100-day Countdown to 2019

Day 1 (31st December) Finally it is the last day of 2018. It is time for the last post and put this blog to sleep, but not before recapping my best moments My monthly columns on a variety of cutting edge topics from Artificial Photosynthesis to Virtual Reality. They can be accessed HERE . My two bylines in The Hindu Sunday Magazine: Tharangambadi Restoration  Deepanjali Lamp Museum They say a picture is equal to thousand words. I posted a picture every single day of the year on Instagram. Here are the Top Nine That wraps up 2018 and this blog. Thanks for reading.

Day 2 (30th December) With just 2 days left in the year, it is a good time for some introspection. Taught 2 full fledged courses this year, in 2 different colleges for one semester each. Not my first teaching experience, but doing a full course with responsibilities of assessment was new. Some lectures were 2 hours long and holding the attention of students was a challenge. I didn't use PowerPoint much, relying on chalk and board more often. About 70 hours of lectures in the year. My rough estimate is 8 hours of preparation for every hour of lecture. I had to learn what I taught. This was both enjoyable and stressful. I taught by telling stories and using analogies. I didn't rely as much on standard text books as on the Internet and my own experience. There were some troubling moments when I felt like throwing in the towel. I always put ethics before knowledge and minced no words about it. For 2019, I have already backed out from one of the courses and remain undecided

Day 3 (29th December) 2 more days to shut down this blog. This 100-day blog has been an experiment. It was not meant to be a daily journal because I already have one. It was intended to be reflective, a stream-of-consciousness narrative and I am not sure if I succeeded in that objective. Looking back, I find some of the entries mirroring my diary. When I started this blog, I was sceptical about daily updates. But they have happened almost everyday and I am quite pleased with my discipline. Now only if this can spill over into 2019.  Research for the February column began today. Next year I will be writing 2 monthly columns. Will that leave me time for my book? If I don't write the book in 2019, it would most probably never happen. Columns work because of external deadline. Who will push the book? 

Day 4 (28th December) Informal meeting over lunch to plan for an event in February. The restaurant is part of a little known local club and we ate a typical Gujarati Thali. Let me take this opportunity to make a list of restaurants where I ate in 2018. 1) Hakkasan 2) Burma Burma 3) British Brewing Company 4) Chulha Chauki ka Dhaba 5) MTR 6) Kamat Lokaruchi 7) Cafe Mondegar 8) Cafe Royal 9) Pancham Puriwala 10) Basil n' Spice 11) Ph se Food 12) The Daily Bean 13) Pot Pourri 14) The Hut If you would like to know more about any of the above, leave a comment here and I will get back to you.

Day 5 (27th December) A weird thing happened today. My iPad lost its sound. After trying this and that in vain, I turned to the Internet for help. It was reassuring to know that it isn't such an uncommon problem and many users have experienced it. The most ridiculous explanation was "stuck in the headphone" mode, in which the iPad thinks that headphone jack is still stuck into it. The solution for this is equally ridiculous. To cut a long story short, after trying various suggested solutions, I finally soft reset the iPad and the sound magically came back. Jobs and Apple are clearly as overrated as rest of the tech world. If computers can be revived by turning off and on, then we surely can hope for something after death. On an impulse I went to Bhau Daji Lad Museum in the evening for Alain Jaubert's Palette series in which he clinically dissects famous paintings. Today's painters included Ruben, who celebrates female flesh like no other painter has. La To

Day 6 (26th December) Got up at 5, just in time to watch the first ball of the Boxing Day test match at Melbourne. And there was another in the afternoon at Pretoria. More than 12 hours of test cricket today. Everything else revolved around it. 

Day 7 (25th December) The last week of 2018 has arrived. I am completely at peace with myself, because 2018 has been so kind to me. But one thing didn't happen this year - an annual event that I had initiated in 2006. After 12 editions, it didn't take place this year despite my best efforts to push people. A legacy that I wanted to remember fondly died suddenly. But now there is a move to revive it early next year. Today I wrote the operative part of the brochure for the event.  And there was one necessary but tiresome chore which I had been procrastinating. I managed to get it done while listening to Naushad's compositions endlessly on Carvaan. So life can't be better on Christmas Day. And yes, looking forward to wake up early tomorrow for the Boxing Day cricket. 

Day 8 (24th December) Today I must write about my annual health check-up. The much delayed health check-up. I am pleased I got it done in the last week of the year. It was a comprehensive investigation lasting more than 4 hours. Not a single organ of my body was spared. There were some new tests that I have not been subjected to before. It was a mind blowing experience. Despite the professionalism and the clinical efficiency, the warmth and courtesy with which the doctors and paramedics treated me was remarkable. It was touching. I acknowledged couple of them by names in my glowing but sincere feedback. The hospital had the data from my previous tests and they presented the trends on the computer screen. The results were generally a relief, but there are couple of areas of concerns. However they are manageable with some discipline. 

Day 9 (23rd December) Today's blog post is very very special. Because I am posting something very dear to my heart - a video of Amma cooking Kali, a special item to celebrate the festival of Thiruvathira, which falls today. It is an unedited 10-minute video, since I lack editing skills. Also the video could not be directly posted here because of size limitation. So I providing a link to YouTube. Uploading the video on YouTube was an uphill task in itself. Hope you will watch the video patiently to know how Kali finally looks.  Click HERE for the video. 

