Wake Up India..She's Dead!!

Its now after New Year’s eve, but I do not find a reason to celebrate. Sadly, a strong fighter lost her life to a brutal, inhumane and unjustified case of rape. A lot of others have. Apparently life or dignity has lost meaning in this culturally rich, traditional country.
Some people simply say, “Why bother, things like this have happened before, and will continue to happen, no matter what”.  I think it’s high time, we started bothering. If the life of someone, so young could be just so cheap, then I’m scared. I’m scared because I’m 22, living in the same country and just like her, I studied hard, so that I could be a support to my family. I’m working, staying alone, away from my hometown, in a city not very known to me. I always felt that people from our generation should strive at making our country proud, but if this is what we get in return, then how would it even be possible to lead a normal, care free life, leave alone thinking of changing the country!!
She, might have gone ahead to be one of the greatest doctors of her time. But some people thought, all she was worth was satisfying their lust! We simply lost a person, who could have shown the world, why we are a “great country”. Maybe change “India” to “The India”.
Instead, she has become a symbol not of what is right about India but what is wrong with it. Where is the question of public safety? What are our so called elected representatives doing to curb the alarming increase of such incidents?
Oh well, they are busy blaming women themselves. Some well known politician even ventured to say that just because India is a free country, women have no rights to go out after 12. What is that? Freedom? Safety?
Has anyone ever molested or eve-teased a guy just because he was urinating on the road? Or because he was out after 12 in a pair of boxers? Then why discriminate? Why even say India is a free, democratic country?
I think such politicians and leaders should care enough to know that rapes happen everywhere in the country, at all times and all places. Be it the girl’s own home, a graveyard, a school bus or a public park!!
Saying that short skirts and high heels lead to rape is simply ridiculous, even funny actually. How a girl dresses is no one’s business but her own. If people take enough care to respect and treat her well, our country would be a far better place.
How many of us, (by us I mean girls strictly) have lived to date without being molested, teased, and leered at like we were objects of desire? I am pretty certain that none of us have. From family to friends, acquaintances to stranger, everyone just waits for a chance. Come on, we are humans. We have every right to live as fearlessly as any male.
People have even said that women and girls have no use of keeping a mobile phone, as people in earlier generations survived without them. So should we just stop accepting change, and advancement? Stay as if we are people from caves? I think people who talk that way, are the ones who actually still belong to that era.
I want to appeal to the entire male society, think of us as a human. I know saying stuff like you have a sister, daughter or mother will have no effect. Men are hardly bothered by the fact of who the person is. I want to tell you people, we talk to men, because we are social, not because we are looking for a relationship. If we add you on a social networking site, it does not mean that we like you. We do not wear skirts or dresses, because we want to get laid!! NO…we do it because it is our choice, because it may make us feel good about ourselves.
We have every right to do all the stuff that you do. When we can give birth to a child, we can even go to a pub. If we can cook for you, we have all the right to have a drink. Think guys, we are already known as the nation that is almost the most unsafe for women in the world. Is that what we want?
Each time a rape is reported, civil society reacts with anger and outrage, which unfortunately dies down and is forgotten, until the next time. The question to ask: what is the inflexion point? At what stage do we say collectively and in one voice: Enough is enough!! It’s high time we demanded justice for whatever has happened.
If people think, dignity is so cheap; we need to show them that it is not. We need to make them know what the consequence of such an action could be. The fear of a severe punishment is needed, to make rapists & eve-teasers realize that life is not about lust. That some girl has lost her life because they wanted 10 minutes of satisfaction. That someone would never be able to look at another guy, lead a normal life or step out with the same confidence ever again.
Not everyone is a fighter. We need to respect that. No one wants to be raped, but then not everyone can live with it. I know girls who have fought life, and succeeded, gone ahead to become stronger. But there are girls who are not that strong. They don’t fight, just give up. To them, I want to say, it is never easy, but life is very precious. Giving up for a person who had no respect for you, is just not something you should be doing. Get back there, fight him, see to it that he regrets what he did.
And then, no one really helps. Not us, not our known ones, and definitely not our leaders. When I first read the following article, (which has remarkably amusing quotes from renowned political people,) it left me astounded. Seems like people have lost their minds. They have no clue of what they are saying, and are simply shifting the burden of blame to someone else.

