25/082014; 05:28:
There was a time, a couple of weeks ago, when my complaint was that I had this strong urge to keep writing and not enough content.
Now, I have SO much to write about and so little time. The worst part about delaying writing about a day’s happening is the fact that the memories become hazy, over time. And, writing is less enjoyable, and the content less vivid, when reported after a week.
Well, I ought to try, anyhow.
19th August- Once I was back from the meeting with Dainik Bhaskar, which was rather successful, considering that both parties signed the MoU (Memorandum of Understanding), there was a 3:30 class to attend and zero desire to attend said class. But, well, classes are important.
A trial run of the ‘Game of Shadows’ Event was to be held on campus, at 6:30. Around 45 participants gathered, only for everyone in excess of 29 to be rejected, for the game had been designed only for 25 people and that was the maximum the organizers could do. The trial was part of our run-up to the main event, to be held during our fest- Atharv. The game was simple, there were 25 chairs hidden in a certain defined area. The objective was simple- to find a chair in the allotted time. At the end of the round, a leader was to be elected who would then eliminate two chairs. And, anyone who did not find a chair was eliminated. This continued until it was down to 4 people- the finalists. The best part of the game is that anything on the Rules that is not explicitly forbidden is allowed. Deciphering what that means is up to the participants!
Personally, I find the event rather intriguing. It’s based on the Game Theory & I’m not sure what to expect except that it will challenge and it will thrill!
And, we began a new trend of Fest Core Committee Meetings. From meeting every day at 10 p.m. to not meeting at all, to again meeting every day at 10 p.m. and then meeting as required, our new plan involves meeting every day from 11 to 1, when a good part of the populace is asleep. Our chosen location is the FPM Common Room, for it has this really nice wooden table – a round wooden table to be more precise- our meetings are now quite literally ‘Round Table Conferences’ and we couldn’t be happier! Also, work is being done at lightning speed, now that the fest is barely 2 weeks away!
20th August--
The practice for Atharv’s very own Flash Mob finally began, after days of anticipation! And, the megaphone I’d asked for finally arrived! Unfortunately, we didn’t have the required batteries and it couldn’t be used during the practice time. Hoping to get batteries arranged for, before 22nd, when we have a Campus Outreach to do!
The morning of 20th saw the very last session of the course on International Relations. In a rather novel approach, the second-last session was spent in going over the course material of the all the sessions and the last was spent in expressing our opinions on the course itself- the content, teaching methods and the theories involved.
We were supposed to go on an Industrial Visit to Bridgestone’s Pithampur Plant, as part of our Introduction to Engineering Course, on the 20th of August. We were to leave at 12 p.m. and I really did not feel like going. Honestly, I am glad that I did choose to go! The trip was well organized and very informative. We left campus, in two buses, and a 30-minute nap later, we were there! We were lead into a wooden-panelled conference room. There was a large oval table in the centre and chairs all around, in two layers, for, well, there was 70 of us. We were pleasantly surprised, since we’d expected only to be lead straight onto the shop floor. We settled in and were greeted with a video about Bridgestone’s vision & aim, followed by a presentation. Then, a technical presentation on the manufacturing process was given, which ended in safety instructions. We were to visit the plant in two batches. The first batch went off, while the rest of us ‘chilled’ in the board room. Another one-hour nap later, it was our turn! Replete with safety shoes & caps, we marched down the stairs onto a waiting bus. We alighted quickly. Suspicious, teeming with excitement, we made our way into the manufacturing area. We’d been instructed to walk only on the ‘green lines’ i.e. on one side of the work area, since fork-lifts and the like were humming around the area. We were shown lots of scary looking machines, most of them were semi-automatic- one step in the middle needed human intervention. It was nice to see so much automation and it was nicer yet to see that the need for human touch hasn’t been lost. Machine parts moved busily, stopping once in a while, as if in greeting. I felt like a kid in a candy store, and touched everything that I could lay my hands on! (everything that didn’t look too dangerous, that is!). The vulcanization process was SO cool- it was like watching tyres being baked at very very high temperatures. It takes about 15 minutes for one small-sized tyre to be baked and we reached the machine just in time to see it opening, its giant jaws pulling apart in a slow swirling motion, to reveal a freshly cooked mass of black rubber. It was perfectly round and the treading shone against the yellow light of dangly overhead bulbs in the workshop.
Our last stop was the area where tubes were being made, complete with titanium valves. We left the plant, after about an hour and 10 minutes, in awe, our curiosities mildly quenched.
After the visit, their Hospitality team had arranged tea & snacks for all of us. The other batch had already gone off to campus and we left the site at around 5, but, not before a group photo was clicked, with the Bridgestone logo in the background.
Once back, like everyone else, I was rather sleepy. But, of course, it was all taken care of. Lots of fest work ensured that I had something to keep me occupied, all evening!
It’s nice, being all important and busy; feeling like you have a purpose, for once in life.
No comments:
Post a Comment