IT Returns and Bills

Now I’m relatively at peace with myself. Somehow I lose it when there are too many pending things, specially things which are out of my control. Now, I have settled quite a few of things which were nagging me.

One of these were the IT-returns. Even though the process is decently simple, the complicated part was getting in touch with the CA, and then getting all those photocopies and bank statements. It was getting nightmare-ish for me to get everything at one place, and so I decided to do away with the CA. I think it makes much more sense to file your returns yourself (much like my belief that people should invest their money themselves, rather than going through consultants and mutual funds)

Other disturbing things were pending utilities bills, and a fine of the Credit Card delayed payment. I absolutely hate to pay fines, for monetary as well as disciplinary reasons. More so in this case as I had actually made the payment on time, and for some reasons the payment failed, and they had reversed the transaction in my account a couple of days later which I didn’t check. So, I had to fork out a fine of Rs 600 on a Rs 800 bill. I find this completely outrageous – and the funny thing is that inspite of this daylight robbery these banks lose billions every quarter :).

Went on to watch Harry Potter yesterday at IMAX, and the 3D part was absolutely amazing. I think the movie was decently good, though am still not sure if it was as good as the hype. This was my first Harry Potter movie, and even though I ideally planned to watch them in order, I realized that way I may have to watch all of them on small screen.

When in Joka, talk like …

This is a straight rip-off from the IIMC website (http://www.jokatimes.com).

 

This is a short guide meant for fuchchas entering IIMC. This will help you acclimatize better to your surroundings – and will ensure you have no excuse for your linguistic shortcomings.

The Basic Ones

1. Globe (n, adj)

Used to denote the non-specificity of a certain comment. Globe typically includes statements which are true in all conditions, or statements which are vague and impertinent to the question at hand.

Usage: When the prof. asks, “What are the implications of this particular policy” an answer like “While this policy could herald a new dawn into the country’s future while there exists the possibility of it failing. A careful study needs to be undertaken to assess the pros and cons and then apt and timely decisions need to be taken for this policy to be successful”. This term can also be used as an adjective – “Yaar, Bahut Globe paper tha”

 

2. Bakar (n)

This is used to denote arbitrary talk mostly among friends that consumes most of the time of the residents of Joka. Bakar typically happens for the whole night particularly among jobless members of various hostels.

Usage: “Yaar, kal raat bakar karke baithe hue the”

 

3. Geela (adj)

Given the skewed sex ratio at IIM, this adjective is a form of putting a social price on trying to woo a member of the fairer sex. Depending on who is using it, this term would be applied to an individual who is mostly found talking to members of the aforementioned gender.

Usage: “Woh banda to confirmed geela hai” or “Aisi geeli harkatein karna chod de”

 

4. Aandozz/Machandozzz (interj.)

Aandozz literally means “bring it on”.  Used to signal the coming of a new challenge. Machandozz is used by other people who are wishing good luck to the people saying Aaandozzz. Machandozz is also used after someone has performed commendably as encouragement. Again the number of “zzz” will indicate degree.

Usage:

“XL meet aandozzz”
“Guys, go kick their ass. Machandozzzz!”

 

5. Putlake(v)

Used to indicate disagreement with someone or something. Typically the guilty party is asked to be “putlaked”. Also used as a celebratory gesture to celebrate birthdays and pre-placement offers.

Usage: “Putlake Arjun Singh. He’s spoiled our entire system” or “Putlake admin”

 

6. Putcrack / Putfight(v)

Used as encouragement before an important event.
Usage: “Best of luck for the case. Putcrack!”

 

7. Fatleez(adj.)

Used to indicate a dire situation.
Usage: “yaar, merit toh class mein fatleez ho gayi hai. Kuch bhi samajh nahi aa raha”

 

8. Lessss(adj.)

Used to indicate how lame a particular situation/comment is. The more the number of “ssss” the more stupid it is.
Usage: “Yaar less jokes mat mar”

 

The Academic Ones

1. DP/CP (abbr.)

Stands for “desperate participation” and “class participation”. While classroom participation means commenting in a way which takes the discussion forward and more importantly gets you a better grade, desperate participation typically comes from a middle-to-backbencher who feels his grade is slipping away and needs to absolutely establish his presence.
Usage: “Yaar itna DP mat maar.”

 

2. Freerider (n)

Member of a group who shoulder little to no responsibility. Such members are soon ratted out and frowned upon by the more hard-working members of the group. The best freeriders are those who escape from being labelled as one.
Usage: “We don’t want any freeriders in our group”.

The Message Board Ones

1. CAMs (abbr.)

Stands for “Can’t Agree More”. It is used to indicate agreement with a previous statement. The more the number of trailing “sss…” the more is the agreement.

Usage:
A: “I think Sachin should’ve played the T20 world cup”
B: “CAMssssss”

 

2. htia(abbr.)

Stands for “hajaar thanks in advance”. To be used on the bulletin board while asking for answers to a particular question that is bugging you, or a particular software that you need.
Usage: “Does anyone know how to mail-merge in office? ~htia”

 

3. nsoi (v)
Stands for “enjoy”.

 

4. chocs and mishtis assured
Used while asking for a favour, typically as a reward for lost things on the bulletin board. This is typically an area for your creative energies and you can promise other things too.
Usage:
“Guys I’ve lost my calculator. Anyone who can find it please call me!
~chocs and mishits assured”

Drive-Ins

India is slightly strange in the sense there are no popular eating-joints where you can drive-in, stay for an hour reading some novels, surf the internet, and move out. Most of the places are overly crowded with people, and one can hardly go there alone and enjoy a cup of coffee or sandwich.

I am still waiting for the day when we would have McDonald's/'Barista'/'Cafe Coffee Day' on all the important roads, and one can stop their cars, grab a drink and enjoy some silent moments there.

December 2008

Nothing seems to be happening right in the whole world. We were still struggling with the worst of crisis in the economy, and then the job cuts started. All the major banks across the world announced plans to lay-off a high proportion of their workforce. And now, to top it all, we had the Mumbai Terrorist attacks. I'm not sure if things could get any worse from here.

Hopefully the end of the year would bring an end to all this. May be, it was just a bad year for the whole world, and 2009 would bring fresh hope. Barrack Obama would take over as the new President of US, and we would have a new Prime Minister in India as well.

Going back in time, I remember how things were different when we started this year. That was the peak of the bull run in India, and everyone was convinced that we were the next big thing in the global arena. People talked of 40k and 50k Sensex  by the end of the year. There was only one report which predicted a downturn, but that too predicted a value of 19,500 by the year-end. Looking back, all that seems a different era all together. There wasn't a worry in the world, and everyone was minting money. Now, things have come crashing down (apart from Mumbai real estate prices). Hoping that the next year won't be another mad year.

Catcher in the Rye

What do we want to become when we grow up? I have pondered long over this question till a few years back, and then stopped asking myself. Each one of us, as a child, had dreams and fantasies of becoming someone. And here we are, all lost in this world, chasing some dream we don't even know about.

'The Catcher in the Rye' is one of the most famous books in the history, and also, amongst the most controversial as well. I was surprised to learn about the controversies though. When I read through the book, I found nothing so much objectionable. It is a story about a small boy named Holden Caulfield. He narrates the story after he has been expelled from his school, and how he spends his couple of days away from everyone. He talks at length about his family - his brothers and his sister. He describes the relationship he had with his classmates at the school, and a couple of his ex-girls. One of the better books I have read in recent times. There is no meaningful story or a flow per se, but the quality of writing is awesome.