This far

This far, and no further. Where, when and how we draw the line is very important. We need to be at our wit's end if we allow things to go out of proportion. Timing is important as a stitch in time, saves nine. All these sound good. Comes the most important and difficult question, how do we do it. Do we act tough? Do we act soft? Do we not act at all expecting things to fall back on its own weight? There is no one shoe that fits all. 

Bead String

The clock strikes 5:00 AM. Waking up and taking morning walk. Beautiful campus, morning breeze. The loudspeaker of a neighbourhood colony gently pouring in "Om Bhurbhuba Swaha .." You reflect on the past. You gear up for future. You know that yours is to act, to play your character, as long as you are on stage. Many people acted in past, many will come in future. You are only one of the beads in bead string. See that your bead remains shining. Pray, the string that connects all the beads finds mine worthy enough to put on Her necklace. 

An Inspiring Speech

We got more than what we could give in terms of our service to village school children when we listened to one youngster from Gholgharia Primary School in NSS, IIT Kharagpur Annual Day on April 12, 2014 (video link). Even if you do not know Bengali, you may feel like listening to it again and again. His audience was a full house V2 auditorium that included students, faculty, Dean, Director of IIT Kharagpur. He took up anecdotes from life of Vivekenanda where his mother Smt. Bhubaneswari Devi and Guru, Sri Ramakrishna taught him adherence to Truth and - it is Truth that conquers.

Reaching Out

Director, IIT Kharagpur in his speech emphasized on learning experience of an IITians when (s)he goes through program like NSS (video link). Many students for the first time in their life visit a mud house in a village. It surprises how a two-storied mud house gets built and how it survives. He recollected his own NSS Days as student here. He used to visit Balarampur village to teach underprivileged students. Those students often used to come to campus to clarify their doubts. He encouraged NSS team to come up with more programs for the welfare of underprivileged and reiterated institute's commitment to contribute to the development of villages in 20KM radius of IIT Kharagpur campus. A cultural program by village school students followed (video link).

Chandrasekhar Yadala Memorial Scholarship

This scholarship is in memory of our departed student Chandrasekhar who died of cardiac arrest soon after leaving his MTech program and joining job. This scholarship is funded by faculty and fellow students of his laboratory at IIT Kharagpur. It was bolt from a blue to all those who knew Chandrasekhar, a very jovial and warm person, good at extra-curriculars too. The NSS function saw the award of late Chandrasekhar Yadala Memorial Scholarship to six high school students of neighboring villages of IIT Kharagpur (video link). There was a slide show where we remembered beautiful moments of Chandrasekhar's stay here.

Candle March

There was also a candle march scheduled on 12th April and it started from Gymkhana later in the evening. It was the last event of the 'Reach Out Week' (April 09-12) and was in memory of two departing souls, who we lost recently. It was a silent procession with candles in hand. The evening was quite windy. People reached out to each other to keep the respective flame burning during the march, whenever it was getting extinguished due to wind (video link). One of the student who I took help from most of the times, was a wing-mate of one of those two boys. There was no apparent reason - he was good in academics, sports and games; probably it was due to overpowering emotion - he was a sensitive boy. 

The Substrate

I saw the poster in Students Welfare Group's facebook page that says, "Never make permanent decisions on temporary feelings." During our walk, we discussed what I wrote in earlier posts - the amount of effort we give to gain control of external world and not a fraction of it for control over internal world. There is knowledge abound on this in this country. We need to take some amount of our attention away from single-minded pursuit of material wealth and glory and build the aadhar, the substrate - that is me. Else, where will we put all those medals? Also, it will help us to know which are the medals to go after.

Taekwondo

Does talking about inner development sound out-of-fashion? Does it sound like prabachan (sermon) which is not meant for youngsters? Well, how about martial art? That probably is fashionable! And one would not feel shy or ashamed to take lesson on that! The other day I was going through basic tenet of Korean martial art Taekwondo (Link). They are: Courtesy, Integrity, Perseverance, Self-control, Indomitable spirit, Community service, Love. We got to acquire these character qualities.

