The Beauty of the game is in the glorious uncertainties", the statement, the prophecy which we so desperately want to unsettle. The recently promulgated 3rd umpire review system for all kinds of decision is one such effort. The system which is under heavy scrutiny, in its very early days has depicted some flaws.

It seems that the logic behind reviews has not been established clearly. The cleanest one would be to have the on-field umpire give the decision first. Clear evidence should be required to overturn 'that decision', whatever it is. The assumption is that the on-field umpire is correct unless the technology INCONTROVERTIBLY proves the decision was wrong. It can't be that you need clear video evidence to give someone out. The batsman can always stand and hope that the cameras didn't catch something clearly. What if the umpire saw it clearly? If the umpire gave the batsman out, and if the replays are not clear, the on field decision would stand. Otherwise, the rule becomes "not out unless you can prove it on replay". Not fair to the fielding side. With the method above, decisions will never be worse than what they would have been without the replays. It will also be a blow to an umpire's self confidence & belief if he has to overturn his decision despite lack of damning evidence. With the method they are using now, decisions can indeed be worse when the cameras are not clear.The conspiracy theorist would be wondering whether ICC deliberately nobbled the review process, in order to ensure its failure and preserve the sanctity of the on-field umpire...

But like on so many other issues in recent times, the ICC just can't seem to do anything right. Technology is introduced, but only half-hearted and more likely than not as an alibi. Why not go the whole hog and allow the best available technology even though it may not be perfect at this stage? It probably is better than the human eye anyway and is void of any human perception or bias. Hawk-eye, the snick-o-meter and the hot spot are all tangible technologies, which, in any case, eliminate any ambiguity and have a much higher degree of acceptability between the teams involved and the public at large. How can a batsman (Dilshan) be first perceived and given out and then the decision be rescinded although the applied technology is non conclusive? Maybe Richardson should try explaining that away instead of giving lectures on how the umpires are "in any case" 94% correct in their decisions without stating the mathematical analysis upon which that conclusion was made? Are we that gullible?
All but the most biased fan can accept an umpire giving a batsman not out if Hawk-eye says 0.5mm of the ball will hit 0.5mm of the top of leg stump, but few can stomach the clear-cut shockers we saw in Sydney. The review process, if properly implemented, removes these.

Another interesting twist in the tail occurred on Day 2 of the Colombo Test. Zaheer Khan had a marginal no-ball called, but there can be no referral because, as, "the batsman might well have changed his shot selection upon seeing the no-ball signal." That tilts things back toward the bat over the ball rather heavily! A simple solution: Let the 3rd umpire make all no-ball decisions based on the perfect camera. He can radio the result to the 1st umpire who can make the signal 'after' any shot has been played. This would virtually eliminate incorrect no-ball calls, and release the 1st umpire to focus attention solely on what is happening 22 yards away at the other end.

Autumn rain on her doorstep

I dream of the place where your garden has no walls
Despite the past,
I’m holding on to your rope too fast
Longing for you to roll and end this cold
Just wonder why you are making this all a bet

It seems sometimes we need to roll the dice to end the dicey
I know it sounds a plunge
But if it’s from the beat,
it is more than mere heat.

The only things we share are the vast sky,
the red flesh which makes the living corpse live.
We’re made of blood and rust,
Wearing along with every thrust.
With dark shadows and hovering black clouds,
beats resounding the chilly quiet nights,
Unless we find something to cling on,
Someone to trust, love and sing…

As I travel the lonely, seconds are like years
Everything is turning blue
Sun is trying to kill the moon
As we look back
May be, may be, just may be
Had we taken that call
It could have been altogether a different trail
May be, may be
Nah, nah, nah I am sure
Just if the message went through,
if we had called it true...

Forever won't be like a moment
With tears rolling in the rain
But I’d take another chance, take a fall, take a shot
So tell me when you are gonna let me in
I’m holding on to your rope
Longing for u to roll…

how life sucks!!!

As i am juggling on,
a thought is nurtured on its own
why am i doing it? why not stop?
ain't it better to let it go,
may be just a nap or for a while
tired body or soul?
lethargy or just cold?


