The Shells at Tajpur

Another destination explored. Starting from 2011, it has been a constant movement onward, to places and marking my footsteps on google map. But as the commercial says, every trip has a reason, let leisure be the reason for this one. Celebrating the anniversary of my friends, a pair of couples on the beach was beyond doubt; enjoyable. Friends from the root hold, past as in Masters, the congregation upon the beach was nothing more than breach of the notion of boredom!

Budha-Ankita and Avisek-Soma; they were the reason and alcohol made it prominent across the bon-fire roasting the meat!

(l-r) Avisek, Budha, Ankita and Soma

The toast was on them and some of rum in the Bonfire!

A one day trip, it could have been hectic as we never stayed back in the hotel for more than 24 hours. But, this trip made me realize some aspects of being happy together. Yes, there were news of few parting friends, who would move along in their life. It did hurt a little, but then the smile always made it sure: All the Best for your endeavours.

Me too. At the end of my PhD, I shall move along outside India, for a better post doctoral opportunity. Then too, their and mine hearts will pump a little more blood full of adrenaline. May be, the meat was roasted and eaten, digested or excreted; but friendships shall never pass away so easily. 

The clear sky and the virgin beachline made me realize, wishes will always be pinned down with the desire to meet in such a manner, many a times in future.

Tajpur Beach: Virgin.

Luck offered me an opportunity to silently place the wish. With thousands of stars shining within a dark background and my camera trying to eye the star trail; it captured a shooting star. People believe it to be a wish filling sign. I had several things in mind. The fire was warm, so was the rum and the friends beside made it warmer. I could have wished many a things; but then, I realized; its better to leave in the hands of time. When the tooth will be lose, hanging as the last man stand; I know, my friends will be there; tucking my problems within their cusps; just like the way, I try to do it for them!

The Bicycle Rider

The spikes of the bicycle have been revolving for 10,791 days; and it has gathered the dust of time from all routes the gears of life have steered it through, and it will run many a days, alike.

Dusts and mud, washed sometimes by the clean water of the juvenile stream or by the old stagnant ponds. The lakes and the seas have had their role to play, waving to it an adieu as it heads along through the lush green jungles. The rider would never boast that it ever missed a slip, when the roads were slippery with moist moss. Nature, still he loved and still he strives with his gears of life holding the push-bell firm. There, it still has new in roads to make.

The back seat, well it's smeared with the touch of several soft hands. But, it never missed it's share of being roughed by the barb wires. With all the greatness bestowed upon the lord almighty, it still has the strength to carry on.

Today, the spikes stopped for a while. The rider had put on the brakes; rare one and looked behind the path he has taken. There was a bifurcation or may be more than one, which he now couldn't see behind. Unfortunately the cycle wouldn't budge from it's onward route, so the thoughts clouded his mind. It was an assorted congregation from cries of birth to the squeaks of baggage that has his degrees and diplomas. A thunder or two burnt his desires and showers that drained away his passion. But, flowers bloomed in his meadow and he kept them untouched, locked away from harm's way! The rider also foresaw his aspirations brighten ahead and smiled. 

A look at the paddle- a balance between good and bad times. He has to step on both of them and steer ahead. He looked ahead; where the roads will meet one day and be bigger and brighter. Till then, he has to push ahead. And he will....

... I will; 2,58,984 hours....and counting!!!

(c) Somnath Paul | somnath4you@gmail.com. | 2012

When Hibiscus was Red...

.. and the Leaves were Green; I left my studentship. I left as a we and We never felt happy to step out of the aisles, for there was life and memories that we were leaving behind. Together we sang the bengali numbers and english alike. A point of time, we really felt that "those were the best days of OUR lives!" Then there were cultural programs, alike; and we stood at each other's side, trying to make it a success. That time, the reds and the greens mixed, to give an aura of flora, that would hug the memories for ever.

But today, that same garden is tainted with broken petals of red falling apart from the green leaves! Today, life seems so much red, smudged in the viscous liquid called blood and people die for the farce, named college election. Fashion? Is it? Duty! I say my foot and then the loud speakers blare aloud; exercise your democratic right!

The recent incident at Garden Reach, Kolkata, made me realize it further with the grave shadow of concern; the machinery for which college union was devised for, is being utilized for all the wrong purposes. Purposes, that are not meant to be and facts that will always lure one's self estimation into the abyss of bitter bites! I call this system to be eaten to the core and needs a strong review, before the flowers of righteousness can bloom back to it's full glamour!

Let this short note be one, made as a testament, for the apathy that the young Indians are getting into and that will not take the nation any further, but have a bunch of "Young Politicians" who will not know about the bitterness of True Political Principles but the sweetness of making many simple lives bitter.

