99th Indian Science Congress.

It has been a beautiful week. The beginning of 2012 has been so very eventful, now I am afraid the rest of the year might seem plain if nothing special goes on happening. Therefore fingers crossed I am going to make this year a total success too. Everyday is about bettering myself and being in a university which never stays behind the lights throughout I am hoping for more fun and experiences.
The 99th Indian Science Congress was inaugurated by the prime minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh. When I saw him with my own eyes I had to pinch myself in order to know I was not dreaming.


The next day APJ Abdul Kalam delivered his wonderful speech we were all replenished with newer, healthier energy. His elocution is faultless, so full of heart and inspiration. He inaugurated the Children Science Congress, so you can expect his nature. He made us repeat motivating phrases like "I will fly, I will fly-will you". And he reminded us with fervor that all of us are born with potential. And IMAGINATION is the beginning of CREATION. How very wonderful. At the end of his long speech we all felt that we could do wonders if we-
1. Have great aim (because he said that small aim is a crime).
2.Work hard,
3.Perseverance-Keep trying on.


SMALL AIM IS A CRIME. How ironic it sounds coming from a small man. But I will keep these words in my mind. How very deeply it has touched me. I am so very motivated and inspired. When he asked for 10 people to question him and then he gave the 15,000 of us his e-mail address we were all super thrilled. :D












The weeks after were total blast. Exhausting were the days but the experience gained will always shine on. 
I was in Orissa Mandap department. We had to put up the gallery and stalls so that the delegates would get the feel of Orissa. 
This state has incredible sand sculpture makers. If you go visit Puri beach, the place is bound to be crafted with breath-taking sand sculptures. Therefore a big sand sculpture of Konark Sun temple was made in the ground. It was certainly a grand attraction that made everyone of us wonder in amazement at how sand can hold onto such beautiful shapes!

Trust me- That sand maiden is as big as a normal adult human is. Therefore you can estimate the real size of the sand sculpture! Marvellous, isn't it? 

The science exhibition has people from all of the 29 states of India displaying their projects along with big companies pouring out their money into getting a small space for their own experimentation and exhibition of their projects.


















There was a Q and A session in the very presence of Nobel laureate Richard R. Earnst. I am so very lucky to have been at the right place at the right time. I am telling 'lucky" because my university is so big and there were just 8 Nobel laureates and they would only be in certain places at certain times. So it is only a matter of chance that I happened to be where he was. The feeling of triumph I got then I will never forget it. There he sat few feet away from me telling his wonderful,incredible, amazing way of life. 
One thing I need to write is that when a kid asked him why the hair turns grey, his reply was "That's a very difficult question!".
The medical students present there, also students from other branches were disappointed. Being a nobel laureate doesn't mean you know everything! It means he knows EVERYTHING of One thing! :) He was sooo soooo sooooo amazing. I swear I wouldn't react this way to a movie celebrity. APJ Abdul Kalam and then Richard R. Earnst. WHAT A START TO 2012~~~

 That wheel was the prizes distributed to the project winners. Richard R. Earnst said, "The wheel itself symbolizes the very beginning of human civilization. It was our first invention." I took this photograph. OH GOSH! I hate the media, they think only they have the rights to take pictures and write stories. They rush forward and block our views and start their criticism. 

Many programs went on simultaneously. The medical students of my batch attended the planery session on cancer stem cells. We were just excited about it. Excited because we all know stem cells hold the future. There are so many possibilities and theories on these cells. These people were all the way from USA (you see 3 Indians, a white woman and an Asian woman). Indians they reach every part of the globe and conquer the world of academics. That's amazing about them.

The researchers for stem cells....

There were several planery sessions on all aspects of sciences-medical, mechanical, engineering, technology....everything. 

Rolf M. Zingernackel-Nobel laureate 1996

The cultural program was a grand success. It was held everyday from 4-6 PM at the amphitheater, and from 6-9 PM at the big hall which can accommodate 19,000 people at a time.And everyday was a house full. Major dance groups like PRINCE (winners of TV show INDIA'S GOT TALENT) and Harihar Das enlivened the show. Professionals performed classical Indian dances. I enjoy classical dances a lot. Many KIIT students performed brilliantly on the stage too.

PRINCE- Winner of Dance India Dance- TV show.

The woman science congress was inaugurated by Mrs. Nirupama Rao. She is the ambassador of India to United States. There were speeches on woman empowerment and how females can alleviate the society.

Apart from all of these, I am very glad despite having missed seeing 6 other Nobel laureates. But the delegates here were no less than the Nobel laureates themselves. I am so glad I am a part of this. And the college has seen dramatic changes. Me and my friends enjoyed a lot. The delegates were impressed by the university. Being a private college and just so young the founder has ensured that it holds fast to the times and everybody was in appreciation of the infrastructures, standard and hospitality.  I have made so many new friends from different branches. Now I am popular, not that I never was. 
So I guess henceforth the qualification and rank of the university has been alleviated a lot since so many dignitaries loved the university. I am happy. 

SO FAR....

