It took me a long time, and especially considering law school standards, a very long time; around 2 and a half years, to figure this out. Its all about choices, and there is always a choice.Even when you think there isn't one, even when you know there isn't one, there is. Sounds problematic?
Well, its again just a matter of choice. Choose wisely, and live by your actions.
Showing posts with label Trimester. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trimester. Show all posts
Monday, April 25, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Little less wise
I had a wisdom tooth; for all of 4 days. Well, it was there for a longer period of time, but the trouble only started in the last week. Half a bag of cloves later, and it was still hurting. Finally, got it extracted today. Besides my significantly lighter wallet, swollen cheek, and a cold diet, the pain is still there!
On another note, campus is eerily quiet, the net super fast and the guards surprisingly look extra alert. Maybe, they got inspired by the uncharacteristically long speech given by the VC in today's flag hoisting ceremony. The promised 'sweets' turned out to be eclairs (Arey yaar,kaju ki barfi nahi to motichur ke ladoo de dete!), but the VC passed around a copy of the Fundamental duties, neatly printed and laminated in the style of a carry around card.
Ah, back to the wisdom tooth...Wouldn't wish it on anyone!!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Back to a sine wave
Life is back to being a sine wave; Much more steady though this time and still enjoying the process. :)
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Book 'Life'
Just finished 'A fine balance' by Rohinton Mistry.
Besides, being a wonderful book, seems just like the perfect book right now, in keeping with the pace of current life.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Good Times
As third year advances, finally this place feels more like home.
Finally settling down, I guess! :)
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
New Stuff
New things are happening and hopefully they shall be good.
Fingers crossed for now!
More shall follow once I am done with tomorrow's exams.
Fingers crossed for now!
More shall follow once I am done with tomorrow's exams.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Language Again...
Today, I attended a 3 hour introductory session by Lawrence Liang,on Law and the literature. The entire session was interesting. However, what hit me the most was the introductory point; the limits of language are reached when emotions are extreme, especially in the case of pain. When you want someone to understand and none of the words are correct enough.
Almost along the lines of one of my previous post on the inability, nay limitations of words.
More on the issues of the session later.
Almost along the lines of one of my previous post on the inability, nay limitations of words.
More on the issues of the session later.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Don is Lost
Don's room, his bed but a different man.:)
Attempt to recreate the Don effect.
Still in awe and much behind.
Attempt to recreate the Don effect.
Still in awe and much behind.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Spurred by the rain?
An attempt, still incomplete. I dont know what exactly I was thinking about when I wrote this, so perhaps its best left uncompleted, as of now.
Falling rains on my window sill
Its cold; but not yet a chill
And there I am
Waiting for it to happen
Cause, I can hear lightning strike
Somewhere far away
Where the chill has set
So baby, baby lets get wet
Perhaps its time
To open the gates
And let in,
squeeze in,
flood in
All those feelings pent up
Stored, thrown away
[Falling rains..not yet a chill.] x 2
Falling rains on my window sill
Its cold; but not yet a chill
And there I am
Waiting for it to happen
Cause, I can hear lightning strike
Somewhere far away
Where the chill has set
So baby, baby lets get wet
Perhaps its time
To open the gates
And let in,
squeeze in,
flood in
All those feelings pent up
Stored, thrown away
[Falling rains..not yet a chill.] x 2
Confusion
My idea of trying to move away from the subject of love, parting and other similar fleeting emotions to writing something dark. Although, as the title suggests (both of the blog and the post, the emotions are confused but hopefully, it is dark enough to screaaaaaam along.
Confusion, Confusion
Up in Smoke, The whole Road
Complete Stretch
Burning...Burning
Blackened soot, Burning souls
Bleating voices, All around
Nothing but
Confusionnnnnnnn
Dark Clouds, Raining fire
Dying souls, Pleading
Pleaaading..
For their lives
Its the end, Plenty Change
Pleaaading...Pleeading
Confusion...
Darkness reigns, Lord’s prayer change
Oblation, Deep Dark red
Everywhere, Symbols new
Our Lord is, known to us few
Darkness..Darkness
Voices scream, Chaos
Confusion...Darkness
Confusion, Confusion
Up in Smoke, The whole Road
Complete Stretch
Burning...Burning
Blackened soot, Burning souls
Bleating voices, All around
Nothing but
Confusionnnnnnnn
Dark Clouds, Raining fire
Dying souls, Pleading
Pleaaading..
