Rahul Writes

Yesterday a question came to my mind. We had noticed since childhood that whenever a fan is run slowly through what we call a ‘regulator’, the regulator gets heated. Why does it get heated? I knew the difference between AC and DC motors and difference between variable speed vs. fixed speed drives, but I was not sure what kind of motor a fan had. I called up my younger sister who was more qualified to answer this. But she too was not sure. She promised to read about it and tell me. 

In our childhood whenever we went to naani-ghar (maternal grandmother’s place) our nana would ask us some very practical questions. When we would be around bonfire on winter nights he would ask us questions from history, science, or mathematics and we were always fearful of the ones which we were not able to answer. He did it with the grownups too whenever he met some family member who was highly educated. I guess they always dreaded him because he would put them in very embarrassing situations with his smart and practical questions.  

I think questioning and quizzing is a very useful method of learning for anyone. The trick is to try to explain every doubt that comes in our mind. We should also realise that if we don’t find answers to our own doubts then someone else would challenge us sometime. And we should also ensure that our children take such questioning in the right spirit. In case they don’t answer, we should try to encourage them rather than causing humiliation in any way.  

Magic of questioning comes to play when a scientist or a person with master’s degree is not able to answer a naïve question from a kid. Magic of questioning shows it when a child develops the spirit of reasoning and fact-finding from very early stage in his/her life.  

Btw, I found answer to the fan regulator question here http://2wayswitch.com/terminating-the-fan-regulator-wires/ 

- Rahul

To my teacher Mrs. Seema Khanvilkar

Dear Madam,

That our last class in business communications is over, the Mondays without your classes would be strange. Today, while going through the newspaper, I got to read an article which made me remember you. Asked if he found captaining Indian cricket team a burden in such a scenario, Rahul Dravid said, “Burden is too strong a word and people say that because of how I look. I’m not naturally a cheery-looking soul on the field.”

Rahul Dravid's self awareness made me recall what you always say: "You should feel comfortable in your own skin. No matter how you are, this is most important." And you prickle the skin of one of your hands with the other, while you say so! Incidentally Rahul Dravid is credited of being one of the most cool-headed guys in Indian cricket team, again making me recall your saying: "Thinking on your feet is very important. Not everyone is able to do that." This episode connects with me very well also because I always get a similar feedback - of carrying a serious face most of the time!

Our classes started from you making us speak on "love", and after the speech, you and the class gave us the feedback. The classes afterwards included lectures on non-verbal communication and body language, a class-feedback on one-another, knowing yourself self-evaluation exercise, telephone etiquette, interview basics, dining etiquette, etc. You were so nice to take us to a restaurant and teach us how to handle a continental cuisine. And in the last class, you showed us an English movie in the class, and we had to analyse the oral and non-verbal communication in the movie.

Despite being a corporate trainer in the field of communications, you take pain to take classes in our university. You boast of the fact that you enjoy teaching, and it shows in your attitude And what a greater testimony than the words of your own students? Listening, giving feedbacks, and correcting others seem easier than what it really is. Coping up with some boring students, some freak ones; listening to the non-sense of some others is too much of a job at the end of the day. But you seem to be made for your job. 

You remember, in the final extempore, some of the students didn't do well. In fact, some turned red faced and stopped midway. I was really ashamed that we fared so poorly in your final class. What would have been a better gift from us to you than a brilliant performance in front of you? There is one area in my opinion where you can do better. The fact remains that the guys and girls that fumbled were predictable. In the class exercises, they saved themselves from the trouble, while the strongest ones outsmarted and outshined in front of all. And remember the guys who volunteered themselves for taking the interviews; they were all with above average communication skills. I think in future, you should make an extra effort in raising the level of the bottom of the pyramid!

Personally, I didn't have the opportunity of having met many sensible and perfectionist teachers as you are. You are the one who taught me how to pronounce "righteous". From deepest of my heart, I wish to thank you for your efforts put in for the benefit of ours. May you have very happy fruitful days ahead. May you always enjoy a sound health and great successes in your professional life.

With best regards,

Yours truly,

Kumar Rahul Tiwary

I visited my Alma Mater

Several times we talk of helping our juniors; of keeping them involved in the right things; or of showing them the right track. I think it is one of our duties as seniors. As we are proud of our juniors at some point of the time or the other, it is important for us to help them whenever we can. And the best way to help them is to “inspire” them. Seeing is believing. And “inspiring” is the best “teaching”.

I don’t claim to have achieved 100% by what I did a few days back, but I made sure that I did my best.

NIT Durgapur chapter of ISTE (Indian Society for Technical Education), organized its 11th AISEC (All India Students’ Engineering Congress) on Jan 21-22, 2006. I delivered an ‘invited lecture’ there. The topic was “Changing face of Cement Industry”. It dealt with how once upon a time cement industry was considered a pollution creating industry, and now a days it is looked upon as a waste consuming industry (alternative raw materials, alternative fuels, additives). I met a number of young engineering students from across India. I was impressed by their presentations in the Technical Paper Presentation sessions. Two young guys from VIT-Vellore had developed an e-OPD s/w, which prescribes medicines once symptoms are entered on a computer program. The s/w has got a training phase, where it actually learns how to make a decision. They have created a website and are planning to put the s/w there for free, for medical students to study and help them update it! Several other papers were very good, and I went through them being in the panel of judges.

In between and after the sessions I interacted with students and helped them with their concerns. A lot of them were in confusion over joining “IT” or “Core tech” companies. They were as enthusiastic as we were in our college times.

And most importantly, I visited ‘my’ Alma Mater after 20 months. I passed though the same pavements and lived in the same hall-4. Visual looks have changed for a better. If you have not been there since long, learn from me that the mess and bathrooms are completely renovated; something we thought will never happen. The college has got a grant of 21 crores from World Bank, and a lot of things are benefiting. I met the child who used to sell ‘parathas’ in our hostels, the ‘dada’ who sells ‘misties’, the shop keepers in ‘techno stores’, and our loving ‘nadu da’ who served us with ‘roties’ in ‘jhups’. Of course I met some of our professors, who have not changed even a little in these years.

I suggest, go visit your alma mater once. Then you will know how good it feels.

[Kumar Rahul, Jan 23, 2006]