A Hellish Night

Hi,

Been away with studies and exam preparations. We were supposed to have the final exams last week. What I thought was getting a repeat grade would be the worst to happen at the time. But the near-death experience I had recently (16th January 2013) changed my perspective completely.

The purpose of this post is to provide an insight as a victim of the brutal assault by NDT on Engineering students in UoM, based on my experience. Reading or not, choice is up to the reader.

The incident : 16-Jan-2013

Only one subject was done, five left to go. 

I was reading a note for the next days exam. Suddenly around 10.00 pm, loud voices, crashing sounds came from our neighboring boys' hostel side. Wondering what would that be, I went out to our main corridor. Now all the sounds were pretty clear. Glass shattering, breaking and battering noises were there. When I peeked at that hostel, I saw a bunch of people with covered faces were smashing the boys' hostel properties. Few minutes later, some windows of our hostel were also broken by them. So, we all locked our rooms, turned off the lights and quickly gathered to our TV room. 

The shouts were getting closer by the minute and some people were battering the sheets of the hostel  trying to enter our hostel ground. Just after few minutes, two or three people were already inside the hostel grounds  (they may have jumped in using something, I didn't see how) and breaking the sheet fence from the inside. More to the downside, our study room on the ground floor had only glass covered doors and windows, without a single iron grill. One smash at the glass and they can barge in. So it was only a matter of time before they  break and enter our hostel. 

All were now gathered at the main corridor. Hearts were beating fast, trembling hands and feet. Fear pumping through the veins. I caught a glimpse of some people running towards our study room. Everyone was screaming and running away from the study room, to whatever room they could get in, shut and locked the doors. I had the key of my room and I couldn't remember to get into any other room. So I went into mine. Corridors were swarming with girls, trying to get in to a room. By the time our room was locked, there were about ten girls in there. We were hiding under the beds and tables, scared of making even the tiniest sound.

We heard some boys shouting at female security officers who were on duty in the hostel that night. The officers were begging them not to do any damage, not to go in. Obviously they didn't give a damn about it because the next thing we heard was their voices, right outside our rooms (in our corridor) shouting abusive insults to engineering students, especially the Eng. girls. They were threatening us, the B.Sc girls to come out of hiding places and that though we can stay in the hiding today, they'll attack us tomorrow. They turned the corridor lights, shouted, hit some doors, insulted abusively and went away. We called 119, but no help arrived at that time. We all stayed in the rooms, waiting for a this to end. But, as soon as we came out from under the bed, another set of people came to the corridors. This happened again after some time.

Now that the news has spread to students staying outside the university premises, they were calling to make sure that we were ok and to know what has happened.

We were waiting and waiting. Around 1.20 am, the female security officers informed us that the police has arrived and asked all of us to gather to the TV room. Finally, the police was there with some of our fellow engineering students. Some were injured. Police asked whether there are any injured students, (girls or any boys who are hiding in the hostel), checked every room. Only after that, we were asked to return to our rooms. 

Aftermath:

Not a single girl has been injured in this accident. Even though, a number of boys were injured and one had a severe head injury. Afterwards I learnt that the NDT girls in the hostel have helped their people to find where our rooms are in the hostel. Such a tragedy! Why couldn't they bother to think that what would happen to them if they were in our situation.

University was closed for engineering faculty and NDT, without stating a starting date. Engineering students have requested a permanent solution for this, which is relocating NDT to a different location. This conflict, fighting were recurring since 90's. As a solution, sometime earlier it has been decided to allocate for NDT to a place in Diyagama to prevent future incidents. But unfortunately, that is still only a decision.
I sincerely hope at least this time, a proper solution will be provided by the administration. The faculty VC was neither taking any adequate measures to ensure the safety of the students at the time of attack nor standing against this crime afterwards, but trying to put a patch to this deep wound and paint a pretty picture that things are fine. The police did their duty just the same. they appeared in the scene after about two hours we called 119 for help, after everything has happened.

Bitter truth is that with this kind of administration, the chances of getting a proper solution is not high.
Yet, one can hope.
So I hope.

Aftermath

Hi all,

So, on the first day at work...

Every recruit was assigned to a particular departments in the company on the start. Work areas and machines were set up and waiting for us. Four recruits were assigned to our department including me. Followed by an introductory session by the general manager, groups of five or six recruits were taken around the company, introducing them to all the departments and all the employees. My turn to go on the tour with the peer recruits came close to the end of office hours. 

Since we were probational employees on training, what we were assigned to do was learning the system, procedures, technologies, etc. First week was completely given to get familiar with the place, department, employees and procedures followed in the company. Several induction sessions were conducted throughout the week for that. So, first week was quite easy. 

In the second week came some of the actual work. A long list of technologies and stuff to learn was handed to three of us with a mentor. We had to study on a particular topic and do a presentation as a group to the entire team. Whoo, presenting to the entire team... Dreadful. But, lucky for me, I wasn't the only one in that boat. :)

All three were digging up the internet on the first topic, reading ebooks so and so forth in the second week  reluctantly preparing for the presentation. This is where the unexpected news came in. 

"Universities will be opened to continue academic work".

Aha. Right before we did any actual work in the office. But then again, we could skip the presentation. :D
One other thing, while working, we also attended lectures. Our timetable was modified allowing us to have three free days to work. But, in the long run, I didn't feel like mixing up work with studies and spending the last few months of university life that complicated. Company gathered all undergrads and asked everyone's opinion on this matter. After discussion with manager, we were provided the opportunity to join them after completing the semester. Lucky us.
So, after three weeks at company, we were back in the regular hostel-lectures routine.

