Beautiful Pictures

One of my friends while forwarding the pics said "It seems as if one has already lived and then betrayed each and every part of it."

Commitment


Sorrow


Innocence


Departure


Pain


Solitude


Passion


Respect


Compassion


Grace



Friendship


Music


Wait


Stranger


Rescued


Best friends

Getting VTU Transcripts though Post

I have been trying to find out how to get the VTU transcripts through post for some time but have not really found a good source of information on the internet. The VTU website is useless and give no information whatsoever while the rest of the blogs focus on the 'Traveling to Belgaum' part of it. Howevere since i am based in Kolkata, its not easy for me to do that and anyways i have already visited belgaum earlier so the 'Transcript Tourism' does not really hold good for me. So i decided to find out more from VTU itself.

I called up VTU this week (Not an easy task - I called them for 3 consecutive days before getting through. For the brave ones, the number is 0831-2498136. Either the phone kept on ringing or it was busy) to inquire about getting the transcripts through post and they told me that i need to send a mail (the slow one!) to the Registrar, VTU containing a covering letter mentioning the USN and the number of transcripts required. The cost for the same is Rs 250 for the 1st one and Rs 150 subsequently for each extra copy. I asked the person specifically if i needed to send xerox copies of my marks cards also and he said NO. Just the draft in favor of the 'Finance Officer, VTU, Belgaum' for the total amount and the covering letter is required. However i am going to play safe and send the xerox copies nevertheless. He mentioned that it will take approximately 10 working days from the date of receiving the application to process the request. Mention 'Official Transcripts' on the top of the Envelope just to make it clear.

The address to which this mail needs to be sent is: Registrar VTU, Visvesvaraya Technological University, "Jnana Sangam", Belgaum-590018

Now that i have sent it, will keep this updated as to the status of how long it takes for VTU to send across the documents to me. Hope it helps!

UPDATE - The Transcripts arrived today, i.e on 24th May. So it took approximately 20 odd days for the process to be completed. This seems a reasonable time considering that the entire process was conducted through post. The contents of the package include 10 sealed envelopes with "Official transcript on (sic) the Candidate" mentioned at the top with my name mentioned and the Registrar's signature and VTU stamp on the flipside right over the flap. There is also an unsealed copy for our use to understand the contents.

Also an important point for people who are applying to Universities where its been mentioned that English Language tests are not mandatory in case the medium of instruction was English during the period of Study. On the VTU transcript, this is mentioned very clearly. So basically no TOEFL for me which is a great relief considering the paucity of time and resources.

FAQ's related to the post:

FAQ Part 1
FAQ Part 2

Extraordinary People - Susan Boyle

Think about the following:

1. This woman suffered oxygen deprivation in her childhood resulting in learning disabilities
2. Her classmates teased her because of this and because of her appearance
3. She stopped her pursuit of singing to look after her sick mother who died in 2007, at the age of 91
4. This was the first time she had sung since 2007, after her mother's death
5. She is unmarried and unemployed

When 47-yr old, grey-haired, double chinned, Susan Boyle, who lives alone with her cat and claims she's never even been on a date, walked onto the "Britain's Got Talent" stage and claimed that she wants to be someone like Elaine Page, she elicited snickers and rolled eyes from the crowd.............till she started singing!

A quote from her Fan Site - "Before her performance, Miss Boyle told Geordie hosts Ant and Dec that she's "never had a boyfriend" and she has "never been kissed before". Her previous singing experience was limited to the church choir and karaoke. The audience and judges laughed as she said she would like to be as successfull as Elaine Paige.

Susan soon turned that laughter into tears, Piers Morgan described her as stunning and "the biggest surprise in three years on the show" while Simon Cowell said she can go back home and with her head held high."

I personally do not think that i have ever seen a performance such as this. This person shattered all perceptions that this vast gathering might have had of her and turned their laughter into tears within moments. She shamed the crowd, the judges and us...who look at a picture perfect world as a standard, by just living her dream on that stage...

Lady, you do not need to be Elaine Paige. Susan Boyle is as good...if not better!

P.S: She might be on the verge of getting signed by Sony Music or BMG as per various reports.

Song Details: I dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables

I dreamed a dream in time gone by
When hope was high
And life worth living
I dreamed that love would never die
I dreamed that God would be forgiving.

Then I was young and unafraid
And dreams were made and used
And wasted
There was no ransom to be paid
No song unsung
No wine untasted.

But the tigers come at night
With their voices soft as thunder
As they tear your hope apart
As they turn your dream to shame.

And still
I dream he'll come to me
That we will live the years together
But there are dreams that cannot be
And there are storms
We cannot weather...

I had a dream my life would be
So different form this hell I'm living
so different now from what it seemed
Now life has killed
The dream I dreamed.

Pandora's Box - The greatest Head Fake?

I was reading the story of the 'Pandora's Box' and in Greek Mythology, it goes something like this:

Zeus decided to punish Prometheus and created the woman named Pandora who later in life marries Prometheus's brother. She is a naive woman but has been given a strong sense of curiosity. When she is given a jar by Zeus to take care of but never to be opened, because of this curiosity, she opens it and lets the evil out of it. We are told that that the only thing that remained in the jar was Hope. This was the salve that was provided by the gods for all the ills that had been unleashed on the world.

