Trek to Kodachadri Peak

I had been pretty much frustrated with my work lately and badly needed this break.That’s when I decided that I want to go somewhere and after a week-long discussion with my friends ,we decided that we’d go trekking to the Kodachadri peak. So,it was decided that 12 of us would go on this trek.Many of them were first-time trekkers.This was the 3^rd time I was going on  a trek . The first one was when in my school days – Gangamoola Peak near Kudremukh.The 2^nd one was 2 years ago – to Chembra peak in Wayanad. I was very much excited for this trek as this was  going to be the longest trek so far .

On the previous day of the trip , I left office at 7. 30 p.m. and went to the nearby Supermarket  with  my friend to get food and other necessary items for the trek. We checked the weather forecast for the next day and it said – ‘Part cloudy and part rainy’ . This made us a little apprehensive as we were worried about leech attacks. So we brought salt,lime and tobacco too to fight  the leeches :-P

Day 1 -

Saturday , 4^th November 2017

Kodachadri Peak

Total trekking distance – Approximately 18 km

The plan was to leave Mangalore at 6 in the morning. But the schedule got delayed for about an hour and we left Mangalore by 7. We had breakfast at Shanthi Sagar restaurant at Udupi. We reached Nittur ,which is about 20 km from Kollur at 10.15 a.m.  The homestay manager Mr Rajendra was waiting for us near Canara Bank ATM and he showed us the way to the homestay which is about 3 kms away from Nittur . There is no mobile network here which is a good thing if you want to break away from the daily routine. The homestay was pretty neat .We freshened up and started the trek at 11.15 a.m.  Mr.Rajendra sent one of his guys to accompany us as  a guide during this trek.The initial 3  km walk was through kuchcha roads and through paddy and sugarcane fields.We walked through several bridges,streams ,Government Higher Primary school at Kumble and a couple of  huts and traditional Malnad-style houses to reach the check post. It was a bit sunny so we stopped at the check post to drink butter milk . Then we went alongside the backyard of the hut and entered the thick forest terrain.The path was slippery . We carefully marched forward through steep paths,streams and  fallen tree trunks. We saw several streams and waterfalls on the way.While we got tired,we settled on the rocks to catch our breath.

 

After a 4 km steep walk, we reached Hidlumane falls. It felt so good when the water spashed on our faces.There were few leeches near the falls. We were lucky to not have encountered leeches elsewhere.We stopped by  the waterfalls  for sometime and continued through the trail at the right side of the waterfall.The trek got more difficult with more steep and narrow paths.We had to use our hands to climb over the roots and steep paths. 

We climbed for another 2 kms and reached a grassy terrain.The meadows were inclined at 60 degrees and we could see the village and the huts that we passed through .  The sun was hitting right at our faces.The view from here was picturesque .This kind of terrain went on for another 2 kms and then we reached the point where we we had our lunch. The guide had arranged lunch for us.  We had buttermilk to quench our thirst. We stopped at this point for about 30 min.The guide informed us that we need to return back to the homestay as camping was not allowed at the peak after an unfortunate fire accident that occurred a few years ago as the fire from the camp fire left over by the trekkers ended up destroying a vast stretch of trees.It was sad to see how trekkers carelessly throw away plastics and litter the place. 

We continued on a jeep trail alongside the hill for about 2 kms.We were chatting with our guide on the way. He told us about the significance of each of the hills that we could see. He also told that we would come across wild buffaloes, rabbits and deers. As this path is regularly visited by trekkers, the predators don't venture into this stretch. 

We reached the Traveller’s Bungalow at 4.30 p.m . From here, the next 2 km walk alongside the hill to reach the Kodachadri sunset point was the most beautiful part of this trek. It was around 5 p.m. We could see the bright orange sun disappear amongst the clouds against the backdrop of a chain of hills. This was one of the most beautiful sunset I had ever seen and it was simply worth the trek. We reached the Sarvajna Peeta .It was here that Adi Shankara had meditated. It was 5.30 p.m .Few of them were very tired by then and rested at this point but as some of us wanted to finish the last 1 km stretch till the end point of the peak ,we sprinted towards the peak as it was getting darker and this was the most thrilling part of the entire trek. We were at 1343 m above sea level with wind blowing so hard that I felt like I will be carried away along with the wind. We spent a good 10 mins at the peak enjoying the moment. 

As it got darker,we paced faster down towards Inspection Bungalow point .We had to use our torches to make our way down the hill. As camping is not permitted in the peak nowadays,we had to return back to the homestay via Jeep. The jeep ride was a 40 min- bumpy ride through steep curves down the hill.As we descended the hill, we could see a beautiful view of the moonlight across the hills as it was a full moon night. We could also see few rabbits on our way back.

We reached Kattinahole at 8 p.m. where we stopped for sometime to have tea.

We reached back at the homestay at 8.30 p.m.We had dinner at the homestay and called it a day after singing songs and playing  a round of dumb charades around the camp fire and after endless talking and chit chatting ,we returned back to the tent  to sleep by  1 a.m. But the cries of the peacocks from the forest, kept waking us up throughout the night.It was around 3 or 4 in the morning when I could finally manage to get some peaceful sleep. I could sleep barely for 1.5 to 2 hours.  