Making Choices

Each of us is a leader. Someone or the other always looks up to me. We need to know how to lead. It first starts with how to lead oneself. There is no choice but to make choices on what we take as input, what we cultivate within and what we place before others. We have to make choices on our input - the company we keep, the material we go through. We have to make choices on what to cultivate, of various inputs that we receive. Finally, we have to see if what we give back to society, has gone through a value addition, if we are contributing to the making of a better society, and a better tomorrow. It starts from self. Then if we get an organizational responsibility, there too we have to make choices. There is no escape from it. But we always have to ask ourselves, our conscience this question - what are we trying to achieve by making this choice.

Endnote

Every action has a reaction. A leader has the strength and ability, will and resolve to withstand it. It is easier if sufficient contemplation is done, if the decision is for the greater good. To lead is to sacrifice. Sacrifice gives moral strength to the leader, earns him / her respect. That is the real power. Rest is only supplementary. We have to sacrifice many of our smaller propensities to lead ourselves to our greater selves. We should not be afraid of sacrifice. Let me end with a famous quote of Vivekananda, "Sacrifice in the past has been the Law, it will be, alas, for ages to come. The earth’s bravest and best will have to sacrifice themselves for the good of many, for the welfare of all." 

Reaching Out

It was last Monday. The fish-sellers in the market complex were too talking about this, bereaved. Two such incidents within a fortnight! Went to institute. Teaching, non-teaching staffs alike were expressing their pain. And as we expect to hear from elders, were wondering if these students at least thought about what their family members back home would go through. It was also being discussed what we can do more, in addition to services already in place. Director, IIT Kharagpur in his message to students requested all students in reaching out to each other. In his message to teaching and non-teaching staffs, he requested their time, cooperation, guidance to students.

Next day, I had a double lecture in my 'Signals and Systems' course of 100 UG students. We are near the end of the semester. After learning the methods and techniques of characterizing analog and digital signals and systems (emphasis was more on digital part in this course  - while students get educated I get re-educated), it was time to take up challenges / practical issues in building up of systems. We took up physiological system as an example. The attached three slides give an outline of the discussion.

It was not surprising that the discussion at times drew certain analogy where our social being and society came as a system that reacts to various kind of stimuli or signals. At times, response and its effect need to be fast but at other time, the effect takes more time to be visible on surface but it is more permanent in nature. We discussed the difference between symptom and sign and how to get more of objective data to initiate action. Rarely any disease, even in societal space, is silent. Often it remains buried under noise. Signal-to-Noise ratio can be improved if we can get close to the source of the signal. Will getting too close to be seen as invasion of privacy?

The Student Welfare Group (SWG - Link) representative from this class met me at the end of the class. We discussed many things - the role of SWG wing representative in hostel, role of friends, family, and faculty members like us. In a closed campus like us, far from maddening crowd of a metro city, there can be closer interaction between students and faculty. And we are always within the reach of the students and they are always welcome.

Three years back when such an unfortunate incident took place, I tried to conjure my thoughts and assemble them in this post (Link).

If I am to express my thoughts today on this, the following is what I would like to put forward.

Each of us respond to signals / triggers based on what we pick up - the tuned receiver as we are, our processing ability and the way we have trained ourselves to develop a model of life before us. We, specially the privileged ones, often tend to believe in a made-to-order life where perhaps, our entitlement is the only things that matter.

Made-to-order life? Devoid of uncertainties? It does not require a big philosophical debate to understand that the same is only a wishful thinking and against fundamental tenet of life. Yes, many of the signals / triggers of life can be anticipated within certain range of error, even there the errors which essentially are perpendiculars to thought processes, need to be adequately dealt. And there is always a probability of signals / triggers for which error is out of range. Whether we like or not, we cannot avoid challenges of life - predictable, not-so-predictable. That there will be uncertainties of various orders is certain, for each one of us.

How do we deal with it?

In one approach, I can expect that the sources that cause error in my life's model adjusting itself in such a way so that my life's challenges are reduced. The environment that sends signal / trigger / challenges to me is not static. It is also changing and responding to various triggers at its own level as a macro system.

In another approach, I do what Tagore taught us in a poem meant for rapid-reading of children but has profound thoughts embedded in it. He used his own brand of humor to teach us life's lessons. A translation of original Bengali poem appears here (Link). Speaking Tree puts it under category 'self-improvement' and gives a nice narration here (Link). This says that it is not possible to swipe the dust off the entire earth and it is far more practicable proposition to cover our own feet.

