My Introduction (a Toastmasters speech, 2006)

“Never ever give up”,
This is what I always believed and I am continuing doing so.
All the past experiences excite or tickle whether it was good or bed.
Today I am going to share such experiences of my so called life.
(1st)
31st December’2000, some body told me “IIT results are out”, I went to nearest Cyber café, entered my roll no., kind of tingling sensation I was feeling, I can’t explain, even more than what I am feeling today.
Results were Sorry, you are not selected.

(FLASHBACK)
A guy belongs to BAH a small town near AGRA (City of taj, city of love- so please love me J) surrounded by 2 rivers Yamuna and chambal and associated with great dacoits of chambal gathi as well as our X prime minister Atal Bihari vajpai..
I was good in academics topped my town in 12th (PUC) Exam So most of people suggested me,” Why don’t you try for IIT”.
As in my family none is much educated, my mother is home maker, my father is businessman and my elder brother is helping my father in business (My papa stopped his Bsc. Degree once he failed in first year).
All were having lot of expectations from me.
I went Kanpur for IIT coaching, first time away from my town.
I studied like a crazy which was required because I did my 12th from hindi medium and so studied all majors like physics, chemistry and math in Hindi.
In my town if you will try to talk in English, people will say, “English went but left their off springs”.
Sing was a king in his town but felt very scary, lonely and always had a fear of getting lost in this crowd.
.
WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT
I came out from cyber café, Feeling very Sordid.
I didn’t know where I intended to go.
I sat in a bus, thinking “what my parents will think, I let them down and so & so”.
I was staring outside the window and saw IIT Kanpur, making mockery of me.
My condition was similar to Sahid kaupr in first half of Jab Bhi Met but my bad luck I didn’t encounter with Kareena Kapur. J
After some time it became little dark,
I got down somewhere as conductor told last stop. I sat at bus stop, and didn’t see any passers by for long time. At distance I could see dim light of kerosene lamp and some sound of Buffaloes and cows.
I was sitting alone at unknown place with unknown future and scared too about repeating my brother’s story.
But truly speaking in this kind of situation solitude provides the best solace to man.
Lot many thoughts came and lot many went, all finally converged that I won’t give up, I will try once again.

Next year I got good rank in most of the competitive exams (Including IIT) but joined R.V.College of engineering, Bangalore.

(2nd:)
I chose mechanical engineering in RV College.
During the initial days in college one phrase I used to repeat “Chomu Hai kya” Soon the name CHOMU and its variants such as chomeshwar, chomsen, Chomsky, chomdev, chomkhan became integral part of my college life, I wonder if any of my college friends know my real name.

College life was usual up to 2nd year by the End of 2nd year (August’04) we got to know about racing competition across the globe organized by Society of automotive engineers (SAE) for engineers.
We bunch of 8 students, not having much exposure to automotive field and above that to make a RACING car and to compete in foreign country was a kind of wild goose chase.
But we decided we won’t give up without making a good effort, we decided to take part in Dec’05 in Australia.
We named our team “ASHWA”, meaning horse in Sanskrit.
Up to August’05 we had only finished only structure of the car with the help of infrastructure available in college but for going further no money no contact and didn’t know exactly what to do and that too 3 more month to go.
We tried hard to convince every one, our college trust, alumni association to support what ever they can; requested every news paper to publish our article and contacted most of the TV Channels to broadcast our case.
Finally we got the adequate money to go ahead but now no time.
We spent too many sleepless nights to shape our dream.
Finally WE became first Indian car to participate in SAE’05 Australasia.
We grabbed 2 awards out of 8.
When we saw Indian flag waiving which was unknown in that racing arena until that year, those were the moments of pride?

On personal front
I am a soft speaking guy having somewhat philosophical touch, currently working in Schneider electric as a design engineer.
I Love reading books. First novel I read was “ Harry potter and philosopher stone” which I took close to 2months to finish, but the last novel of Harry Potter series I finished with in the 2 days.
I write poems, in my coming speech I will definitely bug you with my senseless poetry. J
AS I belong to musical family so music is in my gene, I play Tabla and harmonica.
I am also fond of tracking and photography.
I am a nature lover. I feel a feeling of completeness, when I found myself close to nature.
Mahatma Gandhi, Ravindra nath Tagore, Vivekanandjee are my ideals.
My favorite actor is Aamir khan and actress is Sharmila Tagore (What a combination).

In life I have goals but really don’t know my destiny. At times, I feel confused: don't know why I am doing, what i am doing. I do lot of activities, challenging my self every now and then, in hope that some day I will encounter with the thing which will define my life and what ever I have done so far will assist me to make that happen. TOO Philosophical, isn't it, but that is me.