JUGAAD!

17th June 2008.

The second day at SIMS, morning came with a slew of alarms going on, and a sleepy me dragged myself to attend Prof. Kamath's Buisiness Excercise Class. I had been hearing a lot from my seniors about this particular lecture, and how it would be a once in a life time adventure.
They were absolutly right.
The excersise that was given to us was to reach the camp area of Pune, some 13 odd Km from the college, witout spending a single penny; but the real catch was after it. As they say the bes parts are for later, we were supposed to get a one day (11 to 5:30) Job, and try to earn atleast 150/- rupees. The task begun at 1000 hrs and me and my buddy for the task Ms. Shaan Vats, a very lively lady. We started the journey by asking for lifts from passing cars, and finally we managed t ohitch hike till Sarasbagh, and from there till Swargate and again hitchhicked till some circle, about 500 mts form MG road, and we finally arrived there at 11:40. From there started the Hunt for a job! Now the first few times we went into shops etc, there was a bit of inhibition, but very soon we perfected our "sales pitch" and got in the flow for asking for jobs, with the first being a computer showroom, where we tried to get a job based on our previous training as engineers, but we were offered no money there, only the experience so we were again on our way. Then we entred a variety of shops from apparel to footware, from furniture stores to household appliances. But luck would not have it that we get a job, so easily. The common excuse given by most of the showrooms was that the boss/manager is on vacation.

But we percivered, but with increasing disapointment with every passing hour and no luck we got a little deaperate and started asking banks, but by the time we hit apon the idea of resturents the lunch hour was clossing and they all promised a job tomorow. So on we went, one door to another, with the sun quickly erasing our smiles.

The desperation went to hights when we went to Dhabbas asking for jobs as a cook. Then we seriously started thinking about the possibilities, and we thought about hitting brokeage houses and trading companies for some data entry kind of a job, as it was already 2:00 pm.
Walking down east street, we went to the Kotak Securities office, and my oh my we chanced upon our super seniors there, and as well as our seniors working there for there summer projects. There, we were sitting in a small conference room , and talking with Mr. Harpreet Aneja trying to get some work, and just then my buddy decided to act a bit clumsy and ended up breaking the glass, she was offered water in. Well, we were fixed up with getting, and making entries in excel spreadsheets, as part of the clients protfolios there, and we sat for two ours working on excel , following the instructons given to us. Also i am grateful to our seniors who also explained briefly the work being carried out there amd what finamcial planning basically constitutes.
Well after we got the two hundred rupees for our work we headed back to the meeting place im SGS Mall's cafeteria, and collected, there. All the people had stories to tell, bloopers to report and be present at that mass eye opener.
It was so easy to get placed on campus in engineering, as compared to earning these 100 bucks, I have realised the importance of being capable of doing anything to survice, the importance of hard earned money, and mostly of eing Jugadu!


Ayush Patel

The keepers of peace

It was a nice day, slight sunshine, warmth after a cold night; and I, along with three friends decide to head to the city(some 20 Km away from the college). We take a private city bus, that so characterizes Jaipur for us students. As soon as we reach Kunda a place 2 km from Amer we see drones of countless young men walking aong the street. Before we could contemplate the sight a rock hits the window , then another , then it rains rocks. A minute later the window breaks and there is debris flying everywhere. The bus stops, and I along with my 3 lady friends find ourself stranded in the middle of a potential riot. We head for cover behind a police jeep, and ask whats all this about. The answer is strange, the mob was here to join the CISF an internal security police branch. These hollignas will bear the buren of our safety, the chaps who in front of our eyes assaulted nearly 6-7 vehicals even AC tourist busses plying foriegn tourists.

Why? because they were 80,000 strong and had no transportation for another 16km, frustrated the call for drastic measures and hijack city busses and lorries on the highway. The polce force deployed to handle this situation a mere handfull.

The question that arises, why cant the manage an event that can be predicted to get out of hand as this happens everyyear. More importantly, are these the future of our police forces, the protectors of our freedam and rights.

Caste and creed?

I belong to a defence background, and have never in my life there come across a question on my caste or community. Now in college I get to hear the names of various castes thrown about in everyday life, there are the jats, the meenas etc and all so very proud of there castes. What bothers me is the importance these triffle things take in India. From small scale fights to comlete strikes and riots in the name of there caste, all from 20 something old college going guys.
Even in your academic curriculam you attract neopotism in the name of caste by "castist" teachers and faculty members, which by the way includes every member of the staff. Recently on a visit to Pune, Maharashtra, I was shocked that in most of the private colleges (owned and managed by marathis) there , they don't allow an "outsider," i.e. someone not of Maharashtra to occupy the top three ranks, and they are open about it; no calms at all!

Now if this behavior continues and such details of our past rule our future then I can only imagine a grim future for this countries people.

Every second day some or the other violence and hate filled event takes the headlines, all in the name of caste and communities, religion or areas.

I am too young maybe to suggest a solution to a problem of such magnitude in our country, that even politics revolves completly around it; or this political phenomenon of vote bank pleasing is one of the causes of this problem.
Nevertheless I have noticed the root of this proble in my everyday encounters. I see young people so much into such caste etc. based association, but it stems from there upbringing and parenting. Every parent I have met in my life outside the army cantonements has belted out the same question "Beta , tumhari caste kya hain?" (Son, what is your caste?). Such questions, such sacrosant nature of these "Labels" in the minds of people(especially our elders) has fulled this problem in my opinion. If the questions of race, colour, caste , creed etc dissolve form peoples mind as a basis of judgement of another human, then there will no longer prevail this chaos.