Stage 2 - Selection of guide

GUIDE is the most important person in our thesis. A guide can either be a catalyst or an inhibitor during the REVIEW/JURY.

Getting a good guide gives a huge psychological boost to the students, and they have a huge relief after discussing with their guides venting out their confusions and fears.

(PS:good guide here means motivating, supporting and friendly and NOT GOOD LOOKING :P)

SELECTION OF GUIDE usually happens after finalization of the topic. And depending on their area of interest & specialization teaching staff from our department will chose their respective topics. And, each guide will have maximum of 3 to 4 students.

BUT, for our batch they said there was a new rule. :O
students should give 3 options for their "guides to be" and will be finalized by the
"THESIS COMMITTEE"

The meek, humble, "ok for anything" , mostly female staff were given preference during this process.
Students felt that by doing so they will relieve the extra pressure from the guide side.

Unfortunately,(or fortunately for few) after the final list of guides were displayed, we realized it was just an eye-wash and the usual process of guide allocation was followed! :(

Athuku apuram ore alambals than!

"hey i have to meet my guide ya"

"my guide told me to come by 10:30 ya"

"its just my 3rd guide meet ya"

sshhabbaaa... ivvaru ovavaru varukum oru "appavi" guide allot saiya pattadhu!!

Click here for stage 3

Stage 1 - selection of topic

The deadline for submitting the synopsis for our 3 options of topics was given long back (a month ago) However being a typical student none of us bothered to think about the topics (except for few regular specimens ofcourse) :P Also we had so many committments like

• semester exams
• new movie releases(peraanmai, adhavan, kanden kadhalai)
• diwali
• sweets to eat
• orkut profiles to update
• facebook quizzes
• farmville
• mafia wars
• SMS, blogging, etc

WOW! Thats a lot of committments isn't it? :-O

So finally 3 days before the deadline you can find the entire class online in gtalk and facebook (actually in search of their own thesis topics) :D

The following status messages in their profiles are usually common:

- "THESIS fever started"

- "THESIS torture"

- "yarathu oru topic iruntha kudungalaen" :-O

The 1st option of topic is what we are most interested in, so usually students decide that first and then spend considerably lesser amount of time for choosing the second topic and little or no time :P for choosing the 3rd option.

The night before the submission date..

TIME: 1:30am

R: hi, ethathu kedachutha?

ME: No, still searching.. feeling sleepy

R: time is only 1:30, we still have time dont worry

ME: yeah.. unaku ethathu kedachutha?

R: No.. same condition

ME: k cont..

R: ok u too..

Yeah.. have u heard of burning the midnight oil? its an age old saying.. but it suits perfectly even today.. probably we should rephrase it as "burning the CPU" or something like that..

TIME: 2:30 am

ME: any progress?

R: yea.. but athuku site details ae ila.. wht 2 do?

ME: proposal irukula? chumma google earth la site eduthukalam.. dont wry..

R: apdi panalama??

ME: athellam pathukulam.. vanthu check panava poranga :P

R: okie done! i will start typing then..

ME: okie im goin to sleep will get up by 6 and start typing

R: Gudnite.. bye

Choosing a project with a live proposal is important. For Eg, if u are choosing an UNDERWATER MUSEUM, there may be proposals in places like mumbai or chennai and we'll have to choose that particular site.

But under extreme conditions :D , you can allocate your own site.. (company secret, thanks to Google)

Its the day. 10am - submission 9 nov 09

If you think you are happy after choosing your 3 options, well wait till you meet everyone from class.. you are in for a surprise! ;)

After reaching college you will realise someone else has chosen your topic as well :( thats a miserable feeling, that too when your first option is the first option of someone else too.. :(

namma than ethaiyum thangum ithayam achae.. so enathan nadakum nadakattumae nu .. we wait with hope n faith..

THE TRADITIONAL PROCEDURE OF TAKING LOTS...

After taking the lots, u will hear atleast one of your friends (or yourself) screaming

"aiyaiyoooooooo.. nan than firstuuuuuuuu" :D :D

In many cases its an honour to be No.1.. but here its a curse.. ;)

The person allotted lot num one goes for the jury first..

