First time I am publishing year review blogpost in that same year! Good job Zing!
When I think about 2024, four things clearly stand out - 1) the unceremonious exit from CSoD, 2)the 7-month long jobless period, 3) the new life at Shillong and 4) the gallstone surgery-my first hospitalization of human life. Two things continued throughout the year with lot of attention- seeing growing Rodali and my PhD.
Was last year great? The answer would be negative. Is it showing signs of recovery? Oh yes, very much!
1) CSoD- the year started with bad vibes when Atul was ousted and Sameer was made the project director. But the final blow came on 12 Jan, when he and HR setup call with me to question on my performance. Somehow, I took the whole episode as an attempt to break out the middle class jinx of 'pleading for saving livelihood'. Although Mukesh and Harsha requested me to withdraw resignation, I didn't move as they hurt my ego. At the same time, the Assam Govt interview also went fabulous. I got freed on 9 Feb. Enough has been written about this in this post.
In a hindsight, I often question whether the decision to resign without any option is wise. I remember about post Oxford time. However, when I heard about the forced resignation of the whole FSP team later this year, I thanked my instinct. I had turmoil towards the middle of the year, more because of Nina's deteriorating chemistry with Maa than of my financial position. To conclude, leaving a stupid job is any day welcome, just think about the environment you are living- whether they consider a jobless person worthless or someone who is trying new stuffs.
2)Jobless period - I think, while jobless, the main challenge was to bring discipline and a routine, but Rodali made it impossible. The tangible output of the day is something I started tracking by including a section "Tasks done" in the diary. Nevertheless, I kept asking myself why bad career times keep coming to my life even when I am at the peak of my luck/planet. I don't want to write about the frustration of this period here today. Handling Nina at different instants was a huge challenge. Particularly with Maa multiple times, one day with Prafulla Khura, her own repeated failures on exams. The fact that she is not able to manage self-time made her devastated and angry at times, which Maa can't understand and appreciate, hence I need to handle all alone. Provided I would have got the married scholar hostel at IITG by May- June, the whole story of joblessness would have been different.
I must admit- when I am reviewing all the activities of the year today, much of these would not have been possible if I would have stuck to the bullshit job at CSoD. Selling the 2 laptops and enhancing the desktops, going for fishing in shiny night, getting donation from Hrishikesh Goswami for the library are just a few activities I pursued without being in a job.
With my boss
3) The Shillong chapter - I never thought even once about a career relocation to Shillong in the starting of the year (or even in life). The twists and turns in snatching away the position of Head SeMT in Assam from me is already mentioned here. Sunil sir (whom I started hating post that episode, but had to host at Shillong later) told it was CEO, NeGD who altered this seemingly obvious and straight decision. But professionally, shifting to Shillong gave me an unexpected upward thrust. The confidence bestowed upon me by Bah Nongbri, Bah Ben, Pravin Sir, Shelter and others is something that I never expected. The exposure to different areas has been unparalleled until now. The sudden meetings such as BIS at Marriott Shillong, UIDAI and Gov Connect at Tak Vivanta Ghy, the two big trip to Delhi+Ahmedabad and Hyderabad were highlights of SeMT life of last year. The flexibility given to me is also praiseworthy. I also enjoyed the interesting office works such as AUA/KUA, Tech Park, Submarine cable thing, HR policy, AI-CoE, ICCC inauguration, three days sessions at MATI, constant focus on data and CB by NeGD, initiative such as TAU and attendance, the SeMT interview and the subsequent efforts to bring Pranjal by hook or by crook. Things were really moving there. So much so that, when Mariama asked me to apply for the Dakar Digital Specialist position of the World Bank, I seriously thought it might go through as well. I even started preparing Nina mentally for a continent shift. But alas, the dominance of middle part of the year continued.
Anyway, shifting to a new place and setting up home with wife and kids require huge huge efforts. You can't plan all the items, there will always be shortages. I feel lucky to get a nice rented house with a dance academy on the ground floor. However, fixing stuffs such as geyser, washing machine, dining table, bed, winter clothes - omg! My driving fear in hilly roads is going out slowly as I am getting used to the roads. The ending of the year was full with the euphoria of Cherry Blossom festival and Brayan Adams show as we hosted guests at our rented house.
