Convocation at NIT Rourkela

Our convocation was on 16th January 2010. Aloke, Tarun, Subhasis, and my self had ticket on the same train on 14th night. Even Aloke, Tarun, and mine was in same coach in howrah-koraput express. We chatted till train reached kharagpur, where Subhasis boarded.

After reaching Rourkela, we first went to institute guest house. But no rrom was available by then. The rooms were alloted to the students on first come first serve basis from the list of students who applied for accomodation. then we went to hall 6 (C V Raman Hall of Residence) and called Rajib. In the morning I met Gota, and together with Tarun, we went for a morning walk through the hall area. Then I met OP, Parma, Vikas, Gaurav, Thakre, Shine, Arun, Sujith, Nitin, Swanand, Yogesh, Pande-ji, Jaikant (Gupta-ji), Alekha, Sumit, Sunil, Biswa, Suraj, Sailesh, Baneshwar, Nitesh, Santosh, Balaji etc. We did registration in the morning. Dibyendu joined us in the afternoon. We had a rehearsal for the whole convocation process in AV Hall (Bhubaneswar Behera Hall) after the registration.

In the afternoon, while myself and Shine started for booking for a room in a hotel , we saw our HOD sir was having discussion with B.Tech CS pass out students in front of department. We decided to go and meet him and convey our regards. He cordially invited all of us to his office and had a long discussion on various issues. After that our M. Tech friends came and met HOD sir.

I had requested Niranjan if ha can help me in finding some accomodation in govt guest house or some good hotel for my parents who were to reach there on 16th early morning. He accompanied me for this and we did a booking in Hotel Deepthi, govt guest house was full.

Our chief guest for the convocation was Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. He could not reach Rourkela on 15th due to some problem in Bhubaneswar. He reached Rourkela by train from there on 16th.

I called my parents to reach NIT campus by 7 in the morning, because I heard that there were only 40-50 seats for the guests in the AV hall, and I didnt want to take any risks. My parent had to wait little bit out side the academic campus, as the convocation guest cards were with me. I pconvinced them to attend the convocation with three points in mind. First, their contribution and sacrifices for my higher studies after a certain age. Second, ex president of India Abdul Kalam was coming as chief guest. Lastly, I wanted them to show the NIT Rourkela campus and the campus life.

Our convocation started as per schedule. Many teachers and their family members couldnt find seat in the AV hall, as all the seats were filled up from much earlier. The chief guest didnt join the program from the start. First the degree was awarded to the persons who completed phd last year.

Awaiting for Convocation

Convocation of NIT Rourkela will be held on 16th January 2010. Ex President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam is supposed to come and deliver the graduate speech. I am eager to attend the convocation to receive the M. Tech degree, to listen the graduate speech by Dr. Kalam, and to meet my friends.

TCS ILP Training Centre at HIT

TCS has chosen Haldia Institute of Technology as one of its ILP training centre. This centre can accomodate around 700 TCS Trainee Associates.

8 faculties from CSE, MCA, and IT department of HIT has been inducted as ILP trainer till now.

We have to teach Basic Programming Concepts using Dr Scheme programming language, Structured Modelling, OOP concept using Dr Java, OOP implementation. We started taking classes from 31 December.

For these sessions, I had to give so much time for good preparation. Though overall, I am enjoying much these sessions due to the good quality associates (or students !). Only today I got some time to breath - and so I am writing this blog !

TCS Guwahati is mentoring this centre. They took our telephonic interview before inducting us as trainee. Most of the associates are from Tamil Nadu. I am taking sessions for 2 batches. Most of these associates in these 2 batches are from Biotech background. But they are picking up the subject very nicely.

Indocrypt 2009

Indocrypt 2009 was held in Indian National Science Academy (INSA) New Delhi, jointly organised by SAG DRDo and Delhi University, from December 13 to 16. Also attended last years Indocrypt 2008 at IIT Kharagpur.
I met there Kishan-da, Subhamoy-da, Rana-da, Bimal-da, Sanjit-da, Avishek, Prem-da, Sumanta others. Kishan-da gave me so much time. I stayed in RAC guest house in Timarpur, near Delhi University campus.
First day was tutorial sessions given by Nicholas Sendrier and Willi Meier. Remaining days were filled with paper presentations and invited talks.
Next year Indocrypt will be held in C R Rao Institute of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science in University of Hyderabad campus, Workshop will be held in PSG college of technolgy Coimbatore, and workshop on teaching cryptography at undergraduate level will be held in Manipur University.

I couldn't see see the tourist places in Delhi due to lack of partner. Kishan-da and others was staying in Aurobinda Ashram. Only places I have seen while going to conference venue by bus are Red Fort, Raj Ghat, Shakti Punj (some thing like that), and Chandni Chowk Market. One day I went to Red Fort in the evening but by that time it was closed. Also due to lack of time I coudn't go to Modinagar, Merut to meet OP and Parmanand, my friends of NIT Rourkela.

During this period, the cold was not severe. The foods in the conference was just excellent. The conference dinner was held in India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road.

Happenning Medinipur

Last week I attended Subhasish's elder brother's marriage ceremony in Medinipur. Earlier I went Medinipur quite a few times when I took admission in Chemistrty Hons in Midnapur College or for Practical Exams or deputation to the VC for openning M.Sc during the final years of graduation in Computer Science from Panskura College. Compare to those days, I was quite impressed to see the development in the stretch from Midnapur Rail Station to Keranitola. Possibly, the setting up of Jindal's Steel Company has boosted up the economy of the quite old Medinipur town.

Met our M.Tech junior Sourav in the wedding reception. Had a good discussion with him regarding his dissertation, his upcoming book to be released in the kolkata book fair.

Papers in the Coming Semester

The subjects, I'll be teaching in the coming semester to the HIT students are as follows:

1. Network Security,

2. System Software and Administration , and

3. Formal Language and Automata Theory.

Many are considering these are bit loaded. Lets see. I am happy to get the paper Network Security as this subject is close to my area of work. The Administration part of SSA paper is new to me... taking help from Google Books... hopefull, i will be able to justify students expectation...

One Update: I'll not be taking Automata, though I was interested to take it.

Packed Novemeber

The month of November was of little bit pressure. I Had to finish the syllabus of Microprocessor & Microcontroller. Apart from my own slots, I had to take slots of another faculty who had already finished her syllabi to complete my portion. Lets see how my students would perform in the university exam...

There were setting the question papers, invigilation for second class test, correcting the answer scripts, different meetings etc..