• ·         "Mamata is decorating her house with rape victims." - CPM leader Anisur Rehman
• ·         "Those who claim to be students - I can see many beautiful women among them - highly dented-painted (sic) - they're giving interviews on TV, they've brought their children to show them the scenes." - Congress MP Abhijit Mukherjee
• ·         "Delhi's burgeoning population trend is further exacerbated by the continuous and unbridled influx of people from all over the country". - Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit
• ·         "Have you ever heard of a Rs 50 crore girlfriend?" - Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi
• ·         "Kal tak paiso ke liye TV par thumke lagati thi. Aaj chunavi vishleshak ban gayi" - Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam about  BJP's Smriti Irani
• ·         "Rapes happening because men and women are interacting more freely". - West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
• ·         "From which bhatar (Bengali slang for a prostitute's client) did she get Rs 24 crore to fund the Trinamool Congress's poll expenses?" - CPM (M) MP Anil Basu
• ·         'Jaise jaise samay beet-ta hai patni purani hoti jati hai, woh maja nahi reh jata hai." - Union Coal Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal
• ·         "Only 'parkati mahilayen' would benefit from reservation". - Sharad Yadav
• ·         "Just because India achieved freedom at midnight does not mean that women can venture out after dark". - Andhra Pradesh Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana
• ·         "One of the reasons behind the increase in incidents of eve-teasing is short dresses and short skirts worn by women. This in turn instigates young men." - Trinamool Congress legislator Chiranjeet Chakraborty
• ·         "I don't feel any hesitation in saying that 90 per cent of the girls want to have sex intentionally but they don't know that they would be gang raped further as they find some lusty and pervasive people in the way ahead."  - Haryana Congress spokesperson Dharambir Goyat
• ·         'I think that girls should be married at the age of 16, so that they have their husbands for their sexual needs, and they don't need to go elsewhere. This way rapes will not occur'. - Haryana Khap Panchayat member Sube Singh
• ·         "Poverty and intoxication are the main reasons for rape as well as young people sitting together the wrong way. But also eating chowmein causes a hormonal imbalance which is a big reason for rapes." - Khap leader Jitender Chhataar
• ·         "There is no need to give phones to women and children. It distracts them and is useless. Why do women need phones? My mother, wife and sister never had mobile phones. They survived without one". - BSP leader Rajpal Saini
• ·         "If you're referring to the Park Street rape, see that is a different case altogether that was not at all a rape case. It was a misunderstanding between the two parties involved between a lady and her client. This was not a rape." - Trinamool Congress leader Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar
• ·         "International love guru Shashi Tharoor should get love affairs ministry." - BJP spokesperson Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi
• ·         Ban skirts as school uniform to reduce harassment of girl students: BJP MLA Banwari Lal Singhal
• ·         'The rape of grown-up girls and women might be understandable but if someone does this to an infant, it is a heinous crime and the offenders should be hanged': BJP MP
• ·         "Only 5-6 people are not the culprits. The victim daughter is as guilty as her rapists...
• She should have called the culprits brothers and begged before them to stop... This could have saved her dignity and life. Can one hand clap? I don't think so,” : Asaraam Bapu

  
Amazing stuff, isn’t it?
I still ask, how much more? What else are we waiting for?
In the mean time, a silent prayer to keep the lady who lost her life, as a human being, and as a part of the society that has morphed into a safe place for savages thanks to the rot that has seeped down from up above, all I can say is sorry, may she become the symbol that leads to changing mindsets and eradicating this social malaise.

We..the Ugly Indians!!!

Something I came across a few days ago..This holds true for all of us, at some point in our life. It is indeed so easy to play the blame game..So well worded!!