For their lives
Its the end, Plenty Change
Pleaaading...Pleeading
Confusion...
Darkness reigns, Lord’s prayer change
Oblation, Deep Dark red
Everywhere, Symbols new
Our Lord is, known to us few
Darkness..Darkness
Voices scream, Chaos
Confusion...Darkness
A Fool's Love
Another of the class posts, this time a take on this elusive emotion called love. Omnipresent yet surprisingly absent, the lines below reflect a melancholy past of me, hopefully more joyous in the future.
Its all in there
The story says it all
The start and the end
Everything, said and done
Every word
Every step
Every mark
That you made
Its all in there
Its just a fool’s heart
A fool’s world
A fool’s mind
Its only
A fool’s love
Its all in there
The story says it all
The start and the end
Everything, said and done
Every word
Every step
Every mark
That you made
Its all in there
Its just a fool’s heart
A fool’s world
A fool’s mind
Its only
A fool’s love
Classroom Musings/ Incomplete Lines
Some random lines penned in class and being posted during class.
____________________________________________________________
We were on a run
through the bush fire burn
Black clouds in the sky
There was a fire raging on.
Thumping heartbeats,heard so loud
Audible through the crowd
Of lions, tigers, blood eyed hounds
Razing through the jungle
Razing through our hearts.
_____________________________________________________________
The sweet drama of youth
Innocence not yet lost
Such sweet dreams
Of places to visit
And lives yet to live
_____________________________________________________________
When Things were not so bad
And hopes were high
Prudence
You called out
______________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
We were on a run
through the bush fire burn
Black clouds in the sky
There was a fire raging on.
Thumping heartbeats,heard so loud
Audible through the crowd
Of lions, tigers, blood eyed hounds
Razing through the jungle
Razing through our hearts.
_____________________________________________________________
The sweet drama of youth
Innocence not yet lost
Such sweet dreams
Of places to visit
And lives yet to live
_____________________________________________________________
When Things were not so bad
And hopes were high
Prudence
You called out
______________________________________________________________
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Foreign Nationals: Milking Cows??
Prologue: The fee structure at NLSIU for foreign nationals being on the higher range, I ask for and receive permission to pay my fees in three instalments. Some days before the exam in the third trimester, a notice calls out some numbers in class of which, yours truly, the author is one.
___________________________________________________________________________
Scene: Registrar’s Office, NLSIU.
In a spacious room sits the Registrar, looking over the list. “ID” he asks gruffly. I see Padma maam smiling in the background.
“1656, Sir.”
“528 Rupees”
By then , I had realised that this notice was due to remaining dues owed to the college.
“But Sir, I have paid all of my dues. In fact the problem is that the administration has suddenly changed the rules regarding the rate of exchange.” I strive further to explain my situation. “ Sir, I had paid my fees in 3 instalments and it was agreed that the rate of exchange would be as according to July 1, 2009 for the academic year July, 09- June, 10. Hence, tweaking with the rates in between the academic year would be a retrospective application. Hence sir, I think this is wrong Sir.”
“What, how is this wrong? We are giving you the facility to pay in instalments. In fact we should be allowed to take interest from you. Who are you to use legal arguments?” The registrar started fuming with rage.
“If I may, Sir, please”, I tried to cut in with whatever little knowledge I had learnt from the university selection of the negotiation rounds, but he was hell bent on continuing. I still managed to talk about how the Finance Officer had agreed to my arguments, but I don’t think I got through to him.
“We will not allow you such instalment facilities from next year. Then we shall see.”
“Ah, yes,” I thought. “Paying twice the amount of Indian students was already a burden coupled with its exchange into Nepali currency and that too all of it to be paid at once. I knew my parents could not pay all of it at once. So I had no option but to keep quiet and listen to his rampage.
Suddenly, his eyes went to my shorts. It’s rare that i wear shorts to class but the increasing heat coupled with my increasing mass makes it all the more necessary to wear them.
“What are these? And what is with this getup? From now on, i do not want to see you in the academic block with shorts on.” I kept on listening to him going on about shorts and decency for a while.
Then, he looked at me and asked, “So?”
“So, what?” I wanted to say but decided the better option would be to keep quiet.
He asked again, “Are you going to pay or not?”
As if I had an option. Of course I was going to pay, especially with the threat of not allowing me any concessions the next year and the psychosis of not alienating this powerful God of law school.