I got up at around 6.30 a.m . Three of my friends had already woken up. We freshened up and decided to go to nearby stream.

The early morning walk was truly refreshing. We had a nice time crossing the streams and chasing fishes and playing in water.

While we returned, the rest of them had woken up. We had breakfast,packed up and left the homestay by 11 a.m. We visited a fort that was in ruins  - Nagara fort. The view from the top of the fort was beautiful.

Next , we visited the Kollur temple and had Darshan of the Goddess Mookambika , the deity who killed the demon ,Mookasura ( The mute demon).

We had lunch and started towards Mangalore. We reached at 6.30 p.m.

I was still lost in the solace that I could find at the peak.

And that's to an amazing trek!!

ಕಾಣದ ಕಡಲಿಗೆ ಹಂಬಲಿಸಿದೆ ಮನ - The ocean is calling and I must go

(This photo was taken at Someshwar Beach )

It has been quite long since I have last blogged. I have always loved to write but somehow I got pre-occupied with my life - coding and debugging for hours enclosed in my cubicle ,watching my colleagues talk on the phone for hours with the Business trying to figure out solutions to design and I amidst it all – I was trying to figure out my life and career.

All my life I have lived in the coastal city – Mangalore and as luck (or God?) would have it,I landed in an IT job at a company in the same city I grew up in. That is the reason,I always feel connected to the sea. When I am happy , I go to the sea.  When I am with my best friends, we go to the beach and we talk for hours about everything and anything under the Earth. We celebrate birthdays in the beach.We don't need any reason to go to the sea,we just go. We take life decisions here.When my mind is confused , the sea is where I go. The sea seems to have some mystic power to clear all the turbulence in my mind. And I will never stop visiting the sea. Every time I visit the sea, I learn something new and this day was no different.

It had been a hectic day at office. But since it was a weekend , we left early from office and visited the nearby beach.I was always mesmerized by the sea – the reflection of the sun’s rays making its way through the water, the waves and its vigor and the foam that it brings along with it and the hues in the sky. Each time a unique combination of hues and every time it is a beautiful picturesque view of the sunset. How can I forget the seashells that have been washed ashore, crabs digging their way deep into the sand to hide from humans and then,there are other sea relics washed to the shore – broken tree barks and starfish too.

As I sat down watching the waves rushing towards the shore , I remembered a song  composed by G.S Shivarudrappa in Kannada - "Kaanada Kadalige Hambaliside Mana" beautifully sung by C. Ashwath, a versatile singer.

In the song ,the river has been personified and the composer has expressed the feelings of the river.

The river is yearning to merge with the ocean which it has never seen before. It pictures the images of the sea by putting together all the things that it has heard about the sea -

ಸಾವಿರ ಹೊಳೆಗಳು ತುಂಬಿ ಹರಿದರೂ

ಒಂದೇ ಸಮನಾಗಿಹುದಂತೆ

ಸುನೀಲ ವಿಸ್ತರ ತರಂಗ ಶೋಭಿತ

ಗಂಭೀರಾಂಬುಧಿ ತಾನಂತೆ

ಮುನ್ನೀರಂತೆ, ಅಪಾರವಂತೆ

It means that the river is wondering how the ocean remains so calm even when a thousand streams overflow and merge into the ocean.The river has heard that the ocean is blue and vast and looks brilliant with the waves but still it is always very composed and unfathomable.It is calm and composed like a sage and is abundant(unlimited).

The river is longing to hear the lullabye sung by the sea.It is wondering when it will get dissolved in the ocean and will it ever be able to join the ocean.The river is questioning whether it will reach the ocean or not . It symbolises the deepest urges that every one of us have just like how we all run behind achieving our dreams.

The last few lines of the poem kept resonating in my mind -

ಜಟಿಲ ಕಾನನದ ಕುಟಿಲ ಪಥಗಳಲಿ

ಹರಿವ ತೊರೆಯು ನಾನು

ಎಂದಿಗಾದರು ಕಾಣದ ಕಡಲನು ಸೇರಬಲ್ಲೆನೇನು

ಸೇರಬಹುದೇ ನಾನು, ಕಡಲ ನೀಲಿಯೊಳು ಕರಗಬಹುದೆ ನಾನು

ಕರಗಬಹುದೆ ನಾನು, ಕರಗಬಹುದೆ ನಾನು

It means - "I am a rivulet that flows through twisted paths in the dense forests and difficult terrains. Will I ever be able to join the ocean that I have never seen before. Will I be able to dissolve in the blue waters of the ocean?"

I like the positive note on which the song ends.

I feel like I am the river and I am chasing my dreams - the ocean .I wondered what will happen to the river? Did it make it's way to the ocean yet? Where did it go? Oh.. what happened to it once it joined the ocean?  Does the river exist anymore? Did it lose its identity in the vastness of ocean ?Where am I? Have I lost myself and my identity in chasing my dreams? What am I going to become? How do I know if this is the ocean that I wanted to go ?

