The GRE Odyssey...

What a journey this has been... It has taught me so much while, at the same time, it has reiterated life's past lessons.. Lessons i failed to learn before. Its true, if you do not learn from your mistakes, you make yourself susceptible to the same pain and hurt once more. And this time, you deserve it. I seem to lie in the category of people who never learn, no matter what.

It all began in the month of July, when post an insightful invective from my family, for "not doing anything constructive about my future", I considered their proposal for further studies and thus, the GRE. Most of my friends were either taking it or were already done with it. So there I was, on the 5th of July 2009, at the office of the premier institute for training in GRE in India, Dilip Oak's Academy. It was within the first week of classes itself that i realised, that I was going to love attending these classes and that it was going to be a highly enriching experience. The professors were the best I had ever had. Experts in their field. If there was a GRE training institute equivalent to the IITs & IIMs in India, they would be the first people to be hired. Suddenly i found myself poring over books, the thirst for knowledge rejuvenated. The more I heard/read the more i wanted to know. It had been a long time since I felt that way and I loved the feeling. I had not been so passionate about studying in such a long time. The blend of the wish to do well and the will to strive almost had an intoxicating effect. It made me forget all those horrible years of engineering, where every exam was written with a 40 in mind. I was enamored with studying again.

The subjects especially responsible for this effect were GRE Verbal and Analytical writing(AWA). I have always taken Math for granted. Its (thankfully) come very easily to me for the most part and so I am guilty of almost having a callous attitude towards it. (Dont mean to brag). It was the English sections-Verbal & AWA that particularly fascinated me. They made me fall in love with studying. Moreover, they helped accomplish what I thought was impossible for me, a love for reading. It was the GRE english that changed my life over the past few months. I would like to believe that it changed me, at least slightly. It reinstated my lost confidence. It made me feel that I wasn't all that bad as a student. My Verbal ability, that gradually improved (with a LOT of help of course) made me feel that I probably had the capability to, not only pursue a masters degree, but also to perform fairly well. The writing section gave me an opportunity to pour my heart out on paper. I had almost forgotten how much I loved to write. I know I am no Chetan Bhagat or Shobha De in the making. However, I would like to believe that I can express myself well through the written media. Thanks to the GRE I have had the opportunity to try my hand at these subjects once more.

Today as I measure what I have lost and gained as I took this exam, I realise that I have gained so much. What I have lost in the bargain, or rather failed to achieve; a good score despite striving, is inconsequential as compared to what I have gained. Knowledge is never wasted and a score card can hardly be a just measurement of the knowledge acquired. I think by refusing to pursue higher studies, I am being unfair to myself. Im simply trampling upon another dream as one couldn't be fulfilled. Just because one thing didn't take shape does not mean the others wont too. Why not try? What I can do is, this time i can remember the lesson I have failed to learn in so long. Try not to have any expectations or demands from myself and certainly not overrate my abilities. Try not to think of the outcome and just do the needful. Let the future unravel at its own pace and reveal its mysteries for you.
I hope I finally learn this time.

Its a long post?!? Well, it has been a long and eventful journey.....

The bengali AULD LANG SYNE

My humble attempt at translating my favourite bengali song by Gurudeb Rabindranath Tagore.

Romanization: Jyotika Banerjee

Translation credit: Aditya Vasudeva

Please let me know if you spot any mistakes.....

(Purano shei diner kotha, bhulbi ki re, haai o shei,

The memories of the good old days, can you ever forget them?

Chokher dakha, Praner kotha, Shei ki bhola jaaye)------ x 2

They were witnessed by our eyes, were the voice of our life, Can they ever be forgotten?

Aay aar ek ti baar aay re shokha, praner maajhe aay mora,

Come back once more, my friend, come and be a part of my life

Shukher dukher kotha kobo, praan judabe taai

We will talk of smiles and tears (of happy & sad experiences), And will feel very good about it

(Purano shei diner kotha, bhulbi ki re, haai o shei,
The memories of the good old days, can you ever forget them?
Chokher dakha, Praner kotha, Shei ki bhola jaaye)------ x 2
They were witnessed by our eyes, were the voice of our life, Can they ever be forgotten?