Well as seasons change,
fortunes turn into pain
life is being sucked into infinite boredom
we go on switching fields
the green grass always eluding
you raise the bar
but attitude, heart yet not eccentric...


Sooner or later you cut the chase
dreams seeing the sun rays...
you should be buoyant,

with gung ho zeal
but as it comes to fore,

the past catches you on the roll
seasons make a 360 degree
you now know it was just a respite,
phantom still high...


Is it too tough to crack a whip
may be life sucks, i need not kick!
life is not all roses, i was told,
but ain't leash too close
or something i am yet to unfold?


It seems life sucks big time...
but is the perception legitimate first?
i can't juggle, i can't switch,
there ain't anything as big
as a prophecy, we have to follow,
you can't call life tomorrow!!!


Looking for the answers, i took a stroll
in the hedge i explore...
i am far from what i thought of being,
got bullied and never followed the call from within


Soon i freed myself,
finally unrevealed the love that
i long back hid in the bushel
life doesn't suck,
it is the choices that we make,
which take hostage our fate


The darts make lot more sense
fractals fuse into coherence...
and i encore,
life sucks, no more...

Ma, i'll be back soon

Ma, you know
my distant memories
have a thing in common
all have you in every moment.

The callous may make the boulevard,
with the memory lane all red and green,
yet its your love in the breeze,
your aura in the greens,
which makes me laugh and breathe.

You gave birth to my soul,
the world i own
where bodies are commonplace,
like in a mud hole...
you gave me voice,
all in this noise.

The values you instilled,
are the uncanny wings
the aegis to my quest,
make me defy every blue
and sail through...

I'm sorry eminem, unlike you
she is my world, my light
the one
who seems to make it all right.
i can't imagine a world without you,
it is you who has made all this so true...

Ma, i love you more than anything else
but now it seems
you will have to let me go...
to explore this piquancy on my own
may be i will have to burn some fingers,
to realize what is not so cold,
to let the red flow,
and to know how the heart skips a beat or two,
in this beautiful world which has given you...

But please don't worry
please don't pray
it is just part of the play,
i am not going to stay...
all i can say,
i ll be back soon,
i ll be back home very soon...

You Know sunshine only when she is gone

You know sunshine when she is gone,
she was someone you could not hold on to
someone who just came along ,
'coz you felt the warm beyond the dawn
you don't remember all,
to deserve her all day long
you abandoned her, deserted her
without a care in the wind
only to realize her being your very wings...

as you dive below almucantar,
you get the lunatic within
she is fading away,
with a smile anyway
but why is she smiling?
why is she not running away?
probably coz my brother,
love is not digital as u say...

now you know what she has been,
vigor is water within,
makes blood only when you cut a string
you run to bring her home
but you just can't fly anymore...

she is sitting someplace in the dark,
how could you miss such a painter's dream
you wonder
you wonder dumbfounded...

but before you could say a word
you see, she is not lonely any more...
apparently spring has finally arrived
you amble your way to wine
alcohol is not going to make it all right, is it?
it was your fault
you've to live with it now on...
but now you know,
how pearls have to be valued back,
and how, you know sunshine
only when she is gone...
when she is gone...

Walking in the misty Moon

Life is a journey, not a destination
one moves amid all confusion
with the strings, taxes and toll,
we rust as we shove on...


There is no fun in driving alone,
unless you are stoned
so i call someone to walk me
walk me
past this misty moon


Looking all around, all over
sometimes staying awake till the first sun rays
dreaming when i get some respite
tired of walking alone
not withstanding what i owe


In a world full of souls,
why is this misery bestowed?
Is this such a tall order
or i just need not bother...


Having hallucinated many times,
presumed having found you
as it happens to be,
the quest still beats me
am i done with this?
but still writing this!!!
am i done with this?


People have changed and so have i
but solitude doesn't save hurt or cry...
it haunts me, it tames me,
still i walk on awaiting the dawn...

A NOTE FOR FRESHERS:

A NOTE FOR FRESHERS- if you didn’t make a cut in IITs or got a rank in excess of 2700(when most of the good 4 yr courses are done, IIT Roorkee's Civil, aeronautical being the last available better flavor) u may go for another shot, it s worth it. I won’t say it matters for any of the non IIT colleges but these 6-7 top ones deserve another shot, subject to your thinking and ability to strike a chord. If you are genuinely interested in engineering my answer would be definitely yes for some guy who has cleared JEE in first attempt. Others who doubt their real interests need not bother much.