YOU say that our government is inefficient.
YOU say that our laws are too old.
YOU say that the municipality does not pick up the garbage.
YOU say that the phones don't work, the railways are a joke, the airline is the worst in the world, mails never reach their destination.
YOU say that our country has been fed to the dogs and is the absolute pits.

YOU say, say and say.

What do YOU do about it? Take a person on his way to Singapore. Give him a name - YOURS.

Give him a face - YOURS. YOU walk out of the airport and you are at your International best.

In Singapore you don't throw cigarette butts on the roads or eat in the stores. YOU are as proud of their Underground Links as they are. You pay $5(approx. Rs.60) to drive through Orchard Road (equivalent of Mahim Causeway or Pedder Road) between 5 PM and 8 PM. YOU come back to the parking lot to punch your parking ticket if you have over stayed in a restaurant or a shopping mall irrespective of your status identity. In Singapore you don't say anything, DO YOU? YOU wouldn't dare to eat in public during Ramadan, in Dubai. YOU would not dare to go out without your head covered in Jeddah. YOU would not dare to buy an employee of the telephone exchange in London at 10 pounds (Rs.650) a month to, "see to it that my STD and ISD calls are billed to someone else."

YOU would not dare to speed beyond 55 mph (88 km/h) in Washington and then tell the traffic cop, "Jaanta hai sala main kaun hoon (Do you know who I am?). I am so and so's son. Take your two bucks and get lost." YOU wouldn't chuck an empty coconut shell anywhere other than the garbage pail on the beaches in Australia and New Zealand. Why don't YOU spit Paan on the streets of Tokyo? Why don't YOU use examination jockeys or buy fake certificates in Boston? We are still talking of the same YOU. YOU who can respect and conform to a foreign system in other countries but cannot in your own. You who will throw papers and cigarettes on the road the moment you touch Indian ground. If you can be an involved and appreciative citizen in an alien country, why cannot you be the same here in India?

Once in an interview, the famous Ex-municipal commissioner of Bombay, Mr. Tinaikar, had a point to make. "Rich people's dogs are walked on the streets to leave their affluent droppings all over the place," he said." And then the same people turn around to criticize and blame the authorities for inefficiency and dirty pavements. What do they expect the officers to do? Go down with broom every time their dog feels the pressure in his bowels? In America every dog owner has to clean up after his pet has done the job. Same in Japan. Will the Indian citizen do that here?" He's right. We go to the polls to choose a government and after that forfeit all responsibility. We sit back wanting to be pampered and expect the government to do everything for us whilst our contribution is totally negative. We expect the government to clean up but we are not going to stop chucking garbage all over the place nor are we going to stop to pick up a stray piece of paper and throw it in the bin. We expect the railways to provide clean bathrooms but we are not going to learn the proper use of bathrooms.

We want Indian Airlines and Air India to provide the best of food and toiletries but we are not going to stop pilfering at the least opportunity. This applies even to the staff who is known not to pass on the service to the public. When it comes to burning social issues like those related to women, dowry, girl child and others, we make loud drawing room protestations and continue to do the reverse at home. Our excuse? 'It's the whole system which has to change, how will it matter if I alone forego my sons' rights to a dowry.'

So who's going to change the system? What does a system consist of? Very conveniently for us it consists of our neighbors, other households, other cities, other communities and the government. But definitely not me and YOU. When it comes to us actually making a positive contribution to the system we lock ourselves along with our families into a safe cocoon and look into the distance at countries far away and wait for a Mr. Clean to come along & work miracles for us with a majestic sweep of his hand or we leave the country and run away. Like lazy cowards hounded by our fears we run to America to bask in their glory and praise their system. When New York becomes insecure we run to England. When England experiences unemployment, we take the next flight out to the Gulf. When the Gulf is war struck, we demand to be rescued and brought home by the Indian government.

Everybody is out to abuse and rape the country. Nobody thinks of feeding the system. Our conscience is mortgaged to money.

Dear Indians,

The article is highly thought inductive, calls for a great deal of introspection and pricks one's conscience too....