Day 10 (22nd December) Today we kicked off the 3rd edition of the certificate course that will prepare students for life beyond college. Happy to be one of the faculty. There are 50 students. Introduced them to the idea of Project Management and asked them to keep a journal of their experiences as they work on their group assignments. Watched Manmohan Singh being felicitated at the Sabha. He is a stellar example of how a person can be successful without the ability to speak well. 

Day 11 (21st December)  Mailed the AI column. Looking for a title. Asked twitter, but got no response. I have couple of ideas in mind and will choose one.  Received a proper consulting request. Well more or less. Responded tersely because I am not desperate. Meeting with good friend at a bar that serves exotic craft beers. The place was overrun by women in early 40s celebrating silver jubilee of their class reunion. Almost all of them were surprisingly trim. 

Day 12 (20th December) Today was a writing day. Sowing the seeds for 2019. A new monthly column on Artificial Intelligence. Had started on it 2 weeks ago and then went into a limbo. Have been trying to revive it since last 2 days. Put my head down today and finished it. US government's Material Genome Initiative paved the way for the entry of AI-based software developers into materials discovery. The mission of MGI is to develop and deploy advanced materials at least twice as fast as possible today at a fraction of the cost.  To continue looking back at 2018, it was a fantastic year for films. Binged at 2 festivals - MIFF and MAMI. 15 films at MIFF and 18 movies at MAMI. Plus there were monthly films at the Bhau Daji Lad Museum and the Express Film Club. 

Day 13 (19th December) Had planned to surprise Amma by taking her to the iconic Balaji Temple in Kalbadevi on the occasion of Vaikunta Ekadasi. But Amma informed that Ekadasi was yesterday. What an anticlimax! Continuing with my reminiscences of 2018. I didn't travel much, at least not as much as I would have loved to. There were half a dozen train journeys to and from Bangalore to satisfy the railway buff within me. Visited Gaganachukki and Bharachukki Falls when they were in full flow. Spent some days in the capital during peak summer, visiting and revisiting heritage sites - Safdarjung Tomb, Qutub Complex, Mehrauli, Lodhi Garden, Lal Qila, Jama Masjid, Chandni Chowk. The conducted tour of Rashtrapati Bhavan was enchanting. But the most memorable experience was the 6-day monsoon road trip along the Malabar Coast from Mangalore to Kozhikode. 6 nights in 6 different hotels. Temples, Forts, Beaches, Museums. Kozhikode gave me the story to write for Hindu. 

Day 14 (18th December) The assignment is done and dusted and I am already feeling the withdrawal syndrome. When I began this last Monday, I wasn't confident of completing in 8 days. The credit goes not to me, but to the person who set this unrealistic deadline. Today was a bit farcical and Parkinson Law was in full play. It is deeply ingrained in all of us. We concluded at Lunch.  Over lunch, somebody recalled my old column and recommended it to others. It was a feel good moment and a validation that I am being read. Later visited an ex-colleague and he hugged me publicly. It was embarrassing.  Since 2019 is only 2 weeks away, time to put out my lists. Here are my top three accomplishments of 2018: 1) Teaching two courses in two different colleges for one semester each. 2) Two bylines in the Sunday Magazine of The Hindu. 3) Winning two awards for my writing - the column and the newsletter. 

Day 15 (17th December) My assignment entered the last leg with a new team joining today. It was an anticlimax of a day. There wasn't much to brainstorm and we stretched things to fill the time. A trifle sad to watch the disintegration of a fine mind. Later a good friend praised me sky high by comparing me with an iconic figure. Not easy to dismiss it lightly. Skipped dessert (ice cream and Gulab Jamun) at lunch and had curd instead. 

Day 16 (16th December) After six days  of intense work I wanted to rest today, on a Sunday, like God did after creating the universe. Had an urgent task to accomplish - to complete the new column on Artificial Intelligence. The deadline was yesterday. I am disappointed that I allowed myself to get distracted by a myriad things and couldn't focus on it. It is only half done now. It is a commitment I should have taken more seriously. 

Day 17 (15th December) What a terrific week it has been! Six hectic days - influencing and directing the team, sharing knowledge, earning respect. Totally loved to be back in the thick of action and making a meaningful contribution. The joy of engineering! 

Day 18 (14th December) Some stumbling blocks today, day 5. Lack of clarity. Inadequate preparation. Team members contradicting each other. I couldn't hide my frustration as time is slipping. Raised my voice sometimes to chide and rebuke the team. At the end of the day, I feel we are back on track. But it is taking an emotional toll. I am questioning myself. 

Day 19 (13th December) Another exhausting day. But so satisfying because I am making a very meaningful contribution. Setting the target, steering the team, building consensus. I am in the thick of hardcore engineering again and loving it totally. Absorbing the energy of young people to invigorate myself. Halfway through the assignment. 4 more days to go. 

