The last couple of weeks have been quite taxing on me. The first round of quizzes, preparations for a couple of projects, brushing up some previously-learnt stuff, the usual academic classes, assignments and reports - lots of things have congested my routine in the recent days. But fortunately, I have had regular opportunities to break free from these mundane routines and rejoice in life. A fond remembrance of some of those moments...
Fete 2009
Fete is IITM's annual inter-hostel gaming competition, where each hostel has to choose a theme and present some games related to the theme amidst suitable ambience in their respective stalls. Our hostel's theme was "Mayan Adventures". We enjoyed the sevices of Vishnu, an expert at art-works, who, assisted by Arjun (aka IDK), another enthusiastic second-yearite, did some superb ambience work for us. I was supposed to be the Ambience-in-charge of our Fete activities, but with people like Vishnu, Arjun and some over-enthusiastic freshies around, I ended up just pushing everyone to work without doing anything myself!
On the day of Fete, we were the last hostel to be judged. Since we weren't allowing the general public to enter our stall until our judging was over, a lot many people didn't get an opportunity to enjoy the wonderful visual treat that our stall had to offer. For all such people and for all others, here is an image-tour of our stall...
A first prize would have been the perfect reward for the amazing performance by Vishnu (who has a scholarship from the San Francisco Art University). Nevertheless, we came second for our ambience...and we celebrated!
The Shaastra '08 WebOps Team Treat
When the average CGPA of the treat-goers is above 9 (validation required), the experience can't get any geekier! It started with Avinash cribbing about a Jhun's assignment on M8C PSoC and Vimal & Slinky offering him several suggestions. It ended with all the CS people (who formed half the team) running to a xerox shop to get photocopies of someone's notes so as to mug for some quiz.
But in between the start and the end, there were some truly memorable moments! Pido's 'head'-on tryst with colours [:)], Vimal's 'match-the-following' test, Bhargav's frequent PJs (sshh...did someone say 'Pinky Jersey'?), Suvinay's imitation of his DSP Prof. and Immanuel-the bikeman ensured smiles for everyone all the time. The Alai brothers affectionately recollected how I used to 'pain' them with tasks in the run-up to Shaastra. Sharan, Hareesh and others acknowledged that all the fight that they had put for Shaastra was worth the treat (afterall, the starters and desserts were so delicious and everything was available in infinite quantity!). In the end, it was 5 hours of colours (ask Pido), fun, smiles and some wonderful memories to cherish!
Dinner at Tangerine
The result of a promise that TMani was trapped into making some months back [;)], this dinner had one of the most diverse set of insti people on board. There were people from diverse branches (Elec, Mech, Chem, Meta, BT, Civil etc.), from diverse years (second yearites to fifth yearite; though mostly second-yearites), with diverse CGPAs (6 pointers to 9 pointers) and with diverse areas of interests (arts, sports, acads etc.)! Spending time with them all, listening to their views on various issues, hearing their perceptions of campus-life - it was a truly unique experience! Some memorable snaps:
FEx sessions
All my first round quizzes went well upto the F slot. With only the 'light' G slot to go, I believed this would be the very first time in 3 years when I would have fared well in all the subjects. But it was not to happen..and I screwed up my G slot! Murphy's law at work, isn't it?
This time, some of us tried out a new concept, FEx (Fundaes Exchange) sessions. All participants were supposed to read up the entire portion of a course before attending the respective FEx session for the course. Each one could then point out the topics that he's not comfortable with and anyone else, who understood those particular topics well, would put fundaes. It helped us reasonably well. In a bid to prevent last-night mugging, we're planning to have such sessions for Quiz 2 atleast half a week before start, so that we have some incentive to go through the entire syllabi well before the quiz begins and not leave anything till the end. Hope it works out successfully!Lots of other things have happened in the last couple of weeks. I have been auctioned off for a 'respectable' [:P] amount for GPL (Ganga Premier League), a noble football initiative in our hostel. Voting for hostel and institute elections has just got over. Parliamentary elections are coming. Grander than this, three Indians have won Oscars. I had never seen before a more aggressive on-stage performance by AR Rahman than the one at Kodak Theatre during the Oscar Night.
A lot of activities are lined up on my to-do list for the next few weeks as well; some pleasant ones, some strenuous ones. Way to go!
By the way, "Ella Pugazhum Iraivanukke!"