Remember any ok college in India has more than enough opportunities at least for their toppers wrt placement. And you will sooner than later land up with what you deserve.

When you enter a college your AIR becomes a thing of the past, the same way your college becomes nothing more than a mere ticket and an eligibility criterion when you land up with a job. When u make a switch in jobs it’s the last one, u had that matters. In the long run everything balances itself out.

PLEASE BE RATIONAL- FOLLOWING WILL HELP YOU TO FIGURE OUT WHICH ROAD TO TAKE

The journey doesn't come to an end after cracking some entrance exam, in fact it just gets a heads up form there;There are so many branches which paint the canvas to become even more illusory.
Think rationally, THE WHYs::

1) Why have you chosen engineering?

2) What are your interests in here or what are you really up to?

If the picture is not clear here are some checks which may help you-

1) if you are passionate about engineering- go for the branch of your interest, name and reputation of college takes the back seat, the 2nd priority.

Now how to decide the branch of your interest?

Well if you are some comp geek, there is absolutely nothing wrong in being one (already have some languages up your sleeve) or have some real passion for games and the Internet then you are expected to have a coding gene or two in you. Or if you have some coding experience and it was to your liking go for Computer science as your first preference and Information technology as your second. Note IT is not available in IITs. The drawback with IT is, it is not much recognized as a branch but is seen like something that has manifest itself due to demand and boom in IT sector. The smart money is on rather normal growth and potential in this sector or even some dip following the economic crisis that has been lurking for quite a while now.

Well not a coding warrior? You can go for Electronics and communication/telecommunication (ECE/ ETE), the ever green branch with good scope as well as nice pay checks. Please note it is different from Electrical and electronics (EE), the difference being the scale of electronics involved while the later has heavy electronics under its purview, ECE has semiconductors. The stress in case of the former is on the small components that make our electronic devices like semiconductors, ICs, chips, printed boards, example being the core hardware of any computer. In case of the later you will take on giant electronics which we see all around us, the line cables, transformers, motors etc. it is a millennium long trend that people prefer ECE over EEE in NITs and EEE is one hot branch in IITs only after comps (There is no ECE in IITs).

The hardware fantasy, the very base of the world we see around us, Mechanical, is arguably the coolest branch in engineering, definitely not for most girls (Said at the risk of sounding Chauvenist) due to the heavy duty, physical pain and prosaic dresses that these warriors have to wear during those eternal long hours in their labs. From robotics to automobile to aerospace all has mechanical at its heart. It is not all sweaty hard work in non-ac labs but has a fair share of auto-cad designs and other easier on glucose activities. Has a lot of scope with specializations in Aeronautics, Automobile, Thermodynamics etc.

Civil is expected to become one major player in the infrastructure and construction boom in most developing nations including India. Architecture is seeing growth like never before. Fascination for structure and skyscrapers a must for any aspirant.

Chemical is an evergreen branch and boosts a constant growth. Do you have some interest for chemistry the mystery? Higher studies and you will be among the most sought after few.

Metallurgy can be preferred over mining engineering because it has a wider scope.

2) Not a genuine engineer inside? Go for the coolest ones the ones with good packages and yet involve minimum effort. Comps, IT, Mech, Civil make the cut. They are listed in order of my preference. Name, reputation of college takes control, tags really matter in your case. I made a mistake in this regard. You are anyway going to take a different road, non engineering one. So it will be better to be known by the reputation of coll, that establishes you as some sort of performer, a guy with apti or tenacity or whatever. For example an IITian tag is much better than some good branch in non IIT coll when your concern does not involve branch, at least the tag signifies you cracked JEE.

But as is the case with most people, we have little idea afresh from high school if we do have an engineer inside or what we want to do with life in the first place + the madness about engineering/medical and a rather misplaced euphoria doesn't help the cause either. So consult, open your heart to people who want the best for you in order to realize what you want.
Google all your doubts and concerns.