Day 20 (12th December) Long and difficult day as expected. New team, new cases, uncomfortable situations. I am happy I was able to resolve some tricky and ambiguous situations. An exhausting but very satisfying day.

Day 21 (11th December) Another stress-free day at the assignment. Things should hot up from tomorrow. My back is bothering me. Probably due to sitting for too long yesterday. Tried to stand up more often today.

Day 22 (10th December) My assignment got off to a sedate start. I am loving it. Biggest worry is the amount of tea and biscuits I may end up consuming this week. Also the fine print is taxing my eyes. Forgot to carry the magnifying glass. 

Day 23 (9th December) Back in Mumbai after a week in Bangalore. Today was like a blank page between two thick chapters. Looking back, I am happy that I managed to achieve so much in Bangalore despite all the stress and anxiety. A heavyweight assignment awaits me now. It will keep me fully occupied for next 10 days. And in the midst of that I need to get some serious writing done. 

Day 24 (8th December) Left Bangalore after exactly a week, the task still unfinished. But early into my train journey, got news that everything is done. A wave of relief washed over me. It was another 24-hour train journey, my 6th this year. The train is grandiosely named Chalukya Express, but that is just about it. Filthy toilets, no sense of urgency, no pantry car for a train that travels almost 38 hours. I boarded very early in the morning. Most passengers were in deep slumber; they had boarded yesterday from the heart of Tamil Nadu. I cocooned myself on the lower side berth behind curtains, plugged into Mohammad Rafi on the i-pod, and immersed myself in the sunlight-bathed countryside rushing past the window. What utter bliss! The train trundled at a leisurely pace steadily losing time. E-ordered breakfast of Idlis and Vada was delivered at Arsikere, a station I used to fantasise in my childhood while poring over thick railway timetables. Idli and Chutney were surprisingly deli

Day 25 (7th December) 2018 has been good to me, notwithstanding the current stressful week. This stress is because things are not happening as planned, filling the mind with negative thoughts. Things over which I don't have control. Because somebody, whom we trusted, over-promised and is under-delivering. I have tried to battle these negative forces by writing. I have got a lot of writing done this week. Today I began writing the first of the new series of columns on Artificial Intelligence. The first column is on how Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning can accelerate the process of material discovery and design. 

Day 26 (6th December) I am in Bangalore since last 6 days and the task is not fully completed yet. I cannot wait here indefinitely. So we went to Residency Road to seize the bull by its horns. And it seems to have worked. But I am not celebrating yet.  On the way back we stopped at the legendary Thom's Bakery in Fraser Town to pick up Plum Cakes and other goodies.  News about my column - Chemingineering - winning an award came late in the evening. I am happy but not delirious. Coincidentally, the 24th edition of the column was mailed out today, 2 weeks ahead of schedule. 

Day 27 (5th December) What a day! So much to be happy and grateful about. I am almost through with the 3D printing piece. My column is ready a fortnight before the deadline.  The market for 3D printing is expected to grow globally to $63 billion by 2026 at a CAGR of 23.7%. And novel materials provided by the chemical industry will accelerate this growth. Almost all big chemical companies are queuing up to claim a share of this pie.  I am breathing a little easy now. The face to face meeting has cleared many cobwebs in my mind. 

Day 28 (4th December) Another quietly productive day. Newsletter done and dusted. And more than a third of my column done. Writing on the opportunities of 3D printing for the chemical industry. I have 2 columns to write this month, so it is a terrific start. But there is something else weighing heavily in my heart since last 2 days. 

Day 29 (3rd December) Several tasks are competing for my attention this week. Completing the editorial was today's major accomplishment. Picked "Nostalgia" as the topic to write on since the Annual Reunion Day is less than a fortnight away. The research threw up something bizarre - Nostalgia was regarded as a mental disorder till well into the 20th Century. But today we eye it more benevolently. Nostalgia bonds together people who have shared events in the past. 

Day 30 (2nd December) We went to MTR for breakfast today. We parked our car 180 degrees away along the periphery of Lalbagh and strolled through the garden to reach the overflowing MTR. The wait wasn't too long. Since we were four, we could afford to order a variety of items and taste them. Pongal was easily the best, closely followed by Podi Dose. Finally filter coffee was served in porcelain cup and saucer and that left an unpleasant aftertaste. Long, leisurely detour through the park to the car, soaking in the botanical ambiance. Near the Bull temple, we experienced the curtain raiser of the annual groundnut fair, Kadalakai Parishe , starting tomorrow. We had to park the car more than a kilometer away and foot it to the temple, milling with thousands. Skipped DoddaGanapati temple because of the extraordinarily long queue. The Big Bull was an awesome sight and totally worth all the trouble. Bought some groundnuts on the way back. They were pathetic compared to what

Day 33 (29th November) Corrected the Quiz. It provided an insight into how I should set the question paper for the final exam. Not all students are comfortable with numericals. Just hours before boarding the train, a fresh round of anxiety invaded my mind. Day 32 (30th November) A day spent in the train, anxious and stressed. Formulated the question paper to relieve my stress. Day 31 (1st December) Almost miraculously, the obstacles got cleared and we closed the deal. Huge day. Visited temples to offer thanks and celebrated at a quaint cafe.