And then suddenly,it started to drizzle,I ran to take shelter under a tree. Far away in the horizon, I could see dark clouds pouring down the rain directly into the ocean. And I started wondering about the journey of those rain drops that ended just in a few minutes.But where did it originally come from ? The river ?  Then what about the rain drops that fell far away from here, on the top of the highest of mountains ? Isn’t it the origin of the river? Ah! I felt so happy. I felt so light .This is cycle that the one above us has created. I learnt a life lesson here. All of us chase our dreams but it is the journey that we make that is important. It is important that we make this journey else we will become like stagnant water . Go chase your dreams ,lest your life will come to a standstill. Don't be lazy and useless ! 

 Rivers can teach us a lot about life.Rivers change things. They change the landscapes and create new landscapes as they make their way through rocks and mountains.In our journey,we meet a lot of people.Our actions create a long-lasting impact on them.I hope I have managed to create a positive impact on atleast a handful of people that I have come across in my life.Rivers speed up through difficult terrains. That is where they create magnificent terrains. Ah yes...those waterfalls and streams that we admire ! This is how our reactions to difficult situations shape us and our futures. 

At the end,the river flows calmly. All that fighting and rushing through the rough terrains are to achieve the serenity and peace at the end. This is a valuable life lesson which we can learn from the river.Rivers flow down hill and not uphill. When they reach the end, they just make another way.And that's the way we should chose our struggles.We are so caught up in our path and the obstacles we are facing that we often forget why we are on the path in the first place. When we reach a tough situation,we should take a step back and ask ourselves, “Is there an easier way to get to where I have to go?” 

We all have goals-whether it is family or career or responsibilities. In our journey, we can learn from the river to always have those goals in mind and to recognize the things we can change and accept the things we cannot.That is the ultimate way to the sea. The way to your dreams.

I felt so happy. I have etched this song on the sand and on my mind forever.

My mind is still humming - ಕಾಣದ ಕಡಲಿಗೆ ಹಂಬಲಿಸಿದೆ ಮನ …

You can listen to this beautiful song here - Kaanada Kadalige Humbalisidhe Mana

Fall in love with the stars......

Isn't it true that magic exists?Aren't you touched by magic when you feel the silence of the stars? When I stare at the night sky,the stars seem to pass through my soul. My soul seems to set in darkness. Under the rays of the moonlight ,my spirit seems to have reborn. Once in a while,it's good to dwell on the beauty of life. Watch the stars and see yourself running with them.
The heaven might be beautiful.
But it's good to fall in love with the stars......

A souvenir from the past :A memoir of My Great-Grandpa

(Inset photo courtesy : Rahul Aursang)

In this age of nuclear families, though there are no increased obligations that leads to generational divide, it has to be indubitably acknowledged that it is the MEMORIES that fill the glasses and plates in the family reunions and get together blending the emotions of family members of all the generations.

On one such family get together,my uncle(my dad’s elder brother),caught up telling us stories.Dopa,as we cousins fondly call him,( Dopa ದೋಪ is short for Dodappa ದೊಡ್ಡಪ್ಪ in Kannada,translates to English as Dad's elder brother or uncle).My uncle,being the eldest of all,knew most of the stories of my grandfather’s father(Great Grandpa),Devashya Subbappa Gowda, as he spent a lot of time with him while helping him take care of the agricultural farms and  accompanying him while going out for fishing and hunting.In fact,it was my Great Grandpa who first introduced my uncle to English alphabets. My Great Grandpa had primary school education. He was born in the year 1889.The importance of education had not been prominent yet. My uncle served as the Assistant Deputy Director,District Food and Civil Supplies in Mangalore,Dakshina Kannada District.He is currently living his after retirement life reading books on Kannada Literature and Indian history.Being an Arts Major,my uncle Devashya Chinnappa Gowda, has a very keen interest in reading books.

. . . . . . . . . . .

The rest is History......

In those times of 1960s-70s,when technological developments hadn’t yet made an impact in rural areas of Yedamangala ,Sullia Taluk,currently in Dakshina Kannada district,activities such as fishing,hunting,traditional cock fight(Kori Katta,Koli Anka),buffalo race( Kambla) were the only form of entertainment and sport for the families that were solely dependent on agriculture. Bhootharadhana, Daivaradhana and worshiping the Hindu deities formed the basis of family customs,beliefs and traditions.Our family belonged to the Vokkaliga Gowda community.There are theories that we may have come down from Sakleshpur more than 300 years ago.These events form the aftermath of the invasion of  Kodagu by Tipu killing thousands of people.While some of them settled in Sullia,the rest went to Kodagu(Coorg). The major difference between Gowdas from Mysuru,Bengaluru, Hassan,Shivamogga(Shimoga) region and  Gowdas from the coastal region is that the latter follow 'gothra' (hattu kutumba, 18 gothra) system during marriages.Majority of the population in Sullia belongs to Vokkaliga Gowda community.Some have also settled in nearby places like Puttur,Bantwal and Uppinangady.They speak two languages ,Tulu and Arebashe.Arebashe,also known as Gowda Kannada, is a mixture of Kannada which is unique to Vokkaliga Gowda Community which happens to be the business language in Sullia and Madikeri and even the other population speak it now.Hence,we came to be known as Tulu Gowdas,coastal Vokkaligas and Kodagu Gowdas.Initially,coastal Vokkaliga Gowdas relied solely on agriculture.Though they were landlords who owned large pastures of land,they did not gain recognition in an alien place which they made home about 300 years ago due to lack of education.A majority of Gowdas took part in an historic revolution that took place in 1837 known as Amara Sullia movement to gain freedom from the British. Since there were not much educational opportunities available in Sullia during the earlier times,the community had started migrating to nearby port city,Mangalore(Kudla as we fondly call it in Tulu) since Mangalore started flourishing as an education and industry hub and became a centre of trade.

