Exactly after one Year..! ! !

Oh God...!!!

Its been exactly one year that i have opened my own blog to fill in something... Could you believe it? Indeed 2009 was a perfect beginning but then what happened next? No time to write 200 words a day? Oh Ashwin i pity you..!! Poor fella...!!!

2009 the initial months were very boring and then came the chance to come to Hyderabad. There was an apprehension in my mind that having spent 2 years in Mysore i questioned to myself that well, how can i stop this..!!! Then with all hopes i came to Hyderabad..(Oh should add something here..) What an eventful journey it was...!!! Spent 10 hours on the Highway without a "chai" to see the traffic cleared... Finally i was glad that i could make it to Hyderabad. That was quite an eventful day.

Travelled directly to Infy. Was glad that my room was ready and all i needed to do was grab my keys from the reception. I went to the room. There was already one person in the room. For some reasons my room was changed.

Got used to Hyderabad so much that and when you have nice people around you its always difficult to leave any place. Then i realized what made me stay in Mysore is not the place but the people around you. Swathi, Syam, Harinath, Seetha were to be mentioned here and the times with them were always memorable.

Back to square one... the purpose of travelling to Hyd is done and now i should go back to Mysore. For the first time i am feeling bad that i am going back to Mysore. Its quite surprising even to me how things change very quickly. But then i had to travel back. But one thing was in my mind that i will always come back to Hyd and its just a matter of time and so came the day. I spent only 17 days in Mysore before i left for Hyderabad this time permanently...!!!

I had mixed feelings when i was leaving all the memories with the trees and lush green fields passing by but at the same time i was happy that i am going back to Hyderabad.

Back to Hyderabad. Mission accomplished....

Dads voluntay retirement has to be one of the important things in 2k9 calendar and i am happy that they are here with me now..

2009 was indeed an eventful year and i thank 2009 for giving me some really memorable experiences....!!!

The Economic Redemption...!!!!

For some reason i always imagine present life scenario of everyone in the S/W field to that of Andy in "The Shaw Shank Redemption". Yes indeed even though its early days for many guys like me in the software field, i somehow feel like spending ages and desperately looking for a change and freedom from the Economic Downturn.....The hardest part is that you are somehow forced to do what you are doing now and you are just caught in the jaws of a crocodile...!!!

May it be Economic Downturn or the Shocks that we see these days in this particular field, everyone is so scared of SOFTWARE or IT to put it in a more simpler terms.
The other day i was just traveling to Bangalore by Bus in a Volvo when the co- passenger suddenly introduced himself and understanding that i am a Software Engineer, he was very concerned about the future of IT. My God what a pity...!!! The field which has just two years back attracted almost everyone on earth is facing a dearth situation now... That Gentleman had indeed a very long converstation with me asking whats the reson for this downturn and asking me when can we come out of this?

Well i could not answer many of his questions but certainly i felt happy that even in this economic crisis people are very concerned at least the concern has no Down Turn...

A PERFECT BEGINNING...!!!

What best beginning you want than celebrating your birthday on the first day of a happy New Year. Yes indeed i was one of those lucky guys who is born on a day when the whole world celebrates a new beginning, when lot of people wait to see a change in their lives, and many more people always hope something when the year turns around. It is this hope and wait that keeps all people going.

I still remember how i used to celebrate my b'day during my childhood. We used to compete among our friends in buying cards for our near and dear ones but now thanks to the "E- WAY" of sending greetings and in this generation of 3G, oh sorry 4G its hard for the good old ways of sending your greetings through a lovely card to sustain.

It all starts on the previous night every year, and so it happened this year too. Thanks to the lovely roomies who have celebrated my b'day and half of he cake was on my face. Going to office on this day will be a little boring but why not when you have a team which always looks forward to every one's birthday with full enthu and of course waiting for the cake..:)

I wish all my friends, near and dear ones, my well wishers and everyone a very happy,prosperous,healthy,peaceful New year ahead.

Hope it brings success, happiness in every one's life.

As it has always been, it was a perfect beginning for the year ahead.

Welcome 2009...!!!

THE YEAR THAT WAS...!!!

