My Final Results

My 4th sem result are out and I  am happy to share with my friends that I have scored 86.17% (517/600) With this I have now sealed my Masters in Economics with an aggregate of 81.16%. (1948/2400) I am writing  this as a matter of my own record and history. 

Post Exam Thoughts

Its January 2013 and this means I have only little over five months to complete my course. I am all excited about the fact that I will be going home with masters degree, -the most coveted thing I had in my mind for so many years! I feel proud and I feel happy, Sometimes I feel both!  But on the other side, I am already feeling nostalgic about leaving this dusty yet beautiful place. 

By the way, Ahmedabad has become so cold like Shingkhar. The cold in the early mornings and late evenings are at times unbearable. I regret a lot. few days a go, I finished my third semester exams. I think did it my Gangnam Style. Compared to the last exams, the paper patterns have been changed. 

We were asked lengthier questions. Three hours was barely enough, either to think for any logical answers or to recollect the points I have studied the other days. I had to rush in full fury. Sometimes I felt angry and I felt this exam system is totally a sucker. I did not like the idea of exams to gauge my knowledge!

Then I had the most disappointing day with my mathematics paper. Not because the questions were tough  nor lengthy. I could have easily scored 70 out of 70. I am not exaggerating! I was over joyed at first. But my joy did not last long, because I did not get the log table. -The most needed instrument in any mathematical paper. 

Upon my incessant pleas and requests, I was given a bundle of tables..... but the wrong ones!!!! The examiner tried her best but was of little help. With my limited time running like water, I became overtly frantic. I wasted a lot of time waiting for the log table and hence I had limited time to solve the other questions. In my dying hours, the examiner suggested me to go and find the table myself. It was so nice of her, but only if she knew it was exam time  and that  time is not luxury. I did not know whether I was angry or nervous  but I wished I had a robotic speed to write the remaining answers.

Coming back to the coldness in Ahmedabad, I do not know what the thermometer reads but it has become extremely cold here. I couldn't sleep at peace for three consecutive nights, -even with my jacket and socks on. At the moment I could sense very little difference between Ahmedabad and Shingkhar. 

Happiness is Here and Now

If it were a sacred mantra, - like the mani, by now I would have already recited it millions. Perhaps even billions! It would have already warranted me a seat in Nirvana among the Buddhas! -This mantra called "Exams are boring" never seems to go away from my mind.

I know, by saying this, I am also speaking the minds of million who, like me are simply slogging, just to write this boring thing called exams. But for now let us just say that exams are simply boring. 

Well today morning, I just finished my first paper of the third semester. It was by far the craziest pattern of paper I have ever attempted. Seventy marks in three hours sound reasonable. Eight questions each worth seven marks sounds even nicer. Fourteen multiple choice questions, -cool!.

But, guys I had a bitter moment today. I simply found the paper too lengthy. I used all my the summary skills but still I nearly took an hour answering fourteen marks! I think I knew too much ..ha ha ha ........seriously, I do not know, who got the wrong skills. The person who have set the exam paper or me, -the super summary writer. LOL.

Anyways, it was hell writing for three hours. I have five more such papers to write. And, yea I can already see many boring days ahead. Wish me good luck friends. 

By the way I wish all my friends around the world, a very happy happy Christmas. May 2013 bring lot of success and smiles in your life. I dedicate this song to all of you. Please check the clip below.

How Green Are My Thumbs

Its dead winter here in Ahmadabad. And as I said earlier, the weather has fairly turned cold. I have to now use blankets, wear jackets and muffle my neck to keep myself warm. But one thing that surprises me most is that we have more chirping birds this time than we had them in spring and summer combined. 

Winter time for students like me also mean that we have exam to write. These are some the most anxious moments of my life and I honestly hate them. Call it last minute or final minute, it demands a lot of preparation and perspiration. But thanks to the power of Indian democracy, we were able to convince the university officials to finally postpone our exams by a month. And for now I can relax a bit and indulge myself into my amateur hobbies. -Photography and gardening.