“Yes, I will pay, SIR”
I still see Padma Maam smiling in the background.
___________________________________________________________________________
Epilogue:
I go around the academic block and meet some other foreign national students who have been asked to pay an extra amount to have their dues cleared, despite paying the entire amount at the starting of the year. I do not understand how this is possible, how you can change your policy in the middle of the academic year to affect something that has already been done. And to talk of policy, there is no policy, there is nothing written down, ther are no rules. It all depends upon the whims and fancies of the people in authority who somehow cannot stand a student replying back to them, no matter how correct the other person might be.
It seems correct now why people say that in law school, you need to start kissing asses. If this is supposed to be where we learn what the law is, what justice is, do we not deserve to see it in application? It is funny how we strive for democracy in the State and end up kowtowing to a hierarchical whimsical system in our daily lives.
___________________________________________________________________________
Scene: Registrar’s Office, NLSIU.
In a spacious room sits the Registrar, looking over the list. “ID” he asks gruffly. I see Padma maam smiling in the background.
“1656, Sir.”
“528 Rupees”
By then , I had realised that this notice was due to remaining dues owed to the college.
“But Sir, I have paid all of my dues. In fact the problem is that the administration has suddenly changed the rules regarding the rate of exchange.” I strive further to explain my situation. “ Sir, I had paid my fees in 3 instalments and it was agreed that the rate of exchange would be as according to July 1, 2009 for the academic year July, 09- June, 10. Hence, tweaking with the rates in between the academic year would be a retrospective application. Hence sir, I think this is wrong Sir.”
“What, how is this wrong? We are giving you the facility to pay in instalments. In fact we should be allowed to take interest from you. Who are you to use legal arguments?” The registrar started fuming with rage.
“If I may, Sir, please”, I tried to cut in with whatever little knowledge I had learnt from the university selection of the negotiation rounds, but he was hell bent on continuing. I still managed to talk about how the Finance Officer had agreed to my arguments, but I don’t think I got through to him.
“We will not allow you such instalment facilities from next year. Then we shall see.”
“Ah, yes,” I thought. “Paying twice the amount of Indian students was already a burden coupled with its exchange into Nepali currency and that too all of it to be paid at once. I knew my parents could not pay all of it at once. So I had no option but to keep quiet and listen to his rampage.
Suddenly, his eyes went to my shorts. It’s rare that i wear shorts to class but the increasing heat coupled with my increasing mass makes it all the more necessary to wear them.
“What are these? And what is with this getup? From now on, i do not want to see you in the academic block with shorts on.” I kept on listening to him going on about shorts and decency for a while.
Then, he looked at me and asked, “So?”
“So, what?” I wanted to say but decided the better option would be to keep quiet.
He asked again, “Are you going to pay or not?”
As if I had an option. Of course I was going to pay, especially with the threat of not allowing me any concessions the next year and the psychosis of not alienating this powerful God of law school.
“Yes, I will pay, SIR”
I still see Padma Maam smiling in the background.
___________________________________________________________________________
Epilogue:
I go around the academic block and meet some other foreign national students who have been asked to pay an extra amount to have their dues cleared, despite paying the entire amount at the starting of the year. I do not understand how this is possible, how you can change your policy in the middle of the academic year to affect something that has already been done. And to talk of policy, there is no policy, there is nothing written down, ther are no rules. It all depends upon the whims and fancies of the people in authority who somehow cannot stand a student replying back to them, no matter how correct the other person might be.
It seems correct now why people say that in law school, you need to start kissing asses. If this is supposed to be where we learn what the law is, what justice is, do we not deserve to see it in application? It is funny how we strive for democracy in the State and end up kowtowing to a hierarchical whimsical system in our daily lives.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Priorities
Two conversations, overheard outside the Mess, sometime around midnight.
Scene 1
"I think generally the quality is lower in litigation than at corp. jobs."
" Not necessarily."
And then a bit of London, Luthra, jobs etc.
Scene 2
"If you have the light sabre, you do need the force."
"True, true" And the nodding of head in affirmation.
Strange, the different types of conversations, one gets to listen to at Law School, perhaps different people, differing priorities.
Scene 1
"I think generally the quality is lower in litigation than at corp. jobs."
" Not necessarily."
And then a bit of London, Luthra, jobs etc.
