Washing Our Sins!

         Hi guys, I am back here after a fast moving weekend; in fact, we are just back from a 1550Km drive through rain and slush, over this weekeknd. And purpose? Well, it was an attempt to wash off our sins....... a dip in Maha Kumbh and a detour to Taj (Czia's insistence did us in!)

                       Without getting into too many details, I would let the pics speak on my behalf........

The beginning.....rains splashed us first up as we hit Yamuna Expressway

Agra ...... one of the reasons for its fame!

The second reason for its fame..... this is the original Panchi Petha guy in Sadar Bazar!

This may not be a contributor towards the fame of the place but this chat street is good fun

Next morning....rains keep up with pace.... throughout Agra to Allahabad!

Rain had a plus point..... it created slush but gave us space at Sangam; rare during Maha Kumbh but we drove right till the bank of the river and took a dip

Water and there she goes!

Some works there!

Dip Dip!

Admin had made all the arrangements but when things have to go wrong, they will!

...when rains splash like this!

Time to sniff around......Atlantic Mall, Allahabad

Place we had dinner in Civil Lines Area

Sangam/Allahabad at 0400h in the morning

Rains did stop for a while but most of the camping sites were under water even though cops stood guard

Church near Civil Lines..... the affiliated Missionary School offers free accommodation to Kumbh Pilgrims (This is where our strength lies!)

It was a long drive back from Allahabad but Czia brought us here instead!

Girls' Talk

The main reason for Agra's fame......

 ...Taj never  fails to fascinate!

View from the Monument itself

Czia with camera

Co-existing in harmony!

Czia Again......the journey continues, Insha'Allah!

.......For complete story, please click HERE

                      Some friends have found my invites a bit weird! But we all must realise that this is an important time for the EBS since admissions will begin soon. This blog has pointed out some issues that may create some avoidable questions. This stage is a bit delicate and unless and until one is inside the EBS, some of the content of this blog may be perceived totally differently by him/her. Lemme say here, without any hesitation, that some flaws here and some communication issues there and yet WE ROCK..... EBS!
                             

The Rear View

           This blog, now almost 1400 hits old, was started by me to give a positive release to turbulences in my an otherwise hollow top storey. As it moved along, it became a kind of a mirror that would reflect some under-currents and issues that, in the perception of students, needed to be highlighted. There were some unfortunate incidents (more so on personal front) that got reflected too (courtesy limitations of a fallible human mind!) But whatever and howsoever this mirror might have reflected, the underlying thought and idea have always been that of being a part of the establishment called EBS. Through these pages, unseen by others, many of my colleagues at EBS, have given voice to their concerns and have actually found a release when it was needed the most.

             While all this is on, and if I am true to my claim of being a part of the family, it is but natural that I protect this work from public view. Our linen, whether dirty or otherwise, must not be washed in full public glare. Takes my mind back to the BC session of the day when we actually did discuss about such an aspect of communication. Through this post today, I intend assure you all that it has been a closely guarded effort and just to re-ensure (and over-ensure) the privacy, the privileges were re-visited by me today. Many of our friends would have got certain invites today and I am sorry for the inconvenience. But such an exercise was undertaken to ensure something that is very basic to such an effort unless and until intent is different (and it is not different in this case).

            Today was also a day to kill some communication issues. I am happy that we did succeed in doing that. A couple of issues merit attention as it seems to me that certain subtle differences in the perception at different levels do exist even as I key in these words. Having sorted out the privacy issue (it had been enforced soon after first few posts and has been reinforced today, as explained a little while ago), let me explain as to why certain posts like broken seats and bad projection systems have got mentioned in this blog.  Such are the issues that actually bother us on daily, rather minute to minute basis. And yet, despite our outlook as students, an effort is always made to bring such issues to the attention of someone in the chain of command. The effort is repeated (in case of furniture, it was done several times) and repeated and when nothing happens (at times despite some clear promises ..... earlier posts will prove this fact) or appears to be happening, the issue lands up here. I am sure all of us would grant us that much. Takes us back to my submission on more than one occasions regarding two-way communications. Even if some word comes in to tell us that such and such issue can not be dealt with as of now, we would rest assured that our point has been received properly. Then irrespective of aching bottoms and tired eyes, we would wait and certainly not feel disaapointed.

         It was nice to see a JCB in action outside the rear gate today. Many ditches that could scare anyone and hurt many cars, have finally been filled up. The area may look raw for a while but it would settle soon and we would be able to park without any apprehensions. It was a pending issue that stands sorted out today....cheers!

           Our exams got over recently. I would share a thought that came into my mind on one particular day......I did not know something and I almost wrote,"I refuse to answer this question on the grounds that it conflicts with my religious beliefs". 

                                              Adieu!

