Potpourri

In this section, we invite students to give their insight on various matters that happen all around us. Articles are invited from all students of the Department for the ensuing editions of Chemically Yours. 

MUMBAI TERROR ATTACKS - The Indian 9/11

-Ankur Surolia (III year BTech)

The recent terrorist attack on Mumbai is being called India's 9/11. In sheer audacity of design, that is true. The US, whose mainland has never been attacked, could not have imagined that a set of planes could be transformed into enormous bombs. Nobody in India thought of a sea-borne invasion of Mumbai- the attackers are said to have hijacked a fishing trawler, steered it towards the Mumbai coast and then landed on motorized dinghies.

The sole surviving terrorist of the Mumbai attacks allegedly spent 18 months training at camps run by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET), a banned Pakistani militant organization with a long history of high-profile attacks in India and Indian-controlled Kashmir. And Indian authorities also have found the names of several high-ranking LET members in the satellite phone used by one of the Mumbai perpetrators.

Without an overhaul of governance, without greater accountability, it is hard to see how terrorism can be fought effectively. It is the democratic process and the rule of law that need to be strengthened for these to happen.

Smoke billowing out of the WTC is one image that is etched in our minds; so will that of the Taj Hotel in flames. The Mumbai attackers have certainly met their objective.

Vulnerability to terrorism, it is worth pointing out, is an aspect of corruption and an indifference to the rule of law. The political class will not prosecute or pursue high-profile cases of terrorism; businessmen will maintain links with the underworld; the police are more concerned with collecting bribes than with maintaining law and order; the media has no qualms about lionising celebrities who have been convicted in important cases. When a political party moots the idea of giving a Lok Sabha seat to the key suspect in the Malegaon case that is confirmation that India in many ways has the traits of a banana republic.

Important History Events

30 Apr 1975 End of US-Vietnam war after 28 years

09 Nov 1989 Fall of 43 Km. long Berlin Wall

02 Oct 1990 East and West Germany united

17 Jan 1991 Gulf War (Kuwait & US Aliens vs. Iraq)

25 Aug 1991 Fall of CCCP in the USSR after 77 years

07 Dec 1992 Demolish of Babri Masjid at Ayodhya, India

30 Jun 1997 Hong Kong handed over to China after 156 years of British regime

Should Rahul Dravid retire??

-Ankur Surolia (III Year BTech)

Rahul Dravid’s long and glorious career is at a serious crossroads. For long, India’s most dependable batsman and indeed its most productive, “The Wall” has begun to wobble dangerously even on home turf. Although the fittest of the so-called Fab Five, tongues have begun to wag that Dravid may have completely run out of steam and motivation after chucking the captaincy. And an enviable Test average of 58 is now plunging downwards.

Should Dravid retire before the whispers reach a crescendo?

When a sportsman who has done great things for his country but finds that in the twilight of his career he is in poor form and not able to give his best, what should he do, still carry on or retire?
Rahul Dravid has done yeoman service for India. He has one of the highest averages both in and outside the country. He has had some great scores against the top teams of the world and has more than 10,000 runs in test cricket. However age has caught up with him and his reflexes are not that good. Of late a string of poor scores by his standards must be bugging him to no end. Moreover he looks very tense and has a worried look on his face when he is on the field. Unsmiling as he usually is he does not seem to be enjoying the game anymore. Both the stalwarts Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble have retired and already people are asking why he doesn`t too? There are many youngsters eagerly waiting in the wings. Is his presence in the team not stopping their chances?

But is this the treatment the biggest test match winner that the country has produced in the last decade should get? He should be at least given an extended run and the entire cricket frenzy nation should support him in the process of gaining back the lost form.

Let’s hope that we get back the vintage Dravid or else who knows India might follow the Australians.

Alpha-numeric Wonders

111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321

Letters 'a', ' b', 'c' & 'd' do not appear anywhere in the spellings of 1 to 99 
(Letter 'd' comes for the first time in Hundred)

Letters 'a', ' b' & 'c' do not appear anywhere in the spellings of 1 to 999
(Letter 'a' comes for the first time in Thousand)

Letters 'b' & 'c' do not appear anywhere in the spellings of 1 to 999,999,999
(Letter 'b' only comes for the first time in Billion)

Letter 'c' does not appear anywhere in in the spellings of entire English Counting

Asia’s Largest Techno-cultural festival : TECHFEST 2009

-Ankita Gautam (III Year BTech)

Science and Technology has been in the forefront of transforming the world of yester years to the world we live in now. It has produced amazing achievements and new and revealing perspectives during its journey. The year 2009 will especially be a year to analyze the wider implications of modern technology and its notions of progress. Along with saluting the role of science in the history of humanity and promising new inventions and discoveries in the coming year it will also provide us with new opportunities to showcase our talent and unleash the engineer within us .The year starts off with the much awaited technical event of the country Techfest ‘09, the Annual International Science and Technology Festival of IIT Bombay scheduled from 24th to 26th January. Witnessing a huge success and participation in the previous years, the Techfest is here in its twelfth and larger than ever avatar. From nerve-racking competitions to lectures by noted luminaries, incredible workshops to fun-filled ‘Ozone’, it will have everything to conquer your imagination and tempting you with attractive prizes!!

