The Serenity Prayer

God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.

Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as Jesus did,
This sinful world as it is,
Not as I would have it,

Trusting that You will make all things right,
If I surrender to Your will,
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
And supremely happy with You forever in the next.

Amen.   By Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)

Prayer song

An old prayer song during our school days

Make me a channel of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me bring your love,
Where there is injury , your pardon Lord,
And where there's doubt true faith in you.

O, master grand that I may never seek,
So much to be consoled as to console,
To be understood, as to understand,
To be loved , as to love with all my soul.

Make me a channel of Your peace,
Where there's despair in life, let me bring hope,
Where there is darkness, Lord your shining light,
And where there's sadness, ever joy.

Make me a channel of your peace,
It isn't pardoning that we are pardoned,
In giving to all men that we receive,
And in dying that we're born to eternal life.

Our Seniors

Seniors are the integral part of any professional college. Their part is equally important as the faculties in moulding you to a better professional. We too had seniors who ragged us, tripped us, educated, promoted and helped us in many ways they could for our benefit. It’s the 1999 pass out batch that first left RIT after we joined and the batch we admire the most

Our stint with this batch was only for a few months but they gave us many everlasting memories. The first thing that come to our mind is the fearful thoughts of “Pappan”, “Palakaran Pothu”, Issac, Balasubramiam etc waiting at the bus stop to rag us. There was a beautiful girl in electronics who was the most charming girl of that period. She was the lover of one among this mighty built seniors and we used to look / peep her from our KV rooms, through the recess of the window, while she waits for bus at Nedunkuzhy. There was Saju who was a dancer with long hair and a heartthrob of many Jr girls. The kathaprasangam (Nair pidicha Pulivalu) they presented during the final years day is unforgettable. Seeing these guys in full sleeves, tucked in and wearing a tie during our first mech association / an exhibition day (?) gave us a different insight. Needless to say, all other times, they were seen in some shabby pyjamas or lungis and some grimed T shirts, typical RITians of that time.

There were studious guys like Suresh Nair, who was the topper and one senior whom we called “Annan”. He completed MSc / MPhil (?) in Chemistry before he stepped in to RIT. This batch was the best batch RIT ever had till now and with the changing socio-demographic conditions we don’t think the future RITians can overdo them. One thing to add, most of them in this batch were known by nicknames and not by their original names.

There were many things we tried to copy from them. All of us had popular nicknames and we too presented a kathapransagam during our final year. We tried to be like them but we could never be like them. Hats off to you dear seniors..!!!!

Bye 2011

2011 flew very fast. It was a year that gave me lot of surprises and was mixed with many events that ignited several emotions and let me the taste new feelings which I never experienced in my life before.

Happiest moment was when I had my second daughter in my arms. She was beautiful and was the biggest gift I received from God in 2011. My long ambition of an overseas trip was materialized when I flew to Netherlands. I was a bit scared for travelling approx 9000 kms alone and the very purpose of the visit made me fever. It was a mixed feeling of surprise, anguish and yet happiness towards the last part of the trip. Sudden cancellation of trains to ‘Nijmegen’ and the detour made on account of the same in a country which was literally foreign to me and about five thousand miles apart from my home country was enterprising. I enjoyed my first international flight with movies, wine and beer. Sight of the traditional and typical Dutch windmills and tulips which was never even in my dreams was really exciting. I enjoyed the country side and the busy streets of Amsterdam all with same zest and zeal.

The disappointing and dreadful time I had in office for a few months took my sleep away. Answers made, explanations given and standing humiliated under the taunting questions was the most awkward moments I had in 2011. There was a change in role and got posted in a different seat. That was a welcome change and I became totally involved in my new role. The new role was encouraging and gave many opportunities where I could actively contribute. I felt happy again.

On my personal life there was nothing much to note. Everything was moving in the usual pattern. Towards the end, 2011 brought in happy moments. Though it gave me many unpleasant time, I feel happy for 2011 as it helped me a lot for introspection and gave me courage to move forward.

Bye 2011. Now, looking forward for 2012. Don’t know what it have for me.

New Generation Engineering Colleges (NGECs)

During my half an hour journey to office in the mornings say from 7.40 to 8.10 am, I used to see lot of boys and girls in every bus stop waiting for their college bus.