The scenario has changed drastically now.There are many educationalists,philanthropists,politicians, engineers,doctors and businessmen in the community now.  Powered by the visionary leadership of Sri Kurunji Venkatramana Gowda, Sullia has been converted into a modern learning center of the country.D V Sadananda Gowda has emerged as the central railway and law minister,26th Chief Minister and BJP Karnataka State President.People have migrated to Mangalore,Bangalore,Mumbai,Delhi and in fact,all over the world in search of greater opportunities.

. . . . . . . . . . .

My Great- Grandpa’s fishing story

This story is what my uncle told me.

My great grandfather loved fishing a lot. Well,for him,fishing was an art and a talent.The art of making the perfect fishing pole and fishing net and talent of catching the fish and possibly bringing home fish to eat.Some days ,there was a good catch and other days,there would be nothing at all.The day for going fishing was decided, the lead was bought and molded by melting it.Once the casting was done.Ropes were used to make the perfect fishing rods,sinkers and fishing nets.Frogs and earthworms were collected  to be used as baits to catch fish. Handling fishnets was an expertise that every fishing enthusiast tried to master.Some of them were experts in handling their fish nets. Others would simply try to throw their nets.If their nets got stuck in the rocks or the bush,the fish nets would loosen and tear and would be no longer usable.My Great Grandpa was the one who taught my uncle to make a perfect fishing rod and a fishing net.

My great grandpa would go fishing with his brothers,friends and some helpers.My uncle who was 18 years old then ,would also accompany him. They would pack their food and set out on foot to the river bank in the evening.When they used to reach the designated spot it would already be dark .It was the age of kerosene lanterns and not high beam torches.Lanterns were kept a little far away to scare away wild animals in the night.It was a practice to stick a tree branch into the silt ground in the river to mark the level of water because sometimes it would rain in the hills upstream and the water level would increase downstream all of a sudden.

It was a Thursday.25th November 1971.The destination was the Urumbi river site.It was the place where the two rivers Kumaradhara river and Gundya(Yettina hole or Kempe hole) river joined.The Urumbi river site is close to the Pandava’s Pond.Mythologically,it is believed that the Pandavas lived in this place for some time.

Once they reached the designated spot,the nets were tactically placed.It was an excellent fishing ground amidst thick forest.Some of  them kept guarding the place,others kept a watch on the net and few others dozed off under the tree and the river bank.Time passed and it was almost dawn.My uncle woke up but was sad as there was no catch yet.It was time to pack up and return.Everyone started retrieving  their nets.My uncle went to collect his net too.He was shocked to find a big fish trapped in it.He called out to everyone.His happiness knew no bounds.It felt like an bountiful catch. Everyone came to his help.The big fish was making all its efforts to escape from the trap.Since the fish scale is slippery,sand was used to gain grip to hold onto it.After an apparent tug of war between my uncle and the fish, the fish was caught.It was an eel-like fish known as Malejji in Tulu.There were smiles on everyone’s face.The last minute victory made an everlasting impact on everyone.

The catch was brought home.My Great Grandma cooked the fish for all of them.It was 26th November 1971.My Great Grandpa was served the fish curry in his brass plate and glass bowl.He relished on the food.And so did everyone who gorged on their prized catch.

It was 27th November 1971.Saturday.My Great Grandpa, as was his routine ,he took bath in the morning and watered the Tulsi plant. But on that day,after he watered the Tulsi plant,he collapsed near the Tulsi Katte( Tulsi pot) .My Great Grandpa died at the ripe old age of 82 . Grandpa lived a good and long life . To this day,everyone remembers him that he died doing what he loved most- relishing the fish he caught. He was a friend to all and made a place in everyone’s heart.He was able to be a spark that changed the course of history in the family .I am very proud of him.

Sometimes we take our lives and the lives of those around us, mostly for granted. We assume that our friends and loved ones will always be there. Why is it that we always value things and people only after we've lost them?The right thing to do is to make the most of the time with them.

Do you realize that we too are making a history?

Sometimes man makes history and sometimes history makes the man.....