The year 2008 is coming to an end and its indeed an eventful year and more than that it was full of stress. I have gone through many learning curves in this year. Though it was hectic, at the end of the year i have a feeling that it always adds to you personally and professionally.

On the Professional front, there are quite a few achievements as well as challenges may it be an award or recognition or going home at 6 in the morning having stayed in the office the whole night and again coming back to office at 8 in the morning...

It all started in April when i took up a single module without having prior knowledge of what it is going to be a really hectic one. My room mates kept on telling me that i work so much but at the end of the day, i was just doing my job after all... There were times when i got really frustrated with all this stuff and tried to run away from the problem. This went to such an extent that i have convinced myself to quit this and go elsewhere. Added to all these, is the Economic Meltdown and the Recession where everybody is facing the heat. Its not easy to leave your job and days will be tougher and tougher...But as time passed by i realised this will not get me anywhere. So i slowly calmed down, analysed the things and kept going.

Now that i have spent more than a year in this Software field, now i understand why everybody has the same opinion that during your 1 to 2 years of software career will be really "HARD" but not "SOFT" .

The Year that was to me was full of learning Experiences and has taught me many things...

Looking forward to learn some more from 2009....:-)

STOP TALKING START DOING

Ever thought you could also bring a change in the society? Yes we can. All it takes is the will to do it nothing more than that.

After the aftermath of the ghastly terror strike in the country's history it is loud and clear that there is rage everywhere and it should be properly channelised, otherwise the future will be in question for the coming generations.

Whatever rampage that took place in the last week may not have happened because of the leaders failure but as we see, its high time that the younger generation of this country should come together and start a movement so that the coming generations can breathe safely in our own territory. The first step in this would be to choose the right leaders in whose hands we feel safe and secured.

I still wonder how many of us have made use of the right to vote. I am sure most of you reading this has not done it. We have seen campaigns being led regarding this, and i certainly feel that we should end this feeling of "chaltha hai" once for all. And i know most of us are out of our home cities, busy typing the hard keys of the keyboards in our Glassy, Posh secure corporate offices but at the end of the day, when we see these ghastly things happening again and again, its high time that we should do our bit to the society atleast by casting our vote to the deserved person.But thats only one of the many wasy of doing it.

Right to Vote is something which has been sleeping under the blanket for quite some time. Thanks to the sites like jaagore.com where irrespective of where you are living you can register online and cast "your" vote.

So its high time that the we the younger generation should realise this and make our own future secure by ourselves. As rightly said by some friend the other day in TV its better to die in a war rather than dying while dining with your parents in a five star lobby...!!!!

Its rightly said that enough is enough..!!! And we should STOP TALKING AND START DOING...!!!

Confessions(C) of a Software(S) Engineer(E)..(CSE)!!!

It was raining heavily outside. Dark clouds gathered in the sky and nature was in its ominous best. I took a break from my work and went to the pantry to grab a cup of coffee. I had a sip and went near the window to see the rain pouring down heavily outside the glass structure. I was inside our huge office building, unruffled by even the fierceness of the nature.

Through the heavy transparent glass, I could see a small girl trying to hold on to her umbrella which the wind was snatching away from her. I felt sorry for the girl, and was happy that I was not in a similar pathetic situation. Yes. I take pride for the fact that I am a software engineer.

I have everything which a common man would envy; money, status, respect, you name it I have it . I always wanted to be software professional and here I am, working for one of the best firms in the world. But then, am I really happy? Now, I could see an imprint of my palm on the other glass window, through which I reminisced my past, basked in the warmth of the sun shine.

My childhood was so much of fun. I vividly remember those rainy days, when I hugged my mother tightly during sleeping listening to all the stories told by her. Now, I have a big house here, but then it is just a house, not a home. My parents are pretty far away from me now. I have a cell phone to talk to them everyday, but then I really miss those dinners which I had with my family everyday. I could easily afford to taste all the different cuisines these days, but the best of food there, lack the love and affection which is present in the food prepared by my mother.

I threw a lavish party for my colleagues for my birthday, but then they would never replace the birthdays when my friends secretly brought a cake and at the end, half of the cake would have ended up on my face . The couple of hundred bucks that u save for a long period just to give a treat to your friends in the road side chat shop can never give the pleasure even after spending a few thousand bucks these days.

