Contracts and Tenders

Yesterday, there was lecture of contracts and tenders in class. Some of the things which Sr. Professor  taught us, and I like to mention here:

1) To qualify, the tenderer has to meet the technical eligibility and financial eligibility. ( he must have carried out a work of similar nature of atleast 35% of the tender value, and the turnover in the qualifying period should be atleast 150% of the tender value).

2) L1 is valid, eligible, technically acceptable lowest bid tenderer.

3) The lowest bid tenderer need not be L1, if the above mentioned criteria valid and technically acceptable are not met.

4) The Tender Commitee has to consider the offer of such L1 only, whether to accept, to reject, or to negotiate.

5) If L1 backs out, CVC issued a letter in 2004 regarding this situation, that the only option available with Tender committee is to reject the tender, and re-invite the tender.

A beauty Skin deep

The beauty that is an illusion,
To attract all the attention,
And the whole world is fooled by its miracle.
A beauty that's only skin deep!
Because it's a showpiece,
And the people out there wander in search of the same,
little do they know what they need!

I feel pain

I feel pain when I find people killing other people in the name of terrorism, self pride, ego, all the irrational logics. I feel pain when I find the women not being treated respectfully, as they should be. 

Why do a few handful of men treat the women as objects of pleasure and disposable item, to rape, murder and hang on the tree? What have they been not taught in the classes while they were attending the school? Or did they not attend the school? Who did not send them to the school? If they went to the school, who did not teach them to respect our women? If they did not go to school, why their parents not taught them such things? Instead what taught them to take lives as they wish? Surroundings and environment?, the movies? What?

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God save the world from these worshippers of hate and crime!

#korbolorbojeetbo

The above phrase being a prominent for the people from West Bengal. Its equivalent in English: we'll do, we'll fight and we we'll win. In Hindi meaning: "humlog karenge, larenge aur jeetenge". I am yet to hear the hindi version being spoken prominently among the youth in the Hindi speaking states. Yet many times, the mentality of youth is such that they want everything done without putting an effort. To excel, we have to think first for trying to achieve that! I feel It's this strong attitutde and learning of the Bengali people from the childhood that they have excelled in almost every field: be it literature, medicine, art, film and television, sports, academics, scientists. Long hail the tradition!

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#This post is inspired by one of my facebook friend's status from West Bengal when enjoying the IPL match KKR vs other team, she updated her status as #korbolorbojeetbo few minutes back.

THE RAILWAY SERVICES (CONDUCT) RULES, 1966

Link to Service Conduct Rules of Indian Railway: Click Here
I am writing some excerpts from there:

"Every railway servant shall at all times-
 (i) maintain absolute integrity;
 (ii) maintain devotion to duty; and
 (iii) do nothing which is unbecoming of a railway servant."

Shopping Experience at Flipkart!

My first order on Flipkart was long back on 18-Sep-2011 and I had ordered four Books costing total Rs 196 only. Since then, Flipkart has been a good companion for shopping needs. I have used the site to buy a variety of items ranging from Room Freshener, Pen-sets, Clothes, shoes, Mobile, watches and even Badminton Racquet. Though it has the option of Cash on Delivery, I find it inconvenient as an additional process of going to ATM and giving the money to Courier boy is added. Instead, I do most of the transactions online only.

One of the great help has been regarding buying the books. The book display system on Flipkart is good enough with Contents break-up and number of Pages, to suggest what the book may contain, and if aided with Google Books, one may find what exactly he/ she is looking for! Google Books has the preview of many books available, looking at which, one may find, if that books is needed or not! Especially, that becomes important when there are many choices available, and one is not able to choose from among the many choices. Even in a Bookshop, the supplier supplies “Book on a Subject” of not many authors and Publications. At shopping website like Flipkart, “Book on a Subject” by many authors are available. Particularly, As I have realized going with the engineering books, many books which the students follow or as referred by other students are voluminous! When I have to buy a book on a subject, I look at the number of Pages which the book contains. If the book contains too many pages, say more than 300, I avoid that at the first instant, knowing, I might never be able to complete the book! Instead, I look for books by other author containing less pages, aided with Google Books Preview. If I find that satisfactory, I place an order. Most of the times, but not always, the Experience has been good! In the Process, I have also come across a variety of new issues and subjects, which I might have never read, because, I have just glanced at the book, available on Flipkart, and found it interesting, and put an order. One important thing, is if we have to prepare for an Exam, we have to study the same thing again and again, so long as that does not come in our memory, which I never do, so, I do not expect much, I hope so!