             

T-3

              T-3....... not the famed terminal at IGI but Trimester No 3 of PGDM 12'14 just got underway. A much better classroom, a hazy projection system (needs urgent looking into) and surprisingly, an old dirty projection screen (amazingly, it has travelled three floors upwards)....

             But the good thing (besides better classrooms) is the fact that there would be lesser amount of number crunching during T-3, at least that is what it looks like. For math-phobic creatures like me, it would be a great change!

            The past week (post last exam on Tuesday) gave us a break. Did zip across to Ajmer and Pushkar for a break and religious trip. It may sound funny but we had driven right till Dargah gates at Ajmer in 2004, only to get back without going inside! A much younger (and less immature) reaction to Khadim's objection to my shorts and their insistence on wearing a lungi to cover my legs. So, that time we had simply turned back it took us well over eight years to gain an entry into the place that grows on you as you enter. There is a great amount of positive energy that one feels as soon as one enters inside. Though cellphone (and built-in cams) are permitted inside (but not normal cameras), out of respect for the rules, we did not click any pics inside the shrine. But I did exercise my fingers both at the ethnic resort (Swaad Ri Dhaani) and Pushkar where we landed up the next morning. Some clicks to share....

 Her own idea

 Our Room

 Volunteer for the Magic Show

 Swaad Ri Dhaani

 With a Ladakhi Friend

One of many cultural activities

Another one....but this kid goes to school too!

Soup time.....served in kullads

(Phase 1 - plates are served ....... disposable ones; how unethnic though!) 

 Another view of the plates

 Part served - salads, pickles, chutneys and dishes

 Makki ki Roti, Wheat bread and Butter

 Mission Accomplished..... all gone! Burrppppp!!

The very next morning (10 hours later)....Hungry again!

 Brahma Sarovar at Pushkar

Show her the Water and she becomes unstoppable!

If we were to be re-born as pegions, this is the place!

Out Of Blue.... cafe and hotel

Age and Experience

Life goes on as usual at Pushkar.....for animals....

..... and people alike....

...except when shopper inside you stops you for a while!

Ajmer from a distance

Another bout of Rajasthani Food.... phase 1

Phase 2

Ethnic food or NOT, Uncle McD can not be ignored!

For Full Story, please click ...HERE

            ..........And yesterday, we hit Khadag Singh Marg for "Old Delhi Food Festival".... a nice change. It is open for all till 14th Feb and best time would be around 1730h so that you can have a round of snax before settling down for a show that begins at 1830h sharp; dinner would then follow! A heaven for cannibals!

The Humble Entrance

CHUSKI Effect

Cultural Show starts at 1830h everyday

       

Kuch toh Log Kahenge

                                                     

Second Trimester comes to an end today! And our short break of five days has just about begun. And as mentioned in this blog elsewhere, this chunk of our studies has actually flown past us at an amazing speed. It has been a mixed bag too. There were good moments and there were not so good moments too but then that is how life is supposed to be in the first place. 

            Things do change and so do the inter-personal relationships. As we get to know and understand one another, the chemistries, so workable till a point, start looking like some chemical locha(s). So, there have been certain developments on this front too. Our group has shrunk a bit but then that was required too. When compared with the Foundation Leg, some healthy trimming has taken place and our core group stands slimmer and smarter. There have been others who have found me, as a person, a difficult proposition to handle or deal with. 

But that does not affect my health since 'pleasing' has not been on agenda ever. There are not many whom I would even try to please..... let alone walking an extra mile or taking an extra step for that matter. Just got reminded of an incident when while commanding my unit, I had withdrawn my boss' ceremonial guard (he was not authorised that in the first place). Old memories do visit but always to assure and tell you where and when you have been right, general impressions and expectations notwithstanding!....बाकी  कुछ  तो  लोग  कहेंगे !

              Weather of Delhi had just about started to warm up a bit but nature has hit back with all its fury. It has been raining intermittently since yesterday; more regularly during the night gone past. Even though the chill has started to look a bit out of place, this is what has been happening in the hills for over a decade or so. Almost 12-12 years back, the trend in the mountains used be something like this - while the first flakes of wet snow would tumble down sometime in mid-Novemeber, followed by two odd weeks long spell of dry cold, it would generally get 'white' in the first week of December or so. However, it is now not unusual to get bombarded with snow in the month of February (and it happens every alternate year). I was at a receiving end in 2005, heard about it in 2007 and 2009 and got a taste of it again in 2011. And now in 2013, even though we watch from a safe distance, we know what is on in mountains further to the north. Well, that is nature's way of passing time and screwing us, the humans, for what we have been doing with her. Takes me back to the point in my last post. If we remain irresponsible as we have been for long and keep mucking up our earth, very soon we will find ourselves buried neck-deep into some kind of the rubbish. So, my friends at Era, as we celebrate this break, let us remain cautious and treat our environment sensibly or else very soon we will start having winters during June and summers during Christmas!

                         Enjoy the Break; Get Back Safely!