This is a chronicle of life - its positives, its fun, the wide spectrum it offers for which it is worth living. One is welcome to point out if there is any issue in any of the writing. It will be addressed, if required.
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The movie titled, "Unreserved" by a young IITKGPian (link)was a no-ordinary-experience travelogue in the unreserved compartments of Indian Rail. Indian Railway's journey continues to be so.
Had the ticket of a superfast train from Howrah which was to start 50 minutes later than a galloping EMU local. Found a decent aisle seat though there were 4 in the space of 3 which was usual for a crowded local train. There was a soft-cover book with me to accompany. Once upon a time, a large number of passengers could be seen reading newspapers in such a journey, so much so that there used to be evening editions sold in the train. Now, mobile phone is there in almost every hand and that is a great time pass. So far, the experience is no uncommon.
After about 90 minutes of travel, a group de-boarded the train. One of their team member, a young person of about 20 years, was sitting at a distance, close to the window. In a hurry and in a crowded train, it is quite common that there may be gentle touch of one's feet with another one in narrow passage as one tries to move, specially during boarding and de-boarding time. Nobody minds that or, a simple 'sorry' or an apologetic smile is considered more than enough.
Hardly, there was any touch or not, I was surprised to see the young bowing down and touching my feet with hand in that crowded train. That could be common in our household environment but not in a train and for someone from this generation. I was stunned and could only fold my hands in return.
In the onward journey on another day, I boarded the unreserved compartment of a long distance express train which was full but, I could manage a seat for myself. I see many posts in travel pages on quality of food served in train and its cost. It was past 1 PM. There were IRCTC uniformed people selling Rs. 50 rice with double egg curry, all within one aluminium foil pack. There were no takers for that in that compartment. Considering IRCTC brand value, I went for it.
But, wouldn't co-passengers have anything for lunch? There were many kids here and there who would be very hungry. Outside temperature soaring past 40 degree celcius, people there in general, didn't mind buying water bottle whenever required which were charged little higher than maximum retail price. At 2:30 PM, the train was going past slowly a station where a few people boarded the running train and started offering fish-meal at Rs. 50.
Few of the co-passengers, specially the parents with kids, moved for it but not many. After 10-15 minutes, the same was offered at Rs. 40 for which there were many takers and lastly, it was offered at Rs. 30 and the whole compartment had their stomach full. The pack had rice, dal, one vegetable and fish.
When one compares their dish with mine (the aluminium foiled one), one may feel that one could have had a tastier treat (if not fussy with carry bag delivery). For the other no-ordinary experience, one may bring distant correlation with the soft-cover book that I was reading, a collection of letters of someone whose death anniversary falls today!
"Sir, your hair needs trimming." The security staff of our apartment complex remarked. He is unlike the other two security staffs in the sense that he does not feel shy of giving me advice. Usually, the advices are for the vehicles in our garage - their conditions, the washing job I perform occasionally etc. And, those gentle suggestions are always very useful.
Therefore, I got alerted. Only a few days back I had to undertake a tour for professional reasons. Did I make a fool of myself with my look? Apparently, both the meetings went well. As such, one is not supposed to judge a book by its cover!
For someone who reads a lot, there is a quote to find refuge on every occasion!
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"Is it going to be your Puja cut?" Durga Puja is just a month away. Here is the specialist who takes care of my hair and unburdens my head at regular intervals. He has been doing it very responsibly for more than a decade now and in a way, has become my legal hair-guardian. According to him, it is his special cut for which my hairs are still eligible for cut and I should not get adventurous to try my luck elsewhere. One is not supposed to disagree with one's barber.
He too, gives me lots of advice and shares his knowledge about the contemporary world while doing his job. His presentation is always laced with humour and is always enjoyable. There is one question he will invariably ask me on every visit of mine. Finding me much taller than his usual customers or himself, he would ask, "How is the weather in upper atmosphere?" That makes me understand that he is in his usual self and I am in safe hands!
This time he got caught on the wrong foot. He was complaining about his own look, which according to him, is a lot better on another day when he shaves his beard. I landed on the wrong day at his place.
For someone, there could not be a better opportunity to get equal!
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"Are you not, Goutam-da? Can you recognize me?" A middle-aged person wearing a cap was standing on the stool and was taking reading of the electric meters of that shop. The shop is just outside the IIT Kharagpur campus. The question came from him. I was then midway of getting relieved of my additional burden on my head.
He didn't need to take out the cap. I could recognize him without any issue though our physique have gone big transformation in between. We played together at our young age at the railway settlement side of Kharagpur. Exchange of pleasantries and phone numbers - he sharing how his son did well in study and got selected for a Govt. job, more offers are being expected.
There were two electric meters. One commercial meter was for the shop, the other one was for their residence behind the shop. The father of the hair specialist (he adores me a lot) came out and was explained of the expected electric bill and adjustment expected against an earlier payment.