(Mora bhorer bala phul tulechi, dulechi dolaye,

Together we have plucked flowers at dawn, Together we have spent hours on the swing

Baajiye baanshi gaan geyechi, gokuler tolaye.)------ x 2

Together we have played the flute, Sang the songs under the shade

Haay maajhe holo chaada chaadi, gelen ke kothaye

We parted in between, never knew where we went

Abar dakha judi holo shokha, praner maajhe aaye

If we happen to meet again someday, Come and be a part of my life.

(Purano shei diner kotha, bhulbi ki re, haai o shei,
The memories of the good old days, can you ever forget them?
Chokher dakha, Praner kotha, Shei ki bhola jaaye)------ x 2
They were witnessed by our eyes, were the voice of our life, Can they ever be forgotten?

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What a totttttaaaallly crazy pair of months its been!!! So much happened (or maybe it just seems that way coz i was always doing something.. Lol)!!

Well anyhow, to all my friends and seniors who have moved on to the next important phase is life

ALL THE BEST! May god shower you guys with loads of love and happinness!

Right from the Sangeet and Mehndi, the farmhouse party to the many pujas until finally the wedding, I had a blast!

Met wonderful people and made great friends for life..

Here are the pics I have of one happy couple

Presenting Mr & Mrs. Mahajan

THE GROUP FROM THE KIRTANE-MAHAJAN WEDDING

Had an amazing time guys.. Will miss the fun we had together for a long time...

A FABULOUS MONTH OF SURPRISES AND PARTIES!

It all started on 17th March 2008 when my friends planned a huge b'day surprise for my sister n me and ended recently with the b'day of my best friends which happens to be on the same day, 14th April....

First it was my brother who took us out for dinner on 16th and got us a beautiful (and delicious ;) ) cake

 at midnight and then my friends who threw us a surprise b'day party. Though id fig

ured something was cooking when id heard my freinds whispering excitedly in my (they thought) my absence and stopping abruptly when they spotted me, i had no idea of the extent they had planned it to!

It was only when i walked up to my terrace that evening that i realised what the huge surprise was =)

All my friends, both from school and college had come together (though they hardly knew each other) to plan a wonderful evening for us. It was the most perfect b'day and one of the most memorable ones iv ever had and has (i think) broken the jinx of "boring b'days" that we've have had so far....

This ofcourse was followed by a series of birthdays Jui, Shweta, Aparna, Poorva to name a few...

Bottomline, it was a wonderful one month...

I just hope, after all this excitement and fun we can get back to our books seriously.. 
Afterall, exam season is approaching again!!! =(

......But silence is golden

Swiss Inscription: Sprecfien ist silbern, Schweigen ist golden (Speech is silver, Silence is golden)

Meaning: Speech is of Time, Silence is of Eternity.

Time and again iv experienced one thing... Keeping quiet solves more problems than speaking about them...

Especially when your angry, you end up saying whatever comes to your mind without actually meaning any of it. By the time you calm down, you only regret saying what you did and feel bad for the person you argued with no matter what you had to hear in the bargain too... So instead, the best thing in situations where your feeling so angry you could scream, is to keep quiet.. Use every ounce of your energy to keep your mouth shut! From what im seeing, the silent treatment seems to be the best solution to all arguments and problems... When something bothers you, just keep quiet... I hate confrontations and name calling and so this seems to work for me. 

-----Afterall, as someone has said-----

~~SILENCE IS ONE OF THE HARDEST ARGUMENTS TO REFUTE~~

The Slumdog mania

Its been so long since i last posted... Iv really missed my blog... But i hope i can post more frequenty from now on, no matter how busy i am...

Nothing i say is enough to describe what Slumdog Millionaire has done for Indian technicians.. However, my only appeal to everyone around the worl would be to look at this movie as a LOVE STORY and not as a picture of India... That is not what epitomises India.. Theres a lot more to this country than just poverty, illetracy and a population problems.. Every country has a good and a bad side and this is ours... And we are trying to deal with it...

Ofcourse i have a lot more to say about this, and i will...

