A rocking evening for a great cause....

On Sunday, we celebrated third annual day of AksharBharti (AB) at Pune. Akshar Bharti is an NGO which works for underprivileged kids from remote areas providing them with a set of various books. It is an initiative to nurture the reading habits in children between age group 5-15 years. We had various kids activities like preparing scientific toys, quiz based on general knowledge and some presentations for their teachers in the morning session. The evening session came with a rocking fun having the Avdhoot Gupte and Troop for supporting the noble cause. It was a fantastic eve for volunteers as well, as the program was a big success and we got to tune and dance on the AVG songs rhythm :)

It's been a great time for me being with AB since last 2 years. We set up a few libraries in various regions like Bhor, Yamagarwadi, Dhankavdi, Yeravada Jail, Hinjewadi etc. some of them with Cognizant and some with IBM. Every time I went for a library set up, it gave me a unique experience and showed a new side of a life. It's really a great learning being with kids, understanding their background, dealing with their issues, spending the most amazing time of your life with them and most importantly observing a smile on their face and knowing the reason behind it is you...believe me, it's an experience which I really can't express in words. Every new chapter of AB brings a new story for me and I always keep on waiting for such new things. You can get it's more information on www.aksharbharati.org

One more cool poem

This one I got while surfing on net.... Truly beautiful poem with a great thought..

Who are you to judge me,
Based on the way I look,
Do you always judge a story,
By the cover of the book?

Who are you to judge me,
By the way I dress and what I wear?
Who are you to judge me,
By the way I wear my hair?

Who are you to judge me,
By the things you imagine I do?
When you don't bother to figure out for sure,
What exactly is or isn't true...

That's my point,
You're no one at all,
You judge me for one reason,
So you can feel tall...

You judge me because you want to,
And because it makes you feel better inside,
Because my imperfections aren't yours,
But your flaws won't always hide...

I'm my own judge,
And you're your own too,
So judge yourself,
And the things that you do...

Because I'm tired of being judged,
By people who think they know me,
Who refuse to judge themselves,
Because they aren't as perfect as they could be...

Me, an interview and a job....

The increasing number of pages in accent shows the end of so called recession and people start to look for a change. I have given many interviews in last 2 years and every time there are some similarities, silly questions as well as the intelligent phrases.
Lets experience such an interview :)

Interviewer : Yes, come in. Tell me something about you miss.
Me : I am Madhuri etc, etc, etc....
In mind : Are dear, you have that whole CV in front of you, Read it, why are you letting me to explain the things again and wasting your and my time???


Interviewer : So why do you want to change your current organization?
Me : Well, my current job is good and people are co-operative but I want some more challenging work to do
In mind : Actually the thing is, it's very difficult to get a good hike in my old company. Even after the appraisals, it would be quite less. Changing the job is a better option.

Interviewer : What do you like about out organization and what is the thing that makes you to come and join us?
Me : Well, I feel you have lots of good projects covering a large set of domain. It would be a challenging and great experience to join etc etc...
In mind : Hmm.. I have already taken today's leave, so in the available time I thought lets try giving 2, 3 more interviews..and your office is quit near to my home..better option.
Also in the mid summer why to roam in 40' temp, better to sit in AC and give an interview...
Now could you please start with the technical questions???

Interviewer : Hmm yes, we do have a lots of challenging work over here. So where do you see yourself in the next ten years?
Me : Well, in next ten years, I see myself managing a project and people independently. Expand my competencies and acquire maximum knowledge in my work area.
In mind : Hehe what a question...I don't even know what I'll be doing in next 10 hrs and you are talking about 10 years man!!! For sure in next 10 min I'll be watching myself out of this cabin if you don't start with the technical questions now...

Interviewer : OK then lets start with the technical questions now...blah blah blah
Me : blah blah blah....
In mind : hmmm have i tried it? 7 security layers hote hai ya 8? hmmm not sure ek new create kar dete hai.... blah blah blah...
(Meanwhile I observe the office and get an idea about what package I can ask...)

Interviewer : hmm What's your current package?
Me : Well my ctc is ....LPA and other facilities include...etc etc...
In mind : are yaar...achha package hota to would not have taken a leave and come here for an interview...