Scene 2
"If you have the light sabre, you do need the force."
"True, true" And the nodding of head in affirmation.
Strange, the different types of conversations, one gets to listen to at Law School, perhaps different people, differing priorities.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
A case of the Randoms
Not so long ago, I read somewhere about the downward trend in blogging. Suddenly blogging was not cool anymore and networking sites like twitter and facebook seem to have taken over.Seems true.
Blogging does take a bit of time, at least in the relative sense compared to a status message update on facebook or twitter and the like, thought the comparison is strictly with regards to writing.
Writing; whether generally or on a blog does release a lot of angst, which is in abundance during the college years. But this angst takes its toll on the quality of the writing, although generally enhancing the quantitative output. Quality suffers especially with the general meandering sense of direction resulting perhaps, in a shift of creativity. Though serving a useful purpose, it sometimes takes away the beauty of the writing.
But is this necessarily true? A lot of wonderful writing has been produced during moments of pain, suffering and angst. For one, Bob Dylan seems to be at his best, when his personal life is at its worst."Shelter From the Storm" never ceases to touch my soul and give a wonderful sense of calm.
Maybe it is best to go back to angst and the direction that it should be taking. A cursory (or even detailed in some cases) look at the self help books show them to be talking about similar things such as focus, direction and perseverance. Simple things, yet a source of monetary windfall for those who have put it down on paper. An example yet again of a proper direction. Not that, I believe or claim the focus of these people are a result of angst and anxiety. But mortals without such worldly troubles are but a chosen few.
See, started to write about something and ended up writing something else.perhaps a reduction in angst :) but a decrease in quality; perhaps an increase in quantity but nonetheless nothing creative yet. A need to have a direction.
PS: A self help book might just be on the way, especially to go with the Arindam Chowdhury look.:)
Blogging does take a bit of time, at least in the relative sense compared to a status message update on facebook or twitter and the like, thought the comparison is strictly with regards to writing.
Writing; whether generally or on a blog does release a lot of angst, which is in abundance during the college years. But this angst takes its toll on the quality of the writing, although generally enhancing the quantitative output. Quality suffers especially with the general meandering sense of direction resulting perhaps, in a shift of creativity. Though serving a useful purpose, it sometimes takes away the beauty of the writing.
But is this necessarily true? A lot of wonderful writing has been produced during moments of pain, suffering and angst. For one, Bob Dylan seems to be at his best, when his personal life is at its worst."Shelter From the Storm" never ceases to touch my soul and give a wonderful sense of calm.
Maybe it is best to go back to angst and the direction that it should be taking. A cursory (or even detailed in some cases) look at the self help books show them to be talking about similar things such as focus, direction and perseverance. Simple things, yet a source of monetary windfall for those who have put it down on paper. An example yet again of a proper direction. Not that, I believe or claim the focus of these people are a result of angst and anxiety. But mortals without such worldly troubles are but a chosen few.
See, started to write about something and ended up writing something else.perhaps a reduction in angst :) but a decrease in quality; perhaps an increase in quantity but nonetheless nothing creative yet. A need to have a direction.
PS: A self help book might just be on the way, especially to go with the Arindam Chowdhury look.:)
Monday, March 22, 2010
Just Like that
Just settling in, perhaps a bit more focused and things looking for the better.
A lot to write and newer things to ponder.:)
Hopefully Soon and good things shall follow.
A lot to write and newer things to ponder.:)
Hopefully Soon and good things shall follow.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
The Mooting Experience
-"Submitted your projects?"
-"Ya Dude."
-"Both?"
-" I only had one dude."
-"1???"
-"Moot, man."
-"Oh!"
For quite a while talks such as this were a reminder to me that I had a moot coming and that it was the reason I was being exempt from a project and giving only two of the exams.(Well, having to study for two subjects during the holidays is not fun though!!). However, this entire mooting thing was yet to hit me seriously, you know, in the way that you see all the stud mooters always discussing about their moot issues, problems, arguments and cases. In a way, I was almost relaxed.
Too relaxed, it turned out to be, for suddenly there seemed to be no time and a lot of work left. Backed by the spirit that no matter what surely, things will get done, with lots of hard work, lots of help from friends and seniors, finally we had the memo in hand and were ready to go to Trivandrum.
During the train journey, Adhiti, the other speaker of our team wanted us to practice a bit. Since, our oral practice was virtually nil, I had no option but to comply :). Thankfully, I had to go back to my berth when the doors between the AC and Sleeper section closed and I had a wonderful sleep.