Later, both the father and the son were in full praise of this electric meter reading person and his friendly approach. In our discussion in that shop, came the topic of smart meter installations. This will not require foot-falls of a meter reading person! A smart phone, app, preloaded wallet - that's all. Convenient, efficient!
In our effort to have everything at our finger-tip for convenience and comfort, are we missing the human touch points in our lives? How to restore that and prevent over consumption of digital contents and resulting infirmity?
Let me sign off before I myself sound like giving advice!
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Here are a few pictures of Puja shopping ambiance at Golebazar before the market goes frenzy in a few days' time when this month's salary reaches pocket. We were trying to avoid that crowd and my role mostly, was to keep a watch on my motorcycle.
Today is IIT Kharagpur's 73rd Foundation Day. The institute program at Netaji auditorium was to start at 9:30 AM. I was taking my 2-wheeler out from the common garage of our Chitrakoot complex. One of our neighbors was also there for the same purpose. He lovingly referred to my first name, Goutam. Of the three security staffs of our residential complex, two have the same first name. They are from Nepalese / Gorkha background. They are the followers of Goutam Buddha, and the name Goutam is quite common among them.
My name was called in the Foundation Day program before but once when I received an award. But, today, my name came up in the lips of three on the Netaji auditorium stage on three different occasions. And that made me remember one big Budhha idol that I visited once. It was situated in a dark cave. If light from a lantern falls on it from one side, one can see that Buddha is smiling, happy. If light falls from the other side, one could see a pensive, sad face. And, if light falls from the front, one can see him in total peace - neither happy, nor sad.
We the lesser mortal, swing from a state of fulfilment and unfulfillment, joy and sorrow. Of the three occasions of today, two gave a feeling of accomplishment to see our own students getting success in big stage as entrepreneurs and connecting that to their more than decade old student days' experience here - one curricular, the other extracurricular. The third one reminded of an unfinished work in which we elders are yet to realize the dream of a dreamer who was an inspiration to many.
Vidya Bhushan was a UG student of our E & ECE Department. For his final year B.Tech. project, he picked up a challenging problem in neurosignal processing area. Our collaborator from the Department of Psychology, Goldsmiths, University of London had a key role in defining the problem statement. He completed his BTP requirement in time (2010) but continued with the work even after leaving the institute. He got a job in Ericsson from the campus placement. In 2012, when he was in IIM Ahmedabad, his BTP work got published in a good journal. The start-up he founded after brief stop-overs at two companies following IIM degree, has now foot prints in 43 cities and was valued Rs. 100 Cr. sometime back, expected to reach 200-250 Cr. mark soon. Today, he referred to that BTP work when awardees were asked to speak a few words after receiving the award from the dignitaries on stage.
Imbesat Ahmad was not from our department. National Service Scheme (NSS), IIT Kharagpur was our common chord. I was in-charge of NSS at that time and together with faculty colleagues and young student volunteers (1st and 2nd year UG), took up various projects in neighborhood villages and slums. Imbesat was primarily in teaching activity but played a key role in the bigger team-based activities. Imbesat's current recognition as a young achiever is for his social enterprise that makes education accessible. He started in offline mode in an unreached place and achieved excellence. To scale up, he started online delivery where a doubt is attended within 16 seconds. This enterprise now has 60000 touch points. His podium speech referred to his 1st year NSS teaching experience.
Other young alumni achievers too, shared their thoughts which depicted how IIT Kharagpur helped them gain valuable experience in their student days here. Felt proud for each one of them. Congratulations to all awardees!
When Dr. P. Arun, Director, Tata Medical Centre, Kolkata, one of the Guest of Honour of today's function rose to speak, my name was referred for the 3rd time. He recollected how much we two wished to fulfill the dream of a cancer survivor who was inspiration to many. We failed to move beyond a point for reasons beyond our control and felt sad for it. We should make a second attempt and try to bridge the gap. We owe it to that dreamer, Mr. Ananthakrishnan, who is no more with us - the relapsed cancer took the great soul away but his dream remains.
The above pictures were taken today after the weekly Tech. Market visit. It is not far that this companion of us will become part of our memories. This is our Maruti 800 Uniq, Limited Edition which was bought in Nov. 2008. Companionship is of 14 long years where it never put us in any awkward situation. Even today, it is as young as it was when it first joined us, going as strong as it always used to. It can serve next 5 - 6 years easily (after re-registration), if not more, with regular annual maintenance. Thus, there is no reason as such to bid it goodbye, except one in which the new one joining us in place of it, whenever it happens, gives us company for a reasonable length of time, till my retirement from this institute.