I am echoing J. F. Kennedy's words to his fellow Americans to relate to Indians.....

"ASK WHAT WE CAN DO FOR INDIA AND DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE TO MAKE INDIA WHAT AMERICA AND OTHER WESTERN COUNTRIES ARE TODAY"

Lets do what India needs from us.

Thank you
Abdul Kalaam

 

DE-cluttering!!

Its been a long time I know. I just seem to fall short of words whenever I sit down to write. Lately I have been living a life of uncertainty. I have no clue as to where I am heading. I guess Im just preparing myself to accept whatever comes my way!!
Why is it that you feel so left out even when you are in a crowd..You have a routine, that you once enjoyed, but now it seems all that is left of life is following something you do not want to.

Well, I am a working girl now, and honestly a dedicated one. When I first joined the company, (i work for PUMA sports btw), I was in a place which was a complete new area for me. I never knew if I could make it even for a few months, well I sure did and I am super pleased about that.

Although, this is something I always wanted, an independent life, lots of friends, shopping, office treats..I seem to have a lost a lot on the way here.

• A good amount of people who spoke a lot about being good friends, hanging out because we are in the same city, seem to have fizzed out. I guess those were people who could just talk. 
• A lot of sleep, well when you have so much on your mind, sleep is obviously the last thing you can think about.
• A lot of family fun..stuff happening without me being there, so NOT happening!! :-(
• Alcohol..LOL..no one for company.. ;-(
• College fun!! I miss a lot of college and a lot more of the people I cant meet!! Lectures, shouting, screaming, fighting, bitching, notes..exams..results..fests..street plays..drama..masti!!
• Hostel Fun..Mid night maggis are not fun anymore..its just something I have to do, because, well I am hungry at 12.. :-P..coffee..is something that is a break from work at office..
• Freedom..to wake up when I want to..to go out..have tea..just the regular stuff, a regular girl should be doing..I am just 22!!! Please gimme a break!!
• Shopping..Well mostly due to lack of a female company, I have resorted to online shopping, which was fun in the beginning but not anymore..:-(

I guess it is a part of life..you lose out on relationships, people and stuff that was never meant to be yours. Though I miss all those times, somewhere deep within me, it feels nice to realize what was true and what was not!! I wish to relive some of the days, over and over again..and some, well they should have never been there in the first place, so good that they are gone!!

So thats just me..living a life that was not meant to be..or maybe, this was the way it was to be..

After Yesterday!!

AFTER YESTERDAY!!!

There are only two kinds of people, the good ones and the not so good ones. And it’s pretty obvious that everyone will come across both the types. It’s just sheer luck if you happen to befriend the good ones.

They are people who’ll hang on to you till the end. There are the ones who trust you, will feel that they have the liberty to reprimand you for any little or big mistake of yours. Others will not dare bitch about you in front of them. On your face they try and act all hard but in real they are just hard on the surface. Within that hard shell, is a person who is soft hearted, cares immensely but are hesitant to show or admit it and who are true friends. No show, just the real thing. You know you can be safe with them; you can laugh with them and cry in front of them. They’ll always be around. For them friendship is not measured by distance, time or any other materialistic or monetary reason. For them it’s all about being true, open minded and frank. They are neither judgmental nor are they back stabbers. They are on the face, smart and great people. They always speak the truth, no matter how much it may hurt and will keep you away from trouble even if it means getting their own hands dirty. For them it’s about keeping the spark alive, keeping their “dost” happy, and never letting the smile vanish. They would rush to help even though it may lead to sleepless nights for them. They do everything that knows will bring a genuine smile on your face, even if they have to behave like a clown. They are also strong critics who will work hard to see you climb the ladder of success, even if they are following. They are never jealous, sometimes demanding and generous givers. They won’t mind giving you their jacket if it’s cold, if they know it helps you. If you trip they’ll first graciously pick you up and then scold you for not looking where you were going. They will never take advantage of you even if they know they can. That’s big. Isn’t it? When they say something, they mean it.