THE JURY PANEL

Its a deadly room .. closed on all sides artificially lighted & airconditioned.

In the centre, there is a huge long table.. occupied by the jury members (6 in number) in a semi-circular shape.

In the centre of the semi circle is a small chair and student sits there very cautiously like a child who is about to get its first injection :D

Outside the crit room, all students wait anxiously for the 1st student to come out to know the "mood" of the jury members.

K: enaku site area vae theriyathae? ena solluvanga bayama iruku..

V: pichu puduven.. ava ava site ae ilama iruka.. unaku area ilanu feel panriya..

K: seri cool cool..

The first person comes out after finishing the jury.

Sweet box la irunthu oru sweet a velia edutha udanae.. suthi "E" moicha epdi irukum? Same way the person who has come out is surrounded by all others in a fraction of a second.

"hey ena sonanga?"

"site details kekurangala?"

"1st option mattum pathangala ila ellamae va? "

"synopsis fulla read pani pathangala?"

"yaru read panra?"

"pona udanae ena sonanga?"

Befor the student could even breathe a sigh of relief , she is targetted by an array of questions (jury panel ae better pola iruku)

Condition of the student before entring the jury

R: bayama iruku.. ok solliruvangala?

ME: Dont worry kandippa ok solluvanga.. un topic super topic ( enemo nan than review panra madri)

R: en kai a paru jillunu aiduchu..

ME: en heart kuda fast a adikuthu..

But i have to mention something here, friend are the only ones who will truly understand ur situation in this stage :) without them u will be lost in such a situation, im sure of it!

YOU CAN ALWAYS EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED IN THE JURY

I compare our jury process with the famous show in vijay tv "AIRTEL SUPER SINGER". Your topic can either be "spot-selected", "wait-listed" or "rejected" :D

after the review is over, few will be very happy to get the topic that they wanted.. some will be ok with whatever they get, for some all the 3 options will be rejected and called for a re-review, for some extra details would be asked, u can find fighting, crying, laughter, tension, all kinds of mixed emotions before and after the jury (intha gaplayum sila peru kadala poduvanga)

FINALLY AFTER ALL THIS EMOTIONAL DRAMA.. a topic is allotted to each student..

- End of stage 1...

Click here for stage 2

THE THESIS PROCESS

Im goin to live with 'this' for another 6 months.. so i decided to record the final days of my college and through my blog.. :)

So its THESIS time.. for those of you who are unaware of this term and quite confused about what im talking about.. dont worry.. perusa onnum ila.. its our final year project ;) (for architecture students)

Its 'THE' thing in an architecture student's five yr of college life.. let me first brief on the various stages of the thesis proces:
1. Selection of topic
2. Allocation of guide
3. Study stage
4. Single line - presenting schematic designs
5. double line - almost freezing your schematic designs
6. final presentation stage
7. external viva voce

each of the above stages will have a review by experienced panel of jury members and our work shall be evaluated by them.. in my following blogs i shall update my personal experience in each of these stages ;)Click here for stage 1
ty for readin..

பெயர் சூட்ட பட வில்லை...

இன்று வெள்ளிக் கிழமை . நாளை தீபாவளி. பெண்களுக்கென்றே எழுதி வைத்திருக்கும் வேலை போல அம்மா வும் சித்தி யும் பலகாரம் செய்து கொண்டிருக்க.. அப்பா, சித்தப்பா, தாத்தா வீட்டின் வெளியே உரையாடிக் கொண்டிருந்தார்கள் . நானும் எனது அண்ணனும் டிவியில் சிறப்பு நிகழ்ச்சிகளை மாற்றி மாற்றிப் பார்த்து கொண்டிருந்தோம்.

அருகே இருந்த எனது செல் போன் ஐ எடுத்துப் பார்த்தேன் .

படு பாவி.

இன்று மெசேஜ் க்கு காசு எடுக்குறானே! மீண்டும் கீழே வைத்து விட்டேன்.