You realize there are thousands (maybe millions) like you with the same fervor, same determination, same strength as you. Someone as eager to be of service to the place you are linked with. I have meet many of them just within these three days. Every volunteer here at the Indian Science Congress, they display so much of energy it is sometimes tiring. But I don't show my lassitude. And so like magic the energy replenishes itself.  Everyone and I mean every single one is just so full of energy. I like that.
And with so extra extra energy we have been having a lot of fun. I am known as the "skeleton" now since they find it so strange I have real human bones under my bed. They freaked out when I told them all medical students have real human bones for study. The mechanical students have to cut metals, weld pieces together. The electrical students build electronics. This interesting guy told me that Electricity is the study of conductors, and electronics is the study of semi-conductors. And they freaked out more when I told them that we had to incise and study a cadaver(dead human) in our first year. Apart from all these, I am getting to know a lot of people from different modes of career and from different parts of the world. It feels good. I have lots of friends now.


Today we were sitting outdoors and chit chatting in a big group. No one was criticizing anyone. We were of course pulling legs (but it is indeed very different from criticism). A very good social gathering. After humans are social creatures.
I have to gather some information on paintings and palm leaf writings.
Tomorrow the Prime Minister of India is visiting here. I have got to take a photograph with him. :D

Stones and Stones.

As the Indian Science Congress is drawing nearer, my campus has undergone dramatic transformation. New paved roads, paint jobs on dull buildings, cleaner streets and blossoming gardens to name a few.


So a few Nobel laureates going to be here. I so hope Barry Marshall is one of them. I am not a big fan of his really. I didn't even know who he is , till I read about Helicobacter pylori infection in chronic gastritis and his demonstrations from my Pathology textbook. So I googled about him and turns out he is still alive and well won the Nobel prize. Therefore, I hope he visits here.

Today was the day we were to meet at the School of Fashion. I had never been inside the building. They have lines of models clothed in their designed garments in the corridors. How cool is that. 

I shouldn't have gone at the said time. I should have known they always turn up late. The coordinator turned up an hour late. In the mean time I made new friends. 

It has been a busy day today. I kind of miss my boyfriend even though we spent the whole day together yesterday. And he is stuck up in his own registration line. While I have to showcase the culture, art and craft of this state. Oh dear lord do grace upon me. I am a foreigner to India myself.

Later in the evening a wonderful person gave us his time. He is the one involved in beautifying the campus. Geez I couldn't catch his name except that he has world wide acclaim. I would mention more about him tomorrow. 

His lecture was very philosophical. Stone has known mankind long before and it has seen every development brought about by man. The stones can speak to you if you try to. They have gender too. And the sculptures that people make pay tribute not only to the subject but to the stone itself too.

Wow. It felt good. The wind was cool. It was about time the sun left for the other side of the world and we were outdoors sitting on stones shaped in semicircle and in the centre more stone sculpture from where water dripped creating a constant ripple on the reflecting surface of the water body.
Tomorrow we are going to set up the art gallery. Excited about it. I have so got to join the art club here.

This Week....

This week was like any other week, but I am writing about it because of the delicious pasta that we made all by ourselves in the hostel. And the other reason is now I am a member of girl musical band.
I had the Italio de Pazzta since I last visited Anniesha(my sister) in Sri Lanka. I finally decided it was time we eat it up because I finished up my noodle supply. As a Bhutanese here the food of Orissa, India-HOSTEL is a little too bland for me. Therefore we equip ourselves with whatever packaged food we can transport.
So I ripped off that packet and out came the lovely multi-coloured pasta. After getting instructions from Arunima's mom we set to cook a delicious pasta. Yummy!

Soaking it up with water, oil and salt.

And lots and lots of tomatoes.

The cheesy milky paste and tomatoes :D

Appetizing, isn't it?

The combination of chilli chicken with pasta was scrumptious. It has now sparked an interest in cooking and I just can't wait to get back home and raid my kitchen.
And what more can be more delectable than belonging to a cool all-girl band. Yes. 
Vocalists- Madhurima Roy and Maneesha Sabat.
Guitarist- ME of course.
Casio- Sandeepta Dalal.


We are rocking, but we chose quite an unheard hindi song titled "Iman ka asar". It is melodious I will say but I was not really sure if it would enrapture the audience. Not that I want to enrapture them, but at least not be said that we sounded bad.  We practiced pretty hard. The skin on my finger tips well firstly became paper thin and sensitive. And right after that there was this magical proliferation of skin and so it has thickened to become stiff and insensitive.  That's why I always say "Nothing comes without a price". Therefore you have to make sure how much you are willing to pay and if it is worth investing on or not!


Oh did I forget to mention where we were performing? We were going to perform for renowned gynecologists from India and other countries who were here for AGOICON-2011 (Association of gynocologic oncologists of India). Graying old people would dominate the crowd for doctors are not revered as long they are young. Sad but true.


Here are some clips. 

AGOICON-2011

Sorry, but I can't stop uploading. They are good pictures... Don't go yet.

Thank You for Reading.

And the night closed with a wonderful dinner at the banquet hall. I was surprised to get good reviews from some of the senior doctors present at the dinner. They described us as "talented musicians" (grins much).


Now I feel hungry writing about the pasta and thinking of the dinner.