Saarang 2008 @ IIT Madras

Been There; Done (I)IT!
It was the unmistakable feeling of déjà vu, the nostalgia kept rushing back at me. It has been nearly eight years and there I was at IIT Madras (The one place that is never going to be Chennai ever!), taking in the excitement, fun and serious competition. Anyone who has been to college in these parts of the world and not been at Saarang is very rare; not enjoying it is even rarer. Welcome to the largest and the most prestigious cultural fest in India.

The Guys
It all happened casually a few weeks ago when I went to drop my friend Sameer off at IIT. Somehow stayed back for the meeting and met a few young guns. As always I liked the enthu these chaps had. Ducky, Rubber band, 8 P.M. and B.C......Not forgetting my own team; Ajay, Alan, Geebs.... Really awesome young brains.

Glory Days
In any cultural fest it was the speaking events that always caught my eye. Of course the fact that I was born with two left feet and nourished by a little donkey’s milk, I could never go close to anyplace that had to do with singing and dancing. In my days of glory it was always the Extempore, JAM, Debate, Turn Court/Coat and Shipwreck (in that order) that helped me fill up the trophies stand at home. That came close to my own ego wall.

J.A.M
I have always liked JAM despite all the Toast Masters having an aversion towards this exercise. I am a great fan of the traditional JAM aired on BBC radio, the smart objections by Freud, The drool of Kenneth Williams, the clear Logic of Nicholas Parsons, The wit of Derrick Nimmo fascinates me to no length.

http://www.saarang.org/08/Events/Speaking/JAM

Enjoying JAM being a participant is great but enjoying it as a Moderator is even more fun and is almost like skating on thin ice. This time I did get to skate on thin ice, thanks to the organising committee at Saarang 2008. (Of course my all time favorite topics will include "A Committee is a group of people who individually can do nothing, but as a group decide that nothing can be done."). I tried to make it a little interesting for the audience by including a few whacky one-liners. The usual pun, sarcasm, purified humour, uncensored wit were all there. Of course the time has evolved and the Jammers these days will have to enjoy the occasional dig the smarties take at you. This year they almost called me a joker and said my topics were shitty ("Diarrhoea hereditary; It runs down your Jeans."). The crowd enjoyed it, particularly "The rule of the thumb" and "15 seconds of Fame" were well received. Of course I did manage to get a running gag on the technical skills of the IITians at fixing the buzzers damaged by the trigger happy contestants and the one about Hearing Aids for anyone who objected on the grounds of Incoherence. A few of my jokes bombed and no one actually found the intended meaning of one topic. Since the speaking community is a very close knit unit, I usually am not surprised to find a few friends participating. Actually this time they were the younger sisters of my friends......But meeting Shruthi and Malavika was indeed a pleasant surprise since I have not seen them in a real long time. So I guess I tried my best to remain very fair while doing the rounds (and of course I did try my best to sneak them in to the finals when we were adding the scores later!)

The Last Word
Being among the youngsters, the nostalgia of Saarang, the pleasure of being the Mod just reminded me of a not so distant past. I guess it is the human tendency to not admit that one is getting old. We still try crazy things (Like the Malaysian Print Shirt I was wearing that day) to fit in among the younger generation. We all move on but still try getting back at a different level to do what your heart commands you to.

I guess then it is time to say Watch out Saarang 2009! Aneesh will strike back!

Zugzwang - The time line!

In a game of Chess there might be a situation where one is at a disadvantage because of the pressure to make a move, where the player would like to pass and make no move. By being forced to make a move leads to one's position becoming significantly weaker than the hypothetical one in which it is the opponent's turn to move. In combinatorial game theory, it specifically means that it directly changes the outcome of the game from a win to a loss. In Chess however it can be a Win to a Draw or a Draw to a Loss. It can even mean significant loss in positional strength or loss of material. A player when in his turn to move, who has no move that does not worsen the position is said to be in zugzwang. Thus every move would make their position worse, and they would be better off if they could pass and not move. So, it all boils down to "being a player to move cannot do anything without making an important concession".

zug·zwang (tsktsväng) n. A situation in a chess game in which a player is forced to make an undesirable or disadvantageous move. [German Zugzwang : Zug, pull, move + Zwang, compulsion.]

The Past.

A true master of the 64 Squares set 64 conditions to defend his title against Anatoly Karpov left us all a few days ago aged 64.

