Continued Reservations about Reservations

This topic has been dealt with over and over again. But, as they say, we must continue to carry the torch forward. I have a problem with the "amount" of reservations and with the sections to which it is provided. There is nothing unique about my thoughts and they have been discussed before. I will just take up a particular case study of my friend who gave CAT, 2011.

He is a smart student from BITS Pilani who did his schooling from DPS Patna. His CAT score was:

Quant + DI - 99.36 percentile, 166/225
VA + Logical Reasoning - 99.79 percentile. 163/225
Overall 99.92 percentile, 329/450

10th - 80+
12th - 80+
College - 60-80
Work Ex - 1-2 years

He did not do Masters, like most people who go for an MBA. Including his "Applicant Rating" and CAT score, his final score came out to be 0.6935 whereas IIMA specifies the minimum requirement for an interview call for a general student to be 0.7050. I thought what if he had more experience, and checked if he would have qualified if he had 2+ years of experience. His score then turns out to be 0.7027, still short by a very narrow margin.

The calculations are done based on data given on this page, http://www.iimahd.ernet.in/users/admission/files/Short%20listing%20Criteria%20for%20PGP%202012-14.pdf

Check the eligibility for other category students.

NC - OBC: 0.595
SC: 0.521
ST: 0.453
DA: 0.462

As compared to a DA candidate , a General candidate needs to score 52.5 % higher [(0.705-0.462)/0.462].

With regards to ST candidate , a General candidate needs to score 55.6% higher.

Similarly w.r.t. SC candidate, a General candidate needs to score 35.3% higher.

W.r.t. NC - OBC candidate, a General candidate needs to be 18.5% higher.

How are such huge percentages justified? So in the same class, a general candidate would, theoretically be, 55% more qualified than another student?

My friend was in the top bracket in almost everything, except the 60-80% marks he got in college. How perfect are you supposed to be as a GE category?

One last stat, total no of general candidates called for interview = 561
Total no of reserved category candidates called for interview = 616

You decide, how fair is it?

Disclaimer - This article is by no means against the admission criterion imposed by IIMA, it is just against the corrupted system of reservation deeply engraved in our country's policies now.

P.S. Good thing is, my friend anyway wants to get through C. But, the issue remains.

Lack of Accountability

Today is the first day of year 2012. I should be happy and right now be thinking about all the awesome things that would happen this year. A ride through a part of the city today, left a rather sour taste as the night approaches.

What happened today is just an example of what happens on a regular basis on Delhi roads. It is not a pointed comment at any one religion. Today, a particular religious group carried out processions on a large scale in the Capital and other parts of the country. On the road connecting Ring Road with Rajouri Garden, Tilak Nagar, Subhash Nagar and Janakpuri, huge stalls were put up on the road, with kirtans going on full volume, processions on that side of the road (leading towards Janakpuri) and the traffic which was supposed to go towards Janakpuri were forced to travel on the wrong side. We were stuck on the half km stretch for about one and a half hours, listening to kirtans I didn't understand, I didn't care about and most importantly, I didn't want to participate in.

My anger is not due to the fact that I got late, though it did add on to the frustration. What bothers me is the lack of accountability. Guessing by the length of jam from all four sides of the road (roads joining the main road from the colonies) there would have been at the very least about a hundred thousand commuters left stranded in their vehicles. People have a variety of problems, some get nervous in such jams, some start having breathing problems, some ambulances were stuck in the jam hopelessly blaring their siren, some people might have their son or daughter waiting to be picked up from somewhere, someone might be getting late for their flight, national or international, someone getting late for their meeting. But at the end of the day, is there any accountability? In the name of religion, such processions regularly paralyze traffic in metropolitan cities without ensuring an efficient alternate route.

I believe you are free to practice your religion any way you want till the time it does not force bother on other citizens.

Individual events are unimportant. What is important is the tendencies which give birth to these incidents. Our apathy towards inconvenience to others and absence of accountability, which can force people to behave, is the core reason.

This was a vent post which I decided to write when I was stuck right there. It is not informative, it does not give any solutions. If you have any solutions, comments or constructive criticism, do give your feedback below.