Workshops have always been the major attraction, promising to open new horizons for the students. They bring the students face to face with the new technologies while providing them valuable hands-on experience under the expert guidance of noted professionals. With workshops on interesting topics like Archery, Aircraft designing (SPAD), Special effects and Green Camp, it is definitely going to be an enjoyable and enriching experience for the participants.

This year Techfest 2009 brings a unique collection of exhibits giving students an opportunity to interact with some of the finest researchers in the world. Some of the major highlights of the exhibitions include the Aircraft exhibition, showcasing the features and working of various latest aircrafts, Mystique, revealing some of the mysteries of science and technology.

The most distinguished segment of Techfest, the lecture series will provide the participants with a chance to interact with some of the world’s most eminent personalities like Spencer Well (Director of   National Geographic and IBM's Genographic Project), Eric Chivian (Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize), Dario Floreano (Director of the Laboratory of Intelligent Systems, EPFL, Switzerland), Martin Hendry (Senior Lecturer in Astronomy & Director of Teaching at the University of Glasgow).

Technical events, covering all fields from advanced circuitry to simple logic, see the best of minds fighting for the coveted Techfest Trophy. Events related to chemical engineering and biotechnology such as Elixir 2.0, an open biomedical design competition, offers prize money of Rs 1, 20,000, while Energize, and requires participants to design a device that works only on renewable energy sources. That apart, there are fun events like IG Nobel, Junkyard wars, Survivor and online games, quizzes and puzzles.

That is not all; it also has a perfect potion for rejuvenation, Technoholix: Techfest@ Dark, making Techfest ‘09 an awe inspiring blend of technology, science and entertainment.

For further details visit www.techfest.org

Blitzschlag 2009-SWORN TO SUBSIDE THE AURORAE

-Arthy J (II Year BTech)

Blitzschlag is an annual techno-cultural festival that is organised by Malaviya National Institute of Technology,Jaipur.

                This techno-cultural extravaganza attracts participants from all over the country to display their highly prudent technical as well as cultural skills. An idea is only the beginning of innovation and Blitzschlag 2009 is here to provide a platform for the budding technocrats and beauracrats to convert their ideas and dreams into reality and thereby envisioning a brighter future.

              Like always, Blitzschlag 2009-SWORN TO SUBSIDE THE AURORAE is back with its promising events ranging from technical to architectural and cultural events. It also provides workshops and seminars to ignite the young minds.

           The technical events are:

·                   Thesis-The paper presentation

·                     Tronigma-Spider tacit which circuits

·                     Corpostrat-The Business plan contest

·                     Track-Tricks-The robot building competition

·                     Code Matrix-The programming arena

·                     Byzantine-The model making contest

·                     Junky-funky-Recycle your way to future

·                     Insomnia-The after hour logic quiz

·                     IDP-Industrial defined problem

·                     Eziologia-Reason it out

·                     Cartellonistica-The poster

·                     Vertical Limit

·                     Quiz Junkies-Knowledge grows by sharing

·                     Biz Wiz

·                     Hacking Hounds

·                     Mystrifirea

 

           The workshops which are being organised by Blitzschlag '09 are:

·                     Athena

·                     Logica

·                     Fotia

 

         Blitzschlag is acclaimed for cultural events.

It provides a wonderful podium to bring out the cultural talents because we certainly believe in the fact that culture refines persons' mentality and adaptability to his immediate surroundings.

        The cultural events are:

·                   Ramba Samba-The intercollegiate dance

competition that is the most awaited event. Many teams from various colleges participate in this extravagant dance competition.

Ragna Rock-The rock show

·                   Junky-Costumes

·                   Blitschlag Moods-The photography competition

·                   Dalal Street-The virtual stock exchange

·                   Treasure Hunt-Hunt for the unseen

·                   Techcherades-Silence is golden

·                   Ad-ma-taz-The ad designing competition

·                   Cut shots-The movie making competition

·                   Face painting

·                   Uproar

·                   Debate

·                   Blitz-Persona

·                   Dhun-Beyond the octaves

·                   Madana-The rangoli making competition

·                   Copycats-Show up your copying skills

·                   Labyrinth

               

The budding architects have a special series of events dedicated to them. Thus they have a platform to showcase their skills. These events include:

·                   Design problem

·                   Epitomize

·                   Intarsia

·                   Klotter

·                   Edifice

·                   Flutter

·                   Virsma

·                   Trosky

·                   Building Blocks

                 

The students, with the help of their respective faculty advisors are working very hard to make this event a successful one apart from endowing the students with an opportunity to showcase their abilities.

Blitzschlag is all set to be bigger and better than ever before and Chemically Yours wishes all the organizers and supporting members of the fest good luck. 

For further details, visit www.blitzschlag.co.in

Fear

-Nikhil Kumar (Final Year BTech)

Under the sky the mind is nurtured from birth until death

To grow into to encapsulate it all

Realization of one’s position as

The vision that screams to be heard.

The shrill humming from the shadows

trying to make you sing to its rhythm.

For those who choose not to,

there is a haze that spreads onto their head

Clouds the mind with a stench

nauseated to be engulfed in failure.