டிவி , கம்ப்யூட்டர், அரட்டை .. இவ்வாறு என் மதிய வேளை சென்று கொண்டிருக்க .. என் சித்தி என்னிடம் வந்து கூறினார்கள்

"கிளம்பு.. இப்போ ஒரு எடத்துக்குப் போறோம் "

"எங்கே? கோவிலுக்கா? ப்ளீஸ் வேண்டாம் சித்தி "

"கோவில் இல்லை.. ஆனா அதுவும் கோவில் மாதிரி தான்.. 'அன்னை ஆசிரமம்'

சற்று குழப்பமாக இருந்தது. அனாதை இல்லம், முதியோர் இல்லம், அவ்வளவாக சென்றதில்லை. அதன் பாதிப்பில் இருந்து மீளக் கடினமாக இருக்கும். என்றாலும் கிளம்பி சென்றேன்.

நகரத்தை விட்டு சற்றே தொலைவில் அடர்ந்த மரங்களின் நடுவே இருந்தது அந்த ஆசிரமம். "மனம் குன்றியவர்கள்" க்கான காப்பகம் அது .

அங்கே செல்லும் முன்பாகவே, 25 கிலோ அரிசி , பழங்கள் , துடைப்பதற்கு துண்டு போன்ற பொருட்களை வாங்கி சென்றோம்.

உள்ளே செல்லும் முன்னரே எனது அண்ணன் என்னை எச்சரித்தான்.

"அவர்களை பார்க்கும் போது.. மூன்றாவது மனிதனை பார்ப்பது போல பார்க்காதே, நம்முள் ஒருவனாக ப்பாரு " என்றான்.

ஆனால் அங்கே சென்றதும், என்னால் அவர்களை "நம்முள்"ஒருவராகப் பார்க்க முடியவில்லை.. ஏன் என்று கடைசியில் சொல்கிறேன்..

கிட்ட த்தட்ட 40 பேர். ஒவ்வொருத்தருக்கும் ஒவ்வொரு விதத்தால் மூளை பாதிக்க பட்டிருக்கிறது. சிலருக்கு முழு நேரமும் படுத்தே இருக்க வேண்டிய நிலை. முதியோர்கள், வாலிபர்கள் என அனைத்து விதமான மனிதர்கள்.

அங்கே - "Age no bar.. caste no bar.. religion no bar"

எங்களை அழைத்துச் சென்றவர் அருகிலயே நான் நின்று கொண்டிருந்தேன். ஒருவர் வெகு நேரமாக தோட்டத்தை சுத்தம் செய்து கொண்டே இருந்தார். நான் அருகில் இருந்தும் தன் தலையை நிமிர்த்தி கூட பார்க்காமல் சுத்தம் செய்து கொண்டே இருந்தார்.

"அவர் அப்படிதான்மா.. நாம நிறுத்துன்னு சொல்ற வரைக்கும் விடாம சுத்தம் செஞ்சுகிட்டே இருப்பார். அப்படி ஒரு வியாதி. "

நான் பதிலேதும் பேசாமல் சிறிது தூரம் நடந்தேன்.

கல்லை உடைக்க முயற்சி செய்து கொண்டே இருக்கும் இளைஞன், இலைகளை எண்ணி கொண்டே இருந்த பெரியவர் ... ஒருவர் பிராமணர், கிறிஸ்துவர், முஸ்லிம்..

அது ஒரு புதிய உலகமாக இருந்தது.. தீபாவளிக்கு "வேட்டைக்காரன்" படம் ரிலீஸ் ஆகவில்லை என்று கவலை இல்லை.. எஸ் எம் எஸ் கு காசு எடுக்கிறான் என்ற கவலை இல்லை.. மொழி, இனம், நிறம், ஜாதி, மதம் வேறுபாடுகள் இல்லாத உலகம்.. அனைவரும் "மனதால்" ஒன்றுபட்டு இருந்தார்கள்...

வெகு நேரம் அங்கே இருக்க முடியாமல், நாங்கள் கொண்டு வந்த பொருட்களைக் கொடுத்து விட்டு கிளம்பத் தயாரானோம்..

