Sixth Convocation of JIS University

 I have attended a lot of Convocations. This was maybe the 20th of my life. But memorable, in many ways. The First in Kolkata. On 21st February, 2026. 

Debasmita Das and Shrabani Saha Choudhury,  

Backstage, from my vantage point

Below- With Bratati Bhattacharya, Director of the Business School.

Songs Picturised on Sanjeev Kumar

 There have been some great songs picturised on him, just like they were On Rajesh Khanna or Dev Anand or Sanjeev Kumar. 

Shaadi ke liye razamand kar li, maine ek ladki pasand kar li

O manchali kahaan chali

Tere bina zindagi se koi shikwa nahi

Is mod se jaate hain

Tum aa gaye ho, noor aa gaya hai

Dil dhoondhta hai phir wahi fursat ke raat din

Jadugar tere naina

Meri bheegi bheegi si

Hawa ke saath saath ghata ke sang sang

Khilona jaan kar tum to..

The Curious Case of the Dog Robot

 Some controversy erupted after the AI summit, where it is alleged that Galgotia University passed off a robot they had bought from a Chinese company as their own invention- if reports are to be believed. No idea if that is true.

But that shows how you can try and pass off another's work as your own. In academia, it's called plagiarism. In music too, I suppose. We have discovered for instance, that one of Usha Uthup's famous numbers was copied from One Way Ticket to the Moon.. I think it was Hari Om Hari.. 

So what, you may ask. So nothing. This world consists of people of all kinds, and sometimes, an inspiration will strike you, without your knowing where it came from. Whether that's a crime or not, I have no idea. Let the law take its own course, as they say.. if there is a complaint and a legal case.

Meeting IK Gautam

 Met IK Gautam, classmate from IIMB, on a visit to Kolkata from his place, Alwar. He runs a farm there, and mostly lives on the farmhouse too. His friend was with him, and Dash and I made the rest of the quartet. A long conversation on many things under the Sun, our kids included, was a part of this outing. At Tollygunge Club.

IKG on the left, his friend on the right. Dash and I, centre.

Global food Favourites

 Pho in Vietnam

Cheeseburger, and Bacon, Lettuce and Tomato Sandwich in the U.S.

A simple vegetarian meal in Sri Lanka. Also their prawns, in any form.

Greek food- Moussaka is my favourite, both veg. and non veg.

Italian- Lasagna, Spaghetti with Meat Balls

Thai- Tom Yum Soup, Thai Red Curry, Green Curry

Burmese Khao Suey

Korean- Grilled Meat, with sauces. Barbecue Nation style. Kimchi.

French- Can't pronounce the names, but Seafood is good, and Crepes of various types. A soup with seafood called Bouillabaisse (I think!).

Also, in general, Pizza, and Chinese food from India. (never been to China)

British- they have switched to Indian food now, so...

Presidents and Paupers

 There is an old joke attributed to a Tamil actor.. that going to an engineering college makes you an engineer, but going to Presidency College does not make you a President.

On the same lines,

-studying Sociology does not make you social

- nor does studying Psychology make you a psycho

- or studying Commerce does not make you commercial

-nor does studying Arts make you an artist.

One can go on.. what about Management? Think of a good one? Or will you be a dog in the manger?

Life Goals and Surnames

 Are your life goals determined by your surname? 

At least in India, these are my hypotheses-

Agarwals want to own a Sweet shop.

Bansals want to do a flip-flop, or start a Flipkart. 

Sonis want to strike Gold, in what they do.

Burmans want to either go into music or Ayurvedic medicine, like Dabur.

Patels want to own motels- in the U.S.

Singhs from Punjab want a Canadian citizenship.

Dash-es want to be dashing cops.

Jhas want to make pickles branded as Jhaji.

Bannerjees want to carry banners and protest.

Boses want to add an 's' and become bosses.

Deys want to be knighted.

South Indians usually have no surnames, so either they are goal-less, or have the same goals. In case of Andhra/Telangana, the goal is to settle in the U.S. and maybe in Kerala, to get a job in the Gulf.