-         -  Manisha Devashya

Random musings - I

As I sat in my balcony brooding over the thoughts that come to my mind, I figured out that there is nothing more complicated that anyone struggles to understand more than the convoluted structure of life, the deeds we do in life and all the connections we try to forge during our lifetime. There has been numerous occasions when I have tried to succumb to the desires of penning down all the stuffs that whistle in and out of my mind. Voila! Finally, the day has come.

Silence

The vast universe and your mind has its own way of communicating to yourself, be quiet enough to listen to it. When there is a conflict between mind and heart, listen to none. Yes,I mean it. Give it some time, the conflict will clear on its own.

Happiness

Some find happiness by staying close to their roots. Some find it at home .Some travel the whole world to find it. Some find it doing something that they love. Some find it in their work. Some find happiness in a person. Ultimately ,you have to find what or who it is.However,when you let go of toxic people and discard evil thoughts, it paves way to a happy and a peaceful life.

Attitude

Being strong is as much an illusion as being weak is.Begin every day with a smile and a positive attitude.It will make you realize how much stronger you have become than yesterday.

Change

Every life experience will help you metamorphasize into a brand new human being.Make sure your changes are positive.Before you bring about a drastic change,remember that you have to begin with a small change first.

Love,Care and Trust

No matter how good you are ,you may end up making bad choices.It is human to make mistakes.Forgive people who don't deserve it too.When you have good intentions and good character and you keep your promises,you surround yourself with love,care and trust.You just have to care to make a difference in someone's life.Be a good human.Be a friend to all.

Whereas once you tell a lie ,then all your truths become questionable.Remember that you are the one who made yourself vulnerable to the benefit of doubt.

Fear,Mistakes and Failures

As I emphasized before,it is only human to make mistakes,but never forgot the lessons that your previous failures taught to you.In your lifetime,it is impossible to commit all the mistakes and learn from them.Rather,learn from other's mistake too.But don't begin to judge them.Think before you speak.

Negativity

Do not feed the demons that are inside of you.A wise person never pays attention to gossips.Being negative only makes your journey more difficult. Do not get stressed over mindless drama.

Anger and patience

You are no one to judge others.Start defining yourself without blaming others.Expectations always hurt.Listen to what others have to say as there is always two sides to every story.But make decisions on your own free will.Do not let your thoughts to trouble you.You are the architect of your future.You will feel at peace,once you begin to accept yourself.

Dignity,Respect and Honor

Learn to respect yourself first.Stop comparing yourself to others because it undermines your worth,your education and your parent’s wisdom.When you feel your dignity is at stake,just walk away from whoever or whatever it is.Do not make excuses.

Life Goals and Success

If you do not put in your efforts,the goal shall remain merely as a dream.You can have everything you want in your life.But never give up on the things that you already have in your life. However, it takes good timing, the right heart, the right actions, the right passion and a willingness to risk it all. If it is not yours, it is because you really didn’t want it, need it or god prevented it.

Time

Focus on reality.This will help you make the most of whatever time you have on earth.Make time for people you love.

No one has understood everything in life.There is no magical potion to solve everyone's problem.The process has just begun in me and I have a long way to go..... :-)

Life begins where fear ends....

            

          Unmindful of the everyday things that happen, life has always been whizzing past even though you may choose to stand frozen at your place. I must say that life can sometimes be as intoxicating as it can be but it sure depends on you whether you decide to savour every moment in life or frown upon your misfortunes and keep complaining instead of focusing on the positives.

There may be times you feel you are at the point of self-deception. A kind of vacuum. But these moments of nostalgia will be ebbing away slowly from atom to atom,cell to cell,inch by inch, gram by gram if you confront yourself.With time,the whole of you will be at peace.A sense of satisfaction will engulf you, like these lines from a Javed Akhtar song from Zindagi Naa Milegi Dobaara(ZNMD)...


Dilon mein tum apni betabiyan leke chal rahe ho.
Toh zinda ho tum!
Nazar mein khwaabon ki bijliyan leke chal rahe ho
Toh zinda ho tum!

Hawa ke jhonkon ke jaise aazad rehna seekho
Tum ek dariya ke jaise, leharon mein behna seekho
Har ek lamhe se tum milo khole apni baahein
Har ek pal ek naya samaa dekhe ye nigaahe

Jo apni aankhon mein hairaniyan leke chal rahe ho
Toh zinda ho tum!
Dilon mein tum apni betabiyan leke chal rahe ho
Toh zinda ho tum!


So, as I end this post, I smile and I savour the sound of raindrops hitting the roofs, and I am thankful for being the way I am, and where I am, today.

Journey down the Memory Lane....

         

       As I sit down to type this before my computer, memories flash in my mind. My mind goes back to 7 August 2011. I stood at the entrance of M.I.T.E. The place was alien with a whole lot of new faces. I realized that I had to get used to the huge red and yellow buildings and the lush green lawns as I had to spend my four years here. When I came out of the CET Counselling hall with the admission slip in my hand I hardly knew anything about the college. And what a decision it was – in return for an engineering seat in this college, I got back innumerable friends and loads of good times.