I can sum up for the time being with a well realized statement: sooner than later you would end up with what you deserve, just don't let your ill-choices or circumstances to bog u down.

MY EXPERIENCES WITH ENGINEERING

When I opted for engineering in place of medical, it was not something born out of interest; but can be attributed to the time required to settle that one takes in both fields, ie the time lag from completing a degree to getting a satisfactory reward, a fat pay check. I had no idea what so ever why I was going for it, probably it had more to do with the gossip, hype and euphoria that surrounded the most sought for field in India and that is why i had all PCMB in high school.

# I got a 3000 AIR and didn’t opt for any petty course in IITs thanks to such a high rank. I had a notion that a branch is more important that the tag that comes along with coll. With NITK being rated after the IITs in India today 2006 issue I went for it (a good engineering prospect i thought) . ECE was not my favorite (i would have gone for Aeronautical if were given a chance) but so was not mining, meta, dual degrees and MSCs which were on offer in IITs. I just thought of going with the flow (the herd mentality) and grabbed it with both hands, thinking it is for the best. I still had no idea what I really wanted to do with my life.

# I had no interest in studies from the very beginning in most of the courses except math, physics. Soon I discovered my love for entrepreneurship, thus getting a degree in engi is of little value (Pl note the obsolete curricula in Indian institues don't help an entrepreneur anyway, who are expected to see beyond present). I won’t like to invest any more in studies but in practical experiences, thus making a management degree the most I am willing to go for. What I want to emphasize is that you learn more about yourself in the first two years of coll than u wud do in ur entire life till then. You should be prepared to dump any notions that might have crawled into your mind, ready to accept new ideas and fearless enough to listen, accept and go with the better ones. Steve Job once said that you must continue to look for the things you love till you finally get them and just hope the journey and path would make lot more sense looking back.

# I have toiled with the idea of forfeiting, dropping out but the society has some strings attached. The figures with packages that one hears or sees are mostly over the moon and no where close to reality. A college does matter but makes little difference when you eventually land up with a job. Nothing matters much in the long run. Any college with above average reputation offers equal opportunities for their respective toppers give or take. Before following mere figures of pay checks that people are offered kindly give one hard look at what they are exactly doing, what is amount of effort they are made to churn. You also got to learn to differentiate between a coding, software IT job and a Core, less paying yet more rewarding and having more scope. Engineers are not rolling in money, companies never lose and they always generate more than they do invest, at least they try to. *A realistic figure is 10 times they invest.

# The biggest boost you get from a college with good reputation is that it attracts student of high caliber, and thus you live and grow in an envo with high competence and intellect. The most valuable asset of any organization is its people. Also it raises your risk taking capabilities because you cough up more courage and confidence with time. It also provides a feel good factor.

# If your heart is not at what u are studying or for that matter doing, u can never expect to compete with the best. You can work smarter but a certain degree of hard work is a must and is irreplaceable, which comes along only with certain motivation and heart. Most of the tech education that is provided is obsolete; it is essentially a disguise to sort out the hard workers from the rest.

# It is not the ‘I’ in place on ‘N’ that differentiates IITs from NITs, it is the culture, the grass root that no money, no investment, no tag of ‘national importance’ can change. The basic is the most essential part if any investment is to come good. If only money mattered than the NITs would have been developing at least half the pace of IITs, to say the least.

P.S.: Don't let your family, your friends, the society guide your life, it is your life, live it to the fullest and at your own terms. It is not as easy as it sounds, but at least keep it in the back of your mind and free yourself when you get an opportunity. Goodluck.

A DUAL DEGREE IN I.I.T s - some points you might like to take note of...

WHY YOU SHOULD THINK TWICE BEFORE GOING FOR A DUAL DEGREE (5YR) - a dual degree with integrated MTECH is common in IITs, and is not offered in most of the other colleges. Some of the points against going for it –

The THOUGHT PROCESS- your mind and data available to you continues to evolve and grow with time, so do your choices. It is imperative for you to understand that what seems trivial today may catch your eye in future or vice versa. Most of us don’t know about what we are getting into until we have taken a plunge so it is better to play safe rather than giving in 5 yrs. Remember you don’t get a chance after admission.

