Business Friday

Since early ages, Friday has always been a special day. Be it the day when Jesus was crucified (Good Friday) or the holy day of Islam (Jumma) or fasting day for Hindu (Maa Santoshi Mata). Friday has always underscored its significance in every kind of civilization. Our very own software industry also pays a special tribute to this day of the week. Known as ‘Business Friday’ all over the global corporate, this day is observed as a day where life takes an off-track from the daily ‘off-whitish’ routine to a ‘colorful’ roadway. Yes, we are talking about clothing and attire. This day endows the liberty to the corporate employers to shed off their pale (and boring) formals and get a hang on to the casual (here it is called as semi formals) wear.

Our office also marks this as a special day. After donning those formal and heavy clothing from Monday thru Thursday, this day comes as a pleasant break from their daily (machine like) life. This is the day that observes an upheaval of brands. The formal wear brands that ruled all week long are mercilessly replaced by casual and sport brands. The Excalibur trousers are replaced by Pepe jeans. The Pan America shirts are substituted by Nike t-shirts and the Titan Gold changes to Timex Fast-Track!! Not only this, there are sundry other transformations that are observed. Those feet which were accustomed to wearing heavy ‘Red tape’ shoes are un-encumbered to light ‘Nike’ trainers. (Though I could be seen much more comfortable with my leather chappals.) The shiny black belts are switched to bottle green or gray fiber belts. The people, who were nice and dapper during the other weekdays, could now be seen in faded jeans and electric red t-shirts. The ladies, as if, find it very orthodox to wear the traditional Indian wear and are seen in branded attires. This day marks equality of men and women as both the races are sighted wearing the same fashion. Those nice and timid people of the department are now seen wearing t-shirts having messages like ‘I hate my work’ and ‘Dogs are loyal. I work for money’… what a noble thought!!

Not only this day has effect on dressing but the life style for this day also changes. All throughout the week people eat at the office cafeteria, but on Fridays you can see them at the nearest fast food joints and pizza corners during the lunch hour. Business Friday sure brings a lot of business to the food and hospitality industry! All this change is a cover, actually people takes this day as a medium to rejuvenate and enjoy celebrating a ‘pre-weekend’ spree. But there are some unfortunate ones also who have to work at weekends, nevertheless they still enjoy this ‘feel good’ day. At evenings, they part with each other with the spirits high enough to have a rollicking weekend ahead!! They turn-of their cell phones so as to avoid any impending predicament in form of a call from the work thereby disrupting the whole enjoyment.

In short, Business Fridays are those days which signifies a deserved change from the mundane IT world, fun and light mindedness an more so, add a ‘human touch’ to the soul of the corporate world. This, indeed, is a ‘branded’ day. Branded because this is what we IT professional go for. After all we are in one of the highest paid professional industry. (Really!!!! Is it so??)

kNOwledge TRANSFER

Working for an MNC requires that the employees are up-to-date with the aspects of their respective working domains. This is ensured by the organization of various Knowledge Transfer (here people call it KT) sessions. Now these KT sessions aim to develop an in-depth understanding of the system to its underneath working employees. Interestingly one such KT session happened for our department. What was more interesting was that it was to be taken by the sales people (some weird aliens called MBA’s) and was about the banking sector. It had nothing technical in it.

Anyways we reached the lecture hall at the given time. In the hall there was a great rush. Everyone wanted to occupy the most strategically well placed seat i.e. the back seat. The hierarchy didn’t matter here as anyone who occupied the ‘sought after’ seats was not willing to leave it. The entire KT session was to be presided over by management people so obviously the techies of the deptt. (Which constitute more than 90% of the team) seemed uninterested. Once occupied the seats, everyone waited for the presenters to begin. The ‘managers’ were having a discussion among themselves as if deciding the final layout for a mass crusade. We, the techies, were busy playing pranks and laughing out as it was a well deserved respite from the daily humdrums of software development. The ML mixed well with the juniors (that’s us) and we made fun of all the things around. The managers were not able to start the presentation as there was a problem with the laptop or the LCD projector. They tried their hands on it but it simply refused to run. After giving two or three shots, they mutely requested the PL and PM to come up and help. They went there and started fidgeting with the systems themselves. In the meanwhile, one of the members amongst us stood up and asked if anyone could sing a song? This was well returned by an emerging singer from our team as he sportingly sang a song. The managers did liked this ‘well utilization’ of free time but I think I saw them giving fast red looks to the other managers. After two songs and a lot of practical jokes, the laptop had yet not started. I could see all the top notch members of our team- the PL, PM, managers in sales and marketing all standing together in one frame. This was a ‘Kodak Moment’ seeing the Giants of our project together. What really hit me was that they all were standing ‘helplessly’ as a local guy (not even an engineer) from the IDM fixed up the system. With an experience of over 5-10 years, which include myriad trips round the world, one can expect great people to forget such trivial thing such as cabling and configuration!!

