adieu, time to bid good bye to iisc

Yesterday I passed out of IISc… I felt a slight sadness while driving out, after surrendering my ID card and applying for an alumni card. I was too busy (to think) running around for no-dues etc. to note this ‘rite of passage’ until I got to the main gate.

My old boss told me, when I left the industry for another stint at the academia (I worked for a year before joining IISc) that “it (IISc / IIT) is just the brand, it would not profoundly change anybody”. But my experience is (was) different. The chance to interact with so many “good” students and faculty have indeed expanded my mental horizons, or so I feel. I should at this point launch on to a long list of people that influenced me on campus, but I’d rather not the list is too long. I would just say that it is a great place to be in. The first time that I got some “real” engineering education; well undergrad, unfortunately, was a sham.

IISc has helped me to realize who I am, for only when you are pushed (we definitely were) do you come to realize your true nature — your strengths, your weaknesses. It was, in that sense, a ‘spiritual’ experience. And I in turn learned to push the limits of what I thought was possible. It was not so much a technical education as it was a course on critical thinking (under pressure on a few occasions). The two years were indeed a profound influence on me, for I walk out converted. The institute also gave me (I am not sure others will agree) a test-bed to figure out what approach to work works for me and what does not, what ways of thinking I do excel in and do not. This experiment has given me the confidence, I hope, will do me good stead in the years ahead.

And now for a quote, for all the reminiscences are supposed to have one.

The great object of Education should be commensurate with the object of life. It should be a moral one; to teach self-trust; to inspire the youthful man with an interest in himself; with a curiosity touching his own nature; to acquaint him with the resources of his mind, and to teach him that there is all his strength, and to inflame him with a piety towards the Grand Mind in which he lives. –[Ralph Waldo Emerson, essay 'Emerson on education']

I think that IISc is doing (has done) that, and to have had an opportunity to have been there and done that – I am happy.

During the two years most of the professors have tried to hammer thinking to our core personalities the following quotes [un-sourced] are attributed to various prof(s) “Stop reading, start thinking”. “Never read more than two books on a subject, then its time to think”. “Stop simulating, start thinking”  and so on :)…

But at this point I realize that education is a life long journey, the joy of learning should never have to end, and you will never arrive at true mastery for it is a pursuit not a destination, a process not an end point. I hope this day that I retain the humility and curiosity for learning all my life. Wish you and myself a life of excitement and joy filled with opportunities to learn and think and in turn grow wise. I wish the institute and the future generation of graduates all the very best.

P.S: Long time no post! My sole defence is that I was busy graduating. From next monday I am back to the industry, hope to post more frequently from then on.

internships: deglorified jobs.

With the recession economy there has been some major changes in the hiring trends. The employers are becoming more aggressive and the prospective hires are expected to make considerable “sacrifices” in the negotiations (“Hell, (s)he should be happy to even be offered a job!!”). As time progresses the hiring strategies are moving towards / lower than the belt (for the hires).

The new effect that I want to report on is the “Internship”. Companies come to campus these days and offer internships instead of a full job and reduced pay + no job security (as in “what is a notice period?”). And there are people opting for these “opportunities” — its better than being job-less, right? There is no guarantees of full employment, at any point of time, and the pay is less than half of a normal full time employee (in most cases). The interview and test process is just as rigorous. The work is reportedly what you expect a normal employee to do (if not heavier). Sounds wonderful…. Some companies do semi-guarantee employee status once the economy starts ramping up. But why not hire as employees right now? If you need man-power to do stuff that you *have to do* — why not go ahead and do it? Why does the board of directors freeze up companies? I do not understand.

I have nothing against internship thingy, I am for anything that helps a fellow through — for these are tough time indeed. But what I fail to understand is — why are companies with cash reserves not employing people and starting projects which they really believe in? Its not like the market will never again be there.

This is an eye-opening situation for many of us — now we realise the need to save for troughs like thse, to have a kitty enough to survive upto n months without pay. And — rake it in when the times are good!!!. Like everything else this too shall pass….

recession made me realize…

I was always a control freak when it came to me (not anywhere else, I hope). I had my dreams, I had my plans, I had my stories…. but never before in life did I stand so helpless in the face of things – with no (or very limited) control over my life or my destiny – yes, I am talking about recession. Though it was frustrating for some time, it has made me a wee bit wiser, made me look at life, taught me to be happy about who I am, rather than who I can be. To start living in the now, rather than in the unborn future. Life, even in face of uncertainties, is fun.

recession bitching…

I am officially a casualty of recession, not in the ICU or anything but still got my cut. My offer has been reduced to almost  sub-self-respect levels, and I do not seem to care. Lesser pay Vs No job — that is a no-brainer. I hope I still have the job 6 months down the lane, though there is no surety, being placed in a start-up and all. Too late to realise that landing up in a start-up during recession is NOT smart. It is better to stick to reliable, solid companies. Chuck that, you probably don’t have much of a choice anyway…. Hiring is a two way street. I remember the boom years where studs were acting hard to get, now its the turn of the companies to turn the screw. And I hate it, being at the receiving end — bad time to be graduating. IISc made a smart move, inadvertently though, of have placements early  in August 2008 — before companies woke up to the realities of recession. That helped, the lesser supply (number of candidates — each stream has about 15 seats on average) also helped.

There was hardly any on-campus, I have only a sad smile when I hear off-campus — vestigial dreams. hmm…. Dream job — what are you talking about??…. Last year, around this time people were starting to go in for round two, the off-campus. Life is so arbitrary. Maybe I was born under the wrong stars, that is about as logical an explanation to the placement fiasco…. As always, I shall improvise.