As an individual, it helps me to weather all challenges in every environment if I grow in character and build inner strength, not being at the mercy of the environment around. I can expect to have an environment that I think is congenial for me and everybody, here and everywhere. But what if it does not exactly matches my expectation? Is it not prudent if I also take up an exercise to emerge stronger mentally, physically - in all three components of 'H' - Heart, Head, Hand? Heart - to feel, Head - to think and plan, Hand - to execute.

How do we do that? How do we grow strong inside? How do we emerge as a better and stronger individual to cope up challenges of life?

Since early childhood, we spend so much time and energy to learn a thing or two of external world, how to make things move there. We often do not give even a small fraction of that time, energy to myself to understand me in relation to the society, how we can build our character, what makes our inner world move.

What are the methods of techniques to develop character strength? There are enough as knowledge pool. We simply need to make a conscious effort after recognizing the fact that we need to grow within. If required, I can come up with another post in future on what I can share from a learner's point of view (not as teacher).

All said and done, if we do not start our training early enough, after certain age "Training is taken and not given." This I heard from Sri Russi Modi, MD of Tata Steel when I joined that organization at the completion of my B.Tech. here. 

Thank you, again

It was Friday, last Friday.

And it was more than not getting time to trace the misplaced bank pass book and cheque book and pleading for a bearer cheque from issuer. Had to do that twice last week as was not getting even 2-3 hours of time for myself. Yes, that is the estimated time for me to trace a misplaced article, if I am lucky enough!

There was a list of works-to-do in my hand where I am to serve others in various capacities. Started with tracks which are well-known to me and treaded before, to move to more difficult terrain later. Updated NSS, IIT Kharagpur blog reporting the activity of our student-conducted Thalassemia detection camp (Link). Then updated NSO Health and Fitness blog with activity pic.s of previous three sessions (Link).

On roll and concentration in place, started the more difficult one of the work. In this, I had to get deeper into twenty-seven high stake activities of our researchers and their collaborators and prepare for a Saturday meeting at Kolkata.

There was a one hour meeting at 12 noon with a guest from abroad. There was another important meeting in the Dept. in the afternoon. And I might get a call for preparation on it. What to do? Sent a mail to ever-indulging faculty colleagues that it is one of those days for me when I feel like putting up a 'Do-Not-Disturb' noticeboard.

But phone call came. At about 11 AM. From senior faculty of the Dept. My first sentence, even before hearing anything, was a cry - "Cannot go. On a very important, time-critical work. Please." But I was told, "You have to come, there is no choice."

And I understood.

Thank you. Thank you all, once again. Though I was hearing it for sometime in sidelines and there was unofficial congratulations too, this was the official letter.

But had no time to celebrate or give quality response to congratulatory messages. Completed official formalities in 15 minutes. In a quick stop-over at lab., told research students that it is for their hard work. Said the same to my first PhD student replying his mail.

Told mother. She was happy but no apparent exuberance as had always been the case for my parents. What is more important is what you see of yourself and how best you perform your service. Recognition is welcome but not something to get swayed by that (Link).

Her Highness and daughter are taking inter academic-year break and are away at in-law's place. None perhaps has the courage enough to put a timer in a conversation with the better half. But they have the ability. May be the modulation in voice, the height and spread of the words uttered, give a clue. Came a rebuff. It is not necessary to call as routine stuff. Please call when you have time, even if it means after 2-3 days! It always helps to plead guilty before a forgiving Her Highness and it worked again. She said that she would talk at length after Saturday meeting.

Previous Friday received an invitation card for International Women's Day event. Was involved in some way with it as women from neighbourhood villages were to participate. Gave the card to Her Highness and said that there would be speakers like Smt. Alakananda Roy, Mata Divyapremanandaprana, Smt. Bharati Ghosh etc. and if she would like to attend. Came a prompt reply. Would go if the organizing committee put up a grievance cell - to report how less time we give at home and how much we remain occupied with institute activity!!!