All of them knew he was a genius, the smartest strategist and a brilliant innovator. The world will understand him better if it forgets all the follies and looks to find the true spirit of an ardent Grandmaster who wanted to challenge the system to simply improve the game. His contributions are many from adding the variations to the Najorf Sicilian, Ruy Lopez, Nimzo-Indian and the King's Gambit; to inventing Chess960 and the digital delay clocks.

I have always been successful with the Fischer Variation and the great bishop ending popularly known as the Fischer Endgame. Sometimes champions are labeled lunatics for standing up for things that the vast majority have taken for granted.

A great past that always remained turbulent, a past called Bobby Fischer.

The Present-
Virtually most of the possible bowling records are under the belt of this wonderful cricketer. A rare human being who still makes us, believe that Cricket is a Gentlemen's game. Commitment, perseverance, toil, brilliance are at times used as synonyms with him.

In May 2002 heavily strapped up, with bands going around his jaw, over his head and across the back of it, a semi-mummified man ran in and presto, scalped the wicket of Lara. A few said his appearance and bowling was simply a case of insecurity - he was booking a place in the squad that will tour England later. A few others said it was a calculated stunt to gain the sympathy of the public and the media. Andrew Leipus made it clear that local dentists had patched up the jaw and there was little chance of worsening the injury by playing, it was good enough to take the conspiracy theorists and nay-sayers out of the picture. But that never happens. People will believe what they want. There are others who feel this was a defining moment in his career. A testament to the man's approach to the game. His job is to bowl and take wickets, he thought it was well within him to push himself and give his best.

He is someone who has made the sport proud today by conquering Perth. He will be know for a lot of other glorious things but the following quote will always remain etched in my memory.

"Unfortunately, these days, when someone apologises, it is seen as either a sign of weakness or an admission of guilt. I am neither unnerved nor are we guilty. In the larger interests of the game, if an apology could help build bridges and smooth things over, then it is better made than left unsaid because of egos."

The simplicity and sincerity of the present, a present to all of us, a present called Jumbo-

The Future,
On 19th Jan, The World's fastest Indian celebrated yet another Birthday. A young champion who is so clear headed and composed. Takes pressure lightly, works hard and shows commitment to all the youngsters when he is around at the MMSC Race track in Chennai guiding them and giving direction to race their Formula LGB class cars.

Some outstanding qualities are often hereditary, and being the Prodigal Son of the Legendary Vicky has surely helped in a great way. Being simple and keeping it short n sweet has been naturally inherited by this future champion.

I still wake up in the middle of the night, smiling and feeling happy about the dreams where I cheer him from the pits when he wins his first Formula 1 race.

The future belongs to an Indian Force, a future called Karun Chandhok,

I wish him all the best and hope all of you follow his long career ahead @

http://www.karunchandhok.com/

An experience called "The Checkers Hotel"

All my friends know me as a big foodie, this could largely be attributed to my ardent or refined interest in food. I am neither an epicure nor a gourmet simply because it reminds one of a stodgy, snobbish person, only willing to consider a restaurant that has a truffle pate on the menu. Since I have enjoyed almost any kind of food at every opportunity I am proud to be known as a foodie ( don't read it as Glutton). There were periods in time where good food was hard to get and expensive. In recent times the people have the resources to buy virtually anything and have the means to cook it. A few months ago a few friends of mine decided to host a barbeque and we set up a great evening in a matter of few hours. So to be a foodie is not only to like food, but to be interested in it. One need not know the difference between a beefsteak tomato and an heirloom tomato, but might be interested to find out what it is. So anyone can be a foodie if one has the hunger (for knowledge)!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foodie



All my life I have been a great fan of mom's cooking, she is the best when it comes to speed, managing resources and bringing out healthy n' finger-licking food. My dad often jokes at my mom's awesome cooking being the reason why he usually avoids having food outside. In the recent past I have started enjoying the food at The Checkers Hotel, near Little Mount, Chennai.
After a long day of business meetings, my colleague recommended this new hotel that has come up on the Mount road. I instantly took a liking for the food there. Those boring meetings were not boring anymore. I kind of started looking forward for the meetings with this particular client for the sheer pleasure of excusing myself to a great treat. I particularly like the Roti John, straight from the South East Asian Street food menu.

The Chinese restaurant has authentic food on the first floor but the steal is the lunch buffet on the ground floor. It has a decent spread and the price does not pinch the pocket. I hear that there are special deals for a large group (More business lunch here please!). After a few months of indulging on these lunches another friend introduced me to Rohan the GM who has made the difference here. The strong chef background he has had has helped in adding the aroma and flavour to the food here!