Today for the benefit of my regular readers, I even took picture of the plants that I have planted in my room. I am testing the greenness of my thumbs! As you can see, I have planted many plants already. Among them is my money plant which is over a year old but still adamantly refusing to grow. I  have done all the possible thing to heighten its growth. I replaced the red and infertile sandy soil with black and humus rich soil. I watered them and tended its roots. But sadly after a week of my constant care and attention, I saw its three precious leaves turned golden yellow! It was disheartening but I dint give up. As you can see, I have now placed it in a very special pot, the rice cooker!

Street Museum in Ahmedabad, Part Two

Finally, I am done with my internal exams and I can now breath a sigh of relief. Of the total six papers, I think I messed up 3. I think the time was the factor here. One and half hour for four good essays, by any measure, I feel is too short even a fastest writing person on this planet. Along with those four essays, let us also not forget the MCQ part!

As always I tried to give my best. But constrained by time, I literally had no time to arrange my thoughts. Therefore I often ended up writing junks-like answers which made less sense and no logic. lol. And I think this happens in every exams everywhere around the world! Since, todays paper is my  last paper for my internal exams, I did not want to mess up any more. So I stayed late and got up early.  Back in the exam hall, I read the questions thoroughly and then wrote my answers like running water.  Now I am waiting for my final exams. 

By the way, I have promised to bring up some more pictures of  the paintings. So here are some of them. Please enjoy and leave me loads of comments to read.

Street Museum in Ahmedabad, Part One

Mathematics! Well, I have just one sentence for it. 'I am not good at it'. But like it or not, I grew up with mathematics all my life. If education was pork then, I accepted mathematics just like a tail of a dead pig. Mathematics is one subject which increased my heart beat and reddened my face. Therefore I never enjoyed mathematics. But for now, let us keep this for another post.

Tomorrow ( i.e on 29.10.2012) I have my Mathematics exam. So today, I got up little early to do my revisions. This used to be my trend and tradition.  For the record, I did not even wash my face nor brush my teeth today. I was all bogged down with thousand paged Statistical methods by Dr. S.P Gupta and over 500 paged Business mathematics by Dr. J K Thukral. I did not even know how and when I had my breakfast. 

So, towards evening I went for a walk and I took the normal footpath. I took my camera along because, I remember seeing some paintings by the road side. I have seen those paintings over thousand time now but today I decided to take a deeper look. And I did. I found all the paintings very beautiful and meaningful. It was like being in a museum. For once they made me forget about my tomorrows exam!

I was told that those paintings were done by school kids. Personally I liked all the paintings and I salute those people who have initiated the project. It not only makes the street look beautiful but it also imparts lots of knowledge.  'Save the Planet' and 'save the girl child' were mostly used title in the art. They look very thoughtful messages from the young generation. Look at the arts your self.

By the way those beautiful arts are grossly misused by the passers. I have seen people peeing and spitting on them. While I was busy shooting those pictures  (i.e in a span of just few minutes) I have seen two men peeing on them without even hiding their dangling penises. For once, I wished I had the power to grab them tight and chop if off from the bottom! 

Enjoy the art works. It is in Ahmedabad. And I intend to bring out some more pictures once I am done with my exams.

Street

Strange Feelings

Of late, I have been busy both with my books and Facebook. Books, because I have exams to write starting 19th May and Facebook, because I am a very social person. I know many will join me when I say that 'exam days are never a pleasing moments.' I dislike the very idea from the core. Therefore, I often ask myself as to whether these things called 'exams' are really that necessary in ones life?

But the reality is real! Exams are like salt that adds taste to our life. Without exams, today it wouldn't have been possible for me to say that I have B.Com honors degree from Kanglung. I am not blowing my own triumphant but it was through exams that I could proclaim as an RCSC select graduate.

It is indeed through exams that I got my job. I am already making a humble living!  But the exam thing is yet to stop in my life. Like a greedy person in pursuit of knowledge, I am still drenching and slogging with books!. Some say, Economics is not a subject for average Tom and Dick, but here I am, trying to bite more than what I can actually chew.

In a years time from now, I would be finally done with my Masters programme. I would be saying good bye to the University that groomed me intellectually and would be rejoining my friends and family once again. These things gives me enough reason to smile and be happy about.

