Random Thoughts... Important Ones (Mar 16 - Mar 31, 2015)

As a part of my New Year resolution, I am gonna pen down 1 post (min 500 words) every fortnight.

This post has to be about the sensational discussion we started on FB by revisiting one of the most glorious events we organized at NERIST. It has to be about the initiative which some of us have taken to motivate current students to embark upon this truly magnificent journey of clubs at college. And without a doubt, this post also has to be about the ICC World Cup-2015.

Apart from writing posts for the LOC blog, couple of things I have been doing regularly are reading and running. Though with all the travel in the past month and partly because of the complex 11th book of the year - 'Fifth Discipline' reading has been slow this month. But that didn't stop me from completing the controversial book - 'Fifty Shades of Grey' while running all those miles in the past week. (Hint: Audio Book). 

Caution: Don't try this particular book with speakers ON.

Books read so far in 2015:

1. The Pregnant King - Devdutt Pattanaik
2. I am Malala
3. Private India
4. Kane and Abel
5. A Prisoner of Birth
6. Asura - The Tale of the Vanquished
7. What Color is your parachute
8. Karna's Wife
9. The sense of an ending
10. Our moon has blood clots
11. Timeless steel - Rahul Dravid
12. Fifty Shades of Grey

In the earlier post this month I mentioned how the name Tongam Rina struck as a familiar one. When she made the North East in particular and the whole Nation in general, proud by winning the CNN IBN Indian of the Year for Public Service. She was the guest of honor and part of the judging panel in the all-time hit Faculty vs Students debate which swept NERIST by surprise back in 2008. Congratulation are in order for her and here’s wishing her all the very best for her future. It was also a moment to reflect upon how the alma mater has been performing since we left it over half a decade ago. Thanks to some very thought provoking points shared by Manish da, Sachindra Pandey da and Barthakur Sir we got an insight that things are not very harmonious. Long comments were written about how things have deteriorated for nobody's advantage. Rohit Rai had been very instrumental in handling the fort from the LOC point of view.

But this is where LOC has been always relevant. As in this video, Debi beautifully explained that at LOC; we have always been the brand of people who don't sit there and let things happen the way they are happening. We are the ones who change things. And we are on track to do our bit to ignite that spark once again.

Desired Output: To enhance the communication skills, Build self-confidence, Excel in the skills required to work in a team.

How to do it: Current Students of NERIST should form clubs/ groups, formal/ informal, and meet regularly to discuss random topics. The size of the group should be limited and like-minded personalities should come together and stay invested for their own good and for the greater good of the group.

Once the groups are up and running they can connect with Alumni periodically  

Additional Advantages: When young minds work in groups, share their thoughts with each other not limited by any formal authority, there are very words apart from 'magic' which can describe what they can create or achieve. Having worked with young minds for over 5 years now, I know that most interviewers are looking for the stories (real ones of course) which students have to share. There is no two way about the fact that academics is the MOST IMPORTANT ingredient of the dish which anyone can cook during their college life. That builds the analytical ability specially from an engineering student point of view. But they are like the hygiene skills, the icing on the cake has to be the ability to share your ideas and the ability to work in groups. 

In short, this will help them with the interviews and if that's not enough it's a sure shot journey to self-discovery.

Stakeholders: Current students (Everything is about you, so you guys have to take the first few steps on your own), Faculty Members (Always willing to guide the students, students may have to choose the right one; at the right time; and at the right platform), and Alumni (Never before in history have we been so connected with NERIST and we are more than excited to guide and assist in whatever way we can).

Progress: Two groups of students (8 and 7) met three alumni members over google hangout where we set the context of the initiative. We focused on the importance of having clubs at college and shared our experiences with them.

Next Step: The idea is to encourage more and more students to form such concise groups and start meeting regularly. Every once in a while (when they want to interact with alumni, as in when they have specific questions in their mind about life beyond NERIST) they can set up a video call us; the third stakeholder.

 ICC World Cup-2015

Since I know enough has been written about the performance of the Indian cricket team over the past few weeks, I will keep my analysis very short. When defending world champions - India started the journey in the current tournament we had little hopes from them. May be all we wanted was a. A win over arch rivals Pakistan, B. No upsets against the minnows, and C. A decent fighting spirit against the mighty favorite teams.

India did surprise us all. Winning all their group league matches was no mean feat, where they played like champions. As an ardent Indian Cricket Fan, I felt proud of the team’s performance. They played to the best of their abilities against a formidable opponent who was better on their home turf.

The social media for a couple of days was full of nonsensical analysis of the loss and failed to recognize the valiant efforts of the whole team and support staff throughout the tournament. Sometimes social media can be such a headache.

Whatever is being written here are the personal views of the author and are subjected to agreement or disagreement. And a request to all members, Please share your views !!