The scene of me crying and refusing to have dinner on the day when I fought with my best friend came to my mind. Today, she has gone far away from me, taking away my love and with it my life, but I am sitting and coding here with a false smile on my face. Everyday I meet new people, but then I long ceased to make a new friend.

It's true that I have a lot of things now. I have a nice bed, but no time to sleep. Lots of money, but no friends to spend it with. The latest designer clothes, but a worn out body . Awards for technical excellence, but no reward for the crave for peaceful ambience. A confident demeanor, but a reluctant and apathetic mind. Full of rain, but no sunshine even in the farthest distance.

Now, I could see the small girl on the road enjoying in the rain with her umbrella firmly in her grip. She might not have all the comforts which I have, but then she has the innocence and fun which I lost a long time back.

I have decided to come out of this false fantasy, even if it is at the expense of losing the tap of the software engineer. I am going to again enjoy my life. I am going to go out in the rain and play with the small kid now. I removed my tie, and went near my computer to shut it down. Just then, I saw a new mail alert in my mail box. I slowly opened outlook and I found a message from my manager with an attachment saying that there was a critical defect in the code and I have to fix it soon. I convinced myself that I am not going to get bogged down again by these pressures and stick to my decision. I ignored the mail and went to the rest room. After a couple of minutes, the software engineer in me came out, his shirt tucked in with the perfect tie knot, sat before the computer, and started typing,

Hi XYZ,

I am looking into the defect and will send the patch files before EOD.

Good Old College Days

Four years just passed by like the waves in the sea. Some moments I still cherish for they are still afresh.

It was the first day in college; parents were busy packing my bags to drop me at the college. “This shall be your new life starting just now” they said. At last I shall be independent I sighed and was glad.

I was still a kid, just out of +2 still struggling between child and human hood. There were lot thoughts, little money and big big dreams. As I walked in the corridor, my heart started beating even faster. Any body could guess I was a fresher for I was accompanied by others more or less like me.

Finally I was dropped in the classroom and asked to sit thankfully not next to a girl. I don't understand why some guys like me always feel uncomfortable with all small things like these.
I saw a girl, She was pretty, she smelled rose. I just closed my eyes and smelled her more. Then I turned and saw more of girls. I was happy I was glad for this was the best place I could have had.

Lot of handshakes lot of stories, lot of friends and very little study; it went on till Lunch. It was a quieter one as nobody would dare to go to the canteen at least not int eh first year. I always had a different perception of engineering life that's may be because of the effect of the movies we see.

Soon came the evening, or should I say the time for ragging. All were ragged inside the college buses scary punishments but understanding seniors. We were slapped, rebuked sometimes but still we were sportive all the time. I still remember, it was time for the internals and seniors asked us all to complete their assignments and write their notes. It went on for a month but it was all fun.

I still regret that we haven't had a fresher’s day, that has let us down and moreover it didn't gave us a chance to know others well.

We enjoyed while in the class. Teased the professor, threw chalks. Ate chocolates, played games and never listened. Bunked the classes went for movies. Sometimes hanged in canteen. There was little money more of love.

Then came the scary exams, the last minute notes, the night outs, getting behind profs for scores and preparing ourselves till just 20 minutes before the exam.

Once the results were out we would sigh “We need to do better next time”. But nothing changed on the academics side, rather love started booming in the mind. Most of my friends have met their lady love. Now life seemed to be brighter for some of them .

We had a batch of around ten, i would rather say regular ten and beach was the most common chill out place for us. The JASTI Square Panipuri one day and sometimes we chilled out at the chat waala at the beach. We enjoyed to the peak and we know that these days will never come back.

Finally the placements came, and all of us got jobs. It was now the final week, all of us were in tears. We thought would disappear our chit chats in the stair cases, our laughter in the canteen, the bottle of wine, the small cigarette, the borrowing of money, the late night talks, and finally the circle of friends.

Today….there is money lots of it…there is a job…and lots of cigarettes; But no friends. Friends I miss you all and my good old College days.