8 semesters,46 subjects and 15 labs !!! What an amazing journey it was!!!   ☺☺☺

       As classes started, I realized that what we had learnt in class 11 and 12 was to secure good marks but engineering really meant playing with or dismantling different types of things around for the ease of humans, but very few among hundreds had that knack. After four years, I am still not able to answer aptly what engineering is all about or what have I learnt till now. But, we sure have come out stronger. It has taught me to lose and also enjoy winning. It has taught me to be gentle with gentle people and tough enough to fight the world. It made me learn enough to step into the real world.

As a computer programmer would put it: If at first you don't succeed, call it version 1.0. ☺☺

        It is not too late from the time I was grooving to the tunes of Sunidhi Chauhan, enjoying the chilly night and working my brains out in the technical events that were a part of the yearly extravaganza - our very own Sentia which concluded just yesterday. One thing that was bothering me was that this was going to be my last fest at M.I.T.E. Time had passed in a flash and my tenure at this amazing institution is coming to an end in a few months’ time from today.

        Right from Stacks, Circular Queues and Friend Functions to Exception Handling, Intrusion Detection Systems and Black Box testing, it has been a WONDERFUL experience! Each and every experience has been like a practical lesson that I got to learn and all this could not have been possible without all my dear friends. All the fun we had helping each other during exams, how we enjoyed so much during our free time and the great roller coaster ride called project, everything will be imprinted in my memory for a long time to come.

         The first year of engineering must have been the most memorable year for any of the students in my batch. I think all of us would agree that the Fresher’s Day in our First Year –when Milange had first taken its form - was the best one we had. The best part about being a fresher was that the college management had not divided us according to branches. This gave us a chance to interact with people from all the branches for one whole year. This helped a lot by keeping us acquainted even when we were separated from the second year on wards. I can remember it clearly – Chemistry labs  in the main building with temperatures reaching boiling point, all students fresh PU graduates- absolutely clueless about what engineering is going to be like.

          Soon the first year passed by and the second started. Along came a whole lot of new experiences and excitements. From the happiness of subjects such as EVS, CIP, Physics and Chemistry going away and the main engineering subjects coming in, to being scared after being scolded my lecturers for not completing the assignments, and from being warned by lecturers several times for not wearing ID-card around the neck, each day some way or the other brought new experiences along with them.

         Soon this place, became an integral part of our lives, the place started to feel like a second home. As the semesters progressed, the timing of classes started to shorten, but the timing of leaving the college still remained the same. If the classes got over early, we visited the CCD or the canteen and then came back to class to complete our lab records and goof around with friends. Time just flew by, and today when I think about it, it’s hard to believe that it has already been four years.It just feels like yesterday I was walking in the campus for the first time, nervous as to how my experience will be.

     The main excitement that came along with the even semester was the fest -SENTIA!!!Participating in every event possible and staying back till 11 P.M. in the college to attend all the events till the end, each day making memories, having fun with friends. It was all amazing!

         The Second year gave us a taste of the core Computer Science subjects whereas the third year got us firmly entrenched in the grind.

          Most of our college placements took place soon after fourth year started and a lot of us got into good companies. The Final Year has been an altogether different engineering degree by itself. Working on the project, maintaining 75% attendance, preparing for seminars, giving other competitive exams and the actual semester exam required the skill of a professional. However, all said and done, at the end of it, all of us have come through stronger. It has been the most eventful year of our engineering life. The most important fact that I learned was to never take the whole placement thing seriously. It’s true that one failure brings in a lot of disappointment and opportunities are thin on the ground but there is always something better in store for you. It makes sense to see the placement process just as a learning curve, observing the places that we goofed up and areas that we need to work upon. But we should never forget our strengths and should always know our worth and be patient and should not rush into things.  I just hope this might help anyone reading this in some way or the other. Just remember to stay calm, honest and polite along the way. Have fun and never take things too seriously. ☺

         Now as the journey is almost come to the end, with the last semester going on, most of us knowing the next step ahead to be taken in life, and few of us still deciding, it's still hard to say goodbye to this place. The memories created, and the experience shared shall never be forgotten, and the bonds and friendships created are to be maintained forever. However, let’s face it. Life begins on the day we step out, graduating from this college. What we had till now was a protected environment. Our biggest nightmare till now was getting a backlog. Now, bigger challenges lie ahead in life. But because of the last four years, this time, we know one thing for sure - we can handle anything that comes our way. 

          After being in M.I.T.E. for four years, I have learnt how to give my best in the least time possible. The hectic time tables have given me a painful vision of my future office hours. But I don’t blame those time tables anymore as they were at least helpful in giving me a mock training of my future professional life.

           College life is incomplete without friends and M.I.T.E. gave me a lot of MITEians from the brainy and geeky to the mischievous. I was glad to have friends of all make. Being with friends transformed those teeny-weeny 5 minutes gap between the lectures to some of the funniest moments.