But for now, i want to post the lyrics of my favourite song from the Slumdog OST..

Dreams on fire...

Dreams on Fire
OST- Slumdog Millionaire

You are my waking dream

You're all that's real to me

You are the magic in the world I see

You are the prayer I sing

You brought me to my knees

You are the faith that made me believe

Dreams on fire

Higher n higher

Passions burning

Right on the pyre

Once far, forever yours

In me All your heart

Dreams on fire

Higher n higher

You are my ocean waves

You are my thought each day

You are the laughter from childhood games

You are the spark of dawn

You are where I belong

You are the ache I feel in every song

Dreams on fire

Higher n higher

Passions burning

Right on the pyre

Once far, forever yours

In me All your heart

Dreams on fire Higher n higher

Zai Jian 2008!

(Goodbye 2008!)
Just a few hours more and soon we'll be stepping into the new year!! Year 2009!!!
This year brought old friends closer, wonderful new friends, good marks *winks* , more shows among many other things... A peaceful/uneventful year on the whole...
After the bitter and turbulent end of 2007, personally, the year 2008 has been one of healing and growth.. Friendships and addictions proved to be therapeutic and helped me rise from probably one of the most difficult phases of my life. So, i must take this opprotunity to thank all those friends who stood by me and at times lost their temper and confronted me (thankfully).. Had you guys not been there, I dont know how i would have come out of it... Also, im grateful to all my new friends who were unaware of anything but helped me immensely to come back to 'normal'. Finding 'The Villa' and being a part of it was certainly one of the key highs of this year. Last yet not the least, my family, who probably suffered the most, especially in the first half of the year, when they saw me in a way they had never seen me before. Im extremely sorry to have put them and everyone else through this, but im sure they understand.
This year has taught me to love and cherish what i have right now, in the present! It has taught me that life moves on and we have to as well.. I only hope that I can.
I pray, that neither I, nor anyone else has to face a sudden unexpected loss of their loved ones and also hope that peace prevails in the world and no dastardly attacks on innocent people anywhere occur. Lets have a Peaceful, Happy and Properous 2009!!

HOLIDAYS!!!!

Enjoying the first REAL holidays since the first year of engineering!!! Yay!! Finally feels like the end of a semester!!!
PARTY TIME!!!

Ek lau... A beautiful song...

Iv finally found the translation of the song that tells exactly how every Indian feels at the moment.... (Yes, it is the song that NDTV uses in its tribute to the martyrs)..
(Song is written by Amit Trivedi, from the soundtrack of Aamir, performed by Shilpa Rao and Amitabh)

You can hear it here...





TRANSLATION::::> (Translation credit: DOCMITASHA@ wordpress)

Ek Lau Is Tarah Kyun Bhuji Mere Maula…

(Why was a flare extinguished like this, my Lord…)

Gardishon Mein Rehti, Behti Guzarthi,

Zindagi Aahein Kitni…

(Struggling through dark clouds, flowing, passing by,

There are so many lives [being lived]…)


In Mein Se Ek Hai, Teri Meri Agni,

Koi Ek Jaisi Apni…

(Your life and my life is just one flame amongst all of these)


Par Khuda Khair Kar, Aisa Anjaam Kisi Rooh Ko,

Na De Kabhi Yahaan…

Guncha Muskuratha Ek Waqt Se Pehle,

Kyun Chodd Chala Tera Yeh Jahaan…

(But God please, may no soul here receive, this kind of ending…


Before the arrival of a flower-like*, smiling [peaceful] time,

why did this life leave your world…)


{*writer refers to the gradual, sweet smelling natural death of a flower}


Ek Lau Is Tarah Kyun Bhuji Mere Maula,

Ek Lau Zindagi Ki Maula.