FUTURE- the future of today’s world is uncertain; the trends may fizz out in no time. Booms and busts are a norm. It is advisable to play safe.

MS/ MTECH in India sucks big-time, even in IITs- The value, rate of return of masters in India is no where close to that of most of the foreign universities. MTECH in IITs is mostly taken by students from non IIT variants and has a really poor rate of return(the % of the ratio of "value generated" to "money and time invested").

A MSC course in physics, chemistry, math, economics etc is a STRICT NO-NO for those who lack genuine interest and thinking about going for it just for the tag that comes along namely being an IIT graduate. It gives a poor rate of return for anybody anticipating good placements and in particular has scope limited to research.

So what are the alternatives:

1) You can go for a course in top NITs and prepare alongwith the first year for JEE next year.

2) You can prefer a 4 year course over the 5 year one, eventhough the former may be low on your wish list.

NITK SURATHKAL, KREC, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY KARNATAKA: From the eyes of a student (batch-2010)....

*Yeah all the keywords are impregnated for SEO.

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY- NITK (KREC) SURATHKAL, MANGALORE KARNATAKA is one of the top 3 NITs in India, though not flaring in top 25 colleges in India Today-2007. I would go on even to say that I doubt authenticity of the ratings they so proudly provide. Latest news: In top 10-11 in all the surveys.

Some time back it did seem like there was no hope for many colleges, IIT Guwahati and IT BHU, VIT Vellore to name a few. But they all have jumped several places and climbed up to make it to the privileged few; don’t know what makes such a huge impact within a year. Some money transfers might have helped a lot.

I am not a big fan of my college, nor am I here to show my passion or patriotism for the same. I would just like to give some inputs which I think could help you to make a decision.

The college has an advantage with respect to the location and reputation that it has acquired over the years. For ex Location is something which works as a disadvantage for IIT Guwahati. NITK finds itself in the commuting range of Hyderabad, Bangalore and Mumbai. To boot Mangalore which is among the upcoming Tier II cities is also taking a leap.

Mangalore is a coastal city which definitely has its moments, and is somewhat fun to roam about (unlike many other cities in Karnataka). A private NITK beach made a big impression at the start but the feeling soon withers thanks to the easy accessibility, black muddy water and dark sand. The campus is nicely built with good hostel facilities but food sucks BIGTIME. A mega hostel is under construction for the soon to be implemented OBC quota*.

*the construction is now complete, and we the final years are expected to inaugurate the same in this odd sem session of 2009. 7 storey, with a view of the beach from the floor i am going to occupy, can it get better than that. Yes it can, Yes it can. Our gang, THE AVIATORS has full floor to ourselves!

Coming to the studies, I would say the college is average+ but so are the bottom three which round up the top 10 (non IITs). You don’t have much choice in India, you can either crack JEE or round up like many others. Looking back I think, I made a mistake to not to get into some 4yr or a chance with dual degree in IIT @ 3000 AIR. If you are not much into engineering but have shown interest because of the hype and reputation that comes along, you may think about not making the same mistake. Something most people realize only after making the cut, we all lack a good enough idea of what we are really up to, what we really want as freshmen(women :P)? If you have fat placement packages in mind , then you may not have much enthusiasm for engineering as such. If you are looking for some bachelors’ degree and management or civil services is your dream, then the branch makes a little impact and it’s the college that holds the key. But if you have some family tradition or it feels like there is some engineer inside longing to come out, then branch and of course college are paramount. I thought I was the later one and ended up choosing Electronics and Communication @ NITK. That is the biggest challenge, to decipher who you really are, what you really want and the whys!!!

The college is average at basic infrastructure (engineering stuff) that has nothing to do with funding, it is the faculty, and people employed which saddens more than often. The faculty is scarcely capable (shortage + at least 50% lack the means to be good at teaching, BUT PL NOTE: CHEMICAL, CIVIL BEAT THE REST IN THIS REGARD) and non teaching staffs are highly incompetent, yet it doesn't get much eyeballs in India and is taken as more or less a norm and of course you have got to pay some price for not cracking JEE. Practically every non-IIT is like that, anyway the education imparted is already obsolete, so it matters even to a lesser extent. Although The obsolete education is not one trend that is solely associated with non-IITs, the IITs have not surged far ahead either. What your potential employer wants to check is whether you have it in you to learn and implement quickly, the aptitude. The cultural difference between north-south and "sometimes" bias also add up to misery.