Back to this Friday and back to work again. The 1 hour meeting at 12 noon got little extended. We had heart to heart and effective discussion. On collaboration, told what my good friend and collaborator at University of London advised long back. Successful Collboration needs three 'C' - Complementarity, Capability, Confidence. Just because another person is doing similar work may not be enough. Everyone liked this straight talking.

Outside meeting room, met IIT Kharagpur batchmate, now faculty of a different dept. Hearing this, he smilingly said, "When were you not blunt like this?" Even then people bear with me and that shows how lucky I had been to be surrounded by quality people. Thank you all!

Quick 10 minute lunch. Resumed the work in the solitude of my 2nd office, away from Dept. The clock goes past 4:30 PM. Phone call comes from Dept. Meeting has to start. I was asked to take a note of the proceedings as the faculty responsible for it was on leave. Saved the work till that time and proceeded.

Entered the Dept. and its meeting room burdened with a big sense of guilt. Heard that mother of one of our Dept. colleague expired in the morning. Other colleagues were to go to his quarter at 3 PM before they move to burning ghat. I planned to join them but could not. As the meeting started, senior faculty informed all present and they congratulated. I do not remember if I expressed my gratitude to all well. Had my attention fixed elsewhere than those congratulations. It was a joint faculty meeting between our Dept. and another school. Shall send a mail to all saying thanks.

The meeting was over by 6:15 PM. It was an important meeting. Contributed in my own style (straight forward but inclusive) for which homework was done earlier. A visit to the other office in main building where I usually am there during 6 - 8 PM to address issues there. Four-five students were waiting for me in that office. They are key members of Technology Transfer Group promoting Intellectual Property awareness in the institute.

The students wanted to know my evaluation of their work related to Patent Drive that was launched on 12th March, 2014. They really worked hard and also developed an online system for the same that is hosted in the internal server. I started a blog on this yesterday and a post on this drive can be found here (Link).

I said that they did an excellent job and the core team members, about 10 of them, with whom I worked
closely for last 3 months for this, deserve a treat from me and let us decide the date and venue. To this, the students said, "Not now, Sir. Let us first achieve the 100 patent target and after that." I could not believe! To have such a sense of responsibility shows the maturity and dedication of the team. Hat's off! Thank you, dear, thank you.

Left office at 8:30 PM. Asked one of my colleague over phone and learnt that they have returned from burning ghat. Went to the colleague's quarter. Said 'sorry' for being late. As said before, I am lucky to be surrounded by good people who always forgives me.

Returned home at 9:15 PM. Mother already started chopping vegetables, a work that is reserved for me every evening in this phase when Her Highness is away. I replaced her and started my work. In earlier such phase, I also cooked. This time with improvement after knee transplant, Mother is at that. At 10 PM, put the loudspeaker, microphone batteries to recharge for next morning's P.T. session for which I had to wake up at 5:15 AM.

I had two choices. One was to complete the remaining work of Kolkata meeting next morning, after P.T. session (7 AM) and before departure for Kolkata (9 AM). The other was to finish the work and then go to bed so that there is no uncertainty for tomorrow.

Took the right choice, the second one as the work continued up to 1:30 AM. Couldn't have completed next morning.

As the central character of the story goes to bed earning his days's rest, we have almost completed the story, story of a day in the life of persons like us. Let me conclude by saying that, sent an email in the evening to someone who always motivated, supported, to say thanks and wished to be worthy of the role in an institute 'dedicated to the service of the nation.'

P.S.: If the readers are curious to know how the Saturday went, I would say that it went the way where their best guess would take them to :-) If the readers find this post dull and boring, I would like to add some colour to it by adding a picture - a long 'pahechan kaun' shot where three faculty members of our dept. are on a retreat after a failed attempt of invasion on Holi Day. Not really. They came to our quarter, offered Abir at the feet of my mother and we too exchanged. Thank you, dear!

Executive-In-Charge

It was the 3rd evening of this month. Like every year, this year too, Tata Bearings family extended their invitation to be a part of their annual function where they remember Vivekananda's life and message. I worked in this Bearings Division of Tata Steel, situated about 10 KM from IIT Kharagpur campus, in 1992-1993. One may expect that I was at my unconventional best :-) in those years too! And the love, the affection I still enjoy there even after 20 years, shows the greatness, kindness of people there and people at large which we often underestimate. If I am in station, I do not give this annual function a miss.

