A Beautiful Mind

When fear fuels your bread and butter,
You are not enjoying your work.

If you are not enjoying your work,
You are not living upto your expectations,
Both from your self and people with you.

If you are not with yourself and the people around,
You become an outcast.

If you become an outcast,
Your self-esteem gets the punch not required.

If you donot require that esteem,
Then why do you even care,
About the fear...

Open your mind,
It's beautiful even in the dark;
Its beautiful in the glaring sun;
Its beautiful in the rain,
At least dance in it!

It is not like everytime things have to be beautiful,
Your mind needs to have the wiring to see it beautifully as it is.
A Beautiful Mind,
Comes in rarity.
To take it the way it is, is your unique approach, which is one in a billion.

Now isn't that beautiful?

Pic Taken: http://azmalforsan.com/vision-and-mission/

Baby Steps

In literal terms, this would mean when the child transits from using it's four limbs to two. It also means the beginning of a new era in the life of that human being. But, looking into a more diverse aspect; it also signifies the start your stroll through a new, unexplored avenue by your human mind. A feature that captures the imagination of many things, in reality, or dream.  It also segments your life to be part of many shades, the Newton wheel if you may refer to.

Newton wheel is a colourful concept. It literally defines your decision and segments of your life as to how you pain them. From the grey patches to the brightly lit yellow; everyone should rewind and revisit their wheel. In Buddhism, it may be referred as the Chakra. In Hinduism, the stages of life. Christianity has its Holy Trinity; for me, it's referring back to my memories. Learning from them has always been interesting and as it is always said, your past teaches you and makes you; some teaching are immortal for others while the same will be lying with you on your deathbed.

Gathering strength is a very difficult task even though you make it feel easy. You always require a referent point, which I guess you can always get by blowing off the dust from those rusted iron pillars that you have laid in your path. I refer back to my diary, my journal that always has been an integral part of my existence. Some were eaten by the worms and white ants, but in the heart, it will always be enlivened if you have lived the time with your heart. It doesn't always mean love, but with the passion.

Passion can make you or lack of it can break you. Cultivate that in you... for a better life...

Time will Always make You feel

A couple of years back, I always felt nice when people would "like", "share" or "comment" on my uncountable snaps of the Puja Parikrama and Panda hoppings... I felt like I was doing a great deal of good work in showing my friends and the world about the Durga Pujas, back in Kolkata. But now, I feel that amidst that happiness, there lay a dry and wry smile of missing the event. I am not saying that I am very much missing the event, but yes; I miss the fun and the frolic, the days which I used to look ahead like all Bengalis, over the year.

Second-year down and I will be viewing all those through the Yupp Tv and the occasional pics from my friends, mom, and others. Wish you all a Happy Puja 2017. I wish and hope to be there my dear Kolkata in 2018.

Why Do a PhD : ACCOMPLISH COMPLETION

This small opinion features in the recently initiated movement: The Invisible Scholar. The original opinion may be seen here : https://www.theinvisiblescholar.com/forum/why-do-a-ph-d/accomplish-completion

Starting from school, your journey starts to strive for and become educated. Not only letters, numbers, syntax or symbols; complete education means learning and applying your knowledge wisely. Ph.D. is the last frontier of this tryst with your destiny named "being educated".

With time, everything same drains you and Ph.D. is one of the areas where this draining is maximum; both mentally as well as physically and in many times socially. Being social among friend circles, you become engrossed in the lab and make groupies only online. But where there is the bane; there is the boon too. Although your contribution might make a small outward dent in the known sphere of knowledge; it should give you satisfaction to be part of the circle developed over the years of human history; fortunately part of the movement that had been there since time immemorial. I believe this satisfaction is what makes you strive for the degree. A publication or more; yes that is an added advantage. At least you will have your name for ever (lest your work doesn't get retracted! :P)

When you decide to come into this field, think twice or thrice or even more. The gain is worth a life time but what you have to sacrifice and sweat for is also immense. But, the sweat and heat for 5-6 years are worth it. Do have a Ph.D. and don't listen to the demoting statements! 

The Himalayas rose up after crashing into the Asian Wall... Just a metaphor.

All the best!

Testimony : The Invisible Scholar

Visibility in the area of modern science is fast becoming minuscule; given the many uncounted questions being asked and literally increasing the sphere of knowledge in an insignificant manner. The driving force is innovation, where the sheer pressure to innovate is destroying the basic "platform" science.

A couple of my friends have recently come up with a brand new innovative idea to knead their passion for writing and putting forward the beam of innovation ahead. They have formulated a blogosphere called The Invisible Scholar (Click here), which reports some of the innovative and technological advances made or worked with. The team, presently housed in San Deigo, CA is doing a great job and the start needs a proper accolade; which I am doing by spreading the word through my decade old Blog.

... As it is, writing nowadays have become infrequent for me.

#Presi200

The perfect occasion to write a blog, the day when US will be having a new President and the bold voice of Bengal, bolder pre independence; thought of New Age India for Literature, Philosophy and Science dresses up to enter a new century. Presidency University, Kolkata erstwhile Presidency College, Calcutta completes 200 years of existence.

Come to term, the democracy of India enters only 70 years of existence. But the seed of the nation have always been broiling within the still standing pillars of Presidency.

Many books and articles will blunt out the fact of Presi's 200 years, which I wont rant over here. I would like to share how, 14 years ago, it was a matter of immense self reconciliation and win over self confidence after I walked through the alters of this place of excellence. A state owned education system competed with the Delhi based board education. In Kolkata, it was always tough to get through good colleges, due to the abject cut offs set by the authorities that made the competition really difficult at the percentile pace. After finishing my school (K-12, ISC) from Calcutta Boys' School, my mom and myself went frantically searching for colleges and picking forms. My numbers were good, but my certificate board was not. Picking for various combinations of life science (Zoology, Microbiology and Physiology), I was placed somewhere at the waiting list. Later on, this waiting list came to be an eternal friend as in such competition, I waited to get ultimate gateway. Anyways, out of 10 colleges that I applied with the likes of Maulana Azad College (Zoology), Scottish Church (Zoology and MicroBiology), Jadavpur University (Geology and Physics), Asutosh College (Biochemistry and Microbiology), etc; all except Maulana Azad College admitted me.

Still, I had a beautiful wait. Only Presidency College had exam in all subjects and I took the Zoology and Physiology. The day Saint Xavier's pulled out the results, which was solely rejection; I accompanied with my school friend Arunima Sen, went to Presidency College. I had sent my good luck, my mom earlier to check the results. I didnot want to go to Maulana Azad College. And thank God, I kept my hopes alive.

The three years on Presidency (2003-06) sharpened me in all aspects. My skill, social acumen and knowledge. That's why, we all loop into one thing : "Presidencians Never Die. They Come Back to College".

2017 marks the 200th birthday. I miss it, thanks for my other work for which my Alma Mater made me. I wish the coming Century to be more glorious than ever before.

P.C: Somnath Paul, 2006