All in all you should lower your expectation was something which we were lectured on our orientation to ECE department, which is arguably best what we have got in India. Yes that is right. (None of the IITs offer this branch). What you can really expect is good placement. For people interested in going abroad for future studies especially MS or Mtech to specialize more in their respective fields or whatever (not deviating from field of engineering) are expected to work harder unlike the reputation and easy meat that one gets in IITs. ECE at NITK is good in this regard, the faculty has good rapport abroad.

So the bottom line is placements are good in NITK (GOD FORBID, the same sources who come up with so horribly misguiding rankings every year ranked NITK among top 3 in India (incl IITs) in terms of placements), though you can’t over rely on them either, it is something that fluctuates with demand and supply. Any branch which is in heavy demand also attracts equally heavy supply. Also the trends are never constant and vary over a period with booms and busts being the norm, they continue to evolve and change. So placements too provide an incomplete picture. All I am saying is you just can’t say hey chemical attracted a package of 10 lpa previous year, think I should go for it. Think rationally, about the whys, my other post might help.

*latest news regarding placements: as on June 08, 2009. Placements have touched a new low, and >100% (Yes people used to get more than one placement opportunity thus pushing the number to above 100) are things of the past. Top 10 students were finding it hard to get placed, just a healthy CGPA is not enough by any means. Again recessions are not going to last for ever and for you, with another 3 years to go to placements, they might be on a new high by then. The best branches in terms of placements were clocking in the range of 85-90% in terms of people placed.

VARIOUS BRANCHES AT NITK-

disclaimer- The point of view given below are my personal and may vary from observer to observer. The data/views has come from fellow students and notices as posted in coll. I've not considered off campus and exceptional stand alone placements.

ECE- ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION- the most demanding branch, in terms of curriculum, faculty, Competence among students. It provides very good placement opportunities along with high scope for future. With the continuously evolving trends it is believed to be one of the ever green branches. The faculty at NITK, barring very few professors is very incompetent and still NITK, ECE is a very good department with national and international repute. Profs with PhDs are scarce though improving numbers don't tell the real stories of the incompetence underneath. The lectures are hardly lucid, labs flare better and much more fun. Overall an option to go for if you are really into engineering as it seems people with interest always make their way despite hindrances. Please don’t mistake into thinking that these lecturers to be incompetent in evaluation and less demanding from students, it seems these dudes have really high opinion of themselves. The grading system sucks, wrt pointers are not on scale as in many other branches.

Placement- 4.4 lpa being the average (if the first words on reading were- hey that is quite low!!! please update yourself with reality, money is nowhere raining in engineering, yes even in IITs. People never shy away from cooking figures to make themselves look good.). Not long ago it was rated among the top 3 in India (incl IITs) wrt placement. Range: 3- 9 lpa

Verdict- go for it if you have some genuine interest and your AIR is >2700 in JEE. An Other and somewhat better alternate being ECE at NIT Trichy, Warrangal. But i admit for a north Indian surathkal provides a better culture and environment.

If you are just looking for placement hold on please, it is not a fun place to be in, Comps and IT are just right for you.

CSE: COMPUTER SCIENCES- a good department in all, good placements and cool lecturers... though my friends have reported about some some scary ones too. All the good companies are on campus. Random grading (your answer sheets won't matter a single bit) system is in place in some courses, High pointers (CGPA) is a norm. Not even close to highly demanding, so it has very good returns and is quite a bargain.

Placement- 4.7 lpa being the avg. Highest in the coll. Range: 3-10 lpa

Verdict- Go for it unless you are not much into computers and hate coding/ programming. Very cool branch, you can utilize your 3 month breaks in between semesters and cram up some languages and you will be done for the next sem.

IT: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY- all the benefits of COMPS minus (somewhat non recognized branch (please check details, I've not updated my database) and too much dependency on industry, prone to booms and busts). It is tailor made for industry requirements and has only lately come up in NITs, still not offered in IITs. Random grading + vacant lecturer posts, believe me you ll have to attend only half of the classes, but it gives rich dividends in terms of placements and Anyway who cares for regular classes.