Interviewer : What package you are expecting?
Me : I believe in challenging work and my preference is doing the work I like to do...However as per my knowledge and experience, I expect ... LPA etc etc.
In mind : kyu aise questions puchte ho bhai? If I say more, you will tell me how your company pay structure is and as per my experience, how can my salary be less than what I expected....If I say less, you will be happy and give me the expected offer!!!

Interviewer : When can you join us?
Me : In two months after completing my notice period.
In mind : Hmmm need to think, when should I drop this bomb on my manager and schedule all the kt activities...

Interviewer : OK, we will let you know in one or two days..
Me : Glad to meet you Sir.
In mind : huh...finally it's done...abe gadhe inta pakaya atleast ek cup chai to de deta....

Tracking Ghosts

There was an article in yesterday's Times with a header : Hum, Tum aur ghost. 4 students from Mumbai are doing a project in which they are tracking ghosts in various areas in Mumbai. Surprisingly they have found around 40 such stories in urban and crowded areas of the city. That reminded me of a discovery channel serial, Americas most haunted places. I used to watch it additively without missing even a single episode. Those painful stories of people and their deaths and how they have now became spirits and keep on roaming here and there and terrifying people around, used to fascinate me a lot! Later on I came to know that National Geographic channel also started a new series based on the same show in which they proved how we can create ghost stories and also ghost photographs. I don't know the truth behind it as who was right in this case but the Ghost thing always keeps on hunting my mind.
Since childhood we hear many ghost related stories from our parents, friends, relatives and neighbors. We make some assumptions about those and live with those in mind. I remember in my college days, we tried doing planchete to call the so called "Bhatakti Atamas" but got no results :( . However there are very few people who try to find out the realities and get answers the queries in mind. Existence of god, ghost and paranormal things is a big question for some people but also we can find many people around who can definitely say these things exist. In a developed country like America, they have largest number of ghost hunting groups, don't believe me? check the following details

Surprising right? Even on Google if you search, there are hundreds of sites dedicated to ghosts and their stories. Who knows what exists and what not, some people will keep on denying the subsistence of paranormal things and some people will keep on chasing those things to get the reality. Best of Luck for their search :)

Some Myths in and about IT

People do have some presets in mind about the people working in IT. Even while joining any IT firm, we also have many expectations and we tend to see those things from same point of view. But when we actually jump in the field we come to know the reality. :(
I am sure all the people working in IT will agree with the following things :)

1. Myth : Company Name matters
Reality : Only technology matters
Example : No need to give an example for this. We can see many people around us who have come from small companies but have a good knowledge in their technology and so getting fat packages and onsite opportunities.

2. Myth : College Name Matters
Reality : Only if it's a campus selection, otherwise no one asks you about your college.
Example : (Courtesy : PuneOnline) A person ABC, Engg from a small private college, not even government approved college, didn't even know the basic concepts like string comparison and all in third year. Did some certifications CCNA and moved in to ITIS. He got the job, works as a network consultant in London.

3. Myth : Marks Matter
Reality : No way... apart from campus selection.
Example : (Courtesy : PuneOnline) A person XYZ, Poor academics, didn't get a job in campus. joined a little company and worked on Symbian. A very rare technology hence earns multiples compared to the friends who got selected in MNCs and are in common technology.

4. Myth : If you are technically sharp, effective in communication, onsite chances are high
Reality : All depends on your manager, project and off course LUCK.
Exmaple : A person PQR, got almost 6 months of training in a technology which could have been done in 3 months. No knowledge of even using proper past, present and future tense in English, Working in US from last 2 years.

5. Myth : You know each and every thing in computers
Reality : We all know it, apart from the technology we work on, other knowledge is very less.
Example : An old person who lives near my flat, came once and asked if I could start his computer and fix it properly which was not working for almost an year.

I will add some more as soon as I find out the realities :)

No life without wife. :)

This is one of my favorite songs from Bride and Prejudice. Perfectly describes what a girl wants from her would be... Specially in arrange marriages, it's the question of every boy meeting her officially for marriage :- So what are your expectations from a husband?
To be frank even we don't know what do we expect from him...sometimes we overly-idealize the things as we see around us! Good job, great salary, nice home, caring parents all these things are there by default...But I really feel, it's not a product after all and we are not buying it from a market. We look for a person and not the materialistic things in life. Yes practical approach should be there but still we do care of getting a good human being with whom we can share our complete life...The following things may seem a bit bollywood style or unrealistic but yes girls do expect it...
1. A man who adores her, and respects her with all the flows.
2. A man who stands tall with confidence and thinks "thats my woman!"
3. A man who has earned respect, because of who he is to those around him, and not only to her.
4. A man with brains in mind and love in heart and life.
5. A man with a wit and ambition.
and obviously we do respect what his expectations from a wife and surely try to fulfill them. :)

....