Amen!

Research: The Path For New India.

People say, facebook is a platform that is worth a time machine, that makes you lose your time. In most of the cases, it is taken with the negative mindset. But sometimes, facebook does help you to learn new things; but this is not the New India that I am talking about.

The world states that India is shining and time is not far away, when She will yield gold. But then, there are confounding factors that try to portray that She is still in the darkness of illiteracy and poverty. But, I being a researcher, in the field of molecular biology came across a world report published SIR (SCIMAGO INSTITUTION of RANKINGS), that details how the nations fared all over the world with their resource and scientific mind, pooling in more than 3000 institutes all over the world and providing the critical analysis and associated ranking for the institutes. The aspects that they considered included publications, progress and contribution towards the society. I have gone through the aspects and found out that the report encompasses subjects that includes health science, social science, humanities, physical and chemical sciences as well as biomedical research. The publication were taken from scopus citing system and the analytical survey spanned from 2006-10.

It is note worthy that India has some institutes within this 3000, but I will enlist the rank that they received from the survey, within the first 50%, i.e upto 1000th rank. The full report can be accessed here or downloaded from here.

The listing is as follows:

82- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

376- Indian Institute of Science BANGALORE

460- Indian Institute of Technology KHARAGPORE

536- University of Delhi DELHI

553- Indian Institute of Technology DELHI

560- Indian Council of Agricultural Research

600- Indian Institute of Technology MADRAS

602- All India Institute of Medical Sciences DELHI

636- Indian Institute of Technology MUMBAI

649- Bhabha Atomic Reseach Center MUMBAI

681-Indian Institute of Technology KANPUR

737- Jadavpur University KOLKATA

738- Benaras Hindu University  VARANASI

856- Indian Institute of Technology ROORKEE

859- Annamalai University CHIDAMBARAM

946- Institute of Post Graduate and Medical  Research KOLKATA

963- Indian Council of Medical Research

970- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research MUMBAI

BOLD are all India Organisation.

It is note worthy that out of first 1000, India only has a share of 1.8% and 2.9% in the first 1500 institutes.

This share is low, given that a huge chunk of Indian brain works all over the world. Being a researcher, it is not only out right to take burden and excel the nation, as it is the aspect where the name counts and for that good incentives also counts. The latter part and the flow of fund has ample opportunity in the nation, but the problem is, the opportunity has remained so for the past decade or more and has not been transformed into a reality.

I hope, this article reaches the correct mind and in correct manner.

Entangled Twine, Evening Wine: Prahuti

               The onus was on the human shoulders, when the society demanded to be civilized and Maniktala Kolpokatha decided to do it in a tune of it's own. Kobikatha and Nohi Samanya Nari stood to their notes and expressed the culture and epics of thousands of years, amidst the barbaric heinous act that India witnessed; with pain, our journey started...

                  .... and it was a journey to remember.

Living amidst the shackles is never approved by us,

    We decided to come out into the air,

Work and Livelihood made us jeer,

    Music is what that tuned our hearts!

We came together,

    We formed together,

Laughter issued us the certificate of joy,

   From dew of the dawn-

       To the water of the ocean,

         We bid to cover it all,

Slowly....

                 Maniktala Kolpokatha was a figment of imagination. I remember the inception of the concept. IICB, May 2012. After a cultural program, Nandana came up with an idea to me: "Somnath, how about setting up a group that shall practice the art apart from the daily chores of life." I said, "Why not? We can make one. We know many who will be interested!" The words spread like fire and the members poured in like a blizzard wind. Within two weeks, Kolpokatha, as it was originally known came 50 strong members. But, officially, our journey started on June 1st, 2012.

                    ... and it was not easy.

But, we managed. On the following eve of the death of Damini, the unfortunate girl from Delhi Rape Massacre, we tried to celebrate the power of women through Nohi Samanya Nari. I mean to say Celebrate, with a satire; its a few who will ever understand why? The nation, which was posting protests on facebook and tweeter, now posts, Happy New Year instead. But, we at Maniktala Kolpokatha, tried to portray the strongest force of nature, Love; in a show that had the essence of classical blend with retro music, tossed up in a the colours of Indian Culture- our best for you.

                  For those who came to support us, we were greatful. Our dream was to do something other than our normal lives; we believed in each other and you all believed in us. Our next production is due in April, 2013. Hope, you all will help us and support in our venture, like the last one and hope we, at Maniktala Kolpokatha will not dissappoint you. 

                 Let the dew touch the blades, Let the Sun kiss the ocean...

                 We will be there,

                 Like the earth-

                                 Seasonally Vibrant!