I still like the Onion Pakkodas, Tuna Sandwitches, Paneer Pakkodas, Hot lime tea and the refreshing Cappuccinos better at Checkers than anywhere else.

So all the foodies out there what are you waiting for?

Checkout their site at

http://www.thecheckershotel.com/

And it is still a better idea to check out the Kheer they serve for lunch!

The Search for a hot search is Over!

I have lived in only two cities for at least three years. One being my hometown Chennai, I had no problems whatsoever in finding things, food, people and services. However, when I moved to Bangalore, I guess, it was my instincts that took over. I have done crazy things in the most unorganized manner. Living there was a nightmare since I embraced technology almost at the end of my stay there.

Youth these days, do not have that issue. They do not think too much about relocating to smaller cities, to second tier cities, to cities in another state, to cities from another geographical location. Sometimes they relocate to even towns. These young people have a lot of access to technology but the question is do they have access to the correct kind of Information. Sometimes I have a hard time finding the Information that I know for sure is there on the web and what really bothers me is that I have trained people on refining the search on Google.

A few sleepless nights and the inability to search and find information that is already there to be found added some fuel to the fire. After a million discussions from people all around the globe, we finally decided to get a hot search that will have every business listed on it online. The dream took shape as

www.mirchisearch.com

The idea is to put all small business owners online and to keep the dreams unlimited.

Do check the site out and give us a feedback @

Aneesh@mirchisearch.com or Vignesh@mirchisearch.com

Wishing, "A happy new year!"

It has been a few hours since we have stepped into another new year in the Gregorian/Julian Calendar. At least half a dozen people who have bumped into me since this morning have wished me "A very happy new year!", Of course many thanks from me for these wishes.

Instead of moving on, I scratch my head and ponder. Had these people not crossed my path by some strange stroke of ill luck, would they have really wished me to have a happy new year? Maybe, may be not. I am not sure of this, but one thing that I am sure is that I cannot imagine a person wishing a not so happy year for an individual they know (If they do then it is not worth knowing them). The new year eve and the subsequent celebration is commonplace for any culture the measures yearly calendars.

At this point in time I remembered my phone, at least a few dozen text messages and a few more "ScrapAllYourFriends" wishes on Orkut. The advancement in technology lets one forward anything and everything to anyone and everyone on the phone's contact list (I guess a few of us are still left to champion the cause of screening the To list). The other technology bestows on one the luxury of comfortably forgetting a friend's birthday provided they log in every day. Oh my god! These wishes that I have been receiving are not personalised anymore. I think I should thank the ones that sent me the new year cards via the snail mail and so many others who have tried calling me since zero hour (Have we become so jobless? I guess they were all better off at work forwarding those endless emails.)

So what is the "funda" behind all the festivities? Why does an average youth attach so much importance to the countdown (this usually reminds me that my time on Earth is running out)? Why does one spend monstrously enormous quantities of money for a few hours (I am to understand that in India the youngsters on an average spend anything around INR 10,000)? Why are we interested in increasing the sales of IMFL and why the juggernaut of a drinking spree? Why scream your throats out? Aren't we selling Strepsils anymore? The police of course issue the mandatory statement that the security is going to be beefed up and this year will be stricter than ever before, Of course we know how many law and order violations cases happen.

Starting from the first of January the new year can commence even up until the twenty fifth of December. Of course lots of them are meaningless and have no significance. Too many Roman emperors have meddled too much with the calendar. The 1st of Jan was observed as the new year only since 1752 in most of the British Empire. However several of these dates have a lot more meaning than the first of January. The Chinese new year or the spring festival popularly know as Chúxì is entirely based on the lunar calendar that is astronomically defined so the drift of the season can change the range that usually is between 21st Jan and 21st Feb. This is very similar to the Vietnamese Têt Nguyên Đán and the Tibetan Losar.

While I am still searching for all those who wished me a happy 2007 just to tell them it was not really so happy; I get this masterpiece from nowhere. Times like these and the timing especially makes me believe in the Grandmasters hand behind all these. The only wish this year that made sense was from a dear friend....."To all my friends who send me best wishes 4 2007 - it did fuck all . . .So for 2008 could you please send either money, booze, porn or petrol vouchers!" He sure had a rough year, so rough that he calls me on my birthday on the stroke of midnight to tell me that he has crashed his car. I think it is a better idea to wish people a happy new year on their birthday (sounds much better than dude I crashed my car can you come here?), after all it is another year that they are entering.

By the way if some one meets him please do wish him a Happy New Year 2008 from the Heart of my bottom. Lets see if this makes a difference!