That's how things went after joining to work. Since I'll have a little more time now, hoping to do some good reading. :)

Be back with another story soon.

Till then,
Aloha.

In times of a Uni Strike...

Hi everybody!

Now, where was I?....... Aha, the "Black and White Day"

Since then, its been irregular and mixed up at uni with extended academic and non-academic strikes. But, to be honest, in the beginning I really appreciated some time away from lectures, assignments and all that. I believe most of the undergrads have had the same opinion on this. ;)

But, since it was extended unpredictably, some of my colleges especially from my department started working. Most of us were selected to companies by that time. I was enjoying my time at home with books and movies, when the Aepona called to have a meeting to discuss about start working with them. They were in a real hurry to get us to work. 

About 18 recruits were present at the meeting and 11 was from our uni. :) Some of them have worked in some companies before. Company HR personnel asked for our opinion on the strike and uni work. All opinion and information on availability was collected. Later, we all were informed that we will be starting work as employee from 1st October. 

That's it. From 1st October I am actually an employee. :o

I was dreading the 'job'. Internship was all good. Not much pressure, stress or workload, plus really good friends and fun times. But, this is different. Big responsibilities, lot of work and so much to learn. Time was flying and 'Alas', I was on the brink of September.

Oh oh. It was Monday, 1st of October. Agitated nerves woke me a tad earlier. I got ready...

On second thoughts, I'll tell you how things went in my next post.

Till then,

Aloha.

Day in Black & White

Hi everyone!

We recently had our "Black & White Day" : batch photo day in the university premises. It was a different experience, so I thought of writing something down about it.

June 12th:
Started the day a little earlier because had some work on getting ready with sarees and all. In the girls hostel, all the of girls were getting ready at the same time. So obviously, the morning was a kind of mess. Plus, schedules were delayed. So, we had to wait around 11 to for our photo session. According to height, we were ordered and sent in for the photos.Everywhere in the uni, there was black & white spots here and there. Almost everyone looked very different with the uniform clothing, decent hair cuts and shoes. :)
Besides the actual photo shoots for the batch photo, place was overwhelming with taking group and individual photos. Tennis court, roads, staircases, hostel, canteen, everywhere. Even I who always escape from photos was a victim today...
Finally, batch photo - done.
But, it wasn't over. We also have to take the department photos as well. Same mess again tomorrow. :(

June 13th:
Today was quite same as yesterday, but with individual and group photo shoots. Different poses, different groups, different angles. Click click click. Tada... captured the moment!

Uni premises was tinged with black & white, oh it looks nice.
This reminded me the fact that we are near the end of our university life. It makes me sad. 

Till I come back with another memory,

Aloha.

Hello World!

It's been a long time since my first post. I know it's a 'very' long time. :) But, here I am, back again.

Time has passed by with a little stream of events in my life: not really adventurous and thrilling, but interesting and funny. Family, friends and everyone, they all add color and life to this stream. Stream will go on the same as it has been. Bumps and stones from outside world barricade the flow, but in the end, all barricades do is adding a unique beauty to the constant flow of life.

I'll start by unfolding each of them in front of you, as much as I can get enough time and freedom.
Till then,
Aloha!

"Beyond Wavez 2010"

One of the most interesting events organized by the department of Computer Science and Engineering is the 'Day Out' for all students and the staff members, specially for the level 1 students. It is organized by the level 2 students of the department. Even if it don't have a specific name, everyone know it by the name "Out Boundz". This year, our batch had the job and it's "Beyond Wavez 2010". The theme was winning the world.
We had this day out on 6th March in university premises(actually in "Lagaan"). Most of the students from all four levels, staff members were there by 9.00 am. At the entrance, all were given a hint, according to which they were divided into 12 groups representing 6 eastern and 6 western countries. They are India, China, Japan, Egypt, Iraq, Russia, UK, USA, Austrailia, Germany, France, and Italy. One girl and a boy form our batch were there to coordinate each country. So, I was in England. :-) On the arena, each country was represented by a symbol of that country. So, we could see The Statue of Liberti, Opera House in Sydney, Eiffel Tower, Pyramids and Taj Mahal at the same time.Imagine the brought onto a plane. That was great!
After giving them an idea about how things will be going, events began. 9 interesting events were spread throughout the day until 5.00 pm. First, it was Icebreaking session: Making a symbol for their country with given materteial. "Ceaser Cipher"- solving a puzzle given in a matrix to find out a clue on something related to their country, "Thread Pen"- wirting a given word using log strings and a marker pen all together are some game events to mention. After an event, the winners were given small presents. Everyone was refreshed and having loads of fun.
The Final and the most important event was preparing the given food item. Here we had only two groups; eastern and western. For eastern, its a Fruit Salad and western its sandwitches. That was a REAL fun looking at them while the groups were preparing them, all squeezed around the tables, hastily moving here and there, etc. The Talent Show began around 6.30 pm. In it, sudents from our batch and our junior batch presented some dramas and songs. Drama from our batch was coloured eith few songs. It won't be fair if I didn't mention the juniors. They have very talented actors and did a really cool drama. The winner was "Iraq" and runners up were "Egypt" and "China". But, the others were also not forgotten. So, all of them were happy with even with a small thing on their hands, but with lots of joyful memories in their minds. We were extremely happy about what we did that much well. It was our success.
But behind this cheerful event, there lies a big story. From the Head of the Department to non academic staff members, each and everyone gave us help, advice and courage we needed. But, it was mainly what we all did. Sleepless nights, restless days and everyone's dedication resulted in our success.

Cheers for '08 batch!!!