Other area of shopping has been the clothes. Only hesitation is the first order of a particular Brand, because, the size may not fit! However, there is an option of Returning the Product. So, That issue is already taken care of. I find it much economical to buy from the Flipkart given the discounts offered almost always, or else, I buy only when the discounts are being offered! But, It does not reduce the quality. I have been satisfied almost always with the quality of the Products available at Flipkart. If I have to buy a high price item, of course, I consult the other sites for the price, but most of the times, Price at Flipkart has been reasonable, and if there is minor difference, I’ll prefer the service provided by Flipkart. Also, lack of requirement of physically going to store to buy an item, has introduced within me the habit of shopping, thereby increasing the expenditure costs!

So, It’s like this that when I have to buy a Product, I look for its availability at Flipkart, and If available, I prefer the Flipkart!

Chidiya ke geet

Jab main chhoti thi, jag ka
Andey jaisa tha aakaar;
Tab main yahi samajhti thi
Bus itna sa hi hai sansaar!

Phir mer ghar bana ghonsla
Sookhe tinkon se tayyar
Tab main yahi samajhti thi
Bus itna sa hi hai sansaar.

Phir main nikal padi shaakhon par
Hari bhari thi jo sukumar;
Tab main yahi samajhti thi
Bus itna sa hi hai sansaar.

Lekin jab main aasmaan mein
Udi door tak pankh pasaar
Tabhi samajh mein meri aaya
Bahut bada hai yeh sansaar!

Service Commissions and their delay!

I applied for Bihar Engineering Services Examination in May 2011. They took the exam one and a half years later in December 2012. They declared the written result 6 months later in May 2013. They still have to take the interview and prepare final result and offer the joining letter to the selected candidates. 2 years already passed by, and at least an extra year is likely to take more. (almost more than 3 years for the whole process of recruitment and placement)

I applied for Engineering Services Examination in Feb 2012, appeared at the exam in June 2012. They declared the written result 10 months later in April 2013. Interview in May 2013 and still final result not declared. It’s likely to take almost 6 – 10 more months before the actual joining is offered to selected candidates. (almost 2 years for the whole process of recruitment and placement)

I applied in Airports Authority of India in March 2012, appeared at the exam in August 2012. Interviews were held in December 2012 and final result was declared in January 2013 (faster process though). In the final result, It was written, “Offer letters will follow shortly!” After long wait of 3 months, one fine evening a notice appeared on the AAI website, “Candidates who have applied for the posts in above advertisement may note that the recruitment process is put on hold until further orders!” (indefinite period for the whole process of recruitment and placement)

If this is the way our recruitment agencies work in India, It’s deliberately creating a major workforce who can be employed productively in constructive works into forced unemployment! Though, I have a job, so I do not feel the heat and frustration. Many who are freshers or don’t have patience for such a long wait, and don’t have a job in hand, It’s highly likely they will be frustrated or give up preparing for such exams!

The Freedom to feel about things we do not have control over!

When the greed gives way to self satisfaction, and the feeling to acquire more and more gets away with, how do we feel?

Certainly, some people may not be happy with this idea of “not having control over many aspects of their life”. But, In a nutshell, It means, “the relief from worrying about things over which we do not have control”, because at the end, we can always be self satisfied thinking for better results, the freedom to form an association, and for worse results, the freedom to reject an association! But, what makes things “under control” and “not under control”?

(List I): Some examples of things which are not under control of an ordinary human being at some point of time in their life:

Birth (immigration), Choice of parents, siblings and other relatives, Going back in time, Going ahead in time, Manipulating things done in the past, Result of acts done in past, Acts of other human beings, Certain emigration.

(List II): Some examples of things which are under control of an ordinary human being at some point of time in their life:

Mind and Body control, Acts of self done in Present, Choice of friends, Choice of spouse through love-marriage, Choice to have children or not to have, Planning (or waiting) for future tense, Forced emigration, etc.

It’s not possible to manipulate acts in List I. Further, certain acts in List I even though unchangeable, give us our identity. I think, we must feel proud of the same. For acts in List II, It’s possible under normal terms and conditions to obtain better results.