Inspired to Thank the Almighty

If one day in the future, I do not have any friend, I sure hope I don't read this post.

God, you are Awshummm! How else could I be blessed with so many other friends? Yes, that is the only logical explanation that I have with me. God, you are Awshummm and you have a soft corner for me! :D

Where should I begin? I know where to end. So I will talk about now, like today, like 2 hours before now! I shifted to Raleigh 3 weeks back and I have just wonderful flatmates! Sid, Eeshaan and Anubhav. Before coming here, I was hoping I would enjoy with them, now they almost seem like brothers. Touchwood.

There was an awesome flat in Munirka. Some 10 mins walk from my place. When I was back in India..

Yes there were a few really crazy people, who came together every second day, sorry night, to just go mad! We use to play Dumb Charades, watch movies, go out for late night drives, sometimes dance, sometimes walk and well sometimes just talk.. It was amazing the amount of joy it seeped into my life.. It was an overdose but that really was one overdose I was glad to have.. :)

You know guys, they threw a farewell party for me. I can stand up to anyone and argue that it was the very best farewell party that anyone would've got! There were about 20 really awesome friends and my sister who made me feel so special that it would be unjust to describe it in words. There were disco lights, funky costumes, crazy posters, loud music and well a topless cake. I normally don't name people in my posts, but I take the liberty right now to do just that. Nidhi was the person behind it all. She is one person who can stretch her limits to really make you feel special. To do that one special thing for you that you can never forget. The farewell party was one of the many such things you have done for me..

Of course I have to mention Sonal di, Golu, Isha, Kawi, Nayan, Funny, Meena, Bihari, Vaishali, Deepali, Avi, Abhi, Mohit, Paggu, Haggu, Yash, Veeram, Dude, Shubhi.. Hemu, Ankur, Navneet and Ritu send me audio/video messages which were played then. I felt so loved. I cannot really bring that out clearer than this.. :)

There are some other friends on whom I have relied on and not been disappointed. Anshuman was like this life changing mentor that I found in my second/third year. He is now the most valued source of time pass for me.

Rupesh is the friend in my department who helped me take quite a few decisions. Actually forget decisions, he helped me complete quite a few assignments! He has been this mix of extreme intelligence, humor and an awesome attitude which I learn from.

Daddu was the reason I passed quite a few courses smoothly, including Optics :D Babba, Bansal and all my dulla and B.tech friends have been so helpful that if I start adding their names here, this post will never end!

Rudraksh is this guy from Amity who doesn't get tired of pinging me :D But he does ensure that I am never alone, when I am alone. I like it or not is a separate matter! ;)

Nabankur/Nabi was my seat partner in FIITJEE :D He came to IIT with me and he was one guy I could talk to if I was disturbed at 3 at night. Coz that is the time he use to come online ;)

Remembering FIITJEE, I met Ankur Sharma and Ashu then. They are both like brothers to me. And I feel they played a huge huge role in helping me through JEE..

Vandana, Aditi, Arunima and Khushee were four other awesome friends with whom I share some really memorable moments. The trio of Aditi, Arunima and Khushee were never the best friends and it was a regular routine on my birthday parties to be asked by one of them, if the other two are coming :D But I really thank them for making it to most of them :)

When I was in 1st class, I was partnered to sit with Neha. One morning when I reached she was sitting on the other chair from where she was supposed to and the one which was supposedly hers, was filled with water. She was not budging and our class teacher, when she came, also didn't have a clue on what to do. Then I saw Anurag and an empty chair next to him. He gestured to me to come and sit.. That was probably one of the first significant helpful gesture that I remember.. He became my really close friend after that :D

Before that I remember I and Ayush were like these crazy monkeys in KG. We used to run here and there even during the class when the teacher use to look away. I had a talk with him yesterday itself.

In nursery, I was in another school. In there I just remember three people. One hugely competitive brother and sister and my seat partner who had this "kada" on his wrist which I really use to fancy!