Rajdoot RD175 was the first motorized 2-wheeler I purchased after getting my first job when I was 22 years old. This was on joining Tata Steel in 1990 after finishing B. Tech. from here. Age was then in my side and drove it quite a lot (unlike this Maruti car which averaged less than 1000 KM per year, of course there were two other 2-wheelers which were usually used for solo travel) in Jamshedpur and then it came with me at Kharagpur when I joined Tata Bearings, a division of Tata Steel. Baba (Father) was not keeping well at that time and then he left us in 1992. I returned to Academics in 1994. From GT Hostel of Kadma, Jamshedpur to small Railway Quarter of Kharagpur (travel to Tata Bearings) and then to two residences at Bhabanipur, Kharagpur (travel to Tata Bearings and then to IIT Kharagpur) - the Rajdoot was in full use. For the brief two years spent in Bandel before joining here as a faculty member in 2002, the Rajdoot went to Bandel and then returned to Kharagpur and became a part of our campus life. The following picture is taken when my daughter was returning from play school in the campus on this bike.
In 2006, we felt the need of a new bike that would provide better technology and service. A Honda Shine was bought and the Rajdoot was taken by someone. I felt very sad later when a senior dada (brother) at KVYM told if the bike itself could have been upgraded by some means for use as my father rode it at certain point of time. My father visited Midnapore town, too as a pillion rider. I am sure that the Dada will feel that this 4-wheeler which is running fine should not leave us to make room for a new one. My mother who is no more, used it so many times. Therefore, it is a difficult choice to make. But, we now have entered the window in which the decision is to be taken, may be within a month.
One 4-wheeler and two 2-wheelers (currently three 2-wheelers, one is to leave soon) are more than our necessity. Either we retain the old 4-wheeler or let it go to someone where it is of that person's use rather than making it rot for non-use - that overwhelmingly is the decision emerging.
Therefore, it is expected to remain with us for one more month or so. The grief of leaving the old one outweighs what is associated with the welcoming of a new one. But, that perhaps is life. The old is to make room for the new ... applies equally well to each of us as an individual!
There was a notice circulated by the Head asking all faculty members of E & ECE department to be present at the NKN Room at 4:30 PM. Some alumni of this department is to visit us. This is part of the Alumni Meet which had to be rescheduled due to pandemic situation. Since our alumni base is very large, different batches get preference in different years.
The NKN Room is at the 2nd floor of front block. Student volunteers were standing at the entrance and at the 1st floor, 2nd floor staircases, waiting to receive the alumni and guide their way to NKN. This 2nd floor is a relatively recent addition for the alumni who completed their study in 1980. An escalator is under construction now and is expected to be operational soon.
The student volunteers made us, the faculty members too, feel special. The in-person interactions have just started. While verbal communication has its own place, it is the non-verbal communication, even if it is a smile or a gentle nod, that creates the bond, the human-to-human connect, makes us part of one big family.
On entering the NKN Room I was sweetly surprised. The 90 capacity room was filled to the brim except, of course, leaving some chairs vacant for the visiting alumni and Head who would accompany them. The major part of the room was filled by the 2nd year students. The 4th year seniors used this occasion to get them integrated with the Department. This was first such opportunity for the 2nd years as they were online till now.
There will be separate meeting with all 2nd years when all of them arrive in the campus. In alumni meet, emotions run high as they relive in their past, there is time spill-over etc. Thus, we were waiting and it occurred that it would be good to have mutual introduction of 2nd year students and the faculty members. Previous Head, under whose tenure these 2nd year students were supposed to join the Department, took lead and then Prof.-in-Charge, Department Society took over from him.
I do take class of these 2nd year students. The offline / hybrid class started the previous day. In fact, ours was the 1st day, 1st class after 2 years of online mode of teaching at IIT Kharagpur. There was an informal meet before with these 2nd year students. That experience and the interaction here showed that all possibly were not bad in this pandemic phase or they staying home taking online classes.
After the introduction round, one faculty asked some of the 4th year seniors present there managing the show, why many of their batch-mates are moving away from core electronics to computer science / coding related project or career. Another faculty made them aware of the requirement of large number of skilled Electronics & Communication engineer to make the country self-reliant. It was also asked, according to these final year students, what is needed to buck the trend.
And came what many faculty members felt and told, but for one specific reason the same could not be taken up. The senior students told that it is the first year days that are most important in this context when impressions are formed, the opinion about one or the other career path is developed. In the first year, in their formative days, unfortunately, the students are away from departments taking some common courses from departments they do not belong to.
The senior students continued. During their own 1st year days which were not online, their seniors used to come to their wings in their hall of residences and give all sorts of funda about career opportunities. And this funda was that a good job is waiting if one learns coding. The young kids coming fresh from their schools would accept anything from their godly seniors which is anything but not the fun of the core of the Department one belongs to. And, it is a vicious cycle.
The remedy these senior students suggest is to have reasonable presence of Department subjects from 1st semester itself with some hands-on. Why is it not implementable? It is the department change option that needs to be included in the curriculum where a select few can change their department based on their 1st year performance while 95% of the students cannot.