It’s very important to construct positives over things which are under our control, for it tends to bring more and more positives over negatives, and since the things which are not under our control have the equal probability of bringing a favourable or unfavourable result, It’s only acts under our control which may help us to achieve the best out of opportunity available to us!

Learning a new Language

For preparation of civil services exam, I decided to take up a literature subject. With talks to some of my friends, who gave suggestions that its success ratio was good and short syllabus, easy subject, I decided to study Maithili literature and having some knowledge of its talking style. Later, when I started studying the subject, I realized, I had only superficial knowledge of the subject. Further, I realized the real picture was not as presented by some of my friends who had advised to take up the subject. This language has as many as 21 verbs. In English, the verbs do not depend too much on noun. For example:

I eat. You eat. They eat. He eats. She eats. All of them eat, etc, etc.

In Maithili, the verb changes with all these nouns! There are as many as 21 of this kind! No wonder, the language was invented by some of the most intellect of their times. Its inventors added too much emphasis on the prestige element of the sentence.

For example: (Hindi)-(English)-(Maithili)

(Tum kha rahe ho)- (you are eating)-(tao khait chathi)
(aap kha rahe hain)-(you are eating)-(taon khait chathin)
(aap log kha rahe hain)- (You are eating) – (taonsabh khait (verb changes))
(wo log kha rahe hain) - (They are eating) – (oosabh khait (verb changes))
(ye log kha rahe hain) – (These people are eating) – (eesabh khait (verb changes))

As we note, verb changes in Maithili, each time a noun changes its form either in gender, singular, plural or respect. There is too much emphasis on the respect element in the language of Maithili.

One of the examples given by my teacher in class for the “respect”element, where he wanted to show if not used properly, it’s a joke.

Example: A new daughter-in-law starts to learn Maithili and spelled this in Maithili as :“the crow came and took away the bread” -> “kaua alkhin aa roti leke ur gelkhin”.
“alkhin” and “gelkhin” is to be used as a respect element and not for low strata animal.
One student started laughing too loudly in the class after hearing the sentence, as if he heard the divine joke!

In exams, we don’t have to speak, rather, we have to write. We have to write correct! As I realized soon after attending a few classes, the subject was not interesting me, or may be the reason, the teacher’s teaching style did not interest me!

But, one thing is certain, learning a new language is not a cake walk. At this age and learning style, I am not able to learn the grammar of a new language. But, I learnt “hindi” when I was a kid. I had sufficient good enough knowledge (writing, reading and speaking) of the subject at the age of 10 years. Of course people from different states have good knowledge of their native language at the same young age. People from Mithilanchal have good knowledge of Maithili at this age. I learnt English good enough by the age I reached class 8 (12 years of age). Most of the learnings of English took place while I was in class 8~9 with reading lots of English story books from the school library. I learnt English good enough in plain two years with normal routine and not with great emphasis only on the English subject.

This certainly implies the learning ability of a kid is unmatched! When I realized, learning even the grammar of a new subject is not easy at this elder age of now, It made me think, when a kid is learning a new language in the starting phase of his/her life, he/she is not making an ordinary progress. It’s the extra-ordinary achievement of a kid at that level, which makes me to believe, “If a kid can learn a new language at so young age, he can certainly learn any other activity and has the potential to achieve excellence in his/her life”.
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Note: The views expressed above are my own...

My friend...

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O my friend !
How I wish, there could be more like you around me !
***

What gives the most satisfaction !

After a long time, I visited my home. I think, family (including friends) and education are two things which give the most satisfaction.

Had a good interaction with parents, brothers and sisters.

At this point of time, I have not joined any job to save my time for self study ! But, I am always satisfied that due to education I have, I can get a good job any time!

As of now, I think, I have sufficient time available, before I can settle upon a job finally, and further responsibilities!

...

(more to be added later)



Choices

Choices be made right!
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Flight vs Rail

I remember, when I was a kid, I had visited Patna airport once just to see an aeroplane, take off and landing. Seeing the aeroplane landing and taking off, It was so beautiful, I had asked my parents whether, we would also sit on aeroplane some day! My mother said, "son, we have done, whatever, we could do. Now, all these demands are to be met by you!"