Those are the students of “New Generation Engineering Colleges” (NGECs) neatly wrapped in their uniforms with a notebook in hand (opened one), big bag on the shoulders, reading the neat and legibly written notes while waiting for the bus. Off-way I should say that the count of boys with open books in hand even if not zero, is less compared to the girls, which by all rules of this society confirms to the universal law of boys and girls.

Every day this sight keeps me wondering what these girls and boys are studying so hard, that they can’t even spare the time while in roads.

Things were not like this 10 to 15 years ago. Engineering was taught in less than 15 colleges across the state. In place of open books, girls had their vanity bags / wallets and boys had cigarette stumps in their hand. Uniforms were to be worn only on workshops were the girls wear the ‘not-so-popular’ jeans and all boys especially those from mechanical branch line up near the workshops and electrical labs to see the so called beautiful girls in their tight jeans. That time engineering colleges didn’t had good looking / stylish girls and if somehow someone finds her place, she would be ushered by the seniors all the time and no one of her batch can freely ‘look’ or ‘talk’ to her. Everyone was free to bunk classes for a ‘smoke’, celebrate an event with a ‘drink’ or to be with the good looking junior girl who just joined the college.

Lessons were not taught but learned. Classes happened but with few students. Series exams meant arena were one assess his potential of solving an engineering problem using logic, without any idea of how the textbooks solved it. Density of oil was substantiated to be less than one, not by looking into the datasheets but by remembering the fact that oil always lies on top of water. Syllabus was brought only at the onset of study leave. Mess, hostel administration, cultural fest, technical symposiums, exhibitions etc were organized and conducted not by faculty but students. Assignments were written and submitted by junior girls on our behalf.

Brain was sharpened not by books and assignments but by 28, rummy and bridge. Life in college and hostel was full of joy and fun. Engineering degree came in ‘package’ which accords ones proficiency in technology, ability to think out of the box, be creative, analyze facts and solve problems.

Surely we mastered engineering but never studied it; coz we never believed in studying the technology that changed day by day but believed that mastering it will make us change it day by day.

Goa'n trip...

We few guys planned a trip to GOA. All was sudden and the tickets were booked on the very next day.. There was one who could not join us as he already planned a trip to Velankanni on that day with his family. On the destined day morning we all got a mail from him wishing "Bon Voyage" and reminding of the Feny that we should bring him. The below poem was sent to him as a reply to his mail. Created in 10 minutes. my fastest poem.!! (don'no whether u call it a poem..!)

They set off to see the skies and seas,

both in blue yet calm and warm.

The hues are bright as their minds,

all set clear for the zest and zeal.

Out from the files and tucked in shirts,

into the world of wind and charm.

They set out to revive themselves,

with wine and beach, they longed so far.

Out here waits the guy for Feny,

but in our back pack he will find,

both the wine and plan to repeat,

the same in March, along with our wife n kids

Second one

Now i post my second one.. Written in 2005 (mid ?)

My heart longed for a company which

melts my sorrow, melts my fears

Who holds my hand when i long for help

With whom I could share my happiness

With whom I could laugh and live

I found it in her but now she is gone

to the heavenly abode for no reason I know

Time passes slowly, giving me time to think

The sorrows we shared, the happiness we enjoyed

The way we dwelled, the ages we passed

Its getting crowded she now rests in everyones eyes

I am sitting far from her, but memories so close to me

She is now an icy sculpt, tears wont make her warm any more

May I give her the warmth of my memories, so fond of her

warmth of the secrets we both shared, happiness we enjoyed

Seven decades of happy living, knowing every second passed

emotions, desires, thoughts and smiles never passed

without letting us know, for we reside in each others heart

what all i did for her, for i need to see her happy all time

What else can i do for her, after he laid his icy hands on her

Its still in eyes the moment we met, in front of alter

making our vows in the midst of prayers

to make our life as happy as we desired

With folded hands, with crown on hair

she resembled an angel sent, for me to live with

Now in her white dress and calm face

it seems as if the angel given to me years back

was taken back, making me lonely in this world

For now I need to live with the memories

without the co-author, all alone here

And now she is taken to church

my eyes deprived of tears

Oh dear wait for me till i reach there

or ask if you can take me early enough

for I dont know to live here without you