The opportunity to change the Department after 1st year seems to be very attractive. It may be all in perception as regard to what we gain and what we lose by going one way or the other. There might be some objective assessment in future by performing cost - benefit analysis. That might bring changes that these senior students indicate. That might not be too difficult in a curriculum that gives option of Minor, Micro in other Departments as well as Inter-Department dual degree program.
These 2nd year students missed those funda sessions as they are arriving now in the campus! This 2nd year, 4th semester is effectively their 1st year, 1st semester. And, they straightway land into the Department subjects. In a way, they wake up to see their core. The freshness, the purity, the receptiveness is evident in their approach and attitude in comparison to earlier batches. Hope, it continues and the department is able to deliver what it is mandated to.
The alumni members started walking in. They spoke briefly. Among them was Professor Susmita Sur-Kolay, who was the first woman President Gold Medal (PGM) winner. She told that there are only six women PGM in whole IIT system till date. There were only 4 girl students in their batch coming through IIT-JEE but she is happy now to see improving gender-ratio in IITs.
She said that IIT Education made her foundation strong for which she could learn anything new easily (so important in a fast moving technology space). The following short video gives a glimpse of few other things that she said. The second half of the video has Mr. Kabindra Daga, another alumnus who was introduced as an "accidental non-Bengali", where he sings a Bengali Bhatiali song.
Head made a short presentation of the Department. Several unique features of the Department, its achievements, its current research focus and future direction were shared. It was highlighted that the Department ranked 92 in the recent QS global ranking, a reasonable improvement over its earlier rank within 100-150 space. Had international faculty and students been not a factor and also, if there was inclusion of undergrad performance for which IITs are better known, the rank would have been much better. The 2nd year, 4th semester freshers listened to these with rapt attention. At the end of the program, there was a walk around the Department corridors.
It was 6:30 PM. The faculty member who wanted to know from the the senior students the reason for current trend where many are seen coding-bound and, how to change the direction for greater good, came to my Department office room. We chatted for about one hour before heading for home. Of many different things, the following came in our discussion.
It is said that when a baby is born, whoever it sees first, it considers itself to be part of their clan. There is an anecdote where a lion cub raised after birth by a herd of sheep used to act like them and used to flee the place if a lion was around. In that story, one day one lion could catch hold of the cub and forced some remedial measure. But the lion was a lion and the cub was still a cub!
It was 4:15 PM. I was waiting at the Nalanda entrance, near Subway. An informal meet was arranged where some of the 2nd year UG students of my course were expected to be present. The movement related restrictions got eased. There is no requirement to have passes to leave halls. My 2nd year course is in the list for which hybrid classes have been announced this morning. Effort is on to get the remaining students back to go fully offline in this course.
Pandemic showing the sign of turning into endemic, the two year wait is now almost over. The stage is all set to open another dimension for us - for both teacher and students. The on-screen 2D presence is going to have a 3D makeover! The students had online class till 4 PM. The cycles from the nearby halls started hitting the stand.
In the online class, voice of a few students are more frequently heard. One of the faceless name from that list started the Teams chat this morning as regard to when and where we meet. As the students started arriving, initially, I tried to find that face for my own comfort by asking "Are you __?" One and half month into the course. We were not completely strangers to each other. Neither side was not that nervous, but somewhat hesitant to begin with.
The number gradually swelled to 20 - 25. There could be more trickling in. Was there a better option than standing in arc on the road at Nalanda entrance? Thanks to the authority in-charge, we got a place to sit in a classroom of adequate size. Stepping into a classroom with students after two years was an experience by itself, even if it was an informal interaction, a prelude to upcoming hybrid class.
What followed next was a purge of fresh air that left each of us oxygenated with elevated SpO2 level!!
Joined the queue at 10:15 AM. Was told before by the experienced ones that by 11:30 AM it would get done. However, pleasant weather - cloudy sky and gentle breeze, brought many like me out today. It became 11:45 AM to get the jab for sequence number 53.
The civic volunteers managing the queue, two young men on two computers, the lady with the log book, two sisters administering vaccine, the lady keeping an watch that none leaves before 30 minute observation period (made a failed attempt to attend a 12 noon meeting) - all were highly efficient and disciplined. The pictures here partially capture the process.
The hall where vaccine was administered in this Hijli Rural Hospital (not far from IIT Kharagpur Campus) looked familiar. Found a picture taken four years back where ICMR-IIT Kharagpur MedTech interns were given an initial brief in the same hall. After that, the interns had a guided tour of this hospital to get acquainted with its activities. This extended to a visit of the interns to far-off villages being served by this hospital together with designated ASHA workers.
The IITB senior Prof. and colleagues were considerate for joining the meeting late and offered valuable post vaccination tips!