But there are other things that I worry about. I worry about my next transfer! Of late, I came to the knowledge that my Department even conducts exams to decide our next transfer place. I was told that the exams were conducted to ensure that the only brainy and browny gets a chance to serve in head office!. This is surely a work of genius mind and as a loyal service man, I cannot question the credibility of such a creative procedure. So long it is workable, i think its cool idea.

Random Ramblings

Picture courtesy: Facebook

Apparently, I was mad when University declared our initial exam dates. As per the schedule, we are suppose to have exams every day starting from 18th May till 24th May!. This meant, we have less time for our last-minute preparation.  It  enraged 'last minute-freaks'. But that thing was not to last. Students started protesting by visiting Controllers office and without much fuss, the exams dates are being rescheduled. Now we will be having exams every alternative days starting 19th May. 

Thanks to rescheduled exam dates, I am now able to blog about how busy I have been those few days. Obviously I was exceedingly busy with my exam preparation. I slept with my books and got up in mess. I drank coffee like addict and peed like horse. Under stressful hours, I often shouted like lunatic. I watched 'Friends' and laughed like mad.  

Besides, I have also an interesting story about a friend who wouldn't mind putting his pillow under his butt but wouldn't allow others to do the same. As a Bhutanese, I am of the opinion that pillow (or hang) is strictly for head and mattress (dhen) for butt, but he still wants to stay tall with is his unreasonable logic. To get at him I asked him a very logic less question in return; -"Do you use your underwear as cap?"

We are four friends who share a flat. By virtue of living next to the toilet, I often end up being the miserable most of the time. In our recent past, it was about someone peeing from the door. But of late its been about someone not using water while shitting! I have to shut the door because I have Buddha's picture hung in my room. 

I enjoy facebooking and the the reasons are innumerable. Apart from meeting friends and strangers alike, I like the idea of facebooking because it gives me lot of courage and guts. Through facebook, I can chat nonstop with anyone. I can even yell at my MP!, vent out my frustrations and get consoled.....and many more....But mind you I am a very faithful husband and dedicated father. Honestly, I salute the creators of facebook. I wish I could write exam on facebooking as well!

By the way, I have exams starting 19th May. So wish me lots of luck. If I again top my class, then expect a treat from me.

Good night folks.

Exam Days in Gujarat. Part One

Now that I am done with my first semester exams, I feel relieved. I feel at ease and I feel excited about the fact that this much awaited exam is gone for good. I hopefully think its done for good! I am also equally excited, because after these stressful days I'll be heeding home to meet all my loved ones.  

But let me share my exam experience here in Gujarat. 

Without an inch of hesitation, I admit that this has been the most distressful exam experience I have ever had in my life. Since our colleges did not have the autonomy of conducting exams in our college, we were made to sit for exams in different exam centers. The centers were declared 2 days before our exams. With the issuance of exam entry card, (they call it receipt here) it also meant that we would have to go and find our own exam centers as well. 

Thanks to my friend and her scooter, I was able to find my center in hours time. But the tricky part of exam time (here) is that, its not only about memorizing points in my text, but it was also about memorizing the traffics and roads to reach to my center. 

So, on 1st of December, I went to write my first paper. We were suppose to begin our exam at 2:30 pm, but due to some lapses in between, we were given question papers as late as by almost 30 minutes. Nearly half hour gone, I was worried as to whether I would be able to complete it in time. But a very healthy and giant lady leaps in our room and still manages to say "Chinta Math Garo". Later, I realized that she was our exam controller.

I could hardly make out, what I was actually writing. In super haste, the points and the paragraphs on my answer sheet looked haphazard. There was hardly any time for me to critically think and analyse the answers. I blurted out everything that struck my mind.

Then in between, a man came and asked me to produce my Student ID card. Hell!  I felt my rage at its brim. I hated him for the distraction he was bringing forth. They already took good amount of my time and still wanted to waste few of my precious minutes, That was truly annoying, insulting and bitter. I immediately grabbed my bag, took out the card and threw it on his dirty face. But he said "cool down". Inside, many thoughts gushed in my mind. I felt embarrassed about the way they conducted our exam (that day).  

Not only that, one thing or the other kept on distracting me all through. At regular interval, amplified prayers from a  nearby mosque took away my attention just like a honk of a speeding automobile on the highway.