100-day Countdown to 2019

Day 34 (28th November) The course is done and dusted. Wrapped it up with a quiz and soliciting feedback. The feedback is delightful, way better than I had expected. There are clear suggestions for improvement, in case I wish to repeat it next year. The most important suggestion concerns my voice. I must ask the college to get me a better mike, one that I don't have to hold in my hand. Two courses taught this year. Must focus on the book now. 

Day 35 (27th November) A day of reflecting, introspecting, daydreaming and looking ahead. Heart filled with indescribable emotions that can be slotted as neither happy nor sad. A day that defies being defined. When you want time to both freeze, as well as race ahead. A day that I want to let go. Because tomorrow may provide more insights to define today. 

Day 36 (26th November) The concerned students apologised in writing. Started last night on mail, one by one. All settled now. I was tough but lenient. In all probability, I have delivered the last lecture of this course. A big assignment beckons me. 

Day 37 (25th November) Tried something new today. Not eating out of habit, but only when feeling hungry. Also stuck to fruits, vegetables, dal and dahi. Avoided rice. Want to try this regimen at least once a week. 

Day 38 (24th November) Very happy with the outcome of my Marathon lecture. The students were a bit more attentive than usual. I am now staring at the end of this course. Son and daughter-in-law took me to lunch at a top rated Chinese restaurant. Between us we tasted almost every vegetarian option on the menu. Ironically, the item of the day for me wasn't Chinese. It was carrot cake, but unlike anything I have tasted in my life. And at the end, we had Ice Wine that neither cold nor a wine. It was a tea. I had much fun even while not enjoying the food much. And son has presented me with a bottle of triple matured Laphroaig. So the day cannot be better. 

Day 39 (23rd November) Worked hard today, without getting distracted. Preparing for tomorrow's marathon lecture of 4 hours. Meanwhile the whole class has apologised for the "misconduct" and want me to conduct a re-examination. Not something I can do without taking the authorities into confidence. It will open the Pandora's Box. 

Day 40 (22nd November) All I wanted to do today was sleep. But I got pulled into something.

Day 41 (20th November Had only 600 more words to complete the column, but struggled all day. Barely finished at 8, and within minutes the editor was reminding me to rush it. The deadline was yesterday! The main reason for my tardiness is the laptop, which is disfunctional since last week. This forced me to unveil the iPad and use it for the first time ever. And no Office Word! So totally at sea in navigating! The other reason is that Artificial Photosynthesis is a completely new topic for me. I had difficulty in organising the stuff and to keeping it simple and sweet. Anyway at the end, a big relief and feeling like a student after completing the final examination! 

Day 42 (20th November) Gurgaon, screened by Indian Express Film Club, was a poor selection. The script was weak, the pacing was poor, the acting was terrible and the background score was incongruous. I did not find a single redeeming feature. Some people walked out midway; my first such experience at IE film club screening. Left immediately after the film ended and did not stay back for the discussions, as I normally do. But I have no regrets watching this movie, because only in comparison with such bad films, can you appreciate the script, score, editing and acting in a good film. Today was the deadline for my column and I haven't made much progress in last 2 days. But feeling confident about tomorrow. 

Day 43 (19th November) Lectures resumed after 2-week recess for Diwali. How I have been waiting for this day! I began by telling a story, a real life account, of how I handled an examination malpractice case a decade ago, as the controller of examination in our professional body. I had got the centre debarred from conducting examinations for 2 years on account of dubious invigilation. It was one of my proudest moments in life. Having established my allergy against copying in examinations, I dwelt upon the present case. How it had amused, angered and saddened me. Minced no words in telling them that the world needs honest citizens and not dishonest engineers. The dishonest students have benn given time till the end of this week to confess and accept the consequences of their wrongdoing, failing which, I would escalate it to higher authorities with evidence. I have also started to think about a cheat-proof question paper for the final examination. Really excited by this.

Day 44 (18th November) My topic for this month's column is Artificial Photosynthesis. Started working on it and managed to write barely 250 words, way short of my target. But I am confident of meeting the deadline 2 days from now. Natural Photosynthesis is grossly inefficient and AP not only tries to mimic nature but also improve upon it. Advances in Nanotechnology and material sciences hold the key. AP has the potential to meet our future food and energy demands and at the same time sequester carbon dioxide, thereby mitigating global warming. It could be the holy grail that will extend our lease on this planet. 

Day 45 (17th November) I didn't expect to spend two and a half hours at the bank. I didn't expect to be riveted to women's cricket for 3 hours. And the committee meeting consumed 3 hours. So I haven't started on the column yet. A totally unacceptable excuse. 

Day 46 (16th November) "Navratna" was an excellently curated exhibition at Bhau Daji Lad Museum, featuring 9 pioneering Indian painters - Jamini Roy, Nandalal Bose, Raja Ravi Varma, Amrita Sher-Gil, Sailoz Mookerjea, Nicholas Roerich and the 3Tagores: Rabindranath, Gaganendranath and Abanindranath. There were short pocket-sized notes that I read again and again. Spent 90 minutes absorbing the paintings and soaking in their context. I am happy I was able to make time for this from a busy schedule. It was a perfect day, so perfect that I fear for the morrow. 

Day 47 (15th November) The laptop hard disk has failed. But I am back with a new kind of device with a new way to connect, filling me with childlike delight. The experience at the customer care centre was truly memorable. A boy, barely 19, but worldly wise beyond his years. And what crackling chemistry we forged from the very first second. My editor is ready with the documentation to nominate my column for the award. A mild excitement has started to cruise through my nerves. Day 48 (14th November) Horrid day. Not just because my laptop crashed. Hoping that the laptop will rise like a Phoenix tomorrow morning, as it has been wont to do. 