We had speakers in this evening from Ramakrishna order who spoke nicely and at length. I spoke for few minutes. However, this post is about what Executive-in-Charge of Tata Bearings told in the occasion. He started by seeking forgiveness from the monk for being little late. It was a weekday and he had certain responsibilities. Talking about responsibilities, he said that he can never forget that as head of the organization he has to look after well-being of families of 500 employees. And though he wanted, he could not give as much time to study Vivekanada's works. That he was speaking from the heart and not for the occasion can be found from this youtube video which I dug out later (Link). Here he was taking Economic Times IMEA award and in his acceptance speech we hear him saying, "The only thing I want to say that my heart goes for my 500 people back in my Kharagpur unit who are my direct employees and another 500 who are indirectly associated with us...and it is all because of them I am here."

But in this 3rd Feb. function he did not stop just at that. He went on saying that what he takes inspiration from is an anecdote on Dharmabyadha which Vivekananda told in explaining Karmayoga. This he studied in Class VIII and preserves within him. He narrated the anecdote at length which I reproduce below from Vivekananda's works (Link).

The other day I was requesting a senior person here who is working tirelessly to take the institute forward, to take care of health and to get adequate sleep. This I tell whenever I find a person is not able to give enough attention to his/her health. As an executive, he/she is key not only for the well-being of the organization but also for contributing to the growth of the nation, its success, fulfilling aspiration of thousands.It is in everybody's interest to see that good people have a good going :-) physically and mentally. In fact, all of us should have a good going so that we can serve to the best of our capacity.
--------
"The only way to rise is by doing the duty next to us, and thus gathering strength go on until we reach the highest state. A young Sannyâsin went to a forest; there he meditated, worshipped, and practiced Yoga for a long time. After years of hard work and practice, he was one day sitting under a tree, when some dry leaves fell upon his head. He looked up and saw a crow and a crane fighting on the top of the tree, which made him very angry. He said, "What! Dare you throw these dry leaves upon my head!" As with these words he angrily glanced at them, a flash of fire went out of his head — such was the Yogi's power — and burnt the birds to ashes. He was very glad, almost overjoyed at this development of power — he could burn the crow and the crane by a look. After a time he had to go to the town to beg his bread. He went, stood at a door, and said, "Mother, give me food." A voice came from inside the house, "Wait a little, my son." The young man thought, "You wretched woman, how dare you make me wait! You do not know my power yet." While he was thinking thus the voice came again: "Boy, don't be thinking too much of yourself. Here is neither crow nor crane." He was astonished; still he had to wait. At last the woman came, and he fell at her feet and said, "Mother, how did you know that?" She said, "My boy, I do not know your Yoga or your practices. I am a common everyday woman. I made you wait because my husband is ill, and I was nursing him. All my life I have struggled to do my duty. When I was unmarried, I did my duty to my parents; now that I am married, I do my duty to my husband; that is all the Yoga I practice. But by doing my duty I have become illumined; thus I could read your thoughts and know what you had done in the forest. If you want to know something higher than this, go to the market of such and such a town where you will find a Vyâdha (The lowest class of people in India who used to live as hunters and butchers.) who will tell you something that you will be very glad to learn." The Sannyasin thought, "Why should I go to that town and to a Vyadha?" But after what he had seen, his mind opened a little, so he went. When he came near the town, he found the market and there saw, at a distance, a big fat Vyadha cutting meat with big knives, talking and bargaining with different people. The young man said, "Lord help me! Is this the man from whom I am going to learn? He is the incarnation of a demon, if he is anything." In the meantime this man looked up and said, "O Swami, did that lady send you here? Take a seat until I have done my business." The Sannyasin thought, "What comes to me here?" He took his seat; the man went on with his work, and after he had finished he took his money and said to the Sannyasin, "Come sir, come to my home." On reaching home the Vyadha gave him a seat, saying, "Wait here," and went into the house. He then washed his old father and mother, fed them, and did all he could to please them, after which he came to the Sannyasin and said, "Now, sir, you have come here to see me; what can I do for you?" The Sannyasin asked him a few questions about soul and about God, and the Vyadha gave him a lecture which forms a part of the Mahâbhârata, called the Vyâdha-Gitâ. It contains one of the highest flights of the Vedanta. When the Vyadha finished his teaching, the Sannyasin felt astonished. He said, "Why are you in that body? With such knowledge as yours why are you in a Vyadha's body, and doing such filthy, ugly work?" "My son," replied the Vyadha, "no duty is ugly, no duty is impure. My birth placed me in these circumstances and environments. In my boyhood I learnt the trade; I am unattached, and I try to do my duty well. I try to do my duty as a householder, and I try to do all I can to make my father and mother happy. I neither know your Yoga, nor have I become a Sannyasin, nor did I go out of the world into a forest; nevertheless, all that you have heard and seen has come to me through the unattached doing of the duty which belongs to my position.""