Apart from the degree and an offer letter, I will take a loads of memories that I will cherish for life. I am deeply indebted to each and every person - from the Chairman to the security guard - in this amazing institution who have worked day in and day out to make my stay at M.I.T.E. a memorable one. The kind of support and co-operation I got from all the faculty members at every stage has helped me a long way in becoming what I am today. ☺☻

            As we’ll walk out from here, the college walls will bear the story of the most precious years of our life. Our hearts filled with the best memories we could ever make- The times we laughed, we cried, we screamed with joy.☻☻☻

            This journey has flown by. To my juniors worrying over trivial things, just take it one step at a time. I've found that M.I.T.E has made this journey easy and enjoyable, and so far I think my experiences are pretty positive. Sure, I've had some late nights, tough decisions, and interesting discussions, but I feel like that’s all included in the process. Until then, live well and live with passion!

         To end what has been a pretty long post, I would like to say that the last four years have been an invaluable experience for me. I can’t imagine the number of friends I made in this mini-city called M.I.T.E., and now, I’ll be leaving many of them, hoping to see them as happy and as cheerful as they are now.

Sayonara M.I.T.E.!

Press F1 to continue.... ☺☻☺☻☺☻

When will these moments come again?

My mind was always eager to finish this phase of engineering life and start a new phase of life elsewhere. My dreams were being decorated with so many things to do-the places to visit, the fun and the frolic, the happiness of achieving greater successes in my life. My mind yearned to break out of the routine. But today, I feel my heart wants me to stay back .It is telling me to slow down my pace and live in the moment. I wish I could stop the time or at least go back in time to relive some of the best moments again.

When I think of the petty things that made me sad, I smile. Some memories keep haunting you. We friends felt that these four years of engineering was passed with  great difficulty  and we wanted it to end soon but I don’t know why I feel I am going to lose something soon. Some of the best unforgettable memories made here are going to stay with me throughout my life.

Who will to tease me anymore? Who will irritate me every morning? Who will to remind me of the things I keep forgetting about? Who will accompany me during the last minute exam preparations? Who will call me with weirdo pet names? Who will listen to the nonsense I have to share? Who will ask for treats for every little thing that happens? Who will I go shopping with? Who will accompany me to have ice creams and visit places? Who will I share these wonderful memories with? Who will boost my confidence when I feel down? Where shall I find these friends who are the first ones to tease me but they never make me feel lonely,ever.The laughter and the jokes that we shared make me laugh even now as I pen down this…..

When will these moments come again?

My First Interview Experience

True, the best thing that happened to me is Engineering because that’s where I discovered what I really wanted to do. Finally,it was the D-day - My life's first Personal Interview for the company I was waiting for since so long - INFOSYS.Nervous gestures,hopeful eyes and last-minute preparations decked up the entire auditorium where all the students short-listed for an interview had gathered.

I walk slowly. I can hear my heels against the granite floors. I can hear my friends discussing some programming concepts. I can hear some people wishing their friends on the way to the Board Room, where the PI would be conducted. But my eyes refuse to focus on the intricacies of the day. Instead, they blur out into the distance. My classmate waves his hand at me. I have never seen him dressed as much. After all,it was his Personal Interview.He had finished his PI.He wished me luck as I proceeded to wait for my turn outside the Board Room.

I thought I was having a cold feet .But,instead,I felt really comfortable talking to the interviewer.I was a little bit nervous in the beginning ,after all it was my first interview.After a few moments,I found myself in a composed state.The interview ended on a good note.

After about 2 hours,the result was announced.I was selected in the Infosys Campus Placement Drive and my joy knew no bounds.

Thank you mom and dad for being a source of inspiration as always.

My Hostel Life

Those were the beautiful days.The greenery,the cool breeze and the rain that drenched the entire hill captured within it some of the unforgettable sweet memories at Mite- A beautiful campus located amidst nature.I don't know if stones turned into diamonds here,but there sure has been a positive change in me.As a soon-to-be Engineer,I sure have learnt a lot of lessons here which will guide me in my future.I'm all equipped to face the corporate world now -The office politics,running behind targets,meeting deadlines,work pressure,fake smiles and what not...phew !!!

What more,it's been almost 4 years in Engineering and I'm still alive !!!

As a fresher in college,I was always treated well.seniors were very caring and friendly.

It may be the three-phase circuits taught by Chandran sir or the equillibrium of forces taught by Upadhyaya sir or projection of solids taught by Rajesh sir ,learning has always been fun and enriching.

I have gulped down some mild basic solutions while pipetting it out upto the mark,strained myself to make a fitting model in the workshop and have broken many hacksaw blades in the process, won first place in quiz,had some argumentative discussions during the GD sessions of placement training and physics seminar.When I look back,I feel it was so silly.Anyways,they say all's well that ends well.

Though my bonding was more towards my hostel friends,we did make friends with the day scholars.The 'kurkure' we ate during classes,the 'truth and dare' we played during free hours,the dog-and-the-bone game we played in the open library ,the visit to 'Cool Tech' for an end-sem meet-up are all that I can cherish now.