Day 49 (13 th November) Terrific day. Stepped up my persuasion to get my column and Newsletter nominated for awards, and it worked. Now, paperwork needs to be done in the next 3 days. My column is due in the next 7 days and for the first time in 22 months, my mind was bereft of ideas. But after some cogitation an idea appears to be taking shape. Conversation with son continued and I have been able to persuade him to act tough.

Day 50 (12 th November) Answer books have been evaluated. Spotted more cases of cheating. It is pushing me into depression. I have decided what I should tell them. Difficult conversation with son. We see the issue differently. I can only advise him. I am worried. Amma’s providential escape is slowly sinking in. This blog is at the halfway mark now. 50 more days and it will be 2019. And this blog will die.

Day 51 (11 th November) Should have completed the evaluation of answer books today, but I took a break. 12 years ago, I started something. We kept it going year after year, every October. It did not happen this year. I don’t want to give up on this legacy so easily. Made a last-ditch effort by making an emotional appeal to my buddies. Late in the evening Amma called. She told something that made me break out into cold sweat. Providence has again come to her aid.

Day 52 (10 th November) Immersed in correcting answer books, I experienced 8 of the Navarasas. Couple of answers were unexpectedly clever and made me squeal in delight. But many of them wracked my nerves as I struggled to decipher the handwriting and decode the logic. I am lenient not to dock marks for bad presentation. Sadly, I spotted some clear evidence of cheating. It makes me angry and disappointed. I cannot let this pass. An honest human being is more important than a dishonest engineer in my value system. I am not sure how I want to handle this.

Day 53 (9 th  November) 75 answer books to be corrected. 3 questions in each answer book. Correcting one answer today, the second tomorrow and the third on Sunday. More objective this way. Found new strength within me to complete editing the newsletter. And a thought crossed my mind – blowing one’s own trumpet isn’t bad. Just have to find a nuanced way. When mails are not answered today, there is always hope for tomorrow.

Day 54 (8 th November) I hate editing the newsletter. Writing the editorial is the easier and enjoyable part of the job. Correcting the stories of others is the dirty part. The stories are always bloated and pompous and I have to be ruthless. It takes more time than writing the editorial. I want to amplify my Lamp Museum story into about 2500 words, profiling about a dozen lamps in detail. Sent out a pitch to a media house.

Day 55 (7 th November) Amma’s birthday today. Happy family gathering. Both my nephews were there to seek blessings from their grandmother. Loads of food. Loads of laughter. Friend and ex-colleague, who always calls me on Diwali day, called and we spoke for 48 minutes. Life can’t get better.

Day 56 (6 th November) Today is Deepavali. I got up at 5. Had oil bath using the one Rupee Parachute sachet. Wore something new. Ate sweets. Wished some people. Did everything that I have been conditioned to do on Deepavali day. Everything except bursting firecrackers. I think you stop enjoying Deepavali after you turn 12. A part of it comes back briefly when your child is in the age bracket of 5-12. The mystique of Deepavali is the fireworks. Nothing else matters for a child. I always get melancholic on Deepavali. I think it is brought on by the nostalgia of carefree celebrations during childhood. Now the court has limited fireworks to just 2 hours. Even my 82-year-old mother says wistfully that Deepavali is no longer the same. I cannot but agree with her.

Day 57 (5 th November) It is that time of the month when I have to write an editorial for the Alumni Association newsletter. I have a free hand to choose the subject of the editorial, but obviously it can’t be Trump or Modi. I thrive on the confidence that a topic will always pop into my mind at the 11 th hour. But that confidence is slowly evaporating after nearly 30 months. This year, I have written about philanthropy, role models, talent management, building leaders etc. The idea for this month’s editorial came after reading yesterday about the new MBBS curriculum which puts lot of emphasis on communication skills. The newsletter is mailed to about 6500 alumni, but I have no delusions that everyone of them is reading my editorial. The feedback has been as rare as the blue moon. But life goes on, as it must.

Day 58 (4 th November) Today is an extremely happy day, because my byline is in Hindu. Even though I knew about it on Tuesday, actually seeing your name in print gives a high like nothing else does.   There is a story behind how this story on Deepanjali Lamp Museum was born and today is a good time to narrate it. It all began in the last week of June, when we went on a weeklong trip along the Malabar coast. The journey began at Mangalore and culminated at Kozhikode. Monsoon had set in and it rained almost all the time, which was entirely expected. Staying in Kozhikode was a last-minute addition to the itinerary and we had looked up various museums prior to our arrival there. Deepanjali Lamp Museum was the top pick because it sounded exotic and also because I am passionate about lamps, having a small collection myself. Getting a taxi was easy and navigating to Deepanjali Museum at Puthiyangadi was easier with the help of Google Maps. But locating the museum was n

Day 59 (3 rd November) We have a new chairman after several years, a man who has never been in the committee before. It was an opportunity to ask tough questions – why we are doing what we do? And bring fresh perspective.   But many were focused on maintaining status quo and the opportunity was squandered away. So, the meeting was consumed in establishing new equations to reinstate the old order. Why this risk aversion even in a voluntary set-up? I suffered the charade in silence for a long time. A point arrived when I could no longer restrain myself. If you have strong views, it is difficult to stay quiet in a meeting.

Day 60 (2 nd November) Did something interesting in today’s lecture. Asked the class to look up a website on their smartphones and use the information provided there to solve a problem. It was a last-minute improvisation and went down well with the students. The draft brochure of a workshop I am planning in January has been sent for my approval. My mind is not on it. I am probably experiencing MAMI withdrawal syndrome.

Day 61 (1st November) MAMI is done and dusted. 18 movies during the course of the week. My top 5: 1) Cold War 2) Wildlife 3) Transit 4) Three Faces 5) Shoplifters Now to write reviews for some of them.