4) First surgery - On health, like other years, I only had the teeth troubles including RCT of one teeth and the painful sleepless nights during IMC trip. But Dr. Sarin's book prompted me to revisit Deuta's death causes and undergo Fibroscan test. Thanks to the test and the Christmas break, I could plan the gallstone surgery nicely without any office stress. The details are written in a separate post. I feel good and more confident about my health now. Fear of hospitalization is less now.
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The IITG circle
5) PhD at IITG - Throughout the year, IIT has been the only place that kept my self confidence high. Getting allotment of the MSH (by hook or by crook) was an amazing news of the last year. IIT life has been eventful- dropping of HS558, the two economics seminars with Prof Das, typical middle class mistakes of not saving the new version of IITG assignment , not being able to Dr. Charan Gurumurthy ( Tata Electronics) during RIC, managing the regular classes by weekly visits to Ghy, preparing for exam by sending Rodali and Nina to Nichinta, the article ( made irrelevant by Modi's har ghar muft bijli yojna), getting selection of paper during RIC, policy presentation (still pending though), the linkedIN channel (still pending by Karuna Da), the process of writing two papers for HS706, securing 9.5 CGPA, rejection from IIT Mumbai, formation of doctoral committee and then clearing the Comprehensive exam, the super exciting new knowledge gathering for ESS and many more. I tell Nina, if I were given Assam position, I would have commuted from IIT only. IITG is the new constant in my life and last year completely attached its identity with my life.
6) Seeing Rodali grow - We started the year with Rodali crawling and trying hard to walk. She can now run, scream, talk multiple words, imitate - oh, how lovely! Her food intake issue worried us a lot. The multiple doctor's visits didn't do anything, but time; she eats enough now. I still remember her first few words like 'idijaam', 'lite' etc. Ideally I should not complaint about joblessness at all as I see Rodali in all her moves. After shifting to Shillong, she slowly getting used to me going office, from crying she started waving. However, handling her without maid was a nightmare once we started Shillong chapter. Consoling frustrated Nina became one of my works post office. Things are just perfect with her now; I hope and pray this continues.
HIGHs of the year -
1) Public talks - A record 13 programmes - I must say a great year on public lectures. 1 Feb- GB College Morigaon, 17 March- Agia xakha xahita sobha career counseling, 20 June - Vishnu Rabha diwas at Ghengamari, 26 June - district day prog ( I prepared for the well publicized event), 28 June - NPTI and Takshaahila civil service academy, 14 July- jogi xonmiloni guest at Budhipara, 10 Aug- paper at RIC, 30 Aug- seminar at Deen dayal college organized by social welfare department, 28-30 Oct - the three day sessions at MATI on emerging technologies, 22 Nov- Employment Office prog at Goalpara, 9 Dec - IIM Shillong LEAD conference, 17 Dec - Badungduppa panel discussion
2) Equity investment- Apart from being in IIT, equity investment gave me high in the jobless period. Started from 13L by March end, I am now targeting 20 L by this FY, 20K SIP is already achieved. I made big purchases in the tune of 50-60K in a single day on multiple occasions. I also tried understanding F&O with Tapan, but then government's cautionary regulations came for F&O.
3) Soulisunthar Khautardam: Bringing Nischal here in Rampur and subsequent endeavor that we are planning together now give me great hope for the future. I hope this foundation seeded in 2024 will go a long way.
LOWs of the year -
1) The fiasco of double line and the way Nina managed alone without knowledge of any member - OMG. Still feel bit guilty of the incident, me slightly more than hers. But I think that was a correct decision.
2) Losing the Pancharatna land after putting so much of effort made me very sad. The whole chapter of Jogighopa logistic park came on halt post that debacle. On land front, Dibyo Sir's negative response on the approach road of Kalitapara land is another low point. The rejection of Basundhara applications citing Samaguri and Agia college lands as forest land dampen my spirit for real estate.
3) No enthusiastic engagement with the library or Xomidhan in the last year. I felt so bad in closing the xomidhan bank account, which I activated after so much of efforts. On library front as well, there has been draught throughout.
4) The failed attempts to change my SeMT state allocation from Meghalaya to Assam was indeed a low point of last year. It reminded me of failed attempts during Assam relocation in Sarba era. Even after so many years, I am so helpless, still.