Landing at Trivandrum, the day passed by before anything substantial could be done. KLA was a beautiful place and the students seemed genuinely enthusiastic. Of course, the name tag NLS brought with it awe and also snide comments.After the opening ceremony and the draw of lots, we were asked to argue for petitioner in the first round the next day.
As our lodgings was at a considerable distance from the campus, I managed to get only an hour of practice and asking Basu to wake me up at 4, I fell fast asleep.
Waking up at 6, we made a rush to the college. Thankfully, ours was the last session and we had asbout 3 hours to prepare. Did I just say, thankfully? Well, the waiting hours stretched and nervousness turned to confidence and then back in equal measure. It was then, I realised the intense pressure of moots and the desire to do better than the other teams there.
Finally, sometime around 3, our rounds came up. Seeing Adhiti speak, I was besides myself with nervousness and before I knew it was my turn to argue. I am still not sure what I argued, but at least it seemed to make some sense and after a while, it felt good to try and convince the judges arguments that I had thought over countless times. Thankfully, the round soon got over and we won it with a pretty good score.
To cut it short, we won the next round too, but did not make it further. I was not sad and realised that this moot had taught me that mooting can be fun too. Besides, it was necessary to focus on the nuances and also on aspects like smiling, speaking cordially and the like. And the whole competition factor made the thing even better. At such places, I realised the respect and the buzz that NLS creates and the need to maintain and excel those expectations.
Thankfully, we won the best memo. It felt good having the best memo among 45 other teams and something to show for the combined efforts of the team. All in all, it was a wonderful experience, topped on by the day at the beach and wonderful hospitality by the KLA people.
-"Ya Dude."
-"Both?"
-" I only had one dude."
-"1???"
-"Moot, man."
-"Oh!"
For quite a while talks such as this were a reminder to me that I had a moot coming and that it was the reason I was being exempt from a project and giving only two of the exams.(Well, having to study for two subjects during the holidays is not fun though!!). However, this entire mooting thing was yet to hit me seriously, you know, in the way that you see all the stud mooters always discussing about their moot issues, problems, arguments and cases. In a way, I was almost relaxed.
Too relaxed, it turned out to be, for suddenly there seemed to be no time and a lot of work left. Backed by the spirit that no matter what surely, things will get done, with lots of hard work, lots of help from friends and seniors, finally we had the memo in hand and were ready to go to Trivandrum.
During the train journey, Adhiti, the other speaker of our team wanted us to practice a bit. Since, our oral practice was virtually nil, I had no option but to comply :). Thankfully, I had to go back to my berth when the doors between the AC and Sleeper section closed and I had a wonderful sleep.
Landing at Trivandrum, the day passed by before anything substantial could be done. KLA was a beautiful place and the students seemed genuinely enthusiastic. Of course, the name tag NLS brought with it awe and also snide comments.After the opening ceremony and the draw of lots, we were asked to argue for petitioner in the first round the next day.
As our lodgings was at a considerable distance from the campus, I managed to get only an hour of practice and asking Basu to wake me up at 4, I fell fast asleep.
Waking up at 6, we made a rush to the college. Thankfully, ours was the last session and we had asbout 3 hours to prepare. Did I just say, thankfully? Well, the waiting hours stretched and nervousness turned to confidence and then back in equal measure. It was then, I realised the intense pressure of moots and the desire to do better than the other teams there.
Finally, sometime around 3, our rounds came up. Seeing Adhiti speak, I was besides myself with nervousness and before I knew it was my turn to argue. I am still not sure what I argued, but at least it seemed to make some sense and after a while, it felt good to try and convince the judges arguments that I had thought over countless times. Thankfully, the round soon got over and we won it with a pretty good score.
To cut it short, we won the next round too, but did not make it further. I was not sad and realised that this moot had taught me that mooting can be fun too. Besides, it was necessary to focus on the nuances and also on aspects like smiling, speaking cordially and the like. And the whole competition factor made the thing even better. At such places, I realised the respect and the buzz that NLS creates and the need to maintain and excel those expectations.
Thankfully, we won the best memo. It felt good having the best memo among 45 other teams and something to show for the combined efforts of the team. All in all, it was a wonderful experience, topped on by the day at the beach and wonderful hospitality by the KLA people.
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