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Certainly, a flight journey these days is not a very privilaged wish as used to be some 10 years back, as the flight fare is low as compared to hike in salary. But, for me a flight journey is not a matter of choice/luxury, rather, a necessity! Rail distance from kolkata to Agartala could be around 1500-2000 kms. whereas, the air distance is only 400 kms. This is due to presence of Bangladesh plugged into lower arm of northeastern states!

To travel by rail, It takes more than 48 hours, where as by flight, It's less than an hour!

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However, a luxurious journey adapts oneself to it so much so that other travel modes seems inferior and unwanted. I also had to visit Delhi recently! The Rajdhani express and AC berths are full before the sleeper class, clearly depicting people getting richer,or low fare as compared to hike in salary/ income! To add to it, there are so many people who have to travel, so, Sleeper class becomes like a local train, with so many waitlisted passengers! Yet, a night joureny is just good, as we reach our destination while in our sleep, but, if trains too late, it really is a kind of harassment.

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I believe, a long flight journey is yet low cost as compared to land travel, if we perform a nice analysis, including all costs. Whereas, to travel by land, we have to develop a complete land infrastructure, It's not so for the air travel, where the complete space is the route, which requires no additional cost! The infrastructure which needs development is only while taking off and landing, the two end terminals. I believe, for long journey, air travel is the future! If somehow, cost of fuel could be reduced, air travel would be very economical! A plane carries more number of passengers than a "train with specified number of berths" in the same time interval, due to more number of trips possible due to high speed of aeroplane and hence less time taken.

Vacation: Boring days!

No work and full pay! Just gets too boring to imagine life next two months! However, me and some of my friends have decided to utilize this time in our own personal good like health and fitness! Let's see. Hope, I do not be too lazy!

April and disturbing!

This April was relatively calm as compared to others! However, An incident occured in first week of April which had very high potential of destruction and/or bad reputation to our group friends at our present stay.

It was mere luck and coincidence that I was present in my flat and that I noticed the smoke coming out of my adjacent room. When, I opened the room completely, It was too horrible sight and I was shocked to find the bed in flames. The fire was at its initial stage and could be controlled soon. The cause of fire was not established, but having no other clue, we concluded an electric short-circuit might be the cause!

Being a villager!

Rightly described as "gaonwalo" by my friend Chinmay :)

The last movie I watched in a cinema hall was "I hate love stories" at City centre, Salt Lake, Kolkata in July last year! There are no cinema halls at Agartala!

Places around my present stay don't have restaurants! and to travel 20 kms to main town just to visit a restaurant! or just visit a restaurant when you visit the town!

Ok, there is something more! To have the cash in my hand, visit the nearest ATM which is around 10 kms away from the university campus!

What if suddenly, you need to send some letters through speed post! Go and visit the town!

However, Inside university campus, very good facilities of residence, electricity, water, internet, etc. exist! So, At least not so bad!

India wins the Cricket World Cup 2011

Yesterday(02-April-2011) was the glorious moment for Indians as we won the Cricket WorldCup. I was watching it live on TV with my friends and was overjoyed when Dhoni hit a last sixer to win the match against SriLanka. Finally, the SriLankan captain had to say, 'Even 350 runs could be less for Indians!' a marvellous inning was played by Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni which brought India on the track of winning the game after losing two early wickets of Sehwag and Tendulkar.

Below here in the picture is the winning sixer shot by MS Dhoni, being watched by two captains very eagerly!

Kolkata to Agartala via Imphal

Day before yesterday (on Sunday), I had to travel from Kolkata to Agartala. There are many direct flights from Kolkata to Agartala. However, I wanted to enjoy the flight experience as direct flight duration from Kolkata to Agartala is too short (only 40-50 minutes). So, Intentionally, I booked long duration flight via Imphal. It was of an extra hour duration! When I informed my mother of my longer journey, she was too scared! :D She said that flight journey was risky so, one should avoid it. She said that my behavior was too childish and warned me not to repeat the same again!

The flight experience is too breathtaking! The whole journey seems to be like travelling in a hanging vehicle with no or little jerking! It feels like just sitting on a chair and enjoying the outside clouds (I always book my ticket at the window seat). Last time, I had an opportunity to see a very big size rainbow in the sky (too awesome view).

The Precious Thing

One life and to achieve the most precious thing in life, one has to do nothing !!!

General rule 1 : Don't make any precious choice, the precious gift come to you !