Placement - nearly the same as in Comps, the highest package being a tad lower.

Verdict - Go for it, provides some easy meat. Though there are some risks involved. Kindly go through status-quo regarding acceptance nowadays.

Latest news,2009: The IT department which was once hosted in a single room (Story of 2006) has moved into one full fledged Building along with EEE. Way to go IT!

MECH -MECHANICAL - highest intake minus beautiful creatures (at least supposed to be) called girls. A really annoying teaching staff, as reported by students. Profs follow their own rules - Random grading, never ever question the prof (they are always right), you are always in for a surprise. Attendance holds the key. Marks, talent hardly matter + there is no vindication in case you call for one when u find yourself in trap. NBA (some AICTE body which evaluates departments) refused to give accreditation thanks to poor infrastructure and poorly executed cover up.

Placement- 3.7 avg. Range - 2.5 - 6.5

Verdict - avoid, if you are looking for mech go for TRICHY OR WARRANGAL.

ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONICS - the most uncool branch in coll, i say so only because of the trend in our batch and one that followed: all Muggus from all over India find a place in this mother of crammers. You will find all variants from different corners of the country. I got to admit I've rather poor idea of what they are up to, their department and everything. But what is EEE all about? All heavy electronics you see around (except semiconductors and other minor scale electronics) comes under the purview of EEE. So it is a branch with huge scope and is a hit in IITs after Comps.

Placement - 3.8 "i think" is avg.

Verdict - i just don't know, but i won't like to be in their branch at any cost, thanks to their always studying culture. My say would be you should opt for Trichy, Warrangal if you are getting one. There is absolutely no problem with the branch and it is IIT's pride.

CHEMICAL- one of the better departments here. Good placements + good GRE (for higher studies off to best schools in US) track record. Good teaching staff as i've heard.

Placement - highest can go up to anything in upscale of 7 lpa. Avg must be around 3.5, "not sure"

Verdict - go for it.

CIVIL- a replica of chemical in many ways minus the higher study factor.

Placement and Verdict are tad lower in terms of stars but with civil booming like never before, it is a good bet.

METALLURGY AND MINING - well Meta is better than Mining. apart from that I've little to add.

please note: I am not the right person for asking the branch, College you can expect at said rank, some of these posts are just a guide towards how to go about choosing college and branch, a guide nothing more.

for any other queries pl feel free to ask... post as comments or email aviator003@gmail.com, gurlivleen@in.com...

How to increase gas mileage? Following will help...

With exponential surge and ever changing political scenes fuel prices have rocketed off the roof lately. The demand and supply pressure not expected to ease in near future, u may consider to cut your consumption. It will not only ease you economically to boot will serve the environment for a change. Here i have listed some steps which will help u to achieve it. But most importantly

WHY NOT TO LIMIT USAGE OF YOUR CAR, AND COME UP WITH SOME BETTER SOLUTION like walking or using public transport... please think over and u will serve the dual purpose... we should leave a better world for the generation to follow...and u should be the change u want to bring in this world... so bring it in your behavior asap...


1)accelerate smoothly : when starting on a cold day or after some break its better to start smoothly and accelerate with distance rather than idling, it not only lengthens life of the engine but also improves fuel efficiency( idling gives zero distance traveled with fuel consumption, thus a big zero mileage).
A sudden acceleration as may be concluded from Newton's law, as well as some common sense causes engine to take a greater load and consumes more fuel. There is no rush and few seconds hardly make a difference unless you are racing for pole, ain't it? Also it makes even less sense in city traffic where u may end up in next bottleneck no matter how ahead u strive ahead of the traffic in the other lane. There is no shying away from the point that in the end u will have to compromise on the flamboyant driver outlook but is hardly a point to be given much thought to.

2)fill the fuel tank more than one third : yup an extra pound increase your gross weight, but having to fill the tank time and again will drill a bigger hole in your pocket. Also a filled tank enables fluent fuel supply.