Life gives us just one chance.We can never go back to the good old times and relive the moments or mend the mistakes.What I say is,whatever you do,do it right and even if it goes wrong,don't regret,makes amends and have a new start to life, right now!

What makes my first year of Engineering more special is- The hostel life !

If you never got a chance to stay in hostel,you seriously have missed something in life.This is where you learn some basic lessons of life.

You develop an ability to eat any kind of food.Trust me, if you've eaten in a hostel mess, you can eat anything, anywhere.

You start valuing your parents and siblings more than you did because you will realise how boring life will be without those arguments with your mom and pampering of your dad and fights with your siblings.

You become economic in spending money and cut out unwanted expenses.

You will get to know when the assignments are supposed to be submitted and you get to 'refer' the assignment from the girl who finished it first.

You get help in completing records especially the CAED sketches.

And Maggie becomes your life-saver when you miss the mess food.

These were some survival lessons learnt in hostel.

Freshers' party – ‘Milange’ was a blast.Even after the DJ,we friends at hostel were awake till 3.a.m. chit-chatting,gossiping and dancing.

Power cuts at hostel were always fun time.First,the girls in the hostel would scream and then the boys in the boys' hostel opposite to our hostel would join the chaos by screaming again.

We used to have hour-long gossip sessions in a friend's room revolving mostly around their crushes or any random topic and the group would would get bigger with the passing time when all the girls in the floor would join in the discussion.

And then there were shopping times in the nearby city - Mudbidri ,lunches and home-delivery from a nearby restaurant ‘Panchrathna’ and visits to the Hanuman and Devi temple.

And then there were consoling times when some friend would have been going through tough times or is facing some problem or is having a rift with another friend.We would be the mediators and make peace between them.

We took turns to use the washing machine and waited for hot water from the heater.There were times when we would gather in a single room to watch movies.Horror movies and Korean movies were the favorites.We engineers are night owls.Who can believe that we watched movies just 2 days before our semester exams.and that too it was Vidya Balan's movie- The Dirty Picture.Well,the movie isn't that bad as the name sounds.But,it indeed showcases a harsh reality of the society - sexual harassment of women.

But,when it was study time,we were serious.We helped each other by clearing doubts and learning together.The whole corridor would have many settlements of groups of students with a water bottle and study material spread around them.This was the common scenario on the night before the exam.

I can recollect discussing current Indian politics instead of studying for Constitutional Politics exam scheduled for the next day when all my friends had gathered around me when I was reading out and explaining the MCQ question and answers for them.

When we entered our respective branches in 2nd year,we did miss all this.

Those days are stored in my memory and I'll miss it for the rest of my life.

These 4 years of engineering life is where you explore and define yourself, make and break your future, build your personality and waste a lot of time trying to figure out what you really want from life.

This Shayari is one of the Whatsapp forward I recieved recenty from a college buddy few days back and it pretty much sums up what I have to say :

Yeh din yuhin guzar jayenge,

Shayad hum dost bichad jayenge,

Naaraz na hona aap,hamari shararaton se.

Yehin toh woh pal hai, jo aksar yaad aayenge.

Three cheers to all my friends who have my 4 years of engineering life special.

Smiles

Smiles are free.A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.The other day,my friend was asking me how is that I keep smiling all the time.He added that whether I don't get affected by the outside world.I could tell him only one thing that life has taught me- "If my soul can smile through my heart and my heart can smile through my eyes,then why shouldn't I scatter my smile in other's hearts."

It's always kind to smile at people who you are acquainted with.Don't judge them.Have a heart.They are all fighting a battle you have absolutely no idea about. That stranger who pushed you down in the busy street might just be hurrying to office/college.That grandmother who is walking with her stick in the park might be missing her son who has not returned from U.S. since 2 years.The girl that you like to hate,simply because you feel she is heartless and rude might be having problems at home or in her personal life.That 'lonely' girl who keeps to herself in college might be recovering from a 'bad' breakup.That friend who just called you up to say "hi" might have actually been going through a tough time at her college.

The problem is we jugde people too often.We hurt them unknowingly.We never really think as to what they are going through.Everybody has battles that they’re facing, struggles that they are going through.None of us are perfect.We are all fighting our inner demons and trying to make life perfect every single day.




Instead of engaging in gossips and "hate talks" about them,have you tried to ask them and know their side of the story too?

This,I tell,because there is always 3 sides to Every Story:
One is 'Your' side.This is what you know,what you have 'heard' and what you feel.Second is 'Their' side.This is what every 'other' person knows,what they have 'heard' and what they feel.The third side is the TRUTH and to a large extent it is true.And this,you have to be matured enough to understand.

For a minute, can you stand in their place and think ? If you were at their place,wouldn't it upset you if people often misjudged and misunderstood you ?

If you're having a bad day, chances are someone else is too.Sometimes,we need to forgive others ,not because they deserve forgiveness but because you deserve peace.

So forget the hatred and the anger.Be happy.
Smile often.Spread love and happiness instead.
God has indeed sent you here for a special purpose.
Be special.Be human.Spread joy.