(Why was a flare extinguished like this, my Lord,

A flare of Life, my Lord)


Dhoop Ke Ujaale Se, Aus Ke Pyaale Se,

Khushiyan Mile Humko…

Zyada Manga Hai Kahaan, Sarhadein Na Ho Jahaan,

Duniya Mile Humko…

(The light of the sunshine, the beauty of the morning dew,

We recieve joy from all of this…

Is it too much that we ask for a world with no borders*)

{*As in, borders/divisions between people, ethnicities, religions…symbolizing all artificially created conflict amongst humanity}


Par Khuda Khair Kar, Uske Armaan Mein Kyun

Bewaja Ho Koi Qurbaan,


Guncha Muskuratha Ek Waqt Se Pehle,

Kyun Chodd Chala Tera Yeh Jahaan…

(But God please, why should anyone be sacrificed to fulfill this desire*…


Before the arrival of a flower-like, smiling [peaceful] time,

why did this life leave your world…)

{*Why should there be sacrifice for the sake of creating this division-less, conflict-free society? }


Ek Lau Is Tarah Kyun Bhuji Mere Maula,

Ek Lau Zindagi Ki Maula. (2)

(Why was a flare extinguished like this, my Lord,

A flare of Life, my Lord)


A tribute to all the martyrs who laid down their lives protecting innocent people from this dastardly attack...
Also, to the victims... May your souls rest in peace and may god give your families the strength to deal with this irreparable loss...

TERRORIZING an entire nation....

It was absolutely HORRIFYING to watch the 59 hours of non-stop coverage of what happened on the 26th of November 2008.. Though India and especially Mumbai has had its share of Bomb blasts and terrorist attacks since several years now, this was like something NONE of us had EVER witnessed before... Innocent people were being murdered BRUTALLY without even realising that death had come upon them.. It was unfair and inhuman.... Simply watching it on TV was shocking and intimidating beyond measure. The magnanimity of this attack and those headless terrorists, boys aged between 18-30 who have no idea what they are doing, and thoroughly misguided, cannot be undermined... If we re not cautious this may be the beginning of a horrendous nightmare... Beginning???? Did i just say beginning??? Hasn't it been 14 years since India had its first bomb blasts??? And the suspects/culprits are still alive and living freely (Dont we all know where)....

I have never been to the Taj Mahal Palace hotel or The Oberoi Trident but inspite of that, seeing those buildings in flames and echoing with bullet sounds and grenade blasts was so painful.. I cant even imagine how the Mumbaikars must be feeling.. It makes us wonder are we really safe in our own land?? Will we always be so prone to danger??

Terrorists entered the two top hotels in the financial capital and it took 59 hours to get them!! Probably among the most memorable 59 hours of every Indians life!.... But what one really appreciates and salutes is the exemplary courage of the Indian Armed Forces- Army, Navy and Air Force. I think EVERYONE would have died had they not jumped in to save lives.. Also the Mumbai police... Inspite of the poor facilities they are provided- a useless helmet and a sleeveless bullet-proof jacket to mention a few, their courage is commendable... And lastly, the elite defence forces- National Security Guards (NSG) or the black cats as they are called... I think their courage, sense or duty and humility is something we all should emulate.



Whats really tragic and frustrating is the death of so many innocent people... Commuters at the railway station, people out to enjoy a great dinner, patients in the hospital, religious heads (Rabbi and his wife who were killed at Nariman House) or simply people walking on the road, NOBODY WAS SPARED. What does one do now? Get the politicians to resign? After long last tighten the security of our cities? Provide the policemen better facilities? Is that it? Do we realise that most of us who dont vote are equally responsible for this? Im a citizen of this country eligible to vote. But do i even HAVE a voting card? Doesnt it seems like us eductaed fools are responsible in a way for putting our politicians where they are! Its not just their callousness and irresponsibility that has caused this tragedy. We need to do things too. We need to do our national duties and then talk about our national rights...

TRIBUTE



Well, anything said in this matter is not enough.. It is one of Indias most tragic days.. It has changed a lot about how we think.. We have finally said "enough is enough" and demanded the answers to our many questions from our politicians.. Lets only hope that we go somewhere from here and are not just stuck in a vicious circle of blamegame...
Lets all rise above petty discriminations and fight terrorism as a UNITED NATION... I think we can do it...
Lastly, i would only like to salute all the martyrs who lost their lives battling this tragic event... May you and all the victims of this dastardly attack rest in peace... We can only pray for you... Im sure the grief your families are facing is immeasurable... The whole nation is with you..