Overwhelmed

Got a phone call this morning from one of the driver of the travel agency who often obliges by his service. He asked about my availability to come to our quarter in the campus. He will be coming with his wife to invite our family for his brother-in-law's marriage reception. We had a tussle. Each of us were asking what would be convenient time for other. I was concerned that he makes a living out of his job where he has less control over situation. Finally, we settled for 8:30 PM. I'll be back from office today half-an-hour early!!

Feel overwhelmed. The travel agency drivers do tell me that they have a friendly fight among themselves on who will be at driver's wheel when I book a car. Also heard that their family members often tease each other on this - that the other person did not get the chance. May be the drivers find a good listener in me to share their life's happiness and sorrows and like the way I try to encourage them.

Yesterday, in the local fish-market, the didi who often sells fish to us was trying to draw my attention to the weighing balance before calculating the payout, as I was occupied with something else. I requested her to go ahead without worrying and told that it is she who would feel bad if I get less than what I deserve. Truly so. Didi appreciated that and was in all smile.

Few weeks back I was giving my evaluation report to a young faculty where he has asked for project funding. I said that it goes beyond the project, it is investment in a person. Didn't we hear from Vivekananda, "Men, men, these are wanted. Everything else will be ready." Investment in people and getting the best out of them in every strata of life, by acknowledging their effort, by making them feel responsible that they are important part of the society, contribute to its well-being and there is no room for feeling alienated - are perhaps what takes us to inclusive growth built upon share and care.

Yesterday evening we had a small triumph! The small team with whom I work in a new admin. responsibility since mid Oct., 2013 has reached an important milestone. We reached 'zero pending' situation yesterday. It was about 8 PM. Together, we went to the official's place where our files land-up and created hallah :-) there that the official should give us treat! He enjoyed that and told that he too is a part of the team. The greatest part in this journey had been the fact that it was fun all the way, we always enjoyed each others' company and never let work pressure get the better of us.

Thank you all in-office and outside-office at IIT Kharagpur for your kind gestures. For you the life is so much enjoyable here. Truly, feel overwhelmed!

ARK

Wiki author considers the movie 'Evan Almighty' (Link) an American religious comedy film. Building of an Ark was at the centre of the film for which people in general, failed to see any justification. Came a flood along a fault line built on human greed. The Ark was the savior. The movie ends explaining us another meaning of ARK - Act of Random Kindness.

Felt so good to read this in today's newspaper. Two tribal brothers, Anil Shabar and Ashok Shabar donate 10 cottah of land for building a school in their village (in district Bankura, about 125 KM from IIT Kharagpur campus). They themselves are daily wage earner. Why did they then do it? They say that their entire life went in abject poverty but they want to see their next generation doing better getting proper education. The BDO was surprised and he said that there was difficulty in getting land there for building school as it came under forest area. For this donation, a school and a training centre will be built.

The Shabar brothers consider themselves uneducated! And we look for ARK like this!!

From Album

Occasionally he sang song, if pestered for long, in Dept. farewell functions of outgoing batches. However, last two occasions were different. It did not require much of an effort from us. They were - Bijoya Sammelan in the Dept. after Durga Puja (21st Oct., 2013)  and Dept. Picnic (1st Dec., 2013). He easily granted us audience.

He is Prof. Somnath Sengupta (Link) of Dept. of Electronics & ECE, IIT Kharagpur.