Then there is the second type. They are the ones who make you believe that they are awesome friends, will go to any extent to help you, accompany you whenever you want and talk long hours. The reality is that at times they do, but as your relation grows, you slowly realize that everything they did for you are accounted deep within their memories and what you do is soon forgotten. Everything they do has a selfish motive behind it. They are sweet on the face, full of love but the moment you turn your back, they will not hesitate discussing things that they know mean so much to you, and you confided in them thinking that they would never go behind you. They would not even mind disrupting your reputation by stooping to levels you would never imagine if it helps prove their great self right. They lie to you, break your trust and will have excuses at their finger tips if ever caught. And trust me, when they try and convince you with that innocent face, you can do nothing but sympathize with them. They can change topics with the change of the second and they can change their personality just like you change clothes. When reality dawns on you, you can do nothing but wonder, how could have somebody played you all along and never made you realize what is happening. Their “Oh-so-sweet” nature fools everyone, and when combined with good looks, it’s a lethal combination that can slay even the strongest of people. They can make you feel guilty about not doing something for them, even if it means for you to put yourself in compromising situations, doing things you would otherwise never do. They are happy and pleasant till the time they know they’ll be showered with gifts, their work is done on time by you while they are lazing around. They would not hesitate to throw you out of their life as one does with a fly in a cup of tea. They would never turn back to see if you are alive or dead or if maybe now it’s time you need them. When you really do, they’ll find an excuse that you can laugh on, for not being there. They never actually mean what they say and are full of fake promises. They would never feel bad for letting you down but will make sure they kick the hell out of your life, till the time they’re there.

Everybody would have come across both kinds of people. So have I. Maybe for some people all the traits I talk about do not match, maybe none of them do. But still, even if the traits are different, the experiences are different but the personalities deep down are always the same.

I know a few people who fall in the first category-the good ones, and I can give my life for them. And now I know some who fall in the second category, I regret that I thought I would give my life for them.

Your life and your time are both invaluable. They should be spent wisely and efficiently, only on people who deserve it. I should have realized it long back, that it was fake all the way, but I kept getting deeper and deeper into the quick sand. And when I think of those people I know are true, I regret not having met some of them earlier in life.

For whoever is reading this, if you know me, you know where you fall. And now I take the chance to tell all of my first category friends that I will be there forever and also to all the people in the other side, I wish I had thrown you out long back.

Like I said, you know where you belong and if you don’t then you never knew me.

                                               

                                                                                                            With lots of love,

                                                                                                            Pragya Jain

Something I had a discussion about...

Well...today I had one among the most disturbing discussions in life...something that I never wanted to talk about..not because I dont care but actually am afraid to admit that its something I (and probably a lot many more) fear..the discussion was on DEATH!!
I really didn't want to go deep into it but a few sentences, make me think...deeper...deeper than I have thought ever before..
What exactly is my purpose...to live just because I was born? To enjoy because this is my only life?? To earn so that my generations can live?? What am I here for?
Honestly I have no answer to that..and probably I will never find one..How can I..
A lot of people would have thought of life after death..but what is the point of living after you know you have no way of coming back...to where you want to belong and not be stuck up in a place which does not interest you..only because you can continue to live. Is living life without a purpose..without meaning..without fun..family..friends...even worth living...Once you're no more you can never even know what effect your loss had to people you thought would be affected most by your death...actually that wouldn't even matter...coz even if it did...there would be nothing you could do about it!!!
All that will be left is a spire of smoke and a handful of ashes....
LIVE LIFE TILL YOU HAVE ONE...you never know what lies in the next corner of life foe you..LIFE..or DEATH!!