3)slow down : yes slow down. The air drag, other frictional forces as well as the strain on the engine follow a square/cubic relation with speed. Drive according to the time u have, or think before hand and plan. Maintain a 'sweet speed'... the min speed the car attains in highest gear, it provides best speed/rpm ratio. 'Cruise control' serve this purpose but avoid using it on wet and non-linear roads and an absolutely no on hilly terrains.

4)plan your trip : avoid going in circles and get the job done at one go. Also take into consideration traffic conditions, parking places. Avoid parking too close to busy locations, it may save u time and comfort but could cause problems in maneuvering during peak hours. Also avoid going round and round looking for more apt location to park, park in the very first good enough place u get.

5)avoid braking : driving at high speeds requires more braking, thus fuel wastage and of course usual wear and tear that cud be avoided by being sensible. Keep eyes ahead and mind open, judge forthcoming traffic conditions and shift gears accordingly. Avoid immediate halt rather reduce speed over a distance, also its better to start from some speed to halt when traffic ahead gets clear.

6)lighten your load :an extra 100 pounds do make a lot of difference.

7keep tires to proper inflation : winters cause air to thermally contract reducing pressure,check on monthly basis as tires lose 1PSI/month(Rolling friction provides least resistance to movement) While replacing tires keep this in mind...Wider tires do offer better grip, also they give a bully look to the vehicle but so comes along greater air resistance. Same goes with accessories like bumper, tail. Remove baggage trolley on roof top when not in use and when in use keep the baggage in a way that it causes least resistance.

8)check engine air filter: : a blocked or malfunctioning one, reduces fuel flow considerably.

9replace fuel filter as recommend by manufacturer : timing and genuine parts being the factors.

10)AC and windows : try to avoid Air conditioning in city. the heavy traffic condition with AC cause a plunge in economy but while driving on highways with widows rolled up and/or AC give better deal due to negated air drag.

11) Avoid idling : a better option is to accelerate smoothly with distance. Even in severe winters limit it to 30s and there is no point in switching on and off the engine again to warm the engine.

12)Fuel: U may consider adding a synthetic oil additive[turbo fuel]. Also keep the octane content in the fuel to the least number prescribed by manufacturer. Studies have found using higher octane content do provide extra power but does no good to fuel economy, and obviously more expensive. The lower limit varies vehicle to vehicle, U may use a mixture of two fuels in case the octane number is not available as a product, ex mix 85 and 90 to get 87, by filling the tank evenly with both.

13)maintain a safe distance from vehicle ahead : Though drafting can be used to benefit, reducing air drag which is major part of the friction. In light of the unnecessary braking and safety issues i would suggest to avoid it.

14)G.P.S system : It not only gives you information about multiple routes thus reducing distance of commute, some provide value added service as the cost of fuel in different areas.

15)use of acetone: first of all i am yet to experiment with this one. There are many on net who claim to have achieved brilliant increase in mileage, varying from 10 to 25%, and rather few claiming null effect or negative impact on engine dynamics and interiors. Acetone is a key ingredient in paint removers and can dissolve certain substances. The interiors of engines differ from manufacturer to other, thus making it harder to really come up with a conclusion.
My personal take on this is that i am going to take a plunge. Acetone fans claim that the well known low partial pressure and its tendency to reduce the same for mixtures provides better fuel flow and oxidation. The oil corps as u must have guessed would like people to stay away from it as it ll surely cause a dent in their revenues, i find it difficult to digest that why somebody hasn't come up with some scientific research to settle the issue. The net is full of questions looking for answers in this regard.
Though the amount of acetone required to be added as per users is very less(0.78 cc per 1000) , its difficult to believe that it can damage the engine mechanics and at the same time bring some appreciable change in mileage. Well for people who are open to experiment with it as am i please roll with following points in mind --

CAUTION :WEAR RUBBER GLOVES, KEEP IT AWAY FROM CLOTHES, CAR CHASSIS
[KEY INGREDIENT FOR PAINT REMOVERS]
KEEP IT OUTSIDE HOME,HIGHLY FLAMMABLE
KEEP IT AWAY FROM CHILDREN.
DON'T INHALE
CHECK CONTAINER AS IT DISSOLVES CHEAP PLASTICS
USE ONLY 100% PURE ACETONE

HAPPY AND SAFE DRIVING