So after a long epoch, the presentation finally started. It was something about banking and ..I don’t know?!?...Ten minutes down I can see people, techies, around with their eyes fixed on the speakers whilst they tapped the tip of their pen on the front part of their raised legs or typing messages in phones or smiling aimlessly etc.no one actually seem to pay any attention. The talk…well to me, a course on the history of Americans scholars and poets would have been more interesting!! It was a 48 page presentation and went for about one and a half hours. Superfluous with financial jargons, by the time it ended most of us were fighting hard to avoid the sleep. After two hours, there was more to come but the time for bus departure adjourned the session. We were releases with a humble apology for not completing the session and a promise that it would be continued next day!!

Harry Potter writes....

Being a die-hard Harry Potter fan, I just imagined what he would have to say if made Software Engineer...

Dear Ginny
How are you? I just hope that you are fine and must have done pretty well in your O.W.L.s. How are the other things around? Has the rampage by Voldemort and the Death-Eaters affected any one in our lot (I mean the DA or the Order of Phoenix). This hunt for the horocruxes is indeed very painful. These days I am in India and working undercover as a Software Engineer at a firm.

Though I have a good long experience of abiding with muggles but this is truly a different experience altogether. The people here make the Dursleys look so lovable and great. All day long I spend in a small room filled with numerous desks (which they call cubicle) and staring aimlessly at my computer (a muggle invented machine which is taking over every thing). These people expect me to do some daily chore which they call as ‘coding’. They seldom try out their hand in teaching me also and believe me I find it more boring than reading “Hogwarts – A History’ (Don’t tell this to Hermione else she’d throw me a Bat Boggy Hex). All day long they sit at their place and do this damned coding and keep on drinking coffee and tea.

All these years I used to think that magic exists only in our wizarding community but I was so wrong! I have seen these muggles here (called programmers) performing some non verbal spells. All throughout their working hour, they mess up the work. I , being a member of the debugging team also, have to work real hard over these codes( I daresay, I sometimes use the spell ‘reparo’ over them), but right at the time of their delivery, these programmers somehow are able to come up with a perfectly working solution. This has to be some kind of a magic!!

My post here , as 'Assistant System Engineer – Trainee’ is much more jinxed than the Defense Against The Dark Arts post at Hogwarts. My supervisor (here known as PL or ML) is no better than Snape. He finds no reason and gives me a detention every day by making me work overtime. But fear is something which these muggles and we wizards have in common. The fear of the GL (group leader) and coming deadlines terrorize more than what Voldemort does to our lot. I find many people here who keep on E-mailing (a muggle invented fast post system) to others all throughout the day. I must say their way of sending message is an equal comparison to our owl-post. But I cant send mails often as it wouldn’t be appropriate bringing Hedwig in open. Also these people have an instrument called “cell phones’ which can do almost everything, right from talking to distant people, to using it for storing information, to listening music and getting information from round the world to using it for many leisure activities. Everybody seen engaged in their phones here. These cell phones come in different shapes and sizes and it literally gives me a uncontrollable urge to take out my wand!!

Working here sure feels like you have been hit by a sectumsempra curse. I wish I was 17 so that I could legally Apparate out of this place or much better if I had my ‘Fire Bolt’ to escape out from here. But I am on a time critical mission of hunting the horocrux and I am prepared for any traumas and pain, like this, which will come for the ultimate aim of my life is to kill Voldemort!!

Say my hello to Fred, George, Bill and Charlie, my hug to Ron and Hermione (if she is there) and my regards to Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. I Don’t know weather I wud be coming to join the seventh year (only J K Rowling knows). Love you and really looking forward to meet you soon.

Bi and until then
Mischief (almost) managed!!

Harry

serendipity......

Its 1615 hrs and I am sitting on my desk (or cubical as ‘they’ call it!) and watching the monitor aimlessly. An unexpected and insurmountable anxiety is building inside me. No! It’s not because of the 5 cups of teas that I have taken throughout the day. The reason is something else.

Throughout the day I had no work. All I did was eating, taking tea and coffee, web mail, Google, chatting with friends on net messenger, listening to latest songs on my headphones and ya off course, writing blogs!! The day was fine and not at all hectic. Actually this is what I like and am here for. It has been one rare and beautiful day where one could really sit and appreciate the beauty around (not exactly!!) and feel the pleasantness of the ambience. One thing is sure, no work at office does make a man creative and especially when it comes after a long epoch of workload; it really is ‘a deserving change’. After literally slogging-off my ass for 14 hours in the office yesterday night, this respite was like a dream. All day long, I enjoyed noticing the other comrades and making mental note of them (which is going to be the topic for another blog soon!). Just whirling around my rotating chair, I tried to give an ‘executive’ look. I surfed the “New York Times’ site, just to sham a ‘studious’ look. While listening to music, I slowly tapped my fingers on the desk putting on a ‘hepp’ look. Similarly I tried many such looks all over the day.