"The Un-Intentional Friendship"

Somewhere in a place unknown to you...away from friends..family n other loved ones..A place where you hace come determined not to make any "close" friends..it so happens that you find a person so completely AWESOME that u fall into a relation I now choose to call "The Unintentional Friendship".
           It all began when a girl met this guy at NIFT Bbsr on the 26th of July 2010. They belong to the same batch (MFM 2010-12). The introduction was through a mutual friend (Richa Shah) and the girl's first reaction was..."meri chahe kissi se dosti ho jaaye...iske saath to ..no ways"..and she guessed he felt the same..
  The same two people...sitting beside each other in the bus on the way to all places we went during our Orientation..the result...the girl was like "Baap re..Kya pakau ladka hai..koi bhi kissi ladki ko apni paanch pushte kaise bata skta hai.."..n then that GK test...she was proved so dumb..bande ne socha hoga..."Kya bewkoof ladki hai..pata nai NIFT me kaise admission mil gaya". The silence during half of the journey did nothing to help.
   Days passed....One day in the mess..dinner time...the girl notices that the guy is very tensed and frustated...she tries to find out from him..does not get a response. Later she learns that he was going through a rough patch of his life. She leaves it there. The next day..on the way to the city, the guy boards the bus with a plaster on his hand..n obviously in pain..both physical and mental. No questions asked..nothing was said..the guy doesnt even try to hide and the girl simply nods her head because she knew.
Khair...she helps him with his food..n he accepts with reluctance. There began the "pratha" of eating in the same plate.
Both of them dont know when they became good friends that the guy even called her at night on the 14th of August...n they both ended up having a sleepless night..
Regular classes...waiting for each other for food..times spent at the "pahad", the maggi station..and at lotus..sitting beside each other..either in class or in the bus..!! all this had soon become a part of regular life for both..
Their friendship grew...n with it increased (very obviously) habits, fights, misunderstandings and their bond.
Both egoists..with tempers so destructive that even I wonder...how two such people could actually even have a conversation without ending up at their wits end..
N yet there is this something special that both mean a lot to each other..there is an unconditional bond..
They fight..n both cant see the other upset...I remember the time when the guy cried..in front of the girl...n both of them felt simply pathetic..
They know each others strengths, weaknesses, likes and dislikes..they have long arguments about small things...n debate upon everything possible. They know what can irritate the other..what can make him or her happy...
The girl will do anything for the guy...n the guy cares equally as much..
They are now friends...so strong..that It would take a lot from a third person to shake the roots..people have tried by many ways...but have failed..all that happened was..for a short while..there were problems which vanished...leaving behind a bond even stronger.
The girl insists on things which at times pisses him off..coz she's still a kid at heart..very possessive and a bit immature...he on the other hand..is a strong socializer, n a person with strong cognitive ability..
N yet..they know how to pacify the other...one glance is enough to judge the mood of the other..
Simply, the girl enjoys doing things for him...not because she loves him..(a mistake cannot be repeated twice)..but she cares so because..

• He's always been there when she needed him..
• He understands and allows her to share her deepest thoughts with him.
• Inspite of all talks, he still sits next to her..
• He does things which he otherwise wouldnt have...only because she insists..
• His words..21st march 2011.."I will live my dream even if u achieve it"
• She found a great friend..a mentor..n a strong critic in him..
• He's the only one who knows what she actually is..
• He supports her whenever he can...n even if he cant..
• He cares, scolds, teases..at the end of the day...its all for her..
• He calls her "his Chotta sa Ghantan..Bachcha "
• He's open, frank n non demanding..
• He's accepted her friendship...as she is..
• for reasons...that cannot be explained through words..

The girl..(Yes thats ME!!) Pragya Jain, says THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING...Tarunendra Pratap Singh..

tan tan tan tan tan...

Fun...unlimited...

An inter college fest..which had excitements soaring...and which unfortunately turned out to be a disaster does wonders to create a negative atmosphere..drain out energy...n have loads of bitter memories!!!

Well...a bunch of students after a week's break..return to college..(in bhubaneswar..) for an "outbound programme"...we're filled with apprehension and clouded with negative energy..n unsure of what the programme will offer..

A cold morning..the 7th of January a group of 27 students board the bus for Puri..the venue of the programme.