அப்போது ஒருவர்.. சிரித்துக் கொண்டே என்னை அருகில் அழைத்தார். தயங்கி நானும் அருகில் சென்றேன்.

எங்களோடு வந்தவர், "இவர் பெயர் சகாயம்.. பிறந்த மூணு மாசத்துல தொட்டில் இருந்து கீழ விழுந்து மூளை பாதிச்சிருச்சு.. பெத்தவங்க ஆபரேஷன் பண்ண காசில்லாம இங்க விட்டுட்டு போய்ட்டாங்க... இப்போ இவருக்கு 45 வயசு.. சகாயம்..

இவங்க கெளம்புறாங்க.. டாடா சொல்லு.."

என்னை பார்த்த சகாயம்.. கைகளை உயர்த்தி கூறினார்... "டாடா.. இறைவன் உங்க ஆசிர்வதிப்பார் "

மெல்லிய புன்னகையுடன் நான் அங்கிருந்து கிளம்பினேன்..

இப்பொழுது கூறுங்கள்.. நம்முள் ஒருவராக ஏன் அவர்கள் இல்லை ?

அவர்களால் டிவி, கம்ப்யூட்டர், செல் போன் இல்லாமல் வாழ முடியும்..

பணத்தால் அவர்களை மகிழ்விக்க முடியாது...

அவர்களுக்கு மத இன அடிப்படையில் மனிதனை வேறுபடுத்தி பார்க்க தெரியாது..

நம்மால் இவ்வாறு இருக்க முடியுமா? இது சாத்தியமா?

அவர்களா "மனம் குன்றியவர்கள்" !?

காத்திருங்கள் :)

எனது முதல் தமிழ் பதிப்பு ... விரைவில்..

"THE GUY IN YELLOW SHIRT"

His palms were cold. He started sweating vigorously. But he strongly dismissed the idea of giving up. That too after coming this far!

He accelerated his bike and went faster, knowing that his target was within reachable distance. He could almost see his bright yellow shirt waving in the wind.

He imagined his target smiling, the deadly smile sent across a message to him: “ You loser! “

He couldn’t bear that. Frustration started building up. He desperately wanted to get hold of him and that too fast!

The yellow shirt appeared closer now. Here I come you bastard! Let me show you who I am now.

He went faster, pushing his bike to its maximum speed limit. Just few metres away. I need to get him.

The guy in the yellow shirt turned behind and gave a sarcastic smile. He gets provoked and losing his control and balance, he falls off his bike, skidding sideways, finally hitting a tree.

There he was, lying under a tree, badly hurt. No. This is not happening. I did not want this to end this way. I will never find him again. Why does this happen to me always? FAILURE, was becoming his close companion.

He was reminded of his poor performance in the final football match, his elimination from the singing contest, the number of “sorry to inform” replies after interviews, the final good-bye from his girl-friend…

HIM!! I should find him. He will never get away with this.

He slowly got up from the ground and searched for his bike. He limped towards his bike and the sat on it with a determined look in his face.

 Incoming call …

“ Mr. Arjun, with regard to your personal interview conducted last Wednesday, we are pleased to inform you that you have been selected for the post of “Senior architect”. Please check your E-mail for further details. Thank you.”

He was in shock. He ended the call and stared at his mobile display screen and it showed:

 Press 5 to resume race

 Press 0 to quit

He pressed 5 with a smile. It’s time to catch the guy in yellow shirt!