30 comments:
Nice pic of the desserts..has me drooling all over again :P
Ah...fond memories...I've gotten all nostalgic now[:D] Btw you could have a spot-the-brothers contest along with the pic too [:P].
thank u for writing good about me :)
i read whole of ur blog ...
it is very interesting and in iit language- STUD.keep writing...
best of luck!
nice style, and more importantly, nice pics..........dint know that you have been to a lot of eateries....good because i can expect your intern treat someplace soon.......[:P]
@ Adhiraj: Even I am craving for them :)
@ Advait: LOL idea! I'll try...
@ Vishnu: You deserve it! Thanks for your wishes.
@ Shankar: Thanks! Btw, my intern hasn't been officially confirmed yet..so have patience :)
Nice pictures, the sad thing being even i did not watch our games, although i was der until ours started but had to leave jus wen our judging started.
And well i am too jus like shankar looking forward for the treat :P specially now that i saw those pics.
excellent work. There are times when i felt like documenting every aspect of IITM life, but always missed out (either because of hectic schedules, or lan cut). Please write about everything you do here. It will be great to revisit the old times...
@ Sarat: Like Shankar, you too need to have patience until I get an official confirmation. :)
@ Bhale: Thanks for your comments!
I understand how nice these articles will make me feel when I look at them several years later. Therefore, I make sure I write about all my wonderful experiences here. I also carry my camera with me most of the times so that I don't miss out capturing any memorable moment!
Pics are cool...although let me remind u that FEx is not a new term and we and our forefathers(strictly in IIT sense) were doing it before you knew abt IIT... :)
The discussion relating to guy's CGPA(i guess all girls talk same :P) is totally true...
As bhale said thanks for digitizing every bit of likewise exp for future reference..
@ Pawan: Thanks a lot for your exhaustive comments! [:)]
I know that the concept of FEx exists since ages (though not the term, perhaps). I only meant to say that it was new to us; I and my friends had never tried it out in such an organized manner before.
And 'digitizing'! I thought you'd say 'analogizing' [:)]
Nice post. Bill verification is certainly needed when going in a group. Otherwise, generally 500 will go down the drain.
Btw, awesome FETE work!
Nice report!
@ T: Ya, true! And the candle-light bill-verification that night was another unique experience as well! The sum total turned out to be different every time! :D
@ Aniket: Thanks! :)
FETE is always fun :) keep the enthu going for the coming years :) GO GANGA ;-)
And me wearing the New Zealand cap will forever remain in your memories ;-)
all the pics of our FETE team and preparations are GOD Level...But i miss the MASTER(Vishnu) very much in the group pic...
Taramani and Rakesh wondering whr they spent so much money(:P)...
@ Anuj: With the current lot of freshies and second-yearites around, Ganga's future seems to be in safe hands! And yes, GO GANGA! :)
@ Suvinay: Yes, very much! I thought you'll be looking for a place to hide that cap after the New Zealanders took a battering at the hands of the Indians in the recent ODI series :)
Btw, I shall also remember 13 factorial and the speed of light! ;)
@ Bonda: Oh ya! I realized it only now [:|]
I would the last person to wonder that; TMani was the main-sponsor afterall!
@ All: I forgot to mention that TMani made everyone on that dinner pay a share, as his pocket fell short of the total! [:D]
Blogger Rahul Ladhania said...
Rakesh Ramblings!!.. Nice...Continue the streak...and Yaay!!! Go Ganga!!
btw, you haven't yet put up the one I asked last time..
your blog writing style is really good man..... well among all this important things u didn't mention anything about hostel elections.:)
@ Rahul: I had mentioned the last time itself when to expect that one :)
@ Apoorv: I have mentioned a line about it in the second-last para. Check it :)
Great going Ganga
nice work yaar...keeping record of every small small things makes us a lot happy in the later stages of life
keep writing :-)...GO GANGA ;-)
@ Abhinav, Uttam: Gangasters have tremendous hostel spirit, don't they?
Nice post and even nicer pics. Keep remembering all the good things in life!
Thanks Sathish! :)
Nice to see you keeping up your writing. One day, several years from now, we can sit back and reminisce.
Is the Fex an eclusive club or open to all? Please give me the membership details.
And whats the tamil blah at the end?
@ Vignesh: Yes, we'll certainly do it...sometime after we have become grand-dads, we'll open our palm-tops (or whatever technology exists then) and revisit the old times and these pages. [:)]
There isn't a single FEx club. It can be started by anyone, anywhere. You can form a FEx club of your own, with a few of your "academic buddies". Just that the members need to take their responsibilities pretty seriously for the club to achieve its aim.
The Tamil phrase at the end is something that AR Rahman had spoken on stage during his Oscar acceptance speech. In simple English, it means "All Glory to God!".
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