Half of us are asleep..and the others are chatting away n sharing experiences of the holiday n new year. Two hours later..we reach The Tosali Sands resort..the first reaction..wow!!! what an amazing place...filled with green trees..water...beautiful rocks..the place sure lifted spirits and lives upto its name...

The check-in, followed by a welcome drink..n instructions to reach the conference hall in half an hour for the inaugural session had us racing to our rooms..Spacious..clean...an inviting bed...a well planned room layout...in short beautiful...!!

Late as usual..we reach the conference hall...to begin with the "outbound programme". The introductory speech by our faculty..was indeed inspiring and very very thoughtful..striking just at the right place. The first chance to meet the families of our faculty...who turn out to be perfect...the "made for each other" people..
The first activity was a self analysis..a series of 36 questions..to test how well we could work in a group...n show the qualities of leadership..much required for all of us...
The next one actually set us thinking about our life as we were asked to pen down the next 50 years of our life...according to our assumptions..including the best and worst phases of life..in a time span of 20 minutes..the task actually brought in seriousness which was lacking somewhere within...
well at the end of the first session we were a bunch of more serious people heading towards a pre planned path in life...
To set the mood light...we were then taken to the beach..a private beach...the gals all dressed in sexy shorts...a truck ride to the beach through a forest lane...sure had spirits raised...one view of the beach was more than enough to make us all go crazy..amazing...three hours in the water...salty waves..some beautiful photography...and appreciable tries at building sand castles..nothing could take away the spirit of oneness that encompassed all the students at the beach..who were later joined by the late comers...an experience of a lifetime..with the in between funny quotes by our faculty and their family...
We returned to the resort..all sandy...wet and tired. An amazing bonfire party which was whiled away singing songs and a bit of dancing round the fire..followed by a grand dinner..and an assignment of a book review.."Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish" again a group activity.
The next day...we wake up with a call from our faculty..posing to be room service (a caring gesture on his part to wake up every single student in every room). We rush to have breakfast..again a gourmet.
Followed by the breakfast was the second session...one which I would always remember..
A session which gave birth to a number of companies..A session which gave birth to SUTR...now the dream for the Founders..Monika Choudhary, Pallavi Khandelwal, Shubhangi Agarwal, Tarunendra Pratap Singh and Pragya Jain. What started off as an exercise ended up in a serious thought...to actually make "Sutr-Tying Threads the DESI Way" happen. To convert a dream into reality. Thanks to Jena Sir for indirectly helping us coming up with this idea..now an aim to achieve.
The second tasks..building castles out of blocks...was an excellent one. I learnt that by joining small blocks..one can actually achieve a lot..and dream big.
At the end of the session..we rushed to the pool..had a memorable time there..and following the pool party was the most awaited DJ party...the girls looking hot and the handsome guys dancing away to the music..for long hours, a break from the Sessions.
Following this..an unforgettable late night chat...tucked under blankets..sitting in the balcony..seven people..simple getting closer..strengthening their bonds..Love U Guys...Shubhangi, Pallavi, Monika, Shreyansh, Arun, Tarunendra and Me..Thank u all for a night I'll always cherish..a night that got me some of the best friends I can ever have..
The shock of our results...with mixed reactions kick started the day.
Though unwilling..we had to leave that day..a formal wind up session, where every single person shared their experience of the past two days..I still remenber Amit saying " We are going back as a more closely knit, organised unit" and Tarunendra "Don't plan for your life..you never know what may happen"..
An exciting trip..finally coming to an end..Monika almost had tears..it all ended with everyone exchanging warm hugs and taking away priceless memories.
A trip to Ramachandi beach, on the way back had us refreshed with coconut water and great fun..
And finally a bunch of tired students in a bus..heading back to their campus..to begin their next semester..but this time everyone could sense the difference..we came back with a motto..
In a nutshell, the experience was completely "AWESOME"!!
WE CAN, WE CAN, WE CAN.. and WE WILL, WE WILL, WE WILL!!!
Long Live NIFT Bhubaneswar!!