5) The unfulfilled desire to celebrate 40th birthday with a bang will hunt me always
6) Several low points that affected me - yet unsuccessful to keep my feet in UPSC coaching ecosystem- wrote the essay teaching lesson plan, went to AASC, not fruit. Assam Govt let me down - JJM complain without any fruit; pollution renewal after paying for wrong challan etc frustrated me.
People
1) I am super grateful to Jahid da, Karuna Da, Amit Jain -in that order.
2) Death- unfortunate death of Pranjal's cousin at Dhubri, suicide of Silpa's father, Anup gogoi sir, Birubala Rabha.
3) Seems like cheated by Reeta baideu (the literary festival panel thing), Sunil Sir (later clarified), falling out with Kamal was a big disappointment.
4) New - Sam garvey, Pranjit (with shyamsundar), Nasen da's daughter, Bondita borbora, Hrishikesh Goswami, Sanjib Da, Anjali, Phule Khuri, Monica madam, Manas(gyanmalini), Pranjal (Priyanka), the whole Shillong circle
5) Reconnect- Antaripa, Deepjyoti-Aizawl, Narayan- Baguan, rupak, Himanta, Patgiri Sir, Suresh Peregu
Visits
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| Gelepu Visit |
Ghy bookfare, Manas National park and the mouth burning incident, Aizawl trip, IITG guest house, Gelepu trip via pathetic roads, Delhi and Ahmedabad - first official trip amidst much uncertainty, which somehow I know how to handle now. Watching many big people from telecom industry with Modi, Sightseeing in Shillong such as Laitlum, Shillong peak, Dawki etc. The December trip to Hyderabad was memorable mainly because of my visit to Silpa Manor. So much has changed in Hyderabad- I think I am happy that I didn't continue there.
Nice diary pages
15 Jan (breaking middle class mentality), 9 Feb (last working day), 1Apr (Ghy vs other metro comparison), 26April (diff emotions of life), 6 May (feel good page), 2 July (A2O phase 2 immersion), 19 Sept ( first meeting with CM), 28 Nov day (Restless day)
Family
Dominated events of last year - Nina's decision to move to Performing Study subject for NET exam, Nina's first performance in Shillong amidst all the odds (i.e. handling Rodali alone); Maa's suffering from shoulder pain and our desperate attempts to cure, Maa getting the super annuity money, Maa's publication of her second book where MNM Trust is registered as a publisher in ISBN; Dada's bank loan fiasco where he learnt a big lesson at a huge cost, my declining interest on Dada's affairs is something I have noticed in last year; Junma's move into the adulthood; Moina's almost finalization of the flat at Ahomgaon; Richa's marriage; Maa-in law's acidity issue and visit to Hyderabad.
Reading and Writing
Discovering Saurav Kumar Chaliha via Oxanto electron and Jyamiti, A2O part 2 over on 17 March, started writing an article on happiness with the different perspectives that I learnt in this year mianly that of Jeffrey Sachs (not complete still). Psychology of Money was the most effective read ( analysis on page - 25 July), Another recommendation from Moina was 'own your body'- another masterpiece. Read two books written by Hrishikesh Goswami- waste of time. In Assamese language, Bokul Fulor Dore was a masterpiece. Watched a movie Local Kungfu 3 after ages in movie hall with Himanta in Shillong. I was happy to complete the article for the souvenir of Badungduppa's 25 year celebration, particularly after saying no to Xahitya Xobha people on two occasions.
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| The portrait |
Unique activities
Drawing room makeover with wooden frame, photo wall and most interestingly by Marshall Baruah's 20-day long painting. The 'under preparation' case of opening a policy school in IIT has been a good effort that needs a godfather. The height of frustration represented via the Krishnai moulabi baba episode - total waste of money, not much of time though. Fishing is a new area- searching for fish at the moonlight sky at Nichinta with Shankar da and Naba and completion of the PMMSY pond were two highlights.
Some thoughts that emerged
out of all the reading and unique activities- I know now why poor people buy lottery ticket, and they are not stupid; Still I have the desire to become rich and possess materialistic pleasure - something that I fee while in Delhi, sometimes in Ghy as well. Genetics do play a crucial role in the wellbeing of any human being.
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