One more day -

Morning @ 11 AM, place : Office
I logged in to orkut and one of my old friends pinged me. She said do watch my onsite snaps, I have just uploaded them on orkut. She is been in US from last 1 year. I checked the snaps and my mind started calculating (as every IT guy's mind starts for onsite). She is of the same age, same degree, less experience. She, being my good friend, I was very happy for her but somewhere I was a little frustrated....
Frustration level : 30%

Afternoon @ 2 PM, place : Office
Got a call from my friend, he switched his job in a big MNC...as the so called recession is over, got almost double hike...he also booked a flat in one of the best locations in Pune. he is younger than me...offcourse I was happy for him but again...
Frustration level : 70%

Evening @ 4 PM, place : Canteen
Another call from my school friend. She cleared her MBA from London and got placed in a nearby company with a well to do contract. Her wedding is been fixed with her boyfriend and would take place in June. I congratulated her, it was really great to hear from my very best friend about her success in career as well as love life...Yes I was glad for her.....but
Frustration level : 100%

Evening @ 5 PM,place : Bus Station
I was waiting for my 5:15 bus going to my hometown. A small girl about 8, 9 yrs old came near me. She was not a tramp but was wearing dirty and torn cloths. Excitedly looking at the people out there, the buses and was trying to mimic the bus conductor. She asked me if I want a ticket. I said yes please give me one, she gave me a piece of paper as a ticket and in return I gave her a chocolate. She smiled and it was one of the most temperate smiles I have ever seen in my life....I was going to ask her a few questions but meanwhile her mom came and said, "Pardon her, It's her first journey by bus and she is very excited. Thank you for the chocolate as she is eating it for the first time." I offered her a few more, she looked at her mom, her mom nodded, she took them and thanked me.

Evening @ 5:15 PM,place : In bus
I entered in bus, was still thinking about that small girl. In the seat next to mine, an old man was sitting looking very stressed and nervous. He was very thin, wearing a white kurta and dhoti. There was a middle aged man with him convincing him something. I tried to listen to them and found that the middle aged man was a member of an old age home. He was taking that old man to Satara's old age home. That old man started crying as the bus started, saying he still wants to live with son and daughter in law. The middle aged man was convincing him that it's not possible as your son don't want to live with you and has handed over you to our old age home. I couldn't recognize but strangely tears rolled out of my eyes seeing that old man crying. It was a mixed kind of feeling I was feeling bad for him but at the same time I had an urge to meet his son and daughter in law and ask them how can they behave like this....But It was not possible for me to do anything for him..

Evening @ 5:30 PM,place : In bus
Bus stopped at Swargate and few more passengers entered. A women with 3 children came and sat near me. Her 2 children were sitting at another seat and she took her 1 year child in her lap. Bus started moving and that women started a conversation. She was a bit talkative, though I was not much interested in talking with her, I couldn't stop her from talking.... In next one hour I was all aware of how her husband is, how her mother in law irritates her and how she was feeling good as she was on way to her mom's home. I asked her how she manages looking after her 3 children and she told her whole story. She got married at 16 and her husband was of 30. at 17 she got her first kid it was a baby girl, at 19 she got another baby girl and at 22 she got a third baby girl...her mother in law and husband were very upset with her and wanted a baby boy...everyday she has to listen to their taunts and say nothing keeping in mind that she has to brought her daughters up confidently and make them independent. She was just 23 and handling so much responsibility, I was shocked and touched....

I thought to share this with you as this day was one of the most happening days of my life. It showed me so many different scenarios and enlightened the most important aspects of life...Every time in life we compare ourselves with the other people, who is going ahead of us, we are ahead of whom, what the other person is getting and what we are lacking. We just need to remember every person has it's own ups and downs in life, life can be very lucky at times and very bad at another....Still people don't loose their hopes and keep on moving trying to make life happier, better and better....No Need to say, at the end of the day my frustration level was 0!!!