And of course my first ever friends were, well, my Dad, Sonal di and Sheenu di.. I felt I didn't need anyone else with them around. Of course when we grow older, we become more greedy ;)

Most of you would have seen this video, but just for completeness.

I feel right now that life is a sinusoidal curve and I am at the very peak. That feeling is awesome but at the same time I feel maybe its not going to be as good as it is right now. I wish to thank God, before its too late to remember his kindness. Thank you Almighty.

Love you my friends. You give me a high that keeps me floating. You give me support when I feel like I am drowning. You bring me down on Earth, when I become mad. You give me a reason, to smile. To smile really wide.

Was I a Ghost?

It was evening and there were only a handful of people outside their homes. I was taking an evening stroll feeling at peace with the world. As I passed under a street light, the bulb started flickering. I stood there for a second, it continued flickering. I went a little away, it stopped. I came back it started again. Was I generating EMF? Was I a ghost?

Was I dead? If I was a ghost I should be able to float. I gave my mind instruction to float, I could float mid air! I suddenly felt almost ethereal. But I was a ghost? When did I die? Or was I something else? I floated my way to the barber's shop under the Neem tree where I have got my hair cut since childhood. I looked at myself in the mirror. I almost jumped in horror at my own face! Barber greeted me like he always does, but in mirror I had a whitish face, hollow eyes, skeleton kind mouth and Michael Jackson's nose. Are ghosts supposed to look something else in front of mirrors? I thought they were supposed to be invisible, in front of mirror and not look like a demon. So what are we dealing with now?

I walked up to the market. I saw standing there, my friend with a pretty hot girl I instantly developed a crush on. I ignored the girl, hell I was showing attitude even after dying, and took my friend away and explained him what had happened to me. He didn't know I had died! As soon as I told him I am a ghost now, he started running, I stopped him. Not by holding him, but by moving my little finger! Wow I was getting the hang of it. I told him I am harmless but I need his help. I took him along to my colony and there was a blur. I don't remember how I told my parents about it or what their reaction was, but I did see my dad coming out with me in open, accepting the fact that a ghost was standing with them, ghost of his son. I was hoping Dean and Sam Winchester (from the famous Supernatural series) would come and rescue me from whatever I have become. Maybe if they burn my remains. I was cremated, not buried so there must be some portion of my body remains still unburnt.

I went door to door and gathered the people of the entire colony and told them to remain calm. I showed them my true self, a ghost and then asked them to help me RIP. "Please help me find my remains, it must be here somewhere!"

"Adityaaa!! Uthhh jaoo! Dus baj gaye hai! College nai jaana??" Huh? I am no longer a ghost? Oh crap why was I wishing for Sam and Dean to rescue me, they are fictional characters. I should have called on Himanshu Pande, the super fan of Supernatural, he could have helped me in real life.

Good Morning :D

Vemonsdale

Vemonsdale hosts a few legendary stories. Stories that have made a mark mostly on the protagonists of the stories and not really on others. So yes, they are legendary.

I will take you through one such story, which is pretty clichéd, with a handsome boy and a pretty girl and a lot of mutual friends. Lets not do the naming, as stories with names make more sense.

The boy loved the girl, the girl wasn't too sure. But she had read the Ground Report so said yes to him. What a rebound Sir!

The girl fell in love with him, totally. Maybe because he loved her, maybe because she liked the way he cared so much for her. Her love was not complete.

He said "It's okay" whenever she made a mistake, he said, "I'll take care" whenever she was worried, you know the usual good natured gas talk.

She was good at it too, said good stuff, made him pretty darn happy, did things to make him happy. She needed more time after a long time.

"Its okay" he again said, the all supporting, all talking champ, "Take your time", "I can wait", "I am a great kid", "Be with the one who will keep you happy". 'You will obviously come back to me'

What happened? Is he wrong? What time is it? Is it gone? He doesn't care any more, he has lost that wit, he has lost that smile, he wants to hit something, he wants to abuse, he feels strangled. He is free.

What a biased story, you say; what about the girl, you think. Enough thinking about that girl, the boy shouts; I listen. She is innocent.