But now, I am experiencing an unconquerable anxiety. There is a mix of intimidation in it. What if….what if, at this hour, when I am about to leave, I get some WORK!! No, even the thought scares me. I look at my watch again. Its 1630. just 15-20 min to go. Nervously, I check my mail again, praying that there is no mail from the ML delegating me work. The damn web server is taking time... Finally it opens. Thank God, their ain’t any mail. I hear the sound of opening of door. I look at it half-expecting my ML. luckey again!!At 1645, I stand up,lock my computer and move out from the back door. I dio this just to avoid some of the troble-shooters (or shall i say trouble-maker) of my team.I move quitely and rapidly. But there I saw my ML comming towards me. I cross my fingers and continue moving. He just looks at me once, acknowledges my head shook and passes by. "WOW!" I utter and walks rapidly towards the exit door.Outside I could feel the cool B'lore evening beeze and really wonder when did I ,last, left the office in daylight ( it was day before yesterday!!).

It sure was a lucky day for Software Engineer!!

'vi'sion of the editor

Hey people of the world! I am back with my good for nothing blogs!!

Joining such a big comapany as a fresher, after enjoying the training period(The ILP is often reffered as the initial leisure period!) when u really get down to work, beleieve me its a little tough. I have joined a project and the team expects me to be sound in what they call 'basics' of computers. Having a bachelors degree in engineering from Computer Science background sure makes them feel this way. But the fact is that I havn't done my engineering from an IIT or something. It was an ordinary college with a bunch of usual know-nothing/do-anything people. All thruout my BE, my PC has rightfully served my purpose of music and Internet! Leave aside my programming skills, even my grip over the so called 'simple' Windows OS is questionable!! And these people expect me to be superb, Huh! are they kidding??

Now I have to work and develop codes on the 'classical' unix editor 'vi'. 'vi' is a product of strange mind. The person who made this ever popular (i dont know how it got so popular) editor must have a lot of ego and filled with extream hatred towards the mankind. Nothing works the way it is supposed to. Either the man was insane or the keyboard came into existance after the creation of this editor!! For every thing you have to press escape key and then proceed. Now what all should i remember? The codes that I have to cut-copy-paste or the various commands for 'vi'? Now i realise why and how did Bill Gates managed to overturn the world of computing in early 80's...No doubt DOS and its refined versions are far better!! What so ever be the case, the world is full of die hard fans of 'vi' and to tell u the truth, even I have started liking it! Somehow its very cooland i feel kinda sexy while using it.I can go on and on as I am writing this whole blog on the 'vi' editor. Now i'll stop as u guys must be bored. All i have to now is to cut-copy-paste this editorial from 'vi' to the blog space! After all 'cut-copy-paste' is the bread and butter of a Software Engineer!!
bi for now but not for long

hasta pronto, adios!! (ya i even know spanish!!)

It ain't easy at a Software Major!!

Ya this is true....It's really not easy at a software major!! TCS - Asia's biggest software firm...People say that there is not much of a work for freshers at this place..Damn! they are wrong...Ask me..
I joined TCS-blr after my AMAZING ILP at Trivamdrum. On the very next week I was made to work on saturdays and sundays. Why? becaus I had the presitge of joining a development project!! I really face problems writing a 'Hello World' program and now I am working on Pro C (precompiler for Embedded SQL) with Oracle 9i on Sun Os!! these are big words and so is the platform!!...I am currently working on Visa International delivery!! (lets see how long this company works now ) What more could a fresher want...A development project that too an oversee one with bright on-site chances in the comming future(about 1-1.5 years), yet life sucks sometimes...No time for socialising!!!!
For a guy like me who loves to sleep, read novels and watch movies(first day)..every thing has changed. I wake up at 0530 hrs in the morning and if i am lucky enough(to escape the burden of work at office), I make myself go to bed at 2200-2230 Hrs!! I
Sometimes at the work, my inner self asks me..'Hey Dude! whats yr age? are you 35 or something?'.. I feel like a grown up 'Uncle'. yet they claim that this company has the highest Employert satisfaction!!!!.If this is true...GOD bless other IT employees!!...enjoy and keep me blogging!!!
(01/10/2006)

Penning the ILP.....

Nostalgia hits hard, when we part our ways
I still cherish those gud ol’ ILP days!!
The time we spent were like amazing dreams…
That hostel, those beaches and our ‘Coffee Beanz’!!

Those rocking parties – that fun we had
Some times were frustrating, some were sad!
We lived with friends, we ‘died’ with friends
It was one and half month of breaking ‘trends’!!

Sometimes we were subdued, sometimes very rash
With absolutely no concern for our parent’s cash!!
We induced ‘Electrika’ – we made it LIVE
Separated just by names T83, T84 and T85

Those miscreant faces, those cherubic smiles
The distances we walked, from meter to miles!!
That food we ate, loathing the coconut curry
Those late wake-ups and getting dressed in hurry.

(to be cont....)