Now just think...is it not Hope that is the biggest evil and not the rest of the ills. Hope that tells us that there is a bright future, hope that tells us that life will be good, hope that tell us that we should keep striving, hope that tells us that the grass is greener on the other side, hope that tells us that's gods justice can be delayed but one day will be dealt on the wrongdoers.

As i said earlier, the greatest head fake anyone?....

P.S: I just seriously HOPE that i am completely wrong on this.

The Mask

At a certain point of time in the past, this blog used to be anonymous. This was like my personal diary where my sorrow would be buried, stored for posterity...memories that i want to banish from my head but am unable to do so. It helped me to sort the mental files when i was writing, probably because i could reflect somewhat and try and understand the plethora of thoughts and emotions that go through my head at any given point of time.

I am unable to share sorrow with anyone. Its very difficult for me to really tell what i am feeling when i am down in the dumps. The overriding story is easily told, but the emotions are not there. I hate it when people try to give me company during these times. Loneliness is the only option for me. It might work or might not but at least gives me the time to conjure the emotions that i feel will be acceptable to others or at least not make them uncomfortable.

The problem with me is that i am overly optimistic coupled with the fact that i feel that if i keep fighting - even for a lost cause - i might some how will be able to win the battle. I have realised that a lot of times my suffering has intensified because of the same reasons but this is one philosophy that i don't want to change. If a situation is bad, i will always hope that things are going to be good. If i am not able to achieve something in the first try, i will keep on trying till i am really exhausted. If a person tells me no, i will try to find out the reasons for saying so and try and change the situation and or change myself to achieve a favourable response, if the person is really important to me.

These days i am trying to come out into the open with my emotions and not act but be myself. I have been accused of - in jest probably - of either being the court jester or someone who cares a damn. Most of the occasions, i was actually happy with that outcome because it was me the actor, who wanted everyone to believe that and everyone did. I will not go into the right or wrong of this but at least it made some people smile at my antics. This article in the blog is a reflection of that change. I am not sure this is the right decision but at least it is a decision. However, let me make this absolutely clear. My emotions are my own and no one has any right on even a single part of it except the ones closest to me. The only people who have seen a reflection of my true side are those that i have been vulnerable to, the people that mean a lot to me and the people that i love - even though they might not reciprocate.

If i am removing my mask, its because i want to do it - for the time being.

The Quarter Life Crisis

It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are many things about yourself that you didn't know and may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.

You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren't exactly the greatest people you have ever met, and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you don't recognize is that they are realizing that too, and aren't really cold, catty, mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.

You look at your job... and it is not even close to what you thought you would be doing, or maybe you are looking for a job and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom and that scares you.

Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and are constantly adding things to your list of what is acceptable and what isn't. One minute, you are insecure and then the next, secure.

You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly, change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life, but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away, and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward.

You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you. Or you lie in bed and wonder why you can't meet anyone decent enough that you want to get to know better. Or maybe you love someone but love someone else too and cannot figure out why you're doing this because you know that you aren't a bad person. You want to settle down for good because now all of a sudden that becomes top priority. Getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic.You begin to think a companion for life is better than a hundred in the shack and for once you would not mind standing tall for that special someone which otherwise you had never thought of until now.You go through the same emotions and questions over and over, and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision. You worry about loans, money, the future and making a life for yourself... and while winning the race would be great, right now you'd just like to be a contender!

What you may not realize is that every one reading this relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out. Talk about this with your friends.... maybe it will help someone feel like they aren't alone in their state of confusion...

We call it the "Quarter-life Crisis"

Shut up & Vote - Thermal & A Quarter

A Damn Good initiative by Thermal & A Quarter: It seems the Jaago Re! One Billion Vote campaign has organized a 5 city tour where TAAQ (One of Bangalore's and India's hottest bands - though i don't like their music too much) will be performing a couple of songs written for the great indian tamasha/ reality TV show of Indian General Elections so that youngsters like us can come out and vote...and as they say...'Vote because we have the dope, We are the Antidote'....

Lyrics of 'Shut up and Vote'

Walking man, waking up
It's never too late to shine
The seasons change, you re-arrange
Guess you're doing fine

You think you're cool, you've been to school
You know your rock n' roll

It's an easy twist, to make a fist,
Save your fingers from the cold...

Shut up and Vote
Shut up and Vote
You've got the dope, you're the antidote
Shut up and Vote
Shut up and Vote
You're so smart but you're running out of hope

It's all a mess, I must confess,
The system seems a joke
Should you make the steal, reinvent the wheel
Or simply go for broke?

Is it right, or is it left
They all give you a name
Are they clean, or are they clowns,
In the end, it's you, you're to blame

Shut up and Vote
Shut up and Vote
You've got the dope, you're the antidote
Shut up and Vote
Shut up and Vote
You're so smart but you're running out of hope

Thermal & A Quarter - Shut Up & Vote - Poll 2009