Me and Her - A short story

I was heading back to my room. What a day! My mind was too cramped to think over all that happened the whole day. All I needed was some PEACE and some time alone. I decided to take a long walk all the way to my room – which would be as long as... Hmm... 4km maybe. Man! That IS far! I don't mind walking. Especially today. Speaking of spending some time alone.. Uh-Oh! There she is...
HER: Hi! Bad day, huh?
ME: Oh no! There you are. Why is this happening to me? Everything is going out of my way. OK, now what? I wanted to be alone and you appear out of nowhere! WHY! WHY! WHY!
HER: Whoa! Hey relax! I noticed you were upset. Was just trying to give some company.
And she gave that weird smile of hers.
ME: Thanks
Actually I do like her in some way. She does drive me crazy, irritates me, pesters me and all that.. but then she has been there for me whenever I needed her.
HER: Sooooo...
Oh no.
HER: Soooooo... Tell me, are we going to walk all the way? I'm very tired and my legs are hurting badly. Can we take an auto? Please... please... Pleeeeeease?
Auto. Which means 3 things:
-FORTY RUPEES, minimum.
-I reach my room faster.
-Four blank walls waiting for me and nothing else.
That sounds sick!
ME: No. We will walk.
HER: Goddd! You are UN-IMAGINE-ABLE! Actually may I know what exactly is your problem? Don't you have a good family? Friends? Work? A place to live in? Food to eat?
ME: I don't know. THAT is my problem. I just don't know what my problem is,ok? That is my problem.
HER: Huh? Don't you think it sounds silly?
ME: Maybe.
HER: Maybeeeee.. You need to fall in love with someone?
She winked and laughed at me.
ME: Come on! Stop that. I don't need that. I am fine. I'm happy the way I am right now.
HER: Oh yeah? That is just a mask you wear.
She laughed again, irritating me to the core.
ME: Stop that ok? Talk something else, or just leave me alone!
HER: Ok ok... You are the boss! Chill.. I will stop.
She smiled,turned and looked straight at the road, walking faster and dodging the crowd of people passing by.
--------------- SILENCE-----------------
I broke it.
ME: Hey
HER: What
ME: Say something
HER: I thought you wanted me to shut up.
ME: ...
She laughed again and stopped quickly as she noticed a guy coming near us. He was huge. Means really HUGE.
HER: Did you see? Did you just see how he stared at me? Bastard!
ME: You always do this. He wasn't even looking at you.
HER: He was! Didn't you notice?
ME: He did not.
HER: He did!!
ME: Did not.
HER: He did! He did!
ME: Alright! Stop shouting please. I needed peace remember??
HER: Oh yeah! All you care is about yourself. Has anyone ever told you how selfish you are?
ME: Shut up.
HER: No. I will not. You are one self-centered maniac! You only care about your own wishes. You think your the only one in this whole wide world who is dumped with problems? Listen to me when i'm talking to you!
She was getting too noisy.This is the worst part of HER. She never listens to me.I tried to divert myself. I noticed a small kid blowing bubbles near the platform. She did not even have a dress to cover herself. She was happy though.
ME: Hey look at that kid. She is so happy watching those bubbles floating in air.
HER: Cut it. OK so what are you trying to imply? That kid is homeless? Or, she is happy? She has no worries? So what are you going to do? Make her go to school? Provide her with free food? All you can do after this, sit down and write a page of short story filled with your stupid philosophy or click a photograph of that little kid and grab all attention.
' Hey wow! Nice picture yaar... So realistic...' NONSENSE!
ME:Hey hey hey! Hold it. All I can do is that. What else do you think I can do?
HER: You know what? You are good for nothing.
ME: Uh Thanks. That was really..uh..MOTIVATING!
HER: I'm tired. Let's sit down somewhere.
I took her to the park and we sat down on the bench munching popcorn.
HER: So
ME: So what?
HER: Are you ok now?
ME: I guess so
HER: You are a good person
ME: You think?
HER: At least you are not that fussy type.
ME: Oh. Thanks.
HER: But you are hard to please and you are really adamant.
I liked the way she said that. And since I couldn't deny what she told, I just smiled.
We sat there for a long time. She was with me. But we never spoke. SILENCE.
I enjoyed every moment. I felt more relaxed. I saw someone approaching me. I recognized her. She was my ex-neighbour.
“ Hello, What a surprise! What are you doing sitting here all alone??”
ME: Just spending some time alone.
“Enjoying loneliness, eh?”
She laughed and hurriedly left. “ Hubby waiting, gotta go.. bye catch you later”
ME: See you.
She left.
HER: Funny world.
ME: Maybe. We are funny. World is alright.(I smiled) Ok, Let's go.
I got up and started walking. She followed me – My shadow. INNER SHADOW.
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